What exactly is the role of your sports editor? Does he title stories, commission features, help re-write reporter's articles?
He helps with story ideas, edits some stories, overseas the department, which includes where stories are played in the paper, and manages the egos of us writers. He also makes suggestions on how to make stories better.

There was a time or two, in the UA game, when Josh Shipp had some open looks but decided to pass to others. Do you think he is gun-shy or hesitant from the outside?
At this juncture, I believe he is. I asked him that, and he said he was not, but I know there are times Shipp usually shoots a ball, but in the last several games he did not.

Is there any chance you would actually get to see a copy of our new playbook, to give readers annectodal tidbits, without revealing substantive or propietary plays/nomenclature?
I could get a look at one, but anything out of it would be giving something away, in my opinion. It’s the playbook, so I don’t think there is a lot of fluff.

If UCLA and Stanford finish with identical league records and 1-1 versus each other, who is deemed the Pac 10 Champ (and number one seed in the Pac 10 Tourney)?
It doesn’t matter anymore since UCLA clinched the title, but the next tie-breaker is a team’s record against the next highest team in the standings. For example, if UCLA and Stanford finished tied, and USC was third, the tie-breaker is how each team fared against USC. And if it isn’t decided there, it goes down the line to fourth, fifth, sixth, ect. If teams are tied for third place, it would be the overall record of UCLA and Stanford against those teams in the tie.

Does the coaching staff expect there will be some commitments during the on campus football recruiting session this weekend?
From what I’m hearing, there could be one or two commitments.

what is your take on the Pac-10's "bubble teams"? the consensus seems to be that Arizona State and USC will get a shot in the Big Dance, while Arizona could go either way... do you feel the Pac-10 is a six-bid league?
UCLA, Stanford, Washington State and USC will make it. I believe Arizona gets in because of its tough non-conference schedule. I also believe Arizona State will get in as long as it beats Oregon State, and wins at least a game in the Pac-10 tournament.

I think you had mentioned a couple of weeks ago that the weekday spring football practices would take place in the morning. Have you heard anything more specific about the times, particularly for the weekend practices?
I do not recall mentioning any weekday spring football practices in the morning. I believe all the weekday practices are in the afternoon, after the players have classes.

Thus far USC has received 10 football verbal commitments for 2009 while UCLA has garnered only one commitment? Is there good reason to be concerned about the slow pace of recruiting this year? Does the coaching staff appear worried about the slow start?
It took Rick Neuheisel a while to put together his staff and there was a heavy concentration on keeping the 2008 class together, so UCLA is off to a slow start with the 2009 class. That said, I think there is some reason to wonder about it, but at this point it’s not a big concern. There is plenty of time to make up for the lack of junior recruiting, but relationships must be built before those kids can commit.