By Scottie Bricker
Arizona Daily Wildcat
January 28, 1998

On the Sidelines

Arizona Daily Wildcat Scottie Bricker

The debate stops here.

Lets play a little word association game for a minute.

When I say Breakfast of Champions, what do you think of?

Wheaties, of course.

Now, when I say Conference of Champions, what comes to mind?

The Pacific 10 Conference, right?

No, I didn't think so.

Well, despite east-coast bias and constant ignorance of west coast schools, the Pac-10, self-named as it may be, is the undisputed Conference of Champions.

During the 1996-97 campaign, Pac-10 teams won National Collegiate Athletic Association titles in 14 different sports, including Arizona's titles in softball and men's basketball.

The Sears Directors Cup Trophy, given to the school which performs thebest in 20 chosen sports, 10 each for men and women, last season was given to Stanford for the third consecutive year.

The Cardinal led the way, as it usually does, winning six national titles including men's and women's titles in tennis, volleyball and cross country.

Every dog has their day, right?

Well maybe, but not in the case of the Pac-10.

The beat goes on

The Pac-10 has continued dominating the collegiate athletic scene this year, taking home fall titles in men's cross country and women's volleyball courtesy of Stanford, its second title in as many years in both sports, and a men's soccer title won by UCLA.

The conference's six football teams that received bowl invitations came out of their postseason with a record of 5-1, with the only loss by Washington State at the hands of co-national champion Michigan.

The six wins came against two Big 10 teams, three Western Athletic squads and a representative of the Big 12.

Not too bad for a conference said to be having an off year in football.

The Pac-10 also sent six teams to volleyball's post-season tourney, including Arizona, UCLA and a trio of teams who reached the Sweet 16, including Washington, Washington State and Southern Cal.

Unfortunately for the Wildcat volleyball team, whose promising regular season showing left hope of a berth in the Elite Eight, the upset bug caught them in the first round of the tournament.

The Bruins, who upset heavily-favored Virginia 2-0 in the men's soccer final, were one of three representatives in the field from the Pac-10 including Stanford and Washington. The UCLA women's team also fared well, making it to the Elite Eight before losing to national-power Notre Dame.

You haven't seen it all

If you think it all stops there, think again.

Winter sports are currently being dominated by Pac-10 schools, as could spring sports, which are just now getting underway.

The latest rankings in men's and women's hoops finds three schools in each top 25 poll. All three on the men's side are ranked in the top 10.

Stanford, Arizona and UCLA are ranked fourth, sixth and eighth respectively in the latest AP Poll and they are a combined 19-2 in the conference and 50-6 overall.

The Wildcats lead the way in the women's poll, currently ninth, followed by Stanford at No. 10 and Washington at No. 18. Monday, Stanford became one ofonly three schools in the country - two of which are Pac-10 schools - to have both their women's and men's teams ranked in the top 10 at the same time. North Carolina is the third.

Arizona schools are atop the men's and women's golf rankings, with Arizona and Arizona State's men respectively holding down the top slots. The Wildcats are also a close second in the women's poll with the Cardinal in fourth.

Stanford can also be found at the top of both the men's and women's swimming rankings, and recently swept Arizona in a dual meet despite one of Arizona's most outstanding performances of the season.

And if you are looking for things to cool off in the spring.....head for the high country because the Pac-10 will be hotter than ever.

Arizona is primed to compete for its third straight softball title behind Coach of the Century Mike Candrea and teams will also make their voice heard in baseball and women's tennis.

So to all those east coast writers, with all their bias and closed-mindedness, I leave you with this thought.

The Pacific 10 Conference is the greatest conference.......in all the land.

Scottie Bricker is a journalism senior. He is graduating in May and will venture into the land of frustration and unemployment.