UCLA's indifferent performance in a 27-17 victory against a San Jose State team that lost 57-3 to Stanford confirms that coach Rick Neuheisel was reasonably concerned when he wondered aloud at practice last week, "I can't be the only one who cares."

The Bruins are talented enough to go to a bowl game. But do they care enough to do so? The level of their consistent focus and intensity will determine whether Neuheisel keeps his job. And it appears Neuheisel will have to reach deep into his bag of coaching tricks and motivational ploys to keep his players bought-in.

Things are teetering on the brink with Texas coming to the Rose Bowl on Saturday. A victory might reignite the Bruins fire. A loss might squelch it entirely.

The players know what's going on. For one, all they had to do was look around at a half-empty -- literally -- stadium Saturday: 42,685 in the majestic Rose Bowl has to feel a bit deflating.

The Bruins remain uncertain at quarterback, and Neuheisel's handling of Richard Brehaut and Kevin Prince -- he won't announce a starter this week -- has been a subject of consternation among the writers who cover the program.

It's too early to write off Neuheisel, but here's a guess that more folks are leaning that way than not and that includes a few who were on the fence during the preseason.

A coach on the hot seat typically needs a good start to quiet the naysayers and create a positive buzz around the team. This has not been a good start.

Of course, a win against Texas, led by a quarterback who will earn and keep the starting job, could immediately reverse the negative momentum.

Conversely, a lackluster effort in a bad home defeat might end things before we're out of the season's third weekend.

Responsibility for the latter will fall heavily on Neuheisel, as it should in the college game where the coaches are enriched and the players are unpaid.

But some of the Bruins who consider themselves leaders might want to look in the mirror and ask what it says about them that Neuheisel might be the only one who cares.