In the hours after the 2009 NFL Draft, the Minnesota Vikings wasted no time signing a few college football products from the Northwest.

Three of the 14 free agents they signed Monday were from the region, including Montana safety Colt Anderson and Boise State running back Ian Johnson and receiver Vinny Perretta.

And if things go right in the team's mini-camp starting Friday, it could be fourt rookies. University of Washington offensive lineman Juan Garcia has been invited to the facility, and will work out with the team.

"It's a general tryout," said Garcia from his home in Yakima. "I'll be going center and guard (drill) stuff."

If things go well, Garcia – who has been recently working out in Las Vegas – could be signed as a free-agent rookie. If not, he said the Oakland Raiders have been in contact, and he could fly there for their mini-camp next week. The New York Jets had also been in contact.

"(Minnesota) felt like the best option right now," Garcia said.

The pairings for the coming season's Big 12/Pac-10 Hardwood Series gives UW a pair of pairings for the first time.

Because there are obviously 12 teams in the Big 12 and only 10 in the Pac-10, two Pac-10 teams have played two series games, and now it's UW's turn.

The Huskies will travel to Texas Tech on Dec. 3, while Texas A&M will come to Hec Edmundson Pavilion on Dec. 22. The sites will swap in 2010, with the Red Raiders coming here and the Huskies visiting College Station.

Here's more information from GoHuskies.com.

Below is the official release and full schedule from the conferences:

The Big 12 and Pac-10 Conferences have announced the dates and matchups for the 2009 Big 12 / Pac-10 Hardwood Series. The series will be in its third year after starting competition during the 2007-08 season.

The majority of the games are scheduled for December 3-6, with three taking place outside the four-day series window. The matchups are new for 2009, after two straight campaigns of the same home-and-away meetings. In 2010, the contests will be return games from this year and take place from December 2-5.

Last season, the two leagues split the Hardwood Series outings, 6-6. In all games played between the two conferences during 2008-09, the Big 12 held a 10-7 edge. The Pac-10 holds a 13-11 advantage in the first two years of the Hardwood Series. A season ago, the 12 contests averaged more than 10,000 fans and in two years games from the event have seen 244,029 fans go through the turnstiles.

Additional components of the series, including the start times and television broadcast information will be announced at a later date.

2009 BIG 12 / PAC-10 HARDWOOD SERIES

Sunday, Nov. 29
Nebraska at USC

Thursday, Dec. 3
Washington at Texas Tech
USC at Texas
Baylor at Arizona State

Friday, Dec. 4
Colorado at Oregon State

Saturday, Dec. 5
Oregon at Missouri
Iowa State at California
Washington State at Kansas State

Sunday, Dec. 6
Kansas at UCLA
Arizona at Oklahoma

Wednesday, Dec. 16
Oklahoma State at Stanford

Tuesday, Dec. 22
Texas A&M at Washington