USC, Cal top Pac-10 poll

Jake Curtis, Chronicle Staff Writer
Wednesday, August 3, 2005
Los Angeles -- Preseason predictions often are based on reputation as much as statistical information, so it says something that Cal was picked to finish second in the Pac-10 in the media poll released Tuesday.
It came as no surprise that USC, which returns Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Matt Leinart from last year's national championship team, was the media's choice to win the conference again. The Trojans, who are going after their third consecutive national title, undoubtedly will be ranked No. 1 when the preseason Associated Press and USA Today rankings are released later this month, and they were a unanimous choice in the Pac-10 poll, which has correctly picked the conference champion five years in a row.
It is the 26th time since the poll began in 1961 that USC was picked to finish first, and the third time in a row.
Cal, on the other hand, has never been picked to win the conference, and this season it has fewer returning starters than any other Pac-10 team. Among starters who are gone from last year's 10-2 Bears squad, which finished second in the conference and No. 9 in the final rankings, are a quarterback (Aaron Rodgers) who was a first-round NFL Draft pick and a first-team All-America running back (J.J. Arrington) who might be an NFL starter as a rookie.
Yet the Bears were picked to finish second, matching their highest preseason selection ever. "I think the main reason for that is coach Tedford and his system," Cal center Marvin Phillip said. Indeed, Tedford's presence alone carries a lot of weight with pollsters. So does the potential of sophomore running back Marshawn Lynch, who averaged 8. 8 yards per carry last season as Arrington's backup.

"Marshawn may be the best all-around football player I've ever seen," Tedford said.
Cal, with 300 points in the voting, was far from a clear-cut choice at No. 2, though. Arizona State, Oregon and UCLA were all within eight points of Cal in the poll, as the Nos. 2 through 5 slots seem up for grabs in voters' minds.

Stanford's reputation needs a boost after winning just five conference games in Buddy Teevens' three seasons as head coach. The Cardinal have a new coach (Walt Harris) but were picked ninth, ahead of only Washington, which is now led by former Stanford and Notre Dame coach Tyrone Willingham.