LOS ANGELES — From Jim Plunkett to John Elway and Drew Bledsoe to Matt Leinart, the Pac-10 has long been the conference of quarterbacks.
This year's crop may turn out to be the best of all.
Eight of the top nine passers from last fall are back, led by Southern California senior John David Booty, who has emerged as a preseason Heisman Trophy contender. Booty is only one reason the Trojans were a unanimous pick by West Coast media to win their fifth straight conference title.
"To me it's by far the best that I've seen as far as depth quarterback-wise," said Arizona State coach Dennis Erickson, who previously coached at Washington State and Oregon State. "I mean, everybody's got their quarterback coming back."
Erickson paused, then smiled.
"What that tells me is that whoever has the best defense is probably going to win the league," Erickson said during Pac-10 media day.
Defense? They play defense in the Pac-10?
Last year, only one Pac-10 team ranked in the top 25 in scoring defense — USC, which allowed 15.2 points per game, 11th in Division I-A. Meanwhile, four schools — USC, Washington State, California and Oregon State — were among the top 25 in passing offense.
There may be some debate over whether Pac-10 offenses are that good or Pac-10 defenses are that bad. But it seems clear that this year's title will be won in the air.
"I don't think there is any conference in the country that can claim the skill-position players that we do, particularly at quarterback," Pac-10 commissioner Tom Hansen said.
Passing has always been a fancy on the West Coast. One reason is that Pac-10 programs don't have to go far to find prospects; California annually produces bumper crops of passing and receiving prospects.
Another factor is the region's forgiving weather; in the Pac-10, only the four northern schools consistently deal with rain, snow and other Big Ten-style elements that can make passing difficult.
"It's grass basketball," said Washington State coach Bill Doba, a former defensive coordinator who spends many hours trying to figure out ways to stop the Pac-10's multitude of offensive sets.
The passing numbers are likely to explode this fall because veteran quarterbacks allow coaches to open up their playbooks.
California junior Nate Longshore is "another coach on our field," Bears coach Jeff Tedford said. "Nate is a student of the game."
Tedford knows quarterbacks. In 15 years as a college assistant and head coach, he is credited with developing six quarterbacks who were first-round NFL draft picks, including Cal products Aaron Rodgers and Kyle Boller.
Doba said Cougars senior Alex Brink "knows more about this offense than I do."
Brink has been a worthy heir to the Pullman quarterback tradition established by Bledsoe, Jack Thompson, Ryan Leaf and Jason Gesser, all of whom led the Pac-10 in passing. Brink threw for 19 touchdowns and had 10 interceptions a year ago, earning a spot on the second-team all-conference squad.
Then there's Booty, a 6-foot-3, 215-pounder who came to the Pac-10 from Shreveport, La., in the heart of Southeastern Conference country.
Booty spent his first two years behind Leinart, but he has thrown 32 touchdown passes in three seasons. If Booty matches last year's total, 29, he would finish third on the school's career list behind Leinart and Carson Palmer, both Heisman winners.
The softspoken Booty is quick to credit his teammates for his success, but he said he welcomes comparisons to previous Trojan stars.
"I give my best and work hard, and I want to be a winner because of the great players who came before me," Booty said. "If I can be half as good as some of them, I will be happy about my career at USC."
USC coach Pete Carroll said he expects a big year from Booty, who has had elbow and back injuries but is healthy heading into his final season.
"Coming out of last season, he has had a seamless transition," Carroll said.