ASU picked second in Pac-10

[FArting]

The Arizona State football team, about to embark on its second fall camp under head coach Dennis Erickson, was picked second in the 2008 Pac-10 preseason media poll, released this morning.
The Sun Devils were picked behind USC. The Trojans will be seeking their sixth straight conference title (they were co-champs with ASU last season).
USC garnered 389 points - and 38 of 39 first place votes - while ASU collected 330 points. Oregon is third, Cal - the only other team to receive a first-place vote - is listed fourth. UCLA, under first-year head coach Rick Neuheisel, is fifth.
Oregon State is sixth, followed by Arizona, Washington, Stanford and Washington State.
ASU's second-place prediction is the highest the Sun Devils have been selected in the preseason poll since 2003, when they were tabbed second.
Arizona is picked 7th for the second consecutive season.
Since 1961, the Wildcats have been the No. 1 preseason choice three different times (1983, 1994, 1999); ASU has never been selected the preseason No. 1 team in the Pac-10 media poll.
ASU opens its season Aug. 30 against NAU in Tempe, while Arizona opens with Idaho in Tucson.

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/asu/articles/2008/07/24/20080724pac10poll.html

 

[Mulli]

Since 1961, the Wildcats have been the No. 1 preseason choice three different times (1983, 1994, 1999); ASU has never been selected the preseason No. 1 team in the Pac-10 media poll.

Did the author of that go to UofA or something?

 

[Kel Varnsen]

Did the author of that go to UofA or something?

No kidding...what did that information have to do with anything? LOL.

 

[HooverDam]

That seems like a realistic prediction. My optimistic but still realistic hope is for a 10-2 season, with the only losses being to USC and UGA. Then I hope for SC to either go undefeated and be in the National Title game, so ASU can be in the Rose Bowl, or for SC to somehow fall apart and lose 2 conference games after ASU plays them (ASU beating them would obviously be better, I just don't see it happening).

 

[Skkorpion]

That seems like a realistic prediction. My optimistic but still realistic hope is for a 10-2 season, with the only losses being to USC and UGA. Then I hope for SC to either go undefeated and be in the National Title game, so ASU can be in the Rose Bowl, or for SC to somehow fall apart and lose 2 conference games after ASU plays them (ASU beating them would obviously be better, I just don't see it happening).

UGA seems to be self-destructing this summer and I don't think as highly of them as many, so the game is winnable.

In general, I share your positive outlook but my gut still says we'll lose at least one game to some team who will be much better than we recognize right now. A 3 loss season would still make me happy.

We are a year away, I think, from being a serious Rose Bowl contender.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

That seems like a realistic prediction. My optimistic but still realistic hope is for a 10-2 season, with the only losses being to USC and UGA. Then I hope for SC to either go undefeated and be in the National Title game, so ASU can be in the Rose Bowl, or for SC to somehow fall apart and lose 2 conference games after ASU plays them (ASU beating them would obviously be better, I just don't see it happening).

Seems like a good plan...I'd love for us to beat USC or Georgia and still have a hope with Erickson on board, but if we take care of business against everyone else I will be satisfied. Go Devils.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

The most newsworthy item about this is a sportswriter actually picked a 7-6 Cal team that lost almost half it's starters to finish ahead of USC.

I also think ASU beats Georgia, but loses three or four in the Pac.

 

[HooverDam]

We are a year away, I think, from being a serious Rose Bowl contender.

I think Quarterback play is so important in the Pac 10, I think with Rudy gone next year, it may be tough for the Devils to take a step forward. Erickson doesn't have the ball rolling to the level that Carroll does at SC where they seemingly just plug in players and have success. Will Sullivan be able to step right in without having a year of starting and be able to succeed?

I also think ASU beats Georgia, but loses three or four in the Pac.

Out of curiosity, which 3 or 4 do you think those will be? Oregon has probably taken a step back w/ out Dixon. Cal and Oregon State seem beatable, the Washington schools don't seem to be able to beat ASU on paper, UCLA maybe will get into a Las Vegas bowl type of game, the UA game is always a toss up, but ASU certainly has more talent.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Out of curiosity, which 3 or 4 do you think those will be? Oregon has probably taken a step back w/ out Dixon. Cal and Oregon State seem beatable, the Washington schools don't seem to be able to beat ASU on paper, UCLA maybe will get into a Las Vegas bowl type of game, the UA game is always a toss up, but ASU certainly has more talent.

1. USC because it's obviously USC.
2. Oregon State plays well down the stretch and the southern Pac-10 schools generally struggle in the Northwest in late October/November.
3. One other random game probably on the road somewhere. Maybe UW if Ty keeps it together that long. Most likely not UA as I foresee the Cats packing it in mid-October. UCLA could be a wild card with Chow and Slick Rick running things.

 

[spikecop02]

Dont Sleep on the Ducks, they return there whole oline, and there deffense is back stronger than ever, for the first time in a long time the d is going to be the strenght of the ducks. but for the ducks it all depends if Costa can fill some of the void dixon left of not it will be a long fall for the ducks.

 

[Bufalay]

Are they planning on beginning every game with a big deficit again this year?

 

[ASUCHRIS]

I also think ASU beats Georgia, but loses three or four in the Pac.

You clearly don't give Erickson much credit. Perhaps we can wager on this one, I can't possibly believe that you seriously think we can lose four games in the Pac. Other than USC and ASU, I think everyone else is down.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

You clearly don't give Erickson much credit. Perhaps we can wager on this one, I can't possibly believe that you seriously think we can lose four games in the Pac. Other than USC and ASU, I think everyone else is down.

I give Erickson plenty of credit, he's clearly the second best coach in the Pac-10 and I wanted Arizona to hire him years ago. I think ASU loses three Pac games, which is pretty fair considering that's only one more than they lost last year with a very favorable schedule. I also don't think the Pac-10 is as down as you make it out to be considering the conference wasn't all that good a year ago. USC lost a bunch but they'll be fine. Other than them you could argue Oregon's O and Antoine Cason but after that not much is gone that can't be replaced.

I'l bet, no problem. The +/- at three, I'll take the over but I'm guessing neither of us win.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

I give Erickson plenty of credit, he's clearly the second best coach in the Pac-10 and I wanted Arizona to hire him years ago. I think ASU loses three Pac games, which is pretty fair considering that's only one more than they lost last year with a very favorable schedule. I also don't think the Pac-10 is as down as you make it out to be considering the conference wasn't all that good a year ago. USC lost a bunch but they'll be fine. Other than them you could argue Oregon's O and Antoine Cason but after that not much is gone that can't be replaced.

I'l bet, no problem. The +/- at three, I'll take the over but I'm guessing neither of us win.

Fair enough...my point with Erickson is he is the kind of coach that won't allow letdowns against inferior competition...which is why I think outside of USC on the road, we should be favored in the rest of our Pac-10 schedule...including Oregon at home.

Yes, the conference wasn't that good a year ago, but you can't really point at any other team outside of USC, ASU and Oregon that really sticks out to you. I am definitely scared of Neuheisel at UCLA, but his impact will be felt more down the road, probably not this year. I'll take the line at 3, beer at a Cards game at the end of the year?

 

[Skkorpion]

Dont Sleep on the Ducks, they return there whole oline, and there deffense is back stronger than ever, for the first time in a long time the d is going to be the strenght of the ducks. but for the ducks it all depends if Costa can fill some of the void dixon left of not it will be a long fall for the ducks.

Agree. Usually, when least expected, the Ducks quack all over a few highly ranked teams.

 

[Skkorpion]

Some good ASU stuff from TSN

Pac-10 pretenders resume stalking of Southern Cal
E-MAIL PRINT COMMENTS 35 WATCH THIS TOPIC
Posted: July 24, 2008
Sporting News is covering all the major conferences' media days, reporting the key storylines as teams report to camp. Today, we continue with the Pac-10. Check back daily for updates, and get your free Sporting News Today subscription for even more coverage.

LOS ANGELES -- Big news, people.


Southern Cal is really stinkin' good.

Who knows? Maybe even good enough to win the Pac-10 for the hundredth year in a row.

A four-hour gathering on Thursday of coaches, top players and media who cover the league revolved around an all-too-predictable theme: The Trojans rule.

Not that they haven't earned it. Of course they've earned it. All those conference titles (OK, it's only six straight), the run of six consecutive BCS games. Southern Cal is -- undeniably -- the nation's No. 1 superpower.

SN media days coverage
Where we've been, what we've seen, where we're going
"They're that elephant in the living room," said first-year UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel, who lives in closer quarters with that elephant than anybody. "You can't be the head football coach at UCLA and not find a way to compete successfully with USC.

"But the good news is when we catch them, and I say when ..."

Whoa, Nelly. So there it is: The Pac-10's other storyline of the preseason. The one that is only half about Southern Cal.

Out west, or certainly in Los Angeles, anyway, this preseason and ones to follow will be about the Bruins' efforts, led by a coach who can stand nose-to-nose with Pete Carroll in terms of personality, to climb the same mountain USC scaled long ago.

And, of course, stay there.

"I told Pete," Neuheisel said, "that I hope one day we're not just playing for first place in Los Angeles, we're playing for first place in the country."

Anybody else home?

The UCLA-USC supremacy battle, assuming it ever materializes, might even tantalize the East Coast-biased masses that Oregon coach Mike Bellotti referred to -- yet again -- on Thursday.

To be sure, there is an L.A. bias in Pac-10 country. But the funny thing about that is the Bruins aren't any closer to catching Southern Cal than Oregon, Arizona State and maybe even a couple of others are.

The Trojans are by far the biggest favorite in any of the BCS leagues, but fall camps are right around the corner so it must be asked: Who, aside from the Trojans, has the best chance to win the Pac-10?

"We have a chance," Arizona State quarterback Rudy Carpenter said. "The best chance."

And there's what just might wind up being the biggest Pac-10 story, after all things Trojans, this season. The Sun Devils, winners of 10 games in 2007, have crept a long way up that mountain.

Neuheisel comes naturally by some of the same rock-star qualities that Carroll has, but ask yourself this: What has Neuheisel done in his coaching career that Dennis Erickson hasn't outdone?

You could take that a few different ways, but we're talking about the good stuff. Namely, we're talking about winning big.

Erickson, no rock star, believes his Arizona State program can meet Southern Cal on its high ground faster than the rest.

"Without question. There's no question in my mind," he said. "That's what we're going to do. USC, what they are right now, that doesn't mean others, and not just the Sun Devils, aren't going to get there. Oregon beat them last year. Stanford beat them last year."

No one on the Sun Devils has beaten the Trojans yet. But that's what they're gunning for. That's the kind of noise that would echo around L.A. awhile.

"We definitely have that itch," Carpenter said.

"Besides, I'm kind of tired of hearing about them."

Steve Greenberg is a staff writer for Sporting News. Email him at [email protected].

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[Treesquid PhD]

The realist in me sees that ASU has a tough stretch starting with Georgia and they hardly play at home in the middle of that schedule.

Georgia, Cal, USC and Oregon are going to the tough games with USC being almost unwinable. I am not quite as worried about Oregon State as they bring back almost no one on defense. UCLA is over hyped... Try back in two years, Washington will have an interim coach by the time ASU plays them and Washington State is practically a lower tier Wac team right now.

Arizona is kind of a wildcard this year, 1) It's a rivalry game 2) it's on the road 3) With the Mike Stoops philosophy of weak OOC schedules = program building baked into thier schedule, there is no reason Arizona shouldn't have at least 6 wins coming into that game, the media in Tucson will be hyped as usual, it will be a big game.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Arizona is kind of a wildcard this year

No, they're going to be pretty bad. I could see the 'Cats losing at New Mexico and UCLA to start the season 2-2 and beginning the much-needed purge of the athletic department as a whole.

I think too many people are sleeping on UCLA. Dorrell recruited decently during his tenure there but obviously couldn't motivate his way out of a paper sack. Slick Rick had a quick turnaround of UW not too long ago before he not surprisingly got himself into trouble.

 

[Treesquid PhD]

No, they're going to be pretty bad. I could see the 'Cats losing at New Mexico and UCLA to start the season 2-2 and beginning the much-needed purge of the athletic department as a whole.

I think too many people are sleeping on UCLA. Dorrell recruited decently during his tenure there but obviously couldn't motivate his way out of a paper sack. Slick Rick had a quick turnaround of UW not too long ago before he not surprisingly got himself into trouble.

Maybe.. UCLA has a bitch of an OOC schedule. I could easily see them starting off 0-2 going into the AZ game. I also don't like Olson as a QB too brittle for my liking, their RB is brittle too. They lost a lot on defense and will be killed by decent passing teams.

I think seven wins would be good for them in 2008.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Yeah, Ben Olson does make Willie Tuitama look like Brett Favre as far as durability goes. We'll see, they just have such a coaching staff with so much pedigree that I have a hard time seeing them do so poorly. Of course maybe we'll find out that the talent Dorrell brought in wasn't so good afterall. Or there's always a chance with guys like Neuhesiel that he could be such a disaster that the Bruin Faithful look back in a few years and long for the days of Dorrell and the Las Vegas Bowl.

 

[Gaddabout]

You clearly don't give Erickson much credit. Perhaps we can wager on this one, I can't possibly believe that you seriously think we can lose four games in the Pac. Other than USC and ASU, I think everyone else is down.

I'm an ASU fan and I think four conference losses is a possibility. The offensive line was a turnstile last year and they return two starters from that line. You almost wonder if they should start from scratch, but the guards, at least, provide reliable run blocking. Any promising predictions about the offensive line is pie-in-the-sky thinking. When you're breathing a sigh of relief that your offensive tackles graduated, you can't really criticize anyone in conference who thinks they can beat you.

 

[Skkorpion]

I'm an ASU fan and I think four conference losses is a possibility. The offensive line was a turnstile last year and they return two starters from that line. You almost wonder if they should start from scratch, but the guards, at least, provide reliable run blocking. Any promising predictions about the offensive line is pie-in-the-sky thinking. When you're breathing a sigh of relief that your offensive tackles graduated, you can't really criticize anyone in conference who thinks they can beat you.

Concur about the oline weakness but four in-conference losses? I think we are better than that.

Interesting article in the Repugnant this morning quoting Erickson as recognizing and anticipating further on-going oline protection problems this year. To combat this, Dennis is putting in a 4 WR spread package to give Rudy a chance to dump the ball fast, before the rush can get to him.

Dennis says he's run every kind of offense during his career and will go with whatever works best to win. That's good to hear.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Beat me to it Skkorp...it's hard to imagine it possible that they give up as many sacks as they did last year, and it seems that there are some changes in place to help Rudy get rid of the ball faster.

 

[SpokaneCardfan]

This may be a little of topic but is this years recruiting class Ericksons first with ASU or did he have one last year?

 

[Treesquid PhD]

I'm an ASU fan and I think four conference losses is a possibility. The offensive line was a turnstile last year and they return two starters from that line. You almost wonder if they should start from scratch, but the guards, at least, provide reliable run blocking. Any promising predictions about the offensive line is pie-in-the-sky thinking. When you're breathing a sigh of relief that your offensive tackles graduated, you can't really criticize anyone in conference who thinks they can beat you.

I am hearing it's going to be worse than that. News to come.