PAC-10 Notebook

We don’t need no civil war

In the words of rock sensation Guns ‘n’ Roses,
“We don’t need no civil war.”

The citizens of Oregon do not heed to Axl Rose’s warning.
Every year, the state of Oregon splits in half. The warring
factions of the Oregon Ducks and Oregon State Beavers clash every
December. They will take up arms for the 105th time next
Saturday.

Oregon has gone 20-5-1 since 1975, but OSU has won two of the
last three matchups against their intrastate rivals.

A win from No. 4 Oregon keeps their slim Rose Bowl hopes alive
while an OSU victory would make the Beavers bowl eligible.

The sky is falling

Watch out, because the sky is falling. That’s the only
thing left to happen in college football since last weekend. No, it
wasn’t Nebraska’s loss to Colorado or Oklahoma’s
loss to Oklahoma State that caused the sky to fall.

Earth’s clear blue ceiling is crumbling because the
California Golden Bears, who took an 0-10 record into last
Saturday’s season finale against Rutgers, emerged with
something they have desired all season: a victory.

Cal avoided its first winless season since 1897 with a 20-10
victory over the equally hapless Scarlet Knights.

The Cal players were so happy not to have their season
immortalized in the history books, they dumped a water cooler on
soon to be departed head coach Tom Holmoe.

Painting the roses red

On Wednesday the Rose Bowl committee revealed the official
artwork for the tournament’s 100th anniversary. Ruth Mayer
took three years to produce the painting, which incorporates 100
years of Rose Bowl tradition. The Rose Bowl paid $200,000 for the
piece, which includes such legendary college football figures as
Woody Hayes, Bo Schembechler and sportswriting great Jim
Murray.

Pac-10 players of the year

Offense: Joey Harrington, QB Oregon. Big surprise. He led his
Ducks to a 9-1 BCS birth in the 2001 season and is the front runner
to win the Heisman Trophy. He amassed a 23-3 record as the starting
quarterback.

Defense: LB ““ Robert Thomas, UCLA (See Daily Bruin
football notebook, Nov. 27).

Coach: Mike Price, Washington State. Coming off of a 4-7 2000
campaign, Price’s Cougars were picked to finish last in the
Pac-10 preseason media poll. Less than five months later, WSU has a
9-2 record, a third place standing in the Pac-10 and a bid to
compete in the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas.

Notes compiled by Scott Bair, Daily Bruin Reporter.