Pac-10 the new SEC West??

With a handful of big-name coaches in the conference, UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel was asked about the likes of coaching in a conference that includes Pete Carroll and Dennis Erickson and how things have changed since he was in the conference the first time.

Here is what he offered:

"I think guys are getting their just due," Neuheisel said. "In 2002, my last year, Pete Carroll was a good coach and now he's an icon. Mike Bellotti has now reached the status he deserves given his longevity. Jeff Tedford is now a bonafied big-time coach. Dennis Erickson was already, now he's come back and rekindled the magic everyone knew he had. The Pac-10 is a legitimate hotbed for big-name coaches. I would say it's on par with the SEC. The SEC, their salaries make themselves get a lot of notoriety."