Well, the Rick Neuheisel era is off to a flying start. Under the leadership of the former Bruins QB-turned-Bruins coach, UCLA football players have risen together in a demonstration of team unity - and ditched practice.

(“Nope, haven’t found the team yet. Maybe they’re up these steps.”)

GUTTY LITTLE BRUINS passes along news that the entire Bruins team bolted at the beginning of practice Tuesday. Is there already rebellion afoot under the Neuheisel regime?

Not quite. As Chris Foster of the LOS ANGELES TIMES further explains, the escape from practice has been an ongoing tradition for UCLA footballers for the past 30 years. Usually, the team gathers together in a big huddle, works themselves into a frenzy, and flee from the practice field - all before the scheduled workout drills.

The event is known as “over the wall”, since the flight from football practice would require scaling a wall. However, this year, the team just ran through an open gate. Not as glamorous, is it?

Although some players weren’t sure about doing the ditching, the team’s seniors was able to convince everyone to take part. And how did Neuheisel handle it, considering he was involved in the same tradition during his playing days in Westwood?

UCLA senior tight end Logan Paulsen later came outside the locker room and said Neuheisel was “upset” when he met with the seniors, but he “understood what we were doing.”

Neuheisel said he wanted to make sure “they were all doing it together. I didn’t want there to have been fighting because some kids wanted to be out here and some didn’t. So I said, ‘Go make up your mind and have some solidarity.’ “

So, will it be OK if the Bruins blow their season opener against Tennessee, as long as they lose it together as a team?

If only Rick & crew could convince UCLA boosters to shell out $95 a pop to watch the players make a run for it.