Football coaches getting worked up at the podium can lead to some of the greatest comedic moments in sports. Unfortunately, Jim Mora‘s news conference on Monday was not one of those moments.
The UCLA head coach spent a portion of his presser talking not about Saturday’s 58-20 thumping of Nevada or this weekend’s matchup against No. 23 Nebraska, but about Nick Pasquale, a redshirt freshman receiver who was hit by a car and killed in the early hours of Sunday morning.
While Mora was discussing the impact the 20-year-old walk-on had on the Bruins in a scout team role, he became distracted by a video technician in the room talking loudly on the phone. Mora called out the individual, telling him to “shut up” and calling him disrespectful before getting up from the microphone and storming out of the room.
Mora, who is in his second year as UCLA’s head coach, returned to the room to speak with beat reporters after the cameras had left, according to the Los Angeles Times.
“It is a very tough time for everyone who knew Nick,” he said. “But most importantly, it is for his family. That’s where our thoughts and prayers are.”
The Bruins will wear No. 36 patches on their jerseys for this Saturday’s game. Nebraska players will wear similar decals on their helmets, and a moment of silence will be held prior to kickoff.
See the altercation in the video below.
