We had to come through and show we're a team to be reckoned with in the (Oakland Athletic League). This is exactly what we needed. We had to instill confidence in ourselves and our school.

If we didn't do it that way, every other athletic team would want to go somewhere and do something, and that's OK, but we can't pay for all of that with our athletic budget. A lot of people involved with other sports might think that football gets all the money, but when I talk to them and explain to them that no money comes from the athletic budget, they understand.

He emerged as an administrator to be reckoned with, a big-league administrator who embraced that role.

Are you considering yourself in that league?

I think we proved that this team is still to be reckoned with in the Pac-10. Starting on the defensive end, we just stepped it up.

They'll be the most athletic and the deepest team we've played.