In the delicate and historically biased leanings of college football's scale, the Pac-10 conference is now just tilting in a favorable direction. Last season, seven teams enjoyed bowl berths and the cindarella USC Trojans nearly gained a spot in the national championship game.
Can the performance level of 2003 possibly top the efforts of a year ago? The most telling factor is parity. The conference was so balanced in 2002 that there were no "guaranteed" wins. Usual patsies California and Washington State enjoyed monster seasons, while programs enduring rebuilding campaigns created tough match-ups. Parity will be the crucial buzz word used in excess during the upcoming regular season.
Predicted Order of Finish
1. USC- New quarterback, same old talent, experience and relentless defense... 11-1
2. Washington- Ragged offseason, but under Pickett this team will grind out wins... 9-3
3. Washington State- Throwback Bill Doba brings toughness to the Palouse and likes the run... 9-3
4. Arizona State- Who can replace Terrell Suggs? This team faces more important issues like winning... 8-4
5. Oregon State- A young and talented team who will lose a few games by shooting their own foot... 7-5
6. UCLA- Tyler Ebell and Craig Bragg, great. Quarterbacks, bad. Another seesaw season in Westwood... 7-5
7. Oregon- Where is the defense and team leader? See UW circa 1998... 6-6
8. California- Tedford and group a year away from bowling... 4-9
9. Stanford- An 11 game schedule may ease some of the pain... 4-7
10. Arizona- Star WR Andrae Thurman the latest defector. Mackovic needs to go... 2-10
All Conference Team
Offense
WR Reggie Williams, JR, UW
WR James Newson, SR, OSU
RB Stephen Jackson, JR, OSU
RB Tyler Ebell, JR, UCLA
QB Cody Pickett, SR, UW
OL Calvin Armstrong, JR, WSU
OL Dan Weaver, SR, Oregon
OL Jacob Rogers, SR, USC
OL Eyoseph Efseaff, JR, UCLA
OL Drew Hogdon, JR, ASU
TE Alex Holmes, SR, USC
Defense
DL Dave Ball, SR, UCLA
DL Kenechi Udeze, JR, USC
DL Dwan Edwards, SR, OSU
DL Issac Brown, SR, WSU
LB Richard Siegler, SR, OSU
LB Matt Grootegoed, JR, USC
LB Kevin Mitchell, SR, Oregon
LB Marquis Cooper, SR, UW
DB Jason David, JR, WSU
DB Michael Jolivette, SR, Arizona
DB Matt Ware, JR, UCLA
DB Jason Shivers, SR, ASU
PK Jarad Siegel, JR, Oregon
P Tim Parker, SR, ASU
