Pac 10 Things We Learned This Week

Tyrone Willingham has been fired and a much-needed change of direction at Washington caps a wild week 10 in the Pacific-10.

-Smoke on the water
Goodbye Ty. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.

That is the reaction in Husky land today, where even outgoing-coach Tyrone Willingham’s most ardent supporters had abandoned him during Washington’s abysmal 0-7 start this season.

It was Notre Dame that finally did him in, ironic considering the same issues that cost him the Irish resurfaced during his tenure in Seattle: lackluster recruiting and a detachment from the fan base.

With Monday’s announcement that Willingham is fired effective at the end of this season, it’s hard not to think about the bad luck that cost him a potential breakout campaign in 2006.

Washington nearly upset USC at the Coliseum and started out 4-2 but an injury to QB Isaiah Stanback derailed bowl hopes.

He was never able to capitalize on the near miss and it showed in subsequent recruiting classes. In-state standouts like safety Taylor Mays went elsewhere and the players Willingham did sign rarely panned out.

Star quarterback Jake Locker, a once-in-a-generation talent, was reduced to a one man gang getting little help from his teammates.

In retrospect, the UW administration should have made a change at the end of last season giving the new coach three years to build around Locker and set the foundation for the future.

-The name game
Pat Hill, Mike Leach and Gary Pinkel have already been touted as possible successors to Willingham. Lane Kiffin, Chris Petersen and Jim Mora will also receive consideration. But a big name shouldn’t be the only criteria Washington is looking for in its next coach.

They got a big name in Willingham and where did that get them?

Instead, energy and charisma should be the watchwords of university president Mark Emmert.

The energy to compete with USC on the recruiting trail.

The charisma to rebuild a fractured fan base and inspire frustrated players.

A little patience wouldn’t hurt either.

-Is Oregon good?
As that old standby the magic eight ball would say, “Ask again later.” The Ducks are 6-2, 4-1 in conference, but have nothing resembling a quality win.

Even their 54-20 stomping of Arizona State was more an indication of how far the Sun Devils have fallen than a referendum on Mike Bellotti’s club.

The three-headed rushing attack of Jeremiah Johnson, LeGarrette Blount and Jeremiah Masoli can be unstoppable once it gets rolling, but Masoli’s abilities as a passer remain suspect.

The defense has plenty of talent, but the breakdowns against Boise State and USC are hard to forget.

Heading toward a possible 10 win season, it’s hard to call Oregon a failure especially considering the revolving door at quarterback.

Still it feels like something is missing in Eugene.

-Dennis Erickson cannot salvage this season
Something is wrong in the desert and it feels like a divide between the Koetter era holdovers and Erickson’s youngsters.

Quarterback Rudy Carpenter doesn’t have what it takes to lead Arizona State to a bowl at this point, but neither does understudy Danny Sullivan given the state of the line supposed to protect them.

The defense has collapsed under the weight of an offense that seems to produce more turnovers and sacks than points in a given week.

2008 is a lost year for Erickson. The only challenge left is keeping this season from spilling over and corrupting the future.

-Cal should be better than this
My kingdom for a quarterback.

If only the Bears had the semblance of a consistent passing attack, they would be headed toward another de facto Pac-10 title game against USC.

Gigantic elbow wrap and all, Jahvid Best is a force of nature as the sophomore tailback had 115 yards and a touchdown against UCLA.

Corner Syd’Quan Thompson is the best player in the conference no one knows about and Michael Mohamed is an unsung playmaker in an already loaded linebacking corps.

Everything was in place for a breakthrough season, expect the man under center. Take away a successful flea flicker and sophomore Kevin Riley had exactly 100 yards passing.
Abysmal quarterback play has failed this veteran Cal team.

-UCLA doesn't have a quarterback better than Kevin Craft?

Really?

Seriously?

-Plenty of people will be thrilled if Oregon State wins out
Executives at ABC/ESPN will not be among them.

But seriously, USC has nothing to gain from blasting Ohio State again, this time in the Rose Bowl. The players are sick of Disneyland and Lawry’s Prime Rib. The national media is sick of seeing the Trojans whip another overrated Big Ten team.

Send them to play an SEC team in the Sugar Bowl. Give Oklahoma a chance to avenge its 55-19 Orange Bowl shellacking.

It’s better for USC. It’s great for Oregon State.

Everyone else in the Pac-10 will be soothed by revenue from two BCS checks.

-USC's defense is now complete
When freshman defensive tackle Jurell Casey clogged the middle on a fourth-and-inches quarterback sneak in the fourth quarter, the Trojans finally found the successor for big Sedrick Ellis.

-The offense, however, still has growing pains
Mark Sanchez has yet to find a balance between his gunslinger arm and instincts and those crucial moments when he needs to take what opponents are giving him.

Good news, Trojan fans, is that it might be enough of a reason for Sanchez to stick around for his senior season.

-Arizona just found out what it takes to be a champion
Cue up Al Pacino's speech from 'Any Given Sunday.'

Next time, just get that inch.