Neuheisel and Carroll chat with Dameshek

710 ESPN talk show host Dave Dameshek is actively lobbying for UCLA and USC to both wear home jerseys when they play football. The topic has come up a few times since Rick Neuheisel was hired at UCLA. Hopefully it'll come to fruition.

Dameshek interviewed Neuheisel and Pete Carroll (separately) the other day. They talked about several aspects of the rivalry, including, of course, jerseys.

Here's how it went down ...

Neuheisel: It was a coup to get Norm Chow to come back to college football, especially to UCLA — given all that he's accomplished across town. We're excited about it and I think it's going to be a very good fit

Dameshek: ... In the last several years, thanks to Pete Carroll, during the Pete Carroll regime, USC has really elevated itself to not just the tops in the Pac-10, but in the nation. How do you go about this now, in Los Angeles, not necessary trying to debunk the USC mystique, but how are you going to try to compete with this in this town?

Neuheisel: It's one step in a time. As I told the players, Rome wasn't built in a day -- but it got built. We just need to do it one good decision at a time. I think in terms of our coaching staff we've done that. We've made a lot of good decisions. The guys are working well with one another. Our player have bought in to the different techniques that we're teaching. We've made some changes in our strength and conditioning program to try to create an ability to be physical with the likes of USC. When I look at the Trojans, obviously they have been a very, very impressive program over the last seven years, and Pete Carroll deserves all the credit in the world for that. Part of the job at UCLA that sometimes scares off some folks is that you've got to compete with USC on an annual basis. I think that's one of the great parts about the UCLA job. You do get to square off and you're going to be judged on how well you do against USC. Because of that you're going to have to figure out a way to elevate your game to be able do just that. When you do, you're going to be in that national scene and hopefully playing for the big prizes. I think we have a plan in place that can eventually get there. How soon? We'll wait and see. But we're not going to take any back steps or take any roads that don't go right through those guys across town.

Dameshek: I like what you're talking about there, coach. It's exciting, the notion as a fan, the idea of you elevating that program back to where it belongs ... With Michigan expected to take a dip, over the next few years UCLA-USC could be the premier rivalry in college football, no?

Neuheisel: Well that's exactly what I think it should be. Having played in it, I felt like it was as good as it got in college football. Obviously USC has held up their end of the deal over the last several years. Now it's important that we rise to that same level. I look forward to an annual game where we talk about not just who's the best in the city but who's the best in the country.

Dameshek: Alright coach Neuheisel, I like where your head's at ... I spoke with [Pete Carroll] earlier today. I brought up something that matters to me and I know it matters to him, too. When you two meet each other, you're a traditionalist it sounds like, you guys have to both wear your home jerseys. They have to wear the cardinal, you have to wear the power blue. Are you on board for this? 

Neuheisel: Pete and I have actually talked about it and I think we both agree. We've just got to figure out how to get it done. There's no question that that game belongs with traditional equipment being worn. There's no question that that's the way it should be and I think both of us are on board with that.

The interview got a little goofy after that, with Dameshek asking which coach was better looking. Neuheisel said Carroll should get the nod because of his hair. Neuheisel also said he would never wear a Colorado or Washington sticker, a la UNC (formerly Kansas) coach Roy Williams did during the NCAA basketball championship game.

As for the Carroll interview ...

Dameshek: Both teams need to wear the home jerseys! Am I right?

Carroll: I think it'd be cool if we did. Yeah, I've been trying to get it done for a long time. I think there's a chance we could get it done. It shouldn't be that big of a deal and maybe we've made too much of it ... Maybe we have a chance to do it. I know their coaches are thinking about it and would like to do it. We might be able to pull it together.

Dameshek: How about this? As chance would have it, I'm going to be talking to Rick Neuheisel in just a little while. You're on board for this. So all we need is for Neuheisel's staff to sign off on this and we're going to have the powder blue against the cardinal?

Carroll: We've already talked about it. I've already talked about it with Rick and he's up for it. We just need to get it done, whatever it takes to get it done. But yeah, you can bring it up! He'll have fun with that topic!

Dameshek: As far as that goes, since I'm going to be talking to him, any message you'd like me to deliver to him? Or as a matter of fact, why don't you deliver a message to Rick Neuheisel right now?

Carroll: No, I don't have any message for Rick. I know they're working to get spring football going like we are. I just wish them the best.

Dameshek: Alright. What about Norm Chow going over to the archrival Bruins? What are your thoughts about what he's going to do for that program?

Carroll: They've got a really good coach, man! He's a great football coach and has had a wonderful career and did great stuff here. He's always been successful in everything he's done. I know he'll bring them a lot of good ball, too.

The interview went on and Pete Carroll confirmed that he'd still like to see a college football playoff. He also said that way too much has been made of the Matt Leinart photo gossip. He also suggested some of the hot tub photos may have been Photoshopped. They wrapped up with Carroll giving more praise to Neuheisel.