UA football rates No. 7 in Pac-10 media poll

Despite posting its first bowl-eligible season since 1999, the UA football team has been picked to finish seventh in the annual Pac-10 media poll.
Arizona coach Mike Stoops said the results, released Thursday at the conference's annual media day, won't change his lofty standards for the team. Stoops said he expects the Wildcats to make their first bowl game since 1998.
Arizona returns 19 starters from a team that went 6-6 last season
"My expectations and our team's are high every year, but I think we're legitimate and I think our attitude is legitimate really for the first time," Stoops said. "This is far and away our most experienced and talented team."
Thursday's poll ends a brief run of good vibes for the UA. The Cats picked to finish sixth in the 2006 poll, its highest predicted spot since 1999.
Unsurprisingly, USC was a unanimous pick to win the conference for the fifth straight year. The Trojans received 39 first-place votes.
"They may be the best team in the history of college football," Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh said. "I think their current team is that good."
California was picked second for the fourth consecutive season, and UCLA Arizona State and Oregon State rounded out the top half of the poll.
Oregon was picked sixth, 56 points ahead of Arizona. Washington State, Washington and Stanford were picked to finish in the bottom three.