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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 30, 2002)
Wild (times 10) West The Rac-10 has traditionally had the most parity of any conference in the country, and 2002 won’t change that Adam Jude Senior Sports Reporter Apparently, recruits don’t mind a little rain — or some nice facili ties that protect them from the dreary weather. With a host of lavish new facilities in the works (or already here), the Northwest schools have taken over the Pacific-10 Conference. Three Northwest teams — Washington, Washington State and Oregon — are ranked in the top 15 in the presea son polls and have their sights set on a party in Tempe at the Fiesta Bowl, the site of this season’s national championship. The fourth North west school, Oregon State, doesn’t seem far from returning to its 2001 glory and could be the biggest sleep er in the Pacific-10 Conference this season. Don’t think the California schools haven’t taken notice. USC enters the season ranked in the top 25 while Stanford and UCLA look to surprise the preseason prognosticators. Without taking up any more pre cious space, here are a humble re porter’s 2002 Pac-10 projections: 1. Washington State (2001 record: 10-2) (6-2 conference) The 25-foot poster of quarterback Jason Gesser in Dusty, Wash., (pop. 10) was a bit of a joke. But the Cougs showed they jj were serious about his Heis man campaign JURM . when they put TCTJm another banner along Interstate 5 in downtown Seattle earlier this week. Those signs may not add up to the 100-foot bill board of Joey Harrington last year, but the preseason pressure may be even greater on Gesser, the 2001 Pac-10 passing leader. In his 14th year in Pullman, head coach Mike Price is seeking his first back-to-back winning seasons and may tout the best defense he’s ever had. Even so, the Cougs’ offense, which averaged 35 points per game last year, re turns seven starters and may not need much defense to win the conference title. 2. Oregon (11-1) (7-1 conference) Eight home games in the newly expanded Autzen Stadium almost automatically put the Ducks in con tention for a O third straight conference title. After splitting time last year with Maurice Morris (now with the Seattle Seahawks), Onterrio Smith is poised for a superb season. Much of Smith’s success will depend on the team’s ability to find the offensive balance that made the Ducks so successful in 2001. With a strong receiving corps led by senior Keenan Howry, Jason Fife may not have to be perfect to be effective. On defense, the Ducks are deep. Head coach Mike Bellotti says the defensive line may be the best in school history; the Ducks have to make up for the loss of both starting comers from last year. 3. Washington (8-4) (6-2 conference) Husky head coach Rick Neuheisel wants to make UW the “Florida State of the West” and a consistent nation Adam Amato Emerald Oregon State linebackers Jonathan Pollard (40), Nick Barnett (42) and Noah Happe (91) anchor a Beaver defense that could lead OSU back to the top of the Pac-10. al-title contender. If the Huskies are going to do that this year, they’ll have to show they can play de fense. Washing ton allowed more points last year than it scored and allowed more than 160 yards per game on the ground. Lighting up the score board will not be a problem for the Dawgs. Quarterback Cody Pickett has some experience now and an NFL-caliber player in receiver Reg gie Williams, who set rookie records at UW last year. In all, a Pac-10 title is not out of reach. 4. Oregon State (5-6) (3-5 conference) With no national championship predictions in sight, the Beavers en ter the season somewhat under the radar. Although it did have some Quarterback Derek Anderson and tailback Steven Jackson gained valuable experience last year, and the OSU defense is al ways ready to punish. Defensive back Dennis Weathersby has All American talent, and linebacker Richard Seigler is just tough. After a long offseason, the Beavers may be busy again come January. 5. USC (6-6) (5-3 conference) Former NFL coach Pete Carroll enters his second year with the Tro jans, who desperately need to regain their running tradition. Against Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl last year, USC rushed for one yard. Ouch. A trio of runners, led by the speedy yet-of ten-injured Sultan McCullough, could turn things around. Senior Carson Palmer has been inconsistent in his career (39 touchdowns, 39 intercep tions), but his experience combined with a strong defense, led by All American safety Troy Polamalu, could lead to a double-digit win total for USC this year. 6. Stanford (9-3) (6-2 conference) With former head coach Tyrone Willingham now at Notre Dame, Buddy Teevens — Steve Spurrier’s top offensive assis tant at Florida — should be down right offensive in Palo Alto. With Chris Lewis Vckj throwing to the durable Luke Powell and the mammoth Teyo Johnson, and solid tailback-by-committee corp, the Cardinal should score a bowl bid this year. 7. UCLA (7-4) (4-4 conference) Talk about collapses. The Bruins won their first six games last season, jumped into the national title pic ture and quickly fell into contro versy and out of any bowl game. Running back DeShaun Foster, at one point poised to be come the first Pac-10 Heisman Tro phy winner in 20 years, was sus pended late in the season for allegedly receiving benefits and talk ing to an agent. Head coach Bob Toledo signed a contract extension in the offseason but is still rumored to be in the hot seat. Add all that on to one of toughest schedules in the country this year, and UCLA has a recipe for a rough 2002 campaign. 8. Arizona State (4-7) (1-7 conference) If Nebraska’s 48-10 crushing of the Sun Devils last Saturday is any indi cation, ASU is going to have a long year. With a freshman and sopho more battling for the starting quar terback spot be hind an inexperi enced offensive line, Dirk Koetter should not expect much better than the five-game los ing streak that ended Arizona State’s season last year. But Koetter, in his second year at ASU, believes his team will get better as it matures with redshirt freshman quarterback Chad Christensen. Just don’t ex pect the Devils to go bowling any time soon. 9. Arizona (5-6) (2-6 conference) The Wildcats have been marred by three consecutive losing seasons after finishing 5-6 last year. Watch ing his team give up a school-record 34.3 points per game last year, second-year coach John Mackovic has fo cused his efforts on the defense. Just look at Ore gon’s 63-38 blowout in Tucson last October, the most points the Wildcats gave up since 1958. On the other side of the ball, Clarence Farmer led the Pac-10 Turn to Predictions, page 9 014542 Kuraya’s has caught on. Twice in a row, it has earned mention in NORTHWEST BEST PLACES.” Bob Welch The Register-Guard RURflYA'5 *-/&CLC £2CLLCLLn-E, TTTmo77T^TrTTTTTT9Tf 1410 Mohawk Blvd., Springfield • Mon-Sat 11-2:30, Mon-Thurs 5-9, Fri & Sat 5-10, Sun 4:30-9 • 746-2951 Welcome Back! Clothing Appliances Furniture Household items Mattresses free delivery in August/September You won’t find lower prices! 2065 W. 7th Ave., Eugene • 343-3341 346 Main 5t., Springfield • 747-2665 0 u\ 0 4-* I/I U) <u * Neighbors Bouron Street Lounge Offers Eugene's Widest Selection Of Draft BeerTo-Go! Call Today To Reserve Your Party In A Barrel Pumps, Cups,& Ice Available 1417 Villard, Just 2 Blocks East Of Campus—541.338.0334
