Pac-10 Football Media Day was held in Los Angeles earlier today, and there weren’t any huge surprises other than Stanford running back Toby Gerhart’s decision to forego a suit and rock a Stanford polo shirt casual Friday-style. Pretty standard coach-speak from all parties involved, but here are some of my preliminary reactions to Thursday afternoon’s goings-on:

Everyone is gunning for USC: For the first time in a while, the Trojans (although picked to finish first in the conference by the media) feel a little vulnerable. After junior Mark Sanchez jumped ship early for the NFL Draft, USC’s probable starter is Aaron Corp who only has 28 career passing yards. And although they bring back the beastly safety Taylor Mays, they also lost three of the best defensive players in the country to the Draft.

Several coaches were asked what it would take to beat the Trojan juggernaut. Arizona coach Mike Stoops gave a wildly roundabout answer that in no way addressed how to beat USC but only acknowledged how good the Trojans are and how it isn’t “easy.” (Click here to read more…)

It’s always interested me that Cal hasn’t had a traditional Spring Game to close out its spring practices in least the four years that I’ve been in Berkeley. Maybe it’s because coach Jeff Tedford doesn’t believe in all the hoopla that surrounds a Spring Game.

Last Saturday was no different.

But what Saturday did give to the Bears was closure on what can be seen as a spring of getting over the past.

A few more notes from Cal’s final spring practice. (Click here to read more…)

Jahvid Best made his sort-of-return to the Cal football team in its first day of spring ball Monday.

That’s pretty good news for a program that just lost what was supposed to be their No. 1 tailback heading into the spring. Best won’t be involved in anything where he can get hit, but he will be participating in individual drills and he’ll be working on his own every now and then.

And Best may be the Bears most prolific weapon next fall after the departure of not just dynamo DeSean Jackson, but receivers Robert Jordan and Lavelle Hawkins and tailback Justin Forsett. Let’s just say that on a team with little star power, Best as the best shot of shining next year.

More tidbits from Cal’s first practice: (Click here to read more…)