Bruins need a hire calling

Well, the prodigal son has returned, baggage and all. Anyone that followed this fiasco had to see it was Neuheisel all the way once Chris Petersen and Mike Bellotti said “thanks but no thanks.” Let’s overlook the fact that he was fired from two universities and look at his coaching record.

66-30 sounds great at first glance. Two great years at Colorado (20-4) and then 13-10 in his second two years. At Washington, 18-6 his first two years, 15-10 in his last two. He seems to come in like a house on fire and then lose interest or just coast.

Richard Drew

Morro Bay

Fans generally are relieved to see a bad coach leave and they are upset to see a good coach leave. Consequently, Colorado fans like myself were extremely upset when Neuheisel left Colorado.

I believe you’ve hired one of the smartest coaches in football today. I don’t think USC will like having Neuheisel at UCLA but, as a UCLA fan (as well as Colorado fan), I can live with that.

Norm Haberly

Nederland, Colo.

Let’s review:

1. George O’Leary looks the Notre Dame athletic director in the eye, lies about his college degree on his resume, and is fired.

2. Jim Harrick, after winning an NCAA national basketball title, looks the UCLA athletic director in the eye, lies about a recruiting dinner, and is fired.

3. Rick Neuheisel looks the Washington athletic director in the eye, lies about an NCAA basketball pool, and is fired.

4. Neuheisel looks Dan Guerrero in the eye -- and is hired, after Guerrero fires a character guy, Karl Dorrell, who is as honest as the day is long.

Tom Lallas

Los Angeles

Bruins fans are still encouraged to wave their car keys at us during football games. They can also keep on claiming that our parents paid for our degrees.

There is one insult, however, that Bruins fans just forfeited by their hiring of Rick Neuheisel, and that is that USC is the only school willing to do anything, or hire anyone, to win football games.

Integrity? That left the building with Karl Dorrell.

Jim Patton

Woodland Hills

Dear Mr. Neuheisel,

I am underwhelmed by your protestations of new-found faith, honesty and spiritual renewal. You may have received a $4.5-million settlement from the University of Washington and the NCAA after the betting fiasco there which demonstrated your poor judgment at minimum.

I haven’t forgotten, however, that you lied to the media about this when the matter became public. I am all for winning, but not at any cost. You have a long way to go in proving yourself to this 1964 UCLA alum.

Stephen Cooper

Hidden Hills

Mr. Plaschke,

On Dec. 28 you wrote a column urging Guerrero to hire Neuheisel. On Dec. 30, you wrote a column condemning Guerrero for hiring Neuheisel.

This is a classic example of why I seldom read your silly columns.

Grey R. Brooks

Prescott, Ariz.

Rick Neuheisel at John Wooden’s school? Shame on you.

Paul Kuzniar

Santa Monica