KEVIN KLAUS/Arizona Summer Wildcat UA running back Clarence Farmer gets tackled by Wisconsin's Broderick Williams during last season's loss in Madison.

The University of Arizona football team was picked to finish last in the Pacific 10 Conference by the west coast media last week at the conference's annual Media Day.

The Wildcats received 46 points, compared to USC's 227. The Trojans just edged out ASU, which received 224 points.

Senior offensive tackle Brandon Phillips used some humor to deal with the last place pick.

"I'm shocked because we thought we'd be picked to win it all," said Phillips at Media Day. "After we get over our shock and disbelief, we'll go about the business of playing the games."

Though the media has picked the last two conference champions, Oregon and Washington State, the last two teams it picked to finish last, Washington State in 2001 and Cal in 2002, had winning records.

"I see where you picked us, but I also see that there is no clear-cut favorite," said head coach John Mackovic at Media Day. "Historically, that's been true of the Pac-10. Clearly the conference championship is wide open."

In the national Coaches' Poll, released last week, five of the UA's 12 opponents were in the top 25: No. 8 USC, No. 15 LSU, No. 19 Washington, No. 22 Purdue and No. 23 ASU. TCU, Oregon State, UCLA, Washington State, Oregon and Cal also received votes.

"If you look at our schedule, we have a very strong schedule, and we play a lot of good teams at home this season," Mackovic said. "Players like to play good teams, so every game will be a good test for us."

Fall training camp begins today at 6:55 p.m. at Rincon Vista, on Tucson Blvd. south of Broadway. Camp will be held at Rincon Vista, the football practice field next to Sancet Field and at Arizona Stadium. Camp is open to the public, but once the school year opens, practices will be closed.

Camp Schedule

Wednesday-Saturday: Practice at 6:55 p.m. Rincon Vista
Sunday: First practice in pads at 4:30 p.m. practice field
Monday: Practices at 6:20 a.m. and 7:05 p.m. Rincon Vista
Tuesday: Practice at 4:30 p.m. practice field
Wednesday Aug. 13: Practices at 6:20 a.m. and 7:05 p.m.
Thursday Aug. 14: Practice at 4:30 practice field
Friday Aug. 1: Practices at 7:05 a.m. and 7:05 p.m. Rincon Vista
Saturday Aug. 16: Fan Appreciation Night and scrimmage at 6 p.m. at Arizona Stadium
Monday Aug. 18: Practices at 7:05 a.m. and 7:05 p.m. Rincon Vista
Tuesday Aug. 19: Practice at 4:30 p.m. practice field
Wednesday Aug. 20: Practices at 7:05 a.m. and 7:05 p.m. Rincon Vista
Thursday Aug. 21: Scrimmage at 7:30 p.m. Arizona Stadium
Friday Aug. 22: Practice TBA
Monday Aug. 25: Fall Semester begins; normal practice schedule begins
Saturday Aug. 30: First game, UTEP Arizona Stadium, 7 p.m.