PAC 12 2020 Season Thread

[CatsbyAZ]

Also for PAC 12 Off-season content leading into the games next season: 

So far USC is racking up all the headlines to start the off-season - retaining Clay Helton, which turned the fans against the new AD & University President; the firing of several coaches to include DC Clancy Pendergast, but surprisingly managing to hold onto Graham Harrell after Texas (his home state) offered him a ton of $$$; last but not least, thier early period signing class was so bad (78th nationally) it made national headlines. 

Stay tuned, lot going on elsewhere across the PAC 12...

[CatsbyAZ]

Let's what's going on across the street at UCLA. (Hint: Not any better.) Going into Chip Kelly's THIRD season now, the Bruins are STILL bleeding their roster:

From one of their blogs:
"It would also help if they could retain players, but once again we’re in the middle of another offseason exodus of UCLA players. NBCSports highlighted the fact that, as of Monday, UCLA has had 13 players enter the transfer portal this offseason. While some of the names in the portal were non-contributors, the big news was last week when two-year offensive line starter Christophany Murray entered his name into the portal. Murray was not at risk of losing a starting job. If anything, the question was going to be whether he would stick at right guard or shift over to center. Instead, he’ll be leaving Westwood and one has to wonder why a two-year starter at a position of need would feel compelled to seek his fortunes elsewhere.

Let me give a basic read of the situation: the exodus of players after Chip Kelly’s hiring was understandable and was perhaps the most normal part of Kelly’s tenure so far, even if it seemed a little excessive. Even the further exodus of players following that first season made some level of sense, though it was a bit worrying. Having another wave of transfers after two years? That’s a gigantic red flag, especially when those transfers include impact starters like Christophany Murray and Theo Howard. It was reported last October that 63 players had left the program. When you add the 13 that have entered the transfer portal so far this year, we’re up to 76 players who have left since Chip Kelly took over. There are only 85 scholarship positions on the team! You could almost field an entire D1 football program with UCLA transfers! Any coach with the ability to self-reflect and look at this might realize there are some flaws with their style."

https://www.bruinsnation.com/hair-of-the-bear/2020/1/16/21066284/hair-of-the-bear-football-blues-ad-clues-basketball-woos


Safe to say the Chip Kelly era is a major disappointment.

[DevilFroggy]

Over on the inside ASU 247 board there was a decent contingent hoping we'd hire Chip to replace Graham, but I was actually among those who didn't want him. He was never fond of recruiting and Oregon has a lot more resources to assist coughPHILKNIGHTcough than ASU does, plus his tempo spread style is no longer as unique or innovative as it was even just 5 years ago.

The way things have unfolded at UCLA have really validated that but I definitely didn't see the mess he has at UCLA coming either.

[CatsbyAZ]

As for ASU not hiring Chip Kelly, I'll admit, I thought it was a joke when Ray Anderson hired his buddy, Herm Edwards, who hadn't coached in years, much less recruited, and went on to spend most of the introductory press conference talking about turning ASU into an NFL factory.

Contrast that with Arizona rolling Sumlin right over from Texas A&M. His deep Texas recruiting ties should’ve carried over right with him – they haven’t. Instead the player development hasn’t been this poor since the Mackovic era. Same for recruiting and fan interest. And overall the talent on the roster hasn’t been this poor since the first few years of the Stoops era.

Meanwhile, ASU is recruiting very well, the QB situation is set for at least the next two seasons, the assistants are noticeable contributors, and players are getting drafted. 

Never would’ve guessed that Herm Edwards would have ASU on considerably better footing than Arizona and UCLA.

[CatsbyAZ]

Stanford's QB announces transfer to Mississippi St. 


https://twitter.com/kj_costello/status/1224467708252540929

IMO, Stanford has bigger problems getting back to winning 11 and 12 games every season, namely their thin rosters which derailed their season last year. They only had a roster of about 75 scholarship players to start the season last year, and once injuries and the meat of their schedule hit they didn't have the manpower to keep up, getting outscored massively in the second half of games as the season went along.

This after nearly a dozen other Stanford players entered the transfer portal after season's end (only 3 have transferred so far). 

Stanford signed a ranked class today (22nd nationally) but it's not enough to buoy the depth. Expect next year to follow closer to their unranked finishes as of late (9-4 & 4-8) rather than the 11 and 12 win bullies fielded earlier last decade.

[CatsbyAZ]

For those who might not’ve heard by now - Colorado job is open.

[CatsbyAZ]

Colorado hires Former UCLA coach Karl Dorrell, FIFTEEN after his last college job, which in CFB years feels like FIFTY.

Dorrell's hire is like a Big Ten school hiring Ron Zook. Both kept recruiting at a decent level, returned ho-hum results, everybody remembers their one resoundingly successful season (Dorrell: 10-2 Sun Bowl winners in 2005, Zook: Rose Bowl 2007), and lots of mid-level NFL experience since then.

Timewise, Dorrell's hire is like a political candidate or a business using MySpace for their social media platforming.

Two thoughts:

With the hire of Herm Edwards trending well enough, I wonder if this is Colorado's way of trying Arizona State's CEO approach.

With Karl Dorrell known for his popularity among his players, I wonder if this is Colorado's way of trying to put at ease the great signing class Mel Tucker left behind in Boulder.

[FearlessF]

good luck

Huskers visit Boulder in 2023

[fezzador]

The game nobody is talking about is NDSU @ Oregon to kick things off on September 5th.

On paper, the Ducks should roll, but then again, we've said the same thing about multiple other Power 5 teams only end up getting kicked in the teeth.  Oregon is more loaded than any of the other teams the Bison have faced so far, but they are also breaking in a brand-new QB.  NDSU is also a very physical team, something the Ducks don't get to see much of in PAC play (aside from Stanford).

If Oregon takes this game seriously (and they should), they can put the Bison away after 30-40 minutes.  If they don't, add another scalp to the Bison's resume.

[FearlessF]

I'm rooting for the Bizon

[fezzador]

Same.  It just occurred to me that Oregon and NDSU have the same color scheme (but the Bison's unis are definitely easier on the eyes).

[FearlessF]

and have more class

this from a Boomer

[CatsbyAZ]

good luck

Huskers visit Boulder in 2023

Wasn’t Nebraska just in Boulder?

Anyway, who’s more likely to still be at their school by 2023? Dorrell or Frost?

[FearlessF]

Frost

:::fingers crossed::::