2012 Pac-12 Media Days: USC, Oregon Picked To Win Divisions

Pac-12 Football Interviews: Lane Kiffin, Kenjon Barner And More

VIDEOS: SB Nation Interviews Pac-12 Coaches Mike Leach, Chip Kelly

Pac-12 Media Days 2012: Chip Kelly Outrunning Expectations

"We only had 10 seniors last year," Chip Kelly began at Pac-12 Media Days. "We only have 16 this year."

A young Ducks team is just about as young as ever, with questions throughout the roster, especially at quarterback, with Darron Thomas moving along. But "pressure's what you feel when you don't know what you're doing," running back Kenjon Barner informed the gathering.

De'Anthony Thomas and Barner will see their "roles increase" due to the exit of LaMichael James, but Kelly "sleeps a little bit better at night" with "three guys who could've played anywhere in the country" last year. Thomas can "hopefully do a lot" more on the field after offering plenty of "wow moments" in practice.

There was a uniforms question, of course. Barner said he wonders what other teams are thinking when they trot out Oregon-esque alternates, but that was about that.

Kelly's contingent felt like it was off the stage just moments after arriving, with Kelly theorizing the crowd had gotten a little tired. The Oregon experience does tend to dazzle its way to a stronger finish than whatever it's up against.

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For more on Ducks football, visit Oregon blog Addicted To Quack, plus Pac-12 blog Pacific Takes.

Pac-12 Media Days: David Shaw, Editing The Narrative

"Let's just open it up to questions," was Stanford Cardinal head coach David Shaw's opening statement. He said it with a smile, but it was still the most David Shaw opener possible.

The storyline for Stanford is obvious -- replacing star quarterback and No. 1 NFL draft pick Andrew Luck -- but Shaw offered more, including a still-imposing offensive line, a defensive front seven that will include reinstated senior linebacker Shayne Skov, the return of exciting running back Stepfan Taylor ("the most underrated back in the country," Shaw said), the emergence of linebacker Chase Thomas and an offense that includes "a bevy of fullbacks" and a reshuffled tight end assortment.

But the questions came back to Luck anyway.

"Don't try to be Andrew Luck," Shaw said he told his many potential quarterbacks. "Because you can't. Let our playmakers make plays."

Stanford's time felt cut short by a lack of questions.

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For more on Cardinal football, visit Stanford blog Rule Of Tree, plus Pac-12 blog Pacific Takes and SB Nation Bay Area.

Pac-12 Media Days: Mike Leach On Civil War Generals And Hunting With Coaches

New Washington State coach Mike Leach, the Pac-12 Media Days main event as far as the internet is concerned, began his remarks by straight-up hollering at the crowd before being given a mic. Everyone loves him.

Shortly after, a reporter accidentally called Leach "coach Price." Mike Price left Wazzu in 2002. "On behalf of coach Price... " Leach responded.

Why yes, Leach thinks you should come to Pullman and get a great education while partaking in terrific hunting and fishing. "There's a lot of people that have been to Los Angeles, but there's a lot of people that haven't been to Pullman. Once you get there, you love it." Throughout his comments, he talked up his academics record, the Pac-12's national standing, and the importance of installing a system effectively.

When asked about the hunting prowess of his fellow Pac-12 coaches, Leach narrowed it down to Rich Rodriguez and Kyle Whittingham based on their experiences in West Virginia and the mountains of Utah. Whittingham "would be a key guy to have around" if you went hunting in the Pac-12, and it's essential to note Leach called this "a great question."

He made a bunch of Civil War analogies after that, comparing quarterback Jeff Tuel to Stonewall Jackson (based on decisiveness) and lineman Travis Long to Ulysses S. Grant (based on his skills at close-range bombardment, I believe -- "he could invade Vicksburg as long as he kept his pads low").

"Everybody's got good plays," Leach also said. "If we passed around papers in this room" and had everyone draw up X's and O's, anybody could come up with a dangerous attack. It's not just about schematics, you see.

Also, the formerly injured Tuel described himself as "100 percent healthy."

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For more on Wazzu football, visit Washington State blog Coug Center, plus Pac-12 blog Pacific Takes and SB Nation Seattle.

Pac-12 Media Days 2012: Lane Kiffin Needs A Running Back, Silas Redd

"At USC, we feel like right now, we're in a perfect storm with so many great things going on," Lane Kiffin began at Pac-12 Media Days.

That standard USC schedule will be a challenge, as will the sanction-induced lack of depth. "Our No. 1 concern is at running back," said Kiffin, and let's just assume that line was meant to reach the ears of Penn State back and potential transfer Silas Redd, who's been courted by the Trojans already. (It's so slim that incoming freshman receiver Nelson Agholor would play running back if the season started today, Kiffin claimed.)

Kiffin and USC have been the model for sanction recovery, turning a scholarship-deprived roster into a preseason No. 1. Asked for what advice he'd give Bill O'Brien, he described the process of possibly losing players as a major challenge. He declined to answer any questions about what USC sees in PSU's roster, saying, "they're just like high school kids."

Matt Barkley repeatedly described the season as "unfinished business," saying how excited he is to finally have a chance to play for a conference and national championship.

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For more on Trojans football, visit USC blog Conquest Chronicles, plus Pac-12 blog Pacific Takes and SB Nation Los Angeles.

Pac-12 Media Days 2012: Jim Mora Holds You Accountable

The Jim Mora drinking game: drink every other time he or one of his players says "accountability." You are now deceased on a roof somewhere.

It's noteworthy that the players cite the uptick in accountability as frequently as he does, however. The story all spring ball long was how much tougher and more consistent the Bruins culture is now, and it appears the message has maintained. Heading to San Bernardino for fall camp: another accountability move, observed Tevin McDonald on stage.

Mora's NFL lineage and background make for a strength, in his eyes, as he cites his staff's 90-plus years worth of NFL experience in lending credibility to their coaching.

A quarterback decision is coming "about two weeks" into fall camp. Mora says a single leader didn't emerge at the position since "the whole pack elevated" during spring.

Mora also said Noel Mazzone's offense "doesn't have a name" and will look different from week to week. All of that would fit with what UCLA's done for years now, but I think he meant that in a positive way.

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For more on Bruins football, visit UCLA blog Bruins Nation, plus Pac-12 blog Pacific Takes and SB Nation Los Angeles.

Pac-12 Media Days: Kyle Whittingham On Youth, Utes, And BYU

Utah's Kyle Whittingham described his first year in the Pac-12 as being exactly what he'd expected in terms of a competition and atmosphere upgrade. With a division run at stake, that Thursday nighter against USC could be the biggest home game in school history.

Expectations are boosted for the Utes in Year 2, even though they're replacing Norm Chow with young Brian Johnson at offensive coordinator -- Johnson's a rapid learner, says Whittingham, who joked that Johnson skipped kindergarten and first grade.

Whittingham touts Star Lotulelei as perhaps the best defensive tackle in the country, describing offensive tackle as Utah's primary roster concern right now. Lotulelei said he didn't even ask the NFL about his draft standing before deciding to return for another season.

How about that rivalry with BYU? Whittingham offers no indications he's desperate to see it continued more than every now and then, citing the Pac-12's busy nine-game schedule and that Michigan series. "Ideally, you'd like eight home games, like a lot of the SEC teams play."

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For more on Utes football, visit Utah blog Block U, plus Pac-12 blog Pacific Takes.

Pac-12 Media Days 2012: Todd Graham, Impatient Builder

"The hardest thing is being patient," said Todd Graham. He was talking about installing his up-tempo offense at a place that's used a swinging-gate passing game as of late, but he could've been talking about sticking around at a single location for more than a season or two. He wasn't.

As for his "whittling" of the quarterback depth chart into a definite Week 1 starter, don't expect any news this week. Graham expects suspended defensive end Junior Onyeali to be back in good standing with the program in time for fall camp.

One consistent message from Graham and linebacker Brandon Magee: ASU has to stop committing so many penalties. The Sun Devils have been known more for catastrophic mistakes than for anything else over the past two or three years, which Magee describes as "unacceptable."

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For more on ASU football, visit Arizona State blog House Of Sparky, plus Pac-12 blog Pacific Takes and SB Nation Arizona.

Pac-12 Media Days: Rich Rodriguez Sells Speed

Rich Rodriguez's first question at his Pac-12 Media Days debut: why's it gonna go better here than it did at Michigan?

He says his offense can work anywhere, emphasizing his scheme's frantic tempo. As for his personnel, he joked that the best decision his predecessors made was to redshirt nimble quarterback Matt Scott.

Recruiting for his system shouldn't be a problem at Arizona, Rodriguez feels. He describes his quarterbacks as more prepared for the NFL "in some ways" than their pro-style counterparts, citing Cam Newton's skill at taking three-step drops and making quick decisions. He also pointed out most NFL quarterbacks play in the shotgun these days. Watching the Patriots could be highly informative for anybody who thinks the spread is a college-only thing.

"Maybe the new pro-style is the shotgun spread," he said, granting that players like Matt Barkley would be successful no matter their system. "If you can play, you can play."

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For more on Wildcats football, visit Arizona blog Arizona Desert Swarm, plus Pac-12 blog Pacific Takes and SB Nation Arizona.

Watch Pac-12 Media Days 2012 Live Online

Why yes, you can watch all of 2012 Pac-12 Media Days live online via streaming video right here. SB Nation has a wide range of representatives at the event, so please browse our range of college football blogs for team-specific updates while you're with us.

Larry Scott kicked off festivities with an address on the conference's broad range of athletic achievements, its launch of the Pac-12 Networks, its four new football coaches, and the heavy dose of televised Pac-12 football coming your way this season. He used some form of the word "innovative" six times during his remarks, by our count, and that's certainly an apt description for where the league is headed.

The Pac-12 has made a goal of getting its product on "every screen" in the country, calling itself a "content company" as it moves forward. Sports!

Get a load of this set, by the way, via Colorado blog Ralphie Report:

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2012 Pac-12 Football Predictions: Media Likes USC, Oregon

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