UCLA Basketball: DeShaun Foster Endearing Himself to Bruins' Fans Before Rivalry Game Against USC

Foster interacts with UCLA students ahead of rivalry basketball game.

New UCLA football head coach, DeShaun Foster, is already working on connecting with the Bruins student fan base.

As tons of UCLA students stood in line waiting for the UCLA-USC basketball rivalry game, Foster was photographed handing out shirts to several students in line, per the UCLA Den. The shirts were "Men of Westwood" shirts, which is UCLA's official NIL collective for UCLA football and men's basketball.

Shoutout to @DeShaunFoster26 for handing out shirts to students in line 🙌 pic.twitter.com/3XlyDtyhag

— The Den (@uclatheden) February 24, 2024

This sighting was notable for multiple reasons. For one, it shows the continued relationship of Foster with the Men of Westwood. Foster met with Men of Westwood right after he was hired, giving the impression that he was on good terms with the group. 

This relationship is crucial as Foster has emphasized the importance of NIL since being named UCLA's head coach, which will ultimately help bring in top recruits.

Beyond just his relationship with Men of Westwood, connecting with students is important to Foster. In addition to emphasizing NIL, Foster also wants to bring more UCLA students to the Rose Bowl for home games and bring back the classic Rose Bowl atmosphere.

If there's any coach suited for connecting with UCLA students, athletes, and fans, it's Foster, who was a former star UCLA running back over two decades ago. 

While this lone appearance will not guarantee success for Foster in his head coaching tenure, it does show effort. And consistent effort. Foster is already showing follow-through on several of his goals for UCLA just a few weeks into his tenure. Handing out shirts won't translate to wins on the field, but Foster's effort and dedication to the program can.