Originally published Tuesday, October 7, 2008 at 12:00 AM

College Football | Rick Neuheisel has role of "black hat"

UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel expects to get quite a reception in Eugene when the Bruins play the Oregon Ducks this weekend — boos, catcalls...

By The Associated Press

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UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel is likely to be jeered Saturday at Oregon.

LOS ANGELES — UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel expects to get quite a reception in Eugene when the Bruins play the Oregon Ducks this weekend — boos, catcalls and maybe a "Slick Rick" sign or two.

"I anticipate it just because we've been typecast in our roles, and I've got the black hat," Neuheisel said Monday.

"It wouldn't shock me, maybe even disappoint me if it weren't that way."

Neuheisel, a former Washington coach, has a history with Oregon dating to his days as coach at Colorado.

"It goes back to 1995 when I faked a punt, probably ill-advised, late in a bowl game," he said. "I was a first-year coach — making no excuses — but it was probably a bad decision and drew their ire."

The Buffaloes were on their way to a 38-6 victory in that Jan. 1, 1996, Cotton Bowl meeting with the Ducks. And after Colorado's 51-43 victory over the Ducks in the 1998 Aloha Bowl, Neuheisel snapped off a remark that sparked more resentment.

"I guess Mike [Bellotti, Oregon coach] had been in the press conference saying they thought they had the better team, and I said, as Al Davis says, 'Scoreboard, baby.' I probably wasn't mature enough to handle it the way I should have."

Including games when he coached at Washington, Neuheisel is 4-1 against Oregon.

"I admire their program; I admire their coach," he said.

Note

• Arizona State coach Dennis Erickson said he wants to see how Rudy Carpenter's sprained left ankle responds before deciding whether the quarterback will play at No. 8 USC on Saturday. USC quarterback Mark Sanchez (left-knee injury) is day to day, ESPN.com reported.

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