Postgame Quotes – USC 29, UCLA 10
POSTGAME QUOTES
USC 29, UCLA 10
Los Angeles, Calif. (L.A. Memorial Coliseum)
November 29, 2025
UCLA interim head coach Tim Skipper
on UCLA losing its lead in the second half
“Yeah, it’s a game of moments. In the first half we were controlling the pace of things and it was going the way we wanted to go. The third quarter was a see-saw and in the fourth quarter the penalties started to add up on us. And then we just didn’t make enough plays. We started to move it and we went backwards. The guys fought, though. I’m proud of the guys. The fought their tails off. We wanted to win this Battle for LA. We attacked the moment. We had good practices all week and I really feel like they gave their all, so I'm proud of that. “
on if Nico Iamaleava knew it was fourth down on its second-to-last drive in the fourth quarter
“We threw it under the sticks, but they were playing deep. They were playing the sticks., so we had to try and throw it under and run for it. That’s just how it was. It was a long distance. It was hard to make that play. We did that to ourselves. We went backwards on our own pre-snap penalties stuff. It is what it is. They were smart and played a good defense for that, and we threw it underneath hoping to make somebody miss and get the first.”
on Nico Iamaleava playing this game
“He’s a tough dude, man, and he’s a competitor. That’s what I’ll say about him. He knows on Saturday he has to do everything he can to be ready to play. He was dealing with neck spasms stuff from the last game and during the week. As we got to the end of the week, he started feeling good. Today, he went out there and gave it his all. I love that kid and he’s a battler and he kept leading us all the way until the end.”
on what he has learned these last couple months
“It went fast, is the thing I’ll say. I can’t believe were at the end already. It was like I blinked and we were playing Northwestern at the beginning of this thing. I think the whole locker room, coaches include, we just learned no matter what the situation you're in, if you fight, you can get yourself out of it. I liked the way the guys kept their minds right the whole entire time. There’s a lot of twists and turns and things you have to do. I realize I can make it without sleeping much. I’ll say that. I’m kind of excited to just have a clear mind. Just take the season in and think back to what we have to do forward as far as my career and everybody else’s career and things like that. I really have not reflected. I’ve been thinking, ‘Alright, what can we do to win this game.’ That’s been my whole mindset the whole season. We had some tough games towards the end. Just trying to find ways to get victories. That’s where I am with it. We’ll just keep moving forward. Setbacks are temporary.”
on the fans and players sticking it through the tough season
“Definitely. What I think about is our last game when we went on the Bruin Walk and there was so many people out there just cheering us on and saying thanks for keeping to continue playing and things like that. Bruin football is going to continue. This is a top-notch university, top-notch athletic program. Bruin football will be fine. It will be back and ready to roll. Keep cheering, keep supporting. Everything is going to work out.”
UCLA quarterback Nico Iamaleava
on how determined he was to play in this game
“Yeah, very determined man. This was a big time game for the Battle of LA. Unfortunately, I couldn't practice this week. Just dealing with some stuff. I’m glad I was able to come out here and play.”
on the fight they had this game
“It means a lot. With all the ups and downs throughout the year, our guys showed up every day to come to work and achieve something. Unfortunately, we came up short with. I think that just shows the character of our team. They didn’t have to show up after the way the season was going. It shows their character and how we all bought into what Coach Skip had. It was a great learning year for us. We will be back.”
on any thought he’s put into his future
“I haven’t, man. I’ve just been focused on this game and practice, film. I haven’t thought of anything past that.”
on what he's learned about himself this season
“It was a great learning year for me. A lot of firsts for me throughout the season. Just the way we started off and dealing with minor injuries. It was a lot. It just showed that I'm willing to go out there and put my life on the line for my teammates whenever it’s needed. We put up a great fight today. Unfortunately, we came up short.”
on playing for Coach Skipper
“It was great. Coach Skip is somebody you want to play for (and) somebody you want to go out and go to war for. Along with Coach Jerry (Neuheisel) and Coach (Kevin) Coyle. Those guys came in everyday and put us in the best position to be successful. That's not easy. With the year we had, it’s easy to just give up on the year and not get any wins. I was very fortunate to have him in our corner. I look forward to see what their future is.”
UCLA defensive lineman Keanu Williams
on the tone of the message postgame from Coach Skipper
“It hurts. (Skipper) put in a lot. He got put into a situation that he didn’t want to be put in, but he did absolute best of what he could do and he took advantage of the situation. I just think that we didn’t win this one (and) it hurts for the whole locker room, not only for us, but for (Skipper) too. It just hurts.”
on what this staff meant to him
“For me, I’ll say for Coach (Kevin Coyle) and Coach Skip, they just put their all into it. We just had to adapt very quickly. And we adapted and did the best we possibly could with the limited time of learning a new defense and learning a new scheme and just practicing and regime and all of that stuff. I feel like we did our best and I just appreciate them wholeheartedly. I really do, because they got thrown into a crazy situation and did the best they possibly could. I appreciate them for all their hard work.”
USC 29, UCLA 10
Los Angeles, Calif. (L.A. Memorial Coliseum)
November 29, 2025
UCLA interim head coach Tim Skipper
on UCLA losing its lead in the second half
“Yeah, it’s a game of moments. In the first half we were controlling the pace of things and it was going the way we wanted to go. The third quarter was a see-saw and in the fourth quarter the penalties started to add up on us. And then we just didn’t make enough plays. We started to move it and we went backwards. The guys fought, though. I’m proud of the guys. The fought their tails off. We wanted to win this Battle for LA. We attacked the moment. We had good practices all week and I really feel like they gave their all, so I'm proud of that. “
on if Nico Iamaleava knew it was fourth down on its second-to-last drive in the fourth quarter
“We threw it under the sticks, but they were playing deep. They were playing the sticks., so we had to try and throw it under and run for it. That’s just how it was. It was a long distance. It was hard to make that play. We did that to ourselves. We went backwards on our own pre-snap penalties stuff. It is what it is. They were smart and played a good defense for that, and we threw it underneath hoping to make somebody miss and get the first.”
on Nico Iamaleava playing this game
“He’s a tough dude, man, and he’s a competitor. That’s what I’ll say about him. He knows on Saturday he has to do everything he can to be ready to play. He was dealing with neck spasms stuff from the last game and during the week. As we got to the end of the week, he started feeling good. Today, he went out there and gave it his all. I love that kid and he’s a battler and he kept leading us all the way until the end.”
on what he has learned these last couple months
“It went fast, is the thing I’ll say. I can’t believe were at the end already. It was like I blinked and we were playing Northwestern at the beginning of this thing. I think the whole locker room, coaches include, we just learned no matter what the situation you're in, if you fight, you can get yourself out of it. I liked the way the guys kept their minds right the whole entire time. There’s a lot of twists and turns and things you have to do. I realize I can make it without sleeping much. I’ll say that. I’m kind of excited to just have a clear mind. Just take the season in and think back to what we have to do forward as far as my career and everybody else’s career and things like that. I really have not reflected. I’ve been thinking, ‘Alright, what can we do to win this game.’ That’s been my whole mindset the whole season. We had some tough games towards the end. Just trying to find ways to get victories. That’s where I am with it. We’ll just keep moving forward. Setbacks are temporary.”
on the fans and players sticking it through the tough season
“Definitely. What I think about is our last game when we went on the Bruin Walk and there was so many people out there just cheering us on and saying thanks for keeping to continue playing and things like that. Bruin football is going to continue. This is a top-notch university, top-notch athletic program. Bruin football will be fine. It will be back and ready to roll. Keep cheering, keep supporting. Everything is going to work out.”
UCLA quarterback Nico Iamaleava
on how determined he was to play in this game
“Yeah, very determined man. This was a big time game for the Battle of LA. Unfortunately, I couldn't practice this week. Just dealing with some stuff. I’m glad I was able to come out here and play.”
on the fight they had this game
“It means a lot. With all the ups and downs throughout the year, our guys showed up every day to come to work and achieve something. Unfortunately, we came up short with. I think that just shows the character of our team. They didn’t have to show up after the way the season was going. It shows their character and how we all bought into what Coach Skip had. It was a great learning year for us. We will be back.”
on any thought he’s put into his future
“I haven’t, man. I’ve just been focused on this game and practice, film. I haven’t thought of anything past that.”
on what he's learned about himself this season
“It was a great learning year for me. A lot of firsts for me throughout the season. Just the way we started off and dealing with minor injuries. It was a lot. It just showed that I'm willing to go out there and put my life on the line for my teammates whenever it’s needed. We put up a great fight today. Unfortunately, we came up short.”
on playing for Coach Skipper
“It was great. Coach Skip is somebody you want to play for (and) somebody you want to go out and go to war for. Along with Coach Jerry (Neuheisel) and Coach (Kevin) Coyle. Those guys came in everyday and put us in the best position to be successful. That's not easy. With the year we had, it’s easy to just give up on the year and not get any wins. I was very fortunate to have him in our corner. I look forward to see what their future is.”
UCLA defensive lineman Keanu Williams
on the tone of the message postgame from Coach Skipper
“It hurts. (Skipper) put in a lot. He got put into a situation that he didn’t want to be put in, but he did absolute best of what he could do and he took advantage of the situation. I just think that we didn’t win this one (and) it hurts for the whole locker room, not only for us, but for (Skipper) too. It just hurts.”
on what this staff meant to him
“For me, I’ll say for Coach (Kevin Coyle) and Coach Skip, they just put their all into it. We just had to adapt very quickly. And we adapted and did the best we possibly could with the limited time of learning a new defense and learning a new scheme and just practicing and regime and all of that stuff. I feel like we did our best and I just appreciate them wholeheartedly. I really do, because they got thrown into a crazy situation and did the best they possibly could. I appreciate them for all their hard work.”