Pac-12: Louisiana Tech Bulldogs
Life just got easier for the SEC. As if the SEC needed things to be easier.
When the ACC expands to 14 teams, it will play a nine-game conference schedule. Just like the Pac-12. Just like the Big 12.
The Big Ten approved a nine-game conference schedule, beginning in 2017, but then the Pac-12 partnership was announced. That automatic addition of a challenging game has convinced the Big Ten folks to stick with an eight-game conference schedule.
And the SEC? It will continue to play eight conference games. Even with 14 teams. And that will help it continue to dominate the BCS standings.
Why is this important? A nine-game schedule means a conference forces itself to appear weaker in the BCS standings. A 12-team league automatically adds six defeats to its ledger. No matter what. The ACC, with 14 teams, will add seven. Again, no matter what.
An eight-game conference schedule allows a team to become Mississippi State. (We apologize to Bulldogs fans for constantly bringing this up, but we wouldn't bring it up if it weren't 100 percent true).
Mississippi State played in a bowl game last year despite going 2-6 in SEC play. No Pac-12 team played in a bowl game with fewer than four conference wins.
The Bulldogs best win last year? Probably an overtime win at home over Louisiana Tech, a game that Tech controlled but lost because of three turnovers.
When Mississippi State -- or many SEC teams -- makes its schedule, its singular goal is to guarantee four wins just about every year. That's what happens when you play teams like Memphis, UAB and Tennessee-Martin on an annual basis.
This wasn't always the case for Mississippi State. Just a few years back, it played home-and-home series with Georgia Tech and West Virginia. Solid teams. But after getting poleaxed in all four games by a combined count of 160-65, it decided it was better to get picked on by the Pac-12 blog than try to man-up against quality nonconference competition.
Oh, as a footnote, Mississippi State is already 4-0 in 2012: Jackson State, Troy, South Alabama and Middle Tennessee State. No, I did not make that nonconference schedule up.
Meanwhile, in addition to Pac-12 teams playing a nine-game conference schedule, every conference team in 2012 -- other than Oregon and Colorado -- plays at least one A-list nonconference foes. Many on the road. (Yes, Ducks fans, I know Kansas State canceled a home-and-home series).
What this means is Pac-12 teams expose themselves more often to a risk of losing. That means more 4-8 and 5-7 teams and therefore fewer bowl teams. That means more opportunities for a team to fall out of the national title hunt with a single loss. Or a second BCS bowl berth with a second. That means when the computers measure the conference for the BCS standings, they see not only more defeats but those defeats cause the conference to get docked for strength of schedule.
Yes, the SEC as a whole benefits from Mississippi State -- and other low-rung SEC programs -- avoiding challenging nonconference games.
Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott, fresh off a contract extension, understands this. So do most of the Pac-12 coaches. They need to figure out a way to get the Pac-12 presidents and athletic directors on board.
Unless, of course, the SEC comes around -- which some believe is inevitable -- and all the AQ conferences all agree to play the same scheduling format.
The nine-game conference schedule made some sense for a 10-team league because it crowned a true champion as every team played every one else. And, yes, more AQ conferences will play a nine-game slate in 2012 than did in 2010.
But the conference that has won six consecutive national championships won't. That might not be a coincidence.
When the ACC expands to 14 teams, it will play a nine-game conference schedule. Just like the Pac-12. Just like the Big 12.
The Big Ten approved a nine-game conference schedule, beginning in 2017, but then the Pac-12 partnership was announced. That automatic addition of a challenging game has convinced the Big Ten folks to stick with an eight-game conference schedule.
And the SEC? It will continue to play eight conference games. Even with 14 teams. And that will help it continue to dominate the BCS standings.
Why is this important? A nine-game schedule means a conference forces itself to appear weaker in the BCS standings. A 12-team league automatically adds six defeats to its ledger. No matter what. The ACC, with 14 teams, will add seven. Again, no matter what.
An eight-game conference schedule allows a team to become Mississippi State. (We apologize to Bulldogs fans for constantly bringing this up, but we wouldn't bring it up if it weren't 100 percent true).
Mississippi State played in a bowl game last year despite going 2-6 in SEC play. No Pac-12 team played in a bowl game with fewer than four conference wins.
The Bulldogs best win last year? Probably an overtime win at home over Louisiana Tech, a game that Tech controlled but lost because of three turnovers.
When Mississippi State -- or many SEC teams -- makes its schedule, its singular goal is to guarantee four wins just about every year. That's what happens when you play teams like Memphis, UAB and Tennessee-Martin on an annual basis.
This wasn't always the case for Mississippi State. Just a few years back, it played home-and-home series with Georgia Tech and West Virginia. Solid teams. But after getting poleaxed in all four games by a combined count of 160-65, it decided it was better to get picked on by the Pac-12 blog than try to man-up against quality nonconference competition.
Oh, as a footnote, Mississippi State is already 4-0 in 2012: Jackson State, Troy, South Alabama and Middle Tennessee State. No, I did not make that nonconference schedule up.
Meanwhile, in addition to Pac-12 teams playing a nine-game conference schedule, every conference team in 2012 -- other than Oregon and Colorado -- plays at least one A-list nonconference foes. Many on the road. (Yes, Ducks fans, I know Kansas State canceled a home-and-home series).
What this means is Pac-12 teams expose themselves more often to a risk of losing. That means more 4-8 and 5-7 teams and therefore fewer bowl teams. That means more opportunities for a team to fall out of the national title hunt with a single loss. Or a second BCS bowl berth with a second. That means when the computers measure the conference for the BCS standings, they see not only more defeats but those defeats cause the conference to get docked for strength of schedule.
Yes, the SEC as a whole benefits from Mississippi State -- and other low-rung SEC programs -- avoiding challenging nonconference games.
Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott, fresh off a contract extension, understands this. So do most of the Pac-12 coaches. They need to figure out a way to get the Pac-12 presidents and athletic directors on board.
Unless, of course, the SEC comes around -- which some believe is inevitable -- and all the AQ conferences all agree to play the same scheduling format.
The nine-game conference schedule made some sense for a 10-team league because it crowned a true champion as every team played every one else. And, yes, more AQ conferences will play a nine-game slate in 2012 than did in 2010.
But the conference that has won six consecutive national championships won't. That might not be a coincidence.
Oregon shouldn't take Tennessee lightly
September, 8, 2010
9/08/10
11:00
AM ET
By
Ted Miller | ESPN.com
Oregon is nearly a two-touchdown favorite for its visit to Tennessee on Saturday. That seems a bit odd, doesn't it, if you watched much of the Volunteers when they won 152 games and a national title from 1993-2008 under former coach Phillip Fulmer?
But Tennessee has experienced as much upheaval as any program in the country over the past two years. First, Fulmer was pushed out the door and replaced with Lane Kiffin. Some of you may have read this: Kiffin then bolted after a single season for USC, inspiring near-riots in Knoxville. Next, after being rebuffed by a number of higher-profile candidates, Tennessee hired Derek Dooley away from Louisiana Tech. He's the son of SEC coaching legend Vince Dooley, who won a national title at Georgia, and he's in charge of returning the Vols to past glory.
But that ain't happening this year. The roster Dooley inherited doesn't much look like the NFL factory once quarterbacked by the likes of Peyton Manning.
"Everything is new," said Oregon coach Chip Kelly, speaking specifically about the Tennessee coaching staff, which has brought in new offensive, defensive and special teams schemes, the nuances of which certainly weren't revealed in a 50-0 beatdown of Tennessee-Martin.
Still, making a cross-country trip to play in the Southeastern humidity in front of more than 100,000 fans isn't an easy task even when the Vols are down. Just ask California. In 2006, a talented Bears team wilted in Tennessee in a 35-18 route that wasn't nearly as close as the final score suggested. More than a few Bears later admitted they got wide-eyed taking in the Neyland Stadium frenzy.
Neyland is no joke. It's going to be loud and rowdy and orange. Lots of orange. And Oregon's sophomore quarterback Darron Thomas will be making it the venue for his first road start.
No matter how cavalier Oregon fans want to be on that -- well, UCLA's Kevin Prince did just fine last year! -- it's an issue until Thomas makes his mark.
"It's still an unknown -- he hasn't played in this environment," Kelly said. "There aren't many stadiums in college football that have 100,000 [fans]. We've got a lot of young guys it's going to be new for."
One of the most interesting statistics coming out of the Ducks blitzkrieg versus New Mexico was zero rushing yards from Thomas. Oregon quarterbacks ALWAYS have rushing yards. By design? No, said Kelly. But it was hard not to wonder if Kelly -- a certifiably tricky guy -- has something up his sleeve.
If Oregon handles the atmosphere in a businesslike way, the Ducks roll. They're just too fast, too experienced and too talented on both sides of the ball for the Volunteers. But the Vols also have enough talent that if the Ducks make mistakes or get distracted by 105,000 screaming Volunteers fans, then things could get interesting.
Oregon didn't punt vs. New Mexico. Kelly said Tuesday that's he's sure that won't be the case in Knoxville. This one, whatever the word coming out of Vegas is, won't be easy.
"We're going to be tested," he said.
But Tennessee has experienced as much upheaval as any program in the country over the past two years. First, Fulmer was pushed out the door and replaced with Lane Kiffin. Some of you may have read this: Kiffin then bolted after a single season for USC, inspiring near-riots in Knoxville. Next, after being rebuffed by a number of higher-profile candidates, Tennessee hired Derek Dooley away from Louisiana Tech. He's the son of SEC coaching legend Vince Dooley, who won a national title at Georgia, and he's in charge of returning the Vols to past glory.
But that ain't happening this year. The roster Dooley inherited doesn't much look like the NFL factory once quarterbacked by the likes of Peyton Manning.
"Everything is new," said Oregon coach Chip Kelly, speaking specifically about the Tennessee coaching staff, which has brought in new offensive, defensive and special teams schemes, the nuances of which certainly weren't revealed in a 50-0 beatdown of Tennessee-Martin.
Still, making a cross-country trip to play in the Southeastern humidity in front of more than 100,000 fans isn't an easy task even when the Vols are down. Just ask California. In 2006, a talented Bears team wilted in Tennessee in a 35-18 route that wasn't nearly as close as the final score suggested. More than a few Bears later admitted they got wide-eyed taking in the Neyland Stadium frenzy.
Neyland is no joke. It's going to be loud and rowdy and orange. Lots of orange. And Oregon's sophomore quarterback Darron Thomas will be making it the venue for his first road start.
No matter how cavalier Oregon fans want to be on that -- well, UCLA's Kevin Prince did just fine last year! -- it's an issue until Thomas makes his mark.
"It's still an unknown -- he hasn't played in this environment," Kelly said. "There aren't many stadiums in college football that have 100,000 [fans]. We've got a lot of young guys it's going to be new for."
One of the most interesting statistics coming out of the Ducks blitzkrieg versus New Mexico was zero rushing yards from Thomas. Oregon quarterbacks ALWAYS have rushing yards. By design? No, said Kelly. But it was hard not to wonder if Kelly -- a certifiably tricky guy -- has something up his sleeve.
If Oregon handles the atmosphere in a businesslike way, the Ducks roll. They're just too fast, too experienced and too talented on both sides of the ball for the Volunteers. But the Vols also have enough talent that if the Ducks make mistakes or get distracted by 105,000 screaming Volunteers fans, then things could get interesting.
Oregon didn't punt vs. New Mexico. Kelly said Tuesday that's he's sure that won't be the case in Knoxville. This one, whatever the word coming out of Vegas is, won't be easy.
"We're going to be tested," he said.
Arizona opens preseason camp today. Here's a quick look.
Who's back: Eight starters on offense, four on defense and both specialists.
Big names: QB Nick Foles, WR Juron Criner, C Colin Baxter, CB Trevin Wade, DE Ricky Elmore, DE Brooks Reed
What's new: The Wildcats lost both coordinators during the offseason. Offensive coordinator Sonny Dykes is now the head coach of Louisiana Tech. Defensive coordinator Mark Stoops is the coordinator at Florida State. They were both replaced by co-coordinators: Bill Bedenbaugh (offensive line) and Seth Littrell (running backs and tight ends) on offense and Tim Kish (linebackers) and Greg Brown (secondary) on defense. Littrell will call the offensive plays. Brown is the only one of the four who is new to the staff -- he was at Colorado in 2009. Also, Frank Scelfo is the new QBs coach. Beyond the football staff, Arizona has a new athletic director: Greg Byrne, who was hired away from Mississippi State.
Key competition: There isn't too much intrigue heading into fall camp, though the pecking order at defensive tackle is worth watching. As for the official depth chart, Vaughn Dotsy and Jovon Hayes are competing at right guard as are Phillip Garcia and Jack Julsing at right tackle. Is Nic Grigsby going to stay healthy and remain No. 1 ahead of Keola Antolin at tailback? The weakside LB spot is unsettled between Paul Vassallo and R.J. Young.
Breaking out: The 6-foot-4 Criner has a chance to be an All-Conference performer. 258-pound H-back Taimi Tutogi had a good spring and figures to help the offense in myriad ways as a runner, blocker and receiver. Who will get more sacks: Elmore or Reed? The over-under for the pair is 18.
Quote: Coach Mike Stoops on exceeding preseason expectations but then flopping in the Holiday Bowl against Nebraska: "Last year that was a little bit of a question mark for this team and a lot of people questioned our ability in picking us preseason eighth, but we finished tied for second and went to the Holiday Bowl. This is a team that I thought really achieved some good things last season and I think the loss in the Holiday Bowl really humbled us and fueled us in the offseason. We realized how quickly things can disintegrate if we don’t do things right. I think we are eager to get back out on the field and correct some of those things."
Notes: Arizona will hold most of its training camp practices at the Rincon Vista Complex, located near the school's soccer and track facilities on 15th Street and Plumer Ave. The newly renovated Jimenez Practice facility on campus will host its first practice later this month. The Wildcats will be at Ft. Huachuca from Aug. 11-15... Cornerback Shaquille Richardson, one of the three UCLA signees who was kicked off the team last month after being arrested for stealing a purse, is now with the Wildcats... Receiver Delashaun Dean, who had caught 132 passes over the past three seasons, was given the boot after being arrested on a gun charge. He has transferred to Texas A&M-Kingsville.
Who's back: Eight starters on offense, four on defense and both specialists.
Big names: QB Nick Foles, WR Juron Criner, C Colin Baxter, CB Trevin Wade, DE Ricky Elmore, DE Brooks Reed
What's new: The Wildcats lost both coordinators during the offseason. Offensive coordinator Sonny Dykes is now the head coach of Louisiana Tech. Defensive coordinator Mark Stoops is the coordinator at Florida State. They were both replaced by co-coordinators: Bill Bedenbaugh (offensive line) and Seth Littrell (running backs and tight ends) on offense and Tim Kish (linebackers) and Greg Brown (secondary) on defense. Littrell will call the offensive plays. Brown is the only one of the four who is new to the staff -- he was at Colorado in 2009. Also, Frank Scelfo is the new QBs coach. Beyond the football staff, Arizona has a new athletic director: Greg Byrne, who was hired away from Mississippi State.
Key competition: There isn't too much intrigue heading into fall camp, though the pecking order at defensive tackle is worth watching. As for the official depth chart, Vaughn Dotsy and Jovon Hayes are competing at right guard as are Phillip Garcia and Jack Julsing at right tackle. Is Nic Grigsby going to stay healthy and remain No. 1 ahead of Keola Antolin at tailback? The weakside LB spot is unsettled between Paul Vassallo and R.J. Young.
Breaking out: The 6-foot-4 Criner has a chance to be an All-Conference performer. 258-pound H-back Taimi Tutogi had a good spring and figures to help the offense in myriad ways as a runner, blocker and receiver. Who will get more sacks: Elmore or Reed? The over-under for the pair is 18.
Quote: Coach Mike Stoops on exceeding preseason expectations but then flopping in the Holiday Bowl against Nebraska: "Last year that was a little bit of a question mark for this team and a lot of people questioned our ability in picking us preseason eighth, but we finished tied for second and went to the Holiday Bowl. This is a team that I thought really achieved some good things last season and I think the loss in the Holiday Bowl really humbled us and fueled us in the offseason. We realized how quickly things can disintegrate if we don’t do things right. I think we are eager to get back out on the field and correct some of those things."
Notes: Arizona will hold most of its training camp practices at the Rincon Vista Complex, located near the school's soccer and track facilities on 15th Street and Plumer Ave. The newly renovated Jimenez Practice facility on campus will host its first practice later this month. The Wildcats will be at Ft. Huachuca from Aug. 11-15... Cornerback Shaquille Richardson, one of the three UCLA signees who was kicked off the team last month after being arrested for stealing a purse, is now with the Wildcats... Receiver Delashaun Dean, who had caught 132 passes over the past three seasons, was given the boot after being arrested on a gun charge. He has transferred to Texas A&M-Kingsville.
Seventh in a series of Pac-10 thoughts that might come from unusual angles (You can see Oregon State's 2009 prediction here).
Don't be surprised if ... Beavers offensive coordinator Danny Langsdorf becomes a hot head-coaching candidate when new starting quarterback Ryan Katz posts surprisingly strong numbers this fall.
If the above line is giving you a sense of deja vu, it should. We wrote the same thing about Sonny Dykes last year, and Arizona's offensive coordinator was hired this past offseason as Louisiana Tech's head coach.
Langsdorf, who doubles as the Beavers' quarterbacks coach, will be a head coach within the next two years -- at least he should be -- and if Katz puts up impressive numbers as a first-year starter, a sharp AD somewhere will snatch him away from what many feel is the Pac-10's best collection of assistant coaches before the 2011 season.
Why? In his six seasons as offensive coordinator, the Beavers have posted five of their top-nine all-time seasons of total offense.
Remember the early careers of quarterbacks Matt Moore, Sean Canfield and Lyle Moevao? One word: Yucky. Remember their late careers? Two words: Dramatic transformation. Canfield earned first-team All-Pac-10 honors in 2009 and joined Moore in the NFL.
The fly sweep with James Rodgers and the "Wild Beaver" formation with Jacquizz Rodgers lining up at quarterback? Those innovations were executed by Langsdorf, who took over play-calling duties from head coach Mike Riley midway through the 2008 season.
Langsdorf is young enough -- 38 -- to be young and old enough to be experienced (14 years coaching, with three years in the NFL and CFL). Character? In 2007, he donated a kidney to Laurie Cavanaugh, the wife of Beavers offensive line coach Mike Cavanaugh.
And, really, isn't it time that Riley developed a coaching tree? Is there any college coach who is a better role model for the best way to be?
Langsdorf learned to evaluate talent from Riley, who's built a top-25 program and NFL pipeline without ever ranking in the top 25 in recruiting. He's learned how to gather and cultivate a loyal, accomplished staff from Riley. He's learned how to win under less-than-ideal circumstances from Riley. He's learned how to conduct himself with class from Riley.
He also probably learned a bit from his father, Ed Langsdorf, who coached at Linfield College in McMinnville, Ore., Danny Langsdorf's alma mater, for 20 years before becoming a scout for the San Diego Chargers.
No assistant coach is a sure thing when he makes the leap to head coach. But Langsdorf feels pretty close to it, particularly in the right circumstances.
If Oregon State surges this year on offense, and Katz stands out as another Langsdorf pupil, it's hard to imagine Langsdorf won't raise more than a few eyebrows among ADs looking for a go-getter to jump-start their program.
Don't be surprised if ... Beavers offensive coordinator Danny Langsdorf becomes a hot head-coaching candidate when new starting quarterback Ryan Katz posts surprisingly strong numbers this fall.
If the above line is giving you a sense of deja vu, it should. We wrote the same thing about Sonny Dykes last year, and Arizona's offensive coordinator was hired this past offseason as Louisiana Tech's head coach.
Langsdorf, who doubles as the Beavers' quarterbacks coach, will be a head coach within the next two years -- at least he should be -- and if Katz puts up impressive numbers as a first-year starter, a sharp AD somewhere will snatch him away from what many feel is the Pac-10's best collection of assistant coaches before the 2011 season.
Why? In his six seasons as offensive coordinator, the Beavers have posted five of their top-nine all-time seasons of total offense.
Remember the early careers of quarterbacks Matt Moore, Sean Canfield and Lyle Moevao? One word: Yucky. Remember their late careers? Two words: Dramatic transformation. Canfield earned first-team All-Pac-10 honors in 2009 and joined Moore in the NFL.
The fly sweep with James Rodgers and the "Wild Beaver" formation with Jacquizz Rodgers lining up at quarterback? Those innovations were executed by Langsdorf, who took over play-calling duties from head coach Mike Riley midway through the 2008 season.
Langsdorf is young enough -- 38 -- to be young and old enough to be experienced (14 years coaching, with three years in the NFL and CFL). Character? In 2007, he donated a kidney to Laurie Cavanaugh, the wife of Beavers offensive line coach Mike Cavanaugh.
And, really, isn't it time that Riley developed a coaching tree? Is there any college coach who is a better role model for the best way to be?
Langsdorf learned to evaluate talent from Riley, who's built a top-25 program and NFL pipeline without ever ranking in the top 25 in recruiting. He's learned how to gather and cultivate a loyal, accomplished staff from Riley. He's learned how to win under less-than-ideal circumstances from Riley. He's learned how to conduct himself with class from Riley.
He also probably learned a bit from his father, Ed Langsdorf, who coached at Linfield College in McMinnville, Ore., Danny Langsdorf's alma mater, for 20 years before becoming a scout for the San Diego Chargers.
No assistant coach is a sure thing when he makes the leap to head coach. But Langsdorf feels pretty close to it, particularly in the right circumstances.
If Oregon State surges this year on offense, and Katz stands out as another Langsdorf pupil, it's hard to imagine Langsdorf won't raise more than a few eyebrows among ADs looking for a go-getter to jump-start their program.
Is Jeremiah Masoli possibly headed to Louisiana Tech? That's what one TV station in Monroe, La., is reporting.
The Bulldogs' new coach, Sonny Dykes, would be plenty familiar with Masoli. Dykes was Arizona's offensive coordinator last year when Masoli led the Ducks to a 44-41 double-overtime win in Tucson. In that game, Masoli accounted for six scores -- three running, three passing.
Masoli was kicked off the Ducks on June 9 after he was cited by police on charges of possessing less than one ounce of marijuana, driving with a suspended license and failure to stop at a driveway or a sidewalk while he was already serving a season-long suspension for his involvement in a fraternity house burglary in January.
Note: The report only said Masoli visited the Ruston, La., campus. And it also said Masoli is looking at Mississippi State.
Masoli could redshirt in 2010 and be able to play one season in 2011.
The Bulldogs' new coach, Sonny Dykes, would be plenty familiar with Masoli. Dykes was Arizona's offensive coordinator last year when Masoli led the Ducks to a 44-41 double-overtime win in Tucson. In that game, Masoli accounted for six scores -- three running, three passing.
Masoli was kicked off the Ducks on June 9 after he was cited by police on charges of possessing less than one ounce of marijuana, driving with a suspended license and failure to stop at a driveway or a sidewalk while he was already serving a season-long suspension for his involvement in a fraternity house burglary in January.
Note: The report only said Masoli visited the Ruston, La., campus. And it also said Masoli is looking at Mississippi State.
Masoli could redshirt in 2010 and be able to play one season in 2011.
Opening the mailbag: How does the Pac-10 survive (thrive)?
April, 23, 2010
4/23/10
7:08
PM ET
By
Ted Miller | ESPN.com
To the notes.
Robert from Seattle writes: Who does the Pac-10 ultimately answer to? The fans or to the presidents? A follow-up not-so-quick question. If the Pac-10 wants to survive as a conference, what do they do?
Ted Miller: Who does the Pac-10 answer to? Easy: $.
Commissioner Larry Scott's charge going forward is to maximize sports revenue, which means football and men's basketball (but mostly football). Of course, he doesn't want to completely compromise the culture and values of the conference -- academic or otherwise -- but my guess is his first interest is revenue.
He has two basic issues ahead of him that he'd like to have a handle on before he goes off to negotiate new media/TV deals after the first of the year (the Pac-10's contracts with Fox and ESPN-ABC expire after the 2011-2012 academic year).
The first is expansion: Would adding teams increase revenue per team? The 10 existing members want their pie slices to grow, not get smaller, with expansion. So he's looking for teams that: 1. are interested in joining the Pac-10; 2. would increase revenue. Much of that, of course, is tied to the idea of creating more value -- real and perceived -- when negotiating new TV contracts.
The second issue -- if he cannot bring the presidents an expansion plan that works -- is defending the Pac-10's interest if expansion becomes the rage back east.
If, suddenly, a 16-team Big Ten and 16-team SEC are nose-to-nose for domination, Scott has to figure out what that means for the Pac-10. At the BCS meetings, Scott said he doesn't necessarily believe that would force the Pac-10 to follow the leaders. Maybe. But maybe not.
It's possible that the new, powerful super-conferences would make demands, such as second automatic berth in BCS bowl games (and perhaps an option for a third) as well as other special accommodations. That could create a significant revenue imbalance.
Moreover, Scott has to be aware of what might happen if there is a long-term and significant revenue imbalance between the Pac-10 and the super conferences.
For example, what happens if the SEC-16 starts to pay assistant coaches an average salary of $750,000, while Pac-10 assistants average just $250,000? Or think about this: What if Florida offered Mike Stoops $2.5 million to leave Arizona to become the Gators defensive coordinator? Or what if the existing imbalances in facilities become so pronounced that a significant percentage of recruits from southern California start heading east?
The Pac-10 could suddenly learn what it feels like to be a non-AQ conference. Heck, it could become a non-AQ conference.
Still, as I wrote on Thursday, we are wallowing in speculation and hypotheticals.
Ultimately, Scott's job is simple: He's going to try to improve the Pac-10's position in the marketplace, but, failing that, he needs to at least maintain it.
Matt from Athens, Ga., writes: When is the last time a USC player was not drafted in the 1st round? Does that point to any talent drop-off at USC or is it more particular players not fitting teams' needs in a given year?
Ted Miller: Last time? All the way back to ... 2007.
This is a good note from the Orange County Register though: "In the 75-year history of the National Football League draft, USC (63), Miami (56) and Ohio State (53) have produced the most first-round selections. On Thursday night in the 2010 first round, they combined for zero."
As for USC's talent, I don't think this is a moment to say the sky is falling. USC figures to have perhaps six players go in the next two rounds: Everson Griffen, Taylor Mays, Charles Brown, Damian Williams, Joe McKnight and Anthony McCoy. That ain't too shabby.
Michael from Tucson, Ariz., writes: Your Pac-10 predictions discount an Arizona team the returns almost the entire talent-ridden offense that, despite new coordinators, will run the same offense. As for the defense, it's still a Stoops team that always ranks high defensively, star talent or not. What's keeping the Cat's out of Pac-10 favorites?
Ted Miller: First, those aren't "predictions" -- they are "power rankings." They are based at the present moment. Things can change (and probably will).
A few points.
First, Arizona not only lost two coordinators, it lost two very good coordinators in new Louisiana Tech head coach Sonny Dykes and new Florida State defensive coordinator Mark Stoops. That can't be written off. The new foursome of co-coordinators are all smart, respected coaches, but it's prudent to take a wait-and-see attitude to how this unusual arrangement will work out going forward.
Second, Mike Stoops knows defense, without a doubt. But just like everyone else he needs players. As for "always" ranking highly: The 2007 unit ranked seventh in the Pac-10 in scoring defense and fifth in total defense.
Third, the 2010 defense must replace seven starters, including both defensive tackles, all three linebackers and half its secondary. That seven includes three second-team All-Pac-10 players from each level (tackle Earl Mitchell, linebacker Xavier Kelly and free safety Cam Nelson). Moreover, they are counting on a pair of JC transfers to start at linebacker. I'm skeptical of JC transfers until proven otherwise.
Now, despite all this, the Wildcats still look like a bowl team -- in large part because, as you note, the offense should be able to score on anybody. Therefore, they are a member of what I see as the Pac-10's extremely competitive and deep middle. I rank USC, Oregon and Oregon State as a clear top three. But from Nos. 4 to No. 8, you could arrange and re-arrange teams and not get much of an argument from me.
Luke from Philadelphia writes: I am a fan/follower of PSU and the Big Ten. But I am really excited about what looks like a lot of changes out there in Pac-10 country. Naturally I hate USC, so seeing them humbled last year was awesome. It's great to see the rest of your conference rise up and bring more drama to the season and the Rose Bowl. What's the feeling out there in the west? Did Pac-10 fans traditionally feel proud of USC for being the football flagship and thus feel sad about their becoming mortal in 2009? Or are they as happy as I am to see some drama in the conference, even if it means the Pac-10 could actually lose a Rose Bowl or two?
Ted Miller: Not getting a sense of any sadness from the other nine teams of USC slipping back -- potentially slipping back, I should type -- particularly when I was in Westwood last week.
A wide-open Pac-10 is more fun. For a while there, it felt like everyone was playing for second place behind the Trojans, though it's important to note that three times during the Pete Carroll Era, USC only shared the title with another conference team (2002, 2006, 2007).
As for pride in USC, it was more a case of a desire for more sympathy and less "Pac-1" ridiculousness. The Trojans would have dominated any other conference just as they did the Pac-10 from 2002-2008.
Would they have won seven consecutive SEC titles? Probably not. But I also think that if USC had played in the SEC, it would have won more national titles during that span.
Gerald from Norcross, Ga., writes: How's the Eric Berry versus Taylor Mays comparison looking?
Ted Miller: Fair to say that Berry is the decisive winner after going No. 5 overall. Heck, Pete Carroll even rated Mays below Texas' Earl Thomas by taking Thomas over Mays with the No. 14 pick.
And how about this: Who would have thought that Mays wouldn't even be the first Pac-10 safety selected (Cleveland just picked Oregon's T.J. Ward with the sixth pick of the second round)?
Tough day for Mays no doubt. But he'll eventually get drafted and have plenty of opportunities to prove his doubters wrong.
Craig from Corvallis, Ore., writes: Do you think that a super conference for the Pac-10 would be considered if it partially revived the old Southwest Conference? The conference could have two divisions, the pacific and southwest. The Pacific would be composed of the original Pac-8 members. The Southwest would include the Arizona schools and six Texas schools. Unfortunately, some of the old Southwest members would have to be left out (I know Arkansas would not mind, they are probably very happy in the SEC). I think the best fit would include: Texas, Texas A&M, Baylor, SMU, TCU and Texas Tech (or Rice). It would be a bold move by Larry Scott but very interesting for the world of college football. I think it would be interesting to see SMU brought back to the forefront of college football after their long dark-age.
Ted Miller: The Country-Western Conference!
It would be even better if you dropped Baylor and added Oklahoma, though that breaks from your old Southwest Conference theme.
This is an interesting idea, and not a bad one. I think the chances of something like this happen are decidedly remote, but I've read ideas that were far worse.
Robert from Seattle writes: Who does the Pac-10 ultimately answer to? The fans or to the presidents? A follow-up not-so-quick question. If the Pac-10 wants to survive as a conference, what do they do?
Ted Miller: Who does the Pac-10 answer to? Easy: $.
Commissioner Larry Scott's charge going forward is to maximize sports revenue, which means football and men's basketball (but mostly football). Of course, he doesn't want to completely compromise the culture and values of the conference -- academic or otherwise -- but my guess is his first interest is revenue.
He has two basic issues ahead of him that he'd like to have a handle on before he goes off to negotiate new media/TV deals after the first of the year (the Pac-10's contracts with Fox and ESPN-ABC expire after the 2011-2012 academic year).
The first is expansion: Would adding teams increase revenue per team? The 10 existing members want their pie slices to grow, not get smaller, with expansion. So he's looking for teams that: 1. are interested in joining the Pac-10; 2. would increase revenue. Much of that, of course, is tied to the idea of creating more value -- real and perceived -- when negotiating new TV contracts.
The second issue -- if he cannot bring the presidents an expansion plan that works -- is defending the Pac-10's interest if expansion becomes the rage back east.
If, suddenly, a 16-team Big Ten and 16-team SEC are nose-to-nose for domination, Scott has to figure out what that means for the Pac-10. At the BCS meetings, Scott said he doesn't necessarily believe that would force the Pac-10 to follow the leaders. Maybe. But maybe not.
It's possible that the new, powerful super-conferences would make demands, such as second automatic berth in BCS bowl games (and perhaps an option for a third) as well as other special accommodations. That could create a significant revenue imbalance.
Moreover, Scott has to be aware of what might happen if there is a long-term and significant revenue imbalance between the Pac-10 and the super conferences.
For example, what happens if the SEC-16 starts to pay assistant coaches an average salary of $750,000, while Pac-10 assistants average just $250,000? Or think about this: What if Florida offered Mike Stoops $2.5 million to leave Arizona to become the Gators defensive coordinator? Or what if the existing imbalances in facilities become so pronounced that a significant percentage of recruits from southern California start heading east?
The Pac-10 could suddenly learn what it feels like to be a non-AQ conference. Heck, it could become a non-AQ conference.
Still, as I wrote on Thursday, we are wallowing in speculation and hypotheticals.
Ultimately, Scott's job is simple: He's going to try to improve the Pac-10's position in the marketplace, but, failing that, he needs to at least maintain it.
Matt from Athens, Ga., writes: When is the last time a USC player was not drafted in the 1st round? Does that point to any talent drop-off at USC or is it more particular players not fitting teams' needs in a given year?
Ted Miller: Last time? All the way back to ... 2007.
This is a good note from the Orange County Register though: "In the 75-year history of the National Football League draft, USC (63), Miami (56) and Ohio State (53) have produced the most first-round selections. On Thursday night in the 2010 first round, they combined for zero."
As for USC's talent, I don't think this is a moment to say the sky is falling. USC figures to have perhaps six players go in the next two rounds: Everson Griffen, Taylor Mays, Charles Brown, Damian Williams, Joe McKnight and Anthony McCoy. That ain't too shabby.
Michael from Tucson, Ariz., writes: Your Pac-10 predictions discount an Arizona team the returns almost the entire talent-ridden offense that, despite new coordinators, will run the same offense. As for the defense, it's still a Stoops team that always ranks high defensively, star talent or not. What's keeping the Cat's out of Pac-10 favorites?
Ted Miller: First, those aren't "predictions" -- they are "power rankings." They are based at the present moment. Things can change (and probably will).
A few points.
First, Arizona not only lost two coordinators, it lost two very good coordinators in new Louisiana Tech head coach Sonny Dykes and new Florida State defensive coordinator Mark Stoops. That can't be written off. The new foursome of co-coordinators are all smart, respected coaches, but it's prudent to take a wait-and-see attitude to how this unusual arrangement will work out going forward.
Second, Mike Stoops knows defense, without a doubt. But just like everyone else he needs players. As for "always" ranking highly: The 2007 unit ranked seventh in the Pac-10 in scoring defense and fifth in total defense.
Third, the 2010 defense must replace seven starters, including both defensive tackles, all three linebackers and half its secondary. That seven includes three second-team All-Pac-10 players from each level (tackle Earl Mitchell, linebacker Xavier Kelly and free safety Cam Nelson). Moreover, they are counting on a pair of JC transfers to start at linebacker. I'm skeptical of JC transfers until proven otherwise.
Now, despite all this, the Wildcats still look like a bowl team -- in large part because, as you note, the offense should be able to score on anybody. Therefore, they are a member of what I see as the Pac-10's extremely competitive and deep middle. I rank USC, Oregon and Oregon State as a clear top three. But from Nos. 4 to No. 8, you could arrange and re-arrange teams and not get much of an argument from me.
Luke from Philadelphia writes: I am a fan/follower of PSU and the Big Ten. But I am really excited about what looks like a lot of changes out there in Pac-10 country. Naturally I hate USC, so seeing them humbled last year was awesome. It's great to see the rest of your conference rise up and bring more drama to the season and the Rose Bowl. What's the feeling out there in the west? Did Pac-10 fans traditionally feel proud of USC for being the football flagship and thus feel sad about their becoming mortal in 2009? Or are they as happy as I am to see some drama in the conference, even if it means the Pac-10 could actually lose a Rose Bowl or two?
Ted Miller: Not getting a sense of any sadness from the other nine teams of USC slipping back -- potentially slipping back, I should type -- particularly when I was in Westwood last week.
A wide-open Pac-10 is more fun. For a while there, it felt like everyone was playing for second place behind the Trojans, though it's important to note that three times during the Pete Carroll Era, USC only shared the title with another conference team (2002, 2006, 2007).
As for pride in USC, it was more a case of a desire for more sympathy and less "Pac-1" ridiculousness. The Trojans would have dominated any other conference just as they did the Pac-10 from 2002-2008.
Would they have won seven consecutive SEC titles? Probably not. But I also think that if USC had played in the SEC, it would have won more national titles during that span.
Gerald from Norcross, Ga., writes: How's the Eric Berry versus Taylor Mays comparison looking?
Ted Miller: Fair to say that Berry is the decisive winner after going No. 5 overall. Heck, Pete Carroll even rated Mays below Texas' Earl Thomas by taking Thomas over Mays with the No. 14 pick.
And how about this: Who would have thought that Mays wouldn't even be the first Pac-10 safety selected (Cleveland just picked Oregon's T.J. Ward with the sixth pick of the second round)?
Tough day for Mays no doubt. But he'll eventually get drafted and have plenty of opportunities to prove his doubters wrong.
Craig from Corvallis, Ore., writes: Do you think that a super conference for the Pac-10 would be considered if it partially revived the old Southwest Conference? The conference could have two divisions, the pacific and southwest. The Pacific would be composed of the original Pac-8 members. The Southwest would include the Arizona schools and six Texas schools. Unfortunately, some of the old Southwest members would have to be left out (I know Arkansas would not mind, they are probably very happy in the SEC). I think the best fit would include: Texas, Texas A&M, Baylor, SMU, TCU and Texas Tech (or Rice). It would be a bold move by Larry Scott but very interesting for the world of college football. I think it would be interesting to see SMU brought back to the forefront of college football after their long dark-age.
Ted Miller: The Country-Western Conference!
It would be even better if you dropped Baylor and added Oklahoma, though that breaks from your old Southwest Conference theme.
This is an interesting idea, and not a bad one. I think the chances of something like this happen are decidedly remote, but I've read ideas that were far worse.
Q&A: Arizona co-offensive coordinator Seth Littrell, Part II
April, 15, 2010
4/15/10
9:00
AM ET
By
Ted Miller | ESPN.com
Part II of a chat with Arizona's co-offensive coordinator Seth Littrell, who will call the offensive plays this season.
Read Part I here.
We know the established guys: Give me some names of youngsters or former reserves who impressed you.
Seth Littrell: A guy who not a lot people have heard about who had a pretty solid spring was two guys at receiver. Gino Crump, who transferred here last year from West Virginia, has really done some good things and is developing his skills. His deal when he got here was he was inconsistent catching the football, but he did a better job hanging onto the football this spring. He didn't drop as many balls. Also a guy in the same category is Travis Cobb, who is always impressive because he's extremely fast. He can really stretch the field. The biggest thing with him was getting comfortable in the offense. He did a lot better this spring than he did last fall when I don't know how comfortable he was. He was pretty impressive in practices just going to get the football. Nick would drop back and throw a fade route and it would look like it was going to be overthrown by 10 yards and Cobb just runs and gets it. Pure speed, he's probably the fastest guy on our team. Then there's Taimi Tutogi. He played a few games last year and didn't redshirt and played as Chris Gronkowski's backup. But this spring he's really come along. We've done a lot of things with him, from the fullback position to putting him on the line as a tight end, or lining him up at tailback, which we've done in a few practices. He's a guy who, if he develops and gets that confidence as a running back, or fullback, H-back, the more we can expand his role even to tailback also. There's a lot of guys who stepped up and had good springs. Some young O-linemen. It's hard to say one guy. There's a lot of young guys who did some good things this spring.
What will be different about the offense next fall compared to what we saw in 2009?
SL: Hopefully, we'll be better. Without giving away too much, we're going to do some different things, things we were even talking about before Coach Dykes got the head job at Louisiana Tech. We're always looking to expand and looking to get better. I feel like this spring we've done some evaluations of what we feel like we need to do to be a top offense in the country. Even with Coach Scelfo coming in, bringing a new set of eyes and being able to evaluate some of the things we were doing. Sometimes it's good to have something from the outside looking in to give you a different perspective. We've been looking at some of the stuff he did at La-Tech. They were very successful there.
Tell me about how Coach Stoops decided that you would call plays?
SL: The biggest thing with this offense is we are all part of this offense. Obviously, one guy has to be designated to call the plays. In the course of the game, we're all having input. Even though I may be calling the offense, we've called it all week, we have a script, we pretty much know what we're going to do situationally throughout a game. When you're calling it, obviously you've got to get some type of game-time rhythm, know the situations and how to set stuff up. But also at the same time, Frank is going to be in the box with me. Coach Bedenbaugh will be on the field with [receivers coaches Garret Chachere and Dave Nichol]. Really, honestly, it's a matter that coach Bedenbaugh has to be on the field with the O-linemen. That's a huge role for him, being around the linemen the whole game, making adjustments. It would be pretty difficult for him to call plays from down there. Not to say he couldn't because he could but it's really just a matter of me being in the box.
Football coaches, by nature, are fiery guys, as you know from working with the Stoops brothers. Sometimes the collaborative process can get pretty animated: Think everybody will be able to get along?
SL: I don't think there's any doubt. We're all pretty passionate. I've been around coach Stoops for a long time. I played offense [at Oklahoma], but I played under Bob Stoops at OU and Mike Stoops was the D-coordinator. And I've been under [Mark] Mangino and Mike Leach and a lot of different guys. Everybody has their own fire and passion. Obviously, I've only coached with them [at Arizona] for one season but we've been around each other. One thing about Mike is he's passionate about the game but nothing is ever personal. It's about business and winning football games. He knows I'm the same way. We've always gotten along and always had a great relationship. It's going to be no different.
Read Part I here.
We know the established guys: Give me some names of youngsters or former reserves who impressed you.
Seth Littrell: A guy who not a lot people have heard about who had a pretty solid spring was two guys at receiver. Gino Crump, who transferred here last year from West Virginia, has really done some good things and is developing his skills. His deal when he got here was he was inconsistent catching the football, but he did a better job hanging onto the football this spring. He didn't drop as many balls. Also a guy in the same category is Travis Cobb, who is always impressive because he's extremely fast. He can really stretch the field. The biggest thing with him was getting comfortable in the offense. He did a lot better this spring than he did last fall when I don't know how comfortable he was. He was pretty impressive in practices just going to get the football. Nick would drop back and throw a fade route and it would look like it was going to be overthrown by 10 yards and Cobb just runs and gets it. Pure speed, he's probably the fastest guy on our team. Then there's Taimi Tutogi. He played a few games last year and didn't redshirt and played as Chris Gronkowski's backup. But this spring he's really come along. We've done a lot of things with him, from the fullback position to putting him on the line as a tight end, or lining him up at tailback, which we've done in a few practices. He's a guy who, if he develops and gets that confidence as a running back, or fullback, H-back, the more we can expand his role even to tailback also. There's a lot of guys who stepped up and had good springs. Some young O-linemen. It's hard to say one guy. There's a lot of young guys who did some good things this spring.
What will be different about the offense next fall compared to what we saw in 2009?
SL: Hopefully, we'll be better. Without giving away too much, we're going to do some different things, things we were even talking about before Coach Dykes got the head job at Louisiana Tech. We're always looking to expand and looking to get better. I feel like this spring we've done some evaluations of what we feel like we need to do to be a top offense in the country. Even with Coach Scelfo coming in, bringing a new set of eyes and being able to evaluate some of the things we were doing. Sometimes it's good to have something from the outside looking in to give you a different perspective. We've been looking at some of the stuff he did at La-Tech. They were very successful there.
Tell me about how Coach Stoops decided that you would call plays?
SL: The biggest thing with this offense is we are all part of this offense. Obviously, one guy has to be designated to call the plays. In the course of the game, we're all having input. Even though I may be calling the offense, we've called it all week, we have a script, we pretty much know what we're going to do situationally throughout a game. When you're calling it, obviously you've got to get some type of game-time rhythm, know the situations and how to set stuff up. But also at the same time, Frank is going to be in the box with me. Coach Bedenbaugh will be on the field with [receivers coaches Garret Chachere and Dave Nichol]. Really, honestly, it's a matter that coach Bedenbaugh has to be on the field with the O-linemen. That's a huge role for him, being around the linemen the whole game, making adjustments. It would be pretty difficult for him to call plays from down there. Not to say he couldn't because he could but it's really just a matter of me being in the box.
Football coaches, by nature, are fiery guys, as you know from working with the Stoops brothers. Sometimes the collaborative process can get pretty animated: Think everybody will be able to get along?
SL: I don't think there's any doubt. We're all pretty passionate. I've been around coach Stoops for a long time. I played offense [at Oklahoma], but I played under Bob Stoops at OU and Mike Stoops was the D-coordinator. And I've been under [Mark] Mangino and Mike Leach and a lot of different guys. Everybody has their own fire and passion. Obviously, I've only coached with them [at Arizona] for one season but we've been around each other. One thing about Mike is he's passionate about the game but nothing is ever personal. It's about business and winning football games. He knows I'm the same way. We've always gotten along and always had a great relationship. It's going to be no different.
Q&A: Arizona co-offensive coordinator Seth Littrell, Part I
April, 14, 2010
4/14/10
5:51
PM ET
By
Ted Miller | ESPN.com
In 2000, Seth Littrell was a fullback and captain of Oklahoma's national championship team.
In 2004, he was a graduate assistant at Kansas.
In 2010, he became the Arizona Wildcats' co-offensive coordinator. And, at 31, will be the youngest play-caller in the Pac-10 and one of the youngest in the nation.
It's been a quick climb through the coaching ranks for Littrell. And there's pressure, sure. Wildcats coach Mike Stoops tapped him to fill the job capably manned last fall by Sonny Dykes, who's now Louisiana Tech's head coach, over two more veteran assistants, line coach and co-coordinator Bill Bedenbaugh and quarterbacks coach Frank Scelfo.
While Littrell goes to great lengths to play down the distinction of calling plays, it's clear that Stoops believes he's got a talented young coach who's up to the job.
The good news is Littrell has a lot to work with. Seven starters return from an offense that averaged nearly 32 points per game in Pac-10 play, including quarterback Nick Foles.
With the Wildcats concluding spring practices last weekend, it seemed like a good time to check in with Littrell.
So give me the rundown of the offense this spring: What are you happy with? What didn't go as well as you wanted it to?
Seth Littrell: Overall, we were pleased. The biggest thing was the effort. We did some different things offensively that we haven't done in the past, trying some new things out to maybe fit us a little bit better personnel-wise with some guys. I think our players really enjoyed it. So overall they were pretty focused and intense. There was good competition. We had a lot of guys with a lot of returning experience so the hardest thing with that a lot of times is they get bored. We tried to find different ways to keep it exciting and keep it enthusiastic. They were willing to come out and work to become the No. 1 offense in the Pac-10, which is always what our goal is. Probably the most disappointing thing was we came out flat in the spring game. I thought we had good work for the most part leading up to that. We were pretty basic and vanilla in the game, but I was a little disappointed in how flat we were. We didn't make plays we'd made all spring. We dropped too many balls, which hadn't been a problem. Way too many turnovers. Things we didn't have issues with during the spring just kind of popped up in a game-type atmosphere. But that's really the only disappointment I had.
Nick Foles, I wouldn't say faded a bit late in the season, but he didn't have a good Holiday Bowl: Where did he get better this spring?
SL: Overall grasp of the offense. In Nick's defense, he played pretty well early in the season but each and every game we put more on him. I don't know if he faded out but looking back on it maybe we had a little too much offense. Maybe he wasn't ready for all that. That's not an excuse for him. He'd only played a few games -- he redshirted and played a few games at Michigan State [from where he transferred] -- so he's still pretty young. We probably could have kept it a little safer for him, not put so much on him. I think the thing he's really improved in is understanding the offense. Understanding that not every play has to be a touchdown. It's about moving the chains and being productive and getting the ball into other guys' hands. He doesn't have to be the superstar. There's 11 guys on the field and everybody has a role to play. He's just one part of that 11.
Where does backup quarterback Matt Scott stand?
SL: I thought Matt Scott had an unbelievable spring. He's probably been one of the guys I've been most impressed with -- he's probably had the biggest jump of anybody. Coach Scelfo does an unbelievable job with those quarterbacks. [No. 3 QB] Bryson Beirne even had a good spring. Things [Scott] needed to work on, he worked on them and bought into it and worked each and every day. He's way more accurate than he was because of the things he's worked on with Coach Scelfo. Another thing is he really took it upon himself to study the offense. He wants to get involved and learn and it showed on the field.
You oversee the running backs: Are there concerns that Nic Grigsby might not be able to stay healthy?
SL: It may appear that way, huh? It wasn't only him, though. I was down to my fifth running back last year. We played five different guys. We had to get [fullback Taimi Tutogi] ready to take some snaps at tailback. It's always a concern for running backs. I've been around offenses that have been two or three years without one injury and they've been some of the smallest guys on the field. It's always a concern, as a running backs coach, keeping your guys healthy. But as long as we're doing what we need to do in the offseason with [strength and conditioning coach Corey Edmond] and the weight room. As long as we are taking care of our bodies, I don't think that should be too big of an issue. I don't know how well we did that last year. Hopefully we learned a big lesson and are trying to protect ourselves better by taking care of our bodies and doing what is necessary in the offseason to prevent some of that.
Seems like you guys are fairly strong on the offensive line: How did they do this spring?
SL: They are a very solid group. Coach Bedenbaugh does an unbelievable job with O-linemen. Just how physical and tough those guys are. They are obviously the leaders on our offense. Everybody kind of looks to those guys and they set the tone. One thing we still have to develop is depth across the board. But when you talk about our first five -- and really up to seven or eight, we've got pretty solid guys -- we're pretty comfortable. As always, and it's the same across the country, everybody is looking for depth across the offensive line.
In Part II on Thursday, Littrell talks about youngsters who stood out this spring, changes in the offensive scheme and why he was tapped the play-caller.
In 2004, he was a graduate assistant at Kansas.
In 2010, he became the Arizona Wildcats' co-offensive coordinator. And, at 31, will be the youngest play-caller in the Pac-10 and one of the youngest in the nation.
It's been a quick climb through the coaching ranks for Littrell. And there's pressure, sure. Wildcats coach Mike Stoops tapped him to fill the job capably manned last fall by Sonny Dykes, who's now Louisiana Tech's head coach, over two more veteran assistants, line coach and co-coordinator Bill Bedenbaugh and quarterbacks coach Frank Scelfo.
While Littrell goes to great lengths to play down the distinction of calling plays, it's clear that Stoops believes he's got a talented young coach who's up to the job.
The good news is Littrell has a lot to work with. Seven starters return from an offense that averaged nearly 32 points per game in Pac-10 play, including quarterback Nick Foles.
With the Wildcats concluding spring practices last weekend, it seemed like a good time to check in with Littrell.
So give me the rundown of the offense this spring: What are you happy with? What didn't go as well as you wanted it to?
Seth Littrell: Overall, we were pleased. The biggest thing was the effort. We did some different things offensively that we haven't done in the past, trying some new things out to maybe fit us a little bit better personnel-wise with some guys. I think our players really enjoyed it. So overall they were pretty focused and intense. There was good competition. We had a lot of guys with a lot of returning experience so the hardest thing with that a lot of times is they get bored. We tried to find different ways to keep it exciting and keep it enthusiastic. They were willing to come out and work to become the No. 1 offense in the Pac-10, which is always what our goal is. Probably the most disappointing thing was we came out flat in the spring game. I thought we had good work for the most part leading up to that. We were pretty basic and vanilla in the game, but I was a little disappointed in how flat we were. We didn't make plays we'd made all spring. We dropped too many balls, which hadn't been a problem. Way too many turnovers. Things we didn't have issues with during the spring just kind of popped up in a game-type atmosphere. But that's really the only disappointment I had.
Nick Foles, I wouldn't say faded a bit late in the season, but he didn't have a good Holiday Bowl: Where did he get better this spring?
SL: Overall grasp of the offense. In Nick's defense, he played pretty well early in the season but each and every game we put more on him. I don't know if he faded out but looking back on it maybe we had a little too much offense. Maybe he wasn't ready for all that. That's not an excuse for him. He'd only played a few games -- he redshirted and played a few games at Michigan State [from where he transferred] -- so he's still pretty young. We probably could have kept it a little safer for him, not put so much on him. I think the thing he's really improved in is understanding the offense. Understanding that not every play has to be a touchdown. It's about moving the chains and being productive and getting the ball into other guys' hands. He doesn't have to be the superstar. There's 11 guys on the field and everybody has a role to play. He's just one part of that 11.
Where does backup quarterback Matt Scott stand?
SL: I thought Matt Scott had an unbelievable spring. He's probably been one of the guys I've been most impressed with -- he's probably had the biggest jump of anybody. Coach Scelfo does an unbelievable job with those quarterbacks. [No. 3 QB] Bryson Beirne even had a good spring. Things [Scott] needed to work on, he worked on them and bought into it and worked each and every day. He's way more accurate than he was because of the things he's worked on with Coach Scelfo. Another thing is he really took it upon himself to study the offense. He wants to get involved and learn and it showed on the field.
You oversee the running backs: Are there concerns that Nic Grigsby might not be able to stay healthy?
SL: It may appear that way, huh? It wasn't only him, though. I was down to my fifth running back last year. We played five different guys. We had to get [fullback Taimi Tutogi] ready to take some snaps at tailback. It's always a concern for running backs. I've been around offenses that have been two or three years without one injury and they've been some of the smallest guys on the field. It's always a concern, as a running backs coach, keeping your guys healthy. But as long as we're doing what we need to do in the offseason with [strength and conditioning coach Corey Edmond] and the weight room. As long as we are taking care of our bodies, I don't think that should be too big of an issue. I don't know how well we did that last year. Hopefully we learned a big lesson and are trying to protect ourselves better by taking care of our bodies and doing what is necessary in the offseason to prevent some of that.
Seems like you guys are fairly strong on the offensive line: How did they do this spring?
SL: They are a very solid group. Coach Bedenbaugh does an unbelievable job with O-linemen. Just how physical and tough those guys are. They are obviously the leaders on our offense. Everybody kind of looks to those guys and they set the tone. One thing we still have to develop is depth across the board. But when you talk about our first five -- and really up to seven or eight, we've got pretty solid guys -- we're pretty comfortable. As always, and it's the same across the country, everybody is looking for depth across the offensive line.
In Part II on Thursday, Littrell talks about youngsters who stood out this spring, changes in the offensive scheme and why he was tapped the play-caller.
It appears Mike Stoops has named a play-caller for his offense: Seth Littrell, who also oversees running backs and tight ends.
Littrell, 31, a Mike Leach disciple, joined the Wildcats staff in 2009 and played on Oklahoma's 2000 national championship team when Stoops was the Sooners defensive coordinator.
Littrell was named co-offensive coordinator with line coach Bill Bedenbaugh when Sonny Dykes was hired as Louisiana Tech's head coach. New quarterbacks coach Frank Scelfo also was a candidate to call plays.,
But Littrell, who will spend game days in the press box, will make the final call, the Tucson Citizen reported.
“He and Bill set up the daily game plan, and then Seth calls it,” Stoops told the Web site. “Still, I’m not really worried about scoring points, really. I think we should be able to do that pretty consistently. I think we’re much better offensively than a year ago.”
That final point seems to be a theme of the Wildcats this spring: The offense in year two under quarterback Nick Foles has the potential to score a lot of points. Foles will have four or five legitimate threats at receiver and a reliable backfield, led by Nic Grigsby. The line also figures to be first-rate, led by veteran center Colin Baxter.
Moreover, unlike a number of Pac-10 teams, the Wildcats have solid depth and experience at quarterback.
The question is defense, where two JC transfers are being counting on to fill two of the three voids at linebacker.
Littrell, 31, a Mike Leach disciple, joined the Wildcats staff in 2009 and played on Oklahoma's 2000 national championship team when Stoops was the Sooners defensive coordinator.
Littrell was named co-offensive coordinator with line coach Bill Bedenbaugh when Sonny Dykes was hired as Louisiana Tech's head coach. New quarterbacks coach Frank Scelfo also was a candidate to call plays.,
But Littrell, who will spend game days in the press box, will make the final call, the Tucson Citizen reported.
“He and Bill set up the daily game plan, and then Seth calls it,” Stoops told the Web site. “Still, I’m not really worried about scoring points, really. I think we should be able to do that pretty consistently. I think we’re much better offensively than a year ago.”
That final point seems to be a theme of the Wildcats this spring: The offense in year two under quarterback Nick Foles has the potential to score a lot of points. Foles will have four or five legitimate threats at receiver and a reliable backfield, led by Nic Grigsby. The line also figures to be first-rate, led by veteran center Colin Baxter.
Moreover, unlike a number of Pac-10 teams, the Wildcats have solid depth and experience at quarterback.
The question is defense, where two JC transfers are being counting on to fill two of the three voids at linebacker.
Arizona begins four-coordinator experience
March, 8, 2010
3/08/10
2:08
PM ET
By
Ted Miller | ESPN.com
TUCSON, Ariz. -- Tim Kish, one of Arizona's quartet of coordinators, brandished a football helmet during a news conference Friday.
"I haven't seen any of these fly across the meeting room yet. Does that answer your question?" he said, drawing laughs.
Kish was specifically addressing how coaching life might be different with the Wildcats now that the notoriously hot-headed Stoops brothers -- head coach Mike and former defensive coordinator Mark -- won't be fussing at each other this season, but the gesture also seemed meaningful for coming to terms with Mike Stoops' admittedly "unorthodox" decision to enter spring practice with four coordinators and no designated playcallers.
There will be many voices of authority telling Arizona's players what to do in 2010.
"I wouldn't have done it if I didn't think it could work," Mike Stoops said.
Stoops lost his brother, now at Florida State, on defense and Sonny Dykes on offense. Dykes became Louisiana Tech's head coach.
The vacancies were filled by two men on both sides of the ball: line coach Bill Bedenbaugh and running backs/tight ends coach Seth Littrell on offense and linebackers coach Kish and secondary coach Greg Brown on defense. Bedenbaugh, Littrell and Kish were promoted from within. Brown was hired away from Colorado.
Moreover, Kish noted that Mike Stoops will always play a major role with the defense, while new quarterbacks coach Frank Scelfo also is a possible playcaller.
Stoops said that deciding who ultimately has the final word on play calls will be "a process that will be on-going as we go through spring."
"It's probably a little bit unorthodox, but I think our players are as confident as they have ever been in our staff," he said. "I think they have a great feeling of continuity. That's the biggest thing. There's not a lack of trust there."
While there may be skepticism about how well the arrangement will work outside the program, all coaching parties were preaching a party line of jovial collaboration heading into spring practices.
"There's no egos between Greg and I," Kish said.
Said Bedenbaugh: "Everything up to this point has been great and it's going to continue to be great. ... We've been in this offense. We know what we want to do. We think alike. We want to run the same things."
Wildcats players also were -- not unexpectedly -- positive about the coaching situation. An obvious benefit for them is familiarity and continuity. There's no plan for wholesale scheme changes on either side of the ball. On offense, in particular, with 10 starters back, the transition should be fairly smooth.
But quarterback Nick Foles at least admitted that he's really not sure how everything will go down in practices and games.
"I am curious because it's something different. When there's something different that you're not used to, you're going to be curious," he said. "I know I'm going to hear a lot of voices, but these guys have a lot of great knowledge so I'm looking forward to them critiquing all of us and getting us better."
The initial task is fairly simple: coaches will coach their positions.
Foles' early focus with Scelfo is improving his footwork. Kish has to find three new starting linebackers. Brown has two holes in his secondary. Bedenbaugh's line has a chance to be one of the best in the Pac-10. Littrell has experience all over the field at the skill positions.
But at some point somebody has to be first-among-equals on both sides of the ball, other than Stoops. The collaboration will face a stress test as a pecking order is established this spring.
"That's what we'll do during scrimmages," Bedenbaugh said.
While there's consensus now, it remains to be seen among the coordinator quartet whether any helmets will be hurled to punctuate an opinion during future staff meetings.
"I haven't seen any of these fly across the meeting room yet. Does that answer your question?" he said, drawing laughs.
Kish was specifically addressing how coaching life might be different with the Wildcats now that the notoriously hot-headed Stoops brothers -- head coach Mike and former defensive coordinator Mark -- won't be fussing at each other this season, but the gesture also seemed meaningful for coming to terms with Mike Stoops' admittedly "unorthodox" decision to enter spring practice with four coordinators and no designated playcallers.
[+] Enlarge
Kirby Lee/Image of Sport/US PresswireQuarterback Nick Foles has admitted he's curious to see how the two-coordinator system works out on offense.
Kirby Lee/Image of Sport/US PresswireQuarterback Nick Foles has admitted he's curious to see how the two-coordinator system works out on offense."I wouldn't have done it if I didn't think it could work," Mike Stoops said.
Stoops lost his brother, now at Florida State, on defense and Sonny Dykes on offense. Dykes became Louisiana Tech's head coach.
The vacancies were filled by two men on both sides of the ball: line coach Bill Bedenbaugh and running backs/tight ends coach Seth Littrell on offense and linebackers coach Kish and secondary coach Greg Brown on defense. Bedenbaugh, Littrell and Kish were promoted from within. Brown was hired away from Colorado.
Moreover, Kish noted that Mike Stoops will always play a major role with the defense, while new quarterbacks coach Frank Scelfo also is a possible playcaller.
Stoops said that deciding who ultimately has the final word on play calls will be "a process that will be on-going as we go through spring."
"It's probably a little bit unorthodox, but I think our players are as confident as they have ever been in our staff," he said. "I think they have a great feeling of continuity. That's the biggest thing. There's not a lack of trust there."
While there may be skepticism about how well the arrangement will work outside the program, all coaching parties were preaching a party line of jovial collaboration heading into spring practices.
"There's no egos between Greg and I," Kish said.
Said Bedenbaugh: "Everything up to this point has been great and it's going to continue to be great. ... We've been in this offense. We know what we want to do. We think alike. We want to run the same things."
Wildcats players also were -- not unexpectedly -- positive about the coaching situation. An obvious benefit for them is familiarity and continuity. There's no plan for wholesale scheme changes on either side of the ball. On offense, in particular, with 10 starters back, the transition should be fairly smooth.
But quarterback Nick Foles at least admitted that he's really not sure how everything will go down in practices and games.
"I am curious because it's something different. When there's something different that you're not used to, you're going to be curious," he said. "I know I'm going to hear a lot of voices, but these guys have a lot of great knowledge so I'm looking forward to them critiquing all of us and getting us better."
The initial task is fairly simple: coaches will coach their positions.
Foles' early focus with Scelfo is improving his footwork. Kish has to find three new starting linebackers. Brown has two holes in his secondary. Bedenbaugh's line has a chance to be one of the best in the Pac-10. Littrell has experience all over the field at the skill positions.
But at some point somebody has to be first-among-equals on both sides of the ball, other than Stoops. The collaboration will face a stress test as a pecking order is established this spring.
"That's what we'll do during scrimmages," Bedenbaugh said.
While there's consensus now, it remains to be seen among the coordinator quartet whether any helmets will be hurled to punctuate an opinion during future staff meetings.
Holiday Bowl debacle still haunts Arizona
March, 8, 2010
3/08/10
12:18
PM ET
By
Ted Miller | ESPN.com
TUCSON, Ariz. -- Arizona finished tied for second in the Pac-10 last year. It beat Oregon State, Stanford, USC and arch-rival Arizona State. After a mostly miserable decade without a bowl berth, the Wildcats have earned two consecutive postseason invitations.
Slowly but surely, Mike Stoops has built a contender.
Holiday Bowl.
That is a conversation-stopper in Tucson. Bring up the Wildcats 33-0 Holiday Bowl drubbing at the hands of Nebraska, and everyone around the program just shakes their heads.
"It was kind of a meltdown of major proportions," Stoops said.
Yep.
The Wildcats, who started spring practices on Friday, are a combined 16-10 over the past two seasons. Nine of those defeats came by 10 or fewer points and four by three points or fewer. Suffice it to say, Stoops has built a competitive team that is much different than the crew he inherited.
Oh, but that Holiday Bowl. It was so ugly -- Arizona was outgained 396 yards to 109 -- that it seemingly doused much of the momentum for a program on the rise.
"We lost a lot of respect in that game and that's just how it happens -- it can happen pretty quickly," Stoops said. "I think our players are excited to regain their stature."
That's the rub. The embarrassment of the Bawliday Bowl represents a challenge: Move forward and up or sink back down into Pac-10 and national irrelevancy.
There are plenty of challenges ahead that have nothing to do with the bowl game dismantling. Both coordinators -- Mark Stoops on defense and Sonny Dykes on offense -- are gone. The younger Stoops is now running Florida State's defense and Dykes is Louisiana Tech's head coach.
Mike Stoops opted to fill those vacancies with co-coordinators: line coach Bill Bedenbaugh and running backs/tight ends coach Seth Littrell on offense and linebackers coach Tim Kish and secondary coach Greg Brown on defense. Bedenbaugh, Littrell and Kish were promoted from within. Brown was hired away from Colorado.
Toss in Stoops' interest in defense and new quarterbacks coach Frank Scelfo on offense -- he might end up calling the plays; Stoops has yet to assign the duties -- and that's a lot of chefs in the kitchen.
On the players' side of things, there's plenty of continuity on offense with 10 guys with significant starting experience back. The defense is another story, with seven starters gone, including all three linebackers and both defensive tackles.
Still, to avoid taking a step back as a program, the first step forward might be coming to terms with the, well, you know.
What the heck happened?
"We made some tactical mistakes," Stoops said.
Stoops wasn't happy with some of the bowl preparation and his team's frame of mind on game day. And Nebraska surprised the Wildcats with their schemes on both sides of the ball. On offense, the Wildcats "just couldn't get open," Stoops said.
Cornerback Trevin Wade offers his own theory.
"People wanted to go home for Christmas and see their families," he said. "I know it's all business and everything, but we're still college kids and people wanted to go home. Had they given us a couple days, people would have come back happy and ready to go."
Hmm. Asked about that, quarterback Nick Foles said, "He might have something there but I don't know. I really have no comment on that."
Foles' ultimate diagnosis seems the most popular: "It was one of those games when it seemed like nothing could go right. I really can't explain it."
Foles was 6-for-20 for 28 yards with an interception, and that performance is perhaps the main reason he still has to look over his shoulder at backup Matt Scott this spring. Scott started the first three games last year before Foles took over.
Foles said the game should operate as a "chip on our shoulders" during spring practices.
"It makes your stomach hurt watching that film. It really humbles you," he said. "But I don't think you burn the tape. You want to. But to become a great player, you've got to experience things like that and learn from it."
Stoops accepts the ultimate responsibility for the Holiday Bowl, but it's also clear that he's just a bit irked at how it has obscured what his team accomplished in 2009 and how the team has gained steam the past two seasons.
And he knows that the meltdown will fuel skeptics who believe the Wildcats will fall back into the pack in 2010.
"A lot of people don't think we're going to be this or that. They didn't think that last year. That's fine with us. The proof will be in the scoreboard and in the wins and losses," he said. "We had a lot of good wins. Everyone forgets about Stanford. Everyone forgets about Oregon State. Everybody forgets about USC. You don't beat those teams without having a good program. You just can't do it."
Doing it again will be the best way to make everyone forget about the, er, thing that happened in San Diego.
[+] Enlarge
Chris Morrison/US PresswireMike Stoops feels the disappointing Holiday Bowl performance overshadows the progress Arizona has made the past two seasons.
Chris Morrison/US PresswireMike Stoops feels the disappointing Holiday Bowl performance overshadows the progress Arizona has made the past two seasons.Holiday Bowl.
That is a conversation-stopper in Tucson. Bring up the Wildcats 33-0 Holiday Bowl drubbing at the hands of Nebraska, and everyone around the program just shakes their heads.
"It was kind of a meltdown of major proportions," Stoops said.
Yep.
The Wildcats, who started spring practices on Friday, are a combined 16-10 over the past two seasons. Nine of those defeats came by 10 or fewer points and four by three points or fewer. Suffice it to say, Stoops has built a competitive team that is much different than the crew he inherited.
Oh, but that Holiday Bowl. It was so ugly -- Arizona was outgained 396 yards to 109 -- that it seemingly doused much of the momentum for a program on the rise.
"We lost a lot of respect in that game and that's just how it happens -- it can happen pretty quickly," Stoops said. "I think our players are excited to regain their stature."
That's the rub. The embarrassment of the Bawliday Bowl represents a challenge: Move forward and up or sink back down into Pac-10 and national irrelevancy.
There are plenty of challenges ahead that have nothing to do with the bowl game dismantling. Both coordinators -- Mark Stoops on defense and Sonny Dykes on offense -- are gone. The younger Stoops is now running Florida State's defense and Dykes is Louisiana Tech's head coach.
Mike Stoops opted to fill those vacancies with co-coordinators: line coach Bill Bedenbaugh and running backs/tight ends coach Seth Littrell on offense and linebackers coach Tim Kish and secondary coach Greg Brown on defense. Bedenbaugh, Littrell and Kish were promoted from within. Brown was hired away from Colorado.
Toss in Stoops' interest in defense and new quarterbacks coach Frank Scelfo on offense -- he might end up calling the plays; Stoops has yet to assign the duties -- and that's a lot of chefs in the kitchen.
On the players' side of things, there's plenty of continuity on offense with 10 guys with significant starting experience back. The defense is another story, with seven starters gone, including all three linebackers and both defensive tackles.
Still, to avoid taking a step back as a program, the first step forward might be coming to terms with the, well, you know.
What the heck happened?
"We made some tactical mistakes," Stoops said.
Stoops wasn't happy with some of the bowl preparation and his team's frame of mind on game day. And Nebraska surprised the Wildcats with their schemes on both sides of the ball. On offense, the Wildcats "just couldn't get open," Stoops said.
Cornerback Trevin Wade offers his own theory.
"People wanted to go home for Christmas and see their families," he said. "I know it's all business and everything, but we're still college kids and people wanted to go home. Had they given us a couple days, people would have come back happy and ready to go."
Hmm. Asked about that, quarterback Nick Foles said, "He might have something there but I don't know. I really have no comment on that."
Foles' ultimate diagnosis seems the most popular: "It was one of those games when it seemed like nothing could go right. I really can't explain it."
Foles was 6-for-20 for 28 yards with an interception, and that performance is perhaps the main reason he still has to look over his shoulder at backup Matt Scott this spring. Scott started the first three games last year before Foles took over.
Foles said the game should operate as a "chip on our shoulders" during spring practices.
"It makes your stomach hurt watching that film. It really humbles you," he said. "But I don't think you burn the tape. You want to. But to become a great player, you've got to experience things like that and learn from it."
Stoops accepts the ultimate responsibility for the Holiday Bowl, but it's also clear that he's just a bit irked at how it has obscured what his team accomplished in 2009 and how the team has gained steam the past two seasons.
And he knows that the meltdown will fuel skeptics who believe the Wildcats will fall back into the pack in 2010.
"A lot of people don't think we're going to be this or that. They didn't think that last year. That's fine with us. The proof will be in the scoreboard and in the wins and losses," he said. "We had a lot of good wins. Everyone forgets about Stanford. Everyone forgets about Oregon State. Everybody forgets about USC. You don't beat those teams without having a good program. You just can't do it."
Doing it again will be the best way to make everyone forget about the, er, thing that happened in San Diego.
Arizona promotes from within to fill coordinator voids
February, 5, 2010
2/05/10
9:52
AM ET
By
Ted Miller | ESPN.com
Mike Stoops now has four coordinators at Arizona, but only one wasn't on staff in 2009.
Stoops promoted offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh and tight ends/running backs coach Seth Littrell to fill the void left when offensive coordinator Sonny Dykes took over at Louisiana Tech, the Arizona Daily Star reported.
Stoops did hire a quarterbacks coach from outside the program: former Louisiana Tech offensive coordinator Frank Scelfo. Dykes coached quarterbacks last year.
Stoops told the Star he hasn't decided who will call plays.
Stoops previously hired Greg Brown away from Colorado and paired him with linebackers coach Tim Kish as co-coordinators on defense.
Stoops promoted offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh and tight ends/running backs coach Seth Littrell to fill the void left when offensive coordinator Sonny Dykes took over at Louisiana Tech, the Arizona Daily Star reported.
Stoops did hire a quarterbacks coach from outside the program: former Louisiana Tech offensive coordinator Frank Scelfo. Dykes coached quarterbacks last year.
Stoops told the Star he hasn't decided who will call plays.
Stoops previously hired Greg Brown away from Colorado and paired him with linebackers coach Tim Kish as co-coordinators on defense.
Arizona coach Mike Stoops said he's interviewed three candidates to replace Sonny Dykes at offensive coordinator and may make a decision as early as Friday.
Stoops is expected to name co-coordinators, giving offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh a promotion, but he wouldn't confirm that Wednesday.
The Wildcats lost both coordinators: Dykes was hired as Louisiana Tech's head coach, while Mark Stoops became Florida State's defensive coordinator.
Greg Brown and Tim Kish have been named co-defensive coordinators. Kish was promoted from linebackers coach and Brown was hired away from Colorado.
Stoops signed a class of 20 on Wednesday and also announced some other team news.
Stoops is expected to name co-coordinators, giving offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh a promotion, but he wouldn't confirm that Wednesday.
The Wildcats lost both coordinators: Dykes was hired as Louisiana Tech's head coach, while Mark Stoops became Florida State's defensive coordinator.
Greg Brown and Tim Kish have been named co-defensive coordinators. Kish was promoted from linebackers coach and Brown was hired away from Colorado.
Stoops signed a class of 20 on Wednesday and also announced some other team news.
- Redshirt freshman receiver DeWayne Peace will move to cornerback.
- Redshirt freshman quarterback Richard Morrison will move to wide receiver.
- David Emerick was named assistant director of operations/recruiting coordinator. He held previously held a similar post at Texas Tech.
- The season-opener at Toledo has been moved to Sept. 3 and will be broadcast on ESPN.
- The Wildcats will have new uniforms in 2010.
Pac-10 mailbag: Who should Stoops hire?
January, 22, 2010
1/22/10
6:25
PM ET
By
Ted Miller | ESPN.com
It's probably no surprise that many of our all-decade stories generated a lot of feedback, much of it the "how the heck can you . . . ?" variety.
Some of you made valid points. If it helps any, when putting together the All-Decade team, I grappled most with leaving off California center Alex Mack, Oregon State running back Steven Jackson, Arizona State receiver Derek Hagan and Washington receiver Reggie Williams.
It's too much to go through each gripe.
That said: Couple of things, Cal fans.
First, Aaron Rodgers?
No.
Rodgers had 5,469 career passing yards and 43 touchdowns.
USC's Matt Leinart, who won the Heisman Trophy and two national championships, passed for 10,693 yards and 99 TDs, most in Pac-10 history.
Again: 99 TDs. That's 336 points more than Rodgers.
Then there's Toby Gerhart. Cal fans preferred Marshawn Lynch.
First, Gerhart was a Heisman Trophy runner-up and Doak Walker Award winner. Second, he accounted for 27 rushing touchdowns this past season. Lynch rushed for 29 in his career.
Gerhart, who sat out his sophomore year with a knee injury, finished with 3,522 career rushing yards vs. 3,230 for Lynch. Lynch was a better receiver, no doubt, but even with his six touchdown receptions, his 35 career touchdowns is still well behind Gerhart's 44.
Now, perhaps, Cal fans, you might argue that Gerhart was surrounded by a better supporting cast?
Do you want to argue that?
Now, Oregon State fans, about Steven Jackson . . . er, it's too much to go through each gripe.
To the notes.
Brandon from Phoenix writes: Considering offensive coordinator Sonny Dykes leaving Arizona [for Louisiana Tech], and Foles, Grigsby, and Criner in place. Which coach out there is a good fit to be hired by Arizona to run the potentially great offense in 2010?
Ted Miller: I do not know what Mike Stoops is going to do, but if he called me and said, "Hey, Ted, love the blog. It's so super awesome! By the way, who should I hire as my next offensive coordinator?" I'd say "Josh Heupel," who is presently Oklahoma's quarterbacks coach.
Stoops might have competition though.
Heupel was the quarterback and Stoops was the defensive coordinator when Oklahoma won the 2000 national championship, so they obviously know each other. Heupel has been working under Stoops' older brother, Bob, so there's a strong connection. And Heupel is a spread guy, just like Dykes is.
The only downside: Heupel is a rising star at just 31-years-old. If he were successful, he obviously becomes a hot coaching candidate -- much like Dykes did.
Still, Heupel would be a great get for Arizona and an outstanding tutor for Nick Foles.
Jai from San Francisco writes: Is Jim Harbaugh really turning down NFL head coaching jobs to stay at Stanford? All my friends from Tennessee, So Cal, & Cincinnati keep telling me not to get all emotionally involved and that all head coaches are the same, but I'm really starting to think he's the one. Am I setting myself up for heartbreak, or can I go ring shopping?
Ted Miller: I'd advise Stanford fans to enjoy the present and be hopeful that Harbaugh sticks around. He's clearly a good coach and good recruiter.
It's always hard to say just how many "offers" a coach actually received. But if we can say Harbaugh was a legitimate candidate at Kansas, the Buffalo Bills and the Oakland Raiders, we can conclude that he's not just going to jump at any job, even if the money is better.
Keep this in mind: While he could make a lot of money elsewhere, he's got a pretty good setup at Stanford. Really, is there any better place to live than Northern California if you've got the money to support the lifestyle?
Is Harbaugh going to retire as Stanford's coach? Unlikely. But he may stick around long enough to win a few bowl games and earn the right to take the next step up the coaching ladder.
Bob from the Bay Area writes: As the "Pac-10 guy", who can influence public perception of the conference, I have one small request.Yes, USC won 7 titles. BUT, it shared 3 of them.When writers write that USC won 7 titles without the modifying phrase, it simply reinforces the 1 King and 9 Dwarfs image. "Won outright or shared" is not that many words to modify.
Ted Miller: Fair enough.
USC shared the Pac-10 title in 2002 (Washington State), 2007 (Arizona State) and 2006 (California).
And one of those years, 2002, USC lost the tiebreaker and didn't go to the Rose Bowl.
Gary from Portland writes: The Oregon-Oklahoma replay...sigh. I was at the game and here's what it looked like from the stands. At the time, no one in the stadium knew what really happened. They ran the replay on the jumbotron only once. The fans didn't know. The coaches didn't know. The players didn't know. It was simply a close call that went Oregon's way. (OK benefited from several calls earlier in the game, by the way.) And at the point, guess what? Oklahoma was still leading! It isn't like the blown call handed Oregon the win. It isn't the Oregon's players fault that Oklahoma's defense stopped playing. And still, OK had a chance to win with a field goal after Ducks took the lead -- yet they let the Ducks block the field goal to seal the victory.So, had OK recovered the onsides kick, the surely would have won. But that's not why they lost. A close call went against them, and Ducks outplayed them from that point on.
Ted Miller: Gary makes a valid point that's popular among Oregon fans: Oklahoma was not the first team to lose a game in which a lousy call went against it at a critical moment.
Still -- and most Oregon fans realize this -- that was a horrible, horrible call.
Gerry from Scottsdale writes: Every time someone writes about Pete Carroll winning two national championships, someone insists he only won one and that 2003 doesn't count. What's your take?
Ted Miller: USC won national titles in 2003 and 2004. Period. There is no debate, discussion or question.
It's not valid, or legitimate, or honest to say otherwise.
Sam from Nashville writes: I don't listen to much local sports talk radio, but every time I've tuned in this past week its been about Kiffin. These people hate him. One ridiculous comment after another and the collective Vol fandom has no memory or perspective. Its a big family hate fest out here.I'm looking forward to providing Vol fans some perspective on the West during Oregon's trip east on September 11 and to the unavoidable Neuheisel / Kiffin drama that is sure to come out of LA in 2010.
Ted Miller: I understand where you are coming from, Sam, but a lack of perspective is fundamental to passionate fans.
And Tennessee has as passionate fans as any team in the nation.
Some of you made valid points. If it helps any, when putting together the All-Decade team, I grappled most with leaving off California center Alex Mack, Oregon State running back Steven Jackson, Arizona State receiver Derek Hagan and Washington receiver Reggie Williams.
It's too much to go through each gripe.
That said: Couple of things, Cal fans.
First, Aaron Rodgers?
No.
Rodgers had 5,469 career passing yards and 43 touchdowns.
USC's Matt Leinart, who won the Heisman Trophy and two national championships, passed for 10,693 yards and 99 TDs, most in Pac-10 history.
Again: 99 TDs. That's 336 points more than Rodgers.
Then there's Toby Gerhart. Cal fans preferred Marshawn Lynch.
First, Gerhart was a Heisman Trophy runner-up and Doak Walker Award winner. Second, he accounted for 27 rushing touchdowns this past season. Lynch rushed for 29 in his career.
Gerhart, who sat out his sophomore year with a knee injury, finished with 3,522 career rushing yards vs. 3,230 for Lynch. Lynch was a better receiver, no doubt, but even with his six touchdown receptions, his 35 career touchdowns is still well behind Gerhart's 44.
Now, perhaps, Cal fans, you might argue that Gerhart was surrounded by a better supporting cast?
Do you want to argue that?
Now, Oregon State fans, about Steven Jackson . . . er, it's too much to go through each gripe.
To the notes.
Brandon from Phoenix writes: Considering offensive coordinator Sonny Dykes leaving Arizona [for Louisiana Tech], and Foles, Grigsby, and Criner in place. Which coach out there is a good fit to be hired by Arizona to run the potentially great offense in 2010?
Ted Miller: I do not know what Mike Stoops is going to do, but if he called me and said, "Hey, Ted, love the blog. It's so super awesome! By the way, who should I hire as my next offensive coordinator?" I'd say "Josh Heupel," who is presently Oklahoma's quarterbacks coach.
Stoops might have competition though.
Heupel was the quarterback and Stoops was the defensive coordinator when Oklahoma won the 2000 national championship, so they obviously know each other. Heupel has been working under Stoops' older brother, Bob, so there's a strong connection. And Heupel is a spread guy, just like Dykes is.
The only downside: Heupel is a rising star at just 31-years-old. If he were successful, he obviously becomes a hot coaching candidate -- much like Dykes did.
Still, Heupel would be a great get for Arizona and an outstanding tutor for Nick Foles.
Jai from San Francisco writes: Is Jim Harbaugh really turning down NFL head coaching jobs to stay at Stanford? All my friends from Tennessee, So Cal, & Cincinnati keep telling me not to get all emotionally involved and that all head coaches are the same, but I'm really starting to think he's the one. Am I setting myself up for heartbreak, or can I go ring shopping?
Ted Miller: I'd advise Stanford fans to enjoy the present and be hopeful that Harbaugh sticks around. He's clearly a good coach and good recruiter.
It's always hard to say just how many "offers" a coach actually received. But if we can say Harbaugh was a legitimate candidate at Kansas, the Buffalo Bills and the Oakland Raiders, we can conclude that he's not just going to jump at any job, even if the money is better.
Keep this in mind: While he could make a lot of money elsewhere, he's got a pretty good setup at Stanford. Really, is there any better place to live than Northern California if you've got the money to support the lifestyle?
Is Harbaugh going to retire as Stanford's coach? Unlikely. But he may stick around long enough to win a few bowl games and earn the right to take the next step up the coaching ladder.
Bob from the Bay Area writes: As the "Pac-10 guy", who can influence public perception of the conference, I have one small request.Yes, USC won 7 titles. BUT, it shared 3 of them.When writers write that USC won 7 titles without the modifying phrase, it simply reinforces the 1 King and 9 Dwarfs image. "Won outright or shared" is not that many words to modify.
Ted Miller: Fair enough.
USC shared the Pac-10 title in 2002 (Washington State), 2007 (Arizona State) and 2006 (California).
And one of those years, 2002, USC lost the tiebreaker and didn't go to the Rose Bowl.
Gary from Portland writes: The Oregon-Oklahoma replay...sigh. I was at the game and here's what it looked like from the stands. At the time, no one in the stadium knew what really happened. They ran the replay on the jumbotron only once. The fans didn't know. The coaches didn't know. The players didn't know. It was simply a close call that went Oregon's way. (OK benefited from several calls earlier in the game, by the way.) And at the point, guess what? Oklahoma was still leading! It isn't like the blown call handed Oregon the win. It isn't the Oregon's players fault that Oklahoma's defense stopped playing. And still, OK had a chance to win with a field goal after Ducks took the lead -- yet they let the Ducks block the field goal to seal the victory.So, had OK recovered the onsides kick, the surely would have won. But that's not why they lost. A close call went against them, and Ducks outplayed them from that point on.
Ted Miller: Gary makes a valid point that's popular among Oregon fans: Oklahoma was not the first team to lose a game in which a lousy call went against it at a critical moment.
Still -- and most Oregon fans realize this -- that was a horrible, horrible call.
Gerry from Scottsdale writes: Every time someone writes about Pete Carroll winning two national championships, someone insists he only won one and that 2003 doesn't count. What's your take?
Ted Miller: USC won national titles in 2003 and 2004. Period. There is no debate, discussion or question.
It's not valid, or legitimate, or honest to say otherwise.
Sam from Nashville writes: I don't listen to much local sports talk radio, but every time I've tuned in this past week its been about Kiffin. These people hate him. One ridiculous comment after another and the collective Vol fandom has no memory or perspective. Its a big family hate fest out here.I'm looking forward to providing Vol fans some perspective on the West during Oregon's trip east on September 11 and to the unavoidable Neuheisel / Kiffin drama that is sure to come out of LA in 2010.
Ted Miller: I understand where you are coming from, Sam, but a lack of perspective is fundamental to passionate fans.
And Tennessee has as passionate fans as any team in the nation.
Pac-10 lunch links: Who will replace Dykes at Arizona?
January, 21, 2010
1/21/10
2:30
PM ET
By
Ted Miller | ESPN.com
The broken flower drooped over Ben’s fist and his eyes were empty and blue and serene again as cornice and facade flowed smoothly once more from left to right, post and tree, window and doorway and signboard each in its ordered place.
- Sonny Dykes bolting Arizona for Louisiana Tech was a whirlwind courtship, and now the Wildcats are looking for a new offensive coordinator -- some interesting names are on the list of potential candidates.
- Arizona State just got a critical commitment from a recruit who's big in more ways than one.
- Meet an Oregon recruit.
- Meet an Oregon State recruit. And a recruit both the Ducks and Beavers covet.
- Will USC's Matt Barkley take the next step as a quarterback?
- Washington is getting better at scheduling. And at recruiting in Hawaii.
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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