Nicely done. I'd add one of my favorite Pac-12 spots--Oregon's Hayward Field, site of multiple U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials and the big annual international meet named for its 1970s star Steve Prefontaine. Hayward Field is the self-styled "Track and Field Capital"--a pretty accurate description.
Don't forget that UCLA and Stanford are still alive in the Women's College World Series and Cardinal phenom sophomore pitcher NiJaree Canady was just honored as USA Softball Player of the Year.
A worthy and well done obituary Mark, it's a shame it had to be written.
Growing up in Eugene, the Ducks were part of my DNA, but so was the PAC 8-10-12. Granted, the 70's wasn't what you would call a decade of Duck dominance (neither was the 80's for that matter), but man when they pulled off that random upset, the feeling of euphoria would be enough to get me to the next random upset.
If the Ducks weren't playing in a bowl game or March Madness, aka reality, it was the PAC who I rooted for. I was full of west coast pride, and why not?
The regional rivalries, big city vs college town, NW vs California, and the natural archrivals; Huskies-Cougars, Ducks-Beavers, Bears-Cardinal (Indians?), and Trojans-Bruins.
It's all gone now. It didn't need to happen, but if not now, it was inevitable. Money rules, another upheaval in college sports is coming.
We will always have our memories. Thank you Mark for sharing yours.
The demise of the PAC 8-10-12 is criminal. The resulting conference affiliations are insulting. The effect of coast-to-coast travel on the "semipro athletes" will be awful. But will athletes even be required to take sham classes? The demise of the "student" will be the next big thing. But I mourn the loss so elegantly explained here. It's a fabulous legacy (and think about how much more ASU baseball added to that talent roster!). RIP, PAC-? athletics.
Nicely done. I'd add one of my favorite Pac-12 spots--Oregon's Hayward Field, site of multiple U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials and the big annual international meet named for its 1970s star Steve Prefontaine. Hayward Field is the self-styled "Track and Field Capital"--a pretty accurate description.
Amazing column, Mark. One of your best. Thank you.
Don't forget that UCLA and Stanford are still alive in the Women's College World Series and Cardinal phenom sophomore pitcher NiJaree Canady was just honored as USA Softball Player of the Year.
A worthy and well done obituary Mark, it's a shame it had to be written.
Growing up in Eugene, the Ducks were part of my DNA, but so was the PAC 8-10-12. Granted, the 70's wasn't what you would call a decade of Duck dominance (neither was the 80's for that matter), but man when they pulled off that random upset, the feeling of euphoria would be enough to get me to the next random upset.
If the Ducks weren't playing in a bowl game or March Madness, aka reality, it was the PAC who I rooted for. I was full of west coast pride, and why not?
The regional rivalries, big city vs college town, NW vs California, and the natural archrivals; Huskies-Cougars, Ducks-Beavers, Bears-Cardinal (Indians?), and Trojans-Bruins.
It's all gone now. It didn't need to happen, but if not now, it was inevitable. Money rules, another upheaval in college sports is coming.
We will always have our memories. Thank you Mark for sharing yours.
The demise of the PAC 8-10-12 is criminal. The resulting conference affiliations are insulting. The effect of coast-to-coast travel on the "semipro athletes" will be awful. But will athletes even be required to take sham classes? The demise of the "student" will be the next big thing. But I mourn the loss so elegantly explained here. It's a fabulous legacy (and think about how much more ASU baseball added to that talent roster!). RIP, PAC-? athletics.