UCLA Football News: How DeShaun Foster Gained Commitment from Bruins at Halftime

UCLA football kicked off their season with a narrow 16-14 win against Hawaii in Honolulu, marking the debut of head coach DeShaun Foster. The game was a tough battle, and despite a shaky start, the Bruins managed to secure the victory.

Despite an ugly victory for the Bruins, coach Foster was visibly emotional in the locker room as athletic director Martin Jarmond handed him the game ball in honor of his first victory.

“I kind of kept a lot of stuff bottled in coming into this, so I didn’t want to just be out there all emotional, but I was really excited that we got our first victory, just the way the guys played,” Foster said.

“It didn’t really go exactly the way we wanted in the first half, but the second half, they kept fighting, kept playing and we were able to execute and get the job done.”

In the first half, UCLA's offense struggled significantly. Quarterback Ethan Garbers threw two interceptions and appeared out of sync.

However, he bounced back in the second half, completing 13 of 19 passes for 203 yards and a touchdown, helping to turn the game around.

Foster's calm demeanor during halftime played a crucial role in the team's recovery. He encouraged the players to refocus on their practice routines and stay true to their game plan.

The Bruins' defense was a standout, making key plays with two interceptions and 11 tackles for loss. This strong performance helped keep Hawaii at bay and allowed UCLA to regain control of the game.

While the victory wasn't pretty, Foster viewed it as a valuable lesson for his team. With a challenging schedule ahead, including several road games in tough environments, this experience will serve as important preparation for what lies ahead.

“This is exactly what we needed going into what we’re about to go into, you know, we have a lot of road games coming up that are going to be in hostile environments — hot, it’s going to be uncomfortable, so I’m just glad these guys fought through and weathered the storm.”