Notes on a Scorecard - Aug. 4, 1993

The subject was football Tuesday at the annual Pacific 10 Conference media day:

Washington is the consensus choice to make a fourth consecutive Rose Bowl appearance, but the Huskies, whose program is the subject of a conference investigation, might not be eligible. . . .

“It would be disappointing, especially being a senior,” outside linebacker Andy Mason said about the possibility of a decision next week barring the team from postseason play. “But everybody will keep focused, anyway. It would be great to go unbeaten even without a bowl game.” . . .

“I’m delighted that there haven’t been any coaches’ violations,” Coach Don James said. “We work our fannies off to run a clean program. I’m not sure many staffs could withstand the scrutiny we’ve had in the last couple of months.” . . .

The Pac-10 led the nation in players drafted by the NFL for the third time in the last four years with 31. The SEC was second with 30. . . .

Commissioner Tom Hansen called Bill Walsh’s Pro Football Hall of Fame career “an activity which occupied him between his Pac-10 coaching stints.” . . .

The successor to No. 1 NFL draft pick Drew Bledsoe as Washington State quarterback--senior Mike Pattinson, who has thrown 59 passes during his career--will be fed to Michigan at Ann Arbor in the opening game on Sept. 4. . . .

“Some people say Michigan has the best defense in the country,” Cougar Coach Mike Price said. “I don’t agree. I think the Dallas Cowboys do. But Michigan might have the second best.” . . .

Oregon State’s only victory last season was over none other than Fresno State. . . .

UCLA Coach Terry Donahue says the starting quarterback job probably won’t be decided by competition among Wayne Cook, Rob Walker and Ryan Fien until the week of the opener against California on Sept. 4 at the Rose Bowl. . . .

Donahue, on the Bruins having to face Cal and Stanford during the first three weeks of the schedule: “It can be a plus. Our players might work harder in camp than they would for nonconference opponents.” . . .

The sketches of Coach John Robinson, tackle Tony Boselli, defensive end Willie McGinest and wide receiver Johnnie Morton that appear on the cover of the USC media guide are the work of Art Brewster, who has been drawing Trojan athletes since 1946. . . .

“Our strength is experience,” said Robinson, who inherited 17 starters plus two kickers from Larry Smith. “If we have a weakness, it’s an overall slowness. We don’t have many lightning players.” . . .

The conference, which until recently had an agreement only with the Rose Bowl, now also has tie-ins with the John Hancock in El Paso, the Freedom in Anaheim and the Alamo in San Antonio. . . .

“I like it,” Arizona Coach Dick Tomey said when asked how he felt about being picked first in the conference race by a couple of publications. “It shows a certain respect for our football program. It’s a stamp of approval. It doesn’t bother me at all.” . . .

The Wildcats’ new quarterback will be Danny White, a transfer from Penn State who is no relation to the old Arizona State and Dallas Cowboy quarterback of the same name. . . .

Keith Gilbertson, whose first Cal team was a disappointing 4-7, describes his recruiting haul this year as “tremendous.” . . .

Arizona State Coach Bruce Snyder said he isn’t afraid to mention Mario Bates, who is coming off knee surgery, in the same breath with some prominent running backs he has coached. They include Charles White, Russell White, Anthony Davis, Ricky Bell and Eric Dickerson. . . .

Romeo Bandison, a 6-foot-5, 285-pound end whom Rich Brooks calls the best defensive lineman he has ever coached at Oregon, played soccer in his native Holland and only one season of U.S. football at Tamalpais High in Mill Valley, Calif. . . .

“Football is a lot different than soccer,” Bandison said. “There’s a lot less running.” .. . .

In his first year participating in the Associated Press national poll, Tucson Citizen columnist Corky Simpson was the only voter to have Alabama No. 1 the entire season. He rode in the Crimson Tide’s national championship parade in Tuscaloosa. “I’m not voting this year,” Simpson said. “I’m retiring undefeated.”. . .

When Robinson addressed the media, one of the questions came from a coach standing in the back of the room. “Coach, at your age, how do you think you can recruit?” asked Bill Walsh. “If you had an offspring with any talent at all, I could go up there and get him easily,” replied Robinson.