Pac-12 Notebook: Oregon S Avery Patterson out for season with torn ACL

Oregon safety Avery Patterson will miss the rest of the season after tearing his ACL against Cal. (US Presswire)

There was no shortage of Pac-12 news Monday, so let's get right to the links:

Oregon got bad news on Monday. Safety Avery Patterson will miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL, according to the Oregonian. Patterson was injured in the Ducks' 59-17 win over Cal on Saturday. It's a crushing blow for an Oregon team that lost starting safety John Boyett for the season in September after Boyett decided to undergo season ending knee surgery. Patterson was Boyett's replacement.
With the Ducks facing depth problems in the secondary, there's a rumor that all-everything player De'Anthony Thomas could play some defense, The Oregonian reported. Not only can Thomas play corner, he's a good one. The sophomore offensive star was a No. 1 cornerback recruit out of high school two years ago.
Last week, a controversy erupted at USC when it was discovered that the Trojans slightly deflated their footballs before the team's loss to Oregon. A student manager was dismissed for the transgression and that was that, or was it? According to the LA Daily News, an unnamed athletic department employee knew about the deflated balls. That employee was given an unspecified reprimand as punishment.
In coach Jeff Tedford's first game at Cal (August, 2002), the Bears blew out Baylor 70-22. Last Saturday, Cal suffered the worst loss of the Tedford-era, a 59-17 thrashing at the hands of Oregon. Jon Wilner of the San Jose Mercury News tried to pinpoint what has caused the decline in Berkeley.
Oregon State QB Cody Vaz injured his ankle in the Beavers' loss to Stanford on Saturday. So will he start against Cal this week? "I'm not saying that right now," coach Mike Riley told the Oregonian. "I don't need to say that right now. [Vaz] is hopeful he'll be able to practice by Wednesday." If Vaz can't go, former Beaver starting QB Sean Mannion will get the nod.
Oregon State isn't the only Pac-12 school battling quarterback injuries. Arizona QB Matt Scott (concussion) didn't play in the Wildcats' 56-31 win over Colorado on Saturday and coach Rich Rodriguez was mum about Scott's playing status this week, to the Tucson Citizen. Rodriguez made it clear that he wouldn't be updating anyone on Scott's status until Thursday, when the team releases its weekly injury report.
Although Arizona State has lost four games in a row, coach Todd Graham hasn't seen an attitude change from his team. "We've fallen short four times straight, and these guys haven't folded one bit. I think that speaks volumes about their character," Graham told Fox Sports Arizona. The Sun Devils are only one win away from bowl eligibility and they can get there with a win over Washington State this week.
Speaking of Washington State, coach Mike Leach has categorically denied the allegations of abuse made by former WR Marquess Wilson, who quit the team on Nov. 10. "There is no truth to it at all," Leach said. The Pac-12 will conduct an independent investigation of the incident, CBSSports.com's Dennis Dodd reported.
The Mackey Award named its eight semifinalists on Monday, and the Pac-12 was well-represented. Washington's Austin Seferian-Jenkins, UCLA's Joseph Fauria and Stanford's Zach Ertz are all semifinalists for the award, which is given to the nation's best tight end. A notable snub: Arizona State tight end Chris Coyle, who has the second most receptions among tight ends in the country and fourth most receiving yards.
The Biletnikoff Award semifinalists were also named on Monday and the Pac-12 landed three players there, too. USC's Marqise Lee, Oregon State's Brandin Cooks and Arizona's Austin Hill were three of the 10 semifinalists named. Both the Biletnikoff Award and Mackey Award will be handed out on Dec. 6.