Below are the 8 most recent journal entries recorded in rosebowlmvps' LiveJournal:

Monday, January 29th, 2007
7:18 pm	College Football bowl Guide The holiday season means the end of the college football regular season and the beginning of the college football playoffs. Let that last sentence sink in for a moment. I’m waiting... get the joke now? There is no such thing as a college football playoff; I just wanted to make sure you are actually wide awake while reading this column because I understand that if you are a college student like me, go to a school like mine, and that school happens to be called Clemson University, then there is a good chance that you have been studying for final exams and thus have forgotten what it feels like to sleep. What college football offers instead of a playoff system is so much cooler: bowl games! Every football fan knows that if you insert the word “bowl” after a descriptive name, then that makes it a special event, i.e., Super Bowl, Pro Bowl, Manning Bowl. College football has 32 of these amazing “bowl” events, giving diehard sports fans the opportunity to never do their Christmas shopping. But most of you will want to do Christmas shopping. No, wait, scratch that. Most of you will be obligated to do your Christmas shopping (that’s much better). And in addition to shopping, you will have to deal with multitudes of families and friends at social gatherings provided that you actually have a life. Unfortunately, this means you can’t watch every bowl game. Fortunately, I have compiled a list of only the most important bowl games that must be watched so you can have your college football fix and still have the rest of the time this holiday season to physically harm somebody for the last available PS3. Poinsettia Bowl, Dec. 19 Northen Illinois vs. TCU: This is the first bowl game played so it obviously has to be good. In fact I’m going to go out on a limb and predict that this will be one of the two greatest Poinsettia Bowls ever played. Las Vegas Bowl, Dec. 21 Oregon vs. BYU: When I saw that BYU was going to play in the Las Vegas Bowl, I knew I had to watch this game now. A Mormon school playing in Las Vegas just spells trouble. Imagine what wild, alcohol-free activities the BYU players will be partaking in under the bright lights of Sin City? Too bad I’ll never find out because what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. Armed Forces Bowl, Dec. 23 Utah vs. Tulsa: This bowl is called the Armed Forces Bowl and yet I don’t see a single military school playing in the game. They should have at least extended an invitation to the Miami Hurricanes, whose players have shown a talent for militant behavior. Hawaii Bowl, Dec. 23 Arizona State vs. Hawaii: Many people probably think that it is hard for visiting teams to focus properly in Hawaii due to all the fun distractions on the island. However, this will not be the case for Sun Devil players because the vacation-like atmosphere of Hawaii will be no different from the vacation-like atmosphere of attending school at Arizona State. Motor City Bowl, Dec. 26 Central Michigan vs. Middle Tennessee State: Everybody should tune in to watch this game in order to make sure that both teams are in fact playing in a bowl game. I know I won’t believe it until I see it with my own eyes. If, in fact, this is true, then kudos to bowl officials for choosing two teams located in the central (middle) part of their respective states. Chick-fil-A Bowl, Dec. 30 Virginia Tech vs. Georgia: The Bowl formerly known as the Peach Bowl has officially changed its name to a restaurant that serves high-fat food in order to better relate to the average American. Gator Bowl, Jan.1 Georgia Tech vs. West Virginia: While Pat White and Steve Slaton of the Mountaineers will be the pro prospects in the spotlight for this game, don’t forget about Yellow Jacket’s QB Reggie Ball. In his last two games, against Georgia and Wake Forest, Ball went 6 of 22 for 42 yards and 9 of 29 for 129 yards, respectively. In other words, Reggie Ball will probably be the next starting quarterback for the Chicago Bears. Outback Bowl, Jan.1 Tennessee vs. Penn State: Two of college football’s most winning active coaches will meet in what should certainly amount to an epic X’s and O’s battle. Both coaches can learn from each other, as Phil Fulmer can teach Joe Paterno how to dig up and report NCAA violations on inter-conference rivals while Paterno can reveal to Fulmer how to best deal with players accused of sexual assault. Personally, I think Paterno should try to add some spice to this game by saying something like “you can’t spell Outback without UT.” That would be such a witty and original quote. Rose Bowl, Jan. 1 Michigan vs. USC: The Wolverines can’t believe they got passed over for the National Championship game, the Trojans can’t believe they lost their shot at the National Championship by losing to UCLA, and college football fans can’t believe the Rose Bowl finally involves a Big 10 vs. Pac-10 match-up again. Fiesta Bowl, Jan. 1 Boise State vs. Oklahoma: You are probably thinking that Oklahoma will crush Boise State. But consider that the last time a mid-major team (Utah) played in a BCS game, it was the mid-major team ending up on the winning side of a blow-out (35-7 over Pittsburgh). Also consider that the last time Oklahoma played in a BCS game, they were on the wrong side of a blow-out (55-19 to USC). I’m not saying there’s not going to be a rout; I’m just saying that it’s not certain which team will be doing the routing. So tune in to see which team will win this game 45-17, and if the Sooners lose, be sure to watch for post-game developments in case Oklahoma’s President David Boren decides to challenge the results and blame Pac-10 officials. Orange Bowl, Jan. 2 Wake Forest vs. Louisville: Don’t miss this game because Wake Forest playing in a BCS bowl is like Halley’s Comet: a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Sugar Bowl, Jan.3 Notre Dame vs. LSU: Gather around with your family to watch the fast-growing holiday tradition of Notre Dame getting absolutely outmatched in a January bowl game. Like another holiday mainstay, It’s a Wonderful Life, this tradition also has a heart-warming ending (Notre Dame losing) that will bring smiles to millions of Americans. BCS Championship, Jan.8 Ohio State vs. Florida: This may be Urban Meyer’s only shot at winning a national championship with the Gators because I heard that Hillary Clinton has asked if Meyer would be interested in being her campaign manager for the 2008 Presidential elections. Apparently, Hillary was extremely impressed with Meyer’s ability to sway voters in the human polls to vote Florida ahead of Michigan. If I were Meyer, I’d accept Hillary’s offer immediately since she may not be so impressed with my strategic skills after Ohio State destroys Florida in the Championship game. And after I accepted the offer, I would go about sabotaging the campaign because the only thing worse than the BCS is Hillary Clinton being President of the United States. (Comment on this)
Thursday, November 2nd, 2006
1:42 pm	SI: Nate Longshore #7 QB Sports Illustrated just listed the top 15 QBs in the nation. Nate Longshore was listed at #7. Top 15 QBs Here is the full list 1) Troy Smith - Ohio State 2) Brady Quinn - Notre Dame 3) Erik Ainge - Tennessee 4) Brian Brohm - Louisville 5) Tyler Palko - Pittsburg 6) Pat White - West Virginia 7) NATE LONGSHORE - CAL 8) Chad Henne - Michigan 9) Chris Leak - Florida 10) John Beck - BYU 11) Colt Brennan - Hawaii 12) Chase Holbrook - New Mexico State 13) Kevin Kolb - Houston 14) Dennis Dixon - Oregon 15) Chase Daniel - Missouri This is certainly not my top 15 QB's. I agree with the top 2 but beyond that it looks like SI was trying to appease some non-BCS/small conference gods. Here are some first glance comments: 1) Pat White is a running back. I don't care if he takes the snap, he is a running back in a wishbone offense. He is a great player but not a top 6 QB. 2) Brian Brohm has been injured and did not look that great last week when he came back. Is this based on reputation or actual play. 3) If this list was posted last week, I believe both Chris Leak and Chase Daniel would be higher. 4) Numbers 10-13. Who, who, who and who? Just kidding, I know who these guys are but top 15 in the nation. Maybe it is a down year for QBs. 5) Players I would have included - John David Booty (USC), Drew Tate (Iowa), JaMarcus Russell (LSU) (Comment on this)
Friday, August 18th, 2006
12:01 pm	Chad Henne should wear his red practice jersey 24/7 until 9/2/06 Michigan started its Fall Football Practice Schedule this week in preparation for its first game which will be played three weeks from today on Saturday, September 2, 2006 vs. Vanderbilt. So far, so good as there are no new injuries to report out of the first week of fall camp. During practices the quarterbacks wear red jerseys which signify to the other players not to have physical contact with them during any drills. The quarterbacks wear the red jerseys granting them this special exemption because the coaches do not want to run the risk of having a virtually irreplaceable skill position player suffer a season-ending injury in a freak accident during a practice drill. In light of the depth, or more accurately the lack thereof, at the quarterback position this year I believe that starting QB Chad Henne should have to wear his red practice jersey at all times until kickoff for the first game on September 2nd. I do not want anyone on campus accidentally bumping into Chad or dropping something on his foot or having any physical contact with him. It is imperative that Chad remain healthy for this season as the back-ups do NOT appear ready to take the reigns on a moments notice. Chad has started 24 consecutive games for the Wolverines (tied for 7th longest active streak in the NCAA) but even he is not immune to injury. If Chad were to suffer an injury then Coach Carr would be forced to look to the #2 man. The question to be answered during fall practice is will the guy designated #2 be ready? The early favorite to be #2 on the depth chart was redshirt freshman Jason Forcier. However, after a shaky spring practice, Coach Carr announced that he would wait until true freshman David Cone arrived and then things would be re-evaluated. (See my post of May 29, 2006- 2006 Back-up QB's: Long on Talent, Short on Experience). Well Cone arrived in the summer to start working out with his new teammates and to start picking up the Michigan offense according to a recent news item written by Angelique S. Chengelis (a/k/a "The Angel of the Big House") of the Detroit News. I'm guessing that Cone's summer performance did not overwhelm Coach Carr because on Big Ten Media Day on August 2, 2006, Coach Carr said that he expected Jason Forcier to be Chad Henne's back-up. Thus, Coach Carr did not even wait to observe fall practices to sort out who would be #2 on the depth chart. People need to remember how Chad Henne got his start. Heading into the 2004 season, it appeared as if Redshirt sophmore Matt Gutierrez was going to be the starter until he got injured in pre-season practice and then all of a sudden then true freshman Chad Henne was elevated to the starting spot. Henne was able to step into that starting role in 2004 and lead Michigan to the Rose Bowl. From all reports that I've read so far both Forcier (redshirt Fr.) and Cone (true Fr.) are still learning the offense. If Henne were to go down it seems doubtful that either back-up QB is ready to duplicate Henne's freshman feat of leading Michigan to the Big Ten title. Therefore, it is imperative that Chad try to avoid injury by wearing his red practice jersey at all times until the season starts. Go Blue! (Comment on this)
Friday, August 11th, 2006
11:22 am	It's finally time for Booty to emerge from shadows MATTHEW KREDELL LA Daily News John David Booty watched intently from the sidelines at spring practice in 2003 as USC quarterbacks Matt Leinart and Matt Cassel made their throws. With each misplaced ball and poor read, Booty remembered the words of then-offensive coordinator Norm Chow: He could start for the Trojans right away. No senior year of high school. No need to go through the recruiting process. One of the most respected quarterback gurus in the game saying he could move right in to replace Heisman Trophy winner Carson Palmer. Three years later, Booty began fall practice Thursday still waiting for that first start. The next few months will determine whether Booty's unprecedented decision to skip his senior year of high school for college football damaged a promising career or works out in the long run. "It's there for the taking," Booty said. "I'm getting my opportunity, and that's all you can ask for. The last three years have gone so fast, though there were times when a day seemed like it lasted forever. I'm sure these next two years will be like that, too." Booty didn't become the first known high school football player to forego his senior season with the expectation of sitting on the bench for three years. But no one knew at the time that Leinart, considered third on the depth chart entering that spring in 2003, would turn into one of the greatest college quarterbacks of all time. "It was tough on him," said John David's brother, Josh, a former LSU quarterback who was drafted in the seventh round by the NFL's Seattle Seahawks. "He loved his teammates and loved that they were winning. But the guys he came in with - like Reggie (Bush) and LenDale (White) - were playing, and he was not. He was bummed at times, just not feeling excited. It's hard to feel excited when you're not playing, especially when you could be at any other university and starting for sure." One of the days that seemed to last forever was Jan. 14, 2005. That's when Leinart stepped up to a podium in Heritage Hall and announced that, despite the possibility of being the top overall NFL draft pick after winning two national championships and a Heisman Trophy, he would return to USC for his fifth and final year of eligibility. It was as if Booty was about to cross the finish line, only to find out he had to run another lap. At the time of Leinart's decision, Sports Illustrated was putting together a story on him taking over the most talented team in the country, the next in the line of great Trojans quarterbacks. It was all put on hold. That was the only time Booty thought about transferring. He talked to his brother about the possibilities - perhaps LSU or Florida. But he would have to sit out a year to go to any Division I school, and he wasn't about to go Division II. In that time, Leinart would be done and he would have his chance at USC. "If he could have gone and played right away somewhere, that would have changed everything," Josh Booty said. But John David loved USC - the school, the beach nearby, the coaches, his teammates. It would have been difficult for him to leave. He earned the respect of his peers by never complaining about his lack of playing time or acting as though he were entitled, neither publicly to the media nor privately to the team. "He didn't want to bring the team down by pouting," receiver Steve Smith said. "That just makes us appreciate him more as a leader for what he's been through." Booty's life took a sharp turn in the spring of 2003 when his father, Johnny, was fired as quarterbacks coach at Evangel Christian Academy in Shreveport, La. John David, who had led the school to two consecutive Class 5A state titles, decided he wouldn't return without his father. Booty was expected to be the top quarterback in most recruiting publications and Web sites. He was the best player from a family of athletes. Another brother, Abram, was a standout receiver for LSU. Johnny also played quarterback in college. Before those recruiting rankings came out, Booty committed to USC in March 2003. He had been leaning toward Miami until the top quarterback of the previous class, Kyle Wright, signed with the Hurricanes over USC in February. Josh had been working out in Orange County, trying to get back into the NFL. He knew Chow, who had tried to recruit him to Brigham Young in 1993. He urged John David to consider USC. John David saw greatness on the horizon for the team that had just signed what many considered the top freshman class in the nation. He was thinking of transferring to Mission Viejo to finish high school close to his brother and future college. But Chow planted the seed, and it had been growing in his head: He could start at USC right away. He checked on his academic status and found out it was a possibility. He could finish his high school degree over the summer and be at USC in the fall. He arrived at USC full of bravado, expecting to compete for the starting job. It wasn't much of a battle. Coming in four weeks before the season started, Booty was at a huge disadvantage. He needed to learn the offense and get used to the collegiate level. Coming from a high school offense that he ran out of the shotgun, he needed a lot of work. "Physically, he had the chance to start," said Chow, now offensive coordinator with the Tennessee Titans. "Obviously, he had to work through a lot of other issues, mentally and all that stuff." Booty didn't take Chow's words as a promise or guarantee. He knew he would have to earn playing time. The way Leinart was playing, winning a share of the national title with LSU by beating Michigan in the Rose Bowl, he couldn't complain. "I think the beauty of having big brothers who have been there at least prepared him," Johnny Booty said. "Some guys come in with a lot of hype and don't know the reality of it all. John David is a realist. He knew he had to earn his stripes, and that it might take a couple years." The wait, as difficult as it was, may benefit John David. He got the opportunity to observe Leinart, how he controlled the game, his poise in crucial situations and the way he limited mistakes. He got game experience, last season, even if it was in garbage time, throwing for 327 yards and the first three touchdowns of his career. And he recovered from a chronic back injury, which hasn't bothered him since surgery, that kept him out for most spring practice. "It was a big jump for me, and I wasn't ready," Booty said of the move to college. "(The three-year wait) gave me time to get settled down. A lot of stuff had happened in my life, and it was really quick. I didn't want to put myself out there when I couldn't be the best player I could be." If Booty doesn't succeed, redshirt freshman Mark Sanchez is waiting. He won't be allowed any hiccups. Despite the losses of Leinart, Bush and others, expectations are high for USC, which is ranked third in the nation in the preseason coaches' poll. Booty is listed as a 20-to-1 shot to win the Trojans a third consecutive Heisman Trophy, astonishing odds for a player yet to start a college game. "He's more of a cross between (Palmer and Leinart)," USC quarterbacks coach Steve Sarkisian said. "I think he might throw the ball better than Matt, but I don't know if the game comes to him as easy as it did for Matt." Booty's ability to throw an accurate deep ball should create a more dangerous vertical game. "I'm not taking anything away from Leinart, but I'm excited about Booty," Smith said. "I think there will be a lot of opportunities for the team to make some big-time plays downfield this year in comparison to last year, when Reggie was making most of the big-time plays." If Booty doesn't meet expectations, his decision to leave high school early will be scrutinized. Maybe, if he stayed for his senior year, he would have seen that Leinart was established at USC and done better elsewhere. It could go down as another costly decision in the Booty family. Josh signed with LSU out of high school, but then decided to focus on baseball when the Florida Marlins made him the fifth overall pick in the 1994 amateur draft. After failing to make it in baseball, he went back to football in 1999, starting for two seasons at LSU. He was a backup with the Cleveland Browns until 2003, but never attempted a pass in a regular-season game. Now 31, Josh works for a title insurance company in Irvine. "If he had gone to LSU straight out of high school, he would have had a lot more time and been more of a prospect," John David said of Josh. "There's no doubt about that. I think that had a lot to do with it." If he performs well in USC's pro-style offense, John David shouldn't have such a problem in the NFL. Carroll said he is counting on the transition from Leinart to Booty being as smooth as the one from Palmer to Leinart. The coaching staff will test him in fall practice by putting him up against the No. 1 defense as much as possible to prepare for that first start, Sept. 2 at Arkansas. "He's going to be fine," Carroll said. "I'm not worried about him. We just need to get everything around him ready, and I think he's going to do his part." (Comment on this)
Thursday, August 3rd, 2006
6:17 pm	1972-1974: Three Big 10 Co-Championships, No Bowl Games The 1972-1974 seasons were some of Bo's most successful seasons but they were also some of his most frustrating during his 21 year tenure as Head Coach at U of M. The Wolverines were a remarkable 30-2-1 during those three seasons. They tied for the Big Ten Championship each of those seasons yet they did not earn a bowl bid during this time frame. Prior to 1975, the Big Ten Conference had a rule that one conference champion would go to the Rose Bowl while every other team would be ineligible for postseason bowl games. As it worked out, Co-Big 10 Champion Ohio State went to the Rose Bowl game each season from 1972-1974 and U of M was left out in the cold. The 1972 team tried to pick up where the 1971 team had left off. The '71 Wolverines had a perfect 11-0 regular season record. The '72 team featured a new QB in Dennis Franklin and the tandem of Ed Shuttlesworth and Chuck Heater in the backfield. The season got off to a slow start as U of M struggled to beat Northwestern 7-0 in the season opener. Game two was a night road game against UCLA at the Rose Bowl Stadium. UCLA's QB was Mark Harmon the son of Michigan Heisman Trophy Winner Tom Harmon. Despite the fact it was playing in its first night game in 28 years and the fact that it had lost two games in a row on that field (the '70 & '72 Rose Bowl games), U of M beat UCLA easily by the score of 26-9. In fact, the nine points the Wolverines yielded to the Bruins in this game would be the most points it allowed any opponent during the first 10 games of the season. U of M proceeded to go 10-0 in 1972 heading into the final regular season game showdown with Ohio State. OSU pulled ahead 14-3 in the third quarter when freshman sensation (and later two time Heisman Trophy winner) Archie Griffin scored on a 30-yard touchdown run. However, U of M battled back to 14-11 in the fourth quarter. An interception by wolfman (that is what they called his position back then) Randy Logan gave U of M a shot to take the lead. The offense drove to the 1-yard line where on 3rd and 1 tailback Harry Banks was stopped just short of the goal line. Rather than go for the tie, Bo opted to go for it on fourth down. He called for a QB sneak but Dennis Franklin couldn't get in and OSU won 14-11. With no bowl bid, U of M finished the year 10-1 and with the #9 ranking. In 1973, the Wolverines ran the table of their regular season schedule leading up to the final clash with OSU. U of M entered the game at 10-0 and Ohio State was 9-0. This game marked the second time during the Bo/Woody era that both teams entered the game undefeated. In a classic, the teams battled to a 10-10 tie. However, during the game Michigan's QB Dennis Franklin suffered a broken collarbone. Because of the tie, the decision regarding which team should be sent to the Rose Bowl was left up to the Big Ten Athletic Directors. (Note: There was no elaborate tie-breaking procedure as there is now). The Athletic Directors voted 6-4 to send OSU to the Rose Bowl citing Dennis Franklin's injury as a reason that U of M would not be as competitive. Consequently, although U of M was co-Big Ten Champion, it stayed home again as it did not go to a postseason bowl. U of M finished the year ranked #6 in the polls with its 10-0-1 record. The 1974 team reeled off ten victories to head into the annual showdown with OSU with a 10-0 record and the #3 ranking. In fact, this was the fifth consecutive season that U of M had won their first nine games of the season. U of M was eager to return to the Rose Bowl after the debacle of the previous season. #4 OSU had other ideas, however, and everything came down to a last second field goal attempt. OSU was leading 12-10 with :18 seconds left in the game when U of M set up for a 33-yard field goal attempt for the win. The kick missed and U of M was left with another co-championship while OSU went to the Rose Bowl for the third consecutive year. U of M's record in 1974 was 10-1 and they finished #3 in the final AP poll. The 1972-1974 seasons. They were the best of times, they were the worst of times. It is hard to argue against a 30-2-1 record over 3 seasons with 3 co-Big Ten Championships. However, it was the near misses and questionable decisions by Conference officials that make memories of this era so frustrating. Things got better in the mid to late-70's, however, thanks in large part to a QB from Flint, MI who wore #7. Stay tuned. The saga continues... (Comment on this)
Monday, July 31st, 2006
10:16 pm	In 1976, Bruins Left Buckeyes in Ruins What were the odds? Ohio State rolled into Pasadena for the 1976 Rose Bowl with an 11-0 record and No. 1 ranking. One of those victories came in the fourth game, a 41-20 thrashing of UCLA at the L.A. Coliseum, which in those days was the home turf of the Bruins. It was the fourth consecutive appearance in the Rose Bowl for Ohio State, which featured a powerhouse backfield of two-time Heisman winner Archie Griffin and battering ram Pete Johnson. UCLA had rebounded from the loss to the Buckeyes to go 8-2-1, win the Pacific 8 title and secure the rematch. They teed it up and Ohio State controlled the ball for all but four minutes of the first half, yet trailed, 3-0. The Bruin offense, which gained only 48 yards in the first half, took control in the second, and UCLA stunned Ohio State, 23-10. "It was probably the biggest upset in the history of the Rose Bowl," said Dick Vermeil, left, who was in his second season at Westwood. It also was the last Rose Bowl for Buckeye coach Woody Hayes, the other guy in the photo. Two weeks after the game, Vermeil was gone, off to coach the Philadelphia Eagles. This past week, former Bruin players and coaches gathered to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their upset of the Buckeyes. Also included is commentary from the superblog, Bruins Nation. (Comment on this)
Saturday, July 29th, 2006
5:07 pm	Northwestern Names Fitzgerald Coach Northwestern didn't look far to find a successor to the late (boy that's hard to write) Randy Walker as its football coach. It turned to Walker's' staff naming former Wildcat great Pat Fitzgerald, a two time national Defensive Player of the Year, while playing for the Cats. Fitz served as Coach Walker's linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator and was a five year member of the Wildcat staff. Named by SI.com as one of the nation's best recruiters, Fitzgerald has landed the job of his dreams even if he didn't care for how it came to him. Although Fitz is only 31, making him not only the youngest head coach in the Big Ten but in Division I, Northwestern Athletic Director Mark Murphy expressed no doubt that Fitzgerald is up to the task: "He has all the qualities that you look for in a head coach-he's bright, hard-working, a natural leader and a great communicator. Randy had tremendous respect for Pat. On a number of occasions, Randy told me that he would like Pat to replace him as head coach. Of course, neither of us thought it would be this soon." Fitzgerald is remembered as the anchor of the defense on the Norhwestern team that won back to back Big Ten titles in 1995 and 1996, going to the Rose Bowl and the Citrus Bowl in the process. Fitzgerald won back to back National Defensive Player of the Awards those seasons as well as linebacker of the year. This is a choice that, while certainly not without risk, is inspired and one that almost all alums and fans are very glad that Murphy and President Bienen made. The players are happy, the fans are happy and the alums are happy. Now Fitz just has to make it work and I feel certain that he will. Oh, he'll have his moments, especially this year. After all, he has an untested quarterback among other issues, but with time and recruiting he will be just fine. (Comment on this)
Thursday, July 27th, 2006
11:10 am	DevilsDigest.com Staff Predictions Scout.com Since it is quickly becoming the norm for anybody and everybody to give their conference predictions we decided to do something a little differently. Two sites from rival schools have decided to put out our own media type poll. DevilsDigest.com and WildcatInsider.com have each agreed to provide the predictions of four of the ‘major players’ from each site’s message boards. We will use the simple and widely used point system used by the Associated Press and everyone else who puts out polls. A first place prediction garners 10 points and on down the line with a tenth place finish garnering 1 single point. The completely ridiculous DevilsDigest/WildcatInsider media poll will come out in three phases. Today we will unveil the predictions of the four Devils. Tomorrow will be the Wildcats and on Monday we will unveil the final tally between the two sites. DevilsDigest.com Publisher Hod Rabino, Moderators Stacy Price (KKDevil), Eric Menkhus (BigE) and legendary poster David Chappell (dabochaps) provide the Devils’ side of the story. Stacy Price 1—USC— Until someone knocks them off the top spot here, the Trojans remain leaders of the Pac-10. The defense, led by All-American DE Lawrence Jackson and LB Keith Rivers, should be good enough to keep the Trojans in games while a restructured offense will be looking to gel. The key to another BCS season will be at the quarterback spot and keeping turnovers to a minimum as there is enough talent at the surrounding skill positions to help buoy things during the transition. Tailback may be an issue if health concerns continue to mount. Southern Cal may benefit from a favorable schedule in '06. If they can get by early trap games on the road at Arizona and Washington State, they play most of their toughest games at home, including Cal and Notre Dame. 2—Cal—The Bears appear to have all the pieces in place for a BCS bowl if they can find some consistency at quarterback. That may be easier said than done considering last years debacle at the position but Cal is hoping to duplicate the success Oregon had a year ago in implementing the spread offense while rebuilding the offensive line. DeSean Jackson looks to become the next premier receiver in the league while Marshawn Lynch and Justin Forsett will lead the ground attack. Cal's defense, much like USC's, is anchored by the front seven--particularly by the linebackers. The only loss the Bears will be looking to fill is Donnie McCleskey at safety. The schedule is also favorable this year as USC appears to be the only conference roadblock. 3—ASU—The offense should continue to hum this season with 8 starters returning. The Sun Devils are hoping that an experienced offensive line can finally catapult a ground game that has been rather modest. Quarterbacks Sam Keller and Rudy Carpenter will have some familiar targets to throw to but it remains to be seen what kind of void the loss of Derek Hagan will leave in the passing attack. An improvement defensively would pay dividends for the Sun Devils. Three transfers will make their debut on the defensive line this season. If health issues can be kept at a minimum, there's a possibility of a decent rotation, finally, that must develop a better pass rush. Linebacker and cornerback are two positions affected most by graduation. Safety Zach Catanese will have to anchor a secondary in transition. Schedule-wise, ASU must split their road games in California if they want to compete for the Pac-10 title and/or BCS game. 4—Oregon—The Ducks must find better production at the quarterback spot this season now that Kellen Clemens is gone. Dennis Dixon is the starter heading into the fall but Brady Leaf will most likely be used at some point in games. Running back Jonathan Stewart will have his shot to break out of the shadow of Terrance Whitehead now. Cameron Colvin and James Finley will lead the receivers after the departure of Demetrius Williams. Oregon made great strides on the defensive side of the ball last season by leading the conference in total defense but lost their rock in the trenches, Haloti Ngata, and defensive end, Devan Long. If the retooled defensive line can shore up things, the Ducks have a decent secondary that is led by safety tandem J.D. Nelson and Patrick Chung. The schedule isn't as friendly to Oregon this season as trips to USC, Cal, and ASU are on tap as well as an early season visit from the Holiday Bowl victorious Oklahoma Sooners. 5—WAZZU—No more quarterback controversy as Josh Swogger packed his bags for Montana. Alex Brink, who got the majority of the snaps last season, is a year wiser in the system and has one of the top receivers in the league to throw to in Jason Hill. Jerome Harrison's defection at running back could spell trouble but DeMaundray Woolridge will get an opportunity along with two JC transfers. The loss of playmaker Will Derting at linebacker is not as troublesome as it sounds as the Cougars have two underrated linebackers on the outside in Scott Davis and Steve Dildine. Undoubtedly, the biggest hole on defense will be at cornerback. The Cougars play USC, Cal, and Oregon at home. 6—UCLA—Only three assistants return from Karl Dorrell's staff last season, which includes the departure of both coordinators. It will be tough for Ben Olson to duplicate the success of Drew Olson's career year in '05 without the help of TE Marcedes Lewis and RB Maurice Drew. Chris Markey will be handed the reigns of the ground game while Junior Taylor makes his return from injury at WR. The defense has been an Achilles heel for the Bruins but they are hoping a formidable front 4 can stay healthy, which would go a long way in shoring up a defense that ranked last in the conference in run defense last season. The bad news is that all three starters at linebacker last year have graduated. The Bruins have a brutal schedule with roadies at Oregon, Notre Dame, Cal, and ASU. 7—Arizona—The Wildcats may have their best shot at a bowl game in several years. Offense appears to be Quarterback Willie Tuitama is raw but the biggest playmaking threat at the position for the Cats since the days of Keith Smith and Ortege Jenkins. A very nice piece to build the offense around as he can throw to speedy receivers Syndric Steptoe and Mike Thomas. Three starters return on the offensive line that will be looking to open up some holes for an unproven ground game with the graduation of Mike Bell. The secondary anchors the defense, led by corners Wilrey Fontenot and Antoine Cason. Cason and Fontenot are arguably the best corner tandem in the league. Perhaps the biggest key to Arizona's season may be the first game at home against BYU. A winnable game that can springboard confidence. 8—OSU—Playmaking receiver Mike Hass is gone but TE Joe Newton returns from injury. Quarterback Matt Moore, who threw 19 interceptions last season, simply must make better decisions in '06 if the Beavers are going to challenge for a bowl game. Running back Yvenson Bernard ran for a quiet 1,300 yards last season and may eclipse that mark this season as all 5 starters return on the offensive line. The Beavers took most of their lumps on defense last year and the loss of Trent Bray and Keith Ellison at LB may spell trouble but the good news is that all 4 starters return in the secondary, which should lead to some sort of improvement. Sabby Piscitelli should be an All Pac-10 performer at safety. OSU has a favorable schedule with home games against Cal, WSU, USC, ASU, and Oregon. 9—Stanford—A dark horse that may very well finish higher if they can find some defense. The offense may be underrated with Trent Edwards back at quarterback and Mark Bradford returning as the team's top target at receiver. All five starters on the offensive line return with the only question mark at running back. The Cardinal took a big hit on defense last season with the graduation of Babatunde Oshinowo and Julian Jenkins. Senior LB Michael Okwo may very well shine this year but it may be in a futile attempt with many holes on that side of the ball. The Cardinal have an outside chance at surprising a rebuilding Oregon team the first game of the season. If a loss is incurred, Stanford still has some shots at taking down Oregon State, Arizona, Navy, and Washington State at home if the cards can fall their way. 10—Washington—How can it get any worse? The Huskies should be more competitive this season but it may not necessarily translate into more wins based on the schedule. This is the last year for quarterback Isaiah Stanback to shine but he may not have much to work with as only three other starters return from last season's lowest scoring offense in the Pac-10. Seven starters return on defense but the linebackers will be retooled with the losses of Evan Benjamin and Joe Lobendahn. The Huskies may have a decent secondary with the move of Dashon Goldson to cornerback from safety, joining C.J. Wallace. Home games against San Jose State and Stanford look to be the two biggest opportunities for wins. Oregon State also travels to Seattle. Eric Menkhus 1—USC-I can't pick against them until another team proves to me that they have the talent and mental make up to beat them. 2—(tie) Cal-Good defense and a Tedford offense is a very good mix. 2—(tie) ASU-Improvement in defense and running game wins games lost in the past. 4—Oregon-I can't figure them out this year, but have a hard time believing they'll be much lower than 5th. 5—(tie) Stanford-Senior QBs usually do well in the Pac. 5—(tie) Oregon State-Surprise in the Pac 10 this year. 7—(tie) Arizona-Improvement shown, but not enough running game to compliment Tui's promise. 7—(tie) WAZZU-Wild card that could be as good as 4th or lose a bunch of close ones. 7—(tie) UCLA=Lost a ton of talent, but could surprise and move up into bowl contention. 10—Washington-Will be improved, but still a year or two away from moving up the standings. David Chappell 1—(tie) USC-Clearly I believe that they will bounce back from losing such large parts to their offense. I have learned that talent does not win games (see Michigan and Tennessee 2005), but an absurd amount of talent and a top 3 coach in the nation will definitely win games. A down year for the Pac-10 in all around talent, and USC takes advantage of a great home schedule and a knack for winning. The team has a down game at WSU, and cannot complete their classic second half comeback and the Cougars pull one out late. Title game possibly, but BCS for sure. 1—(tie) Cal-Losing a projected starter at QB a month before fall practice hurts the team early on in the season with a road game at SEC opponent Tennessee. Levy gains his starting spot back after his suspension is over for the Vols game. Unfortunately, Carroll will still show that he has a clear edge in talent and skill over Tedford when they visit Los Angeles for arguably the Pac-10 game of the year. BCS game possibly with such a high start in preseason rankings, but a loss at Tennessee and the Pac-10 stinking up the Holiday Bowl the last two years could leave a bad taste in the mouths of voters. 3—ASU-ASU will be able to sweep through OOC conference games with a far superior offense and (hopefully) capable defense. I feel that OSU, UA, and UCLA will come down to the fourth quarter, but the Devils will pull them out with superior leadership and skill from the QB position. The California streak continues with a close call at Cal, and a game over by the 4th quarter against USC. I feel that Cal and USC’s defense is good enough to keep pace with their offensive production, and if the Devils can’t find some ounce of stopping power on Defense then the offense will eventually hit a down point in the games. 4—Oregon-Coming off a solid season last year, the Ducks are in prime position to once again make it to a decent bowl game. They have a very unfavorable schedule this year in the Pac-10, and I think the Rose Bowl is an impossible goal with 3 away games at their prime competition in the conference. Duck fans might hope for going at least 1-2 in those stretches of games at USC, Cal, and ASU, but I don’t think this Oregon team has the talent to go into road stadiums and pull out victories against top talent. I see Cal and ASU improving, and USC staying about the same level, so unless Oregon finds a way to improve upon last season they will have to aim for 3rd or fourth in the Pac-10 this season. 5—WAZZU-Preseason rankings have the WSU defensive line as a top 20 unit in the country, and I feel that the rest of their defense is suitable enough to slow down some offensives around the Pac-10. WSU will have the most dangerous WR core in the conference. Also remember that WSU lost 5 games by 4 points or less. Yes it is still a loss, but it is easy to see that with some improvements around the team they could have turned around those games into wins. They get Cal, UO, and USC at home and I feel that they will win one of those games if not two if they come and play. Tough opening start at Auburn, but if they somehow manage to pull off that game then watch out for this team because they could gain some momentum and be the surprise of the Pac-10. QB Brink needs to improve, and a replacement for Harrison will not be easy, but I think improvement around the team will help push them into a much needed bowl game. 6—Arizona-BYU returns 23 starters, with a formidable offense, and their weakness is defense especially on the line. I think the lack of a dominating running attack for the Wildcats keeps the Cougars in the game and they pull it out. Defensive battle keeps it close in the first half in Baton Rouge, but LSU pulls away with superior athletes and home crowd. USC takes care of business in Tucson remembering the UCLA debacle the year before. Cal (although late in the game) pulls off the win, and UO wins at their own house. Loss at WSU late in season hurts the wildcats attempt at bowl eligibility, and ASU rides their senior QB and a late season improved defensive front 7 to a victory late in the game. If their running game can really provide a viable offensive option to go with Tuitama, then this team might be able to win some games. However, any injuries to Tuitama, or their skill positions, will leave this team struggling to put points up on the board. I don’t care how much Stoops might like to think the opposite, but you HAVE TO be able to score consistently in the Pac-10 to win games consistently. 7—UCLA-Clearly I do not believe they can bounce back from losing such large parts of their offense. UCLA’s defense was never the strong point to their team last year, and breaking in a new QB and finding a replacement for Drew and Lewis will be too much to overcome for Dorrell. 8—Stanford-Expectations for the Cardinals will be higher next season with 5 wins, a solid returning QB, and a new stadium. However, the schedule is not favorable for a repeat of last year’s success. They lose two home games which could possibly go either way, but superior talent at WSU and UA notches a loss for those. No “upsets” this year for the Cardinals. 9—Oregon State-With their pathetic OOC schedule it is hard for them to not at least win 3 of those games. A close win at Boise State will start them off 3-0, and the nosedive begins shortly afterward. A senior QB and a top RB means nothing without the talent to surround them. However, that senior QB and a top RB should get them to a bowl game this season. 2nd in the Pac-10 in penalties last year will continue this year, as this team has not shown me the ability to not commit costly penalties for a few seasons now. If Moore doesn’t further develop his game, and the ability to not throw interceptions, then this team will go down the wrong path very fast. Giving up 50 points three times in a year is never a good thing, if their defense can keep the score 25 or below they should have a chance to win. 10—Washington-Nothing about this team excites me. Question marks all over the field. When your Points for versus your points against is 100 (237-337) then you know you have problems. I cannot look at one point of this team and say there will be a clear improvement, and their record will show it. If Willingham is the savior of this proud program of the Northwest, then he will muster his troops to a least 3 wins, but I think this team and their coach will not have enough to make it even that far. Hod Rabino 1—USC-May have lost a lot, but can't count the champs out quite yet. 2—ASU-An improved defense will get the Devils over the hump. 3—Cal-Questions at QB will probably prevent them from being the favorites. 4—Stanford-Senior QB's usually translate into success in the Pac-10. 5—Oregon-A tough schedule will yield mediocre record. 6—UCLA-Will struggle on both sides of the ball. 7—Arizona-Suspect running game and front seven will show only a modest improvement over the 2005 record. 8—Oregon State-Another questionable front seven that can negate a good offense. 9—WAZZU-While they get the heavyweights at home, they still will struggle in 2006. 10—Washington-An already anemic offense is replacing seven starters. Tomorrow the WildcatInsider.com predictions will be unveiled and those will be done by Editor-In-Chief Brad Allis, Football Editor Chris Bonney, Moderator Bard Doster (Bard1) and super poster Justin Wollman (JusGusAZ). (Comment on this)