Pac-Tending 04-30-08

"Congratulations to these teams and their student-athletes for success in the classroom. They are setting a great example for their peers and future student-athletes as well."

- NCAA president, Myles Brand, announcing the schools receiving the public recognition awards for the latest APR [Academic Progress Rate] report.

It is award and championship season at the Creek as USC won the conference championship in women's golf and then advanced to the NCAA regionals along with eight other Pac-10 teams while Stanford finished third in the NCAA women's gymnastics championship last week. In tennis, seven women's teams advanced to the NCAA tournament while six men's teams also will be playing in the post-season.

Meanwhile, at NCAA HQ, public recognition awards were announced for schools scoring in the top 10% of their sport and 22 Pac-10 programs made the list. Nine of the conference's 10 schools were represented [only Arizona did not make the list] with Stanford leading the way with 10 awards.

Three more bowl games could be added to the Division I [now FBS] post-season landscape – increasing the number to 35 bowl games – as the NCAA will listen to pitches from Washington D.C., St. Petersburg, Florida and Salt Lake City to host bowl games next season. The Washington D.C. game has been dubbed the Congressional Bowl and will match either Army or Navy against a team from the Atlantic Coast Conference, the unnamed Florida bowl will match a Big East team against a Conference USA opponent and the Utah bowl will pit a Mountain West team against a member of the Western Athletic Conference.

Arizona

In men's hoop, former interim head coach Kevin O'Neill was reassigned within the athletic department and former Arizona State assistant coach Russ Pennell was hired as an assistant coach.

Stanford

In men's hoop, the Cardinal hired Duke assistant coach Johnny Dawkins as head coach.

UCLA

In men's hoop, point guard Darren Collison withdrew from making himself eligible for the NBA Draft while guard Josh Shipp announced he will make himself eligible for the draft.

In football, former starting quarterback Patrick Cowan is out for the 2008 season after suffering an ACL knee injury.

WSU

In baseball, the Cougars defeated Gonzaga and won a non-conference series against San Jose State to improve to 22-19 overall and 3-9 in conference play with a 23 RPI.

In tennis, Wazzu advanced to the NCAA Tournament, where they will play LSU in a first round match at Berkeley, California.

In football, senior defensive lineman Andy Roof was arrested for assault.

Arizona State

In women's hoop, JC guard Jazlyn Davis signed a national letter of intent with the Sun Devils.

Oregon State

In women's hoop, the Beavers signed JC forward Anita Burdick to a national letter of intent.

USC

In men's hoop, freshmen forward Davon Jefferson is reported to have declared himself eligible for the NBA Draft center.

Washington

In women's hoop, assistant coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson resigned to become an assistant coach at Indiana.

In football, offensive lineman Juan Garcia may be lost for the year with a foot injury.

California

In women's golf, the Bears received a bid to the NCAA regionals – their ninth consecutive trip to post-season play.

Oregon

In women's golf, the Ducks were selected to the NCAA regionals.

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