Bruins coach is thrilled after Bruins’ surprise homecoming win

by Junna Base November 9, 2024

The UCLA Bruins (4-5) are now on a three-game winning streak and are just two wins away from bowl eligibility following their 20-17 loss to the Iowa Hawkeyes (6-4). First-year head coach DeShaun turned this program around midseason.

After a 10-0 loss early in the game, the Bruins stole 17 unanswered points and, with the game tied late, scored the go-ahead field goal with just under five minutes to play. They would hold on for a three-point victory on homecoming night.

The Bruins’ top priority to beat the Hawkeyes was limiting junior running back Kaleb Johnson, the conference’s leading rusher and second nationally in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns. The defense held Johnson to just 49 yards on 18 carries.

“[We] “We played a good game, came out, executed, really wanted to stop the run and we did that,” Foster said after the game. “Offensively we were able to run the ball, had a few turnovers, but we can work on that.” But it was a really good team we played against, so it was just good that we were able to defend our home field and get a win. I just like how resilient my boys are. Every week we show how resilient we are. You see them coming out, they practice really hard, and we just came out and really executed what we wanted to do.”

Before Friday night, the Bruins were 0-4 at home this season. They changed that with theirs biggest win of the season in front of a home crowd at the Rose Bowl. Foster came to his post-game press with the game ball under his arm. As a former player, this game meant a lot to him.

“I didn’t want to make a big deal about us being back at home, but we kind of treated this game like an away game,” Foster said. “I just think my guys came out and earned the right to win. Just the way they practiced this week, and I think as long as we continue to do that, this team can really take off.”

There’s something to be said about how Foster has managed to turn this team around halfway through the season. After a 1-5 start against four national teams, the adversity they faced early on led to their success against another good team.

Foster mentioned the turning point in the season and how this team continues to stay the course and fight daily to achieve their ultimate goal – victory.

“It’s a few things, just the way they practice on Sundays and Mondays – after those losses it was tough,” Foster said. “I really think our season has turned around for Minnesota. It was exactly the kind of defeat that angered the players. They were able to really channel it and really come out and start really paying attention to detail and making sacrifices.” Just a little bit more. I always knew we had the talent and it was baby steps and this is where we are now.”

Support financially started his coaching tenure as a Bruin with a 1-0 record in homecoming games and earned his first win at his old venue. This team will become more dangerous as the season progresses and could play even more football during the holidays if they get two more wins.

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