Trojans Still Rise Above The Pac, But Find New Challenge in Revamped Program in Westwood
On a day meant to highlight the West's best football teams, two teams stood tall above the Pac.
Last Thursday's Pac-10 media day at the LAX Hilton belonged to the City of Angels' two schools -- USC and UCLA -- and their rivalry's newest chapter.
The day arguably should have focused on the Trojans, defending Pac-10 champions since 2002. But thanks to a regime change in Westwood -- and the entrance of controversial coach Rick Neuheisel -- the spotlight was split in two.
Both Neuheisel and USC coach Pete Carroll drew animated interrogations, fielding a litany of questions concerning the other.
Carroll was asked if he had invited Neuheisel and new UCLA offensive coordinator Norm Chow -- who held that same position at USC from 2001-2005 -- to an upcoming charity event.
"I'm sure they're going to be busy,"
Carroll deadpanned.
In turn, Neuheisel was instantly questioned about the Trojan defense.
"First question, USC!"
Neuheisel exclaimed amidst laughter.
But he wasted little time commending the Trojans -- and even less predicting the Bruins' ascent to the top of the conference and into the national spotlight.
"They are that elephant in the living room,"
Neuheisel said. "You can't be the head coach at UCLA and not find a way to compete successfully with USC. You have to fight them on every corner."
"The good news is that when we catch them -- I say when we catch them -- we're going to not only have caught the leader of the Pac, but be among the programs that challenge for the big prizes."
Whether the rest of the Pac-10 is up to the challenge remains to be seen. The media doesn't foresee much dispute, as preseason voters gave the Trojans 38 of 39 first-place votes. Still, each coach-player twosome made their school's pitch -- some with Neuheisel's brash confidence, others in a more subdued manner.
Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh -- who headlined last year's event when he declared the Trojans "maybe the best team in the history of college football"
-- was sedate in his second appearance, trading last year's hyperbole for truisms.
"I'm ready to get outside and coach,"
Harbaugh said. "I feel something very special about our team."
"It was a great thrill (upsetting USC at the Coliseum last year). That being said, that is water under the bridge. 2008 is a whole new dynamic, new culture, new team."
Two teams who nearly caught the Trojans last year -- California and Oregon -- are likely just as pleased to have a fresh year. Each was ranked No. 2 in the nation in 2007 with national championship ambitions, only to see those dreams unravel with multiple losses.
Both schools pointed to their quarterback competitions -- the Bears with Nate Longshore and Kevin Riley, the Ducks with Nate Costa and Justin Roper -- and reiterated new hope.
"I'm really excited,"
Cal coach Jeff Tedford said. "The guys have been working very hard � the chemistry we built in the spring will help us. Some talented guys departed, but we have guys eager to fill in."
Even first-year Washington State coach Paul Wulff struck an optimistic chord about his Cougars, who were picked to finish last in the Pac-10.
"The difference between the No. 1 team and the 10th-place team is not that much,"
Wulff said.
But no matter what Wulff may think -- or how much attention is being paid to the latest Los Angeles rivalry -- nothing uttered on media day changed the Trojans' place as conference kingpin.
Such a change wasn't possible on a Thursday in the summer -- it will be come Saturdays in the fall.
