What's the relevance of this? It was the year that T.W. took over Stanford. Here's the article:

"Sports Illustrated says the USC Trojans will win this season's national championship, which would mean they also will win the
Pacific-10 Conference title. The sportswriters who cover the conference teams say USC will win the Pac-10 title, too.

"The coach of USC, one John Robinson, isn't claiming either the conference crown or the national title. He isn't shying away from those predictions and the expectations they create but regards them as an indication he has brought the Trojans back to the elite level he said he would when he returned three years ago.

"Robinson also is aware that "we're all vulnerable every week," and that dealing with the glare of the spotlight isn't always easy
for college-aged young men. That was proven by Arizona, Sports Illustrated's preseason No. 1 last year. Arizona coach Dick Tomey said the Wildcats didn't cope with the pressure and didn't improve during the season. They didn't do badly, finishing 8-4 and tied for second in the conference. But they were disappointed.

"'We've accomplished nothing,' Robinson said of the Trojans "But, he added, "if we have the will to be a top-10 team, we
certainly can be. "

"Were it that easy, everyone would do it. And as UCLA coach Terry Donahue points out, at this time of the year everyone expects to do it. He said he's still waiting for that one honest man among the coaching fraternity to sit down and admit he had a lousy recruiting year and a lousy spring practice, that his team is horrible, and that it's going to be a long season.

"No one in the Pac-10 will make those admissions. And no one is eager to handicap this season's race.

"USC and UCLA are the favorites, as usual. But Robinson said it would "be dumb to underestimate (defending champion) Oregon. That's a good football team. "

"PACIFIC-10 CONFERENCE CAPSULES

"A look at each Pac-10 school in predicted order of finish.

1. UCLA

Terry Donahue begins his 20th season as the Bruins' coach
needing four victories to surpass Don James of Washington as the
winningest coach in conference history. It's a milestone many
thought he would reach last season, but injuries intervened,
leading to a six-game losing streak and a 5-6 record.

Donahue will pass James this season. The question is when
conference victory No. 98 will come and whether it will be
meaningful in helping the Bruins return to a postseason bowl. And
if Donahue can shore up a defense that was last against the rush
and ninth overall in the conference, and replace an All-America
punter, the bowl picture will come into focus.

2. USC

Coach John Robinson is stressing the team concept more than
usual. He said the key to the Trojans' season will be the
competition for positions, which should make everyone better. If
so, he'll have a final guffaw at the expense of those who scoffed
when he predicted USC's return to elite status when he rejoined the
Trojans three years ago.

Sports Illustrated and Sport magazine are convinced Robinson
is right. Those publications have tabbed the Trojans No. 1 despite
several areas of concern. There is no established quarterback, a
huge hole at left tackle occupied last season by Tony Boselli,
inexperience at linebacker and a new kicker. There's also
uncertainty over what, if any, penalty will be levied against
standout wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson for allegedly accepting
money from an agent.

The major problem last season was the defense, which gave up
396 yards a game and was last in the conference in sacks, with 28,
despite intercepting 16 passes. The secondary should again be a
strength, with all four starters returning, and the Trojans have
switched to a 5-2 alignment they hope will stop the run and
generate more pressure on the quarterback.

3. OREGON

There are a lot of new faces on the field in Eugene this
season. Most of them are on the coaching staff, however, because of
Rich Brooks' defection to the St. Louis Rams after the season.

Former offensive coordinator Mike Bellotti has taken over for
Brooks, Alan Broges is the offensive coordinator and former NFL
star Charlie Waters, with the Denver Broncos in recent years, has
taken over the defense.

Bellotti said there won't be many changes, though, and few are
needed since the defending conference champions return eight
starters on offense and seven on defense, plus reliable
punter-kicker Matt Belden. But that could change with starting
tailback Ricky Whittle's eligibility depending on his grades from
summer school and backup tailback Marcel Stewart gone for personal
reasons.

The uncertainty at tailback isn't beneficial, not with
left-handed junior Tony Graziana still an unknown at quarterback,
where he replaces three-year starter Danny O'Neil. But the rest of
the offense is solid, with all four starting linebackers returning
and two excellent cornerbacks in Alex Molden and Kenny Wheaton.

The Ducks played in the Rose Bowl for the first time in 37
years in January, losing to Penn State, 38-20. Bellotti said all
that loss did was give his team incentive for this year.

4. CALIFORNIA

The Golden Bears have been down and up and down again in coach
Keith Gilbertson's first three seasons, so if the pattern continues
this will be an up year in Berkeley - if they can eliminate the
mistakes and turnovers that were so costly en route to a 4-7 finish
last season.

Nine starters return on offense and six on defense, along with
Ryan Longwell, who handles the punting and kicking. The only area
needing a lot of work is the secondary, where cornerback Jerod
Cherry is the only returnee. If adequate replacements can be found,
California could be formidable defensively, particularly with
junior ends Regan Upshaw and Andy Jacobs and sophomore tackle
Brandon Whiting anchoring what could be the best line in the
conference.

The offense could be excellent, with only two linemen missing
from the starting unit that finished last season. Pat Barnes, who
started the final three games after Dave Barr was injured, is the
quarterback. He has standout receivers in senior Iheanyi Uwaezuoke
(56 for 716 and five touchdowns) and junior Na'il Benjamin (45,
587, two TDs), and an experienced running back-receiver in senior
Reynard Rutherford (713 yards, four TDs rushing, 27 catches). The
priorities are improving the running game (126 yards a game) and
the scoring output.

Special teams should be a strength again. The Bears led the
Pac-10 in punt and kickoff returns and were strong at kickoff
coverage. Punting and punt coverage could be better, though.

5. WASHINGTON
There's happiness in the home of the Huskies because they are
off probation with something to play for again. That's enough to
make life easier for Coach Jim Lambright, who said he had grown
weary of carrying that millstone during his first two seasons in
charge.

Washington went 7-4 in both those campaigns, running its streak
of consecutive winning seasons to 18, tops by far among
conference schools. The problem is that without running back
Napoleon Kaufman and tight end Mark Bruener, and with a schedule
that includes Notre Dame and Ohio State in addition to the
conference foes, another 7-4 season would be at once a success and
a disappointment.

The Huskies are solid at quarterback with senior Damon Huard,
at fullback with senior Richard Thomas, and return three starters
on the offensive line. But junior Dave Janoski of Corona is the
only experienced wide receiver, and it may take two men - senior
Leon Neal and sophomore Rashaan Shehee - to replace Kaufman, who
rushed for 1,390 yards and nine touchdowns.

Defensively, there will be an attempt to add some muscle and a
return to the attacking style that traditionally has made the
Huskies one of the conference's best defensive teams. There is
experience and depth in the line, but not much of either at
linebacker, despite the presence of standout junior Ink Aleaga, or
in the secondary, where junior safety Lawyer Milloy and senior
cornerback Reggie Reser form the basis of a quality unit.

The kicking game should be solid with both starters returning.

6. ARIZONA

Sports Illustrated's preseason pick for No. 1 last season, the
Wildcats admittedly let the pressure get to them and finished 8-4
after a 4-0 start. Coach Dick Tomey said the primary problem was
that the players did not improve as the season progressed.

This year, there is much room for improvement, since Arizona
returns just nine starters, the fewest in the conference, and only
three of those are on offense - including quarterback Dan White
(2,181 yards, 14 touchdowns) and leading receiver Richard Dice (56
for 969 and eight TDs). There also are five starters back on
defense, among them All-America end Tedy Bruschi and nose guard
Chuck Osborne.

Question marks are plentiful, however. The entire offensive
line will be new, 1,000-yard rusher Ontiwaun Carter must be
replaced, Dice is the only experienced receiver, two new starters
must be found at linebacker and senior safety Brandon Sanders is
the only proven performer in a secondary that intercepted just four
passes last year. Also missing is kicker Steve McLaughlin, who won
the Lou Groza Award as the best in the nation in 1994.

The schedule is favorable. The Wildcats play four of their
first five at home, and all of the contenders except UCLA have to
visit Tucson.

7. WASHINGTON STATE
The Cougars were one of the surprises in the conference last
season, rebounding from a 5-6 year to finish 8-4 after beating
Baylor in the Alamo Bowl and leave coach Mike Price two games above
.500 (35-33) after six years in Pullman.

The bad news, however, is that most of the Palouse Posse that
led the conference in total defense (229.0) and scoring defense
(12.1) has ridden off into the sunset. Just three starters return -
end Dwayne Sanders, linebacker Chris Hayes and cornerback Brian
Walker. Price isn't looking for excuses, though. He said the
cornerstone of the defense has been speed, and the Cougars have a
lot of that.

Offensively, the concern is not with experience, since seven
starters return, but with productivity. The Cougars last season
were last in rushing (86.5), last in total offense (279.9) and last
in scoring (16.5), and improvement is needed to compensate for any
defensive dropoff. Junior quarterback Chad Davis, formerly of Palm
Springs High, will direct an attack that returns the top two
rushers, three of the top four receivers and a standout tight end
in Eric Moore. The line, however, needs some attention after
yielding a conference-high 45 sacks and losing three starters.

Punter George Martin and kicker Tony Truant return.

8. ARIZONA STATE

Last season, injuries hampered the Sun Devils. This year,
inexperience could do the same. Coach Bruce Snyder begins his
fourth season with 11 returning starters. Most of those are on
offense and much help is needed on defense, where Arizona State
finished last overall (440.8 yards a game) and ninth against
scoring (31.5 points).

"We've got to shore up virtually everything we do
defensively," said Snyder, who got some help for a young
linebacking corps when the NCAA granted Justin Dragoo a sixth year
of eligibility. But senior cornerback Marcus Soward is the only
veteran in the secondary, and the two returning starters in the
line, end Brent Burnstein and tackle Shawn Swayda, missed spring
drills with injuries.

If the defense can be respectable, the Sun Devils could
improve on their 3-8 of a year ago because the framework of a good
offense is in place. That starts with junior quarterback Jake
Plummer (2,179 yards, 15 touchdowns, nine interceptions). Snyder
thinks Plummer is the best in the conference and maybe the nation.

The top two receivers are gone, but Keith Poole (31 for 669 and six
TDs) is proven, and he'll be supported by junior college transfer
Isaiah Mustafa and junior tight end Steve Bush. Back, also, is
leading rusher Chris Hopkins, and he'll have three returning
starters on the offensive line clearing the way for him.

The Sun Devils' season could be determined early, since they
face Washington, Nebraska and USC on the road in September.

9. OREGON STATE

The Beavers are going to run the football. That's no surprise.

It's something they've done since Jerry Pettibone took over as head
coach five years ago and installed the option offense. They've done
it quite well, too - averaging a conference-high (and fifth
nationally) 279 yards a game last season, their second straight 4-7
campaign.

What's new is that Pettibone said Oregon State also is going
to throw the ball this season. It won't be an aerial circus, just
12 to 15 passes a game. But Pettibone wants to complete at least 75
percent of those throws and gain more than 100 yards a game. That
would be a 100 percent improvement, in both the number of passes
and the yards gained and will, Pettibone hopes, "give us the added
dimension of big plays in the passing game and create the kind of
pressure on the defense that we want, where they can't overplay the
run. "

The Beavers do return both their leading passer, quarterback
Don Shanklin, and their leading receiver, Cameron Reynolds,
although it may not be long before Shanklin gives way to highly
touted Tim Alexander. Shanklin threw only 73 passes in 11 games,
completing 29 (39.7 percent) for 560 yards and one touchdown, and
Reynolds, a running back, caught just 10, for 231 yards. None of
the starting wide receivers return, and on the offensive line only
left tackle Tim Camp returns as the same position. So the run will
remain the primary weapon.

On defense, Oregon State boasts one of the top safeties in
senior Reggie Tongue, who returned three interceptions for
touchdowns last season, and three starters on the line. Linebacking
could be a concern, however, with only Kane Rogers returning, and
the loss of cornerback Buster Elahee (for personal reasons) weakens
the secondary. Pettibone said improving the kicking game is "the
most important thing we need to do. "

The Beavers have not had a winning season since 1970, but this
could be the year. They open against Idaho, Pacific, North Texas
State and Arizona State (all but Idaho on the road), get
Washington, California and USC at home in Corvallis and do not play
UCLA.

10. STANFORD

The Cardinal this season will be without Bill Walsh, Steve
Stenstrom and several others who contributed to the conference's
most productive offense. They do have nine starters back on
defense, but that's not necessarily good news given the poor
performance of that unit.

"In place of Walsh is Tyrone Willingham, who's getting his shot
as a head coach after 17 years as an assistant, most recently with
the Minnesota Vikings. A taciturn, detail-oriented man, Willingham
has declared every starting job open and set about putting his own
mark on the team.

"The Cardinal (3-7-1) are going to be operating in new
offensive and defensive systems and will be physical, Willingham
said. The offense also is going to emphasize the run, not the pass.

"That's not a bad idea, given the lack of a quarterback with any
starting experience and the return of Mike Mitchell, who rushed for
312 yards in two games before going down for the season with an
ankle injury.

"The ability to rely on the running game offensively is
dependent on the ability to stop the run defensively, and Stanford
didn't do that last year. The Cardinal didn't stop the pass,
either. So despite the abundance of returnees, the defense is a
major concern."

So, let's review the bidding here. Stanford went 7-3-1 in the regular season, including a 5-3 conference record. Stanford's conference losses included a gut-wrenching 31-30 road loss to heavily-favored U.S.C. (T.W. would win 4 of the next 6 against U.S.C.). U.S.C. did not lead until taking a 25-24 lead with about 7 minutes to go when Stanford went on a clutch drive to take a 30-25 lead with about 3 minutes to go. A two-point conversion pass was dropped in the endzone and U.S.C. then completed a T.D. pass to Keyshawn Johnson with about a minute to go to take the lead 31-30. Stanford's last-gasp pass was broken up at the goal line.

Suffice it to say that the game was just a little bit closer than one might expect between the pre-season pick for the N.C. and the pre-season pick for the Pac-10 cellar.

Southern Cal. did make it to the Rose Bowl, but with an 8-2-1 regular season record hardly challenged for the N.C. N.D., you will recall, drilled the men of Troy 38-10. U.C.L.A. 7-5 was not much of a factor in anything.