In the End, Deshaun Foster's Press Conference Won't Matter If He Wins

By Alec Nederveld

As the second day of Big Ten Media Days kicked off from Indianapolis, first-year UCLA head coach DeShaun Foster took the stage for his fifteen minutes of media availability. In front of journalists and TV Cameras broadcasting to the Big Ten Network, he made a first impression that will not be forgotten soon. His opening statement of himself and UCLA to the Big Ten was awkward, filled with ums, pauses, and questionable information.

Foster improved throughout the interview and got more comfortable. But the damage had already been done and clips like the one above have been seen by thousands. But when it comes down to evaluating if a coach is good, who cares about how they address the media? Many coaches have sounded wonderful to the media but don't know their Xs & Os or can't recruit.

Deshaun Foster is truly a football guy and just as important, a UCLA guy. He played ball for the Bruins from 1998-2001, setting multiple program records and earning two spots on the All PAC-10 First Team. After that, Foster was drafted in the second round to the Carolina Panthers where he had a seven-year NFL career which included an appearance in Super Bowl 38. Additionally, Foster has spent 10 years as a UCLA coach, spending the last six as the running backs coach.

On the recruiting trail, it's easy to sell yourself as a model of success for new recruits to follow, one that parents love to hear. Reaching the NFL is the dream for all football players. Foster did that. Additionally, Foster has the passion that only a superstar alum could have. He won't willingly leave UCLA like predecessor Chip Kelly, who unprecedentedly chose an Offensive Coordinator job over being the Bruins' head coach.

Foster's approach has worked in the Transfer Portal, both in retaining players and bringing fresh faces in. 11 of 21 Bruin transfers signed after Foster was hired. That's all the more impressive considering they come from the Spring portal window while most action comes from Winter. On the other hand, only six players left in contrast to 11 under Kelly. None of the names were as notable as Dante Moore and Kamari Ramsey, both coming under Kelly's watch.

UCLA starting quarterback Ethan Garbers noticed the different philosophy shortly after Foster took over. Under Kelly, he stayed "it was more of a job than playing football". In contrast, Garbers mentioned what Foster's vision is: "Coach Foster wants to get back to playing football and having fun while you're doing it". I'd rather have fun while playing instead of the sport I love being a job. And I think all of you would agree.

Going back to the press conference, Mike Farrell Sports National Columnist Kyle Golik got to talk about what Foster was doing to build UCLA after a tough year in a competitive environment. Golik asked: "You took over an UCLA program that had Chip Kelly leave, D'Anton Lynn went across town. You had the transfer portal that can be unforgiving at times. What have you done to sell the UCLA program for the vision that you want it to be?"

In response, Foster, a younger coach stated how he's shared the program to more eyes: "I've really just opened it up. I wanted people just to see what UCLA has to offer. I'm not really a car salesman, so it was more just come out here and see what we're about, see if you can feel the energy, and see if you want to be a part of that. It's been going well so far."

Chip Kelly was far from a recruiter, that's something that Foster can immediately improve on. Being in the Big Ten will also help to secure commitments and there's more than enough talent in Southern California to build a roster, even if they get stuck with USC's rejects.

Another advantage, at least so far, for Deshaun Foster is his support from the boosters. The same boosters who consistently clashed heads with Kelly and almost fired him if he didn't beat USC to end the 2023 season.

Either way, Foster has a rebuild in store. UCLA moves to the Big Ten with far more holes and questions than any of the other new teams. And it doesn't matter how much the boosters like Foster, they have to accept that reaching a bowl game in 2024 is unlikely. 2025 may be a stretch too.

And the results like that will decide how the Foster chapter of UCLA football is written. Does the infamous press conference serve as an early sign for three losing seasons and the axe? Or will it be laughed off as UCLA returns to success not seen since Terry Donahue lead the field? Time will tell.