DG on PX - Pac 10 Things Learned on Halloween

There were plenty of Halloween treats for quarterbacks Kevin Prince and Kevin Riley and Oregon, but the biggest trick of all was played on Pete Carroll and USC.

10 observations from Autzen Stadium on Halloween night, when USC’s run of dominance came to an end

-USC won’t win the Pac-10 in 2009
What if Damian Williams was completely healthy? What if tight end Anthony McCoy had been available to run those seam routes that were open all during the first half? What if Stafon Johnson was able to grind out yards and keep the Ducks on the sideline?

What if linebackers Manti Te’o and Vontaze Burfict were around to provide the physical presence missing Saturday night? What if Pete Carroll had been able to make any sort of adjustment to contain Oregon?

Those are the questions that will be asked around Heritage Hall this week, during the preparations for a bowl not played in Pasadena and during the long offseason to come.

-But the Trojans will be back in 2010
They always are.

-That might be the year the Pac-10 is the best conference in college football
Even with the expected departures of standout players like Williams, Jahvid Best, Rob Gronkowski and Brian Price, look at the players set to return for another season.

Eight of the league’s starting quarterbacks are set to return (assuming Jake Locker resists the draft). So too are backs like LaMichael James and Jacquizz Rodgers.

USC’s unparalleled success has forced the rest of the Pac-10 to play catch-up and those efforts are finally coming to fruition. Only Washington State continues to be mired in constant losing, the other nine teams will all have the minimum goal of a bowl game and loftier aspirations beyond that.

-Oregon is on top of the hill
In a fitting end to the Trojan dynasty, Oregon pummeled USC in everyway imaginable. 613 yards. 47 points. 9 for 9 in the red zone.

In the exact same way the Trojans had abused opponents since 2002, they were finally on the receiving end on a complete beat down.

-But the Ducks should be afraid of Arizona
It’s a gut feeling really, but the Wildcats will find a way to make things interesting in Tucson.

-Texas, Alabama and Florida owe a debt of thanks to Boise State
Who wants to play Oregon in a bowl game? Absolutely no one. Pity the poor Big Ten lamb offered up for sacrifice on Jan. 1.

-UCLA has its quarterback
Now there was the Kevin Prince who earned the nod from quarterback guru Norm Chow.

Getting no help from the Bruins run game, Prince threw for 323 yards, two touchdowns and led a furious fourth quarter rally to tie the game.

UCLA has been hampered by erratic QB play for years. Now that Prince is clearly established as ‘the man,’ a process delayed by that bootleg-caused broken jaw, there is finally a foundation for the program to build around.

-So does Cal
Any lingering questions over Kevin Riley’s status should have been put to rest with his game-winning drive at Arizona State, as well as the preceding one that ended in a missed field goal.

On those two possessions, Riley was 9 of 12 for 142 yards.

There will still be questions over Riley’s ability to beat elite level teams like Oregon and USC, but at least the Golden Bears know will know with certainty who is their starting quarterback going into next season for the first time in years.

-Quizz Rodgers really can do it all
We know the sophomore tailback is a threat any time he carries or catches the ball, but who knew Quizz could also chuck it around when asked?

Operating out of the Wildcat, Rodgers threw a 14-yard touchdown pass in Oregon State’s 26-19 win over UCLA.

Outside of being recognized as a viable Heisman candidate by the national media, what can’t Quizz do?

-Autzen Stadium more than lived up to its reputation
Saturday marked my first trip up to the most feared venue west of the Mississippi, and it’s easy to see why. The crowd noise can be best described as a jet engine being placed on the field and running for three and a half hours.

Is it too early to buy tickets for Matt Barkley’s return visit in 2011?