Sports

Slick Rick in the city of Angels

Today was a big day in the sports universe because the patriots went 16-0 Rick Neuheisel was hired as UCLA’s head football coach after five years outside of college football.

What’s the big deal, besides the fact that he was essentially banished from the sport for participating in an illegal gambling ring, and then successfully won a settlement against the University of Washington and the NCAA for wrongful termination? It’s a big deal because he’s the most hated man in Eugene, Oregon.

Lets recap on why “Slick Rick” aka “The Weasel” is the most hated man in my hometown:

January 1, 1996: The Oregon Ducks were getting killed in the Cotton Bowl against the Colorado Buffalos, then coached by none-other than Rick Nuweasel,” when on a cheap unsportsman-like play, the Buffs faked a punt, and ran up the score even more.

December 1998: Slick Rick does it again against the Ducks, this time in the Aloha Bowl in Hawaii.

Early 1999: Oregon’s most hated rival, the Washington Huskies, knowing just how much it would piss Ducks fans off, hire the Weasel to be their head coach.

As much as he’s hated, I think most Oregon fans are happy to see his return to the conference. It’s been slow around these parts since his departure in 2002. The Washington rivalry just hasn’t been the same. Plus, putting a coach as good as he is at UCLA can really put a dent in USC’s prominence, and may be enough to knock them off the Pac-10 pedestal.

One Oregon fan summed up what Slick Rick’s return means to the conference as a whole:

UCLA vs:

UW - because he left them in the dumpster

UO - because every duck loathes Weasel

Cal - because it’s Tedford vs. Weasel both on the field and picking through SC’s recruiting leftovers (guess you could add Bellotti to the mix in that)

SC - because you have two big rivals, two controversial coaches, one city

ASU - because it’s Erickson vs. Weasel

and UA - because Stoops reactions to whatever RN does should be classic

all got a lot more interesting

Saturday, October 11, 2008, just got a whole lot more interesting for Oregon Football, when UCLA visits Autzen.

Tags: college football