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The Pac Ten Conference entered the 2006 season with one mandate: prove that they're worthy of their best team, the USC Trojans. For three consecutive years, the Men of Troy had steamrolled the competition in the Pac Ten leaving many to wonder just how good the rest of the conference was--and in 2006 the Pac Ten proved that it was, with a couple notable exception, able to hang with the best of the College Football universe.

Opening weekend amounted to a miniature Pac Ten-SEC challenge, with the Southeastern Conference coming out the winners. Although USC took eventual SEC West Champion Arkansas to task in Fayetteville, Washington State lost to Auburn and California barely put up a fight on Rocky Top.

By the end of the season, both Oregon State and UCLA had proven that the Trojans were fallable, and the bottom of the conference took its best shots at the top--with Arizona scoring one of the season's greatest upsets defeating conference co-champions California. Along the way, there was a cluster of five teams which were all battling to avoid third place in the Conference and the "coveted" Las Vegas Bowl invitation that went with it.

Quarterbacks with multiple fractures in their throwing hand usually take a seat and do that whole "healing" thing. On the surface it sounds like common sense. But then, common sense fell by the wayside long ago for last year's Arizona State football team.

Arizona State's Rudy Carpenter didn't get the memo.

The junior told ASUDevils.com that he fractured his right (throwing) hand in two places during practice before the Colorado game. And that he broke a bone on the ring finger of his left (non-throwing) hand when it was stepped on during the California game.

Both hands? I guess I should give him props for the incredibly tough/macho "look ma, no hands!" act. But then it explains away a lot of his ineffectiveness last year as he morphed from being the nation's most efficient passer to something resembling former UCLA quarterback Cory Paus.

Also: future wife take notice - the man needs no ring cause his ring finger kinda sorta doesn't work.

He also said of the injury against Cal, "It didn't feel good, but it's alright. I don't think I have a knuckle any more on my ring finger.

Ewwww.

If there is one over-arching theme to the brief tenure of Dennis Erickson at Arizona State, it can be summed up in one word: commitment.

The head ball coach for the Sun Devils came to Tempe after just one season coaching the Idaho Vandals. Now, he has poached one of Southern California's best High School quarterbacks from the USC Trojans.

Camarillo's Samson Szakacsy has de-committed from the Trojans and will instead be a Sun Devil.

Szakacksy had committed last Spring when it looked like the Trojans may need his services immediately--John David Booty was out with back troubles and Mark Sanchez was arrested on unfounded sexual assault charges. But Booty and Sanchez are back and Aaron Corp is waiting in the wings, which sent Szakacsy, like Jimmy Clausen before him, looking for an open starting job elsewhere.

That sound you hear (suspend disbelief for a moment, please)---it's the 2006 college football season quickly approaching. We are now a mere six days and a few hours from Aug. 31, the new season's genesis. The slate of games' for that Thursday hold only modest promise, but as a true college football nut I'll find a way to delight in them just the same.

Looking over that day's schedule, a few games stand out.

Northwestern at Miami (Ohio)---Emotions will run high at this one as Northwestern plays its first game since the death of coach Randy Walker. Adding further to the mood, Walker was an Ohio-born coach who led a revival of sorts as Miami's coach before taking over at Northwestern.

Minnesota at Kent State---The running backs are dropping like flies for the run-happy Golden Gophers, which may spell early-season doom. Or maybe not, as Kent State is coming off a 1-10 season. Either way this has the potential to be another interesting Big Ten/MAC battle.

South Carolina at Mississippi State---I'm surprised this game is this early in the year, as most conference matchups do not begin until several weeks into the season. South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier's back, and it's just not college football without the Ol' Ball Coach throwing visors around.

Toledo at Iowa State---Coach Tom Amstutz runs an offensive power in the MAC, but will be without departed senior Bruce Gradkowski at quarterback. Iowa State should have an incredible offense as well, returning Bret Meyer at quarterback, Stevie Hicks at tailback and the dynamic duo of Austin Flynn and Todd Blythe at receiver. This is the third matchup of the day between a MAC team and a midlevel BCS conference foe.

Northern Arizona at Arizona State---This won't be much of a game, but we'll get our first look at the suddenly shaky Arizona State Sun Devils.

UTEP at San Diego State---This is the final hurrah for UTEP quarterback Jordan Palmer. The program is now in its third year under coach Mike Price and should be set for a pretty big season. The Aztecs begin their first campaign under new coach Chuck Long, formerly the offensive coordinator at Oklahoma.