After further evaluation, DeShaun Foster has changed his stance on one central figure at halftime during the crosstown rivalry.
The UCLA coach acknowledged Wednesday that head performance coach Corey Miller — who Foster initially called a peacemaker — escalated tensions between the teams last weekend after a video surfaced of Miller making a fake crying gesture and giving USC players the middle finger.
Miller expressed remorse for his actions, Foster said, and would face unspecified discipline.
“We talked about it, sat down and were able to figure that out internally and he felt pretty bad about it,” Foster said, “so he expressed his feelings to the team, the coaches and everyone and you have to take charge.” here for example. You can’t be complete – you can’t lose control in any situation, especially when you’re in a situation [position] He had a lot of power so it was an unfortunate situation and he feels terrible about what happened and getting a penalty. He made sure he made it right with the team.”
Read more: DeShaun Foster says UCLA was unfairly penalized against USC after a halftime brawl
Miller was assessed one of three unsportsmanlike conduct penalties against UCLA, along with wide receiver Kwazi Gilmer and safety Bryan Addison. Foster said after the game that he was told the fight started when a USC player punched Gilmer.
UCLA was forced to kick off from the five-yard line to start the third quarter due to the penalties, but the Trojans were unable to gain a first down and gave the ball back to the Bruins after a turnover on downs.
Foster brought Miller back to UCLA to join his new staff for the season after Miller spent the 2022 season as the Bruins’ director of speed and movement. Miller was the assistant director of strength and conditioning for the NFL’s Carolina Panthers during the 2023 season.
“With his added NFL experience,” Foster said at the time of Miller’s appointment, “I feel there is no one better to uphold our pillars as we prepare the Bruins for Big Ten Conference play and beyond. “
Mo’ money?
Foster said he has nominated defensive coordinator Ikaika Malloe for the Broyles Award, which goes to the best assistant coach in college football.
Should Foster give Malloe a raise as well, considering UCLA lost its last defensive coordinator when D’Anton Lynn doubled his salary by moving across town to USC?
“This is a real family here, so I think he’s feeling pretty comfortable,” Foster said, “but we still want to make sure we honor him and let him know that we appreciate you and that you’re a you are a great coach for him. us.”
Malloe’s two-year contract, which expires after next season, pays him $1 million annually – the same rate Lynn was paying before his departure. Despite massive offseason personnel cuts, Malloe has led a defense that ranks seventh in the nation against the run by giving up just 99.3 rushing yards per game.
UCLA ranks 46th nationally in total defense, allowing 346.3 yards per game.
Decisions, decisions
UCLA’s defense could get a big boost next season if Carson Schwesinger remains in place.
The linebacker who went from walk-on to finalist for the Butkus Award has one more season of eligibility remaining, should he choose to use it.
“He let me know early on, ‘Coach, we’re just going to finish the season and then assess everything after the season,’” Foster said. “He is really keen to finish this year in the right way and I can respect that from a man like that. I didn’t even want to put anything in his ear because whatever decisions he makes, I’m going to respect that because Carson is that kind of kid. He’s really going to do what’s best for him in that situation, especially if he gets the Butkus Award and the way he showed up and performed this season, you deserve to get an opportunity and go to the NFL.
With the transfer portal set to open on December 9, Foster said with a chuckle that he wanted to know his players’ intentions about their future before December 5.
“There’s a tough turnaround,” Foster said, “so we want to make sure we know exactly what’s going on with our team and how the guys are feeling so we know what we need to fill in and what we need to doing.”
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This story originally appeared in the Los Angeles Times.
