UCLA coach Jim Mora, Jr. defused any rumors of his interviewing with the New York Jets before expressing his love of being with the Bruins.
Jim Mora, Jr. should feel no shame in being considered a candidate for head coaching jobs with the Jets and 49ers, but when asked about rumors of a possible interview with the J-E-T-S Jets! Jets! Jets!, the UCLA coach pulled off a feat of denial and gushing that resembled a movie on Lifetime Network.
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On a segment of the Rich Eisen Show on Tuesday, Mora quickly quashed speculation that he had an interviewed scheduled with New York, adding that neither he nor agent Jimmy Sexton “have made overtures to NFL teams who happen to be searching for a head coach.”
Mora then went into a level of job loyalty that’s best described as either a major moment of gratitude or plain old boot licking the likes not seen this side of Waylon Smithers from The Simpsons.
“I’ve never wavered from saying I’m very happy at UCLA,” Mora said. “I love college football. I love coaching the UCLA Bruins….”
Wait. It gets better.
“I love college football,” Mora continued to express/gush longingly. “I really do. It fits me very, very well. I relate well to the players. they appreciate the emotion and the passion that I coach with. I love UCLA — I think we’ve been able to do some good things.
“I love the young men I coach. When you make a commitment in recruiting to the families of the players you’re recruiting and say, ‘Listen, I’m going to be your coach’ — I take that very seriously. It’s not something I want to run out on. I’m very happy at UCLA.”
OK, Jim. We get it.
The Bruins completed a 10-3 season with a 45-30 win over Kansas State in the Valero Alamo Bowl last week and are 28-11 in three seasons under Mora.
As for those recruits whose commitments he takes seriously? Mora’s doing a great job with them, as the Bruins are ranked 15th nationally in 247sports.com’s updated team standings, including five-star quarterback Josh Rosen, who has already enrolled and will compete for the starting job in spring practice as the Bruins will seek to replace Brett Hundley, who made himself eligible for the NFL Draft.
Having been a popular name for an NFL head coaching vacancy, one has to wonder if Mora will be just as giddy at this time next year when the pros start calling again.
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