Lost a little bit amid the grunting gridiron followers, coaches, players and media at the Pacific-10 Conference’s football media day Thursday were a few revealing snippets from new commissioner Larry Scott.

Scott, a former Harvard athlete, left his director position at the WTA (women’s tennis) last March to accept the position as the Pac-10 commissioner, replacing Tom Hansen, who retired after 26 years in power. Scott started his post July 1.

An intriguing and potentially profitable aspect of Scott’s background is his business relationships in the Far East – something he will, no doubt, explore in expanding the conference’s exposure and marketing.

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WASHINGTON HUSKIES

Points to consider: New coach Steve Sarkisian had a light-hearted approach from the get-go, and relayed an amusing story about his job to lead off. He talked about driving over the Hwy. 520 bridge every morning to Husky Stadium. Every time the stadium comes into view, he said he felt compelled to call somebody, whether at “5:30 a.m. or 7″ to chat about his job. … Sarkisian noted four of his first five games (LSU, Notre Dame, USC, Stanford) are against programs that are in the top 15 in being physical. “We have to get our mindset

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WASHINGTON STATE COUGARS

Points to consider: Coach Paul Wulff noted the Cougars have increased their physicality overall, particularly on defense where he thinks that unit should be much-improved. … There will be a quarterback battle this fall camp among Marshall Lobbestael, Kevin Lopina and J.T. Levenseller. The winner will be asked to lead a no-huddle attack, something Wulff abandoned because of injuries last season.

Updates: Linebacker Louis Bland hurt his knee in spring camp and will be limited this fall. Wulff hopes he’ll be ready for the first game. … Lobbestael (knee) will be taken along slowly in

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By the power of journalistic persuasion, seven-time defending Pacific-10 Conference champion Southern California should have an easy time making it eight in a row in 2009.

The Trojans (316 points) were the overwhelming choice by beat reporters up and down the West Coast, garnering 28 of the 32 votes in the preseason poll Thursday, released hours before the start of media day.

USC becomes the first school to top the poll seven consecutive years since it went 18 in a row (1965-82).

California was second with 277 points, and received three first-place votes. Oregon, under new coach

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Barely escaping the scorching 100-plus-degree temperatures in the Greater Puget Sound – my morning flight Wednesday out of Sea-Tac Airport was delayed 90 minutes by a fuel spill on the tarmac – things in Los Angeles surprisingly have been more serene.

For starters, it’s a whole 30 degrees cooler in the vicinity of the media hotel.

And traffic wasn’t so unbearable today as I made my way to Torrance, Calif. along Hwy. 1 to see some of where UW coach Steve Sarkisian grew up.

In fact, here in Torrance, high schools football teams are practicing in July,

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PACIFIC-10 CONFERENCE FOOTBALL MEDIA DAY

When: Thursday.

Where: Sheraton Gateway LAX Hotel, Los Angeles.

Schedule:

&bull Washington State coach Paul Wulff and lineman Kenny Alfred, 9:45 to 10 a.m.

&bull Washington coach Steve Sarkisian and linebacker Donald Butler, 10 to 10:15 a.m.

&bull UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel and linebacker Reggie Carter, 10:15 to 10:30 a.m.

&bull Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh and tailback Toby Gerhart, 10:30 to 10:45 a.m.

&bull Arizona coach Mike Stoops and safety Cam Nelson, 11:10 to 11:25 a.m.

&bull California coach Jeff Tedford and tailback Jahvid Best, 11:25

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UW has confirmed that it has hired Lindsay Meggs as the program’s new baseball coach.

Meggs, who has been coaching at Indiana State, will be officially introduced at a Monday morning press conference.

… and it didn’t start — and won’t end — with Kentwood’s 6-9 270-pound prize, Josh Smith.

Here’s a look from the Los Angeles Times.