Lost a little bit amid the grunting gridiron followers, coaches, players and media at the Pacific-10 Conference's football media day Thursday were a few revealing snippets from new commissioner Larry Scott.

Scott, a former Harvard athlete, left his director position at the WTA (women's tennis) last March to accept the position as the Pac-10 commissioner, replacing Tom Hansen, who retired after 26 years in power. Scott started his post July 1.

An intriguing and potentially profitable aspect of Scott's background is his business relationships in the Far East – something he will, no doubt, explore in expanding the conference's exposure and marketing.

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WASHINGTON HUSKIES
Points to consider: New coach Steve Sarkisian had a light-hearted approach from the get-go, and relayed an amusing story about his job to lead off. He talked about driving over the Hwy. 520 bridge every morning to Husky Stadium. Every time the stadium comes into view, he said he felt compelled to call somebody, whether at "5:30 a.m. or 7" to chat about his job. … Sarkisian noted four of his first five games (LSU, Notre Dame, USC, Stanford) are against programs that are in the top 15 in being physical. "We have to get our mindset in fall camp to be that way as well," the coach said.

Updates: Sarkisian said five of his six junior-college transfers should be on campus sometime next week.

Funny moment: UW linebacker Donald Butler showed up to the podium late, to which Sarkisian remarked, "Good to have you, Donald."

Quotable: Will the UW be like Southern California, Sarkisian's old team? "I think there will be natural similarities. I'd be a fool to try and go up there to reinvent the wheel. But we have to play to our strengths. … Eventually there is going to be quite a few differences," the new coach said.

WASHINGTON STATE COUGARS
Points to consider: Coach Paul Wulff noted the Cougars have increased their physicality overall, particularly on defense where he thinks that unit should be much-improved. … There will be a quarterback battle this fall camp among Marshall Lobbestael, Kevin Lopina and J.T. Levenseller. The winner will be asked to lead a no-huddle attack, something Wulff abandoned because of injuries last season.

Updates: Linebacker Louis Bland hurt his knee in spring camp and will be limited this fall. Wulff hopes he'll be ready for the first game. … Lobbestael (knee) will be taken along slowly in fall camp, but should be OK for the season opener.

Funny moment: None, really.

Quotable: A pass- or run-first team this year, especially with the stable of good running backs? "We always want to be balanced. We're going to do what our strength allows us to do … and see how it unfolds for us."

By the power of journalistic persuasion, seven-time defending Pacific-10 Conference champion Southern California should have an easy time making it eight in a row in 2009.

The Trojans (316 points) were the overwhelming choice by beat reporters up and down the West Coast, garnering 28 of the 32 votes in the preseason poll Thursday, released hours before the start of media day.

USC becomes the first school to top the poll seven consecutive years since it went 18 in a row (1965-82).

California was second with 277 points, and received three first-place votes. Oregon, under new coach Chip Kelly, collected the other vote, and was third with 250 points.

Washington (74) was selected ninth, and Washington State (35) was last.

The preseason poll has correctly selected the champion 26 out of 48 times, including the past nine in a row.

Barely escaping the scorching 100-plus-degree temperatures in the Greater Puget Sound – my morning flight Wednesday out of Sea-Tac Airport was delayed 90 minutes by a fuel spill on the tarmac – things in Los Angeles surprisingly have been more serene.

For starters, it's a whole 30 degrees cooler in the vicinity of the media hotel.

And traffic wasn't so unbearable today as I made my way to Torrance, Calif. along Hwy. 1 to see some of where UW coach Steve Sarkisian grew up.

In fact, here in Torrance, high schools football teams are practicing in July, because it counts as summer-course PE credits. Sounds like a good way to skirt the out-of-season rules of the WIAA.

I spent two hours watching West Torrence High's final "class" meeting, and talked to a few people who knew Sarkisian when he was in high school in the mid-1990s, and also playing at down-the-road El Camino Junior College.

Maybe I'll bring Sarkisian a bagel from Joe's Diner to media day Thursday. Stay tuned for updates all day from all the Pacific-10 Conference coaches.

PACIFIC-10 CONFERENCE FOOTBALL MEDIA DAY

When: Thursday.

Where: Sheraton Gateway LAX Hotel, Los Angeles.

Schedule:
• Washington State coach Paul Wulff and lineman Kenny Alfred, 9:45 to 10 a.m.
• Washington coach Steve Sarkisian and linebacker Donald Butler, 10 to 10:15 a.m.
• UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel and linebacker Reggie Carter, 10:15 to 10:30 a.m.
• Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh and tailback Toby Gerhart, 10:30 to 10:45 a.m.
• Arizona coach Mike Stoops and safety Cam Nelson, 11:10 to 11:25 a.m.
• California coach Jeff Tedford and tailback Jahvid Best, 11:25 to 11:40 a.m.
• Oregon State coach Mike Riley and linebacker Keaton Kristick, 11:40 to 11:55 a.m.
• Oregon coach Chip Kelly and cornerback Walter Thurmond III, 11:55 a.m. to 12:10 p.m.
• USC coach Pete Carroll and safety Taylor Mays, 12:10 to 12:25 p.m.

Notes: The entire press conference can be seen at www.pac-10.org, and for the first time this year, fans can ask questions of the coaches/players through the conference's Twitter account. Webcast host Steve Physoic will choose the best questions to ask.

UW has confirmed that it has hired Lindsay Meggs as the program's new baseball coach.

Meggs, who has been coaching at Indiana State, will be officially introduced at a Monday morning press conference.

... and it didn't start -- and won't end -- with Kentwood's 6-9 270-pound prize, Josh Smith.

Here's a look from the Los Angeles Times.

A good early look at the Pac-10 men's basketball teams for the upcoming season is online at the Pac-10 site.

By the way, you can now get instant alerts to new UW basketball posts on this blog by following along at twitter.com/donruiztnt.

Here's a feature from this morning's paper on once and future Husky Brandon Prideaux.

He was a key player during the very best years of UW soccer, now is ending a long MLS career with the Chicago Fire (who visit Qwest Field at noon Saturday) and in January will return to UW as an assistant soccer coach.

The final open game of UW's coming basketball season has been filled: The Huskies will meet Georgetown on Dec.12 in the 16th annual John Wooden Classic in Anaheim.

It will be UW's first meeting with the Hoyas.

The Classic isn't a tournament, but a doubleheader. UW-GU will follow UCLA-Mississippi State. Tipoff and TV haven't yet been announced.

"Anytime that we can be a part of something that involves John Wooden, we consider it to be very special," UW coach Lorenzo Romar said in a UW press release. "To be able to compete against a program with such a rich tradition as Georgetown makes this years experience even more complete."

UW also played in the 2005 Wooden Classic, defeating New Mexico, 81-71.

Details are available at the Wooden Classic site.

Here's the complete UW men's basketball schedule.

Nearly three weeks away from the University of Washington football team opening fall camp, here is the list of practice times, released today by the school:

Aug. 10-14: One practice, 3 p.m.
Aug. 15: Two practices, 8:45 a.m. and 6:45 p.m.
Aug. 16: Picture day, 10 a.m.
Aug. 17: Two practices, 8:45 a.m. and 6:45 p.m.
Aug. 18: One practice, 3 p.m.
Aug. 19: Two practices, 8:45 a.m. and 6:45 p.m.
Aug. 20: One practice, 3 p.m.
Aug. 21: Two practices, 8:45 a.m. and 6:45 p.m.
Aug. 22 and 24: One practice, 3 p.m.
Aug. 25: Two practices, 8:45 a.m. and 6:45 p.m.
Aug. 26: One practice, 3 p.m.
Aug. 27: Two practices, 8:45 a.m. and 6:45 p.m.
Aug. 28: One practice, 3 p.m. (followed by Raise the Woof dinner, 6 p.m.)
Aug. 29: One practice, 10:15 a.m.

Just got confirmation from the University of Washington athletic department that the 16 fall-camp practices, even two-a-days, will be open for public consumption, just like spring ball.

UW officials said either Tuesday or Wednesday, those times for fall camp workouts, starting Aug. 10 and spanning until Aug. 29, should be posted. That update will be provided when it comes available.

What isn't known at this point is if the Husky practices will be open during the regular season, which would begin the week of Aug. 31. That will be coach Steve Sarkisian's call.

UW forward Quincy Pondexter was held scoreless in seven minutes of action Saturday ... however he did score a bronze medal as Team USA beat Israel, 91-80, on Saturday in the World University Games in Belgrade, Serbia.

Pondexter led his team in both scoring and minutes played at times during this competition, and he said on his Twitter page that his limited minutes in the finale were due to an ankle injury suffered in the loss to Russia.

More information is available at GoHuskies.com.

Russia snuffed Team USA's gold medal hopes by erasing a 10-point fourth-quarter lead on the way to a 69-68 win in the World University Games on Friday in Belgrade Serbia.

UW forward Quincy Pondexter was held to three points in 17 minutes.

The USA will play for a bronze medal Saturday against Israel.

More information is available at GoHuskies.com.

UW forward Quincy Pondexter led the U.S. in scoring as the Red, White and Blue knocked off Bulgaria, 96-66, in the quarterfinals of the World University Games. The win sends them on to the medal semifinals where they will face Russia at 8:30 a.m. Friday.

Pondexter played a team-high 21 minutes in leading five Americans who scored in double-figures. He was 5-of-11 from the field (1-of-2 from 3-point distance) with four rebounds and two assists. He was 4-for-4 on free throws.

More information at GoHuskies.com.

UW forward's solid play of late apparently earned him a Team USA-high 25 minutes Tuesday in the USA's 68-66 win over host Serbia in the World University Games.

Pondexter had five points, five rebounds and an assist.

This information was provided from USABasketball.com.

UW forward Quincy Pondexter scored in double-digits for the second consecutive game, getting 13 points in Team USA's 108-77 win over Greece 108-77 at the World University Games in Belgrade, Serbia.

In 19 minutes off the bench,Pondexter hit nine of 12 free throws, while added two assists a block and a rebound.

The USA record moved to 3-0 in the tournament.

More information at GoHuskies.com.

Washington forward Quincy Pondexter tied for team-high honors with 14 points and Team USA defeated South Korea, 113-76, in a Fourth of July match in World University Games action. Pondexter also had six rebounds, three assists and a steal -- this best line of the competition -- as the USA moved to 2-0.

More information at GoHuskies.com.

UW senior-to-be Quincy Pondexter had six points and four rebounds off the bench Friday as the USA smashed Finland, 87-40 in the first round of the World University Games in Belgrade, Serbia.

Details at GoHuskies.com.