Low expectations, high hopes for UCLA football

A week from now, Rick Neuheisel will lead UCLA's football team onto the Rose Bowl field, an emotional moment for the former Bruins quarterback.

"It will be a thrill," Neuheisel said. "Some people who were with me through thick and thin will be with me coming out. This is kind of a thank-you, a tip of my cap, to them for being great friends. It will be very exciting. Then I'll go to work."

Ah, the work.

That, for this season, won't be demanding, at least by those outside looking in. Expectations for the Bruins boil down to this: The bar is set, now everybody limbo.

A year ago, it was Rose Bowl or bust (they went bust). Players even talked whimsically about being ready to play in the national title game (they weren't).

None of that this season. The journey that begins against Tennessee a week from today has already been mapped out. According to all preseason predictions, anyone who has UCLA reaching a BCS bowl game is just a nutty little Bruin.

That suits those sweating in Westwood just fine.

"People were expecting so much from us last season and I think that kind of went to guys' heads," middle linebacker Reggie Carter said. "Now they don't expect anything from us. I always liked being the underdog. I hope people think we're the worst team in the nation and talk bad about us every week."

Turning that angst into some I-told-you-so finger pointing -- and a bowl game -- will require the right answers to the harsh questions that continue to be asked after three weeks of fall camp.

Is that an offensive line or a cattle drive?

This is the linchpin to the whole deal. The Bruins' linemen have spent fall camp hearing how they can't even block hats. Now they are looking to answer back on the field.

While the top 10 linemen on the depth chart include two converted defensive linemen (Darius Savage and Jess Ward) and two converted tight ends (Scott Glicksberg and Nate Chandler), their teacher has a blue chip resume. Offensive line coach Bob Palcic has forged more than a few quality linemen in his time, including two Outland Trophy winners.

"I can see the outside view, that there is lots of inexperience," tackle Nick Ekbatani said. "What people have overlooked is I have never seen a group of guys work harder since I have been at UCLA. We need to grow up and the only way to do that is by playing. I feel there will be a dramatic change in every series we play, from the first game and every game after that."