Cougars Are Apple of Critics’ Eye

Hell has not frozen over and pigs have yet to take flight.

To the contrary, Coach Mike Price figures everything is in order, now that his Washington State football team is expected to win the Pacific 10 championship, the first time that has happened since 1961, when the conference’s preseason poll began.

“You’ve finally got it right,” Price said. “It took 41 years to pick us the favorite.”

The Cougars occupied a more familiar position last fall, predicted to finish last, but wound up playing the role of Cinderella. Their startling 10-2 record included upsets of Stanford and UCLA in the regular season and a 33-27 victory over Purdue in the Sun Bowl.

Quarterback Jason Gesser sparked the turnaround, leading the conference with 258 yards a game in total offense and 25 touchdown passes. Not only does he return as a confident senior, he gets his entire offensive line back.

The program’s renewed standing should not be a surprise in at least one respect: Pacific Northwest schools have dominated the conference in recent seasons. Washington, which earned a trip to the Rose Bowl after the 2000 season, should finish near the top again. Last season’s champion, Oregon, is picked close behind.

Traditional powers USC and UCLA are projected to finish in the middle of the pack.

“It’s all over college football ... it’s parity,” UCLA Coach Bob Toledo said. “It’s a very competitive conference.”

Washington State

Coach: Mike Price, 14th year.

2001 record: 10-2, 6-2 in conference.

Case for: For all the talk about Gesser and the offense, the guys on the other side of the ball were an even bigger surprise last season, producing a league-best 35 turnovers--22 of them interceptions--and 36 sacks. “I think the biggest rise in Washington State’s fortunes has been defense,” Arizona State Coach Dirk Koetter said. Marcus Trufant returns at one corner and the line is deep. The toughest conference games are at home.

Case against: An early schedule that includes Nevada, Idaho and Montana State won’t impress the BCS. The Cougars must replace safeties Billy Newman and Lamont Thompson, and their best returning receiver, Mike Bush, was suffering from a stress fracture.

If all goes right: Washington State defeats Ohio State on Sept. 14 and makes the pollsters forget about an otherwise soft nonconference schedule. In this unusually long season, the Cougars must have enough left for the last three games against Oregon, Washington and UCLA.

Washington

Coach: Rick Neuheisel, fourth year.

2001 record: 8-4, 6-2.

Case for: Cody Pickett returns at quarterback, as does receiver Reggie Williams, a Randy Moss type who burned the league as a freshman last season. The tailback duo of Rich Alexis and Braxton Cleman should make up for the loss of Willie Hurst. The Huskies have finished either first or second in the conference since Neuheisel came from Colorado three years ago.

Case against: The defense fell apart late last season, surrendering points by the dozens in losses to Oregon State, Miami and Texas in the Holiday Bowl. Even worse, All-American tackle Larry Tripplett is gone. Linebacker Ben Mahdavi, the team’s leading tackler, is one of only four players who started every game on defense last season.

If all goes right: Washington proves it can win on the road in a tough opener at Michigan today. The Huskies won’t get another real test until Oct. 19, when they visit the Coliseum to face USC. The last two games are at Oregon and Washington State.

Oregon

Coach: Mike Bellotti, eighth year.

2001 record: 11-1, 7-1.

Case for: The Ducks have all the swagger of a nationally recognized program with another promotional banner hanging in Times Square and tailback Onterrio Smith, a preseason All-American, predicting a 2,000-yard season. Keenan Howry could be the best receiver in the conference. Kevin Mitchell and David Moretti anchor a solid linebacking corps.

Case against: For all the returning talent, Oregon must fill a few gaping holes, starting at quarterback, where Joey Harrington must be replaced. Jason Fife, the heir apparent, is stronger and faster than his predecessor but has scant experience. Cornerbacks Rashad Bauman and Steve Smith are gone too.

If all goes right: Onterrio Smith carries the offense behind a revamped line and the defensive front seven puts enough heat on the quarterback to ease the pressure on the new cornerbacks. Fife will have to be steady if he wants to prove to his teammates that, as Bellotti put it, “there’s life after Joey.”

USC

Coach: Pete Carroll, second year.

2001 record: 6-6, 5-3.

Case for: With a well stocked backfield--Justin Fargas, Sultan McCullough and Malaefou MacKenzie--the Trojans insist they are returning to a run-first mentality. That would take pressure off quarterback Carson Palmer, still looking to fulfill expectations that accompanied his arrival at USC four years ago. All-American safety Troy Polamalu and phenom lineman Shaun Cody are back.

Case against: The aforementioned tailbacks are already battling minor injuries and cornerback Kevin Arbet is out for the season, leaving the Trojans vulnerable at their thinnest position. The offensive line has yet to prove itself and the first three games--Auburn at home, then Colorado and Kansas State on the road--could be killers.

If all goes well: The Trojans get help from their touted freshman class, especially in the secondary and on the offensive line. They survive the first three games and begin conference play with confidence in themselves and their second-year coaching staff.

UCLA

Coach: Bob Toledo, seventh year.

2001 record: 7-4, 4-4.

Case for: Four starters return on the offensive line and the running game should be in good hands with a combination of Akil Harris and Manuel White. Matt Ware, who excelled as a freshman last season, could be even better as he switches to his natural position at free safety.

Case against: Cory Paus remains a question mark at quarterback and the defense must replace Robert Thomas, Kenyon Coleman and Marques Anderson. Just as pressing, cornerback Ricky Manning Jr.’s recent arrest evokes memories of last season’s distractions.

If all goes well: The Bruins steer clear of trouble and key veterans--Paus in particular--bounce back from their late-season collapse in 2001. They should get help from returning kicker Chris Griffith and all-conference punter Nate Fikse.

Oregon State

Coach: Dennis Erickson, fourth year.

2001 record: 5-6, 3-5.

Case for: Erickson is too good a coach to let his team crumble twice in succession, or so goes the argument. With veteran cornerbacks Dennis Weathersby and Terrell Roberts in single coverage, his talented defense can blitz more often. Tailback Steven Jackson averaged 5.3 yards a carry as a backup last season, so the loss of Ken Simonton might not hurt too deeply.

Case against: Sophomore Derek Anderson takes over at quarterback with little experience and will need help from a receiving crew that came up short last season. Kicker Ryan Cesca was all-conference two seasons ago but has struggled since.

If all goes right: Oregon State opened with a 49-10 victory over Eastern Kentucky and Anderson gets more time to mature against the likes of Temple and Nevada Las Vegas. Plus, the Beavers get their archrival, Oregon, at home in the rainy, hostile environs of Reser Stadium.

Stanford

Coach: Buddy Teevens, first year.

2001 record: 9-3, 6-2.

Case for: Seven starters return on offense, and that doesn’t include talented quarterback Chris Lewis, who showed his ability to run and pass as a backup last season. He will be on suspension for the Cardinal’s season opener at Boston College on Sept. 7, but Lewis’ style should mesh with that of new Coach Teevens, who oversaw the “fun-and-gun” as offensive coordinator at Florida.

Case against: Offense notwithstanding, the Cardinal has fewer returning starters than any other team in the conference. The defense must be restocked, kicker Mike Biselli is gone and the Cardinal ranked last in net punting last season.

If all goes well: Teevens is successful in bringing the Florida offense to the West Coast and Lewis takes full advantage. It seems likely Stanford will need points, lots of them, to be successful with a young and inexperienced defense.

Arizona

Coach: John Mackovic, second year.

2001 record: 5-6, 2-6.

Case for: The offense-minded Mackovic has plenty to work with, including all-conference halfback Clarence Farmer and Jason Johnson, a capable quarterback who must find a way to cut down on last season’s interceptions.

Case against: The once-proud “Desert Swarm” defense surrendered 34 points a game in 2001 and, although Mackovic hasn’t abandoned the double-eagle flex, he is tinkering with odd-man lines and different coverages. Receiver Bobby Wade and two teammates were recently disciplined for run-ins with the police. Mackovic ordered them to help build a house for Habitat for Humanity.

If all goes well: Wade doesn’t hurt himself on the construction site, the young defensive line grows up and cornerback Michael Jolivette returns to the form that made him a freshman All-American in 2000. With consecutive games against Oregon, Washington, Stanford and Oregon State, the Wildcats will know where they stand by the end of October.

Arizona State

Coach: Dirk Koetter, second year.

2001 record: 4-7, 1-7.

Case for: Junior end Terrell Suggs and sophomore safety Jason Shivers anchor a defense expected to improve. Kicker Mike Barth and receiver Shaun McDonald, who led the conference in touchdown receptions in 2001, should help put points on the board.

Case against: The rest of the offense must recover from the loss of quarterback Jeff Krohn, tailback Delvon Flowers and receiver Donnie O’Neal. Freshman quarterback Chad Christensen and the other newcomers got a rude welcome in a season-opening loss to Nebraska.

If all goes well: After that bruising start, the schedule eases some with Eastern Washington, Central Florida and San Diego State. The defense needs to carry the burden for the Sun Devils.

California

Coach: Jeff Tedford, first year.

2001 record: 1-10, 0-8.

Case for: The Golden Bears have reasons for hope. The new coach, Tedford, showed his prowess as Oregon’s offensive coordinator and might coax a big season from senior quarterback Kyle Boller. Joe Igber, back from a broken collarbone, leads a trio of tailbacks.

Case against: Where to begin? Cal ranked at or near the bottom in almost every offensive and defensive category last season. Adding insult to injury, the NCAA has put the team on probation, thereby ending even the wildest dreams of a bowl bid.

If all goes well: Tedford has a shot at building a respectable offense around Boller. That gives Cal a shot at stealing a few victories.