SF Chronicle: PAC-10 Media Day

Here’s the link.

 

Cal versus SEC: Cal, which opens preseason camp Aug. 5, has a chance to gain some respect for the Pac-10 vis-a-vis the SEC when the Bears host Tennessee on Sept. 1 in their season-opener. But, said Cal coach Jeff Tedford, "We're not going to go into that game with a chip on our shoulder because of what coach Miles says. That's not going to be motivation for us."

News for Jackson: Because of a new NCAA rule, Cal wide receiver and All-American punt returner DeSean Jackson probably will return kickoffs as well as punts this season, although that's news to Jackson.  "We haven't told him yet," Tedford said Thursday.

Jackson had said he did not expect or want to return kickoffs, because, at 170 pounds, his body may be vulnerable to the high-speed collisions that occur on kickoffs. Moments later, though, Tedford said the rule change that requires teams to kick off from their 30-yard line instead of the 35 creates more chances for big plays on kickoff returns. That seems to have convinced Tedford to have Jackson return kickoffs, too.

 

Other highlights from the article:

 

·         Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh said this USC team "may be the best team in the history of college football."

·         LSU coach Les Miles said that the gap between USC and the rest of the Pac-10 is vast.  Earlier this summer, Miles belittled USC's schedule and the Pac-10 in general, saying in a speech reported by a radio station on its web site that he would love to play USC in the national title game and that the Southeastern Conference offered stiffer competition than the Pac-10. He said sarcastically USC will play some "knock-down, drag-outs with UCLA and Washington, Cal-Berkeley, Stanford - some real juggernauts."  Carroll said Thursday, "Our toughest games (in 2006) by far were in the conference." The Trojans beat Notre Dame, Arkansas, Michigan and Nebraska in their nonconference games.

·         Preseason Pac-10 poll

Votes total

1. USC 390

2. Cal 323

3. UCLA 305

4. Arizona State 242

5. Oregon State 237

6. Oregon 226

7. Arizona 162

8. Washington State 115

9. Washington 98

10. Stanford 47