Aug. 5: players report

Aug. 6-7-8-9-10: once-a-day practices

Aug. 11-13-15-17-20: twice-a-day practices

Aug. 12-14-16-18-19-21-22-23: once-a-day practices (scrimmages on
Aug. 12-16-21, Salute to Troy on Aug. 22)

Aug. 24: no practice

Aug. 25-26-27-28: game week practices (school starts on Aug. 25)

With longtime Pac-10 Commissioner Tom Hansen, a decent, solid and honorable guy, announcing his retirement a year from now, the usual suspects are getting pushed out there to succeed him. They start with the likes of Stanford AD Bob Bowlsby and maybe even ex-Notre Dame AD on his way to Duke, Kevin White.

Then there's the usual "some guy from the SEC'' since the Southeastern Conference seems to have learned how to work the system, certainly the BCS and college baseball part of it, better than anyone.

But the Pac-10 should look USC's way, although not the way that usually works. I'm not talking about an administrator here, but a parent.

That's right. A USC football parent, Dave Baker, the former mayor of Irvine and current commissioner of the Arena Football League, would be an unstoppable force in college athletics and not just because the former UC Irvine basketball player, at 6-feet-8 and somewhere north of 350 pounds, dwarfis his All-American tackle son -- Sam.

I know Baker has already told me he's got a great job. And it's obvious he's done a great job marketing the AFL, getting it prominent air-time with its ESPN contract, something the Pac-10 could work on improving. And he could go toe-to-toe with all the rest of the BCS and bigtime college basketball people when it comes to promoting the Pac-10.

Probably won't happen. But if it did, it'd be a good day for college sports on the West Coast.,

USC drops to fourth in Athlon, behind Ohio State and Oklahoma, in that order, and ahead of No. 5 Georgia.

The second five is decidedly southern with Missouri, West Virginia, Auburn, LSU and Clemson in that order.

Pac-10 teams remain in much the same spots, with Arizona State at No. 15, Oregon at No. 19.

Also in the Top 25 for both magazines are the Bulldogs of Fresno State, No. 25 for Athlon, No. 22 for Lindy's.

The game tops Lindy's list of top nonconference games of the season.

Oklahoma is No. 4, Missouri No. 5 in Lindy's followed by SEC big boys Florida and LSU with Texas No. 8, Clemson No. 9 and West Virginia No. 10.

Two other Pac-10 teams crack Lindy's Top 25 with Arizona State at No. 14, Oregon No. 21.

But where the metal meets the road is where the mags make thier judgments on who has what coming back. Don't look for much in the way of projections in the comparisons and breakdowns of the teams, conferences or position groups.

More than any season in recent years, the mags seem to be playing it safe and going with who did what last season and just looking at the numbers.

For example, here's just one way that affects USC.

Despite the fact that quarterbacks Mark Sanchez and Mitch Mustain were back-to-back players of the year and the top quarterbacks in their classes four and three years ago coming out of high school, USC is not ranked anywhere near the top of the Pac-10 at that position nor is it among the top 10 nationally in Athlon Sports position rankings -- although Washington, BYU and Central Michigan are.

What you did last year is what matters. And both sat the bench, Sanchez behind senior Jiohn David Booty and Mustain as a redshirt in his transfer year from Arkansas.

The ABC Regional/ESPN 2 telecast will kick off at 3:30 p.m. EDT, 12;30 p.m. in the LA area.

In one, four USC defenders, tackle Fili Moala, linebackers Brian Cushing and Rey Maualuga and safety Taylor Mays have been named as Phil Steele's college football magazine's first-team All-Americans.

No Trojan offensive players made it as a Steele first-team All-American.

The magazine also named All-Pac-10 teams that did show three Trojans, in addition to the four already named, as first-teamers, Stafon Johnson was named first-team running back, Jeff Byers first-team offensive guard with Everson Griffen named first-team defensive end.

For those looking ahead to that Sept. 13 Ohio State matchup with USC, the Buckeyes were right behind USC with three first-team All-Americans -- running back Beanie Wells, offensive tackle Alex Boone and linebacker James Laurinaitis.

Here are the teams.

Players listed in order from first through fourth teams at each position

1st TEAM OFFENSE 2nd TEAM OFFENSE 3rd TEAM OFFENSE 4th TEAM OFFENSE

QB Tim Tebow, Florida Pat White, West Virginia Curtis Painter, Purdue Chase Daniel, Missouri

RB Beanie Wells, Ohio St James Davis, Clemson Marlon Lucky, Nebraska Javarris James, Miami,Fl

RB Knowshon Moreno, Georgia Ian Johnson, Boise St Javon Ringer, Michigan St Arian Foster, Tennessee

WR Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech Sammie Stroughter, Oregon St Aaron Kelly, Clemson Patrick Turner, USC

WR Darrius Heyward-Bey, Maryland Demetrius Byrd, LSU Brandon Gibson, Wash St Brian Robiskie, Ohio St

WR Percy Harvin, Florida Greg Carr, Florida St Jaison Williams, Oregon Jarett Dillard, Rice

TE Jermaine Gresham, Oklahoma Travis Beckum, Wisconsin Chase Coffman, Missouri Cornelius Ingram, Florida

C Jonathan Luigs, Arkansas Max Unger, Oregon Alex Mack, California Eric Wood, Louisville

G Duke Robinson, Oklahoma Anthony Parker, Tennessee Steve Rehring, Ohio St Sergio Render, Virginia Tech

G Herman Johnson, LSU Louis Vasquez, Texas Tech Jeremy Perry, Oregon St Kraig Urbik, Wisconsin

T Alex Boone, Ohio St Phil Loadholt, Oklahoma Ciron Black, LSU Sean Sester, Purdue

T Andre Smith, Alabama Michael Oher, Mississippi Sam Young, Notre Dame Dallas Reynolds, BYU

K Jose Martinez, UTEP Sam Swank, Wake Forest Thomas Weber, Arizona St Kai Forbath, UCLA

KR Marcus Herford, Kansas Jeremy Maclin, Missouri AJ Wallace, Penn St Max Suter, Syracuse

1st TEAM DEFENSE 2nd TEAM DEFENSE 3rd TEAM DEFENSE 4th TEAM DEFENSE

DE Tyson Jackson, LSU Maurice Evans, Penn St Greg Middleton, Indiana Matt Shaughnessy, Wisconsin

DT Fili Moala, USC DeMarcus Granger, Oklahoma Terrance Taylor, Michigan Peria Jerry, Mississippi

DT Ricky Jean-Francois, LSU Vince Oghobaase, Duke Geno Atkins, Georgia Jeff Owens, Georgia

DE George Selvie, USF Michael Johnson, GA Tech Greg Hardy, Mississippi Ricky Sapp, Clemson

OLB Brian Cushing, USC Brian Toal, Boston College Rico McCoy, Tennessee Clinton Snyder, Stanford

ILB James Laurinaitis, Ohio St Brandon Spikes, Florida Dave Philistin, Maryland Worrell Williams, California

ILB Rey Maualuga, USC Gerald McRath, Southern Miss Darry Beckwith, LSU Jasper Brinkley, S Carolina

OLB Marcus Freeman, Ohio St Aaron Curry, Wake Forest Anthony Heygood, Purdue Tyrone McKenzie, USF

CB Malcolm Jenkins, Ohio St Victor "Macho" Harris, Virginia Tech Walter Thurmond, Oregon Trevard Lindley, Kentucky

CB Vontae Davis, Illinois Jairus Byrd, Oregon Mike Mickens, Cincinnati Joe Burnett, UCF

SS Nic Harris, Oklahoma Michael Hamlin, Clemson Patrick Chung, Oregon Myron Rolle, Florida St

FS Taylor Mays, USC William Moore, Missouri Courtney Greene, Rutgers Derek Pegues, Mississippi St

P Kevin Huber, Cincinnati Louie Sakoda, Utah Keenyn Crier, Arizona Aaron Perez, UCLA

PR Deon Murphy, Kansas St Brandon James, Florida Sammie Stroughter, Oregon St David Gilreath, Wisconsin

Here is the All-Pac-10 Preseason team:

1st TEAM OFFENSE 2nd TEAM OFFENSE 3rd TEAM OFFENSE HONORABLE MENTION

QB Rudy Carpenter, Arizona St Willie Tuitama, Arizona Jake Locker, Washington Mark Sanchez, USC

RB Stafon Johnson, USC Jahvid Best, California Dwight Tardy, Washington St Nicholas Grigsby, Arizona

RB Keegan Herring, Arizona St Jeremiah Johnson, Oregon Joe McKnight, USC Toby Gerhart, Stanford

WR Brandon Gibson, Washington St Patrick Turner, USC David Ausberry, USC Nyan Boateng, California

WR Mike Thomas, Arizona Jaison Williams, Oregon Vidal Hazelton, USC Chris Polk, Washington

WR Sammie Stroughter, Oregon St Michael Jones, Arizona St Chris McGaha, Arizona St Richard Sherman, Stanford

TE Rob Gronkowski, Arizona Ed Dickson, Oregon Logan Paulsen, UCLA Ben Ladner, Stanford

C Max Unger, Oregon Alex Mack, California Alex Fletcher, Stanford Kristofer O'Dowd, USC

OG Jeff Byers, USC Colin Baxter, Arizona Noris Malele, California Joe Longacre, Arizona

OG Jeremy Perry, Oregon St Paul Fanaika, Arizona St Casey Bulyca, Washington Ryan Tolar, Washington

OT Eben Britton, Arizona J'Marcus Webb, Arizona Vaughn Lesuma, Washington St Chris Marinelli, Stanford

OT Fenuki Tupou, Oregon Andy Levitre, Oregon St Butch Lewis, USC Micah Kia, UCLA

1st TEAM DEFENSE 2nd TEAM DEFENSE 3rd TEAM DEFENSE HONORABLE MENTION

DE Nick Reed, Oregon Dexter Davis, Arizona St Daniel Te'o-Nesheim, Wash Andy Mattingly, Wash St

DT Ekom Udofia, Stanford Brigham Harwell, UCLA Brian Price, UCLA Will Tukuafu, Oregon

DT Fili Moala, USC Averill Spicer, USC Fevaea'i Ahmu, Washington St Derrick Hill, California

DE Everson Griffen, USC Kyle Moore, USC Pannel Egboh, Stanford Victor Butler, Oregon St

LB Rey Maualuga, USC EJ Savannah, Washington Anthony Felder, California Greg Trent, Washington St

LB Worrell Williams, California Reggie Carter, UCLA Pat Maynor, Stanford Travis Goethel, Arizona St

LB Brian Cushing, USC Zack Follett, California Ronnie Palmer, Arizona Jerome Boyd, Oregon

LB Clinton Snyder, Stanford Vuna Tuihalamaka, Arizona Chris Galippo, USC Donald Butler, Washington

CB Walter Thurmond, Oregon Alterraun Verner, UCLA Syd'Quan Thompson, California Chima Nwachukwu, Wash St

CB Jairus Byrd, Oregon Cary Harris, USC Brandon Hughes, Oregon St Keenan Lewis, Oregon St

SS Patrick Chung, Oregon Kevin Ellison, USC Al Afalava, Oregon St Jeremy Payton, Arizona St

FS Taylor Mays, USC Troy Nolan, Arizona St Bo McNally, Stanford Nate Ness, Arizona

K Thomas Weber, Arizona St Kai Forbath, UCLA David Buehler, USC Jason Bondzio, Arizona

P Keenyn Crier, Arizona Aaron Perez, UCLA Josh Syria, Oregon Jared Ballman, Washington

KR Jahvid Best, California Ronald Johnson, USC Mike Thomas, Arizona CJ Gable, USC

PR Sammie Stroughter, Oregon St Terrence Austin, UCLA Kyle Williams, Arizona St Joe McKnight, USC

The post-spring top 25

1. Ohio State

2. Georgia

3. Oklahoma

4. USC

5. Missouri:

6. Florida

7. Kansas

8. Texas

9. West Virginia

10. Auburn

11. Texas Tech

12. Illinois

13. Clemson

14. BYU

15. Wisconsin

16. LSU

17. Virginia Tech

18. Arizona State

19. South Florida

20. Tennessee

21. Connecticut

22. Pittsburgh

23. Michigan State

24. Fresno State

25. Cincinnati

The tickets go on sale Thursday. Here's the release from UVA with all the details.

May 21, 2008 For Immediate Release

Mini-Ticket Packages for UVa Home Football Games on Sale Thursday:
Fans May Purchase Three- or Four-Game Plans

Charlottesville, VA ­ -- Virginia fans will again have the opportunity to
purchase two football mini-ticket packages for home games during the 2008
season. The mini-ticket packages go on sale Thursday, May 22 at 5 p.m. The
Season Kickoff package includes three home games at Scott Stadium, while the
ACC package features UVa¹s four conference games played in Charlottesville.
Both packages are available to purchase online at VirginiaSports.com.

The Season Kickoff package includes the games vs. USC (Aug. 30), Richmond (Sept. 6) and East Carolina (Oct. 11) and is available for $101.

The ACC package is available for $168. The package features the Cavaliers¹
four ACC home games against Maryland (Oct. 4), North Carolina (Oct. 18),
Miami (Nov. 1) and Clemson (Nov. 22).

Kickoff times for all Virginia home games will be announced in the future.

Fans may also purchase the mini-ticket packages by calling the UVa athletics
ticket office at 1-800-542-8821 or 434-924-8821 weekdays from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Fans can order the packages in person by visiting the athletics ticket office in Bryant Hall at Scott Stadium weekdays between 9 a.m.and 5 p.m. Telephone and ticket window sales for the mini-ticket packages begin Friday, May 23, at 9 a.m.

Tickets for the complete seven-game Virginia home schedule are available
with the purchase of a season ticket. Season ticket holders may also take
advantage of benefits such as ticket resale access through Virginia¹s Ticket
Marketplace and electronic ticket transfer and ticket return opportunities.

More than 34,000 season tickets have been sold for the 2008 football season.

It's here: http://www.petecarroll.com/index.cfm/pk/view/cd/NAA/cdid/404114/pid/400025

All year long we've been documenting how this senior class was producing in the classroom. Well, this week's graduation ceremonies proved that. Here's the list from USC for the diploma-winners, including a number who are also trying to win a spot on an NFL roster.

Fall 2007 Graduates

Sam Baker • Offensive tackle
John David Booty • Quarterback
Lawrence Jackson • Defensive end
Michael McDonald • Quarterback
Chase McWhorter • Safety
Alex Morrow • Defensive end
Desmond Reed • Tailback
Terrell Thomas • Cornerback

Spring 2008 Graduates

Jim Abbott • Cornerback
Will Collins • Long snapper
Travis Draper • Offensive lineman (On the team in 2005-06)
Mozique McCurtis • Defensive back
Alatini "Tiny" Malu • Offensive guard
Jimmy Miller • Tight end
Drew Radovich • Offensive lineman
Dale Thompson • Tight end
Thomas Williams • Linebacker

Potential Summer Grads

Keith Rivers • Linebacker
Matt Spanos • Offensive lineman
Brad Walker • Wide receiver