Pac-10 Returning To Elite Pack

The Pacific-10 Conference was beginning to resemble a flophouse for football’s dissed and dismissed.

Down in the basement - the whine cellar, to be precise - many of its fans, coaches and players could be heard lamenting the league’s faded prestige.

No respect, they complained.

The media, meanwhile, harped on the Pac-10’s lousy bowl record of late, and wondered whether USC would ever beat Notre Dame again.

Then Arizona State thumped Nebraska, and now the flophouse feels more like the penthouse again.

“It was awesome for our conference,” Washington State coach Mike Price said Tuesday. “Our conference has taken some hits nationally, and Arizona State proved everybody wrong.”

The Sun Devils’ 19-0 thrashing of the two-time defending national champion Saturday night affirmed that actions speak louder than words; potential may have gotten the Sun Devils ranked 17th, but only performance could get them into the Top 10 (at No. 6).

“What I appreciate about it is that people are giving this team some respect and recognizing how much hard work we are doing,” ASU coach Bruce Snyder said.

Devil plays Ducks’ advocate

The Sun Devils play Oregon this week, and Snyder fears a letdown, especially after the way WSU handled the Ducks on Saturday.

“I was pulling for Oregon like crazy,” Snyder said. “I thought it would impact our preparation if they were to win in Pullman. Going to Pullman and playing is a tough deal.

“I’m sure now (Ducks coach) Mike Bellotti is talking to his team, saying ‘Hey, our backs are against the wall. If we want to go to the Rose Bowl we have to win. ‘ So I think they will come in here well prepared and play hard.”

ASU upset Oregon last season, when the Ducks were ranked 10th.

Brock who?

Washington freshman Brock Huard may be Pac-10 offensive player of the week, but Shane Fortney will remain the Huskies’ starter. Huard, subbing for the injured Fortney, completed 20 of 31 passes for 311 yards and a touchdown in a 31-17 victory over Arizona.

The Huskies have a bye this week, and Fortney’s bruised knee is expected to be recovered in time for UW’s Oct. 5 game against Stanford.

Cal reloads at tailback

California, which visits Pullman Oct. 19, may not miss Pac-10 rushing leader Tarik Smith as much as one might expect.

His backup, Brandon Willis, ran for 107 yards and three touchdowns in Cal’s 33-15 win over Nevada.

Smith suffered a career-threatening injury against Nevada when he tore the anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments in his right knee. The injury occurred when Smith’s leg was bent backward during a pileup.

“We do feel fortunate to have both Brandon and Deltha O’Neal to take over,” Cal coach Steve Mariucci said, “and we’ll be in good shape in that area.”

WSU notes

The Cougars, who have had trouble fielding punts this season, auditioned running back Miguel Meriwether as a return man during practice Tuesday.

Kevin McKenzie and Nian Taylor are the regular punt returners.

Oddly, the trio of McKenzie, Taylor and Dee Moronkola leads the conference in kickoff-return average, but the duo of McKenzie and Taylor ranks last in punt returns.

Linebacker Johnny Nansen was walking without a limp Tuesday, one day after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery that will keep him out of Saturday’s home game against San Jose State.

With Nansen out, Kenny Moore and Steve Gleason are expected to split time at strong-side linebacker. That means redshirt freshman Grady Emmerson will take Gleason’s spot behind starting weak-side linebacker Brandon Moore.

Flanker Shawn McWashington, limited to special-teams duty against Oregon after spraining an ankle Sept. 7, is practicing every other day. He remains questionable.

Around the conference

Pac-10 teams are 16-8 against non-conference opponents this season. Seven non-conference games remain. … USC is concerned about the inconsistency of quarterback Brad Otton, who continues to miss open receivers. Otton threw for 290 yards and two touchdowns in the Trojans’ win Saturday over Houston, but wasn’t sharp. Otton said he is aiming his passes too much. … Across town, UCLA’s Cade McNown has completed a league-best 66 percent of his passes… . Oregon State quarterback Tim Alexander is questionable after pulling a hamstring in the Beavers’ 42-10 loss to Baylor… . Stanford didn’t get past the Wisconsin 35-yard-line in a 14-0 loss Saturday.

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