Why bats, Master Wayne?
Bats frighten me. It’s time my enemies shared my dread.
Leading off
We had a taste of college football this weekend with Eastern Washington (which travels to Washington on Sept. 6) knocking off Sam Houston 56-35. Former WSU receiver Blair Bomber caught a pair of touchdowns, and former UCLA safety Tevin McDonald had an interception.
But with college football comes the return of College GameDay. And with the first College GameDay comes predictions.
Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit and Desmond Howard all picked UCLA to win the Pac-12, and Corso and Howard tapped the Bruins as 2014 national champions.
And in other predictions news, Herbstreit is down on the Ducks and neither he nor David Pollack think Oregon will make the College Football Playoff.
Here’s the video of those two and Scott Van Pelt debating Stanford.
Players in the news
If you follow the Pac-12, then you haven’t forgotten about Austin Hill. But the rest of the country might have. After having one of the best receiving seasons in school history, Hill returns after missing all of last season with a torn ACL he suffered in the spring. He chatted with Daniel Berk about his return.
You can see the complete Q&A here.
In unhappy player news ... one Washington player has been dismissed and another suspended for violating team rules.
Freshman safety Lavon Washington is the third player coach Chris Petersen has bumped since he was hired in December after Steve Sarkisian departed for USC. Backup tight end Derrick Brown has also been suspended indefinitely for a situation unrelated to Washington's.
Petersen’s first few months on the job have been overshadowed by off-the-field incidents. Quarterback Cyler Miles is suspended for the season opener and wide receiver Damore'ea Stringfellow transferred out after both were tied to a post-Super Bowl assault incident. Miles wasn’t charged, and Stringfellow pled guilty to three misdemeanors.
Jeff Lindquist will get the start for the Huskies against Hawaii. After that, we’ll see if Miles plays his way back into the job.
If you’re a Washington fan, it’s frustrating. But you also have to respect the hardline approach Petersen is taking.
News/notes/team reports
Arizona, AKA Transfer U, has been following this approach for decades.
An Arizona State practice report.
Some quick facts on what you need to know about California.
The Buffaloes are trying to bring students back to Folsom.
The Ducks are in the running for a four-star running back out of Texas.
An Oregon State practice report.
The Cardinal are No. 7 in Paul Myerberg’s 128-team countdown for USA Today.
Much of UCLA’s success rests on Brett Hundley’s shoulders.
A couple of USC offensive guards could make history if they start against Fresno State.
Five reasons why Utah thinks it is better.
The psychology of Chris Petersen.
Washington State’s running game will have a new look.
Just for fun
Welcome to game week.
Gotta love the Scooter with his headgear selection. It's game week!!! Let's Go!!! #areyouin?! pic.twitter.com/JlMVVaYVPc
— Kirk Herbstreit (@KirkHerbstreit) August 24, 2014