This post was updated July 29 at 5:16 p.m.
DeShaun Foster was rendered speechless Wednesday in response to UCLA’s move to the Big Ten.
Just a little over a week before UCLA football’s move to the conference becomes official, Foster was the first head coach to speak on Wednesday – day two of the 2024 Big Ten Football Media Days at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
Foster’s opening statement lasted just one minute of the allotted 15 – a considerable part silent – but his excitement over joining the Big Ten was emphatically reiterated.
“I was going through my opening speech, and then I was just like, ‘They’d rather ask me questions than me talking to them,’” Foster said to the media later Wednesday. “I was going to give you guys more opportunity.”
Foster added that press conferences, good or bad, don’t affect the scoreboard.
Ironically, the first-time head coach’s opening press conference came directly before Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz’s, who is heading into his 26th year at the Hawkeyes’ helm. However, UCLA’s rookie coach was quick to dismiss notions around his lack of experience outside being a running backs coach.
“I didn’t start coaching at 20,” Foster said. “I played football in college at a high level. I got drafted, played football in the NFL for a few years at a high level and then I decided to coach, so my path is way different than a lot of these other people.”
Members of Foster’s squad have gradually begun to gravitate toward the environment he’s built since being named head coach in February. The coach added that the lack of transfer portal entrants was encouraging.
Defensive lineman Jay Toia is one such example. The rising senior briefly entered the portal in the spring before ultimately deciding to reverse his decision a week later.
“It was culture and development over everything,” Toia said. “Having coaches like coach Foster, coach Malloe (defensive coordinator Ikaika Malloe) and coach EB (offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy), it can’t get better than that.”
Rising redshirt junior J.Michael Sturdivant said he embodies Foster’s values of discipline, respect and enthusiasm. The wide receiver added that those pillars culminate into a lifestyle the team is buying into, paving the way for a chance at success in 2024.
Foster will be Sturdivant’s third head coach in three seasons – playing under Chip Kelly in his first season at UCLA, before which he was under Justin Wilcox’s tutelage at California.
In terms of offensive play-calling, Foster said he has full confidence in Bieniemy, UCLA’s new offensive coordinator and a two-time Super Bowl champion.
“He’s most definitely a leader – somebody that’s no nonsense,” Foster said. “Being a first-year head coach, I can’t have to keep managing an offensive coordinator. I was just excited that he took this job. … He just wanted to help me be successful.”
Rising redshirt senior Ethan Garbers – Foster’s starting quarterback – said Bieniemy’s voice will be in his helmet during the first season with coach-to-player communication.
“He’s (Bieniemy has) been great. I’ve been talking with coach EB three, four times a week on the phone. He’s just checking in. … And I think that goes a long way for me,” Garbers said.
Garbers added that his goal for the season is to show what he can do on the gridiron in every game.
Foster said he’s proud of how quickly Garbers took to the new system, attributing his development into the team’s vocal leader to his position as the first-string signal-caller.
“From the (LA) Bowl Game – (Garbers) came in unexpectedly, wasn’t going to play, won MVP,” Foster said. “Then we pick up a new offense – he picked that up and was teaching to the rest of the team.”
Sturdivant said Bieniemy’s new systems have been valuable, and he’s enjoyed playing under the new offensive architect.
“The new offense is going to be a little difficult to learn at the beginning,” Sturdivant said. “His has a lot more words in it – every play call is a little bit longer – but as a receiver, thankfully, I don’t have to listen to a couple.”
At the media day’s end, Foster reinforced his ultimate desire for the year.
“We have 123 national championships,” Foster said. “How many do we have in football? One. So hopefully we can get some more of that.”
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