Duck Sports Authority - The Friday Inside Scoop

February 1, 2008

Don Lambert
Duck Sports Authority Senior Writer

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DUCK SPORTS AUTHORITY DISCUSSION ZONES

FOOTBALL: DSA GRIDZONE (Premium) - All about intelligent conversation.

RECRUITING: THE CASANOVA CENTER (Premium) - Recruiting news break here.

BASKETBALL: McARTHUR COURT (Open) - Talk about the rim.

OTHER TOPICS: THE BLEACHERS (Open) - Debate with fans from other programs.

Strictly Oregon

Living large on green street
The Emerald
Sophomore forward Joevan Catron, plucked from the mean streets of South Chicago and dropped into the green streets of Eugene, has been a great find for coaches Ernie Kent and Kenny Payne.

His work ethic on and off the court is unmatched in the program, and the fire and passion with which he plays inspires his teammates and helps set the tone for them - as well as the Mac Court faithful.

"He's going to ignite this crowd and he's going to ignite us with that energy that he brings to the floor," said Kent after naming Catron as the final piece of the Ducks' starting lineup this preseason. "That's very important to me to have a guy to be able to do that."

And he did early, leading the Ducks in rebounding four times and in scoring once during the preseason.

Rupp learns from Salazar's mistakes
Register-Guard
NEW YORK ? Galen Rupp would bang his head against a wall 10 times if Alberto Salazar told him to.

Or at least the gifted young distance runner says this to make a point about how completely he trusts his coach.

"He's been through everything that I've gone through, and he's been to places that I can only hope to go," Rupp said. "He's been there and done it all, so obviously everything he says I take to heart."

Salazar won the New York City Marathon three straight times from 1980-82 and the Boston Marathon in 1982 and set six U.S. records. But for all his success, he wonders what more he could have achieved with just a little more guidance.

Officials consider basketball ticket prices

Like many fans, Duane Farnham is excited about the prospect of a choice new basketball arena for the University of Oregon Ducks, and he's ready to fork over a few more bucks for a seat.

But also like a lot of fans, he has a message for the university as it begins the job of attaching price tags to the 12,500 seats in the shiny new pavilion.

"I'll try to make it work," the Portland season ticket holder said as he arrived for last week's game against UCLA. "But if it gets too stupid, the games are on TV."
Boiled down, that's the balancing act the UO faces. As designers firm up the arena's seating plan, athletic department officials must figure out a pricing scheme that's high enough to generate needed revenue but low enough that fans aren't priced out.

It's too soon yet to say how many fans will have to pony up more dollars, or how many more dollars they'll have to pony up. While it's certain that some will pay more ? and a certain segment will pay a lot more ? it's also true that the new arena will have more cheap seats than McArthur Court, and that those seats will have better sight lines.

The Ducks & The Civil War

Beaver breather: Ducks ease up before Civil War
The Emerald
Despite losing its past four games, the men's basketball team got a much-needed break this week by only having to plan for one game this week.

The Ducks (12-8 overall, 3-5 Pacific-10 Conference) have been feeling a bit worn out lately and coach Ernie Kent decided it would be better to let his players rest rather than having some extra practice.

"We needed the time off because it's the only time they can't take any time off between now and the end of the season," Kent said. "We need to give them an opportunity to get a breather."

Brown might be out for Civil War
Register-Guard
Kamyron Brown, who has started eight games for Oregon and leads the Ducks in assists, is listed as "questionable" to play Saturday against Oregon State due to an ankle injury suffered in a pick-up basketball game on a day off from practice.

"One of those freshman boo-boos," UO coach Ernie Kent said.

The team has a rule against scholarship players participating in any basketball activities except practice or games during the season. Brown suffered his injury on Monday, scheduled as a day off for the Ducks, while playing with other students at the UO recreation center.

Kent said he had recently reminded his players against playing in such pick-up games during the season, which seemed to increase his level of frustration over the matter.

Lilley not enough to keep Wildcats at bay
Register-Guard
TUCSON, Ariz. ? If the recent Oscar nominations had included categories from Thursday's Oregon women's basketball game at Arizona, Taylor Lilley and Ashley Whisonant would have been the candidates for best actress.

That the Wildcats won best picture rather than the Ducks, by a score of 65-60 in the McKale Center, would have been because Arizona had nominees for top supporting actress as well. Oregon had ... well, Lilley.

The Ducks' sophomore shooting guard kept Thursday's game close with her accuracy from outside, and Arizona's senior point guard dazzled in the second half to hold off hard-charging Oregon. But while the Ducks floundered during key stretches when Lilley wasn't scoring, the Wildcats got key contributions from forwards Ify Ibekwe and Amina Njonkou in support of Whisonant.

In his son's big moment, father battles heroin
Sun-Times
CHANDLER, Ariz. -- I hand Reuben Droughns a letter. It is from his heroin-addicted father, an inmate at Cook County Jail back in their hometown of Chicago, pleading that I personally deliver a message to his son. ``I haven't spoken to him in a long time,'' writes the elder Droughns, also named Reuben. ``I want (him) to know I think about him often and wish him well. I wish life had been different for us, that I could be or could have been more a part of his life.

``If you see him, please tell him his father loves him and would love it if he could could find a way to come and see him.''
This is about the last news expected by the younger Droughns, a veteran running back with the New York Giants, as he enters a ballroom at the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort for another Super Bowl media session. He reads the letter quietly at an auxiliary table, oblivious to hundreds of reporters milling around Eli Manning and Plaxico Burress and Michael Strahan. When he finishes absorbing 200 weighty words that fill an entire page of notebook paper, he forces a smile. The man is his father, sure, but he's also a convicted drug dealer who has been in prison four times and likely is headed for a fifth stay after a bust last summer for heroin possession.

Lacing up the Nikes and getting ready to yell
The Emerald
The University of Oregon and the Pit Crew sustained a black eye from last week's UCLA game. It's been well-documented that the fans were unruly and University officials didn't do much to quell the obscenities.

The behavior improved during Saturday's game against USC after Oregon coach Ernie Kent addressed the fans before the game and University officials spoke to members of the Pit Crew, encouraging the students to tone down the vulgarity.

Now the reparation work to Oregon's image begins - on several fronts.

Audition by fire
Register-Guard
CORVALLIS ? When last seen in a leading role at McArthur Court, Kevin Mouton was chasing UCLA great Reggie Miller around the court and helping Oregon end a sour season with a rousing victory.

That was 22 years ago. Mouton has changed sides and roles in the years since.

Now, as the interim head coach at Oregon State, he returns to Mac Court for the first Civil War basketball game of the season Saturday, chasing an elusive victory and hoping to end the Beavers' 10-game losing streak.

Reminiscing about the 1985-86 season as a freshman guard for the Ducks, Mouton recalled moments with irascible coach Don Monson, his teammates and some lessons he's carried with him in his coaching career.

Brown out?
Oregonian
The Oregon Ducks' problematic point guard position has gotten a little more uncertain.

Kamyron Brown, the freshman backup to Tajuan Porter, sprained his ankle this week and is doubtful for Saturday's game against Oregon State.

But it wasn't so much that Brown sprained his ankle as how - or where - he did it.

Brown was playing a pickup game at the rec center when it happened. That's kind of like taking a Maserati on a dirt track. Brown, without his ankles taped and playing against opponents who don't necessarily know where to put their feet.

A new boss coming to Rivals & Yahoo?
PI
SAN FRANCISCO -- Microsoft Corp. has pounced on slumping Internet icon Yahoo Inc. with an unsolicited takeover offer of $44.6 billion in its boldest bid yet to challenge Google Inc.'s dominance of the lucrative online search and advertising markets. The Justice Department says it is interested in reviewing antitrust issues associated with it.

The surprise offer of $31 per share, made late Thursday and announced Friday, seizes on Yahoo's weakness while Microsoft tries to muscle up in a high-stakes battle with Google likely to define the technology landscape for years to come.

In a statement Friday, Yahoo said it will "carefully and promptly" study Microsoft's bid.

With its profits steadily sliding, Yahoo's stock slipped to a four-year low earlier this week and a new management team has been trying to steer a turnaround but sees more turbulence through 2008.

The announcement lifted Yahoo's share price by almost 50 percent in morning trading, while Google fell almost 8 percent, dragged down by a fourth-quarter earnings report that missed Wall Street expectations.

Beavers head to Eugene, it's war time
Barometer
The Oregon State men's basketball team (6-14, 0-8) heads to Eugene to face the Oregon Ducks (12-8, 3-5) this weekend in search of its first Pac-10 win as they renew one of the oldest rivalries in college sports, the Civil War.

Although lately, you can't really call it much of a rivalry. The Beavers have lost 14 in a row at Mac Court and have not beaten the Ducks since the 2004-2005 season. Both teams will be desperate for a win on Saturday as they were both swept by the southern California schools last weekend.

OSU played well in the first half of coach Kevin Mouton's first game since replacing the recently fired Jay John, the Beavs trailed by only four heading into the break and the team looked more energized than they had all season up to that point.

The momentum did not last, however, as USC started the second half on a 15-2 run and the Beavers never recovered.

Ducks' Comeback Falls Short In Tucson
Official Site
TUCSON, Ariz. ? Arizona senior Ashley Whisonant scored 20 second-half points, leading her Arizona Wildcats to a 65-60 victory over Oregon at the McKale Center on Thursday night.

The Ducks, who trailed by as many as 10 in the second half, cut the Wildcats lead to two points twice in the final 1:30, but could not come closer than that.

Whisonant, a fourth-year senior, scored 22 points, shooting 7-of-15 from the floor, and 7-of-10 from the free-throw line.

The Ducks (10-11, 4-6) have now lost three consecutive games for the first time this season ? all three defeats have come on the road and each have been within a five-point margin.

Arizona now improves to 8-13 overall and 2-8 in the Pac-10, winners of two of their last three.

Ify Ibekwe added 16 for Arizona, including 12 in the first half.

The Ducks were troubled by Arizona's full-court pressure, turning the ball over 16 times, as the Wildcats scored 16 points off those turnovers. Arizona also outscored Oregon 38-26 in the paint, and outrebounded the Ducks 36-26.

Out & About

Coach reborn on the Bayou
Portland Tribune
You think Gary Crowton is getting only one ring for his part in Louisiana State's national football championship? Think again.

"We get three ? a Southeast Conference championship ring and national championship rings for both polls," says Crowton, the former University of Oregon offensive coordinator who served in that capacity with the Tigers this season. "They are great mementos to have when you look back at a coaching career."

What a first season in Bayou country it was for Crowton, 50, who was the Ducks' O-coordinator for the 2005 and '06 seasons.

WSU professor brings class to case; Rodriguez's dispute fascinating for some
FREE PRESS
While most people have watched Rich Rodriguez's divorce from West Virginia with angst or disgust or amusement or heartbreak, one man in Detroit has watched with fascination.

Derek Bambauer, a law professor at Wayne State who specializes in intellectual property and information law, finds the contract dispute so enthralling that he plans on using pieces of the battle in the classroom to teach his students.
At the center is a $4-million question: When Rodriguez left to coach football at the University of Michigan, did he break his contract and does he owe his former employer $4 million?

Bambauer studied the lawsuit and follow-up filings in the case and offered his thoughts about where and how it might end.

"Both sides have too much to lose," he said. "Federal court will take a year and a half to two years, minimum."

Not to mention hundreds of thousands of dollars and loads of unwanted publicity. Because of that, Bambauer said, he expects the sides to settle.

UW Football Notebook: Donatell expected to change defense
P-I REPORTER
It is now up to former Atlanta Falcons and Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Ed Donatell to fix Washington's defense.

Tyrone Willingham made it official Thursday, announcing that Donatell will be the Huskies' defensive coordinator, thus ending a six-week search that began when Willingham fired longtime assistant Kent Baer after one of the worst defensive seasons in program history.

The 2007 Huskies allowed a program-worst 446.4 yards per game, allowed the second-most points in team history and watched several fourth-quarter leads evaporate into losses as rival offenses marched by them.

Big-time college sports' misdeeds have many enablers
P-I REPORTER
Groucho Marx as Professor Wagstaff in "Horsefeathers"

Why now?

Critics of the controversial, well-done series this week in The Seattle Times detailing the misdeeds, mayhem and miscarriages of justice around the University of Washington's last good football team, the 2001 Rose Bowl winners, keep asking the same question.

Besides accusing the newspaper of being mean, biased and agenda-filled, many Huskies fans claim that because of the passage of time and the fact that nearly all the perpetrators are gone from the Montlake scene, the series is irrelevant. I beg to differ.

Go 2 Guy: Arrested Cougars eye-opening
P-I COLUMNIST
THE LAST TIME I spoke to Commander Chris Tennant of the Pullman Police Department in March, I had called for details on the thief who stole 1,500 bras and panties from local laundry rooms.

The guy took so many female undergarments that they filled five garbage bags and weighed 93 pounds.

I planned to write a column about the lingerie lifter, but sports editor Nick Rousso nixed it because it didn't have a sports angle. I argued that this story was so good it didn't need one, but he won and I lost, which brings us to why I called Tennant again on Thursday.

UCLA blows out ASU
The Arizona Republic
LOS ANGELES - It was a game about directions. No map is necessary, Just look at the Pac-10.

For UCLA and Arizona State, the conference standings might as well be opposite ends of a compass needle. The Bruins are still at the top, as sure as magnetic north.

ASU is at the opposite end, or at least the Sun Devils were Thursday night in an 84-51 loss at Pauley Pavilion that left only uncertainty about where and when their slide will end.

N.C.A.A. to Ease Limits on Athletes' Expenses
NY X's
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) ? The N.C.A.A. said it planned to ease restrictions on educational expenses for current student-athletes and set aside $10 million to reimburse former athletes as part of a tentative class-action lawsuit settlement.
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The agreement, which a judge must approve and both sides must review before it becomes final, stems from a federal antitrust lawsuit filed in February 2006 by two former football players and a former basketball player from California.

Initially, N.C.A.A. officials said the case had no merit. The proposed settlement includes the governing body's denial of wrongdoing, but the N.C.A.A. also acknowledged it sought a settlement to avoid additional expenses and distraction from litigation.

"It does provide greater flexibility for student-athletes who meet some of the qualifications for expenses that weren't otherwise covered," Bob Williams, the N.C.A.A. spokesman, said Wednesday.

Athletes attending college through 2012-13 will find fewer restrictions to determine reimbursement for educational expenses, résumé preparation and career counseling, and the 12,000 former student-athletes who joined the class-action suit will have access to a new $10 million fund for prior expenses. Claims must be filed within three years.

In addition, the N.C.A.A. has agreed to let Division I institutions provide year-round health insurance for athletes and accident insurance to cover the costs of injuries sustained on the playing field.

The plaintiffs argued that N.C.A.A. limits on scholarships, which cover tuition, books, housing and meals, were an unlawful restraint of trade because of the revenue generated from television, radio, licensing and other agreements.

Budinger, McClellan lead UA
Tucson Citizen
LOS ANGELES - Arizona interim coach Kevin O'Neill wanted Jawann McClellan to be more aggressive.

The senior guard listened Thursday night, scoring a career-high 23 points as Arizona snapped a three-game losing streak at USC with an 80-69 victory.

Arizona won its fourth straight to improve to 15-6 overall, 5-3 in the Pacific 10 Conference. USC, a 3.5-point favorite coming into the game, fell to 13-7 overall and 4-4.

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Bruins put on a clinic in beating Arizona State
LA DN
When Darren Collison or Russell Westbrook weren't dribble penetrating against the zone, or when Kevin Love wasn't sneaking open in a gap near the basket, an extra pass was being thrown on the perimeter.

It was, as Collison later said, a "clinic" the way UCLA attacked Arizona State's usually stingy 3-2 matchup zone, and it was accentuated by the Bruins' proficiency shooting the ball.

No. 5 UCLA shot a season-high 58.5 percent from the field and made two-thirds of its 3-point attempts and bashed the shell-shocked Sun Devils 84-51 Thursday in front of 11,070 at Pauley Pavilion.

"If we can continue to be consistent against the zone, and consistency is the key, it's going to be real hard to beat us," Collison said. "I never liked playing against the zone, but the way we did (Thursday), zones are so much easier to play against. There's so many open looks. Nobody is really guarding you. It's about you making shots and being patient."

Gambling Money Is in the Minutiae
NY X's
The best anyone can remember, proposition bets, or the props, as they are known, began with Super Bowl XX in 1986 when the Chicago Bears faced the New England Patriots and the burning question was whether William Perry might score.
Chicago Coach Mike Ditka had used Perry, a bulky defensive lineman known as the Refrigerator, in short-yardage situations throughout that season, Perry's first in the N.F.L. When Perry indeed scored on a 1-yard run in Chicago's 46-10 rout, an alternative revenue source for sports books, as well as a legend, was born.

There are nearly 300 prop bets available this week in Las Vegas sports books, from which player will score first to the number of fumbles for either team.

Of the $100 million expected to be bet on Super Bowl XLII on Sunday, as much as one-third will be made on a single occurrence, unlikely or not, that may happen in 60 minutes of football.

Cal uses 3-point shooting to stop No. 9 Washington State
ESPN
PULLMAN, Wash. (AP) -- All season, California has been losing close games in the closing minutes.

The Bears finally won one Thursday night.

Ryan Anderson scored 27 points and California hung on to hand No. 9 Washington State its first home loss of the season, 69-64.

Cal (12-7, 3-5 Pac-10) either led, was tied or trailed by two in the final three minutes in six of its losses.

Trojans limp away with loss
LA DN
It was one offensive rebound after another, one bruising pick after another, one more injured player following all those others.

Not to mention one poised play after another by Arizona.

USC, trying to build on its Oregon sweep of the previous weekend, couldn't deliver in the final seven minutes and Arizona came up with a crucial road victory of its own Thursday night before a Galen Center record crowd of 10,258.

Sophomore forward Chase Budinger scored 18 of his 29 points in the second half to lead the Wildcats to an 80-69 win over the Trojans, who lost for the first time in five games.

And for a real chaser, USC might have lost substantially more in the long run.

UW Men | Cardinal hand Huskies worst home loss since 2003
Seattle Times
It had been a while since Washington fans had seen this, and many of them decided they'd really rather not. They began the trek for the exits with eight minutes left here Thursday night, in a trickle that quickly turned to a stream.

Washington's hopes of beating Stanford had long since departed, however, and by the end, only the diehards were left to witness the Huskies' 65-51 defeat to the Stanford Cardinal at Edmundson Pavilion.

The game wasn't in doubt after the opening five minutes.

O'Brien's NCAA penalty to end earlier than expected
ESPN
Former Ohio State coach Jim O'Brien has become a viable candidate to return to the sidelines after Thursday's announcement that his show-cause penalty will end earlier than expected.

Earlier Thursday, O'Brien's attorney issued a statement that the show-cause had been dropped -- meaning that O'Brien was essentially free to coach again. But later in the day, the NCAA issued a statement saying that it hadn't been dropped and instead the end date had been changed to March 9.

Recruiting

Pryor plans to concentrate on football
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
VILLANOVA - The Jeannette boys basketball team continues its road show tonight in the PrimeTime Shootout at Villanova University against Class AAAA power Chester.

It probably will mark the beginning of the final days of Pryor's basketball career.

Pryor said Thursday that he's planning to give up his hopes of playing football and basketball in college to concentrate on perfecting his quarterbacking skills.

"I want to be the best college quarterback in the game, so I know that playing basketball isn't in my future," he said after practice yesterday at Jeannette. "I know I have to get stronger, study more films and improve my football techniques if I want to achieve that goal.

Recruiting Part II: Analysis and player predictions
The Miami Hurricane
On offense, Miami has recruited well at wide receiver and quarterback, but it has only targeted one running back (Harper) who they believe is a stud. They look to be in the lead for his services at this point, and he will add to a deep stable of backs on the roster. Ben Jones becomes the other key offensive recruit left on the board, as he would give the Canes two solid offensive line prospects in this class. Look for Jones and Harper to sign with the Canes. Streeter will probably head out of state or to USF, and Randy Shannon will presumably choose between Moore, an athletic marvel at tight end, Byrd and Odoms for the last offensive scholarship.

All Eyes on Recruiting (Part 2)
Michigan Sports Center.
I don't want to overestimate the importance of pulling off the upset and having Pryor commit to Michigan, but not landing him would really suck. There is the obvious reason for thinking like that considering he will likely end up at Ohio State if he doesn't go to Michigan. But then there is the issue of depth at QB for Michigan. With zero QB commits right now, that position really presents a scary situation. It's one thing to have Steven Threet as the starter, which I am ok with. But after him all Michigan has is David Cone and Nick Sheridan, and I would bet Cone opts to transfer somewhere after spring ball.

Although Rich Rodriguez is recruiting other dual-threat quarterbacks, the list is possible commits shrunk today. B.J. Daniels, a 4-star dual-threat QB out of Florida, was seen as someone who very well could commit to Michigan if Pryor went somewhere else. That won't be the case now, as Michigan abruptly stopped recruiting him today.The exact reasoning behind Michigan's decision to end his recruitment is unknown, but rumor has it Daniels asked the coaches a very stupid question about what he would get for coming to Michigan. I'll leave it at that, but if the rumors are true, I commend the coaching staff for dropping him.

Pryor probably has bright future
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
If recent history is a true indicator, Jeannette's Terrelle Pryor is destined for the NFL, probably as a first-round draft choice.

That may be too much pressure to place upon the shoulders of a high school senior, but consider this: Each of the previous three top-ranked high school players who are in the NFL arrived there as his team's top pick.

Joining Pryor as the No. 1 high school player, according to rankings on Rivals.com, are Tennessee Titans quarterback Vince Young in 2002, Detroit Lions linebacker Ernie Sims in '03 and Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson in '04. Young, Sims and Peterson were drafted third, ninth and seventh overall, respectively, the past three years.

The Scene

Class of 2008 Pac-10 recruiting overview, part two
ESPN
No one could knock mighty USC from the top of the Pac-10 mountain in 2007. California came close with an early season run but fell apart in the second half of the season and wound up finishing in the bottom half of the league standings. Neither Cal nor any of the other teams that finished in the bottom half of the Pac-10 will challenge USC for the recruiting title either. Cal is working to rebuild its skill positions to make another run at No. 1 in the nation, but it is actually Washington, Arizona and Stanford that have the best shot of possibly landing in the final top 25 recruiting rankings from this group. A look at the bottom half of the Pac-10 based on 2007 records:

Football: U. recruit Kemoeatu insists he will qualify
The Salt Lake Tribune
Benji Kemoeatu, the four-star football recruit from Hawaii, boarded an airplane on Thursday afternoon and flew to.................Corvallis, Oregon.

"I am going to Oregon State tomorrow. My flight leaves at 2 p..m.," Kemoeatu said Wednesday night. "[Teammate] Anthony Siilata is going, too."

The question for University of Utah football fans: Will they commit to the Beavers this weekend?

Kemoeatu, whose three older brothers played for Utah, said he probably won't decide until the night before signing day, which is Feb. 6.

"It is pretty hard to decide, because my brothers went out to Utah," he said. "I wouldn't mind going there, but Oregon State has a good program, too. I am just trying to keep my options open until signing day."

There was a question earlier this week whether Kemoeatu would be going to Oregon State or West Virginia this weekend.

After USC visit, Jackson still "good with Georgia
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The clock has finally struck midnight on Griffin defensive lineman Toby Jackson's recruiting bachelor party.

Four days after completing an unexpected visit to Southern Cal, Jackson said Thursday evening he is set to walk to the college football altar on Wednesday and sign with Georgia.

"I'm still good with Georgia," Jackson said. "I told [assistant] coach [Rodney] Garner before I went out there that I'm still pretty solid with Georgia.

"I told him it would take a lot for USC to take me away from Georgia. Coach [Mark] Richt doesn't have anything to worry about."

Jackson admitted that he was caught off guard when Southern Cal coach Pete Carroll phoned him last week and invited him to Los Angeles

"[Southern Cal] had been kind of silent and laid back with me with a few calls and letters," Jackson said. "I wasn't planning on taking a trip out there. But coach Carroll called and wanted me to fly out for a visit.

"I said 'why not?' I want to give everybody a chance.

"I had a good time and the coaches were fun to be around. And they have such a great tradition out there. But I'm 100 percent with Georgia.

Laurenzi proves he belongs in the Pac
OCVarsity.com
If anyone doubted the abilities of Anthony Laurenzi, he hopes those reservations were let go over the weekend.

The El Dorado defensive lineman committed to Washington State on Saturday night.

Laurenzi was selected The Register's 2007 defensive player of the year but drew some critics because of the competition he faced. The Golden Hawks played against two Pac-5 Division schools.

Laurenzi hopes his detractors will now look at him differently.

"Only a few people from Orange County are going to the Pac-10 and I'm part of it," the 6-foot-3, 240-pound senior said.

Laurenzi's desire to play in the Pac-10 Conference helped push him to Washington State.

He also heavily considered Nevada and had scholarship offers from Idaho and SMU, among others.

Laurenzi said another plus for Washington State is that it offers his major ? construction management.

"It made more sense for me to go to Washington (State)," he said.

Laurenzi said he likely will redshirt this fall so he can focus on gaining weight, strength and speed.