COUGARS

Though Washington State will not practice today – the next time the Cougars hit the spring practice field is Thursday, so plan on hail, showers and even some sun then – but there is still a lot to cover this morning, so let's get right to it. If you've been following the situation at the University of Oregon, and I have, then yesterday's developments were like the most recent episode of "Lost:" entertaining, revealing to some degree, but ultimately, hard to understand and unsatisfying. For more, read on.
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• We passed along our story on new assistant coach Steve Morton – his stops in his career: WSU, Iowa State, UW, USC, Nevada, Stanford and San Jose State – on the blog last night, along with some notes from practice. You know, our usual practice report. ... But the most entertaining news of the day came out of Eugene, where UO president Richard Lariviere held a 23-minute press conference on the Mike Bellotti situation, cutting off questions at that point (one quick thought: how does ending a press conference when there is still more to cover square with an earlier quote from the president that "I can tell you we will be as responsive, open and transparent as we possibly can be." Just wondering). Long-time Eugene Register-Guard sports editor Ron Bellamy had this take on the situation. It seems like things have spiraled out of control at Oregon over the past couple years, doesn't it? ... Washington State went through the last fiscal year about $200,000 in the red, which didn't sit well with then athletic director Jim Sterk. But that number seems almost green compared with the news coming out of UW yesterday. The Huskies had to dip into their athletic reserve funds for some $5.5 million. What impresses me most is that they had a reserve fund. Most schools operate like my budget, on a day-to-day basis. ... OK, let's get back on the field. ... The Huskies are happy with the play of their quarterbacks. ... OSU's Ryan Katz, who is hoping to earn the starting quarterback job, displays his fastball at practice. ... Arizona State is trying to jump start what was an anemic offense under the tutelage of new coordinator Noel Mazzone. ... UCLA offensive coordinator Norm Chow likes his offense. He's just trying to develop depth at quarterback. ... Speaking of coordinators, there is a new one on defense at Arizona. ... There's a battle in the middle of the USC defense.

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• That's all for today. We'll be back if news warrant and in the morning for sure. Until then ...

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