Jim Mora hasn’t lost his fire since leaving the Falcons in 2006.
The 53-year-old Mora, now UCLA’s head coach, confronted 75-year-old Kansas State coach Bill Snyder on the field after a 40-35 victory over the Wildcats in the Alamo Bowl in San Antonio, Texas, Friday night.
Jim Mora (right) and Bill Snyder come together on the field after the Alamo Bowl.
Snyder (rear) leaves after UCLA players celebrate by dumping Gatorade on Mora.
Mora was upset that his quarterback Brett Hundley was hit by Kansas State players as he kneeled down on the final play of the game. According to the Associated Press, Mora quickly turned away from Snyder at midfield after a brief handshake, then went back and got into an animated chat with Snyder.
Mora later Tweeted, “I will defend the safety of my players … forever.”
Jim Mora’s Tweets.
Hundley and other Bruins players appreciated their coach’s support. Hundley followed Mora’s Tweet with one of his own, saying “Thank You UCLACoachMora for Protecting Me & UCLAFootball.”
Mora was the Falcons’ head coach from 2004 to 2006 but was fired by owner Arthur Blank after a 7-9 season in 2006. He was 26-22 with the Falcons.
He later coached the Seattle Seahawks for a season, going 5-11, then took the UCLA job in 2011. He’s 29-11 with the Bruins after a 10-3 season in 2014.
