UCLA Battles Midspring Energy Dip in Practices

Head coach Bob Chesney and players work to regain high-energy start to spring session.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 8:54pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a UCLA football practice, with players and equipment broken down into overlapping angular shapes and planes in a vibrant color palette.UCLA's spring practice sessions have seen a midpoint dip in energy, requiring a concerted effort from coaches and players to regain the high-intensity focus that defined the opening workouts.Los Angeles Today

After a high-energy start to spring practices, UCLA's football team has experienced a noticeable dip in enthusiasm and intensity over the past week. Head coach Bob Chesney and players acknowledged the issue and are working to rediscover the energy that defined the opening of spring workouts.

Why it matters

Maintaining consistent energy and focus throughout the entirety of spring practices is crucial for UCLA as they look to build momentum heading into the fall season. A midspring letup could hinder the team's development and preparation if not addressed.

The details

During the sixth through eighth practices this week, Chesney noticed a decline in the team's energy levels compared to the opening sessions. 'I didn't see many steps backwards from anybody today. I just saw that there was just a little bit of a lull, [compared to] what they were bringing the other days,' Chesney told reporters. The players echoed Chesney's observations, acknowledging the need to rediscover the 'fire' and 'juice' that defined the start of spring ball.

  • UCLA opened spring practices on April 2.
  • The energy dip was first noticed during practice on April 15.
  • The Bruins have 7 more practices before their spring game.

The players

Bob Chesney

The head coach of the UCLA football team.

Landon Ellis

A wide receiver for the UCLA Bruins.

Samuel Omosigho

A linebacker for the UCLA Bruins.

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What they’re saying

“'I didn't see many steps backwards from anybody today. I just saw that there was just a little bit of a lull, [compared to] what they were bringing the other days.'”

— Bob Chesney, Head Coach

“'We were a little sloppy at times, but our energy was pretty good. It's always about how you recover from a day like that. How do you respond? Which is the name of the game, because it's all peaks and valleys in football.'”

— Landon Ellis, Wide Receiver

“'This all has to be natural. The players have to buy in, because if the players [don't] have energy, the coaches can't bring it out of you. So the players are buying in, and having the players buy in just makes it so much more fun.'”

— Samuel Omosigho, Linebacker

What’s next

UCLA has 7 more practices before their spring game, which will be an opportunity to regain the high-energy focus they had at the start of spring workouts.

The takeaway

Maintaining consistent energy and intensity throughout spring practices is a challenge for many college football teams. UCLA's experience highlights the importance of players taking ownership of their energy levels and working in tandem with coaches to sustain a high-octane environment from start to finish.