The next leaders of the UCLA Bruins

2009 was a mediocre season for the UCLA Bruins, producing a 7-6 record. The Bruins will be starting their spring practices in less than a week, and are banking on the improvements of about ten players to bring the next season up a few notches. The top players to watch include:

10. Wide Receiver, record breaker and offensive powerhouse - Josh Smith
9. Corner back and showing strides on the practice field - Aaron Hester
8. May be the Defensive End the Bruins need - Damien Holmes
7. Running back has the perfect mix of strength and speed - Milton Knox
6. Offensive guard with much to prove or much to lose - Stanley Hasiak
5. Offensive tackle will need to step up his game - Nik Abele
4. Running back will need to prove his spot on the team - Jonathon Franklin
3. Defensive tackle is being given the chance he needs to shine - David Carter
2. Quarterback teetering on the verge of losing his spot - Kevin Prince
1. Quarterback battling it out with Prince - Richard Brehaut

Cali Bears overturning their special teams

This season a new special teams coach means new special team strategies for the Berkley Bears. It is no surprise to anyone in the Pac-10 that the Bears’ special teams are being revamped, since they were one of the worst in the conference last season. With Coach Jeff Genyk joining the ranks, there will be a fresh perspective and hopefully a better turnout in the seasons to come. Genyk is a former head coach at Eastern Michigan and is bringing a labor-intensive approach to his training to whip these men into shape. Genyck has also been working with the kickers to get a feel of how they work, with not a lot of results from either of them. Coach Jeff Genyk has a lot of work to do in the upcoming months, but with his expertise the Bears are sure to make major strides.

Troubles on the Oregon Ducks football team

After Jeremiah Masoli was convicted of second-degree burglary last Monday, he was suspended for the 2010 season with the Oregon Ducks. Coach Chip Kelly will be meeting with him to decide his fate for the spring practices, if he has any future with the team at all. Masoli was given the option to redshirt the season and come back next year, but nothing has been decided quite yet. Masoli was up for the Heisman Trophy position, but I suspect that has already been decided. One big no.

The Oregon Ducks are a little shaken right now with being thrown such a curve ball, and the coaches will have to decide soon who the starting quarterback is going to be. There is a huge competition between Nate Costa, a senior at Oregon, and sophomore Darron Thomas. We'll have to wait and see what happens with that one. LaMichael James is also suspended for the season opener for charges of a DUI. Let's hope the team doesn't completely fall to pieces.

Mike Bellotti is going to ESPN

Mike Bellotti has officially left his post as the athletic director at Oregon for a position as a college football analyst at ESPN. Bellotti has only been at Oregon since July, but cannot pass up an opportunity like this. Mike Bellotti has been in the coaching business for 36 years and is ready for something new. He is passionate about the game of football and a great speaker, so he will do wonders as an analyst at ESPN. Good luck Mike!

Oregon State NFL contender

Sean Canfield is a top contender for a spot in the NFL. As the quarterback for Oregon State, Canfield was a star player leading the Beavers to a genuine threat level in the Pac-10 conference. Sean Canfield caught his lucky break this past season when starting quarterback was injured, giving him room to jump right into the game. Canfield ended the season with having passed over 3,000 yards with 20 touchdowns. Sean Canfield is physically and mentally ready to play in the NFL and will be a strong member of any team.

Andru Pulu turned himself in

Andru Pulu, of the Washington Huskies, has finally turned himself in to the police. Pulu had been suspended by his Head Coach indefinitely for an undisclosed violation. The Washington Huskies athletic department had nothing to say on the matter, but the Times has reported that Andru Pulu was being investigated for the assault of a 22-year-old house party attendee.

Too bad Pulu screwed up, because he was expected to return next season as the starting defensive end. Andru Pulu was a true star of an athlete on the field, but apparently doesn’t know where to leave his aggression. With spring practice only two weeks away, this will be the time for a new star athlete to step up their game.

Pac-12?

This Pac-10 Conference blog might be having to change its name to the Pac-12 come 2012. The Pac-10 Conference is thinking of adding two more teams and creating a conference championship game in order to drive up revenue. If the two teams are added, it would most likely happen in Fall of 2012 when the new television contract starts. The Colorado Buffaloes are definitely a contender for one of the two spots, since they fit the conference's profile in academics and location. The Buffaloes also bring with them the Denver TV market which is a huge incentive to the Pac-10. Other options on this short list are Utah, Texas, Texas A&M and the Nebraska Cornhuskers. There may also be a large disincentive for these teams to leave the Big 12 and join the Pac-10... a nine million dollar disincentive actually.