Pac-10 preview:
Aerial
bombardmentby Dan Shanoff,
CNN/SI
Posted: Wed Aug 19, 1998
UCLA senior QB Cade McNown struck for 20 TDs in '97—but threw only five interceptions. (Peter Read Miller) | |
Projected Order
of
Finish
|
1.
UCLA
2.
Arizona
State
3. Washington
4.
USC
5. Arizona
6.
Oregon
7.
Cal
8.
Stanford
9.
Oregon
State
10.
Washington
State
|
|
| |
|
|
Offensive Player of the
Year
|
|
Cade
McNown, QB, Sr.,
UCLA
| | Has already broken most of UCLA's passing and total-offense
records, including career completions (487) and passing
yards (7,238). After leading the nation in passing
efficiency in '97 (168.6), McNown will again put up
thrilling numbers—and lead his
team to a league
title.
| |
|
Defensive Player of the
Year
|
|
Chris
McAlister, DB, Sr.,
Arizona
| | The best defensive back west of the Mississippi happens to
play in a league where quarterbacks rule. Singlehandedly
makes it harder for the conference's superb signal-callers
to do their
jobs.
| |
|
Newcomer of the
Year
|
|
Toalei
Mulitauaopele, DT, Jr.,
Washington
| | As hard to stop as his name is to say. For the record, this
320-pound juco transfer would like you to pronounce it
Toe-ah-LEY-ee
Mooly-tawa-oh-PAY-lay.
| |
|
Coach on the Hot
Seat
|
|
Tyrone
Willingham, Stanford (5-6 in
1997)
| | It would have been put-up-or-shut-up time if star QB Chad
Hutchinson had decided to spurn pro baseball for another
year under center. He didn't, so now Willingham can only
hope to match last season's lackluster
results.
| |
|
Conference
Game-Breaker
|
|
Daylon
McCutcheon, DB, Sr.,
USC
| | Starts at cornerback, where he recorded 45 tackles and two
interceptions in '97, but also can line up at tailback,
wide receiver and kick
returner.
| |
|
Most Underrated
Player
|
|
Chris
Sailer, K/P, Sr.,
UCLA
| | Hit 19 of 24 field goals and averaged nearly 44 yards per
punt in '97. Even with McNown's brilliance, Bruins can't
win Pac-10 without special-teams excellence. Sailer's leg
is a big part of
that.
| |
|
Best
Name
|
|
LaChaux
Rich, SS, Sr.,
Arizona
| | Runner-up:
Scooter
Sprotte, ILB, Jr.,
Arizona
| |
|
Toughest
Schedule
|
|
USC
takes on fast-breaking Purdue at home and explosive Florida State
in Tallahassee, hosts Notre Dame and visits crosstown rival
UCLA.
| |
|
Creampuff
Schedule
|
|
Arizona
hosts Arizona State, Northeast Louisiana and UCLA, and has
"tough" road trips to Hawaii and San Diego
State.
| |
|
Red-Letter
Games
|
| Washington at Arizona
State, Sept.
5 | | Season opener for both teams will shake out top of league
quickly.
|
|
USC at
UCLA, Nov.
21 | | Should be Bruins' last hurdle for undefeated
season.
|
| Arizona State at
Arizona, Nov.
27 | | Alliance spots will be on the
line.
| |
|
Drop This Name to Make Yourself Sound Smarter at the Water
Cooler
|
|
J.R.
Redmond, RB, Jr., Arizona
State
| | Should enjoy terrific follow-up to break-out sophomore
season (865 yds., 7 TDs) behind deep line and super-soph QB
Ryan Kealy, who will keep defenses spread
thin.
| |
|
Going
Bowling
|
Locks: Arizona, Arizona State, UCLA, USC,
Washington
Maybes:
Cal,
Oregon
No
Way: Oregon State, Stanford, Washington
State
| |
|
Top Three
Storylines
|
|
The Arms
Race
| |
UCLA's McNown, Washington's Brock Huard, Arizona State's
Kealy, Arizona's Ortege Jenkins, Cal's Justin Vedder and
Oregon's Akili Smith are all stud
quarterbacks.
|
| No Cougar
Repeat
| |
Don't let defending champ Washington State's 3-0 start
versus the likes of Illinois, Boise State and Idaho fool
you. If the Cougars are lucky, they'll win one more the
rest of the
way.
|
| Hack
Attack
| |
Let no one say deposed USC coach John Robinson left the
cupboard bare for the incoming Paul Hackett. With 15
returning starters, the Trojans should improve on last
season's 6-5
record.
| |
|
