ESPN released their all-2000’s team recently and it included five from the Pac-10 – including Oregon State head coach Pat Casey. ESPN sent out ballots to all D-1 baseball coaches and 150 of them returned their ballots.

For the entire list be sure to click here.

Not for the Pac-10 vote-getters.

Coach of the Decade: Pat Casey, Oregon State, 2000-2009

Second Baseman of the Decade: Chase Utley, UCLA, 1998-2000

Outfielder of the Decade: Jacoby Ellsbury, Oregon State, 2003-2005

Outfielder of the Decade: Carlos Quentin, Stanford, 2001-2003

Starting Pitcher of the Decade: Tim Lincecum, Washington, 1999-2001

Malcolm Lee - UCLA

This is definitely not the year for UCLA men’s basketball. The Bruins are used to being near the top of the Pac-10 — not hovering somewhere in the middle hoping to make it out alive come season’s end.

There are various reasons why UCLA just doesn’t look like they should; or used to. But committing 23 turnovers is just nuts.

Twenty-three turnovers feels like something you might see from a girl’s high school basketball game. Not the historied UCLA Bruins.

C’mon Bruins. You’re better than 23 turnovers… aren’t you?

Malcolm Smith - USC Trojans

For 59 minutes this crosstown rivalry was like many other football games played throughout the season.

Nothing special. Just two teams slugging it out.

But then, with less than a minute to play, and as USC head coach Pete Carroll’s team was taking a knee to end the game, a timeout was called.

Down two touchdowns, Rick Neuheisel decided enough wasn’t enough. He called a timeout. And, sure, he still had all three timeouts left. But what could he had really accomplished?

By the time the UCLA Bruins might have gotten the ball back they wouldn’t have had more than a few seconds remaining. Certainly not enough time to score two more touchdowns.

So what does Pete Carroll do after that first timeout was called? Well, he did what any many would do. He dialed up a 48-yard pass down the middle of the field for a touchdown. Matt Barkley three a strike to Damian Williams who caught the ball in stride and raced into the end zone.

A brawl almost ensued as the Trojans players cheered and taunted. They moved toward mid-field — as did the Bruins players. Words were said and the two teams were separated.

The stage is certainly set for next season’s version of this rivalry which takes place on the UCLA Bruins’ home field of the Rose Bowl.

For more on this story read Bill Plaschke’s story on LATimes.com:
Sportsmanship takes a timeout in USC-UCLA game — latimes.com

For a game recap read the ESPN recap:
USC-UCLA ESPN Game Recap

UCLA Bruins statue painted with USC colors

Rivalry week can always bring fun and games, er, uh, pranks from one school to anther. And the upcoming football game between USC and UCLA is no different.

It seems some USC Trojans fans thought the UCLA Bruins would look much better painted in Trojans colors. Too bad the painting is being treated as a felony.

Can’t wait to see what may happen to Tommy Trojan.

UCLA Bruin gets paint job in the colors of Southern California – Campus Rivalry: College BCS Football News, Recruiting, Game Picks, and More – USATODAY.com.

Much to the dismay of offensive coordinator Norm Chow, it looks like UCLA will be swapping two QBs in and out as needed.
Head coach Rick Neuheisel says Kevin Prince will still get the start Saturday against Oregon State, but plans to get true freshman Richard Brehaut some playing time.

UCLA started the season 3-0, but is on a 4-game downward spiral since entering Pac-10 play. The Bruins also rank ninth in passing in the Pac-10.

The Cal Bears were a perfect 3-0 heading in to conference play. They looked like a team that was finally ready to make a legitimate run at the Pac-10 title. But then Oregon happened. And then USC. And after being outscored 72-6 by those two conference foes, the Cal Bears were struggling to find themselves.

A long bus ride from Northern California to Southern California is just what the team needed. Yes, Cal chartered a bus rather than an airplane in order to save approximately $100,000 from the UC school system. Perhaps that long hard bus ride gave the team some perspective; it’s time for the team to put in some hard work themselves.

Jahvid Best sure got back to work. He busted a 93-yard touchdown run, and caught a 52-yard touchdown reception to help Cal smack UCLA’s 21st ranked defense right in the mouth for a 45-26 win. Although Best’s Heisman hopes are long gone (he managed only 102 total yards in Cal’s two losses), he’s still an integral part of the Bears’ offense.

Shane Vereen rushed for 154 yards and a touchdown of his own and QB Kevin Riley threw for 205 yards and three touchdowns.

UCLA running back Jonathan Franklin rushed for 101 yards and two touchdowns, including a 74-yard TD scamper.

It wasn’t long ago when the nation said the Pac-10 is soft because they didn’t play defense well. Many said the conference was an offensive oriented one–and on most accounts they were right. But things appear to be changing.

To start week seven of the college football season the Pac-10 has five teams ranked 21 or higher in total defense. Let’s take a glance at those five teams (defense rank in parenthesis):

Arizona State (No. 3) – The Sun Devils are killing it in the run defense department as they’re currently ranked 2nd in the nation. They’re also 5th in tackles for loss and tied for 12th in sacks. They get after it up front, no doubt.

Watch for this group to get better next season as studs like Lawrence Guy and Brandon Magee are only sophomores.

Both Mike Nixon and Jarrell Holman are tied for 10th in the nation in interceptions.

Southern Cal (No. 6) – As is the norm with USC this team is pretty consistent all around. The Trojan defense currently leads the nation in sacks thanks in part to red shirt freshman Nick Perry (tied 5th), junior Everson Griffen (tied 27th) and junior Michael Morgan (tied 58th). They are also 2nd in tackles for a loss. Their scoring defense ranks 4th while there rushing defense ranks fifth.

The scary part of it all… this team is just starting to get healthy all the way around.

The aforementioned Nick Perry leads the Pac-10 with six sacks even though he went down in the Trojans’ 4th game. He’s expected to return this week against Notre Dame.

Several other defensive starter have been banged up over the first six weeks, but they keeping plugging in top shelf talent where needed. One of those has been banged up is Taylor Mays. But he’s getting healthy–and at the right time.

Oregon (No. 16) – The high flying Ducks are usually thought of for the offense first. For many years fans were calling for defensive coordinator Nick Aliotti’s head. They said his defenses allowed too many points. Kept the high scoring Ducks’ games close. Had that bend-but-don’t-break attitude rather than a killer instinct.

This year is completely different.

Several of the Ducks’ wins can be directly attributed to their defense and special teams. The talk of the town has not been the offense, rather, it’s been the defense. Overall the defense has been consistent, which it netting them a No. 16 rank in total defense. They’re tied for 12th in sacks, 9th in Pass Efficiency Defense and 28th in tackles for loss.

Despite being banged up quite a bit in the secondary, this Ducks defense still gets the job done. Free safety T.J. Ward went down in the first game and hasn’t been back since. Stud cornerback Walter Thurmond III went down with a knee injury in the 4th game of the season and will miss the remainder of the season. Cornerback Willie Glasper will also miss the remainder of the season after going down during practice while preparing for UCLA.

Arizona (No. 17) – This Wild Cats unit doesn’t do any one thing great, but they’re doing a lot of the little things really good. They’re good at stopping the run and are forcing teams to pass. Doing so has helped sophomore Trevin Wade swallow for pass for interceptions–tied for 3rd in the nation.

As this team gets in to stiffer competition (Stanford, Oregon, USC all remain), it will be interesting to see how the defense stands up.

UCLA (No. 21) – Despite losing talented cornerback Aaron Hester with a fractured fibula (he may return for the Oct. 24th game), the Bruins’ secondary still remains lethal. Free Safety Rahim Moore leads the nation with five interceptions. He did suffer a concussion in their game against Stanford, but as he shakes out more cob webs each week I expect him to get back to form.

UCLA’s defense has been keeping their team in most games, but the offense just didn’t up their end of the bargain in both Pac-10 losses so far.

With Oregon’s 24-10 win over UCLA they have moved to the top of the Pac-10 standings. The Ducks are currently 3-0 in conference and 5-1 overall.

With QB Jeremiah Masoli out the Ducks got off to a very slow start offensively (UCLA led 3-0 at the half), but Kenjon Barner gave the team a spark with his 100 yard kickoff return to start the second half. Two plays later it was Talmadge Jackson who picked off a Kevin Prince pass and returned it 32 yards for the Ducks’ second score.

Now, with their 14-3 lead and a new found confidence, the Ducks didn’t look back.

Once again it was the defense and special teams play that carried Oregon. UCLA’s only touchdown came with the Ducks’ offense backed up on their own goal line and Bruins’ Akeem Ayers made a remarkable interception in the end zone.

Nate Costa, who started at QB for the Ducks, didn’t put up big numbers, but he did manage the game well. There’s still no definitive word on Masoli’s knee and when he might be back.

After having gone through two knee surgeries that put him on the shelf these past couple of seasons, it was nice to see Costa throw a touchdown pass to Jeff Maehl.

LaMichael James rushed for 152 yards. He was kept out of the end zone for the first time in in the last four weeks.

Neuheisel on Mays vs. Berry – Pac-10 – ESPN.

“At Pac-10 media day I chatted with the one coach who can provide real insight into the discussion: UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel.” – Ted Miller, ESPN.com

Prince knows his work is just starting – Pac-10 – ESPN.

The recently named UCLA starting QB,Kevin Prince, looked so-so in the Bruins’ spring game. Good thing is he knows it’s a tough row to hoe.