By
Chris Martin
Arizona Daily Wildcat
ASU quarterback could be reinstated
Editor's note: the following is the first part in a two-part series.
UCLA Bruins
In what could be their toughest game of the season, UCLA will host No. 3 Michigan this weekend at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif.
The game will likely be won on the ground, as two of the nation's featured tailbacks - DeShaun Foster of UCLA and Anthony Thomas of Michigan - square off.
Foster leads the Pacific 10 Conference in scoring with five touchdowns and is eighth in the nation in yards per game with an 163.5 average.
Another threat for Michigan is quarterback John Navarre who leads the nation in passing efficiency.
"I think they do a great job of recruiting," UCLA head coach Bob Toledo said. "They get a lot of our skilled kids, they've got a great reputation and a great school."
Wolverine sophomore tailback Justin Fargas will also see action in the game.
The Encino, Calif., native was heavily recruited by UCLA and will be making his first football related trip back to Southern California.
"We don't want to give him a very good homecoming, let's put it that way," Toledo said.
Arizona State Sun Devils
Quarterback Ryan Kealy - who has been suspended for violation of team rules - could be reinstated after Saturday's game with Colorado State.
"The standard I set for him a few weeks ago he has lived up to a 'T', ASU head coach Bruce Snyder said. "He has done everything I have asked him to do. I wanted to see first-hand some examples of accountability, responsibility."
Kealy is currently a student assistant with the program, but has not participated in any practices and only has access to the team's training facility to rehabilitate his injured knee.
The Sun Devils have also spent their bye week recovering from injuries and as a result have had scaled back practices.
Starting quarterback Jeff Krohn, tight end Todd Heap and running back Davaren Hightower have all missed significant practice time. Krohn practiced yesterday for the first time this week.
"We didn't compete much this past week because of how much we are injured," Snyder said. "We didn't get as much out of (the bye week) as we normally would."
Hightower, Heap and Krohn will all be ready for the game against Colorado State, though.
ASU will need all three to play big roles against the Rams, who have defeated Colorado and East Tennessee State this season.
"I am really impressed with Colorado State, particularly with how well coached they are," Snyder said. "They don't make many errors. They are really an excellent, efficient offensive team. They are really going to be difficult to beat."
California Golden Bears
The Golden Bears face the difficult road trip this weekend when they travel to Champaign, Ill., to take on No. 19 Illinois.
"They are very well balanced," California Tom Holmoe said. "When they have that balance, we have to do something to disrupt that."
That could be easier said than done - the high-powered Fighting Illini offense was clicking on all cylinders last weekend against San Diego State.
Quarterback Kurt Kittner threw for three touchdowns and the running backs Antoineo Harris and Rocky Havery ran for a combined 241 yards and three touchdowns, as Illinois cruised to a 49-13 victory.
The Golden Bears' chances have improved with the gradual maturity of quarterback Kyle Boller, who threw for 209 yards and one touchdown in a 24-21 upset win against Utah.
"I think the most important thing is that he improved," Holmoe said. "We allowed him to make changes at the line of scrimmage frequently. He needs to continue to gain confidence."
Washington State Cougars
The Washington State Cougars will be the third straight Pac-10 team to play Utah this Saturday.
The Utes have fallen to both Arizona and California, but their team speed has impressed Washington State head coach Mike Price.
"Utah is a very capable team that can beat anyone on any day," Price said. "They are as fast as Cal and Arizona, they're as good as Cal and Arizona, but not quite because they didn't beat them."
One of the keys for a Cougars victory will be running the ball.
Deon Burnett ran the ball 16 times for 50 yards two weeks ago in Washington State's 24-10 loss to Stanford.
Arizona and California controlled Utah by running the ball and clock management.
One aspect hindering the Cougars early in the season is their lack of experience.
Of the 56 players who played in the disappointing loss to the Cardinal, 40 were underclassmen.
"Attitude was a little down last week, but the game is way behind us now," Price said. "(The underclassmen) are excited to be playing, let alone playing in the Pac-10."
Oregon Ducks
Despite losing a squeaker, 27-21, to the No. 4 Wisconsin Badgers last weekend, the Ducks came away from the game with a new found sense of confidence.
"I think our kids truly believe they can play with anyone in the country," Oregon head coach Mike Bellotti said. "Certainly there was disappointment from not winning."
The Ducks showed their ability to play smash-mouth football with the Badgers early on - a contributing factor in the close game.
"I thought we held our own very well," Bellotti said. "In terms of physical play, running the football (and) knocking people around, it was fairly close."
Quarterback Joey Harrington also shined in the game against the stingy Wisconsin secondary, though he was picked off three times by All-American corner back Jamar Fletcher.
Harrington completed 22 of his 49 passes for 362 yards and one touchdown. His numbers would have been even better but the junior QB had numerous passes dropped.
"I thought Joey improved significantly from the first game to the second game," Bellotti said. "He had at least 10 passes dropped which could have accounted for (a total of) 500 yards. I think Joey played a great game."
