Pac-Tending 08-15-07

"Hopefully, now, they'll get a better look."

- Pac-10 conference commissioner Tom Hansen referring to new – and reputedly, better - instant replay technology being made available to the conference's instant replay officials for the 2007 season after last year's debacle in the Oregon-Oklahoma game.

The pre-season prediction waters at the Creek keep getting clearer as pre-season men's soccer prognostications were unveiled by the coaches and UCLA was selected as the top team for the sixth consecutive year.

Meanwhile, at NCAA HQ this week, the NCAA declined to reconsider a ban on text-messaging recruits and amended baseball financial aid requirements by lowering the percentage of allowable aid to 25%, including non-athletic aid.

Also, seating capacity at future men's basketball Final Fours – beginning in 2009 – will be approximately 70,000, with the addition of temporary seating structures that will be transported to and installed at future Final Four sites. The Division I Board of Directors enacted a four-year moratorium on accepting new members for Division I status and Edward Ray, president of Oregon State, was added as a new Board member.

UCLA

In football, assistant coach Eric Scott was not charged with burglary in a July incident and was reinstated to the coaching staff. Freshman running back Raymond Carter is out for the season with an ACL knee injury.

Oregon State

In football, starting receiver Sammie Stroughter has missed the majority of fall training camp for personal reasons.

In men's hoop, Oregon State finalized their 2007-08 schedule which will include non-conference games against LSU and Iowa State.

In women's hoop, assistant coach Patrick Harrington resigned.

Arizona State

In football, defensive linemen Tranell Morant [knee], Saia Falahola [triceps muscle] and Luis Vasquez [high ankle sprain] were all injured and expected to miss the Sun Devils' opener against San Jose State.

In men's hoop, the Sun Devils will play Illinois at the 2007 Maui Invitational in November.

California

In football, defensive lineman Philip Mbakogu [knee] and linebackers D.J. Holt and Alex Cook [academically ineligible] are out for the year while sophomore offensive lineman Kevin Bemoll has been suspended for breaking team rules and is also out for the year.

Oregon

In football, Arizona State's game at Eugene on November 3 will be televised by Fox Sports.

WSU

In men's hoop, junior center Aron Baynes is the leading scorer averaging over 18 points per game for his native Australia at the World University Games in Bangkok, Thailand, while his teammate, redshirt freshman guard Thomas Abercrombie is averaging 4.5 points per game for his native New Zealand. Air Force, Montana and Mississippi Valley State are the slated teams at WSU-hosted Hispanic Invitational at the Spokane Arena on November 23-25.

In football, Portland State was added to the 2008 schedule on September 20 at Pullman.

In women's hoop, sophomore forward Marisa Stotler has transferred to Boise State while sophomore guard Jamie Roupp transferred to Portland State.

Stanford

In football, starting fullback Emeka Nnoli is retiring from football due to avascular necrosis – the same injury that famously affected Bo Jackson – both hips.

USC

In football, backup quarterback Mark Sanchez suffered an injury to his right thumb and will be out for a month. The Trojans have reached home-and-home agreements with Syracuse and Boston College for the 2011-2014 seasons.

In men's hoop, USC will play in the Jimmy V Classic on December 4 against Memphis.

Washington

In football, receiver Anthony Russo is out for a month with a broken finger while defensive back Jordan Murchison has been suspended indefinitely in connection with his arrest in a previous felony assault charge. The Huskies received a verbal commitment from running back/defensive back Anthony Gobern

Arizona

In football, the Wildcats received a verbal commitment from receiver Jarrell Barbour.

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