Nothing like some good ole brotherly battles. A couple of high-profile ones take place in the Pac-12 this weekend, starting off this Thursday night with Arizona State-Oregon, where Cameron and Byron Marshall are set to square off in Tempe.
Yesterday, we linked to a story on Arizona’s Taimi Tutogi talking about his brother Thomas on Washington. Now, it’s time for Thomas Tutogi to get some face time talking about Taimi as the Wildcats and Huskies get ready to face each other this Saturday.
2012 is the 30th anniversary of The Play. If you don’t know what “The Play” is, either click on that link text or ask a Cal or Stanford fan (I’m sure you’ll get two very different reactions). Anyway, Richard Rodgers Sr., father of current Cal tight end Richard Rodgers, had a big role in The Play, making two laterals on the infamous kickoff return.
Stanford responded to The Play in 1990 with a last-second field goal to win after Cal fans rushed the field thinking the Golden Bears won the game even though there was still time on the clock. You know who was on the sidelines for that game? Current Stanford head coach David Shaw, who reminisces on the 1990 Big Game.
One other Stanford link – Rogers Redding, the national coordinator of NCAA football officials, says the decision to uphold the 4th and goal Stepfan Taylor run in overtime against Notre Dame as a non-touchdown was the correct call.
From a walk-on as a freshman to a starting linebacker as a redshirt freshman, Arizona’s Sir Thomas Jackson is making the most of his opportunity. What an awesome first name, by the way.
Utah is sticking with Travis Wilson as the starting quarterback as the Utes prepare for Oregon State this Saturday night. He is a promising freshman who can hurt you with his feet and his arm.
These Utes provide another big test for Oregon State’s offensive line, which has been steadily improving week by week. Last year, Utah got its first-ever Pac-12 victory by beating Oregon State.
Marcus Mariota wants everyone to be on the same page at Arizona State in the face of a very aggressive Sun Devil defense. Absolutely can’t wait for this one.
One other loose link from that Oregon-Arizona State game – a video for Arizona State fans detailing the tale of the hunt… and guess what? It’s duck season in Tempe on Thursday.
It’s a Saturday off for all you UCLA fans out there, so do a little prep for next Saturday by looking out for these three things on Arizona State’s offense against Oregon. Also, this bye week means the UCLA offensive line gets some much-needed rest.
Reign of Troy thinks that Lane Kiffin’s play-calling isn’t the “problem” for a 5-1 USC squad. Rather, it’s the perception of what this team should be that’s the problem.
Mike Leach is getting tough on his Washington State receivers, challenging them to be better in the red zone.
Colorado tries to stay positive after some lopsided losses in the first half of the season against opponents that aren’t as strong as the ones they are about to face in Oregon and USC. A ray of hope this weekend for Buffs fans – USC has lost to a Pac-12 team as a 40-plus-point favorite at home (Stanford in 2007). Time to repeat history, right?
Good news out of Boulder – Colorado tight end Nick Kasa has been added to the John Mackey Award midseason watch list. Other Pac-12 tight ends on the midseason list- Arizona State’s Chris Coyle, Stanford’s Zach Ertz and Levine Toilolo, UCLA’s Joseph Fauria and Washington’s Austin Seferian-Jenkins.
One final link – your weekly Husky Stadium renovation update with Bob Condotta.