Tom Dienhart

Everyone has heard the adage: You usually get what you pay for.

No school is a better example of that than UCLA.

The UCLA name has lots of glitz and sex appeal. But the program lacks sufficient infrastructure to be consistently successful. It's a classic case of perception far exceeding reality. As a result, the Bruins are mired in an abyss of mediocrity.

"It all starts with money," a source within the program tells me. "A financial commitment has to be made."

Recently fired coach Karl Dorrell, who finished 35-27 in five years, was facing long odds to compete in an ever-improving Pac-10. And UCLA's next coach — be it Texas Tech's Mike Leach, ex-NFL coach Steve Mariucci, Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Norm Chow, Boise State's Chris Petersen, current UCLA defensive coordinator DeWayne Walker or whomever — doesn't figure to fare much better unless changes are made.

According to a recent USA Today coaching salary report, Dorrell made $850,000 last year. The only Pac-10 coach who made less was Washington State's Bill Doba ($656,460), who recently was fired. The salary of Stanford's Jim Harbaugh wasn't available.

A shocking contrast: USC's Pete Carroll made $2.8 million last year. And the six-time defending Pac-10 champion Trojans just happen to be the measuring stick for the Bruins.

What quality, proven head coach is going to take the UCLA job knowing this?

Even worse, the assistant coaching salaries need to be increased — or a housing allowance must be granted — to attract quality assistants. Last year, the Bruins' coordinators made about $300,000, according to my source, while their other assistants averaged about $150,000. And almost all of them worked on year-to-year contracts.

"I think the quality of our staff really suffered because of what we could pay," my source tells me.

A shocking contrast: Oklahoma State offensive coordinator Larry Fedora makes close to $400,000 a year with a five-year guaranteed contract.

"(A housing allowance) has to be done," an agent tells me. "We have seen other schools in locations with a high cost of living do this. Harbaugh got it done for his guys at Stanford."

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I have been to Corvallis, Ore., and Pullman, Wash., and I can tell you: A dollar goes a heck of a lot further in those locales than it does in Southern California, another place I have been often.

The program's lack of funding even manifests itself in computer and video technology: "It's 10 years behind the times," my source says.

And the strength and conditioning program needs an overhaul: "The facilities aren't on the same level as other elite programs in the nation," my source says. "And that impacts our quality of depth."

Another major hurdle: admissions. They are more restrictive at UCLA than almost every other Pac-10 school.

"There are so many guys we want but can't get in school," my source tells me. "Kids in L.A. want to go to UCLA or USC. But we have trouble getting many in school that USC can get in.

"(Cal receiver) DeSean Jackson is a Long Beach (Calif.) kid who wanted to come here, but we couldn't take him. And Cal has a great academic reputation."

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It's time for UCLA to decide if it wants to be big-time. The program hasn't won the Pac-10 since 1998. Since then, USC, Cal, Washington State, Oregon, Washington, Stanford and Oregon State all have won or shared league titles.

And few would deny that USC, Oregon, Arizona State and Cal are better programs right now. Washington and Oregon State appear more committed to success than UCLA, too. Plus, Arizona continues to make strides under Mike Stoops.

"There is a lot of media pressure to succeed out here," my source says. "It is different than a lot of college markets. But the resources aren't in place to make it happen."