Neuheisel responds to FB dad's Facebook jabs

The father of fullback Trevor Theriot took to the worldwide web over the weekend to voice his frustrations with the UCLA program, in particular the coaching staff.

Brian Theriot decided to turn his Facebook page into a bully pulpit, lashing out at head coach Rick Neuheisel, offensive coordinator Norm Chow and running backs coach Wayne Moses.

Starting off his cyber attack with the line “The sad state of UCLA football“, the elder Theriot wrote about how he’s “never seen more misuse of talent and a greater degree of offensive stagnancy on play calling and use of personnel.”  

And then he really went off.

“UCLA under Coach Rick (Neuheisel)….is horrible. Wayne Moses the running back coach is horrible. The sets are Pop Warner in movement, motion, and slots. I mean a Pop Warner type offense that Tim Tebow would laugh at. UCLA is playing with great athletes but giving great athletes boys and girls club sets. Norm Chow and Wayne Moses are old school and gone.”

The dad concluded his ‘Net missive by issuing a “threat” that he was going to come out of the parents’ section at practice “and coach the backfield.”

Today, Neuheisel responded to the scathing critique in a very diplomatic manner.  At least publicly.

“Everybody’s entitled to their opinion,” Neuheisel said. “That’s just a part of the deal. It’s not uncommon for people to be frustrated when their loved ones aren’t getting the kind of playing time that they’d hope for, especially when things aren’t going well because its easy to say, How could we do any worse?

“All we do is play the guys who are deserving of playing time based on what we see on the practice field. There’s absolutely zero favoritism. Our coaches have too much at stake to be playing favorites. That’s not how we do it.

Certainly the parents of a player are entitled to their opinions.  But when are they going to realize that their public bitching and moaning does little to no good, and only increases whatever issues there are surrounding their kids?

As a coach once told the parents of one of my teammates, “the road to the bench is paved with good intentions.  And whining.”