Snyder Earns His Bounty: a New Five-Year Contract

Arizona State Coach Bruce Snyder agreed to a new five-year contract, the school said.

Terms were not disclosed, but five years is the maximum allowed for university coaches under state law.

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There's a reason for Snyder's shaggy locks.

His barber, who does house calls, last trimmed him in August. He's also a Nebraska fan. After Snyder's team upset Nebraska in September, the barber called and wanted to know if Snyder wanted him to come by.

Leaving nothing to chance, Snyder responded: "You're not touching me, not while we're winning."

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If Arizona State wins today, Snyder says he has an ally in the coaches' voting for No. 1.

"Steve Spurrier [Florida coach] told me in New York that if we win, he'll vote for us no matter what," Snyder said.

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Speaking of Arizona State's football future, Snyder said at Tuesday's final news conference that he sees a long upside lying ahead.

"We're just beginning. . . . [We're beginning] a long-term tear, in terms of what we'll do in the future."

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Snyder, on today's matchups pitting his Derrick Rodgers against Ohio State's Orlando Pace, and OSU's defensive back, Shawn Springs, against ASU receiver Keith Poole:

"That's what I absolutely love about football practice, watching two highly competitive guys go after each other and here we get those kind of matchups in the Rose Bowl game."