UCLA is almost two weeks into its thirty-day portal window that opened following their decision to fire DeShaun Foster. No players have taken advantage of that opportunity to this point, though, says Tim Skipper. Skipper noted that the Bruins have seen zero portal entries so far since their transfer window opened during his media availability […]
UCLA is almost two weeks into its thirty-day portal window that opened following their decision to fire DeShaun Foster. No players have taken advantage of that opportunity to this point, though, says Tim Skipper.
Skipper noted that the Bruins have seen zero portal entries so far since their transfer window opened during his media availability on Wednesday. Still, even if any players had departed, the Bruins’ interim wouldn’t be thinking too much about it with what he’s trying to do for this team in his new role.
“Nah, nothing has changed or anything like that,” said Skipper. “I know it’s a popular question to keep asking about it, but I honestly don’t even think about it. I really don’t.”
“We’re going to keep coaching them, loving them up. This is a great place, beautiful day, great campus – all that good stuff,” Skipper said. “If you don’t want it, they’re going to go somewhere else. If you do, and enjoy the coaching and want to get better every day, and excited and get three-course meals every day, and all that good stuff? You stay here and keep working. That’s the bottom line.”
If there ever was a time to enter the portal, this would’ve been the time considering the circumstances at UCLA. The Bruins are 0-3, having lost to a worse opponent each time out, and are without a full-time head coach with Foster’s firing after 15 games of a tenure at his alma mater. They’re also coming off a long bye, going 15 days between games following their loss to New Mexico and this weekend’s conference opener atNorthwestern.
Still, halfway through the month-long window that opens following a firing of a coach, UCLA has yet to lose a player to the NCAA Transfer Portal. That says something to Skipper considering how simple it could’ve been for anyone to leave, with the Bruins now set to turn their attention back to their on-field issues against the Wildcats on Saturday afternoon.
“So, whatever happens happens. I hope everybody stays but, look, you’ve got options now. That’s this era of football,” said Skipper. “So, all we can do is work and keep working.”
WATCH: Tim Skipper looks ahead to Northwestern
UCLA’s first game under Tim Skipper is a few days away, as they’ll travel to play Northwestern. After Wednesday’s practice, Skipper told reporters that the players’ mindset “is in a very good place” more than a week after the program moved on from ex-head coach DeShaun Foster and DC Ikaika Malloe.
Watch the full press conference here courtesy of UCLA Athletics.
Category: General Sports
