Canzano: Monday Mailbag deals with OSU hire, Pac-12 title, Pac-2 plight, Heisman and more

Your questions. My answers.

Saturday night was somber. I tuned into the UCLA-Cal game on ESPN, and watched the final game of the Pac-12’s regular-season melt before my eyes.

The third quarter ended.

I raised four ceremonial fingers from my sofa.

I grew up on the Pac-10. Those were my stadiums, my coaches, and my teams. Charles White, the USC running back, was my favorite player. I lived in the Bay Area, but I loved watching White run and hearing the unforgettable voice of Keith Jackson bellowing from the television set.

The Pac-12 shouldn’t have ended.

The conference should have secured a media-rights deal and played on. I’ve reported and written about the reasons why the conference died. But the downfall of the Pac-12 or any other empire always comes back to three basic ingredients — greed, arrogance and stupidity.

Knowing that doesn’t make it feel better. Nor did I find solace in hearing an ESPN broadcaster announce in the waning minutes of the final game “Nobody wants the Pac-12 to end.”

This — from a TV network that could have saved the conference along with FOX had the entities been less interested in breaking it up and parting it out.

“We were proud to be here for the final night of Pac-12 football,” the broadcaster continued. “SportsCenter is next.”

It was like being at a funeral and hearing the officiant announce “may his soul rest in peace,” followed immediately by “now, if you’re hungry for a treat, the church bake sale is going on next door.”

It’s going to be a newsy week.

Oregon State is going to hire a football coach. The Pac-2 lawsuit is going to get clarity. OSU and Washington State will reveal the master plan for 2024. Heisman votes will be cast, the transfer portal will open, the Pac-12 Conference championship will be decided, and the four-team playoff will be set.

I’ll be on the scene in Las Vegas for the Oregon-Washington title game on Friday, and will keep you informed on all fronts. Also, I’m ready to take some deep dive and tell some important stories. Make sure you’re here for it.

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I received a series of great questions this week on the Pac-12 title game, Pac-2, Oregon State’s coaching search, Chip Kelly, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, Jonathan Smith, the Heisman trophy, mascots, left-over turkey and more.

Onto the Monday Mailbag…