Pac-12: Marques Tuiasosopo
New UCLA coach Jim Mora is putting his staff together quickly with names most Pac-12 fans will recognize.
His hires of Demetrice Martin (secondary), Adrian Klemm (offensive line), Inoke Breckterfield (defensive line), Marques Tuiasosopo (tight ends) and Steve Broussard (running backs) have been announced. The Arizona Republic also reported that the expected move of Arizona State offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone to the same position with the Bruins is now done.
That's six of nine spots filled. The biggest remaining one is defensive coordinator.
His hires of Demetrice Martin (secondary), Adrian Klemm (offensive line), Inoke Breckterfield (defensive line), Marques Tuiasosopo (tight ends) and Steve Broussard (running backs) have been announced. The Arizona Republic also reported that the expected move of Arizona State offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone to the same position with the Bruins is now done.
That's six of nine spots filled. The biggest remaining one is defensive coordinator.
Jim Mora is quickly filling out his staff, and doing so impressively.
Three hires have been confirmed: Adrian Klemm (offensive line, formerly at SMU), Demetrice Martin (defensive backs, formerly at Washington) and Steve Broussard (running backs, formerly at Arizona State).
The LA Daily news has reported two others: Noel Mazzone (offensive coordinator, formerly at Arizona State) and Marques Tuiasosopo (tight ends, formerly an intern at UCLA who is presently serving as QBs coach).
Simply put: These are five extremely strong hires, both in terms of recruiting and coaching. And they each are college guys, though Klemm, Broussard and Tuiasosopo had solid NFL careers in the not-too-distant past. Mazzone also has coached in the NFL. Mora, an NFL lifer, will benefit from having staff members who know college football and the Pac-12.
Four of five, notably, are on offense. How Mora handles the defense will be interesting. He's a defensive guy, so he'll know a lot of NFL defensive coaches. But, as has been frequently noted, there are lot more funky offenses in college than in the NFL. Veteran NFL defensive coaches won't know as much about the no-huddle, up-tempo, spread and spread-option attacks that area all over college football and the Pac-12.
You'd think Mora would want a good mix of NFL and college guys on defense. That said, good defensive coaches can adapt -- see Clancy Pendergast at California and Vic Fangio at Stanford before he followed Jim Harbaugh back to the NFL. In fact, it seemed that USC's Monte Kiffin had a far better grasp of things in year two than year one.
Three hires have been confirmed: Adrian Klemm (offensive line, formerly at SMU), Demetrice Martin (defensive backs, formerly at Washington) and Steve Broussard (running backs, formerly at Arizona State).
The LA Daily news has reported two others: Noel Mazzone (offensive coordinator, formerly at Arizona State) and Marques Tuiasosopo (tight ends, formerly an intern at UCLA who is presently serving as QBs coach).
Simply put: These are five extremely strong hires, both in terms of recruiting and coaching. And they each are college guys, though Klemm, Broussard and Tuiasosopo had solid NFL careers in the not-too-distant past. Mazzone also has coached in the NFL. Mora, an NFL lifer, will benefit from having staff members who know college football and the Pac-12.
Four of five, notably, are on offense. How Mora handles the defense will be interesting. He's a defensive guy, so he'll know a lot of NFL defensive coaches. But, as has been frequently noted, there are lot more funky offenses in college than in the NFL. Veteran NFL defensive coaches won't know as much about the no-huddle, up-tempo, spread and spread-option attacks that area all over college football and the Pac-12.
You'd think Mora would want a good mix of NFL and college guys on defense. That said, good defensive coaches can adapt -- see Clancy Pendergast at California and Vic Fangio at Stanford before he followed Jim Harbaugh back to the NFL. In fact, it seemed that USC's Monte Kiffin had a far better grasp of things in year two than year one.
Lunch links: Mora, Leach hiring assistants
December, 14, 2011
12/14/11
2:30
PM ET
By
Ted Miller | ESPN.com
You're a foul one, Mr. Grinch,
You're a nasty wasty skunk,
Your heart is full of unwashed socks, your soul is full of gunk, Mr. Grinch,
The three words that best describe you are as follows, and I quote,
"Stink, stank, stunk"!
You're a nasty wasty skunk,
Your heart is full of unwashed socks, your soul is full of gunk, Mr. Grinch,
The three words that best describe you are as follows, and I quote,
"Stink, stank, stunk"!
- Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez is doing the rounds in his new state.
- Arizona State's defensive coordinator Craig Bray acknowledges his unit fell apart.
- Honors have piled up for California LB Mychal Kendricks.
- Yes, someone did notice that Colorado State is paying its head coach nearly double what Colorado is.
- Poor itty-bitty Oregon, what is its defensive line to do against ENORMOUS Wisconsin?
- Where might former Oregon State QB Ryan Katz land?
- Stanford news & notes: Worrying about Oklahoma State and selling out Fiesta Bowl tickets.
- UCLA has a new QBs coach, but will former Washington QB Marques Tuiasosopo get to stick around under Jim Mora? Covered Tuiasosopo at Washington. Mora should hire him.
- Who was USC's No. 9 performer this year?
- Utah offensive coordinator Norm Chow is a candidate for the Hawaii head coaching job.
- UCLA has lured away one of Washington's best recruiters.
- New Washington State coach Mike Leach is filling out his offensive staff.
- Former UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel speaks out about the coaches poll.
Tuiasosopo so much more than a volunteer
September, 8, 2011
9/08/11
4:00
PM ET
By
Ramona Shelburne | ESPN.com
LOS ANGELES -- Back home in Washington he is a legend. Recognizable to everyone, beloved by all. There might be seventeen letters in Marques Tuiasosopo's name, but most know him by only three, "Tui."
He isn't just the guy who led Washington to an 11-1 record and the Rose Bowl in 2000, or the only player in NCAA history to amass 300 yards passing and 200 yards rushing in the same game. He is one of the enduring symbols of an era when the Huskies were perennial contenders in the Pac-10 and on the national stage.
Here in Los Angeles however, he's the guy who sets up the room for UCLA's quarterbacks meetings and makes coffee in the work room if Bruins coach Rick Neuheisel asks.
He's the intern. A volunteer coach, limited to office work, yelling encouragement at UCLA's players on the sidelines, and listening in on coaches meetings.
And, yes, he's here by choice.
"If you want to start out in this business, you have to be willing to grind it out," he said without the slightest hint of annoyance or embarrassment.
"And I want to do this for a living. I really feel a calling to this. I love working with the kids, being around them, sharing some of the experiences I learned throughout my career."
The original plan was for Tuiasosopo to be a graduate assistant, but that's on hold because of an NCAA rule which restricts programs from employing graduate assistants who are more than seven years out of college.
Tuiasosopo left Washington in 2001, then played eight seasons in the NFL, primarily with the Raiders, before returning to UW as a strength coach in 2009.
UCLA has appealed the case, but for now it means that the Bruins have one of the most qualified interns in all of college football.
"It's by a glitch that he's not allowed to be a graduate assistant and hopefully it'll be remedied," said Neuheisel, who coached Tuiasosopo in his junior and senior years at Washington.
"Because there couldn't be a better guy to help teach kids what that next level is really about and how fleeting it can be.
"What I appreciate is that there's a stigma some of these NFL guys have that they're going to have a hard time learning the craft of coaching because they're not wanting to go through the steps or climb the ladder.
[+] Enlarge
Courtesy of UCLAMarques Tuiasosopo is a volunteer assistant with the Bruins and a link to Rick Neuheisel's glory days as coach at Washington.
Courtesy of UCLAMarques Tuiasosopo is a volunteer assistant with the Bruins and a link to Rick Neuheisel's glory days as coach at Washington.Here in Los Angeles however, he's the guy who sets up the room for UCLA's quarterbacks meetings and makes coffee in the work room if Bruins coach Rick Neuheisel asks.
He's the intern. A volunteer coach, limited to office work, yelling encouragement at UCLA's players on the sidelines, and listening in on coaches meetings.
And, yes, he's here by choice.
"If you want to start out in this business, you have to be willing to grind it out," he said without the slightest hint of annoyance or embarrassment.
"And I want to do this for a living. I really feel a calling to this. I love working with the kids, being around them, sharing some of the experiences I learned throughout my career."
The original plan was for Tuiasosopo to be a graduate assistant, but that's on hold because of an NCAA rule which restricts programs from employing graduate assistants who are more than seven years out of college.
Tuiasosopo left Washington in 2001, then played eight seasons in the NFL, primarily with the Raiders, before returning to UW as a strength coach in 2009.
UCLA has appealed the case, but for now it means that the Bruins have one of the most qualified interns in all of college football.
"It's by a glitch that he's not allowed to be a graduate assistant and hopefully it'll be remedied," said Neuheisel, who coached Tuiasosopo in his junior and senior years at Washington.
"Because there couldn't be a better guy to help teach kids what that next level is really about and how fleeting it can be.
"What I appreciate is that there's a stigma some of these NFL guys have that they're going to have a hard time learning the craft of coaching because they're not wanting to go through the steps or climb the ladder.
On Friday, the Pac-10 becomes the Pac-12, and life as we all have known it ends.
But before we move on as a 12-team league, let's look back at the best of a 10-team league.
On Wednesday, we looked at the best players. Thursday, it's the best teams.
We've listed 12 teams because that's the new magic number (Arizona fans, see if you can guess who came in 13th).
Again, no team before 1978 -- when Arizona and Arizona State joined the Pac-8 -- was considered.
1. 1991 Washington: The Huskies finished 12-0 and split the national title with Miami.
Best player: Defensive tackle Steve Emtman won the Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award.
Point differential: Washington outscored its foes 495-115.
Best win: Whipped Michigan 34-14 in Rose Bowl. Wolverines finished ranked sixth.
Comment: Four wins over teams that finished ranked in the final top 25, including road victories at No. 15 Nebraska and at No. 8 California. Featured one of the great defenses in college football history, yielding just 9.2 points and 67.1 rushing yards per game. Eight Huskies earned first-team All-Pac-10 honors.
2. 2004 USC: While the NCAA and BCS have nixed it in their own ways, the Trojans finished 13-0 and won the national title on the field.
Best player: Quarterback Matt Leinart won the Heisman Trophy.
Point differential: USC outscored its foes 496-169.
Best win: Crushed Oklahoma 55-19 in the national title game.
Comment: Basically a push for dominance with 1991 Washington. Beat four teams that finished ranked in the top 25, including the bludgeoning of Oklahoma. Eight Trojans earned first-team All-Pac-10 honors.
3. 2003 USC: The Trojans finished 12-1 and split the national title with LSU. Their only loss came in triple overtime at California.
Best player: Receiver Mike Williams was a consensus All-American.
Point differential: 534-239.
Best win: The completely dominant 23-0 victory at then-No. 6 Auburn in the opener set the tone for the season -- and caused many Pac-10 fans to question how good these highly rated SEC teams really are.
Comment: The Trojans finished the regular season ranked No. 1 in both polls but lost out playing in the BCS title game because of the computer polls. LSU fans have been thanking the computers for that glitch ever since.
4. 2005 USC: A 34-game winning streak came to an end with a nail-biting loss to Texas in the national title game. The Trojans finished 12-1.
Best player: Reggie Bush won the Heisman Trophy.
Point differential: 638-297.
Best win: The 34-31 win at Notre Dame -- the "Bush Push" game -- was one of the all-time greats.
Comment: Perhaps the best collection of offensive players in the history of college football: Matt Leinart, Reggie Bush, Dwayne Jarrett, Ryan Kalil, Sam Baker and Taitusi Lutui earned first-team All-Pac-10 honors. And don't forget LenDale White, Winston Justice, Steve Smith and Dominique Byrd.
5. 1978 USC: Finished 12-1 and split national title with Alabama. Lost to Arizona State, 20-7.
Best player: Charles White was a unanimous All-American.
Point differential: 318-153
Best win: A 24-14 win over the team that "claimed" the other half of the national title.
Comment: Split national title -- coaches liked the Trojans; AP the Crimson Tide -- despite a decisive 24-14 USC at Alabama. So much for head to head.
6. 1979 USC: Finished 11-0-1 and No. 2 behind Alabama. Tied Stanford 21-21.
Best player: Charles White won the Heisman Trophy.
Point differential: 389-171
Best win: The 17-16 win over Ohio State in the Rose Bowl, in which White ran for a record 247 yards, including the game-winning touchdown with just more than a minute remaining.
Comment: Team featured four future College Football Hall of Famers in White, Marcus Allen, Ronnie Lot and Brad Budde. By the way, THAT undefeated, untied Alabama team was really, really good: Outscored foes 383-67. So no sour grapes on that one.
7. 2001 Oregon: The Ducks finished 11-1 and ranked No. 2 in both polls. The only loss was 49-42 versus Stanford (a really, really weird game, if you recall).
Best player: Quarterback Joey Harrington finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting.
Point differential: 412-256.
Best win: A 38-16 win over Colorado in the Fiesta Bowl.
Comment: The Fiesta Bowl victory caused plenty of folks to bemoan the Nebraska-Miami matchup in the BCS title game, considering Colorado had blown out Nebraska the final weekend of the regular season. As for the Stanford loss, the typically straightforward AP noted the game had "everything but aliens landing on the Autzen Stadium turf."
8. 1984 Washington: Finished 11-1 and ranked No. 2 behind BYU. Lost to USC ,16-7.
Best player: Defensive tackle Ron Holmes was a consensus All-American.
Point differential: 352-145
Best win: Shocked Oklahoma 28-17 in the Orange Bowl. Sooners finished ranked sixth.
Comment: A controversial season. Before the Orange Bowl, Sooners coach Barry Switzer lobbied hard for the winner to be declared the national champion. As it was, BYU won the national title after beating a bad Michigan team in the Holiday Bowl. Does anyone believe BYU was better than the Huskies? No.
9. 2010 Oregon: The Ducks finished 12-1 and No. 3 in both polls, losing the national title game to Auburn.
Best player: Running back LaMichael James finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting.
Point differential: 611-243
Best win: The Ducks handed Stanford its only loss, 52-31, after trailing 21-3 early. Cardinal finished ranked No. 4.
Comment: An innovative, exciting team to watch, one that played faster than perhaps any big-time college team in history.
10. 1996 Arizona State: Finished 11-1 and ranked No. 4 in both polls. Lost Rose Bowl -- and potential national championship -- to Ohio State, 20-17.
Best player: Quarterback Jake Plummer finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting.
Point differential: 488-216
Best win: The Sun Devils trounced top-ranked, two-time defending national champion Nebraska, 19-0.
Comment: The Sun Devils lost one of the most dramatic Rose Bowls, when the swashbuckling Plummer was out-swashbuckled by Joe Germaine, who was raised in Arizona as an ASU fan.
11. 2000 Washington: The Huskies finished 11-1 and ranked No. 3, their only loss coming at No. 7 Oregon. They beat Purdue 34-24 in the Rose Bowl.
Best player: Marques Tuiasosopo finished eighth in the Heisman Trophy voting.
Point differential: 387-270
Best win: Beat Miami, 34-29. Hurricanes finished ranked No. 2.
Comment: This is not the most talented team on the list. In fact, some have rated the 2000 Oregon State team -- see below -- ahead of the Huskies. And based on NFL results, the Beavers were more talented than the Huskies. But head to head matters, and the win over Miami is better than anything Oregon State did.
12. 2000 Oregon State: The Beavers finished 11-1 and ranked No. 4, their only loss a 33-30 decision at Washington, which finished ranked No. 3.
Best player: Running back Ken Simonton was first-team All-Pac-10.
Best win: Beat Oregon 23-13 in Civil War. Oregon finished ranked seventh in the coaches poll.
Comment: One or two more plays at Washington, and the Beavers would have played for the national title. And they, by the way, were more talented than the Oklahoma team that did win the title. Notable Beavers: Ken Simonton, Chad Ochocinco (the Chad Johnson), T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Chris Gibson, DeLawrence Grant, LaDairis Jackson, Dennis Weathersby and Eric Manning. They spanked Notre Dame 41-9 in the Fiesta Bowl.
But before we move on as a 12-team league, let's look back at the best of a 10-team league.
On Wednesday, we looked at the best players. Thursday, it's the best teams.
We've listed 12 teams because that's the new magic number (Arizona fans, see if you can guess who came in 13th).
Again, no team before 1978 -- when Arizona and Arizona State joined the Pac-8 -- was considered.
1. 1991 Washington: The Huskies finished 12-0 and split the national title with Miami.
Best player: Defensive tackle Steve Emtman won the Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award.
Point differential: Washington outscored its foes 495-115.
Best win: Whipped Michigan 34-14 in Rose Bowl. Wolverines finished ranked sixth.
Comment: Four wins over teams that finished ranked in the final top 25, including road victories at No. 15 Nebraska and at No. 8 California. Featured one of the great defenses in college football history, yielding just 9.2 points and 67.1 rushing yards per game. Eight Huskies earned first-team All-Pac-10 honors.
2. 2004 USC: While the NCAA and BCS have nixed it in their own ways, the Trojans finished 13-0 and won the national title on the field.
Best player: Quarterback Matt Leinart won the Heisman Trophy.
Point differential: USC outscored its foes 496-169.
Best win: Crushed Oklahoma 55-19 in the national title game.
Comment: Basically a push for dominance with 1991 Washington. Beat four teams that finished ranked in the top 25, including the bludgeoning of Oklahoma. Eight Trojans earned first-team All-Pac-10 honors.
3. 2003 USC: The Trojans finished 12-1 and split the national title with LSU. Their only loss came in triple overtime at California.
Best player: Receiver Mike Williams was a consensus All-American.
Point differential: 534-239.
Best win: The completely dominant 23-0 victory at then-No. 6 Auburn in the opener set the tone for the season -- and caused many Pac-10 fans to question how good these highly rated SEC teams really are.
Comment: The Trojans finished the regular season ranked No. 1 in both polls but lost out playing in the BCS title game because of the computer polls. LSU fans have been thanking the computers for that glitch ever since.
4. 2005 USC: A 34-game winning streak came to an end with a nail-biting loss to Texas in the national title game. The Trojans finished 12-1.
Best player: Reggie Bush won the Heisman Trophy.
Point differential: 638-297.
Best win: The 34-31 win at Notre Dame -- the "Bush Push" game -- was one of the all-time greats.
Comment: Perhaps the best collection of offensive players in the history of college football: Matt Leinart, Reggie Bush, Dwayne Jarrett, Ryan Kalil, Sam Baker and Taitusi Lutui earned first-team All-Pac-10 honors. And don't forget LenDale White, Winston Justice, Steve Smith and Dominique Byrd.
5. 1978 USC: Finished 12-1 and split national title with Alabama. Lost to Arizona State, 20-7.
Best player: Charles White was a unanimous All-American.
Point differential: 318-153
Best win: A 24-14 win over the team that "claimed" the other half of the national title.
Comment: Split national title -- coaches liked the Trojans; AP the Crimson Tide -- despite a decisive 24-14 USC at Alabama. So much for head to head.
6. 1979 USC: Finished 11-0-1 and No. 2 behind Alabama. Tied Stanford 21-21.
Best player: Charles White won the Heisman Trophy.
Point differential: 389-171
Best win: The 17-16 win over Ohio State in the Rose Bowl, in which White ran for a record 247 yards, including the game-winning touchdown with just more than a minute remaining.
Comment: Team featured four future College Football Hall of Famers in White, Marcus Allen, Ronnie Lot and Brad Budde. By the way, THAT undefeated, untied Alabama team was really, really good: Outscored foes 383-67. So no sour grapes on that one.
7. 2001 Oregon: The Ducks finished 11-1 and ranked No. 2 in both polls. The only loss was 49-42 versus Stanford (a really, really weird game, if you recall).
Best player: Quarterback Joey Harrington finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting.
Point differential: 412-256.
Best win: A 38-16 win over Colorado in the Fiesta Bowl.
Comment: The Fiesta Bowl victory caused plenty of folks to bemoan the Nebraska-Miami matchup in the BCS title game, considering Colorado had blown out Nebraska the final weekend of the regular season. As for the Stanford loss, the typically straightforward AP noted the game had "everything but aliens landing on the Autzen Stadium turf."
8. 1984 Washington: Finished 11-1 and ranked No. 2 behind BYU. Lost to USC ,16-7.
Best player: Defensive tackle Ron Holmes was a consensus All-American.
Point differential: 352-145
Best win: Shocked Oklahoma 28-17 in the Orange Bowl. Sooners finished ranked sixth.
Comment: A controversial season. Before the Orange Bowl, Sooners coach Barry Switzer lobbied hard for the winner to be declared the national champion. As it was, BYU won the national title after beating a bad Michigan team in the Holiday Bowl. Does anyone believe BYU was better than the Huskies? No.
9. 2010 Oregon: The Ducks finished 12-1 and No. 3 in both polls, losing the national title game to Auburn.
Best player: Running back LaMichael James finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting.
Point differential: 611-243
Best win: The Ducks handed Stanford its only loss, 52-31, after trailing 21-3 early. Cardinal finished ranked No. 4.
Comment: An innovative, exciting team to watch, one that played faster than perhaps any big-time college team in history.
10. 1996 Arizona State: Finished 11-1 and ranked No. 4 in both polls. Lost Rose Bowl -- and potential national championship -- to Ohio State, 20-17.
Best player: Quarterback Jake Plummer finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting.
Point differential: 488-216
Best win: The Sun Devils trounced top-ranked, two-time defending national champion Nebraska, 19-0.
Comment: The Sun Devils lost one of the most dramatic Rose Bowls, when the swashbuckling Plummer was out-swashbuckled by Joe Germaine, who was raised in Arizona as an ASU fan.
11. 2000 Washington: The Huskies finished 11-1 and ranked No. 3, their only loss coming at No. 7 Oregon. They beat Purdue 34-24 in the Rose Bowl.
Best player: Marques Tuiasosopo finished eighth in the Heisman Trophy voting.
Point differential: 387-270
Best win: Beat Miami, 34-29. Hurricanes finished ranked No. 2.
Comment: This is not the most talented team on the list. In fact, some have rated the 2000 Oregon State team -- see below -- ahead of the Huskies. And based on NFL results, the Beavers were more talented than the Huskies. But head to head matters, and the win over Miami is better than anything Oregon State did.
12. 2000 Oregon State: The Beavers finished 11-1 and ranked No. 4, their only loss a 33-30 decision at Washington, which finished ranked No. 3.
Best player: Running back Ken Simonton was first-team All-Pac-10.
Best win: Beat Oregon 23-13 in Civil War. Oregon finished ranked seventh in the coaches poll.
Comment: One or two more plays at Washington, and the Beavers would have played for the national title. And they, by the way, were more talented than the Oklahoma team that did win the title. Notable Beavers: Ken Simonton, Chad Ochocinco (the Chad Johnson), T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Chris Gibson, DeLawrence Grant, LaDairis Jackson, Dennis Weathersby and Eric Manning. They spanked Notre Dame 41-9 in the Fiesta Bowl.
Opening the mailbag: Locker vs Tuiasosopo
April, 29, 2011
4/29/11
6:59
PM ET
By
Ted Miller | ESPN.com
Welcome to the weekend that ends spring football and sends us -- officially -- into the offseason.
I know: Yikes!
Follow me on Twitter.
To the notes!
Brian from Portland writes: Ted, can you please compare and contrast Jake Locker with Marques Tuiasosopo? I recall Tuiasosopo putting up impressive numbers at UW, including a 300/200 passing/rushing game, yet he was drafted late in the second round. What did Locker show scouts that Tuiasosopo didn't?
Ted Miller: Interesting question. My first response is Locker and Tuiasosopo are fairly similar, only Locker is slightly better -- bigger, stronger, faster -- by most physical measures. Oh, and their supporting casts at Washington were a bit different.
Tuiasosopo was not a great "pure" quarterback. But he was something more important: He was a winner, a guy who was at his best when the pressure was on. Yet while he finished eighth in the Heisman Trophy voting in 2000 -- the Huskies finished ranked No. 3 in the nation after winning the Rose Bowl -- his numbers were fairly pedestrian. He ranked 66th in the nation in passing efficiency, completing just 52.6 percent of his throws for 2,146 yards with 14 touchdowns and 11 picks. He also rushed for 394 yards and six scores.
This past season, Locker had a higher efficiency rating -- 124.2 versus 115.9 -- but ranked 73rd in the nation. He competed 55.4 percent of his passes for 2,265 yards with 17 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He also rushed for 385 yards and six touchdowns.
Note: Locker's official stats include 13 games, compared to just 11 for Tuiasosopo (bowls didn't count in 2000; including the Rose Bowl, Tuiasosopo passed for 2,284 yards, competed 53.9 percent of his passes with 15 touchdowns and 11 INTs and rushed for 469 yards and seven touchdowns ).
So these numbers are comparable, practically a push.
Tuiasosopo was 6-foot-1, 220. Locker is 6-3, 230. Both were good, physical runners, but Locker is more of a weapon -- faster, more elusive. Recall that Locker rushed for 986 yards in 2007. He runs as well as a running back.
They also are very similar in "makeup." Both came from great families. Both are humble, team-first, high-character guys who were the unquestioned leader in the locker room.
So what's the biggest difference? Well, for one, they played in different eras of the Pac-10 and of Huskies football. Washington was a national power in 2000. At that point, the program hadn't suffered a losing season since 1976. Tuiasosopo played behind a far better offensive line (though you could make a case Locker had better skill players surrounding him, at least this past season).
But the thing that separates them in the eyes of NFL scouts is simple: Upside. Locker has a better arm and better physical skills than Tuiasosopo.
Tuiasosopo played in the NFL from 2001-08, but he never really got to showcase his chief attribute: Finding ways to win. He only passed for 554 yards and two touchdowns in six seasons. I always wondered what might have been if he'd landed in the right situation.
I honestly have no idea what Locker will do in the NFL. While more than a few folks have made me out to be some sort of booster for Locker, I was fairly shocked when the "top pick in the draft" talk started in 2009 after the upset of USC. Obviously, folks who know a lot more about football than me think he'll do pretty well, starting with the Tennessee Titans.
Duber1 from Junction City, Ore., writes: congrats on getting jake locker drafted 8th,,,,,, dont mean you were not an ass about the flat world comment. I know i have been an ass,,,,,,,, & it doesnt mean i wont continuously call you out on your husky crap,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, have a nice day,,,,,,,,,,,,, sincerely comma guy.
Ted Miller: The comma guy!
I had little to do with Locker getting drafted eighth, though it would be great if he'd send a check, believing I did.
As for the "flat world" line, I've never understood why it so fired up a couple of folks, such as the ubiquitous Mr. "Duber." My point was always this: A. Just about every football expert thought highly of Locker heading into the 2010 season; I was merely reporting what they were saying. B. The most vocal Locker doubters, those who constantly ranted about Locker on the blog, had a single common characteristic: They were big Oregon fans.
My feeling was that none of the "Locker stinks!", "Locker is overrated!" noise that was being sent my way emerged from an objective, unemotional position of "Here's what I think...." It was all, "Huskies stink!" So it didn't feel valid.
It's just like Washington fans taking shots at Joey Harrington. Harrington was a great guy and a great college quarterback and most of us were surprised he never broke through in the NFL. But if a Washington fan had gone nuts railing about Harrington being terrible back in 2001, I also would have identified that as a "the world is flat" opinion.
Aaron from Pacific City, Ore., writes: I enjoy you blog but what's the deal?? You have had a ton of coverage of spring football on almost every team in the Pac-12 not named Oregon State. Are you even going to make it up here this spring, we only have one more practice/scrimmage?
Ted Miller: I visited eight Pac-12 schools this spring but didn't go to the Northwest. ESPN.com's Ivan Maisel, you may have noticed, is making a Northwest swing, which resulted in stories on Washington, Oregon State and an upcoming one on Oregon.
Hopefully, I will be able to get to the Northwest during preseason practices.
Rob from Phoenix writes: Ted, A. Is Arizona headed into underrated/sleeper status going into this year?B. Do you think that the schlerotic playcalling will improve on offense? They put up a ton of yards when Foles was able to decide who to throw to, but they had just as many ineffective drives that led to punts where they ran the ball poorly or proscribed Foles, generally excellent, decision making by throwing an innumerable number of WR screens or quick outs. Our offense was in the big money or the poor house and rarely in between.
Ted Miller: "Schlerotic playcalling"? Did you mean schlieric, which would be an interesting way of saying "streaky." Or sclerotic, which means "hardened"?
As for the Wildcats being sleepers: Maybe. But most will project Arizona in the middle of the Pac-12 South Division until we get a look at how the five new starters on the offensive line look. And it doesn't help that the Wildcats lost two defensive starters -- linebacker Jake Fischer and free safety Adam Hall -- to knee injuries this spring.
As for the play calling, coach Mike Stoops told me this: "We were trying to mix and match too much last year. We got discombobulated, I think. We got exposed late in the year on some things. [Offensive coordinator Seth Littrell] has to grow into this position and have total control with Nick. We need to all be on the same page."
It sounds like there were some discussions between Stoops and Littrell about play calling, and Littrell said as much to me, his operative word being "simplify."
My guess is the Wildcats are going to look a bit like old-school Texas Tech under pass-happy Mike Leach this fall, with Foles passing for over 4,000 yards. Will that put them in the thick of the South race? It might, but my present position is wait and see.
Jeremy from Salem, Ore., writes: I remember when this whole conference realignment thing was going on there was talk about moving the annual Utah-Colorado game to the beginning of the year so that Utah could play BYU and Colorado could play Colorado State at the end of the year. Then I haven't heard anything else about it since then. Did that fall through or something? Do you know anything else about it?
Ted Miller: One problem with that plan: Colorado and Colorado State have already scheduled early-season games through 2015. Further, there's a bit of a back-and-forth going on between Utah and BYU over their rivalry. It's only contracted through 2012.
The odds of BYU and Utah ending their annual game, one of the nation's great rivalries, seems remote, particularly with BYU now afforded the scheduling flexibility of an independent team. But there are a lot of moving parts to scheduling, so the scenario you write about may take a while to put in place -- or if the parties involved will even try to work it out that way.
Paul from Eugene, Ore., writes: hey ted i just wanted to share this story with you because it isnt a hugely publicized story on a few of oregon's players.
Ted Miller: Duly noted.
Most Pac-12 teams do a lot more in the community than they are given credit for. Good job, Cliff Harris, Darron Thomas and Dion Jordan.
I know: Yikes!
Follow me on Twitter.
To the notes!
Brian from Portland writes: Ted, can you please compare and contrast Jake Locker with Marques Tuiasosopo? I recall Tuiasosopo putting up impressive numbers at UW, including a 300/200 passing/rushing game, yet he was drafted late in the second round. What did Locker show scouts that Tuiasosopo didn't?
Ted Miller: Interesting question. My first response is Locker and Tuiasosopo are fairly similar, only Locker is slightly better -- bigger, stronger, faster -- by most physical measures. Oh, and their supporting casts at Washington were a bit different.
Tuiasosopo was not a great "pure" quarterback. But he was something more important: He was a winner, a guy who was at his best when the pressure was on. Yet while he finished eighth in the Heisman Trophy voting in 2000 -- the Huskies finished ranked No. 3 in the nation after winning the Rose Bowl -- his numbers were fairly pedestrian. He ranked 66th in the nation in passing efficiency, completing just 52.6 percent of his throws for 2,146 yards with 14 touchdowns and 11 picks. He also rushed for 394 yards and six scores.
This past season, Locker had a higher efficiency rating -- 124.2 versus 115.9 -- but ranked 73rd in the nation. He competed 55.4 percent of his passes for 2,265 yards with 17 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He also rushed for 385 yards and six touchdowns.
Note: Locker's official stats include 13 games, compared to just 11 for Tuiasosopo (bowls didn't count in 2000; including the Rose Bowl, Tuiasosopo passed for 2,284 yards, competed 53.9 percent of his passes with 15 touchdowns and 11 INTs and rushed for 469 yards and seven touchdowns ).
So these numbers are comparable, practically a push.
Tuiasosopo was 6-foot-1, 220. Locker is 6-3, 230. Both were good, physical runners, but Locker is more of a weapon -- faster, more elusive. Recall that Locker rushed for 986 yards in 2007. He runs as well as a running back.
They also are very similar in "makeup." Both came from great families. Both are humble, team-first, high-character guys who were the unquestioned leader in the locker room.
So what's the biggest difference? Well, for one, they played in different eras of the Pac-10 and of Huskies football. Washington was a national power in 2000. At that point, the program hadn't suffered a losing season since 1976. Tuiasosopo played behind a far better offensive line (though you could make a case Locker had better skill players surrounding him, at least this past season).
But the thing that separates them in the eyes of NFL scouts is simple: Upside. Locker has a better arm and better physical skills than Tuiasosopo.
Tuiasosopo played in the NFL from 2001-08, but he never really got to showcase his chief attribute: Finding ways to win. He only passed for 554 yards and two touchdowns in six seasons. I always wondered what might have been if he'd landed in the right situation.
I honestly have no idea what Locker will do in the NFL. While more than a few folks have made me out to be some sort of booster for Locker, I was fairly shocked when the "top pick in the draft" talk started in 2009 after the upset of USC. Obviously, folks who know a lot more about football than me think he'll do pretty well, starting with the Tennessee Titans.
Duber1 from Junction City, Ore., writes: congrats on getting jake locker drafted 8th,,,,,, dont mean you were not an ass about the flat world comment. I know i have been an ass,,,,,,,, & it doesnt mean i wont continuously call you out on your husky crap,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, have a nice day,,,,,,,,,,,,, sincerely comma guy.
Ted Miller: The comma guy!
I had little to do with Locker getting drafted eighth, though it would be great if he'd send a check, believing I did.
As for the "flat world" line, I've never understood why it so fired up a couple of folks, such as the ubiquitous Mr. "Duber." My point was always this: A. Just about every football expert thought highly of Locker heading into the 2010 season; I was merely reporting what they were saying. B. The most vocal Locker doubters, those who constantly ranted about Locker on the blog, had a single common characteristic: They were big Oregon fans.
My feeling was that none of the "Locker stinks!", "Locker is overrated!" noise that was being sent my way emerged from an objective, unemotional position of "Here's what I think...." It was all, "Huskies stink!" So it didn't feel valid.
It's just like Washington fans taking shots at Joey Harrington. Harrington was a great guy and a great college quarterback and most of us were surprised he never broke through in the NFL. But if a Washington fan had gone nuts railing about Harrington being terrible back in 2001, I also would have identified that as a "the world is flat" opinion.
Aaron from Pacific City, Ore., writes: I enjoy you blog but what's the deal?? You have had a ton of coverage of spring football on almost every team in the Pac-12 not named Oregon State. Are you even going to make it up here this spring, we only have one more practice/scrimmage?
Ted Miller: I visited eight Pac-12 schools this spring but didn't go to the Northwest. ESPN.com's Ivan Maisel, you may have noticed, is making a Northwest swing, which resulted in stories on Washington, Oregon State and an upcoming one on Oregon.
Hopefully, I will be able to get to the Northwest during preseason practices.
Rob from Phoenix writes: Ted, A. Is Arizona headed into underrated/sleeper status going into this year?B. Do you think that the schlerotic playcalling will improve on offense? They put up a ton of yards when Foles was able to decide who to throw to, but they had just as many ineffective drives that led to punts where they ran the ball poorly or proscribed Foles, generally excellent, decision making by throwing an innumerable number of WR screens or quick outs. Our offense was in the big money or the poor house and rarely in between.
Ted Miller: "Schlerotic playcalling"? Did you mean schlieric, which would be an interesting way of saying "streaky." Or sclerotic, which means "hardened"?
As for the Wildcats being sleepers: Maybe. But most will project Arizona in the middle of the Pac-12 South Division until we get a look at how the five new starters on the offensive line look. And it doesn't help that the Wildcats lost two defensive starters -- linebacker Jake Fischer and free safety Adam Hall -- to knee injuries this spring.
As for the play calling, coach Mike Stoops told me this: "We were trying to mix and match too much last year. We got discombobulated, I think. We got exposed late in the year on some things. [Offensive coordinator Seth Littrell] has to grow into this position and have total control with Nick. We need to all be on the same page."
It sounds like there were some discussions between Stoops and Littrell about play calling, and Littrell said as much to me, his operative word being "simplify."
My guess is the Wildcats are going to look a bit like old-school Texas Tech under pass-happy Mike Leach this fall, with Foles passing for over 4,000 yards. Will that put them in the thick of the South race? It might, but my present position is wait and see.
Jeremy from Salem, Ore., writes: I remember when this whole conference realignment thing was going on there was talk about moving the annual Utah-Colorado game to the beginning of the year so that Utah could play BYU and Colorado could play Colorado State at the end of the year. Then I haven't heard anything else about it since then. Did that fall through or something? Do you know anything else about it?
Ted Miller: One problem with that plan: Colorado and Colorado State have already scheduled early-season games through 2015. Further, there's a bit of a back-and-forth going on between Utah and BYU over their rivalry. It's only contracted through 2012.
The odds of BYU and Utah ending their annual game, one of the nation's great rivalries, seems remote, particularly with BYU now afforded the scheduling flexibility of an independent team. But there are a lot of moving parts to scheduling, so the scenario you write about may take a while to put in place -- or if the parties involved will even try to work it out that way.
Paul from Eugene, Ore., writes: hey ted i just wanted to share this story with you because it isnt a hugely publicized story on a few of oregon's players.
Ted Miller: Duly noted.
Most Pac-12 teams do a lot more in the community than they are given credit for. Good job, Cliff Harris, Darron Thomas and Dion Jordan.
Marques Tuiasosopo and Rick Neuheisel made beautiful music together in 2000, when they both led Washington to a Rose Bowl victory and final No. 3 ranking. Now they are reuniting.
Tuiasosopo, one of the great Huskies quarterbacks, is leaving a post as an assistant strength coach at Washington for a similar job at UCLA, according to the Seattle Times.
While this is a minor staffing move, it's interesting to me.
I covered that 2000 team, which wasn't terribly talented -- the depth chart included few future NFL players -- but it just found ways to win. That's not what's interesting, though.
What's interesting is that Neuheisel's horrible parting at Washington transmogrified a certain segment of Husky fans, who decided to blame him for everything that befell the program afterward. And, of course, it forced these Neuheisel-haters to rationalize the 2000 season.
"It was all Tuiasosopo!" they would say.
"Bollocks!" I'd counter, ever the agitator "it was all Neuheisel." I'd then watch said Husky fan foam at the mouth. (A more savvy play for a Neuheisel-hater would be to cite offensive coordinator Keith Gilbertson, who was masterful in 2000).
What is notable is the loyalty that a vast majority of players on the 2000 team show Neuheisel. When I visited UCLA preseason practices in 2008, Derrell Daniels, a linebacker on the 2000 team, was working operations for the Bruins. He told me that Neuheisel had taken a contingent of former Huskies out to dinner at El Cholo in Santa Monica, including Hakim Akbar, Matt Rogers, Pat Reddick, Chris Massey, Ken Walker and others.
Tuiasosopo probably has plenty of personal reasons for taking a job at UCLA. He surely knows that Neuheisel is under a lot of pressure to win in 2011.
But it's also fair to say that former Huskies seem to have far different feelings for Neuheisel than Huskies fans, including one of the greatest to ever wear the purple jersey.
Tuiasosopo, one of the great Huskies quarterbacks, is leaving a post as an assistant strength coach at Washington for a similar job at UCLA, according to the Seattle Times.
While this is a minor staffing move, it's interesting to me.
I covered that 2000 team, which wasn't terribly talented -- the depth chart included few future NFL players -- but it just found ways to win. That's not what's interesting, though.
What's interesting is that Neuheisel's horrible parting at Washington transmogrified a certain segment of Husky fans, who decided to blame him for everything that befell the program afterward. And, of course, it forced these Neuheisel-haters to rationalize the 2000 season.
"It was all Tuiasosopo!" they would say.
"Bollocks!" I'd counter, ever the agitator "it was all Neuheisel." I'd then watch said Husky fan foam at the mouth. (A more savvy play for a Neuheisel-hater would be to cite offensive coordinator Keith Gilbertson, who was masterful in 2000).
What is notable is the loyalty that a vast majority of players on the 2000 team show Neuheisel. When I visited UCLA preseason practices in 2008, Derrell Daniels, a linebacker on the 2000 team, was working operations for the Bruins. He told me that Neuheisel had taken a contingent of former Huskies out to dinner at El Cholo in Santa Monica, including Hakim Akbar, Matt Rogers, Pat Reddick, Chris Massey, Ken Walker and others.
Tuiasosopo probably has plenty of personal reasons for taking a job at UCLA. He surely knows that Neuheisel is under a lot of pressure to win in 2011.
But it's also fair to say that former Huskies seem to have far different feelings for Neuheisel than Huskies fans, including one of the greatest to ever wear the purple jersey.
Fourth in a series of Pac-10 thoughts that might come from unusual angles (you can see California's 2009 prediction here).
Don't be surprised if ... California quarterback Kevin Riley, after an inconsistent career, turns in a solid senior season.
Watching Riley during the Bears listless loss to Utah in the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl made my head hurt, but the good news is it made me forget about stabbing my eyes out while watching him in the regular-season finale at Washington.
My overriding thought as Cal's extraordinarily disappointing 2009 season thudded to an end: No way Riley can start at quarterback in 2010. No way.
But Riley will start at QB in 2010. And my feeling for what Bears fans can expect from him has changed, and not just because Riley is a stand-up guy and an often amusing interview.
Let's put it this way: Think of yourself at this time last year. If I had written that Sean Canfield would be the first-team All-Pac-10 QB in 2009, you would have flown to Scottsdale and beaten me over the head with a stick. Canfield's resume last summer included: 1. 15 interceptions vs. nine TD passes in 2007; 2. A junior year as a backup with shoulder issues.
Then: Poof! Senior break through.
Former USC QB Carson Palmer won the Heisman Trophy in 2002 after a stellar season. The year before, he threw 13 TD passes and 12 interceptions.
Oregon fans were writing sonnets about Dennis Dixon before he got hurt in 2007. And so was I. Guy was unstoppable. And he became that way despite throwing nine interceptions and just two TD passes in the final six games of 2006.
Before USC's run, it was almost a prerequisite to have experience at QB if a team wanted to compete for the Pac-10 championship. Just look at the conference champions and the first-team All-Pac-10 QBs starting in 2002 and going back: Palmer and Jason Gesser, Joey Harrington, Marques Tuiasosopo, Todd Husak, Cade McNown, Ryan Leaf (albeit a junior who finished with 24 career starts), Jake Plummer, etc.
Sure, Riley completed just 46 percent of his passes and was sacked 18 times in Cal's five losses last year. But the Bears offensive line and receiving corps should be better in 2010 because -- just like Riley -- they are more experienced.
Is Riley going to win first-team All-Pac-10 QB? Probably not in a conference with Jake Locker, Andrew Luck, Matt Barkley and Nick Foles.
But the expectation here is that Riley will turn in solid numbers this fall.
Don't be surprised if ... California quarterback Kevin Riley, after an inconsistent career, turns in a solid senior season.
[+] Enlarge
AP Photo/Elaine ThompsonKevin Riley struggled in the regular-season finale against Washington, above, and in the bowl against Utah.
AP Photo/Elaine ThompsonKevin Riley struggled in the regular-season finale against Washington, above, and in the bowl against Utah.My overriding thought as Cal's extraordinarily disappointing 2009 season thudded to an end: No way Riley can start at quarterback in 2010. No way.
But Riley will start at QB in 2010. And my feeling for what Bears fans can expect from him has changed, and not just because Riley is a stand-up guy and an often amusing interview.
Let's put it this way: Think of yourself at this time last year. If I had written that Sean Canfield would be the first-team All-Pac-10 QB in 2009, you would have flown to Scottsdale and beaten me over the head with a stick. Canfield's resume last summer included: 1. 15 interceptions vs. nine TD passes in 2007; 2. A junior year as a backup with shoulder issues.
Then: Poof! Senior break through.
Former USC QB Carson Palmer won the Heisman Trophy in 2002 after a stellar season. The year before, he threw 13 TD passes and 12 interceptions.
Oregon fans were writing sonnets about Dennis Dixon before he got hurt in 2007. And so was I. Guy was unstoppable. And he became that way despite throwing nine interceptions and just two TD passes in the final six games of 2006.
Before USC's run, it was almost a prerequisite to have experience at QB if a team wanted to compete for the Pac-10 championship. Just look at the conference champions and the first-team All-Pac-10 QBs starting in 2002 and going back: Palmer and Jason Gesser, Joey Harrington, Marques Tuiasosopo, Todd Husak, Cade McNown, Ryan Leaf (albeit a junior who finished with 24 career starts), Jake Plummer, etc.
Sure, Riley completed just 46 percent of his passes and was sacked 18 times in Cal's five losses last year. But the Bears offensive line and receiving corps should be better in 2010 because -- just like Riley -- they are more experienced.
Is Riley going to win first-team All-Pac-10 QB? Probably not in a conference with Jake Locker, Andrew Luck, Matt Barkley and Nick Foles.
But the expectation here is that Riley will turn in solid numbers this fall.
Yes, there are lots of USC teams in our list of the "best Pac-10 teams of the decade."
Not sure how you get around that. From 2002 to 2008, the Trojans finished ranked in the nation's top four. During that span, no other conference team topped the Trojans in the national rankings.
One team not listed, however, merits special mention: Oregon in 2007.
That team was 8-1, ranked No. 2 in the BCS standings and appeared to be headed for a showdown with LSU for the national championship. Then quarterback Dennis Dixon blew out his knee at Arizona -- he'd actually hurt it the week before vs. Arizona State -- and the Ducks subsequently lost to the Wildcats, the first of three consecutive losses before a blowout victory over South Florida in the Sun Bowl.
More than a few people -- not just Ducks fans -- believe that team would have won the national title if Dixon had remained healthy.
Of course, if wishes were fishes then cows would fly.
10. USC, 2007: A toss-up between this squad and the Trojans 2006 team. The '07 team finished ranked third in the AP and second in the coaches poll, while '06 finished fourth in both. '07 lost to 41-point underdog Stanford and at Oregon, see above about the Ducks. '06 lost at Oregon State and at UCLA, a 13-9 defeat that cost it a spot in the national title game. That last detail iced it for '07.
9. USC, 2002: More than a few pundits watching Carson Palmer and company pound Iowa in the Orange Bowl opined that, by season's end, this might be the nation's best team in 2002. After a 3-2 start in Year Two of the Pete Carroll Era, the Trojans won eight in a row to finish 11-2 and ranked No. 4.
8. California, 2004: Sure, the Bears laid an egg vs. Texas Tech in the Holiday Bowl -- quick Cal fans: how many receivers were missing due to injury? And what do you think of Mack Brown? -- but Aaron Rodgers and company put on quite a show. The only regular-season defeat came in a thriller at USC -- see below -- 23-17, when the Trojans held strong after the Bears had a first-and-goal from the 9-yard line with less than two minutes left.
7. Oregon State, 2000: If not for a crazy finish at Washington in a 33-30 defeat, the Beavers might have played Oklahoma for the national championship. They went on to blister Notre Dame 41-9 in the Fiesta Bowl and finished ranked fourth in the nation. Go back and look at the roster: Chad Johnson, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, DeLawrence Grant, Dennis Weathersby, LeDarius Jackson, Ken Simonton, etc. This was hardly a scrappy, little team.
6. Washington, 2000: This crew of Huskies was hardly dominant but they just found a way to win week after week, led by quarterback Marques Tuiasosopo. The 11-1 season included a victory over Miami, which finished ranked No. 2, a loss at No. 7 Oregon, and a Rose Bowl win over Drew Brees and Purdue.
5. USC, 2008: This crew paired one of the best defenses in college football history with a quarterback who's playing in the AFC championship this weekend. Yes, it's fair to ask how the horsepucky this team didn't win the national championship. Oregon State fans care to explain?
4. Oregon, 2001: How strange was the Ducks 49-42 loss vs Stanford, their only defeat of the season? The normally staid AP said this in the game story, it was "a game that had everything but aliens landing on the Autzen Stadium turf." The Ducks led by 14 in the fourth quarter before a blocked punt and interception from Joey Harrington allowed the Cardinal to take the lead. While Oregon fans mostly remember getting BCSed out of the national title game by Nebraska, the Stanford game prevented them from playing Miami in the Rose Bowl. The Ducks blasted Colorado in the Fiesta Bowl and finished No. 2, still the program's best final ranking.
3. USC, 2003: A dominant team that lost only in triple-overtime at California. Only a BCS computer glitch forced the Trojans, ranked No. 1 in every poll, to share a portion of the national title with another squad.
2. USC, 2005: The offense was a thing of beauty -- 580 yards, 49 points per game -- but a young defense, which featured a true freshman and four sophomore starters, cost the Trojans in the thrilling BCS title loss to the University of Vince Young.
1. USC, 2004: Unbeaten, undisputed. Dominant. Best team of the decade in all of college football? Perhaps, though folks could make a strong argument for Miami in 2001. An extraordinary array of talent on both sides of the ball. And defense was the difference vs. 2005. It ranked sixth in the nation in total defense and third in scoring. The Trojans battered Oklahoma 55-19 for the national title.
Not sure how you get around that. From 2002 to 2008, the Trojans finished ranked in the nation's top four. During that span, no other conference team topped the Trojans in the national rankings.
One team not listed, however, merits special mention: Oregon in 2007.
That team was 8-1, ranked No. 2 in the BCS standings and appeared to be headed for a showdown with LSU for the national championship. Then quarterback Dennis Dixon blew out his knee at Arizona -- he'd actually hurt it the week before vs. Arizona State -- and the Ducks subsequently lost to the Wildcats, the first of three consecutive losses before a blowout victory over South Florida in the Sun Bowl.
More than a few people -- not just Ducks fans -- believe that team would have won the national title if Dixon had remained healthy.
Of course, if wishes were fishes then cows would fly.
10. USC, 2007: A toss-up between this squad and the Trojans 2006 team. The '07 team finished ranked third in the AP and second in the coaches poll, while '06 finished fourth in both. '07 lost to 41-point underdog Stanford and at Oregon, see above about the Ducks. '06 lost at Oregon State and at UCLA, a 13-9 defeat that cost it a spot in the national title game. That last detail iced it for '07.
9. USC, 2002: More than a few pundits watching Carson Palmer and company pound Iowa in the Orange Bowl opined that, by season's end, this might be the nation's best team in 2002. After a 3-2 start in Year Two of the Pete Carroll Era, the Trojans won eight in a row to finish 11-2 and ranked No. 4.
[+] Enlarge
AP Photo/Don RyanAaron Rodgers and the Golden Bears only had one regular-season loss in 2004.
AP Photo/Don RyanAaron Rodgers and the Golden Bears only had one regular-season loss in 2004.7. Oregon State, 2000: If not for a crazy finish at Washington in a 33-30 defeat, the Beavers might have played Oklahoma for the national championship. They went on to blister Notre Dame 41-9 in the Fiesta Bowl and finished ranked fourth in the nation. Go back and look at the roster: Chad Johnson, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, DeLawrence Grant, Dennis Weathersby, LeDarius Jackson, Ken Simonton, etc. This was hardly a scrappy, little team.
6. Washington, 2000: This crew of Huskies was hardly dominant but they just found a way to win week after week, led by quarterback Marques Tuiasosopo. The 11-1 season included a victory over Miami, which finished ranked No. 2, a loss at No. 7 Oregon, and a Rose Bowl win over Drew Brees and Purdue.
5. USC, 2008: This crew paired one of the best defenses in college football history with a quarterback who's playing in the AFC championship this weekend. Yes, it's fair to ask how the horsepucky this team didn't win the national championship. Oregon State fans care to explain?
4. Oregon, 2001: How strange was the Ducks 49-42 loss vs Stanford, their only defeat of the season? The normally staid AP said this in the game story, it was "a game that had everything but aliens landing on the Autzen Stadium turf." The Ducks led by 14 in the fourth quarter before a blocked punt and interception from Joey Harrington allowed the Cardinal to take the lead. While Oregon fans mostly remember getting BCSed out of the national title game by Nebraska, the Stanford game prevented them from playing Miami in the Rose Bowl. The Ducks blasted Colorado in the Fiesta Bowl and finished No. 2, still the program's best final ranking.
3. USC, 2003: A dominant team that lost only in triple-overtime at California. Only a BCS computer glitch forced the Trojans, ranked No. 1 in every poll, to share a portion of the national title with another squad.
2. USC, 2005: The offense was a thing of beauty -- 580 yards, 49 points per game -- but a young defense, which featured a true freshman and four sophomore starters, cost the Trojans in the thrilling BCS title loss to the University of Vince Young.
1. USC, 2004: Unbeaten, undisputed. Dominant. Best team of the decade in all of college football? Perhaps, though folks could make a strong argument for Miami in 2001. An extraordinary array of talent on both sides of the ball. And defense was the difference vs. 2005. It ranked sixth in the nation in total defense and third in scoring. The Trojans battered Oklahoma 55-19 for the national title.
2009 adds another chapter of UW-Arizona's history
October, 13, 2009
10/13/09
8:00
PM ET
By
Ted Miller | ESPN.com
Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller
After the "Immaculate Deflection/Interception/Deception" decided the Arizona-Washington game, my first thought was "Wow."
Then I realized we shouldn't be surprised.
It might be one of the great secrets in college football that the Arizona-Washington series has produced as many wild, weird, meaningful and controversial finishes as any with which I'm familiar.
Consider.
1992: End of an Era
Top-ranked Washington, riding a 22-game winning streak and seeking its second consecutive national championship, is stunned -- first by quarterback Billy Joe Hobert's suspension after he admitted accepting a $50,000 loan from an Idaho businessman -- and then by Arizona, 16-3.
The extraordinary Don James Era would ingloriously and controversially end three games later -- after the Huskies lost the Rose Bowl to Michigan -- amid NCAA and Pac-10 investigations into the Hobert affair and recruiting violations.
The program went to six Rose Bowls and one Orange Bowl in 18 seasons under James.
It's been to one Rose Bowl since he "retired" 17 years ago.
1998: The Leap by the Lake.
Arizona quarterback Ortege Jenkins, in a desperation scramble with the clock ticking down its final seconds, met three Washington defenders at the 2-yard line.
Jenkins leaped toward them, flipped over them and landed on his feet in the endzone, which gave Arizona a 31-28 victory.
It became one of the great all-time highlight-reel plays.
The Wildcats would lose the next weekend at home against UCLA, 52-28, which would be their only defeat in the greatest season in school history.
Arizona beat Nebraska in the Holiday Bowl and finished 12-1 and ranked No. 4 in the country.
Washington fired Jim Lambright at the end of the season.
1999: The Drive
Washington produced one of the best drives in team history, going 80 yards in 17 plays -- knocking 9:13 off the clock in the process -- on its way to a 33-25 victory over the homestanding Wildcats, who began the season ranked No. 4 but ended up a disappointing 6-6.
A wild, post-game celebration breaks on the field out among Huskies players, coaches and fans. Roses are handed out. A fan produces a sign, "Rose Bowl Bound."
All the Huskies had to do to win their first Pac-10 championship since 1992 was beat a horrible, injury-ravaged UCLA squad and a horrible Washington State team.
Washington lost 23-20 in overtime at UCLA, inspiring more than a few snide comments about the premature post-game celebration.
Stanford went to the Rose Bowl.
2000: 22 points for Curtis Williams
A week after Washington safety Curtis Williams suffered a spinal cord injury at Stanford that would render him a quadriplegic -- and eventually kill him -- the then-seventh-ranked Huskies overcame a 12-point fourth-quarter deficit with a 22-point scoring barrage.
Running back Willie Hurst, a forgotten man much of the season, posted a pair of highlight-reel TD runs, and quarterback Marques Tuiasosopo scored the winning points from two yards out with 1:10 left.
Washington went on to win the Rose Bowl and finished ranked third in the country.
After the "Immaculate Deflection/Interception/Deception" decided the Arizona-Washington game, my first thought was "Wow."
Then I realized we shouldn't be surprised.
It might be one of the great secrets in college football that the Arizona-Washington series has produced as many wild, weird, meaningful and controversial finishes as any with which I'm familiar.
Consider.
1992: End of an Era
Top-ranked Washington, riding a 22-game winning streak and seeking its second consecutive national championship, is stunned -- first by quarterback Billy Joe Hobert's suspension after he admitted accepting a $50,000 loan from an Idaho businessman -- and then by Arizona, 16-3.
The extraordinary Don James Era would ingloriously and controversially end three games later -- after the Huskies lost the Rose Bowl to Michigan -- amid NCAA and Pac-10 investigations into the Hobert affair and recruiting violations.
The program went to six Rose Bowls and one Orange Bowl in 18 seasons under James.
It's been to one Rose Bowl since he "retired" 17 years ago.
1998: The Leap by the Lake.
Arizona quarterback Ortege Jenkins, in a desperation scramble with the clock ticking down its final seconds, met three Washington defenders at the 2-yard line.
Jenkins leaped toward them, flipped over them and landed on his feet in the endzone, which gave Arizona a 31-28 victory.
It became one of the great all-time highlight-reel plays.
The Wildcats would lose the next weekend at home against UCLA, 52-28, which would be their only defeat in the greatest season in school history.
Arizona beat Nebraska in the Holiday Bowl and finished 12-1 and ranked No. 4 in the country.
Washington fired Jim Lambright at the end of the season.
1999: The Drive
Washington produced one of the best drives in team history, going 80 yards in 17 plays -- knocking 9:13 off the clock in the process -- on its way to a 33-25 victory over the homestanding Wildcats, who began the season ranked No. 4 but ended up a disappointing 6-6.
A wild, post-game celebration breaks on the field out among Huskies players, coaches and fans. Roses are handed out. A fan produces a sign, "Rose Bowl Bound."
All the Huskies had to do to win their first Pac-10 championship since 1992 was beat a horrible, injury-ravaged UCLA squad and a horrible Washington State team.
Washington lost 23-20 in overtime at UCLA, inspiring more than a few snide comments about the premature post-game celebration.
Stanford went to the Rose Bowl.
2000: 22 points for Curtis Williams
A week after Washington safety Curtis Williams suffered a spinal cord injury at Stanford that would render him a quadriplegic -- and eventually kill him -- the then-seventh-ranked Huskies overcame a 12-point fourth-quarter deficit with a 22-point scoring barrage.
Running back Willie Hurst, a forgotten man much of the season, posted a pair of highlight-reel TD runs, and quarterback Marques Tuiasosopo scored the winning points from two yards out with 1:10 left.
Washington went on to win the Rose Bowl and finished ranked third in the country.
Pac-10 lunch links: Robinson stepping up for Sun Devils
August, 11, 2009
8/11/09
2:30
PM ET
By
Ted Miller | ESPN.com
Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller
There is no such thing as a moral or an immoral book. Books are well-written or badly written. That is all.
- Injury report might be a bit long for Arizona, though nothing appears serious as of yet. Donald Horton, moving from defensive tackle to end, appears healthy, though. The Wildcats head to Fort Huachuca on Thursday.
- Gerell Robinson looks like a far more refined receiver so far in Arizona State camp, and that could be huge for an offense that wants to use three, four and even five receivers.
- So how did Jahvid Best get so fast? Some California receivers had the dropsies.
- An Oregon practice report. A trio of Ducks receivers are banged up.
- Oregon State believes 2009 is their time. So that's where all my time went! Interesting stuff in that Buker story about the Sean Canfield-Lyle Moevao QB competition. Appears Moevao has a ways to go to be 100 percent. Buker also had these day one notes. Pictures and video here.
- A look at some of the Stanford players who are going both ways. Also take note of the quick hit at the bottom about guard David DeCastro. Prediction: He'll be All-Pac-10 at season's end. This Stanford player swims against the current.
- You tell me: Does UCLA offensive line recruit Stanley Hasiak look like a freshman? Or does he look like the grumpy guy who holds the velvet rope outside that club that won't let you in? The Bruins are young but it's still now time. Update on some Clearinghouse issues.
- An injury scare for USC quarterback Aaron Corp but it was a short one. Linebacker who? LB Chris Galippo is ready for his close up.
- Washington's new assistant strength coach has a familiar name. Special teams are a concern. This Huskies assistant remembers the good old days.
- Washington State looks a lot fitter compared to last fall, but this running back has been kicked off the team.
Pac-10 lunchtime links: Cougs find a scout QB
October, 7, 2008
10/07/08
2:56
PM ET
By
Ted Miller | ESPN.com
Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller
Perhaps among these is the missing link.
- Look who's the new Mr. Mellow: Arizona's fiery Mike Stoops. Funny how winning does that.
- The Pac-10 reprimanded Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh for criticizing the officiating at Notre Dame, but Jon Wilner doesn't believe the conference powers insisting the call in question was actually correct means it was, well, actually correct.
- Can UCLA, packing up for a trip to Oregon this weekend, win on the road?
- USC running back Stafon Johnson provided his growing legion of advocates a good argument for why he's the Trojans best running back.
- Washington fans are angry about everything, but their latest gripe with coach Tyrone Willingham is his burning some freshmen redshirts at midseason. But Jim Moore continues to be a huge Willingham fan, which probably won't help Willingham's case one bit.
- John Blanchette considers Washington State's "Quarterback Idol" casting call for a scout team quarterback. While coach Paul Wulff was unable to remember the winner's name during today's teleconference, the Spokesman-Review reported it was Peter Roberts, a former QB at Woodinville (Wash.) High School -- the same school the produced former Washington Huskies star QB Marques Tuiasosopo.
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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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