Opponent's Notebook: Week 2

Nothing against the fine publication that it is, but the Arizona Daily Sun first on the chopping block for this year's opponent's notebook. And a new format! Hopefully easier for you to read and sort through as we help you educate yourself throughout 2008.

This week's edition...new Uga sleeps through a blowout...Stanford respects ASU's passing game...UNLV fans are "die-hard, literally...Washington has quite a test at BYU and The Hoff showed up at Arizona Stadium. Yes, THIS Hoff. Anyway, to the links!

Stanford Cardinal (September 6)
gostanford.com: The official media release. Always interesting reading.
gostanford.com: Wopamo Osaisai, owner of the best name in the Pac, wins the D-POY honors this week.
San Jose Mercury News: Stanford respects ASU's big play potential and is going to need to pressure Rudy big time.
San Jose Mercury News: Tim Kawakami can't believe Stanford actually won a game! At home!
San Francisco Chronicle: Get that arm warmed up, Tavita, you'll be throwing. A lot.
San Francisco Chronicle: Everyone is so thrilled that Stanford has a running game, no one expected it to be headed by Toby Gerhart.

UNLV Rebels (September 13)
Las Vegas Review Journal: The Rebs have some injury issues, and they'll need all the healthy bodies they can get for Utah next week and ASU afterwards.
Las Vegas Review Journal: Only 18,815 at the UNLV win over Utah State, and only a few tailgated...in the back of a hearst.

Georgia Bulldogs (September 20)
georgiadogs.com: Blair Welch...freshman kicker...a man of few words.
Atlanta Journal-Constitution: All sorts of Q & A on why Georgia dropped in the polls after a win.
Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Terence Moore has it right...forget the rankings...win and you'll move back up.
Atlanta Journal-Constitution: More injury woes...Jeff Owens is going to be a big loss for the Bulldogs.
Athens Banner-Herald: Uga VII got a rousing ovation and introduction...then took a nap. Sounds like how I want my life to be.

California Golden Bears (October 4)
San Jose Mercury News: Forget controversy, Kevin Riley is the man at Cal. Grab some pine, Longshore.
San Jose Mercury News: Plenty of PT to go around for the young receivers. Name one of them before reading this and I'll give you props.
Oakland Tribune: Wopamo, you've been unseated. I have a new favorite name in the Pac-10, and he's the Bears walk-on kicker. Better yet, he won the job outright.

USC Trojans (October 11)
Los Angeles Daily News: A dominating performance in Charlottesville vaulted USC to the #1 spot in the polls.
Los Angeles Daily News: Is bigger better for the USC offense? Answer: YES.
Los Angeles Times: That Trojans backfield might be even better than the Bush/White tandem.
Los Angeles Times: T.J. Symers says you can never accuse USC of not being ready for a season opener.

Oregon Ducks (October 25)
goducks.com: A rare instance of a student athlete doing right...Fenuki Tupou was suspended for the UW game but exposed a shady agent.
The Oregonian: Is Utah State, Oregon's next opponent, the worst team in college football?
The Oregonian: I know I don't want John Canzano to vomit, so don't compare Justin Roper to Dennis Dixon.
The Register-Guard: Speaking of Roper, he's still out of practice because of the concussion.

Oregon State Beavers (November 1)
Corvallis Gazette-Times: Can the Beavers get back on the map by beating Penn State in Happy Valley? Keep dreaming.
Corvallis Gazette-Times: Being a 15-point underdog doesn't seem to phase the Beavers.

Washington Huskies (November 8)
gohuskies.com: Tremendous story about the recovery of Juan Garcia, who had the same injury Ryan Torain suffered last year.
Seattle Post-Intelligencer: Molly Yanity breaks down BYU and pretty much how the Cougars will demolish Washington.
Seattle Post-Intelligencer: Jim Moore wants you to give the Huskies some more time before you judge them. Frankly, I've seen enough.
Seattle Times: Tyrone Willingham talked to the media today...it's like leading lambs to the slaughter.
Seattle Times: The O-Line says they have to be better. Gee, ya think?

Washington State Cougars (November 15)
Seattle Post-Intelligencer: Despite a loss in which they were pretty well manhandled by Oklahoma State, there's still some optimism.
Seattle Times: The Cougars are getting healthy, and they definitely need all the help they can get for their home opener.

UCLA Bruins (November 28)
Los Angeles Times: Don't be scared by the picture, be scared by how well UCLA's freshmen performed against Tennessee.
Los Angeles Times: Bill Plaschke says to cue Bon Jovi's "Who Says You Can't Go Home" for Rick Neuheisel.
Los Angeles Times: Neuheisel is only the 3rd UCLA coach to win in his debut since WWII and other notes on the upset.
Los Angeles Daily News: Ricky N got what he wanted...people are starting to talk about UCLA football.
Los Angeles Daily News: Brian Dohn's report card. Demerits for everyone!

Arizona Wildcats (December 6)
Arizona Daily Star: To be honest, I didn't finish this article. I was laughing too hard after reading that The Hoff was in the Zona Zoo.
Arizona Daily Star: One thing that UA fans aren't used to are blowouts. Oh, I mean blowout WINS.
Tucson Citizen: Toledo carries an offense into Tucson thats...um...just a bit better than Idaho's.