Pac-Tending 12-12-07

"When I arrived January 8th, I asked the ladies to give 100% belief and support of the plan we were going to put forth. I said we'd re-evaluate at the end of the year and if the plan didn't work, we'd change it, and thankfully, the plan worked."

- First-year USC head women's soccer coach Ali Khosroshahin, whose "plan" resulted in a NCAA national championship earlier this week.

The holiday cheer keeps rising on the cheer-o-meter at the Creek, in the form of NCAA success. USC added another championship to the coffers with a national title in women's soccer and the Pac-10 is continuing to dominate in volleyball – placing three teams [USC, Stanford and California] in the Final Four of that tournament.

The first 2007-08 Director's Cup standings were released and Oregon leads with 13-time defending champ Stanford right behind them and three Pac-10 schools in the top 10 spots.

Meanwhile, at NCAA HQ, the NCAA expanded their relationship with PrimeSport to allow that company to serve the NCAA as the official ticket, hospitality and hotel package provider for the 2008 Women's Final Four in Tampa Bay, Florida.

California

In football, junior offensive lineman Alex Mack was named as the Morris Trophy winner as the best offensive lineman in the Pac-10.

UCLA

In football, the Bruins fired head coach Karl Dorrell.

Oregon

In football, Oregon re-scheduled their home game with conference foe Washington for August 30.

WSU

In football, WSU named Eastern Washington University head coach Paul Wulff as their new head coach.

In men's hoop, 6th-ranked Wazzu defeated Gonzaga and Portland State, to remain undefeated on the year at 9-0 with an 18 RPI.

In women's hoop, the Cougars lost to Boise State to fall to 2-6 overall on the year with a 272 RPI.

Arizona

In football, the Wildcats received verbal commitments from linebackers R.J. Young and Sterling Lewis as well as offensive linemen Phillip Garcia and Herman Hall.

In men's hoop, head coach Lute Olson will extend his leave to the end of the season after he filed for divorce from his wife of four years. Freshman guard Laval Lucas-Perry has indicated he will transfer. Sophomore forward Jordan Hill was named as the conference's player of the week.

Washington

In administration, athletic director Todd Turner resigned his position.

In men's hoop, sophomore guard Adrian Oliver has decided to transfer.

Oregon State

In men's hoop, the Beavers defeated Cal State-Bakersfield, 77-53, to improve to 6-4 overall on the year with a 250 RPI.

Stanford

In women's soccer, senior defender Rachel Buehler was named as the Pac-10's Scholar-Athlete of the Year for that sport.

USC

In football, senior defensive lineman Sedrick Ellis won the Morris Trophy as best defensive lineman in the Pac-10.

Arizona State

In football, the Sun Devils have sold out their 11,000-ticket allotment for the Holiday Bowl.

In women's hoop, junior center Kirsten Thompson was named as the conference's player of the week.

In volleyball, head coach Brad Saindon was not retained by the school after going 58-86 in five years as the head coach.

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