Show Pony Ponderings

Coach Neuheisel's latest adventure in the UFL, a blast to watch as his long-time co-host.

Today’s Full Ride was one of those funny, off-the-air moments that reminded me why I love our show. I got to watch in real time as Rick Neuheisel dove headfirst into his new adventure with the UFL, joining the Dallas Renegades. This move couldn’t have come at a more critical moment — owner Mike Repole has been shaking up markets and coaching staffs to bring stability and a long-term plan that can actually stick.

And let me tell you, Ricky boy is in the middle of a whirlwind. At 64 years old, he’s running around like a chicken with his head cut off. In the last month alone, he’s covered the Senior Bowl, the Fiesta Bowl, and the College Football National Championship for Sirius XM, all while building a roster for the Renegades alongside his son Jack and a brand-new coaching staff. He’s doing all this while continuing to cover college football better than anyone else out there (and yes, I know he’ll never read this, so keep it between us).

So far, the new venture is off to a strong start. Markets like Louisville and Columbus are already seeing solid ticket sales, led by local coaching heroes Chris Redman and Ted Ginn Jr., respectively.

Rick was doing the show today from a Disney Springs hotel, preparing to meet with other coaches and UFL executives afterward. In typical Rick fashion, he admitted he had no clue what he was doing for the rest of the day — which, honestly, is classic Rick. He just shows up, makes it work, and somehow, it does. This is also representative of life in a league still finding its footing, hoping that fresh marketing and solid planning can finally create stability and fan loyalty. Rick had no idea what the hell he was doing for the day, but he was excited. (Stay tuned for a full report on what he actually did soon.)

Watching him navigate this “land of the unknown” was hilarious — especially as someone who’s been his co-host for over ten years. Rick’s days used to be carefully mapped out: Full Ride in the morning, a round of golf at the country club, and family time in the evening. That formula worked for years after his UCLA coaching days, then transitioning to Sirius XM and CBS TV work. Now, it’s chaos — and yet, it’s working.

Tomorrow, he is off to Santa Clara to parade around radio row and help promote the UFL. Again, he won’t know where he is going or what he is doing. Somehow, though it will come off brilliant. I promise.

Unlike his time coaching the Arizona Hot Shots in the Alliance of American Football, Rick isn’t being asked to step away from Full Ride while leading the Renegades. The UFL clearly sees the value in having a daily national radio outlet to help promote the league — and they’re right. Because you know me: I’m going to dive face-first into Renegades fandom. We’re bound to have endless conversations dissecting the games, especially as college sports news inevitably slows down after the NCAA Tournament. Last time, when he was with the Hot-Shots, I was buying trading cards of his team after the games from TOPPS NOW. So, trust me, it will come up in conversation.

In short: Rick Neuhsiel is back in action, running circles around like a wildman, and we’re all lucky enough to watch the chaos unfold in real time. Ricky boy just wants to coach again, and I think I can speak for the group, We are here for it!