By Morris Phillips

Four years ago, UCLA athletic director Dan Guerrero became the most misunderstood figure in Los Angeles by hiring former NFL head coach Jim L. Mora to coach the Bruins.

Mora had built his reputation coaching the pros, spending 25 years in the NFL, most notably as the head coach of the Falcons and Seahawks. His background in college football resided solely in his playing background at Washington as a walk-on linebacker, and the following year as a graduate assistant under Don James.

Mora became Guererro’s choice after the athletic director was reportedly turned down by Miami’s Al Golden, Houston’s Kevin Sumlin and Boise State’s Chris Petersen. The son of a coach was not among the hot names–more than a year removed from being fired by the Seahawks–and he wasn’t an offensive mind, but a guy who built his career coaching defense.

At UCLA, the list of offensive masterminds to coach the program runs deep: Dick Vermeil, Bob Toledo, Terry Donahue and offensive coordinator Norm Chow. To Bruins’ fans, choosing Mora was not only a leap of faith, but a change of culture. Regardless, Guerrero felt he made the right choice.

“He is high energy, hard-nosed, disciplined and organized,” Guererro insisted.

Guererro’s belief only fueled Bruin Nation’s disbelief. In droves, UCLA fans took to social media and the Los Angeles radio airwaves to express their displeasure.

Four years later, UCLA has rebounded under Mora, on the cusp of sending the Bruins’ senior class off as the winningest group in the program’s history with one victory to get, on Saturday in the Foster Farms Bowl at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara against Nebraska. Under Mora, UCLA has won 29 of 40 games and gone to a bowl game all four years. The down years under previous coaches Rick Neuheisel and Karl Dorrell have been put to rest.

Mora hit the ground running in December 2011, hiring an impressive coaching staff and securing some key recruits like four-star prospect Jordan Payton. Four years later, Payton looks back on his decision with pride.

“Now I get to stand in this spot and say I made the right choice, I made a great choice,” Payton said. “And you could go with change, and the changes be terrible. I’m lucky enough to be bowl game all four years, winning records, played a lot of ranked opponents, was ranked a lot, so it was just great.”

Having answered all the naysayers, produced on the field and run an NCAA compliant program, Mora could gloat. Of course, there’s still more to accomplish; the Bruins haven’t won the Pac-12 or appeared in the Rose Bowl since 1998. Their most recent outing was a frustrating 40-21 loss to rival USC, in which the Trojans broke open a close game in the second half, scoring the game’s final 20 points.

According to Mora, what’s important now is Saturday’s date with the Cornhuskers. That and having his current seniors—the kids that believed in him and his staff first—go out winners.

“This is about trying to play as well as we can on Saturday and go out with a win,” Mora said. “And for a guy like Jake (Brendel) or Jordan Payton or any of those other seniors, to be able to say they won more games in their four years than any other UCLA player had, I think it’s a big them for them and I think it sets a foundation for what we are trying to accomplish.”

Nebraska and UCLA have recent acquaintances having faced each other in 2012 and 2013. In Mora’s second game as UCLA Coach, the Bruins surprised the Huskers at the Rose Bowl, winning 36-30 behind redshirt freshman quarterback Brett Hundley. After the big win, Hundley, a Neuheisel recruit, wasn’t afraid to declare his loyalties.

“We just have a different mentality this year. We come out and learn from our mistakes, and we play our game,” Hundley said. “Coach Mora has done an amazing job with this team.”

In 2013, UCLA won at Lincoln, stunning Nebraska with a huge rally from 18 points down in the first half. Again, the Bruins were downright offensive to their guests, piling up 653 yards in total offense in the 41-21 rout. All the questions regarding UCLA’s offensive capabilities were answered by Hundley, a Green Bay draftee a year later and offensive coordinator, Noel Mazzone, one of Mora’s excellent hires.

With Hundley departed, Mora recruited true freshman Josh Rosen, another highly-sought after recruit that has impressed opponents and NFL scouts alike with his poise and talent. With Rosen at the controls, the Bruins won their first four games of the season, before going 4-4 in their final eight.

NOTES: Just days before the Foster Farms Bowl, it’s not clear whether Mazzone will be with the Bruins, having suffered an undisclosed medical emergency. Mora offered that Mazzone is recovering, but his attendance at Saturday’s game is still undecided. Mora has promised that Mazzone’s availability won’t be a distraction, saying that quarterback’s coach Taylor Mazzone (the OC’s son) and others will capably fill the void.

Alex Redmond, UCLA’s starting right guard, has left the team and hired and agent with the hopes the NFL will be interested in his services.   Redmond’s departure leaves the Bruins especially thin along the offensive line for Nebraska.

The pre-season dust-up between strength and conditioning coach Sal Alosi and the Combs, reserve cornerback Justin and his father, music mogul “Puffy” Combs has been quietly resolved. Justin and Alosi remain with the team and charges against the elder Combs for brandishing a weapon were dismissed.