COLLEGE FOOTBALL / DAILY REPORT : UCLA : Neuheisel Did a Little of Everything

UCLA assistant Rick Neuheisel has spent some memorable moments in games against USC, going from blocker in the kickoff wedge to starting quarterback.

Said Neuheisel, who coaches Bruin receivers: “When I was a freshman, I just wanted to get on the field, so I blocked in the wedge (in front of the return man). I was supposed to block the No. 4 man, so I counted ‘one, two, three, four--oh, no, it’s McGrew.’ ”

Larry McGrew was a Trojan linebacker who became a second-round NFL draft choice with the New England Patriots.

“We lost, 49-14, in that one (1979), so you can imagine how many kickoffs we received,” Neuheisel said.

After a redshirt season, he played in two games as a holder for kicks, separating his shoulder in one. “We had a snap problem, and I decided to be real smart and roll out and go for two points,” he said. “I didn’t understand that with all those people in the stands the tight end couldn’t hear me yelling, ‘fire, fire.’ ”

Finally, in his senior season, he was the starting quarterback, but only after losing the job to Steve Bono after leading the Bruins to an 0-2-1 start. Bono was hurt in Game 5, and Neuheisel came in to lead a 5-1 run into the USC game. He completed 14 of 19 passes for 154 yards and a touchdown in a 27-17 victory, then threw four touchdown passes in a 45-9 victory over Illinois in the Rose Bowl.

“There’s never been a euphoric feeling in my athletic career like standing on the sidelines and watching the clock wind down with us ahead of USC in my senior year,” he said. “The Rose Bowl, that was our goal. But beating USC that year was my high in sports.”

After graduation, Neuheisel jumped sides briefly, attending USC’s law school.

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Freshman Andy Colbert will replace Paul Guidry as the punt returner Saturday. Guidry injured an ankle against Arizona State. He had been averaging 10.4 yards per return, increasing his average four yards in the last two games. . . . Linebacker Jamir Miller, who has had a pinched nerve in his neck and flu over the last few weeks, will play Saturday, but the extent will not be determined until game time.