More than merely a story about a former Buff head coach, UCLA's football recruiting woes represent an opportunity for future Buff recruiting efforts.

.... more after the jump

Back against the wall, Rick Neuheisel may have a terminal case of recruiting blues

I didn't want to write a full fanpost but I thought this story merited more than a fanshot.

Rick Neuheisel was always good at recruiting (sometimes too good, as when he bent the rules) but his on-the-field success was never up to the level of his victories on NLOI day. Recruiting is certainly one of the most important -- if not 'the' most important -- skills for a college head coach, but it's not the only one. Developing that talent is important, too. Neuheisel appears to be one of the most unusual combinations in college football -- a great recruiter whose teams' performance declines over time despite their added talent.

Personally speaking, I found Neuheisel charming and gracious, so I don't share the enmity that often emerges when his name comes up in conversation. On the other hand, what's bad for UCLA can be very good for us. I can only speculate at this point but it's virtually certain that in the future we'll be in competition with other PAC TWELVE teams for the same recruits. It's a story that's only just begun but if our past success in California means anything then I can only look forward to heated battles in one of the richest areas for recruits in the country.