Pullman, WA - New head coach Paul Wulff gave the Cougars a grade of C+ for their first week of efforts.  While the players may not be picking up the new playbook as fast as the coaches would like, they are definitely getting the hitting part down pat.  A little fire after the play is over, showing that a 10th-place prediction doesn't mean much in the land of wheat.

Seattle, WA - The University of Washington may soon hire a new Athletic Director.  All we can say is, it's about damn time.  Having been without a permanent hire since January, the Huskies need to find some stability in their athletic programs.  They currently have a head football coach who knows less about his starting QB's injury than the kid's father. Or at least Scott Locker is willing to share the information with the media, while the tight-lipped Willingham prefers to play dumb.  Also, moving over to the Sports Blogging Network in the next week or two is the UW Football Blog.

Corvallis, OR - Oregon State QB Lyle Moevao hooked up with WR Sammie Stroughter for a 70 yd. score in the Beavers scrimmage on Saturday.  With Sean Canfield sitting out, it's looking more and more like Moevao will be the starter for the opener against Stanford.  Over at Building The Dam, they too, belive that Moevao is looking like a real Pac-10 Quarterback.

Eugene, OR - Big love for Oregon DB (what position does he really play? Safety? Rover? We don't know, but want to.) Patrick Chung who Sporting News says might be the best defensive player in the country! It seems everybody in the conference is having QB problems, but Oregon's QBs looked decent in their scrimmage Saturday.  It's only 19 more days until the hated Huskies arrive in Eugene.

Los Angeles, CA - Huge turnout for USC's practice last night. 1,000 people came to watch the QB battle because Mark Sanchez went and hurt his knee.  USC is also having some trouble getting all their recruits into school because of that damn NCAA Clearing House.

Los Angeles, CA - With UCLA starter Ben Olson getting hurt and subsequently being out eight weeks, the QB race is suddenly wide open again.  The coaches want to have a starter in place in exactly two weeks, so we'll see who decides to take the reigns. 

Tuscon, AZ - No problems at QB for Arizona, where backup Matt Scott is getting all the work with the #2 offense. While they may be set at QB, their starting RB got ejected from practice for taking a swing at a teammate.  There's good violence after the whistle, then there's this.

Tempe, AZ - The nomadic Ryan McFoy may have finally found his place on the field, as a linebacker.  It has to be tough getting moved around like that, although forgetting your thigh pads will get you noticed.

Berekley, CA - After a week of practice and three days in pads, injuries at California are starting to add up.  It's good to hear that RB Jahvid Best is finally returning to full health, something that Cal will need if it wants to finish near the top of the conference.

Palo Alto, CA - With a new defensive coordinator, the Cardinal defense returns 11 players who made starts last season and hope to improve on last year's ninth-worst Pac-10 defense.  In recruiting news, Stanford has offered a scholarship to Joe Montana's son.  Nick Montana is currently a junior who is competing for the starting QB job at Oaks Christian High.

Look, the Boise State Fiesta Bowl win was an incredibly exciting game to watch, and such a great, great story. But what gets lost is the fact it was a once-in-a-lifetime deal. Boise needed to pull out every trick play in their playbook to beat Oklahoma. If they played 10 times, OU probably wins 8 or 9. Seriously. And it's not like OU has the best bowl record lately - they've really struggled in BCS bowls lately.

Last year's Hawaii debacle further proved this theory. 2006 Boise State crushed a 10-win Oregon State but barely beat San Jose State and had 7 point wins over Wyoming and Hawaii.

Last year's Hawaii team played two I-AA teams, just one BCS team (4-9 Washington), and probably should have lost at Louisiana Tech (won in OT), trailed by 2 TDs late at San Jose State (won in OT), and needed late scores to beat Nevada and Washington. I had a pretty strong feeling that they didn't belong in the Sugar Bowl.

Thankfully (well, not really), Georgia proved that fact, embarrassing Hawaii to the tune of a 41-10 whipping that the entire nation witnessed. I hope people begin to realize that WAC teams really don't belong in the BCS. Hawaii obviously didn't last year, but I will give Boise the benefit of the doubt.

TALE OF TWO BCS BOWLS: Boise State's Fiesta Bowl thriller was much better for the WAC than Georgia's utter dismantling of Hawaii this past January

Now, a new beginning of sorts for the league. Brennan graduated and head coach June Jones is at SMU. Boise State is two years from their run, so the league may be more wide open than it's been recently. It wouldn't surprise me if Fresno State or Nevada made a title run. Here's a look.

BOISE STATE
Last Year: 10-3, upset in Hawaii Bowl - 2007 Schedule - 2008 Schedule

Despite injuries, Ian Johnson still ran for over 1,000 yards last year and returns to lead Boise State to a WAC title

Last year Boise broke in a new QB, lost at Washington, at Hawaii, and East Carolina snuck up on them in the bowl game. They must break in a new QB this year - either redshirt Fr. Kellen Moore, Sr. Bush Hamdan or So. Mike Coughlin - but pretty much all the leading rushers and receivers from last year return, including HB Ian Johnson, who ran for nearly 1,100 yards and 16 TDs last season despite injuries. Leading WR Jeremy Childs comes back, but just one OL - G Andrew Woodruff - is back, a major question mark this year.

Seven defensive starters are back, including leading tackler LB Kyle Gingg. Five of the top 8 DL return and 2 LBs are back, but the secondary may have some questions as well, losing 2 starters. Boise still has a chance to run the table, as their toughest games are at Oregon and at Nevada (they get Hawaii and Fresno at home). Boise is an amazing 46-2 in the WAC since 2002.

FRESNO STATE
Last Year: a quiet 9-4, beating Georgia Tech in the bowl - 2007 Schedule - 2008 Schedule

Lonyae Miller, along with leading '07 rusher Ryan Matthews, gives Fresno the top HB tandem in the WAC

Fresno has been a WAC staple in the last decade. Coach Pat Hill is well-known with his scheduling ambitions, and Fresno has earned respect for it. Last year they nearly beat Texas A&M on the road, and beat Kansas State at home and Georgia Tech in the bowl. Ten offensive starters return including QB Tom Brandstater, HBs Ryan Matthews and Lonyae Miller, and leading receivers WR Marlon Moore and TE Bear Pascoe. The OL has 91 career starts, tied for 15th in the nation.

Just 7 defensive starters return, and Fresno loses leading tackler LB Marcus Riley. 2 DL are back, 2 LBs are back, and 3 DBs are back. So. MLB Ben Jacobs is the leading returning tackler. Interesting schedule for the Bulldogs this year, opening at Rutgers, followed by hosting Wisconsin. They play at Toledo and UCLA as well, so Fresno could make some out-of-conference noise. They close with a trip to Boise, possibly deciding the WAC champion.

NEVADA
Last Year: 6-7, shutout in bowl - 2007 Schedule - 2008 Schedule

Nevada QB Colin Kaepernick broke out against Boise State last year in a 4OT loss, and returns to lead Nevada to a fourth straight bowl

Last year Nevada outgained WAC opponents by 124 yards per game, and the brightest spot was the play of QB Colin Kaepernick, a true freshman who scored 25 total TDs last year. HB Luke Lippincott ran for over 1,400 yards and 15 TDs last year and returns, along with leading WR Marko Mitchell. Like Fresno State, Nevada has 91 career starts back on the OL.

Defensively the Pack gave up over 30 points a game, and just return 5 starters and lose 5 of the top 8 tacklers. LB Joshua Mauga returns though to anchor the defense. Head coach Chris Ault brings in three junior college players to help a secondary that lost 3 starters. Nevada has tough trips to Missouri and Hawaii and Fresno in the WAC. Known for creating the unique Pistol formation, Nevada should be bowling again this year.

HAWAII
Last Year: 12-1, crushed in the Sugar Bowl - 2007 Schedule - 2008 Schedule

Hawaii LB Adam Leonard is one of just 8 returning starters as Hawaii starts over with new coach Greg McMackin

A new era for Hawaii begins this year. It culminated with a BCS bowl that Hawaii may wish they hadn't endured. Gone are Colt Brennan, coach June Jones, and the top 4 WRs. QB Tyler Graunke should take over the reins of the offense, and he threw 10 TDs last year in garbage time against the weak teams Hawaii blew out and in the Nevada win. The RBs are back, but Hawaii doesn't run the ball very much obviously. The OL should be fine however.

The defense just returns 4 starters as well, but two of them are top tackling LBs from last year Solomon Elimimian and Adam Leonard. Just one DL and DB return though, and overall Hawaii is starting anew. The Warriors start this new era with a difficult trip to Gainesville to play Tebow and Company in 100+ degree heat, followed by a trip to Oregon State (who beat them in 2006) two weeks later.

NEW MEXICO STATE
Last Year: 4-9 - 2007 Schedule - 2008 Schedule

After struggling with injuries last year, QB Chase Holbrook looks to run Hal Mumme's pass-happy offense into NMSU's first bowl since 1960

Hal Mumme should have his pass-happy offense fully, fully in place this year after NMSU ran the option offense prior to his arrival. QB Chase Holbrook returns after battling injuries last year, and his top two WRs Chris Williams and A.J. Harris are back. NMSU has to replace both Ts, but the other 3 OL return.

NSMU runs a 3-4, and have to replace 3 of the front 7. LBs Jamar Cotton, La'auli Fonoti, and Chris Nwoko return, along with FS Derrick Richardson, who had 108 tackles last year, second on the team. The defense is the key to success for the Aggies, who obviously have the typical potent Hal Mumme offense. It may require an upset of some sort for NMSU to make their first bowl since 1960.

SAN JOSE STATE
Last Year: 5-7 - 2007 Schedule - 2008 Schedule

Along with HB Yonus Davis, WR Kevin Jurovich is the only returning stud for San Jose State

San Jose State probably should have beat both of the WAC's BCS teams the past two years, blowing late leads at home against Boise in '06 and Hawaii last year. The biggest task is replacing the career Spartan passing leader QB Adam Tafralis, but QB Kyle Reed transfers in from Cal. A major question for the offense was answered when HB Yonus Davis was granted a sixth year by the NCAA. The leading receivers are back, including Kevin Jurovich, a 1,100-yd, 9 TD WR last year. 3 OL are back, and two transfers - Isaac Leatiota from Cal and Bradis McGriff from Arizona State - should help there.

Six defensive starters return, but the top 2 LBs have departed. The leading returning tackler is CB Christopher Owens, but SS Jonathan Harris was suspended indefinitely in the spring and is not on the roster when I checked the SJSU site. The DL should be strong, but the LBs are a question mark. Depending on Reed's play, SJSU could be either be a darkhorse or really struggle this year.

LOUISIANA TECH
Last Year: 5-7 - 2007 Schedule - 2008 Schedule

After a surprising 5-7 2007, LB Quin Harris looks to lead Louisiana Tech to a potential bowl game

Tech surprised some folks last year but got smacked at Nevada in the finale with a bowl bid up for grabs. They'll need a QB this year, and Georgia Tech transfer Taylor Bennett could provide that. HBs Patrick Jackson and Daniel Porter combined for over 1,500 yards last year and 14 rushing TDs. Seven OL that have started before return as well, so LT could improve offensively after being in the bottom tier last year.

The defense returns just 5 starters, but two of them are FS Antonio Baker and LB Quin Harris, who led the Bulldogs in tackles last year. A couple of JUCO players, including former Tennessee DT signee Rolando Melancon, come in to help the DL, the LBs are stout and 3 DBs return. LT lost 35 starts to injury last year too. They open with a rare home game against Mississippi State, perhaps an upset there could catapult Tech into a bowl game in just coach Derek Dooley's second year.

IDAHO
Last Year: 1-11 - 2007 Schedule - 2008 Schedule

Idaho returns 10 offensive starters, including HB Deonte Jackson

The bottom of the WAC is really weak, and Idaho and Utah State have been living there, even before when they were in the Sun Belt. However the Vandals lose just 11 letterman from last year, and return 10 offensive starters. So. QB Nathan Enderle had a rough freshman year, dealing with 18 INTs (just 10 TDs) and injuries. Leading HB Deonte Jackson returns, as do the top WRs, and the OL returns 110 career starts, 5th in all of I-A.

The defense, however, returns just 4 starters. Five of the top 6 tacklers are gone, save SS Shiloh Keo. The LBs are a question mark, and this defense gave up 37 points a game last year, so who knows if they can stop anybody this year.

UTAH STATE
Last Year: 2-10 - 2007 Schedule - 2008 Schedule

Utah State LB Paul Igboeli was the WAC Freshman of the Year last year

Utah State actually enters 2008 on a two-game winning streak. However their best two offensive players - QB Leon Jackson and WR Kevin Robinson - have to be replaced. HB Derrvin Speight returns behind 4 OL (and 8 of the top 10) that are back.

However reasons for hope - 9 defensive starters return, including last year's leading tackler LB Jake Hutton and WAC Freshman of the Year LB Paul Igboeli. The DL will benefit from a couple JUCO signees, and the entire secondary is back. Another tough year is ahead in spite of this - the Aggies play at UNLV, at Oregon, Utah and BYU out of conference this year.

A poster from The Bleacher Report put the PSU/OSU matchup at #25 and the OSU/UT matchup at #21. Here's what he had to say:

"25. Oregon State at Penn State
This will be the first ever meeting between these two schools. In what will likely be a defensive battle, with the Penn State defense always playing tough and the Oregon State defense leading the nation in rushing defense and ranking eighth in total defense last season, Coach Mike Riley will have to find some offense in this game if the Beavers have any chance of winning.

21. Oregon State at Utah
These teams met in last years season opener and Utah left Corvallis with not only a loss but an injured starting quarterback and running back who would miss the entire season. This season the Utes are looking to make a statement (and keep their starters healthy) when the Beavers come to Salt Lake City."

Also of Pac-10 note BYU/UW, Fresno State/UCLA, OU/UW, UO/Purdue, Michigan State/Cal, Notre Dame/UW, Georgia/ASU and USC/Ohio State (the top choice) made the list.

Your 2008 Pac-10 Preview

by Amy Lamare of www.gridirongoddess.net

I can make this real quick football fiends: USC will win its 7^th straight Pac 10 championship and head to a BCS bowl game.

And that concludes your 2008 Pac-10 Preview. UCLA, Stanford, Cal, Washington, Washington State, Oregon, Oregon State, Arizona and Arizona State - all y'all might as well stay home. Rey Maualuga, Mark Sanchez, Joe McKnight and the boys have got this one sewn up.

In all seriousness though, the Pac-10 does not back down from a challenge when scheduling its non-conference games. This year teams in the Pac-10 face: Ohio State, Georgia, Tennessee, BYU, Boise State, Oklahoma, Penn State and Purdue, just to name a handful. No 1-AA cupcake rivals here!

ARIZONA WILDCATS:

It's do or die time for Coach Mike Stoops. He's going to have to get his Wildcats to win 6 games to at least have a shot at keeping his job. If he can do this, Arizona will get to Bear Down for their first bowl game since 1998. I'm betting in Stoops' favor since his non-conference lineup is fairly easy with games against Idaho and Toledo and at New Mexico.

Senior QB Willie Tuitama is going to have to step it up and generate some scoring this season for the Wildcats to be competitive in the Pac-10. The defense returns only 3 starters, and that's not the only bad news for the Wildcat D. Their most experienced defensive lineman, Jonathan Turner, was suspended from the team's summer practices after being charged with sexual assault last spring. He is awaiting his trial.

Junior college transfer Nick Booth hopes to boost the Arizona running game. This 225 pound running back joins Nic Grisby, Xavier Smith and true freshman Keola Antolin on the Wildcat depth chart.

Arizona's Non Conference Schedule: Idaho, Toledo, New Mexico

Arizona reports to pre-season camp on August 4^th

ARIZONA STATE SUNDEVILS:

ASU was picked to finish 2^nd behind USC in the pre-season Pac-10 poll. The Sun Devils are prepping for their second season under Coach Dennis Erickson and they have one MAJOR issue: The Offensive Line. They don't have one. Seriously, last season QB Rudy Carpenter spent so much time on his back that I started to wonder if those were not linemen lined up in front of him, but rather, Fatheads.

Dennis Erickson is incorporating a quick release spread offense this season to help Carpenter's protection. A good portion of his 55 sacks last season were due to him holding onto the ball too long. Five players have left the team since the conclusion of spring practices, including tight end Dane Guthrie. (Academic reasons for former defensive end Guthrie.)

ASU plays a doozy of a non conference game when it faces Georgia on September 20^th. If the Sun Devils do not solve their offensive line woes before then, they will not get out of that game alive. Ditto for their conference games against USC and Oregon.

If Carpenter gets the protection he needs either from his O-Line or the new offense, look out Tempe, your Sun Devils could crack the AP/USA Today top 10 with potentially their only losses coming at the hands of Georgia and USC. A Holiday Bowl berth, or should USC play for the BCS title, a Rose Bowl berth is yours for the taking.

ASU's Non Conference Schedule: Northern Arizona, UNLV, Georgia

Arizona State reports to pre-season camp on August 4^th

CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS:

Last season Cal went from #2 in the country to losing six of its eight final games to end up 7-6. A QB controversy rages in Berkeley, and it's looking at the moment like we have a Sam Keller/Rudy Carpenter ASU flip flop of QBs brewing.

At the Pac-10 Media Day, Coach Jeff Tedford said:

"We'll pick a starter probably the week of the first game... It may take both of them to help us reach our goals...They are both going to get some game time."

Really Tedford? Look I know Longshore flailed around a lot in the second half of last season while he battled his ankle injury. And Kevin Riley lit it up in your Bowl Game. Against Air Force. Air Force. Is Riley really the guy you want facing USC and Oregon, or is seasoned senior Longshore your guy? Just remember Arizona 2006, Coach Koetter, Sam Keller and Rudy Carpenter and what a mess that whole situation was.

It seems from all I've heard and read that Tedford is leaning towards Riley. And sure, he knows things we do not know. Whoever gets the nod as QB has a whole new group of WRs to throw to. Juco transfer RB Javid Best comes with hype, but he's also undersized.

Tedford and Co have a lot to address offensively. That said, they should finish in the top ½ of the Pac-10s final standings.

Cal's Non Conference Schedule: Michigan State, Maryland, Colorado State

Cal reports to pre-season camp on August 4^th

OREGON DUCKS:

Oregon lost their star QB Dennis Dixon to the NFL, but expect to reload quickly with new QB Nate Costa.

Oregon has a powerful defense with one of the best secondaries in the nation. Last year, Oregon ended up 9-4, largely due to Dixon's season ending injury against Arizona, sending the Ducks into a 3 game losing streak.

Three Ducks are recovering from off season knee surgeries and are expected to be good to go by the first game. (QB Costa, TB Jeremiah Johnson, LB John Bacon) Tight End Na'Derris Ward, a UGA transfer joins juco transfers Jeremiah Masoli (QB) and Ellis Krout (WR) as new Ducks this season.

Oregon's secondary is scary. Three Ducks are on the Thorpe Award Watch list: Patrick Chung, Walter Thurmond III, and Jarius Boyd.

Oregon was voted #3 in the Pac-10 pre-season poll. Look for them to challenge ASU for #2 behind USC.

Oregon's Non Conference Schedule: Utah State, Purdue, Boise State

Oregon reports to pre-season camp on August 4^th

OREGON STATE BEAVERS:

Oregon State's program has put up an impressive 19 wins in the past 2 seasons, including a 2006 upset of USC. Their strong defense has been the key to their success of late. The Beavers face a challenge going into this season as they have to completely rebuild the front seven on their D, including S Brian Payton. Payton left the program this summer with no explanation. Beavs and Trojans alike may remember him as the player who had the key interception in the Beavers 2006 upset of Troy. So, good news for Trojans! (Like we need more good news, eh?)

Big things are expected of true freshman WR Jordan Bishop from West Salem (OR) H.S. Ditto to DE and juco transfer Simi Kuli, he is being touted as the key to making the new D-Line gel.

Good news for the OSU Squad: Guard Jeremy Perry is expected to be ready to play by the start of the season. He is one of, if not the best guards in the Pac-10. Perry missed most of 2007 with a broken leg and is recovering from knee surgery this spring.

The Beavers have a tough schedule, not only do they face conference rivals USC, ASU and Oregon; they have a rough non-conference schedule this year as well. I expect the Beavers to finish near the middle of the Pac. (Pun intended)

OSU's Non Conference Schedule: Penn State, Hawaii, Utah

Oregon State reports to pre-season camp on August 1^st.

STANFORD CARDINAL:

Yes I know. We were 41 point favorites. Yes I know, biggest upset in college football. (but? Really? Michigan-Appalachian State comes to mind as being a bigger upset.) But I point out that John David Booty should have sat out when he broke his finger, not thrown 4 interceptions.

Bygones.

The Cardinal has some questions in this second season under showboating Coach Jim Harbaugh. Sure they return a conference high sixteen starters from last year's squad, with seven of those on offense, but who is their QB? And let's not forget that despite their (fluke) upset of Southern California, this is the offense ranked last in its conference in yards and points per game. So yeah, the Cardinal, he has some questions to be answered. Such as will injured starters Allen Smith (OT, kneecap) and Jim Dray (TE, knee) be ready to play at some point this season. Cardinal blogs report that we may not see either of these players in 2008.

Notre Dame transfer Konrad Reuland is expected to take on the Tight End duties this year; Oct 4 should be interesting for him. (Stanford faces the Fighting Irish on this day.)

The QB slot is a three man battle between Tavita Prichard, Jason Forcier and Alex Loukas, but highly touted freshman recruit Andrew Luck could be the man the Cardinal needs at QB.

This program faces an uphill battle with the high academic standards required just to achieve admission to Leland Stanford Junior University. Can Harbaugh bring wins to Palo Alto? Sure he can-but he'll need several years of recruiting to do it. After all, he's not just looking for explosive athletes, he's also looking for exceptional academics as well.

Look for Stanford to finish 7^th or lower in the Pac-10.

Stanford's Non Conference Schedule: TCU, San Jose State, Notre Dame

Stanford reports to pre-season camp on August 1^st.

UCLA BRUINS:

High up in the hills of Westwood, offensive to the lumberjack's eyes, Lies the Cal extension campus known as Westwood High. Fight! Fight! Fight! Home of all the Bruin bear cubs, UGLY is its name. The student body's vile, The campus is a pile, and the football team's a shame! Fight! Fight! Fight! U. G. L. Y, UGLY Eat my shorts!

At least that's the way we sing it at USC. In all seriousness though, this is not looking like a good year for those Bruins who wear the powder blue jerseys. It could be considered a successful season if UCLA is bowl eligible at season's end.

I mean, what are you going to do without a QB or an Offensive Line? Or, more accurately, a just coming off his umpteenth injury QB and no O-Line? Norm Chow may be the guru that helped Coach Carroll resurrect the storied tradition of Trojan football, but you've got to have PLAYERS to build a football team.

I am biased, that is not a secret. There is not a lot of love for the Bruins from this Trojan. So let's just look at some of the facts.

• They have the 10^th ranked offensive line in the Pac-10
• Both Ben Olson and Patrick Cowan were injured on the same day in Spring practice. Patrick Cowan is out for the season with his injury.
• Olson is insanely injury prone himself.
• Rick Neuheisel is in his first year as Head Coach in Westwood. Norm Chow is in his first year as Offensive Coordinator in Westwood (traitor!). Much of the rest of the coaching staff is brand new.
• The pitiful O-Line needs to replace 4 starters from last year's so-so squad.
• Projected starting RT Sean Sheller is out for the season with injuries sustained in an ATV accident. That's 5 Offensive Linemen needing replacement now.
• Junior tailback Christian Ramirez will miss the season because he did not meet NCAA eligibility requirements.
• If QB Olson somehow remains healthy all season and makes it to the USC game, he will most assuredly be Maualugaed.

Do I need to go on? Neuheisel, Chow and co. walk into a bit of a mess over there in Westwood. Do they have the chops to turn it around and return UCLA to glory? Yes, they do. It's just not going to happen THIS year.

UCLA's Non Conference Schedule: Tennessee, BYU, Fresno State

UCLA reports to pre-season camp on August 5^th.

USC TROJANS:

Look for USC to meet Georgia for the BCS Title. We were anointed the pre-season #1 at the Pac-10 media day today and we are a favorite to win the Nat'l Championship. Not only do we face formidable conference rivals Oregon and ASU but we've got a September 20^th date with the Buckeyes of Ohio State at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum too.

Do it better than it's ever been done before and never stop competing. Win Forever. Always Compete.

These are but a few of our team mottoes.

Consider these facts. Under Pete Carroll, USC has:

• Six Consecutive Pac-10 titles
• A record Six straight BCS bowls
• A record five BCS bowl wins
• Three Heisman Trophy Winners
• Two National Championships
• A Nationwide high 10 players drafted into the NFL in the 2008 Draft
• An NCAA record of 63 straight games scoring 20 or more points
• A national record of 33 straight weeks as the AP #1
• Six consecutive AP finishes in the top 4.
• A 76-14 (84.4%) record

The question is not: Will USC be good? The question is: Can USC be beat? And if so, how?

Mark Sanchez, the 6'3", 223lb junior takes over as QB this year. Coming out of high school in 2004 he was everybody's All American. One Pac-10 coach said Sanchez was the best QB he'd ever seen on film.

Now he gets a chance to show the Nation how good he is.

Folks, not much needs to be said about my Trojans. We will dominate if we stay focused. And focus is not something Pete Carroll's teams lack.

In Pete We Trust.

Fight on!

USC's Non Conference Schedule: Virginia, Ohio State, Notre Dame

USC reports to pre-season camp on August 6^th.

WASHINGTON HUSKIES:

Tyrone Willingham is another Pac-10 coach on the hot seat. He meets his former team, the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame on October 25^th at Husky Stadium but the discomfort of that is nothing compared to the November 15^th date the Huskies have with the Bruins. See, Rick Neuheisel is the Anti-Christ to Husky Nation. His very existence reminds U Dub fans of how elite their program once was and what his role was in dismantling it.

Washington has been slow in improving under Willingham's tutelage. And slow is not what Husky fans want. They want a return to the days of glory. To winning the Pac-10-which they haven't done since Rick Neuheisel's second season in 2000. To winning the National Championship-their last was in 1991. Not to another 4-9 season and bottom of the Pac-10 finish.

This is the program Neuheisel destroyed in the eyes of Husky Nation. I hope he has bodyguards for the November 15^th game in Seattle.

Look at it like this: Willingham is going into his third season and is 9-16 overall. When Pete Carroll ended his second full season at USC, he was 17-8 overall and coming off an 11-2 season and top 4 AP finish. In his 3^rd season USC won a share of the National Championship with a 12-1 record.
This is the sort of thing Husky fans expect from their Coach. Miracles.

For Willingham to be successful at retaining his job-which we'll define by a 6 win season and bowl berth-he will have to instill confidence in his squad. He will have to imbue them with the will to win. That's going to be hard to do if he starts off 0-3 which is very likely considering the first three teams the Huskies face are Oregon, BYU and Oklahoma.

Ouch.

On the one hand, you've gotta respect a guy with a program trying to battle it's way up from the doldrums of the conference who goes out and schedules BYU and Oklahoma as two of his team's three non-conference games. (The third being his date with Notre Dame.)

On the other hand, you've got to wonder if he's drinking some spiked Kool-Aid that makes him think his 2-7 in the Pac-10 last year team can post a winning season with these kinds of odds stacked against them.

It's going to be interesting to sit back and see how it unfolds this season. Husky fans, you have my sympathy-after all, USC Football in the 1990's was very painful, I know how it feels.

Washington's Non Conference Schedule: BYU, Oklahoma, Notre Dame

Washington reports to pre-season camp on August 4^th.

WASHINGTON STATE COUGARS:

41 year old Paul Wulff is new to the Wazzou coaching job. He's inheriting a team with issues up the Wazzou. (pun intended.) What Cougar fans will like is that Wulff is a former Cougar player himself. He played offensive line for the Washington State Cougars from 1986 to 1989.

The Cougar's have a stellar receiver in First Team All Pac-10 senior Brandon Gibson. They have a new QB in 6'7", 233lb Gary Rogers. And Coach Wulff is bringing a new offense to Pullman. Will Gibson and Rogers be up to Wulff's no-huddle attack? We'll know soon enough.

Wulff also has inherited a team with a bunch of off-field issues. They lost eight scholarships when they failed to meet the NCAA's Academic Progress Rate Standards. 25 Cougar players have been arrested in the past 18 months. Safety Xavier Hicks is spending 45 days in jail, and missing the first 3 games of the season after pleading guilty to 2 gross misdemeanors. Defensive lineman Andy Roof's troubled past has left his fate as a Cougar player up in the air.

But signs of change are already apparent. Coach Wulff cut QB recruit Calvin Schmidtke from the team because of a number of controlled-substance violations.

With the kind of problems this team faces, a former Cougar may just be the man to clean up the face of the program while steadily improving the team. The Cougars were 5-7 last year. I don't expect much of an improvement this year, though it could be said that maintaining a 5-7 record would be an improvement with all the changes that need to be made and questions that need to be answered in Pullman.

Wazzou's Non Conference Schedule: Oklahoma State, Baylor, Portland State

Washington State reports to pre-season camp on August 5^th.

And that concludes Your 2008 Pac-10 Preview my football fiends. Next up is the Big 10. Give me a couple of days, this one took 2 days to do. (I'm betting because it is MY conference. I'm HOPING because it is MY conference. And because it is over 3,000 words maybe?)

-Your Gridiron Goddess

Offence: A+

Defence: A+

Special Teams: A+

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2.Arizona State

Offence: A+

Defence: A

Special Teams: A-

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3.Oregon

Offence: A

Defence: B+

Special Teams: A-

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4.Ucla

Offence: A-

Defence: B

Special Teams: B-

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5.Washington

Offence: A

Defence: C+

Special Teams: B+

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6.Cal

Offence: B

Defence: B

Special Teams: C

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7.Arizona

Offence:A

Defence:C+

Special Teams:C-

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8.Oregon State

Offence: B

Defence: C+

Special Teams: C

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9.Washington State

Offence: B

Defence: C

Special Teams: C+

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10.Stanford

Offence: C

Defence: B

Special Teams: C-

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Please Comment guys =)

We can't imagine being raised without a dad, then watching the two father figures in your life pass away in the same year.  We gotta believe that a situation like that would send anyone into a bad spiral.  But the thing about this story is that it isn't a sad one.  This spring, Sammie Stroughter is back. 

While this is great news for Stroughter, his family, and Oregon State; it's bad news for the rest of the Pac-10.  The guy is an athlete and danger on every play to take it to the house.  We're assuming he'll be back returning punts as well, giving him even more opportunities each game to have an impact. 

Sammie Stroughter beat depression, now he tries to beat the Pac-10.

After the jump, video of a Stroughter punt return TD aganist Boise State:

Oregon State's Stroughter stronger than ever after tragic year [ESPN]

Urban Dictionary has just added this term to it's growing lexicon.  And how flipping appropriate it is.

Rey Maualuga,  USC's ubiquitous middle linebacker, is known for his hard hitting, punishing ways. And he doesn't limit it to opponents either.  He even does it to his own teammates in practices. (Dear Patrick Turner, how's that shoulder stinger Rey inflicted in practice?)

Maualuga has 194 tackles to date.  He is a senior standing 6'2 and weighing in at 260lbs. He is on the "watch list" for the 2008 Lombardi Award and Bronko Nagurski Award.   

UVA, Ohio State, Notre Dame, UCLA, UW, Wash State, Oregon, Oregon State, Arizona, ASU, Cal, Stanford: You've been warned.

-Your Gridiron Goddess

It's nice that Penn State scheduled Oregon State, don't get me wrong.  Any non-conference opponent whose name doesn't include the words "Coastal", "Youngstown", or..."Emple" is a nice change.  But this shouldn't be a remotely competitive game*.  Mike Riley's a good coach -- probably a very good coach by collegiate standards -- but Oregon State lost way too many players to graduation and those who return aren't that great.  You have to give them some credit for finishing 9-4 while throwing only 11 TD's against 21 INT's, though.  Chalk that up to being 8th nationally in total defense, but everyone from that side of the ball (save two corners and a safety) is gone for 2008.

As usual, we won't know what kind of team Penn State has until Big Ten conference play begins (September 27 vs. Illinois). 

* - Put another way, I think this was a shrewdly chosen opponent, and I don't think there's any way Penn State would have looked at Oregon State's returning starters heading into the 2007 season and decided to schedule the Beavers.  But that's the cynic in me.

From a somewhat broad question of “what are students doing to help or hurt themselves” and a greater focus on the financial aspect of that topic, our story has come together rather organically out of our interviews and questionnaires: we asked these questions to as many students and faculty members as we could find. Their answers edified and surprised us.

In her experience many students either do not correctly understand the process or don't contact their offices until they are already in dire financial conditions. "Poor planning" can lead to catastrophe later on, Brady-Glassman said. The office sees its biggest volume the first week, which is often too late for very much to be done as deadlines for various applications to financial aid programs are handled in advance of the academic term.

Financial concerns are becoming a greater issue in no small part because, while costs of higher education rise, the financial aid itself is not increasing. Also difficult is the summer term, as aid is allotted to the main year, with summer being the 'leftover'. In regards to the new student debt policy, Brady-Glassman noted that federal aid can only be used for the current term and not for debts from past terms.

Many students contribute to their financial issues with their spending habits, without fully grasping the "concept of a budget," Brady-Glassman said. This can be especially bad for students whom receive aid at the beginning of a term and find themselves very short through the winter break.

Students whom want to support themselves with a job rather than entirely through aid or their parents don't have it easy, either. Young adults in the 18-24 age bracket with no credit history or work experience can find it exceedingly difficult to find employment, especially in a smaller college town like Corvallis.

In Brady-Glassman's 19 years of experience in the Financial Aid department she has notice that "students seem to be a lot more stressed out" then before. Rates of student depression are much higher. "...money is a stressful topic" to begin with, so students can go from being upset to either angry or relieved depending on what support they may or may not be eligible for.

Family support has radically changed as well. Parental coddling in terms of finances becomes an issue as well, since it deprives their offspring of responsibility towards their own finances that they necessarily must face, not only in college but life afterwards.

It's not entirely negative an outlook, however. Returning students meeting deadlines suggest a greater awareness for some. Brady-Glassman said that offering information through the website has helped lower their rate of phone calls, and that the Financial Aid office is "always trying to improve communication."

As for use of new/social media to help with this goal, Brady-Glassman explained that the Financial Aid office simply lacks the staffing for such an undertaking. However the OSU Admissions Office does have a blog, through which they direct relevant Q+A to the Financial Aid office.

Awareness of the Financial Aid office's location was not perceived as a problem to Brady-Glassman. Students often don't come to Financial Aid until they are dire need of its resources, and even then most do not know how much they can or can not be helped. Brady-Glassman pointed out that there are many "misconceptions about aid" arising from anecdotal information of acquaintances. Such information is both confidential and often a very different circumstance for each student, and as such cannot be relied on for a reasonable expectation.

Financial Aid's primary method of communication is email. Students who don't check their ONID accounts regularly may miss out on opportunities with a strict time limit, costing them an opportunity for more funds.

Brady-Glassman urged students to become more educated about federal aid because it is very limited. The idea of a mandatory class on how to balance a budget for students is a popular one in theory but not so much in practice. Financial responsibility is a "dry, boring topic," Brady-Glassman said, and very seldom are students "on the ball".

When it comes to finances, students are "so hand-held out of high school," said Brady-Glassman. By sophomore year there is a significant drop-off in students coming in to the Financial Aid office.

Bennett believes the biggest problem is education - when it comes to financial responsibilities most students "have no idea," she said. On a scale of one to ten, Bennett would rank students' awareness of their financial aid options as a "4 or 5," depending on their academic major - an economics student might have an advantage in this regard to a liberal arts student, and so on. When it comes to stress, Bennett also observed that students whom are finally seeking out help are most likely "higher than average" in their stress level.

What students can do about this is to be "proactive," Bennett said, attending informational presentations, and doing their own research into possible scholarship opportunities.

Bennett noted that one thing students are very aware of is their long-term financial goals, such as their savings, retirement plans, or social security. Even if they don't know how to accomplish these things many students are aware of them, perhaps from observing their parents' struggles to meet similar goals of their own.

Bennett, whom has worked continuously through college up to this term, her last before graduation, agrees that starting the job process can be "rough" without any experience, and considers starting a savings account set aside for future goals to be a personal financial success.

She hopes the new student debt policy "will motivate students" to be more aggressive about managing their finances.

Financial aid problems can lead to credit issues quite quickly. While financial aid is a considerable stressor it is not the only "issue," Bamba said.

Bamba believes the biggest problem for students is management of funds and lack of aid. Students often try to find jobs during the summer term. Contributing problems might include irresponsibility or online gambling, which can both be quite detrimental to a student budget.

Students, if they are dependent, might be embarrassed to speak to their parents about their financial issues. "Parents are a lot more involved in student's lives...not just [in] K-12 but college" as well, Bamba said.

Because of this increased level of parental guidance, when students are left to their own devices, they may quickly find themselves out of their depth and without an idea of what to do or even what questions to ask regarding financial management.

Among the students Bamba counsels there is a low awareness of financial options, and a need for information. The counselor insists, however, that students are always "open to hearing" about solutions.

Concerns that were common among many of these students included credit card debt, the stresses of trying to balance between school and either employment or the job search, and almost unanimously a call for more information and education on financial options.

The rising cost of not only tuition but books, gas, and other expenses of living did not go unnoticed. 22-year-old Brittany White pointed out that "most students are unable to work and attend school full time, while trying to meet their financial needs."

Accounting major Ben Mathias thought that "most OSU students are actually confused about their financial options." Biochemistry & Biophysics major Kevin Dunn, 19, disagreed: "I'd say students are pretty aware of their financial options...but most students don't understand what they do and do not qualify for, and therefore miss out on valid opportunities."

Surprisingly, many of the students surveyed were not aware of the Financial Aid office's location or had ever even been there - their exploration of their student aid options often being done exclusively online.

Lily Lin, a 19-year-old Business Administration major, said that "the internet is a great way to spread financial [advice] to students." The concept of using new technologies to disseminate financial education was one that many students seemed to find very convenient. Carrie Fox, a 35-year-old Accounting major, makes the case that use of social media "can educate people at a much larger rate than just relying on printed material to do it."

22-year-old Blake Seabough agreed. "Awareness would be the best financial advice."

***

Theodore Mintesnot is a current student of Oregon State University. He hails from Northeast Portland, his hometown, and currently remains undeclared of an academic major.

Well, merely hours after that post, the Bears went nucking futs, signing all 2008 seventh-round picks to four-year deals.

Michigan State defensive end Ervin Baldwin, Georgia guard Chester "Big Cheese" Adams, Oregon State linebacker Joey LaRocque, Ohio State tackle Kirk Barton and Arkansas wide receiver Marcus Monk were all recepients of contracts.

That makes six done deals on the day for general manager Jerry Angelo and staff. It currently ties them with Miami and Monty Hall for most in the NFL.

click picture for full size. Then right click the picture and select "set as desktop background" on the drop down menu.

Case in point is when I washed an abundance of t-shirts, I started to count. While I didn't wash ever bit of clothing I own (There are some shirts and stuff in my third-story "bedroom"), there are a TON of wrestling shirts.

I didn't actually start collecting wrestling t-shirts on purpose, it just started happening. I'm sure parents and wrestlers can also relate, probably picking up t-shirts from local tournaments to the NCAA's and of course, high school state tournaments.

But as I broke them down even more ... this particular grouping ... 371 team wrestling shirts. I'm talking about shirts that have a team on them in some way, shape or form. Off the top of my head: Missouri, Old Dominion, Fresno State, Oregon State, Indiana (which I swiped from Mike Dixon), Central Missouri (road crew bright yellow), St. Mark's High School, Bishop Lynch, Poquoson (my alma mater), Great Bridge, Norfolk Collegiate (that's from you Mike Newbern), Bruton High School, St. Cloud State, Iowa Lakes, Montana State-Northern, Bucknell, Illinois, Franklin & Marshall, Virginia Tech, Iowa, Minnesota, UT-Arlington (Shawn Wilson and Jeff McCall represent!) ... the list just goes on and on.

I traded a Beast of the East polo a few years back for a trio of Kaukana (Wis.) wrestling tees. Great fans up there in Cheese Country.

That doesn't include the "event" shirts I have from numerous Junior Nationals with Team Virginia, Beasts of the Easts, Ironmans, NCAA Championships and even some from the High School tournament I ran back in Virginia, the Mat Talk Ram Rumble, an event I ran under my old site, Mat Talk On-Line.

My college buddy Charlie Busch, a great Irish lad from Minnesota, had a blanket one of, I believe, his grandparents or aunt made. It was a patchwork quilt of the fronts of all the wrestling t-shirts he'd grown out of. I thought that was very cool. His aunt Sharon makes some bang-bang Amish muffins, too.

Question for the group: Most obscure wrestling t-shirt in your drawer. Discuss.

The Ducks beat the Beavers in so many ways. They are better at academics. They are located in a better city. Their football team kicks the Beaver team's ass. They have a better stadium and get more money from my friends (my friends have a LOT of money!). Their colors are so much better. You would think I would like the Beaver colors because they use black and orange and those are Halloween colors. I have actually never favored those colors for Halloween--MY holiday, you know. Yellow and green seem so springlike and kind of the anti-Satan. Little does anyone know these colors are the color of the devil. I use them to mask the true power. Ever notice how everyone gets all sneezy and allergic during the spring? That would be from the YELLOW pollen from the GREEN plants. My doing. Yep. Ever notice the colors of snot running down your face when you have a particularly hideous viral strain? My doing. Yep again. I win. So while it seems like I would love the black and orange combo of the Beavers, I don't. They suck. I know the Other One probably likes the other team, but the Other One is an idiot. We all know that. The Ducks rule. That's all there is to it.

The Bears picked Vanderbilt wide receiver Earl Bennett and Arkansas defensive tackle Marcus Harrison in Round 3. After two trades, the Bears took LSU safety Craig Steltz in Round 4. In the fifth round, Nebraska cornerback Zack Bowman and Michigan State tight end Kellen Davis were the choices. The Bears exhausted their remaining five picks, all seventh rounders, on Michigan State defensive end Ervin Baldwin, Georgia guard Chester Adams, Oregon State linebacker Joey LaRocque, Ohio State tackle Kirk Barton and Arkansas wide receiver Marcus Monk.

Obviously, it's too early to grade the Bears' draft in terms of talent as we'll just have to see how these players pan out. Based on needs, they did a good job of addressing critical areas with their first five picks. After that, cornerback Zack Bowman was a bit of a reach, especially with the seemingly plethora of talent still available at offensive line positions. Yet, I could see the thinking behind it. If Bowman stays healthy and returns to pre-injury form, the reward for this pick could be enormous.

The Bears must have felt Davis was just too good to pass up in Round 5. It's a great value pick certainly but we could have picked up our John Gilmore-replacing, blocking tight end much later. Baldwin was a puzzling selection because, again, there were so many offensive lineman for the taking at that pick.

In Round 7, the Bears finally added depth to the o-line with Barton and Adams. Wow. Last year's draft selection, Josh Beekman, must be making serious strides if the Bears feel that comfortable with their o-line to wait until the seventh round to take their second and third guys.

By the way. Marcus Monk is not 6'8, 6'7 or even 6'6. He's 6'4. I like him as a red zone target. I was getting a little weary that the Bears would only draft one receiver this year. Despite the lack of a clear top-tier wideout in this year's Draft, there were plenty of talented Day Two guys to want to take a flyer on.

Overall, I give the Bears 8/10 Lovie Smith bobbleheads.

Now, I want to know what you guys think?

Did the Bears do a good enough job addressing key areas?

What picks did you like? What picks didn't you like?

Remember, many undrafted free agents now loom around the invisible NFL wire. We'll see if I can come up with a list of players worth taking a chance on in a later post.

It's out of control. If George W. Bush proposed these things there would be a hue and cry of epic proportions. But some minor ex-coach who became principal or superintendent when he started losing games decides to do this stuff and we clap.

We are not training our kids to be thinking citizens...but to think that its ok for minor government officials to watch their every move on camera and control their daily existence...and to obey. Like thats normal. It should not be normal.

That is far more dangerous than a little blue hair or a Midol or a thong. We are raising drones, stamping out any differences, and cheering about it.

We are surprised when our kids are cynical...but we tell them that they are unique snowflakes..and then put them in uniforms to be the same. We send them to Civics class to learn how wonderful it is to be free and all of the rights we have...and then censor their newspaper, search them, and make them pee in a cup. Damn right I wouldn't believe Civics class either.

"It is a great pleasure to announce that Mark Barnard will now be our program's Associate Head Coach,” head coach Taras Liskevych said. “Mark's head coaching ability was a key factor in getting the Austrailian National Women's Team to the World Championship in 2001. While I was consulting in Australia in this time period, we discussed the possibility of working together in the future. more