UCLA coach Jim Mora explains post-Alamo Bowl actions (Video)
UCLA coach Jim Mora was on the Rich Eisen Show on Tuesday and explained his actions after his team's 40-35 win over Kansas State in the Alamo Bowl on Friday.
Mora met with Kansas State coach Bill Snyder for a very brief version of the customary postgame handshake and immediately turned around and walked away. Mora was unhappy with the way the game ended, when he felt Kansas State players were lunging towards UCLA players as the Bruins were taking a knee.
Mora said Tuesday he didn't want to say anything after the game to escalate the situation so he made the handshake at midfield brief.
"I had an issue with the way the game ended and knowing myself as I do, it was best for me to move in and move out before we got in to some type of discussion that maybe turned the wrong way," Mora said.
He said he met with Snyder again and shook his hand a second time.
"When they cross that white line, we all know it's a dangerous environment," Mora said. "But I think that we have to do the best that we can as coaches to not put them in harm's way unnecessarily and I just felt there are times that you have to avoid organizing an event or a play that could harm a player and I felt that maybe that that had happened and I was a little upset. You know the emotion of the game, the adrenaline's flowing and I'm a very protective person, and so I did shake his hand. It was quick. It did not look good, I'll acknowledge that. But I did shake it and there were reasons for the reasons that I did."
Mora also addressed reports that said he was interviewing with the New York Jets.
"I think it’s always a compliment to your program and the success of your program when people mention you, whether it’s real or fabricated," Mora said. "I’ve never wavered from saying I’m happy at UCLA. I love college football and I love coaching the UCLA Bruins. I have not made any overtures towards any NFL teams. My agent hasn’t. As a matter of fact I was in my office yesterday and one of my assistant coaches came in and said ‘I thought you were in New York, I just read you were in New York’ — either yesterday or today — and today, unless this studio has now floated its way to New York, I’m here.”
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Nick Bromberg is the assistant editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
