SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. -- On a sweltering 100 degree day in this town known for being one of the “Gateways to the West” on historic Route 66, the man hoping to be the UCLA Bruins' new starting quarterback was the coolest man in the county.
Brett Hundley, a redshirt freshman from Chandler, AZ, said that the heat at UCLA's training was nothing for an Arizona.
“I love it,” he said. “I told Coach (Jim) Mora we should have gone out to Arizona and get us some 110 degree weather. That would have been even better.”
After predominantly mediocre seasons under former coaches Karl Dorrell and Rick Neuheisel, Mora was hired to put an end to the perception that UCLA's football team was “soft.” Following 15 spirited spring practices, Mora and his staff decided that getting the team away from the comforts of scenic Westwood and out into sparsely populated San Bernardino County would be a good bonding experience that would also toughen up the team. After two no-pads practices at Cal State University San Bernardino, Hundley is definitely on board with the decision.
“This is just what we needed,” said Hundley, “to get away from all the distractions and get everybody in one mindset. To come out here in the heat is a perfect decision, because we have no choice but to come together as a team. We only have ourselves to rely on and that's the way it will be during the season. We have to focus on just winning games and that's what we're doing here.”
Mora seemed quite pleased with his team's work in the first couple of days — which also included three fights among Bruin teammates. When asked about the chippiness of the workouts and whether it was good for the rebuilding of the program, Mora cracked just the slightest of smiles before he answered.
“At times, yeah,” Mora said, “as long as it doesn't become a distraction, a habit or if it starts to deter from your practice. Also, if it carries over to situations during games when you can't keep your cool. (Some of the situations) were close to that, and we'll talk about it.”
“It's really tough as a coach, because you want that intensity, you want that passion and you want them competing like heck. But you've got to know when to stop, and that's part of training camp — learning where those barriers are. I watch that stuff very, very closely because I don't want us to do things that will hurt us in games. Hopefully we'll maintain our...discipline.”
One player he doesn't have to worry about is the 6-4 Hundley, who many feel will beat out returning veterans Richard Brehaut and Kevin Prince to start the season opener at the Rose Bowl against Nebraska. He's got a big arm, good touch and is a much better runner than the players he's competing against. Mora says that Hundley's chances are literally getting better every time he watches him perform.
“In the seventeen practices we've had with him, I've seen him mature,” Mora said. “He's a lot more focused, he seems a lot more in control, and he has a greater grasp of the offense. He's a much more accurate thrower than I'd heard he (was). And all those things are very positive.”
Yet for Hundley, his success or failure in winning the starters job comes down to one thing only — how he performs in camp.
“I just have to do what I do best — play football,” said the 19-year-old. “I came here for one reason and with one goal—to better myself each and every day. When I make a mistake, I have to fix it.
“I don't worry about the quarterback race; you can't really worry about something like that. I need to get better and the byproduct of that will be winning the job.
“I still want to come out here and have fun, but I have to keep improving.”
Hundley went on to say that each of the QB's vying for the job have their own skill sets and are very hard workers. But what separates him from the others is his work ethic.
“It's a big thing,” he said. “Everybody does something different that's unique to their skills, and for me I keep going out, working hard every day and keep getting better. Every day, I try to get some throwing in after practice, or just do something extra to get ready for the next day. Maybe it's time in the weight room; maybe time in the film room. I try not to waste a minute of the day.”
Mora wouldn't single out any of his quarterbacks as a front runner for the starting spot, but said the winner will be the one who does everything well — including be a leader on the field. Listening to Hundley answer questions, that's one quality definitely in his column.
“(Leadership) isn't something you have to show people, it's something that they'll naturally just follow,” Hundley believes. “As they see you working, doing what you've got to do to get better, people will just naturally tend to come your way. It's not me trying to show the team that I can be their leader, it's just me doing what I do best — working hard. When they see that, they'll follow.”
