Untested QBs give Pac-10 unique flavor

PULLMAN – Let’s see. UCLA once postponed a game because of a hurricane. Now the Bruins might have to do it again thanks to a wildfire. Didn’t James Taylor sing about fire and rain once?

Thankfully, according to UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel, it looks like the Bruins will be able to open the season Saturday in the Rose Bowl after all.

Neuheisel understands the perils of those affected by the fires raging through the Angeles National Forest, and the subsequent air-quality problems.

“We are mindful of all the work being done to put out these fires,” Neuheisel said Tuesday. “Our thoughts go out to all the people involved there. … Hopefully, we’ll get a chance to play this weekend, but we’ll wait for the experts to decide.”

With the chance of a postponement receding, Neuheisel can join about seven other Pac-10 coaches in worrying about their quarterback spot.

The conference of quarterbacks has become the conference of who’s that quarterback. Eight schools, including UCLA, have gone through a preseason quarterback competition. Only Oregon (Jeremiah Masoli) and Washington (Jake Locker) were immune.

The winners have ranged from a true freshman (USC’s Matt Barkley, who leapfrogged sophomore Aaron Corp after the latter was injured) to grizzled veterans (Oregon State’s Sean Canfield, replacing last year’s starter Lyle Moevao as the latter returns from arm troubles, and Cal’s Kevin Riley).

There’s a redshirt freshman who hasn’t taken a snap in two years (UCLA’s Kevin Prince) and a senior who is getting his first shot (ASU’s Danny Sullivan).

There are two schools that decided not to make a decision yet – Washington State (with Kevin Lopina starting but Marshall Lobbestael slated to play) and Arizona (still deciding between Matt Scott and Nick Foles).

“It’s gone a little bit back and forth,” Arizona coach Mike Stoops said. “When we think we have it figured out, the other guy comes on and has a big day.”

So is it tougher for a new quarterback these days?

Neuheisel, who waited on the UCLA bench for years before finally getting a chance to start at quarterback, believes it is.

“So much is going into offenses that, once you’ve decided the guy who is going to be your starter, he gets coached a lot more than the other guys,” he said. “Because of that, sometimes the other guys don’t improve over the course of a year. Basically, they just end up sitting and waiting for coaching to begin again once spring ball gets around.

“You don’t get a development program … instead you just see the starter getting better.”