Nico Iamaleava, UCLA’s second-year starting quarterback, is reportedly expected to miss the remainder of the season with a leg injury, a brutal blow that came after a controversial hit. Bruins coach Bob Chesney didn’t hold back Monday, ripping into Oregon defensive lineman Bear Alexander for what he called an “egregious” punch on Iamaleava during their road win this past Saturday, October 10. This isn’t just about a missed call; it’s about a star QB potentially losing his entire year because of a play that Chesney believes shouldn’t be allowed in the sport.
The Punch That Rocked the Bruins
The play in question went down late in the second quarter. Iamaleava scrambled, got tackled by Alexander and Oregon linebacker Jerry Mixon, and that’s when everything went sideways. His left leg appeared to get twisted during the tackle, and Alexander delivered a hit to Iamaleava’s head at the exact same moment. Chesney, a first-year coach for the Bruins, recalled talking to Iamaleava who told him, “They keep punching me in the face.” Chesney admits he didn’t see it live from his sideline perspective, but once he saw the replay, his frustration was clear. He called it “certainly egregious” and a “shame that that was missed.” It’s hard to argue with a coach when you hear his quarterback complaining about getting punched. This kind of stuff just can’t be happening on the field.
Serious Concern and What’s Next for UCLA
Iamaleava actually missed just one play immediately after the injury before being sidelined for the entire second half. Backup Ty Dieffenbach took over the QB duties. While Coach Chesney held back from officially saying Iamaleava is “out for the season” when speaking to reporters on Monday, he did confirm there’s “serious concern” as they wait for more results on the leg injury. That’s never good news, especially for a starting quarterback. Despite this gut punch of an injury, UCLA still climbed to No. 12 in the US LBM Coaches Poll with their big win over Oregon. It’s an incredible testament to the team’s grit, but man, you gotta wonder what this means for their momentum.
The Bruins are set to host Wisconsin this Saturday, October 17, at 7:30 p.m. ET at the Rose Bowl. They’re going to need to rally hard, not just to keep climbing the polls, but to prove they can win big games without their starting signal-caller. All eyes will be on Dieffenbach and the rest of the team to see if they can overcome this massive setback.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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