UCLA Football Coach Pushes Players to Boost Student Engagement Amidst Lagging Attendance
Coach Bob Chesney believes his undefeated UCLA Bruins need to connect more with their classmates to generate campus buzz.
Despite an undefeated season and a No. 7 national ranking, UCLA's football team is facing a challenge: low student attendance at home games. Coach Bob Chesney is implementing a plan to address this, emphasizing the need for his players to actively engage with their fellow students.
"We've probably got to just get a little bit more involved in making sure our guys in classes are talking about this with everybody and making sure they can connect a story and a face to this team, not just what this team is but ultimately the people on it," Chesney stated Monday.
Last Saturday's game against Michigan State saw an attendance of 33,757, a slight decrease from the previous week. Chesney observed that the student section appeared slow to arrive and left early, indicating a need for broader campus involvement.
UCLA's average home attendance of 33,172 currently ranks second to last in the Big Ten, ahead of only Northwestern. This figure reflects actual attendance following a change in policy this season, which now reports the number of people inside the stadium rather than tickets sold. To encourage attendance, the athletic department has offered free student tickets and subsidized transportation to the Rose Bowl.
Players acknowledge the need to increase their visibility and connection with the student body. Running back Jaivian Thomas admitted he doesn't talk much outside of football and hasn't actively engaged classmates about the team's success. However, linebacker Sammy Omosigho shared a positive interaction after being recognized wearing UCLA gear on campus, highlighting a shift in campus sentiment.
Chesney remains unfazed by external commentary, including a recent comparison by CBS sports analyst Bryant McFadden, who likened the Bruins to "a rapper who raps with no substance in his lyrics." Chesney advised his players to disregard outside opinions, whether praise or criticism, focusing instead on their performance and preparation.
"I'm not overly worried what anybody else says – it really can't help us and it really can't hurt us if we don't let it," Chesney said. "It's irrelevant, what people have to say."
Thomas echoed this sentiment when asked about the team's ranking, admitting he doesn't pay attention to such details. "It just is what it is, you know?" he said.
Chesney's philosophy centers on avoiding complacency driven by success and avoiding discouragement from setbacks. "Just avoid the good, avoid the bad, focus on the work that you've got to do," he advised. "And at some point we'll look back at the end of the year, see where we land and maybe take a time to enjoy that and tell some stories about it and reflect on it, but now is not the time; now is the time for us to just keep going with our work and not worry about what anybody on the outside thinks."