Written by Mike Schmitz. This update comes to you from the scene of Pac-12 Media Days.
Pac-12 Media Day 2011: News And Highlights From South Division
LOS ANGELES -- Here’s a look at the Pac-12 media day highlights from the South Division:
Arizona
- When the media finished up asking about Mike Stoops' sideline demeanor he finally addressed the real issue -- the status of wide receiver Juron Criner. The Arizona Daily Star reported in late June that the star receiver could possibly miss games due to personal issues, but Stoops finally disclosed the true story on Tuesday. "Juron's had some personal and family issues with his mother that he had to attend to, and spent some time with his mother, and I think that was a big part of it. I think Juron has come back come back and worked really hard. I haven't seen him. I know he's worked out with our team and throwing with our guys the normal stuff he does day-in and day out. I think he feels better about his mother, and that is a big part of who he is and I think he feels a lot better about her condition."
- Stoops poked fun at himself when asked about his sideline antics, but he did finally express his concern that he isn't portrayed in the right light because his passion gets in the way. "It's part of who I am. Sometimes I think it gets misportrayed. They don't see all the good things. My players know that and that is the great thing about being around these guys, and that's what I respect about these guys. Like I say, nobody sees all the good things."
- Arizona's head coach pointed out the Wildcats' lack of toughness and how it shined through at the end of the season as they lost five consecutive games. "Well, the end of the season was disappointing in a lot of different ways ... We played more physical teams probably at the end, and it's an area that we didn't react as well as I would have liked."
- Arizona's never been picked high in preseason polls in the past, and Stoops is well aware, but he doesn't let it bother him. "It doesn't affect me. We've never been picked high, so it's not unusual for us, is it? Must think I'm a bad coach (laughing)."
Arizona State
- For a guy on the supposed "hot seat," head coach Dennis Erickson was certainly all smiles. He opened up with "I'm happy to be anyplace at this time," and addressed the "hot seat" topic with: "It doesn't really affect me at all, to be honest with you. I have high expectations of our football team this year. We all do. And that's all I can worry about. I can't worry about what you think or somebody else thinks or what a former player said or anything like that."
- Those expectations Erickson mentioned are as high as ever. ASU was picked to finish second in the South Division, which could mean a Rose Bowl bid if USC finishes first. If the Sun Devils are going to pan out like the media thinks, it's going to be thanks to their stellar defense. "I think probably our strength, as I look at them right now, our defensive football team, number one, we've got a lot of depth there ... We're two-deep at about every position on defense."
- Quarterback Brock Osweiler didn't say much to the media, but Erickson spoke for the Montana native. "Brock had a great spring. And I'll brag on him real quickly. He's very talented in a lot of areas. I do know that he's the tallest quarterback in the league, so you've got that going for you. But the thing that's really jumped out is his leadership ability, and how he's taken things over in spring football."
Colorado
- After first-year coach Jon Embree got past his Pac-12 introduction, he lost the smile and was all business. He talked about changing the identity of the program, and doing that through the run game.
- Embree then moved on to Colorado's 18-game road losing streak. You could see the intensity in Embree's eyes as he said, "We need to address that issue immediately. It does not sit well with me."
- Between Andrew Luck, Matt Barkley, Darron Thomas and Nick Foles, the Pac-12 is truly the conference of quarterbacks. Colorado quarterback Tyler Hansen wants in on the action. "I think Tyler fits and belongs with the groups of guys that you have here, and the quarterbacks that you have in this conference," Embree said of his quarterback.
- Embree also talked about the importance of joining the Pac-12 from a recruiting standpoint. California is crucial territory for Colorado, making the Buffs' move from the Big 12 a huge positive for recruiting and the future of the program.
UCLA
- Rick Neuheisel loosened things up right off the bat as he said, "Excited to be here as a coach on the proverbial hot seat. I guess you're excited to be invited to any of these things."
- The UCLA alum spoke about how coaching the Bruins truly is his dream job, and how he did think it would be a little easier than it has been. Regardless of the challenges he's faced, the optimism is still there for Neuheisel. "I just am very, very excited about having this group of guys - many of them were in my first recruiting class when I got to UCLA - reach this point in their careers and have so much to prove, especially at the dawning of a new conference and the first ever Pac-12 Championship at stake."
- Neuheisel announced that quarterback Kevin Prince will be recovered from knee surgery by the time camp starts and will have the first crack at the starting quarterback spot. The UCLA coach made it clear that if Prince plays well, the Bruins can have success. "If we can play well at the quarterback position -- and we can protect the quarterback -- and put that together with the same running game we had last year... I think there is reason for great optimism."
USC
- Head coach Lane Kiffin opened up his session with a lengthy statement addressing every aspect of his football team. After exhausting everything from the offensive line to the DBs, Kiffin said with a smile, "With that I've eaten up all the time, so there are no hard questions you can ask me right now. So we have one minute left. And Matt's going to announce that he's coming back for his senior year (laughing)."
- Shifting gears, here's what Kiffin had to say about running back Marc Tyler: When you play football at USC you represent a lot of great players, but you represent a very powerful alumni. So after watching what Marc did, none of us felt good about it. It's a decision that Pat Haden and I made together. We're on the same page, and Marc has to get it right. So until Marc gets right, he won't be back with our program."
- Kiffin made it clear that although the Trojans can't play in the postseason, all motivation isn't lost. "Our guys come to USC to get a degree from a private university and to go to the NFL. That's still there for them, so none of that has changed."
- Kiffin said that although a ton of factors play into becoming a Heisman candidate, Barkley is on the right track. But the quarterback did admit he has some improving to do, namely in his consistency. "I think being consistent this whole year and not trailing out like I did the last two years, but finishing this year strong. I know what I'm capable of, but being consistent the whole year, keeping a strong completion percentage and raising that ratio of my touchdown to interceptions, and keeping that through the whole year."
Utah
- Head coach Kyle Whittingham called Utah "ecstatic" to be part of the Pac-12 and recalled his days when Utah was being considered to join the Pac-8. He added that the Utes had a 98 percent season ticket renewal rate, which he said was "unheard of."
- Whittingham said he's already seen a huge spike in recruiting since joining the Pac-12. "The impact of recruiting was felt right away, and has carried over into this past recruiting season."
- Sophomore quarterback Jordan Wynn will be back by fall camp as his shoulder is good to go, according to Whittingham. "Absolutely, the shoulder is sound. He's 100 percent from a medical standpoint. There are no limitations in that regard."
- Utah will face USC at The Colosseum in its first conference game in a contest Whittingham described as "baptism by fire."
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