2011 Pac-12 Preview: Andrew Luck and LaMichael James, back for more
When I was a wee lad, I used to cherish staying up late to watch (a) movies I couldn't watch otherwise, likely on cable and (b) Pac-10 football. Why (b)? Because I was weird, for one -- and also because it seemed a more interesting game in some respects. In the Pac-10, at least in the late 1980s/early 1990s, it seemed like they threw a lot more than anywhere else in the country -- I swear to some deity that for about three straight years when I was in middle school, it seemed like whoever was QB'ing Arizona State was throwing for 4,500 yards by Week Eight. I couldn't run when I played football (fat and slow), but I had a solid arm, so I respected the throwers. This led me to a brief Warren Moon phase as well, but that's neither here nor there.
I lost track of the Pac-10 after a while -- you go to college, and when those games are on (10pm EST), you're out carousing. Then you get a job, and you're either out carousing or dead from the week. Then you get girlfriends, then you go through stages like my 2008 when I would start drinking for a 3:30 Big Ten game and be in no shape to even comprehend a Pac-10 game and, well, you know, things get away from you.
This year I'm going to try and be better about following the (now) Pac-12. You got the best QB in the country (Andrew Luck) out there, a guy that should almost assuredly be a member of the Carolina Panthers at this moment. You got the mighty mite RB, LaMichael James, and you have one-half of last year's national title game (the Oregon Ducks), who have a little recruiting scandal kinda hanging there, but otherwise should be primed for another run (QB Darron Thomas is also back), provided they get out of that game against LSU on the first weekend.
I'm going to write one or two lines on each squad right here, as a preview of sorts. If nothig else, take this way: eat dinner earlier on Saturdays this fall, so you can watch some of these knuckle-ups (and whatever you do, pace yourself).
Arizona: You got Nick Foles back, who looks like a dude that probably gets a ton of ass on that campus (and is a pretty solid QB, to boot). Juron Criner is back in the fold too. At some point, Mike Stoops has to win the Pac-12, right? This probably isn't the year, but this team -- at least on offense -- should be entertaining to watch.
Arizona State: Here's what's likely going to happen -- USC is going to win their division, ASU is going to come in second, and ASU is going to reach the Pac-12 title game because USC isn't allowed to play in such games (sanctions). Once you get to the dance, anything can happen. Brock Osweiler is pretty good, although it's remarkable Dennis Erickson is still hanging around the sidelines, isn't it?
Cal: You gotta assume that at some point, people will get off Jeff Tedford's jock, right? Can he be fired this year?
Colorado: They haven't won a road game since 2007. They are a semi-marquee name -- in the early 1990s, they were regularly contending for national titles -- and yet when they had a coach opening, they got some dude named Embree. I dunno what's going on here. I think anyone that roots for them can always lean on the ol' "We live in a really beautiful state" line, however.
Oregon: Offensively, they're a machine. Defensively, if a few guys step up -- and their CBs stop getting collared for speeding -- they can win most games and make another title run. It could all come crumbling down if reporters stay on their tail all year.
Oregon State: I really respect Mike Riley. He keeps coming through with the over-.500 seasons every year, despite years where you probably couldn't name a soul on his roster. Watching games in Corvallis (on TV) is cool. Fog is everywhere. That's how football was meant to be played (cue reference to the Green Bay Packers).
Stanford: No Jim Harbaugh and a lack of depth at WR is going to be a problem, but HOO BOY, Andrew Luck is a surgeon back there. Seriously, if you're a bad NFL team this season, just go in the tank. This dude could be Elway II for you in a few years.
UCLA: This has to be the year that Rick Neuheisel gets canned (the AD is apparently his boy from growing up). Kevin Prince has seriously been at UCLA since Lew Alcindor went there. How is he listed as a junior? I just hope he's not living in the dorms no more -- that's pedophilia.
USC: Here's a tree-falls-in-the-forest argument -- if they were to go 11-1, does it matter / does anyone care? Not really, because it can't affect any broader picture -- and really, all it would do is give people more gasoline for the ol' Lane Kiffin hate fire, which I've built a few of in my living room. Wait, I've built fires in my living room over a school I have no connection to whatsoever? Yep. I'm the wild card.
Utah: New addition alert! If Jordan Wynn is healthy, they'll probably be pretty good -- but the interesting thing to watch here is the whole notion of them stepping up. Utah has been in the top five a handful of times the last couple of years; now with a schedule that includes more of these guys and less of the Colorado States of the world, what happens? I think Kyle Whittingham runs a program like no other and deserves a big ass job soon. UGA? Probably not, but something.
Washington: Bye bye, Jake Locker (you should have left a year before you did) and hello, most-fun-part-of-watching-Washington-games, notably the amazing Samoan names of the D-Line. This team was average last year, and while Steve Sarkisian is adding dudes, he's basically a slow-moving version of Jimbo Fisher (who has added dudes to the tune of a No. 3 ranking) and they're probably a 6-6, 7-5 squad.
Washington State: This is almost comical at this point. They barely ever win. Still, there are cool things: four starters back on the O-line, and Jeff Tuel is the best QB you ain't never heard of. They have depth at WR. 4-8 would be an amazing year for them, but they might have the talent to do it. Also cool: on every College Gameday, that one dude has the Cougar flag. As consistent as anything in life will ever get right there, friends.
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