Pac10 fans can sit around and make as many excuses as we want but I think as a conference we weren't really what we thought we were. But in addition, I do think you have to give props to BYU, Utah and Nebraska. They were all much better than advertised, particularly Nebraska.
I think BYU really should have been a favorite over Oregon St., they were lucky to finish second this year in the PAC. This game exposed them, particularly with the weather conditions. I thought Cal-Utah was an even game. I've mentioned this before, the teams were matched evenly, but the QB play went to Utah. Cal has struggled for YEARS now with mediocre quarterback play, which has really set them back in terms of competing for a RoseBowl or BCS championship. Arizona was outmatched plain and simple. Its interesting during bowl season how match-ups expose weaknesses. Nebraska was just bigger, faster and stronger, on both sides of the ball.
Oklahoma-Stanford was an excellent game. Its a valid point that Luck missed the game, particularly when Pritchard throws 2 INTS. I'm not even sure the points of turnover? 10?
One thing particularly dissapointing to me as someone who watches PAC10 ball is the not coming out to play" syndrome we see. Teams that are competitive or even clearly better on paper or over the course of the season than their opponent don't even bother to play the game. Some examples are Cal-Tennessee in 06, Boise St. - Oregon earlier this year, and Arizona and Oregon St.'s play this bowl season. Its astonishing to me the occasional brain fart you see from Pac-10 teams.
That said on the whole I think the season was still a success for the PAC10, and you have to keep them @ at least third best in the conferences unless Iowa, Ohio St. and Penn State all win their bowls. A lot of good football played in and out of conference this year, and hopefully much success and competition in the PAC10 in the future.
Oh yea, Navy is beating Missouri, just an FYI.
I think BYU really should have been a favorite over Oregon St., they were lucky to finish second this year in the PAC. This game exposed them, particularly with the weather conditions. I thought Cal-Utah was an even game. I've mentioned this before, the teams were matched evenly, but the QB play went to Utah. Cal has struggled for YEARS now with mediocre quarterback play, which has really set them back in terms of competing for a RoseBowl or BCS championship. Arizona was outmatched plain and simple. Its interesting during bowl season how match-ups expose weaknesses. Nebraska was just bigger, faster and stronger, on both sides of the ball.
Oklahoma-Stanford was an excellent game. Its a valid point that Luck missed the game, particularly when Pritchard throws 2 INTS. I'm not even sure the points of turnover? 10?
One thing particularly dissapointing to me as someone who watches PAC10 ball is the not coming out to play" syndrome we see. Teams that are competitive or even clearly better on paper or over the course of the season than their opponent don't even bother to play the game. Some examples are Cal-Tennessee in 06, Boise St. - Oregon earlier this year, and Arizona and Oregon St.'s play this bowl season. Its astonishing to me the occasional brain fart you see from Pac-10 teams.
That said on the whole I think the season was still a success for the PAC10, and you have to keep them @ at least third best in the conferences unless Iowa, Ohio St. and Penn State all win their bowls. A lot of good football played in and out of conference this year, and hopefully much success and competition in the PAC10 in the future.
Oh yea, Navy is beating Missouri, just an FYI.
