Pac-12: Boston College Eagles
Arizona gets LB help; what about Casteel?
January, 9, 2012
Jan 9
10:08
AM ET
By
Ted Miller | ESPN.com
With the transfer of the nation's second leading tackler, Arizona's glaring need at linebacker just got a boost.
Akron linebacker Brian Wagner will enroll at Arizona this week and will be immediately eligible due to an NCAA rule that allows athletes pursuing graduate degrees not offered at the former school to play right away.
Wagner, 22, averaged 13.36 tackles per game in 2011, and considering top tackler Luke Kuechly of Boston College is off to the NFL, Wagner will be the top returning tackler in FBS football.
Wagner, who earned first-team All-MAC honors, is taking advantage of the same transfer rule that was used by Wisconsin quarterback Russell Wilson.
Why is this a big get for Arizona? Because its top two tacklers, Derek Earls and Paul Vassallo, are graduating, and the Wildcats' top two returning linebackers -- sophomores Hank Hobson and Rob Hankins -- combined for four starts and 18 tackles last season, in large part due to the Wildcats using a base nickel formation much of the season. But when you toss in 2010 starter Jake Fischer, who is coming back from an ACL injury, you have four experienced guys for three spots.
And, yes, you can essentially pencil Wagner, 6-foot, 235 pounds, into the starting lineup.
From the Tucson Citizen:
As for that defensive coordinator, nothing yet -- I found this to be an interesting narrative on back-and-forth with West Virginia DC Jeff Casteel. Speculation that Penn State also might be a player with Casteel raised one of my eyebrows, though Casteel's 3-3-5 doesn't sound like a Penn State defense.
Akron linebacker Brian Wagner will enroll at Arizona this week and will be immediately eligible due to an NCAA rule that allows athletes pursuing graduate degrees not offered at the former school to play right away.
Wagner, 22, averaged 13.36 tackles per game in 2011, and considering top tackler Luke Kuechly of Boston College is off to the NFL, Wagner will be the top returning tackler in FBS football.
Wagner, who earned first-team All-MAC honors, is taking advantage of the same transfer rule that was used by Wisconsin quarterback Russell Wilson.
Why is this a big get for Arizona? Because its top two tacklers, Derek Earls and Paul Vassallo, are graduating, and the Wildcats' top two returning linebackers -- sophomores Hank Hobson and Rob Hankins -- combined for four starts and 18 tackles last season, in large part due to the Wildcats using a base nickel formation much of the season. But when you toss in 2010 starter Jake Fischer, who is coming back from an ACL injury, you have four experienced guys for three spots.
And, yes, you can essentially pencil Wagner, 6-foot, 235 pounds, into the starting lineup.
From the Tucson Citizen:
He played middle linebacker in a 4-3 scheme at Akron. Exactly where he fits into Arizona’s scheme is to be determined, Wagner said, with the Cats presumably running a 3-3-5, no matter who coach Rich Rodriguez eventually brings in as defensive coordinator.
As for that defensive coordinator, nothing yet -- I found this to be an interesting narrative on back-and-forth with West Virginia DC Jeff Casteel. Speculation that Penn State also might be a player with Casteel raised one of my eyebrows, though Casteel's 3-3-5 doesn't sound like a Penn State defense.
The inaugural Kraft Fighting Hunger Bowl brought up the rear of the 2011 bowl season, but in its second iteration will ring in a New Year.
The bowl formerly know as the Emerald Bowl will be played on Dec. 31 at AT& T Park, with kickoff set for 3:30 p.m. ET. on ESPN.
The bowl game is contracted to feature the Pac-12's No. 6 team and Army, if it wins six games and becomes bowl eligible. Last season, no Pac-10 team qualified and the game featured Nevada beating Boston College 20-13 on Jan. 9, which made it the final bowl game before the BCS Championship Game.
Here's the Pac-12 bowl lineup for 2011-12 (the conference will add the New Mexico Bowl -- No. 7 selection -- in 2012).
No. 1 : Rose Bowl Game presented by VIZIO, Jan. 2 (Jan. 1, the bowl's traditional date, falls on a Sunday, when no bowl game will be played this year) OR Allstate BCS National Championship, Jan. 9
No. 2: Valero Alamo Bowl vs. Big 12 No. 3, Dec. 29.
No. 3: Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl vs. Big 12 No. 5, Dec. 28.
No. 4: Hyundai Sun Bowl vs. ACC No. 4, Dec. 31.
No. 5: MAACO Las Vegas vs. Mountain West No. 1, Dec. 22
No. 6: Kraft Fight Hunger vs. Army (if eligible), Dec. 31.
The bowl formerly know as the Emerald Bowl will be played on Dec. 31 at AT& T Park, with kickoff set for 3:30 p.m. ET. on ESPN.
The bowl game is contracted to feature the Pac-12's No. 6 team and Army, if it wins six games and becomes bowl eligible. Last season, no Pac-10 team qualified and the game featured Nevada beating Boston College 20-13 on Jan. 9, which made it the final bowl game before the BCS Championship Game.
Here's the Pac-12 bowl lineup for 2011-12 (the conference will add the New Mexico Bowl -- No. 7 selection -- in 2012).
No. 1 : Rose Bowl Game presented by VIZIO, Jan. 2 (Jan. 1, the bowl's traditional date, falls on a Sunday, when no bowl game will be played this year) OR Allstate BCS National Championship, Jan. 9
No. 2: Valero Alamo Bowl vs. Big 12 No. 3, Dec. 29.
No. 3: Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl vs. Big 12 No. 5, Dec. 28.
No. 4: Hyundai Sun Bowl vs. ACC No. 4, Dec. 31.
No. 5: MAACO Las Vegas vs. Mountain West No. 1, Dec. 22
No. 6: Kraft Fight Hunger vs. Army (if eligible), Dec. 31.
Did your team mute explosive offenses?
February, 23, 2011
2/23/11
4:01
PM ET
By
Ted Miller | ESPN.com
Coaches love talking about explosion plays. You want to get a lot of them and give up very few.
On Tuesday, we looked at offensive explosion plays -- plays of 20 or more yards -- which you can see here. Tomorrow, we'll look at explosion plays in terms of rushing offense and rushing defense. On Friday, we'll look at explosion plays in terms of passing numbers.
So here's how the Pac-12 stacked up in 2010 (again, thanks to ESPN Stats & Information). The number to the left in national rank. The number to the right is the total number of explosion plays in 2010.
7. California... 34
13. Arizona State... 38
21. Arizona... 41
28. Stanford... 43
49. Oregon... 49
52. Colorado... 50
60. Utah... 52
63. Oregon State... 53
63. Washington... 53
84. UCLA... 59
95. Washington State...62
99. USC... 63
It's interesting that the defensive numbers are better than the offensive: average rank of 53 on defense versus 65 on offense. Isn't the Pac-12 supposed to be flashy on O and soft on D? The SEC's average rank on defense was 54, even with two top-10 teams (No. 2 Florida & No. 9 LSU).
Of course, Utah and Colorado weren't in the Pac-10 last year (average rank of Pac-10 was 52).
Wow. USC. That's terrible.
Some other thoughts.
But do limiting explosion plays on defense equate to winning? Short answer: Mostly, but not as much as the offensive numbers, at least this past season. Here's the top-10 in 2010 with the team's record in parenthesis to the right.
1. Pittsburgh... 30 (8-5)
2. Florida... 32 (8-5)
2. TCU... 32 (13-0)
4. West Virginia... 33 (9-4)
4. Iowa... 33 (8-5)
4. Temple... 33 (8-4)
7. Kent State... 34 (5-7)
7. California... 34 (5-7)
9. LSU... 36 (11-2)
10. Boston College.. 37 (7-6)
10. Ohio State... 37 (12-1)
Two teams have losing records, but three won 11 or more games. Still, it's a bit surprising that eight of 11 lost four or more games.
As for a correlation to defensive success: Every team here ranked in the top-42 in the nation in scoring defense and eight were ranked in the top-20. TCU, West Virginia, Ohio State, Iowa and LSU ranked in the top-11 in scoring defense.
On Tuesday, we looked at offensive explosion plays -- plays of 20 or more yards -- which you can see here. Tomorrow, we'll look at explosion plays in terms of rushing offense and rushing defense. On Friday, we'll look at explosion plays in terms of passing numbers.
So here's how the Pac-12 stacked up in 2010 (again, thanks to ESPN Stats & Information). The number to the left in national rank. The number to the right is the total number of explosion plays in 2010.
7. California... 34
13. Arizona State... 38
21. Arizona... 41
28. Stanford... 43
49. Oregon... 49
52. Colorado... 50
60. Utah... 52
63. Oregon State... 53
63. Washington... 53
84. UCLA... 59
95. Washington State...62
99. USC... 63
It's interesting that the defensive numbers are better than the offensive: average rank of 53 on defense versus 65 on offense. Isn't the Pac-12 supposed to be flashy on O and soft on D? The SEC's average rank on defense was 54, even with two top-10 teams (No. 2 Florida & No. 9 LSU).
Of course, Utah and Colorado weren't in the Pac-10 last year (average rank of Pac-10 was 52).
Wow. USC. That's terrible.
Some other thoughts.
- In 2009, Oregon was No. 1 in the Pac-10 and tied for 18th in the nation with 41 explosion plays yielded. Oregon State was second with 43 (25th in nation).
- Don't be too surprised by Oregon's middling number in 2010: The Ducks play an aggressive, attacking scheme that sometimes leaves them vulnerable. And they also see a lot of plays, which means more opportunities for an offense to break one.
- USC tanked in 2010. It ranked second in the nation in 2008 with 22 and 28th in the nation in 2009 with 43. So in the first season under touted coordinator Monte Kiffin, the Trojans nearly tripled the number of explosion plays they surrendered in 2008.
- Washington State ranked 95th in 2010 (62), 113th in 2009 (69) and 116th (75) in 2008. So that's improvement. Slow improvement.
- Remember how it seemed like former Cal defensive coordinator Bob Gregory's defense was conservative, which would suggest not yielding a lot of explosion plays? Well, in 2009 the Bears ranked 89th (58), so that's significant improvement in year one under Clancy Pendergast. Of course, in 2008, the Bears ranked 14th (38).
- Teams that ranked in the top-10 the past three years: Florida, TCU and Iowa. Ohio State and Penn State were also notably consistent.
But do limiting explosion plays on defense equate to winning? Short answer: Mostly, but not as much as the offensive numbers, at least this past season. Here's the top-10 in 2010 with the team's record in parenthesis to the right.
1. Pittsburgh... 30 (8-5)
2. Florida... 32 (8-5)
2. TCU... 32 (13-0)
4. West Virginia... 33 (9-4)
4. Iowa... 33 (8-5)
4. Temple... 33 (8-4)
7. Kent State... 34 (5-7)
7. California... 34 (5-7)
9. LSU... 36 (11-2)
10. Boston College.. 37 (7-6)
10. Ohio State... 37 (12-1)
Two teams have losing records, but three won 11 or more games. Still, it's a bit surprising that eight of 11 lost four or more games.
As for a correlation to defensive success: Every team here ranked in the top-42 in the nation in scoring defense and eight were ranked in the top-20. TCU, West Virginia, Ohio State, Iowa and LSU ranked in the top-11 in scoring defense.
If you follow me on Twitter, you will be fitter, legitter and not a quitter. And you probably don't litter.
To the notes.
Dunbar from Front Royal, Va., writes: Besides strength of schedule, the main reason Oregon looks weak to the computers is that the computers are blind to margin of victory. A human will be impressed by a 60-13 victory over UCLA and skeptical of a 3 point win over Kentucky (ala Auburn), but all the computers are allowed to see are Ws over mediocre teams. Interestingly, Sagarin and Massey both have the Ducks at #1 when taking into account score. Now I'm not too worried about Oregon making the NC, provided they win out, but it strikes me that a team like Boise State is the real loser of such a system, since the computers cannot acknowledge how impressive they've been against their admittedly weak schedule. Why the idiotic BCS rule of throwing away good information by not allowing computers to know the margin of victory? And let's not pretend this is about sportsmanship -- the geeks could easily implement a margin-of-victory ceiling.
Ted Miller: I agree. You could install a the margin of victory distinction that only registers to, say, 28 points, which would mean there's no need to score a fourth-quarter touchdown if you're winning by 40. Unless you're Jim Harbaugh and Pete Carroll is back coaching at USC.
Margin of victory was eliminated from the BCS system in 2001. Now, some Ducks fans may know what's coming, but I'll let Chris Dufresne of the LA Times explain.
Hancock said BCS conference commissioners discuss MOV every year but are intent on keeping it out of the computer component.
I think the topic should be revisited.
Jesse from Eugene, Ore., writes: Why do you think Arizona State and Washington State did (comparatively) well against Oregon?
Ted Miller: The first thing that comes to mind is the Ducks were on the road against an opponent they expected to beat, which sometimes inspires a state of mind that produces mediocre to bad performances. Oregon's good enough to win, however, even when it doesn't bring its proverbial "A-game."
In the Washington State game, the Ducks also had to deal with the emotions of Kenjon Barner's scary head injury as well quarterback Darron Thomas leaving the game with a shoulder injury.
As for ASU, I think the Sun Devils had a good plan on defense and executed it well -- including the sprained ankles that healed so, so quickly.
Justin from Butte, Mont., writes: I am a life long CU fan and I'm very excited to join the Pac 12. Obviously CU has some issues to work out, but true CU fans love the team regardless and it seems like you do a great job of reporting on the WSU's of the world as well as USC and Oregon. My only request is that you try to bring Utah and CU into your blogging before the official conference switch. As a Buff fan, the past decade has been spent looking towards the future. 2011 should be a great time on many fronts.
Ted Miller: I've been thinking about doing this -- posting some Utah and Colorado updates so everyone can get to know each other. You'll find that everyone gets along great in the Pac-10 blog and no one trolls. It's all about love.
Just, whatever you do, don't say anything nice about Jake Locker.
Rey from Tucson writes: In regards to the current Pac-10 standings I know it's premature to say who will go to what bowl game but I was wondering in a possible scenario. If Oregon wins out and is headed to the National Championship game and Arizona wins out but loses to Oregon is their a possibility that a 2 loss Arizona team still gets into the Rose Bowl or would Arizona be headed to the Alamo Bowl. I was trying to remember if I've ever seen a two loss team in a BCS game and i can't think of one.
Ted Miller: A two-loss team -- LSU -- won the national title in 2007, a year in which it seemed like no one wanted to win the title. You'll notice that the top-six teams all had two losses, four top-10 teams lost three games (Texas and Boston College were tied at 10th) and No. 12 Tennessee had four losses.
So seasons of chaos have happened before.
If Arizona ends up with two losses, and Oregon plays for the national title, the Wildcats will have a decent chance of playing in the Rose Bowl. You should first root for a non-AQ team to play the Ducks for the title because the Rose Bowl is obligated to select a non-AQ if it loses a Pac-10 or Big Ten team to the national title game. If a non-AQ team does go to the Rose Bowl, then the bowl has the option of picking an eligible team from the Big Ten or Pac-10, and the Big Ten has a reputation for traveling better.
Still, the fact that Arizona has never played in the Rose Bowl should bolster its chances. I know one Rose Bowl executive who'd be in favor of the Wildcats.
Rob from Lafayette, Calif., writes: Lifelong Cal fan here. I know that Tedford says that Riley is head and shoulders above Mansion and Sweeney, but does that also mean that newcomers Austin Hinder and Allan Bridgford are performing at an even lower level? With Riley's graduation looming, who will step up as the best quarterback for the Bears in the years to come?
Ted Miller: That's hard to say. Brock Mansion has broken through as a solid No. 2, but obviously he's not good enough to displace Riley. I don't see him as an overwhelming frontrunner to win the starting job in 2011 heading into the spring.
To be honest, I don't know much about the youngsters. And anything I know now wouldn't be terribly relevant because things will be far different in the spring when the competition begins in earnest.
My feeling, though, is this one will be wide open -- one of the top competitions in the Pac-10.
Bruce from Portland writes: "No. 2 Oregon (7-0, 4-0) at No. 24 USC (5-2, 2-2), ABC" Uh, if you're going to use AP rankings, it's No. 1 Oregon. If you're going to use BCS, USC isn't ranked! I'd prefer that you use AP for both, but it's silly to switch from one to the other in mid-sentence. You're often clever, but silliness doesn't become you.
Ted Miller: Silliness most certainly becomes me. It's probity that I struggle with.
ESPN.com policy is to use the rankings from the BCS standings. USC isn't eligible to be ranked in the BCS standings, the USA Today Coaches Poll or the Harris Poll. So the only way to note the "quality" of USC is to use the AP ranking, if the Trojans have one, as they presently do.
Oregon fans have repeatedly asked about whether USC's NCAA sanctions would hurt the conference -- read: the Ducks -- in the BCS standings. I think pointing out USC's AP ranking helps establish that the Trojans are a quality team, whatever the NCAA ruling.
Nathan from Boston writes: After reading the Duck depth article. How come nobody posts "minutes played" stats in football? Offensive time of position is posted, but minutes played by each player is not. It is posted in Basketball, which like football is start/stop by nature-- and would relevant for understanding how much players are contributing relative to PT, both on offense and defense.
Ted Miller: Minutes played wouldn't be as valuable as "total plays." I know coaches keep track of that, but I've never seen it in the "official" stats that are provided to the media.
But the more I thought about this, I see your point. It would be particularly interesting to keep track of player rotations and personnel groupings.
Ah, and that's probably why it's not provided: It's would be valuable to other coaches.
Everybody from Everywhere writes: Your best case scenario for the Pac-10 is impossible.Oregon can't be 12-0, Stanford 11-1, and Arizona 10-2, since UA lost to Oregon State.
Ted Miller: Yep. That was embarrassing and sloppy on my part. Changed it with Arizona finishing 9-3 (losses to Oregon State already and Stanford and Oregon ahead).
Doesn't change the point, but it certainly is distracting when a reporter can't do basic math.
My bad.
Ian from Corvallis, Ore., writes: Ted you stated an incorrect fact in your chat today. James Rodgers did not play versus ASU. Come on now.
Ted Miller: You are correct. He had a concussion before he hurt his knee.
Mike from Los Angeles writes: As the Pac 10 blogger, I thought I'd forward you this story as well as put in a request. If you don't mind, I think Bruin Fans all around would appreciate it if you'd put a little plug in one of your articles and/or announce it on your twitter. This is a story from BruinsNation about a kid who is going through Cancer and how he is raising money for Pediatric Cancer Research.
Ted Miller: Great stuff. Inspiring. Everyone needs to check out the story.
Tyler, is a gutty little Bruin.
Good luck to him. And keep us updated.
To the notes.
Dunbar from Front Royal, Va., writes: Besides strength of schedule, the main reason Oregon looks weak to the computers is that the computers are blind to margin of victory. A human will be impressed by a 60-13 victory over UCLA and skeptical of a 3 point win over Kentucky (ala Auburn), but all the computers are allowed to see are Ws over mediocre teams. Interestingly, Sagarin and Massey both have the Ducks at #1 when taking into account score. Now I'm not too worried about Oregon making the NC, provided they win out, but it strikes me that a team like Boise State is the real loser of such a system, since the computers cannot acknowledge how impressive they've been against their admittedly weak schedule. Why the idiotic BCS rule of throwing away good information by not allowing computers to know the margin of victory? And let's not pretend this is about sportsmanship -- the geeks could easily implement a margin-of-victory ceiling.
Ted Miller: I agree. You could install a the margin of victory distinction that only registers to, say, 28 points, which would mean there's no need to score a fourth-quarter touchdown if you're winning by 40. Unless you're Jim Harbaugh and Pete Carroll is back coaching at USC.
Margin of victory was eliminated from the BCS system in 2001. Now, some Ducks fans may know what's coming, but I'll let Chris Dufresne of the LA Times explain.
The irony: Oregon's national title drive in 2001 was derailed because margin of victory was in the formula -- the Ducks won a lot of close games that year. Oregon finished No. 4 in the BCS despite finishing No. 2 in both polls.
This year, the lack of MOV has hurt Oregon, which has scored several lopsided wins, including a 60-13 decision over UCLA last Thursday.
Hancock said BCS conference commissioners discuss MOV every year but are intent on keeping it out of the computer component.
I think the topic should be revisited.
Jesse from Eugene, Ore., writes: Why do you think Arizona State and Washington State did (comparatively) well against Oregon?
Ted Miller: The first thing that comes to mind is the Ducks were on the road against an opponent they expected to beat, which sometimes inspires a state of mind that produces mediocre to bad performances. Oregon's good enough to win, however, even when it doesn't bring its proverbial "A-game."
In the Washington State game, the Ducks also had to deal with the emotions of Kenjon Barner's scary head injury as well quarterback Darron Thomas leaving the game with a shoulder injury.
As for ASU, I think the Sun Devils had a good plan on defense and executed it well -- including the sprained ankles that healed so, so quickly.
Justin from Butte, Mont., writes: I am a life long CU fan and I'm very excited to join the Pac 12. Obviously CU has some issues to work out, but true CU fans love the team regardless and it seems like you do a great job of reporting on the WSU's of the world as well as USC and Oregon. My only request is that you try to bring Utah and CU into your blogging before the official conference switch. As a Buff fan, the past decade has been spent looking towards the future. 2011 should be a great time on many fronts.
Ted Miller: I've been thinking about doing this -- posting some Utah and Colorado updates so everyone can get to know each other. You'll find that everyone gets along great in the Pac-10 blog and no one trolls. It's all about love.
Just, whatever you do, don't say anything nice about Jake Locker.
Rey from Tucson writes: In regards to the current Pac-10 standings I know it's premature to say who will go to what bowl game but I was wondering in a possible scenario. If Oregon wins out and is headed to the National Championship game and Arizona wins out but loses to Oregon is their a possibility that a 2 loss Arizona team still gets into the Rose Bowl or would Arizona be headed to the Alamo Bowl. I was trying to remember if I've ever seen a two loss team in a BCS game and i can't think of one.
Ted Miller: A two-loss team -- LSU -- won the national title in 2007, a year in which it seemed like no one wanted to win the title. You'll notice that the top-six teams all had two losses, four top-10 teams lost three games (Texas and Boston College were tied at 10th) and No. 12 Tennessee had four losses.
So seasons of chaos have happened before.
If Arizona ends up with two losses, and Oregon plays for the national title, the Wildcats will have a decent chance of playing in the Rose Bowl. You should first root for a non-AQ team to play the Ducks for the title because the Rose Bowl is obligated to select a non-AQ if it loses a Pac-10 or Big Ten team to the national title game. If a non-AQ team does go to the Rose Bowl, then the bowl has the option of picking an eligible team from the Big Ten or Pac-10, and the Big Ten has a reputation for traveling better.
Still, the fact that Arizona has never played in the Rose Bowl should bolster its chances. I know one Rose Bowl executive who'd be in favor of the Wildcats.
Rob from Lafayette, Calif., writes: Lifelong Cal fan here. I know that Tedford says that Riley is head and shoulders above Mansion and Sweeney, but does that also mean that newcomers Austin Hinder and Allan Bridgford are performing at an even lower level? With Riley's graduation looming, who will step up as the best quarterback for the Bears in the years to come?
Ted Miller: That's hard to say. Brock Mansion has broken through as a solid No. 2, but obviously he's not good enough to displace Riley. I don't see him as an overwhelming frontrunner to win the starting job in 2011 heading into the spring.
To be honest, I don't know much about the youngsters. And anything I know now wouldn't be terribly relevant because things will be far different in the spring when the competition begins in earnest.
My feeling, though, is this one will be wide open -- one of the top competitions in the Pac-10.
Bruce from Portland writes: "No. 2 Oregon (7-0, 4-0) at No. 24 USC (5-2, 2-2), ABC" Uh, if you're going to use AP rankings, it's No. 1 Oregon. If you're going to use BCS, USC isn't ranked! I'd prefer that you use AP for both, but it's silly to switch from one to the other in mid-sentence. You're often clever, but silliness doesn't become you.
Ted Miller: Silliness most certainly becomes me. It's probity that I struggle with.
ESPN.com policy is to use the rankings from the BCS standings. USC isn't eligible to be ranked in the BCS standings, the USA Today Coaches Poll or the Harris Poll. So the only way to note the "quality" of USC is to use the AP ranking, if the Trojans have one, as they presently do.
Oregon fans have repeatedly asked about whether USC's NCAA sanctions would hurt the conference -- read: the Ducks -- in the BCS standings. I think pointing out USC's AP ranking helps establish that the Trojans are a quality team, whatever the NCAA ruling.
Nathan from Boston writes: After reading the Duck depth article. How come nobody posts "minutes played" stats in football? Offensive time of position is posted, but minutes played by each player is not. It is posted in Basketball, which like football is start/stop by nature-- and would relevant for understanding how much players are contributing relative to PT, both on offense and defense.
Ted Miller: Minutes played wouldn't be as valuable as "total plays." I know coaches keep track of that, but I've never seen it in the "official" stats that are provided to the media.
But the more I thought about this, I see your point. It would be particularly interesting to keep track of player rotations and personnel groupings.
Ah, and that's probably why it's not provided: It's would be valuable to other coaches.
Everybody from Everywhere writes: Your best case scenario for the Pac-10 is impossible.Oregon can't be 12-0, Stanford 11-1, and Arizona 10-2, since UA lost to Oregon State.
Ted Miller: Yep. That was embarrassing and sloppy on my part. Changed it with Arizona finishing 9-3 (losses to Oregon State already and Stanford and Oregon ahead).
Doesn't change the point, but it certainly is distracting when a reporter can't do basic math.
My bad.
Ian from Corvallis, Ore., writes: Ted you stated an incorrect fact in your chat today. James Rodgers did not play versus ASU. Come on now.
Ted Miller: You are correct. He had a concussion before he hurt his knee.
Mike from Los Angeles writes: As the Pac 10 blogger, I thought I'd forward you this story as well as put in a request. If you don't mind, I think Bruin Fans all around would appreciate it if you'd put a little plug in one of your articles and/or announce it on your twitter. This is a story from BruinsNation about a kid who is going through Cancer and how he is raising money for Pediatric Cancer Research.
Ted Miller: Great stuff. Inspiring. Everyone needs to check out the story.
Tyler, is a gutty little Bruin.
Good luck to him. And keep us updated.
Ayers, Foster, Matthews are semifinalists
October, 22, 2010
10/22/10
9:15
AM ET
By
Ted Miller | ESPN.com
Three Pac-10 linebackers are among the 15 semifinalists for the Butkus Award, which is presented annually to the nation's best linebacker: UCLA's Akeem Ayers, Washington's Mason Foster and Oregon's Casey Matthews.
(Note: This list has been changed. It originally left off Matthews due to Pac-10 blogger stupidity -- treating a two-page document as just one page!)
My bad.
Here's the complete list of semifinalists:
Akeem Ayers, UCLA
Bruce Carter, North Carolina
Mason Foster, Washington
Mario Harvey, Marshall
Dont'a Hightower, Alabama
Justin Houston, Georgia
Nate Irving, North Carolina State
Greg Jones, Michigan State
Luke Kuechly, Boston College
Travis Lewis, Oklahoma
Casey Matthews, Oregon
Von Miller, Texas A&M
Keenan Robinson, Texas
Sean Spence, Miami (Fla.)
Manti Te'o, Notre Dame
(Note: This list has been changed. It originally left off Matthews due to Pac-10 blogger stupidity -- treating a two-page document as just one page!)
My bad.
Here's the complete list of semifinalists:
Akeem Ayers, UCLA
Bruce Carter, North Carolina
Mason Foster, Washington
Mario Harvey, Marshall
Dont'a Hightower, Alabama
Justin Houston, Georgia
Nate Irving, North Carolina State
Greg Jones, Michigan State
Luke Kuechly, Boston College
Travis Lewis, Oklahoma
Casey Matthews, Oregon
Von Miller, Texas A&M
Keenan Robinson, Texas
Sean Spence, Miami (Fla.)
Manti Te'o, Notre Dame
Opening the mailbag: Does the Pac-10 have a national title contender?
May, 28, 2010
5/28/10
3:00
PM ET
By
Ted Miller | ESPN.com
Howdy. Still on vacation, but the mailbag is not.
To the notes.
Josh from Lynden, Wash., writes: There is a lot being made of the Pac 10 not having a national title contender. Did you see anything in spring ball that would lead you to believe that USC, Oregon or Oregon State could get on a roll this season and be a player in the national picture?
Ted Miller: Couple of things to understand: First, watching one or two practices doesn't typically yield profound insights about a team's ultimate standing. Consider what I wrote about USC last spring. D'oh. Heck, watching every spring practice actually can lead to a false perception inflation or deflation. As in: That defense might look dominant because the O-line is struggling. Or vice versa. Or all those dropped passes or wayward throws might just be a momentary loss of concentration. During practices, success of one unit means a failure on the other. Things on fall Saturdays could look very different.
Second, just because it doesn't look like the Pac-10 has a national title contender right now doesn't mean that will be the case in December. What if USC reverts to its pre-2009 self? Or what if Chip Kelly clicks his heels three times and Nate Costa (or Darron Thomas) seamlessly replaces Jeremiah Masoli as the Oregon QB? And what if Oregon State starts 3-0 with two wins over top-10 teams?
My hunch is the Pac-10 will not contend for a national title this season. But, as many of you enjoy noting, I've been wrong before.
I'm still mad about that one time, by the way.
Sean from Pullman, Wash., writes: If Paul Wulff has another abysmal with the Cougars, and he is ultimately replaced, who do you think they would hire? According to the CBSSports Hot Seat rankings, it seems as though UTEP's Mike Price might be looking for work somewhere else if he doesn't put up. Do you think Bill Moos would go down that road again or would he want to make a bigger splash with his first big hire as AD?
Ted Miller: My first response is that new athletic director Bill Moos, who played a role in Wulff's hiring, is going to try his best to be patient. If the Cougars are consistently more competitive in 2010; if they show clear improvement -- even if that doesn't mean more than three or so wins -- I think Wulff will get a fourth year. At least, that seems like the wise course to me. Moos isn't the "look-at-me!" sort who is eager to make a big splash just for the heck of it. He wants to do what's best for the program.
But to entertain your negative scenario: Price? I'm not sure that (re-)hiring a coach who just turned 64 is the solution.
Also, as a Pac-10 blog principle, I avoid speculating on whom a program might hire if a sitting coach is fired (unless it's an obvious case of "dead man walking"). I would suggest to Cougars fans your best course is to get behind Wulff and his team with a frenzied, unquestioning optimism. No sense worrying until you absolutely have to.
Nate from Houston writes: When it comes to USC's non-conference schedule, you believe the Trojans will go 4-0. Virginia at home seems to be the biggest gimme, but between Hawaii, Minn., and ND, which team do you think will be the biggest challenge for the Trojans and why?
Ted Miller: I think USC will win all four by double-figures. Biggest challenge? Probably Notre Dame because the Fighting Irish, who welcome back 17 starters, are the most talented team among the four. The game is in the Coliseum and the Irish haven't beaten the Trojans since 2001. That weighs heavily in USC's favor. On the other hand, I think Brian Kelly is an outstanding coach and by Nov. 27 his players should know him and his system far better than they would in September.
Sweatervested from Mobile, Ala., writes: Good day to you sir! In your conference rankings you had the SEC 1st (of course.) However, being the wise guy that you are, you said "I have a hunch the SEC won't be on top at season's end." Who are you? Sister Cleo? Who is going to challenge us? Lets see! Texas? Oklahoma? Ohio St.(please)? USC? Oregon (at the very least, you will be able to brag that the best team in the LAC-10 beat a bottom tier SEC team.) Don't you just love us fans of SEC teams?
Ted Miller: It's possible the SEC will take a step back next year, though the conference has earned the benefit of the doubt. The depth is questionable while all the top teams have significant questions, including Alabama (eight defensive starters gone) and Florida (Tim Tebow and eight other guys off to the NFL).
Which conference might prove better? Big 12 for one: Texas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas A&M and Missouri look like top-25 teams. My darkhorse is the ACC, which nonetheless I ranked fifth at this point. I think Miami is close to a breakthrough and Florida State will move up under Jimbo Fisher, while Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech and North Carolina look like top-25 teams. Further, Clemson, Boston College and Wake Forest are solid teams that give the conference depth.
And what if Ohio State, Wisconsin and Iowa all end up in the top-10? Pac-10? It's as deep as any league.
And, yes, I do love you SEC fans.
Kim from Seattle writes: You may find interest in my Spring Stats blog which displays team losses by position, expressed via percentage of stats lost.
Ted Miller: You stat-heads will enjoy Kim's page -- go here.
Ken from Seattle writes: Love the "Dirty Job" line drop! That was one of the best lines from a book full chock full of 'em."Don't be ridiculous, Charlie, people love the parents who beat their kids in department stores. It's the ones who just let their kids wreak havoc that everybody hates. "
Ted Miller: You can see my summer reading has started, eh? That was my first Christopher Moore experience and it won't be my last. Hilarious and a page-turning yarn. Seems to me it would make a great movie. A studio should give Moore a wheelbarrow full of money and let him write up a screen play.
Azhar from Berkeley writes: I liked your old picture better. Make it come back!
Ted Miller: The best way to take in my mug shot is with closed eyes.
But here's a link for the old one if you miss it.
To the notes.
Josh from Lynden, Wash., writes: There is a lot being made of the Pac 10 not having a national title contender. Did you see anything in spring ball that would lead you to believe that USC, Oregon or Oregon State could get on a roll this season and be a player in the national picture?
Ted Miller: Couple of things to understand: First, watching one or two practices doesn't typically yield profound insights about a team's ultimate standing. Consider what I wrote about USC last spring. D'oh. Heck, watching every spring practice actually can lead to a false perception inflation or deflation. As in: That defense might look dominant because the O-line is struggling. Or vice versa. Or all those dropped passes or wayward throws might just be a momentary loss of concentration. During practices, success of one unit means a failure on the other. Things on fall Saturdays could look very different.
Second, just because it doesn't look like the Pac-10 has a national title contender right now doesn't mean that will be the case in December. What if USC reverts to its pre-2009 self? Or what if Chip Kelly clicks his heels three times and Nate Costa (or Darron Thomas) seamlessly replaces Jeremiah Masoli as the Oregon QB? And what if Oregon State starts 3-0 with two wins over top-10 teams?
My hunch is the Pac-10 will not contend for a national title this season. But, as many of you enjoy noting, I've been wrong before.
I'm still mad about that one time, by the way.
Sean from Pullman, Wash., writes: If Paul Wulff has another abysmal with the Cougars, and he is ultimately replaced, who do you think they would hire? According to the CBSSports Hot Seat rankings, it seems as though UTEP's Mike Price might be looking for work somewhere else if he doesn't put up. Do you think Bill Moos would go down that road again or would he want to make a bigger splash with his first big hire as AD?
Ted Miller: My first response is that new athletic director Bill Moos, who played a role in Wulff's hiring, is going to try his best to be patient. If the Cougars are consistently more competitive in 2010; if they show clear improvement -- even if that doesn't mean more than three or so wins -- I think Wulff will get a fourth year. At least, that seems like the wise course to me. Moos isn't the "look-at-me!" sort who is eager to make a big splash just for the heck of it. He wants to do what's best for the program.
But to entertain your negative scenario: Price? I'm not sure that (re-)hiring a coach who just turned 64 is the solution.
Also, as a Pac-10 blog principle, I avoid speculating on whom a program might hire if a sitting coach is fired (unless it's an obvious case of "dead man walking"). I would suggest to Cougars fans your best course is to get behind Wulff and his team with a frenzied, unquestioning optimism. No sense worrying until you absolutely have to.
Nate from Houston writes: When it comes to USC's non-conference schedule, you believe the Trojans will go 4-0. Virginia at home seems to be the biggest gimme, but between Hawaii, Minn., and ND, which team do you think will be the biggest challenge for the Trojans and why?
Ted Miller: I think USC will win all four by double-figures. Biggest challenge? Probably Notre Dame because the Fighting Irish, who welcome back 17 starters, are the most talented team among the four. The game is in the Coliseum and the Irish haven't beaten the Trojans since 2001. That weighs heavily in USC's favor. On the other hand, I think Brian Kelly is an outstanding coach and by Nov. 27 his players should know him and his system far better than they would in September.
Sweatervested from Mobile, Ala., writes: Good day to you sir! In your conference rankings you had the SEC 1st (of course.) However, being the wise guy that you are, you said "I have a hunch the SEC won't be on top at season's end." Who are you? Sister Cleo? Who is going to challenge us? Lets see! Texas? Oklahoma? Ohio St.(please)? USC? Oregon (at the very least, you will be able to brag that the best team in the LAC-10 beat a bottom tier SEC team.) Don't you just love us fans of SEC teams?
Ted Miller: It's possible the SEC will take a step back next year, though the conference has earned the benefit of the doubt. The depth is questionable while all the top teams have significant questions, including Alabama (eight defensive starters gone) and Florida (Tim Tebow and eight other guys off to the NFL).
Which conference might prove better? Big 12 for one: Texas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas A&M and Missouri look like top-25 teams. My darkhorse is the ACC, which nonetheless I ranked fifth at this point. I think Miami is close to a breakthrough and Florida State will move up under Jimbo Fisher, while Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech and North Carolina look like top-25 teams. Further, Clemson, Boston College and Wake Forest are solid teams that give the conference depth.
And what if Ohio State, Wisconsin and Iowa all end up in the top-10? Pac-10? It's as deep as any league.
And, yes, I do love you SEC fans.
Kim from Seattle writes: You may find interest in my Spring Stats blog which displays team losses by position, expressed via percentage of stats lost.
Ted Miller: You stat-heads will enjoy Kim's page -- go here.
Ken from Seattle writes: Love the "Dirty Job" line drop! That was one of the best lines from a book full chock full of 'em."Don't be ridiculous, Charlie, people love the parents who beat their kids in department stores. It's the ones who just let their kids wreak havoc that everybody hates. "
Ted Miller: You can see my summer reading has started, eh? That was my first Christopher Moore experience and it won't be my last. Hilarious and a page-turning yarn. Seems to me it would make a great movie. A studio should give Moore a wheelbarrow full of money and let him write up a screen play.
Azhar from Berkeley writes: I liked your old picture better. Make it come back!
Ted Miller: The best way to take in my mug shot is with closed eyes.
But here's a link for the old one if you miss it.
USC's Kristofer O'Dowd was an adequate center while starting seven games last year, but that's not good enough for a player widely regarded as the best in the nation at his position when the season began.
It was not unlike going 9-4 for USC. A majority of programs would celebrate a nine-win season. For the Trojans, it represents failure and inspires talk that one of college football's great dynasties is crumbling.
O'Dowd dislocated his right knee cap during fall camp and never seemed to fully recover. The Trojans just seemed dislocated from the swaggering, dominant program that had won seven consecutive Pac-10 titles and two national championships.
"In those games I played, I wasn't playing to my capability," O'Dowd said. "What hurt the most was knowing I could play at a certain level and knowing what I could do but I wasn't getting there. That was the most frustrating thing ... [Because of his knee injury] I couldn't get the drive I was used to. I would just have the stalemate, which is acceptable at some places but it isn't acceptable for myself and the program here."
You could sort of substitute "USC" for "I" in that quote and get an accurate feel for the Trojans in 2009.
"What was our record? 9-4? That's a great year for other programs but is not acceptable for us," O'Dowd said.
O'Dowd, now the line's senior leader, is back this spring (though he missed some action after spraining his left knee) and so might be that swagger. It's no secret new coach Lane Kiffin and his staff have plenty of that. Kiffin and defensive line coach Ed Orgeron were two of the more boisterous presences during USC's best times working as assistants under former coach Pete Carroll.
"With this new coaching staff, they are teaching us the ways of what used to be -- the '03, '04, '05 seasons when USC was the team," O'Dowd said. "We're getting back there and it starts right now in spring."
O'Dowd picks his words carefully, but he admits something wasn't right last year, something about more than losing a bunch of starters to the NFL.
"It was full of a bunch of ups and downs," he said. "We didn't find that cohesiveness with one another on the team. I think that did affect us negatively last season."
The line around O'Dowd must replace three starters: tackle Charles Brown and guards Jeff Byers and Alex Parsons. As could be expected with USC, there's plenty of talent ready to step up -- no Pac-10 team's linemen pass the eye-test like the Trojans'. But they're unproven, and after last year, there is less justification to assume USC will automatically reload.
O'Dowd, however, seems to suspect the line, which underachieved last year, will be more than OK. It will again be a dominant crew.
He said the key is sophomore left tackle Matt Kalil, who made his first career start against Boston College in the Emerald Bowl, stepping in for academically ineligible right tackle Tyron Smith. Kalil is the younger brother of former USC All-American center Ryan Kalil, now an Pro Bowler for the Carolina Panthers.
"I think that left tackle position is going to be key," O'Dowd said. "Matt has shown great progress. He did at the end of the year starting against Boston College. He knows what he needs to do."
Something else could derail USC's return to the nation's elite: NCAA sanctions. A ruling from the infractions committee on alleged extra benefits provided by would-be sports agents to former USC running back Reggie Bush and other allegations is expected this month.
O'Dowd said possible sanctions are not a hot topic among the players.
"It doesn't get talked about," he said. "I've been hearing about it since I was a freshman. It's sort of like [the fifth wheel] who doesn't get invited. No one is really worried about it and I don't think it will have an effect for us at all."
What does have some effect is talk that USC is no longer the pre-eminent program in the conference as well as the nation. Yes, the Trojans do hear the negative chatter, O'Dowd said.
Still, O'Dowd knows he and his teammates, for the first time in years, now have something to prove.
"Of course it lights a fire beneath us, but in the same sense we did that to ourselves," he said. "It takes a man to go back and correct his faults."
It was not unlike going 9-4 for USC. A majority of programs would celebrate a nine-win season. For the Trojans, it represents failure and inspires talk that one of college football's great dynasties is crumbling.
[+] Enlarge
Otto Greule Jr/Getty ImagesKristofer O'Dowd was hampered by injuries during the 2009 season.
Otto Greule Jr/Getty ImagesKristofer O'Dowd was hampered by injuries during the 2009 season."In those games I played, I wasn't playing to my capability," O'Dowd said. "What hurt the most was knowing I could play at a certain level and knowing what I could do but I wasn't getting there. That was the most frustrating thing ... [Because of his knee injury] I couldn't get the drive I was used to. I would just have the stalemate, which is acceptable at some places but it isn't acceptable for myself and the program here."
You could sort of substitute "USC" for "I" in that quote and get an accurate feel for the Trojans in 2009.
"What was our record? 9-4? That's a great year for other programs but is not acceptable for us," O'Dowd said.
O'Dowd, now the line's senior leader, is back this spring (though he missed some action after spraining his left knee) and so might be that swagger. It's no secret new coach Lane Kiffin and his staff have plenty of that. Kiffin and defensive line coach Ed Orgeron were two of the more boisterous presences during USC's best times working as assistants under former coach Pete Carroll.
"With this new coaching staff, they are teaching us the ways of what used to be -- the '03, '04, '05 seasons when USC was the team," O'Dowd said. "We're getting back there and it starts right now in spring."
O'Dowd picks his words carefully, but he admits something wasn't right last year, something about more than losing a bunch of starters to the NFL.
"It was full of a bunch of ups and downs," he said. "We didn't find that cohesiveness with one another on the team. I think that did affect us negatively last season."
The line around O'Dowd must replace three starters: tackle Charles Brown and guards Jeff Byers and Alex Parsons. As could be expected with USC, there's plenty of talent ready to step up -- no Pac-10 team's linemen pass the eye-test like the Trojans'. But they're unproven, and after last year, there is less justification to assume USC will automatically reload.
O'Dowd, however, seems to suspect the line, which underachieved last year, will be more than OK. It will again be a dominant crew.
He said the key is sophomore left tackle Matt Kalil, who made his first career start against Boston College in the Emerald Bowl, stepping in for academically ineligible right tackle Tyron Smith. Kalil is the younger brother of former USC All-American center Ryan Kalil, now an Pro Bowler for the Carolina Panthers.
"I think that left tackle position is going to be key," O'Dowd said. "Matt has shown great progress. He did at the end of the year starting against Boston College. He knows what he needs to do."
Something else could derail USC's return to the nation's elite: NCAA sanctions. A ruling from the infractions committee on alleged extra benefits provided by would-be sports agents to former USC running back Reggie Bush and other allegations is expected this month.
O'Dowd said possible sanctions are not a hot topic among the players.
"It doesn't get talked about," he said. "I've been hearing about it since I was a freshman. It's sort of like [the fifth wheel] who doesn't get invited. No one is really worried about it and I don't think it will have an effect for us at all."
What does have some effect is talk that USC is no longer the pre-eminent program in the conference as well as the nation. Yes, the Trojans do hear the negative chatter, O'Dowd said.
Still, O'Dowd knows he and his teammates, for the first time in years, now have something to prove.
"Of course it lights a fire beneath us, but in the same sense we did that to ourselves," he said. "It takes a man to go back and correct his faults."
These are mostly about 2009. But there's a little 2010 mixed in.
1. Oregon: A disappointing Rose Bowl loss doesn't ruin a great first season for coach Chip Kelly. And it's hard not to look ahead to an extremely promising 2010.
2. Oregon State: Making distinctions from here until No. 9 is difficult, but the Beavers finish No. 2 because, despite a bad loss to BYU in the Las Vegas Bowl, they played for the Rose Bowl in their regular- season finale. And the returning cast should inspire optimism for 2010.
3. USC: Team turmoil! Still, the Trojans won their bowl game -- the conference's only bowl victory over a BCS foe -- and that means they finished with the second-most wins in the conference (nine).
4. Stanford: Sure, the Cardinal lost the Sun Bowl to Oklahoma, but it was a competitive game and the Cardinal were playing without their starting quarterback, Andrew Luck.
5. Arizona: The Wildcats fall in here and they know exactly why. Three words: Holiday Bowl disaster.
6. UCLA: While beating Temple isn't the sort of thing to lead a résumé with, a bowl win means the Bruins are one of just three conference teams to head into the offseason coming off a victory.
7. Washington: The Huskies finished the season with a two-game winning streak, beating Washington State and California, and a home run: Quarterback Jake Locker is returning for his senior season.
8. California: When California won five of six after getting whipped by Oregon and USC, it looked like the Bears had righted the ship. Nope.
9. Arizona State: The pressure is on coach Dennis Erickson to get the Sun Devils back to a bowl game in 2010.
10. Washington State: After another terrible season, the big question for the Cougars is what are optimistic yet reasonable expectations for 2010? Ninth in the conference?
1. Oregon: A disappointing Rose Bowl loss doesn't ruin a great first season for coach Chip Kelly. And it's hard not to look ahead to an extremely promising 2010.
2. Oregon State: Making distinctions from here until No. 9 is difficult, but the Beavers finish No. 2 because, despite a bad loss to BYU in the Las Vegas Bowl, they played for the Rose Bowl in their regular- season finale. And the returning cast should inspire optimism for 2010.
3. USC: Team turmoil! Still, the Trojans won their bowl game -- the conference's only bowl victory over a BCS foe -- and that means they finished with the second-most wins in the conference (nine).
4. Stanford: Sure, the Cardinal lost the Sun Bowl to Oklahoma, but it was a competitive game and the Cardinal were playing without their starting quarterback, Andrew Luck.
5. Arizona: The Wildcats fall in here and they know exactly why. Three words: Holiday Bowl disaster.
6. UCLA: While beating Temple isn't the sort of thing to lead a résumé with, a bowl win means the Bruins are one of just three conference teams to head into the offseason coming off a victory.
7. Washington: The Huskies finished the season with a two-game winning streak, beating Washington State and California, and a home run: Quarterback Jake Locker is returning for his senior season.
8. California: When California won five of six after getting whipped by Oregon and USC, it looked like the Bears had righted the ship. Nope.
9. Arizona State: The pressure is on coach Dennis Erickson to get the Sun Devils back to a bowl game in 2010.
10. Washington State: After another terrible season, the big question for the Cougars is what are optimistic yet reasonable expectations for 2010? Ninth in the conference?
What we learned in the Pac-10: Bowl season
January, 12, 2010
1/12/10
1:58
PM ET
By
Ted Miller | ESPN.com
What did we learn from the Pac-10's bowl season?
1. A 5-0 bowl season is more fun than a 2-5 one: Last year, the Pac-10 rolled through the bowl season 5-0. Pac-10 fans crowed, while Pac-10 critics said bowl games don't prove anything. This year, the Pac-10 went 2-5 in the bowl season. Pac-10 fans said bowl games don't prove anything, while Pac-10 critics crowed. Who's right? Both. Bowl games in large part operate as a separate season, and issues such as motivation and focus are telling. But bowl games are also football games. And if you lose, you lost. Shut up and stop making excuses. That said, I picked BYU to beat Oregon State in the Las Vegas Bowl, foreseeing a Civil War hangover. If they played on Saturday, I'd pick the Beavers.
2. It's fair to question Pac-10 defenses: As I wrote here, only USC beat its defensive season averages in yards and points allowed in its bowl game. UCLA eclipsed its season average in yards allowed and matched its points number (21). It's legitimate to raise questions about the performances of Pac-10 defenses, just as it was legitimate to point out the regular-season numbers, which went a different direction. Still, for the Pac-10 to genuinely enter the argument as the nation's best conference, it must get better on defense. Or, at least, it can't opt to take the bowl season off.
3. Oregon isn't ready to take over the Pac-10 -- and the nation -- just yet: The Ducks will be the Pac-10 favorites next year. They also could become national title contenders. But they need to get more physical on both lines and they need to refine their passing game to take the next step. The Ducks' offensive line was young. It will be better -- and more physical -- next fall. The defensive line is less certain. There's plenty of hope for the passing game, with the return of quarterback Jeremiah Masoli and a host of talented receivers. Still, potential is just a word. Got to make it happen on the field over a 13-game schedule, which, of course, includes the bowl game.
4. We still don't know what USC will be like in 2010: Beating Boston College 24-13 in the Emerald Bowl shouldn't make USC fans think that the Trojans' ship has been righted. The game showed many of the same issues that the Trojans had all season -- inconsistency from quarterback Matt Barkley, the offensive line and the defense. And it also provided glimpses of Barkley's and the defense's upside. But when you combine the regular season, bowl game and the departure of Pete Carroll and a number of key players, 2010 feels like a great mystery.
5. The bowl flops may help the 2010 effort: For weeks preceding the bowl season, national pundits were touting the Pac-10 as the nation's best conference. Then: Splat. Maybe the talk went to a few teams' heads? The conference has rightfully taken some tweaks since going 2-5. But a quick review of what's coming back next fall suggest the Pac-10 should be even deeper and better top to bottom in 2010. With another rugged slate of nonconference games ahead, the conference should be plenty motivated to put the bowl implosion behind it with some marquee victories over other BCS conferences.
1. A 5-0 bowl season is more fun than a 2-5 one: Last year, the Pac-10 rolled through the bowl season 5-0. Pac-10 fans crowed, while Pac-10 critics said bowl games don't prove anything. This year, the Pac-10 went 2-5 in the bowl season. Pac-10 fans said bowl games don't prove anything, while Pac-10 critics crowed. Who's right? Both. Bowl games in large part operate as a separate season, and issues such as motivation and focus are telling. But bowl games are also football games. And if you lose, you lost. Shut up and stop making excuses. That said, I picked BYU to beat Oregon State in the Las Vegas Bowl, foreseeing a Civil War hangover. If they played on Saturday, I'd pick the Beavers.
2. It's fair to question Pac-10 defenses: As I wrote here, only USC beat its defensive season averages in yards and points allowed in its bowl game. UCLA eclipsed its season average in yards allowed and matched its points number (21). It's legitimate to raise questions about the performances of Pac-10 defenses, just as it was legitimate to point out the regular-season numbers, which went a different direction. Still, for the Pac-10 to genuinely enter the argument as the nation's best conference, it must get better on defense. Or, at least, it can't opt to take the bowl season off.
3. Oregon isn't ready to take over the Pac-10 -- and the nation -- just yet: The Ducks will be the Pac-10 favorites next year. They also could become national title contenders. But they need to get more physical on both lines and they need to refine their passing game to take the next step. The Ducks' offensive line was young. It will be better -- and more physical -- next fall. The defensive line is less certain. There's plenty of hope for the passing game, with the return of quarterback Jeremiah Masoli and a host of talented receivers. Still, potential is just a word. Got to make it happen on the field over a 13-game schedule, which, of course, includes the bowl game.
4. We still don't know what USC will be like in 2010: Beating Boston College 24-13 in the Emerald Bowl shouldn't make USC fans think that the Trojans' ship has been righted. The game showed many of the same issues that the Trojans had all season -- inconsistency from quarterback Matt Barkley, the offensive line and the defense. And it also provided glimpses of Barkley's and the defense's upside. But when you combine the regular season, bowl game and the departure of Pete Carroll and a number of key players, 2010 feels like a great mystery.
5. The bowl flops may help the 2010 effort: For weeks preceding the bowl season, national pundits were touting the Pac-10 as the nation's best conference. Then: Splat. Maybe the talk went to a few teams' heads? The conference has rightfully taken some tweaks since going 2-5. But a quick review of what's coming back next fall suggest the Pac-10 should be even deeper and better top to bottom in 2010. With another rugged slate of nonconference games ahead, the conference should be plenty motivated to put the bowl implosion behind it with some marquee victories over other BCS conferences.
The Pac-10 bowl season didn't go well, but that doesn't mean you don't make an all-bowl team.
You may notice a lot of USC and UCLA players. You might remember that the LA schools posted the conference's only two wins.
OFFENSE
QB Matt Barkley, USC: Barkley completed 27 of 37 throws for 350 yards with two touchdowns against Boston College in the Emerald Bowl. He also had two interceptions.
RB Toby Gerhart, Stanford: Against an Oklahoma defense ganging up on him, he rushed for 133 yards and two touchdowns on 32 carries in a Sun Bowl loss.
RB Stanley Havili, USC: He only rushed for 2 yards, but he also he caught six passes for 83 yards with two touchdowns.
WR Damian Williams, USC: He caught 12 passes for a season-high 189 yards.
WR Damola Adeniji, Oregon State: He caught seven passes for 102 yards and a touchdown in the Beavers' Las Vegas Bowl loss to BYU.
TE Anthony Miller, California: He led Cal with five receptions for 55 yards in the Poinsettia Bowl loss to Utah.
OL Chris Marinelli, Stanford: The offense was without its starting quarterback, but Gerhart gained 133 yards and the Sooners only had one sack.
OL Mike Tepper, California: Cal's pass protection wasn't great against Utah, but running back Shane Vereen finished with 122 yards rushing and two touchdowns.
OL Charles Brown, USC: The Trojans didn't run terribly well vs. Boston College, but they only yielded one sack and gave Barkley plenty of time to throw.
OL Jake Dean, UCLA: He was thrust into the starting lineup after starting center after Kai Maiava was ruled academically ineligible, and the Bruins yielded only one sack vs. Temple.
OL Chase Beeler, Stanford: See Marinelli.
K Kai Forbath, UCLA: He kicked field goals of 40 and 42 yards.
DEFENSE
DE Kenny Rowe, Oregon: He set a Rose Bowl and Oregon bowl record with three sacks in a losing effort against Ohio State.
DT Jurrell Casey, USC: Casey had five tackles, a sack and a 22-yard return of a fumble.
DT Brian Price, UCLA: Price started slowly vs. Temple but he dominated the second half and finished with five tackles, with one coming for a loss.
DE Tyson Alualu, California: Alualu had five tackles, with 1.5 coming for a loss.
LB Akeem Ayers, UCLA: Ayers led the Bruins with nine tackles, two for a loss, and his leaping interception at the Temple 2-yard line, which he returned for a TD, was the play of the Pac-10 bowl season.
LB Kyle Bosworth, UCLA: He finished with seven tackles and 1.5 sacks.
LB Eddie Young, California: Young had seven tackles and returned an interception 31 yards for a TD.
CB Shareece Wright, USC: In his first game back after academic ineligibility, Wright grabbed a key interception.
CB Alterraun Verner, UCLA: Verner had seven tackles, two for a loss, and a pass breakup.
S Rahim Moore, UCLA: Moore had four tackles and an interception.
S Taylor Mays, USC: Mays had five tackles for a Trojans defense that shut down Boston College in the second half.
P David Green, Stanford: He averaged 44 yards on six punts, three of which were downed inside the Sooners' 20-yard line.
You may notice a lot of USC and UCLA players. You might remember that the LA schools posted the conference's only two wins.
OFFENSE
QB Matt Barkley, USC: Barkley completed 27 of 37 throws for 350 yards with two touchdowns against Boston College in the Emerald Bowl. He also had two interceptions.
RB Toby Gerhart, Stanford: Against an Oklahoma defense ganging up on him, he rushed for 133 yards and two touchdowns on 32 carries in a Sun Bowl loss.
RB Stanley Havili, USC: He only rushed for 2 yards, but he also he caught six passes for 83 yards with two touchdowns.
WR Damian Williams, USC: He caught 12 passes for a season-high 189 yards.
WR Damola Adeniji, Oregon State: He caught seven passes for 102 yards and a touchdown in the Beavers' Las Vegas Bowl loss to BYU.
TE Anthony Miller, California: He led Cal with five receptions for 55 yards in the Poinsettia Bowl loss to Utah.
OL Chris Marinelli, Stanford: The offense was without its starting quarterback, but Gerhart gained 133 yards and the Sooners only had one sack.
OL Mike Tepper, California: Cal's pass protection wasn't great against Utah, but running back Shane Vereen finished with 122 yards rushing and two touchdowns.
OL Charles Brown, USC: The Trojans didn't run terribly well vs. Boston College, but they only yielded one sack and gave Barkley plenty of time to throw.
OL Jake Dean, UCLA: He was thrust into the starting lineup after starting center after Kai Maiava was ruled academically ineligible, and the Bruins yielded only one sack vs. Temple.
OL Chase Beeler, Stanford: See Marinelli.
K Kai Forbath, UCLA: He kicked field goals of 40 and 42 yards.
DEFENSE
DE Kenny Rowe, Oregon: He set a Rose Bowl and Oregon bowl record with three sacks in a losing effort against Ohio State.
DT Jurrell Casey, USC: Casey had five tackles, a sack and a 22-yard return of a fumble.
DT Brian Price, UCLA: Price started slowly vs. Temple but he dominated the second half and finished with five tackles, with one coming for a loss.
DE Tyson Alualu, California: Alualu had five tackles, with 1.5 coming for a loss.
LB Akeem Ayers, UCLA: Ayers led the Bruins with nine tackles, two for a loss, and his leaping interception at the Temple 2-yard line, which he returned for a TD, was the play of the Pac-10 bowl season.
LB Kyle Bosworth, UCLA: He finished with seven tackles and 1.5 sacks.
LB Eddie Young, California: Young had seven tackles and returned an interception 31 yards for a TD.
CB Shareece Wright, USC: In his first game back after academic ineligibility, Wright grabbed a key interception.
CB Alterraun Verner, UCLA: Verner had seven tackles, two for a loss, and a pass breakup.
S Rahim Moore, UCLA: Moore had four tackles and an interception.
S Taylor Mays, USC: Mays had five tackles for a Trojans defense that shut down Boston College in the second half.
P David Green, Stanford: He averaged 44 yards on six punts, three of which were downed inside the Sooners' 20-yard line.
Best and worst of the Pac-10 bowl season
January, 11, 2010
1/11/10
1:12
PM ET
By
Ted Miller | ESPN.com
The Pac-10 went 2-5 during the bowl season, so it wasn't difficult to find many "worsts."
But there were some good things that shouldn't be overlooked.
Best performance, defensive player: Oregon's undersized but quick defensive end Kenny Rowe set a Rose Bowl and Oregon bowl record with three sacks in a losing effort against Ohio State. He finished the season with 11.5 sacks, which led the Pac-10.
Best performance, offensive player: In his final game in a USC uniform, receiver Damian Williams caught 12 passes for a season-high 189 yards in the Trojans' 24-13 win over Boston College in the Emerald Bowl. It's fair to say that Williams was USC's most consistent player over the entire season.
Worst performance, period: There was nothing good about Arizona's 33-0 loss to Nebraska in the Pacific Life Holiday Bowl. Nothing. Feel free, though, to look at this box score and try to find something.
Best play: With UCLA trailing Temple 21-20 in the fourth quarter, and the Owls pinned on their 8-yard line, Bruins outside linebacker Akeem Ayers -- after falling down on his initial pass-rush burst -- leaped into the air and intercepted Vaughn Charlton's pass and gamboled 2 yards into the end zone.
Worst play: Trailing 19-17 in the Rose Bowl, Oregon faced a second-and-2 from Ohio State's 18-yard line. A huge hole opened. But running back LeGarrette Blount couldn't handle a high handoff from quarterback Jeremiah Masoli. The Buckeyes recovered the fumble and dominated the rest of the game.
Worst play, II: After BYU tied Oregon State 7-7 in the MAACO Bowl Las Vegas, the Beavers took over at their 40-yard line. On second down, running back Jacquizz Rodgers couldn't handle a backward pass from Sean Canfield, and Matt Bauman returned the loose ball 34 yards for a touchdown. That was the first fumble of Rodgers' career, and the Cougars dominated the game from then on.
Best performance under tough circumstances: Oklahoma knew Stanford had no passing offense without quarterback Andrew Luck. So it ganged up on running back Toby Gerhart. Nonetheless, the Heisman Trophy runner-up rushed for 135 yards and two touchdowns on 32 carries in a rugged effort in the Sun Bowl loss.
Worst pass defense: California made Utah true freshman quarterback Jordan Wynn look like an All-American in the Poinsettia Bowl. Against what was supposed to be one of the nation's best secondaries heading into the season, Wynn completed 26 of 36 passes for 338 yards with three touchdowns. He shook off an early pick-six to run the Bears ragged.
Best second-half defense: UCLA held Temple to 41 yards and zero points in the second half of the EagleBank Bowl.
Worst performance you didn't see coming: Canfield, Oregon State's quarterback, earned first-team All-Pac-10 honors this season. He has been invited to the Senior Bowl and is going to have an NFL career. Nonetheless, he had a horrible Las Vegas Bowl and was outplayed by BYU's Max Hall, who threw three touchdown passes. Canfield completed just 19 of 40 passes for 168 yards with an interception and no touchdowns, and he seemed completely befuddled by a strong wind and the Cougars' secondary.
Best unsung performance: USC fullback Stanley Havili always seems to sneak up on folks. In the Trojans' win over Boston College, he caught six passes for 83 yards with two touchdowns, including a 53-yard jaunt on a screen pass. He also had a critical tackle after one of Matt Barkley's two interceptions.
But there were some good things that shouldn't be overlooked.
Best performance, defensive player: Oregon's undersized but quick defensive end Kenny Rowe set a Rose Bowl and Oregon bowl record with three sacks in a losing effort against Ohio State. He finished the season with 11.5 sacks, which led the Pac-10.
Best performance, offensive player: In his final game in a USC uniform, receiver Damian Williams caught 12 passes for a season-high 189 yards in the Trojans' 24-13 win over Boston College in the Emerald Bowl. It's fair to say that Williams was USC's most consistent player over the entire season.
Worst performance, period: There was nothing good about Arizona's 33-0 loss to Nebraska in the Pacific Life Holiday Bowl. Nothing. Feel free, though, to look at this box score and try to find something.
Best play: With UCLA trailing Temple 21-20 in the fourth quarter, and the Owls pinned on their 8-yard line, Bruins outside linebacker Akeem Ayers -- after falling down on his initial pass-rush burst -- leaped into the air and intercepted Vaughn Charlton's pass and gamboled 2 yards into the end zone.
Worst play: Trailing 19-17 in the Rose Bowl, Oregon faced a second-and-2 from Ohio State's 18-yard line. A huge hole opened. But running back LeGarrette Blount couldn't handle a high handoff from quarterback Jeremiah Masoli. The Buckeyes recovered the fumble and dominated the rest of the game.
Worst play, II: After BYU tied Oregon State 7-7 in the MAACO Bowl Las Vegas, the Beavers took over at their 40-yard line. On second down, running back Jacquizz Rodgers couldn't handle a backward pass from Sean Canfield, and Matt Bauman returned the loose ball 34 yards for a touchdown. That was the first fumble of Rodgers' career, and the Cougars dominated the game from then on.
Best performance under tough circumstances: Oklahoma knew Stanford had no passing offense without quarterback Andrew Luck. So it ganged up on running back Toby Gerhart. Nonetheless, the Heisman Trophy runner-up rushed for 135 yards and two touchdowns on 32 carries in a rugged effort in the Sun Bowl loss.
Worst pass defense: California made Utah true freshman quarterback Jordan Wynn look like an All-American in the Poinsettia Bowl. Against what was supposed to be one of the nation's best secondaries heading into the season, Wynn completed 26 of 36 passes for 338 yards with three touchdowns. He shook off an early pick-six to run the Bears ragged.
Best second-half defense: UCLA held Temple to 41 yards and zero points in the second half of the EagleBank Bowl.
Worst performance you didn't see coming: Canfield, Oregon State's quarterback, earned first-team All-Pac-10 honors this season. He has been invited to the Senior Bowl and is going to have an NFL career. Nonetheless, he had a horrible Las Vegas Bowl and was outplayed by BYU's Max Hall, who threw three touchdown passes. Canfield completed just 19 of 40 passes for 168 yards with an interception and no touchdowns, and he seemed completely befuddled by a strong wind and the Cougars' secondary.
Best unsung performance: USC fullback Stanley Havili always seems to sneak up on folks. In the Trojans' win over Boston College, he caught six passes for 83 yards with two touchdowns, including a 53-yard jaunt on a screen pass. He also had a critical tackle after one of Matt Barkley's two interceptions.
Only one coach at 2010 Pac-10 media day will be able to say he led a bowl winner the previous season.
Unless, of course, UCLA's Rick Neuheisel joins now-former USC coach Pete Carroll and opts to bolt for another job. Then there will be none.
Ah, there are many ways to slice and dice a 2-5 bowl season. None is very tasty.
Things started badly: Oregon State got thumped 44-20 by BYU in a frigid, windy MAACO Bowl Las Vegas. Then California meandered through a 37-27 defeat to Utah in the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl.
Hey, 0-2 vs. the Mountain West.
Things appeared to reverse course with victories by the LA schools, with both USC and UCLA winning with dominant second halves. The Trojans bested Boston College 24-13 in the Emerald Bowl, while UCLA held Temple to 41 yards after halftime of a 30-21 win in the EagleBank Bowl.
But that was the end of the, er, glory.
Arizona got throttled 33-0 by Nebraska in the Pacific Life Holiday Bowl, an inexplicably bad performance. Stanford, playing without starting quarterback Andrew Luck, who injured a finger during the regular-season finale vs. Notre Dame, fell to Oklahoma 31-27 in the Brut Sun Bowl.
And, finally, Oregon went down 26-17 to Ohio State in the Rose Bowl Game Presented by Citi, with Buckeyes quarterback Terrelle Pryor turning in the game of his life while the Ducks' offense sputtered.
It was a very bad end to what had been a good regular season.
The Pac-10, discussed much of the year as perhaps the nation's best, or at least, deepest conference, led all conferences with five teams ranked in the final BCS standings. But only two -- No. 11 Oregon and No. 22 USC -- ended up ranked in the final polls.
The bowl season also left a large crack in what had been a 21-9 record vs. the nation's toughest nonconference schedule.
Still, this was only the second time the conference had seven bowl teams (2002 was the other). The Pac-10 never previously had boasted six teams with eight or more wins, and seven teams finished with winning records.
And the conference, with eight returning starting quarterbacks, looks to be even deeper in 2010.
So perhaps these postseason woes will prelude a breakthrough next year: Two BCS bowl teams.
Unless, of course, UCLA's Rick Neuheisel joins now-former USC coach Pete Carroll and opts to bolt for another job. Then there will be none.
Ah, there are many ways to slice and dice a 2-5 bowl season. None is very tasty.
Things started badly: Oregon State got thumped 44-20 by BYU in a frigid, windy MAACO Bowl Las Vegas. Then California meandered through a 37-27 defeat to Utah in the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl.
Hey, 0-2 vs. the Mountain West.
Things appeared to reverse course with victories by the LA schools, with both USC and UCLA winning with dominant second halves. The Trojans bested Boston College 24-13 in the Emerald Bowl, while UCLA held Temple to 41 yards after halftime of a 30-21 win in the EagleBank Bowl.
But that was the end of the, er, glory.
Arizona got throttled 33-0 by Nebraska in the Pacific Life Holiday Bowl, an inexplicably bad performance. Stanford, playing without starting quarterback Andrew Luck, who injured a finger during the regular-season finale vs. Notre Dame, fell to Oklahoma 31-27 in the Brut Sun Bowl.
And, finally, Oregon went down 26-17 to Ohio State in the Rose Bowl Game Presented by Citi, with Buckeyes quarterback Terrelle Pryor turning in the game of his life while the Ducks' offense sputtered.
It was a very bad end to what had been a good regular season.
The Pac-10, discussed much of the year as perhaps the nation's best, or at least, deepest conference, led all conferences with five teams ranked in the final BCS standings. But only two -- No. 11 Oregon and No. 22 USC -- ended up ranked in the final polls.
The bowl season also left a large crack in what had been a 21-9 record vs. the nation's toughest nonconference schedule.
Still, this was only the second time the conference had seven bowl teams (2002 was the other). The Pac-10 never previously had boasted six teams with eight or more wins, and seven teams finished with winning records.
And the conference, with eight returning starting quarterbacks, looks to be even deeper in 2010.
So perhaps these postseason woes will prelude a breakthrough next year: Two BCS bowl teams.
It appears that one of the great coaching runs in college football history is over.
ESPN's Adam Schefter is reporting that USC's Pete Carroll has reached an agreement to become the next head coach of the Seattle Seahawks.
Carroll was 97-19 with two national championships and seven Pac-10 titles as USC's coach. The Trojans went 6-6 his first season but would win at least 11 games over the next seven seasons, each of which ended with top-five rankings. Under Carroll, USC became the nation's pre-eminent college football program.
Of course, things trended down in 2009. The Trojans went 9-4, got blown out in losses to Oregon and Stanford and only returned to the national rankings after beating Boston College in the Emerald Bowl, the Trojans' first non-BCS bowl since Carroll's first season.
Moreover, off-field issues might be a concern for USC going forward, particularly with the NCAA and the Reggie Bush case.
Now Trojans fans' attention turns to who the next coach will be.
He will try to fill very big shoes.
Names that will come up: Oregon State's Mike Riley, Stanford's Jim Harbaugh, Boise State's Chris Petersen, TCU's Gary Patterson and Utah's Kyle Whittingham.
As well as current or former NFL coaches, such as Tennessee's Jeff Fisher, Jacksonville's Jack Del Rio or former Buccaneers and Raiders coach Jon Gruden.
Recall that when Mike Garrett was trying to hire a coach in 2000, USC wasn't such a great job. Garrett's overtures were rebuffed by Riley, Dennis Erickson as well as then-Oregon coach Mike Bellotti.
It's a much different job now, but the monstrous shadow of Carroll's legacy as well as potential NCAA problems could give some big-name coaches pause before they accept the post.
Of course, if the offer is in the range of $4.4 million per season, which Carroll was making, then all the drawbacks won't seem so daunting.
[+] Enlarge
Kirby Lee/US PresswirePete Carroll compiled a 97-19 record as USC's coach.
Kirby Lee/US PresswirePete Carroll compiled a 97-19 record as USC's coach.Carroll was 97-19 with two national championships and seven Pac-10 titles as USC's coach. The Trojans went 6-6 his first season but would win at least 11 games over the next seven seasons, each of which ended with top-five rankings. Under Carroll, USC became the nation's pre-eminent college football program.
Of course, things trended down in 2009. The Trojans went 9-4, got blown out in losses to Oregon and Stanford and only returned to the national rankings after beating Boston College in the Emerald Bowl, the Trojans' first non-BCS bowl since Carroll's first season.
Moreover, off-field issues might be a concern for USC going forward, particularly with the NCAA and the Reggie Bush case.
Now Trojans fans' attention turns to who the next coach will be.
He will try to fill very big shoes.
Names that will come up: Oregon State's Mike Riley, Stanford's Jim Harbaugh, Boise State's Chris Petersen, TCU's Gary Patterson and Utah's Kyle Whittingham.
As well as current or former NFL coaches, such as Tennessee's Jeff Fisher, Jacksonville's Jack Del Rio or former Buccaneers and Raiders coach Jon Gruden.
Recall that when Mike Garrett was trying to hire a coach in 2000, USC wasn't such a great job. Garrett's overtures were rebuffed by Riley, Dennis Erickson as well as then-Oregon coach Mike Bellotti.
It's a much different job now, but the monstrous shadow of Carroll's legacy as well as potential NCAA problems could give some big-name coaches pause before they accept the post.
Of course, if the offer is in the range of $4.4 million per season, which Carroll was making, then all the drawbacks won't seem so daunting.
The Pac-10 entered the bowl season with five ranked teams, more than any other conference.
It finished the bowl season with two ranked teams, none in the top 10.
That's what a 2-5 bowl season will do.
Oregon finished ranked 11th in both polls after losing the Rose Bowl to Ohio State. The Buckeyes bounced up to No. 5.
USC, after beating Boston College in the Emerald Bowl, finished 22nd in the AP poll and 20th with the coaches. That means the Trojans have now finished ranked every year since 2002.
Oregon State, Stanford and Arizona finished among the "others receiving votes."
Each of them finished with five losses, and only one five-loss team -- Clemson -- finished ranked in either poll. The Tigers were 24th in the AP poll and unranked by the coaches.
It finished the bowl season with two ranked teams, none in the top 10.
That's what a 2-5 bowl season will do.
Oregon finished ranked 11th in both polls after losing the Rose Bowl to Ohio State. The Buckeyes bounced up to No. 5.
USC, after beating Boston College in the Emerald Bowl, finished 22nd in the AP poll and 20th with the coaches. That means the Trojans have now finished ranked every year since 2002.
Oregon State, Stanford and Arizona finished among the "others receiving votes."
Each of them finished with five losses, and only one five-loss team -- Clemson -- finished ranked in either poll. The Tigers were 24th in the AP poll and unranked by the coaches.
PASADENA, Calif. -- So how did the Pac-10 do this bowl season?
Did we mention the Pac-10 went 5-0 last year?
Yeah, what about this year?
Pac-10 went 4-2 in 2007.
This year!
Er, the Pac-10 blog went 5-2 in its bowl picks.
No, the Pac-10 football teams.
Er. OK, the Pac-10 went 2-5 in the 2009 bowl season, its best win coming against 8-4, unranked Boston College.
One word: Bad.
The worst game? Arizona got stomped 33-zip by Nebraska.
Oregon State's 44-20 loss to BYU in the MAACO Las Vegas Bowl wasn't terribly impressive, either, nor was California's 37-27 defeat to Utah in the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl, which made the Mountain West 2-0 in the post-season vs. the Pac-10.
Oregon, the Pac-10 champion, got decisively handled by Ohio State, 26-17, in the Rose Bowl Game presented by Citi.
Stanford gets a pass. It lost 31-27 to Oklahoma in the Brut Sun Bowl, but it didn't have quarterback Andrew Luck, who was out with a broken finger. How can a team hope to win without its star quarterback? What's that Sooners fans? Oh, Sam Bradford. Yeah. Good point.
Ah, but kudos to USC for taking the Emerald Bowl 24-13 over Boston College. And you too UCLA, for holding powerful Temple to 41 yards in the second half of a 30-21 win in the EagleBank Bowl.
How about those LA teams!
Yes, Pac-10 fans, you will take your knocks in the marketplace of trash talk. Accept it. The bowl season certainly put a footprint onto most of the talk about the conference being the best -- or at least the deepest -- in the nation this year.
But take heart. Lots of good players are coming back next year, including eight starting quarterbacks. The Pac-10 will be even deeper in 2010.
Maybe it will show a pulse next bowl season.
So just wait until next year.
Did we mention the Pac-10 went 5-0 last year?
[+] Enlarge
Kevork Djansezian/Getty ImagesThe Pac-10 finished 2-5 in this year's bowl season following Oregon's loss to Ohio State.
Kevork Djansezian/Getty ImagesThe Pac-10 finished 2-5 in this year's bowl season following Oregon's loss to Ohio State.Pac-10 went 4-2 in 2007.
This year!
Er, the Pac-10 blog went 5-2 in its bowl picks.
No, the Pac-10 football teams.
Er. OK, the Pac-10 went 2-5 in the 2009 bowl season, its best win coming against 8-4, unranked Boston College.
One word: Bad.
The worst game? Arizona got stomped 33-zip by Nebraska.
Oregon State's 44-20 loss to BYU in the MAACO Las Vegas Bowl wasn't terribly impressive, either, nor was California's 37-27 defeat to Utah in the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl, which made the Mountain West 2-0 in the post-season vs. the Pac-10.
Oregon, the Pac-10 champion, got decisively handled by Ohio State, 26-17, in the Rose Bowl Game presented by Citi.
Stanford gets a pass. It lost 31-27 to Oklahoma in the Brut Sun Bowl, but it didn't have quarterback Andrew Luck, who was out with a broken finger. How can a team hope to win without its star quarterback? What's that Sooners fans? Oh, Sam Bradford. Yeah. Good point.
Ah, but kudos to USC for taking the Emerald Bowl 24-13 over Boston College. And you too UCLA, for holding powerful Temple to 41 yards in the second half of a 30-21 win in the EagleBank Bowl.
How about those LA teams!
Yes, Pac-10 fans, you will take your knocks in the marketplace of trash talk. Accept it. The bowl season certainly put a footprint onto most of the talk about the conference being the best -- or at least the deepest -- in the nation this year.
But take heart. Lots of good players are coming back next year, including eight starting quarterbacks. The Pac-10 will be even deeper in 2010.
Maybe it will show a pulse next bowl season.
So just wait until next year.
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Ted Miller
Miller has been covering college football since 1997, starting with Auburn and then heading West to Washington and the Pac-12. His columns for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer won first place in the 2007 APSE Best Writing contest. The Atlanta native and University of Richmond graduate presently lives with his wife in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Kevin Gemmell
Gemmell covered San Diego State and the Mountain West Conference for three years before joining ESPN.com. As a Santa Clara graduate, his hope is that the Broncos will one day re-institute football. Until then, he lives vicariously through his readers. Gemmell lives in California with his wife and son.
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