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For UCLA's Rick Neuheisel, this one's from the heart

The Bruins will be a different animal. In no small part because Neuheisel is, according to Snyder, "an extremely fine football coach, very intelligent (and) has good command of what he does with his program, as he did at Colorado."

Neuheisel won 33 games in his four seasons at Colorado, where the current coach is in his fourth year and has won 13. In his second season at UCLA, a distinct comfort level can be sensed from Neuheisel's days there as a quarterback and his previous experience in the conference.

"I do believe the Pac-10 plays a legitimate brand of football," he said. "Having coached in the NFL, I know that Pac-10 players show very well at that level. So I think our conference is a little bit underrated."

A chance exists to make another BCS crossover statement Saturday. Only Neuheisel won't feel as if he's going against some outsider with Snyder across the field.

"It makes me remind everyone involved in our program that we better be ready," he said. "He's a brilliant tactician and a great motivator. I know Kansas State will be here playing their best football game this year."