Rick Neuheisel honors late mentor Homer Smith
Coach Rick Neuheisel took a moment following Monday’s practice to recognize former football coach Homer Smith, the three-time UCLA offensive coordinator (1972-73; 1980-86; 1990-93) who passed away in Tuscaloosa, Ala. on Sunday at age 79 following a bout with cancer.
Neuheisel was a quarterback during Smith’s second UCLA stint and a fellow assistant during Smith’s third with the Bruins.
“I would like to take the opportunity, on behalf of UCLA football and certainly all my teammates, the guys who I got to play with in the early 80s, (to) offer our condolences to the Smith family back in Alabama,” Neuheisel said. “We lost a great, great Bruin and a great man (Sunday). He’d been ill but put up a valiant fight, as you would expect that he would.
“There are two men in my life that have made a real difference when it comes to football — Terry Donahue and Homer Smith are the reason I’m standing in front of this camera. I just miss Homer already.
“He was an unbelievable inspiration to me as a coach and then as a guy who mentored me in the coaching profession. I’m forever indebted to him and just want the Smith family to know we’re going to miss and wish you all the very, very best.”
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