Winners and Losers of 2015 Pac-12 Media Days

The Pac-12 held its media days on Thursday and Friday in Burbank, California, occupying a hangar-sized soundstage as well as various studio lots. Along with the Big Ten event in Chicago, it served as the final round of media gatherings for the power conferences in FBS with just over a month left before the 2015 season begins.

It was a mostly low-key outing for the league, which will be celebrating its 100th anniversary this year and is coming off a 2014 campaign that saw Oregon play for a national title and had five other teams win at least nine games. USC has been picked to win the conference, and the Trojans are one of six teams from the Pac-12 that were ranked in the Amway Coaches Poll preseason Top 25.

There weren't any major stories that came out of Pac-12 Media Days, but there were plenty of interesting things discussed during the two days. He's our look at who fared well and who isn't looking so good.

Winner: Guys Named Larry Scott

Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press

The Pac-12's commissioner just happens to share a name with his "favorite" player in the conference, Oregon State cornerback Larry Scott. And the two did their best impression of a body-switching movie by swapping roles briefly on Thursday, with the player getting asked by media about his thoughts on a variety of topics.

And he did so while wearing an OSU polo shirt with "The Commish" embroidered on the sleeve.

"It depends on the teams that come in," Scott, a 5'11", 192-pound senior told ESPN's Chantel Jennings when asked about Pac-12 expansion. "If they're top-tier teams, then I have no problem."

It was a good day for both Larry Scotts, as the man in charge of the conference kicked off what will be a yearlong celebration of the Pac-12's centennial by expressing hope that the league's TV network could finally get offered by satellite provider DirecTV now that it's been purchased by AT&T.

"I'm optimistic that we’ll have positive conversations," Scott said, per Joey Kaufman of the Orange County Register.

Loser: Colorado

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The move from the Big 12 to the Pac-12 hasn't gone well so far for Colorado, which has gone 12-39 in its four seasons as a league member. That includes a paltry 4-32 mark in conference play. Last year the Buffaloes were winless, and they take an 11-game league losing streak into this season.

While third-year coach Mike MacIntyre is optimistic about his 2015 unit—"I expect us to win this year, I really do," he said Thursday, per Ryan Thorburn of the Register-Guard—the conference's media doesn't share that sentiment.

Colorado was picked to finish last yet again in the South Division, and it wasn't close. Of the 45 ballots submitted, all but one had the Buffaloes in sixth place. The 46 points they got were 59 behind fifth-place Utah and 208 behind first-place USC.

Winner: Rich Rodriguez, Arizona

Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press

Arizona's Rich Rodriguez has a future in stand-up comedy if this coaching thing doesn't work out, and he used his time behind the microphone Friday to test out some of his new material.

The fourth-year coach—whose team won the Pac-12 South Division last season but were picked to finish fourth this fall—quoted movies like Dumb and Dumber and The Lion King in response to some of the questions he faced, while also giving his true thoughts on what he'd rather be doing instead of hanging out in Burbank.

"Well, I'd rather be practicing, golfing or on the lake, but I'm happy you guys are here," Rodriguez said, per Zack Rosenblatt of the Arizona Daily Star.

He also matter-of-factly explained why junior linebacker Scooby Wright, who led the nation in tackles, tackles for loss and forced fumbles in 2014 and won three major national awards, wasn't representing Arizona at Pac-12 Media Day, saying he was hoping that would make Wright feel incomplete and want to come back for his senior year (h/t ESPN's Ted Miller).

Though Rodriguez didn't make our list of the most quotable college football coaches, he's certainly worthy of consideration.

Loser: Witnesses to Mike Leach's Lagoon Laps

Dean Hare/Associated Press

There are some things that just can't be unseen, even if you didn't get to see it but only heard someone else describe it. That's the case with the mental picture formed by hearing Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez share a story of seeing Washington State coach Mike Leach swimming during a Nike coaching junket about a decade ago.

In a lagoon. In goggles and a Speedo. With seaweed covering his body as he emerged from the water.

Leach already has a strong reputation for being one of the most eclectic and eccentric coaches in the game thanks to his varied interests—pirates, Geronimo, the desire for a 64-team college football playoff—and he also provided reporters with some helpful dating advice on Friday.

But this raises his legend to another level. A horribly disturbing level.

"It's an image I can't get out of my mind," Rodriguez said on the Pac-12 Network. "I've got nightmares to this day."

Now we will too, RichRod. Thanks for that.

Winner: Deontae Cooper, Washington

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Deontae Cooper is heading into what will be his sixth season at Washington, but just the third in which he'll actually be able to contribute for the Huskies. That's because his first three seasons were wiped out by three knee injuries, twice to his left knee and once to his right, between 2010-12.

The 5'11", 202-pound running back has managed to avoid injury since then, yet he knows that's still what has defined his career to this point.

"It's gotten to a point where it's like, let it go," Cooper said Thursday, per Jacob Thorpe of the Spokane Spokesman-Review. "The last time I was hurt was three years ago. I want people to let it go, but you’ve got to make plays first."

Cooper ran for 255 yards and had 16 receptions for 155 yards and a touchdown last season. This year he's expected to get more touches for a Washington offense that's breaking in a new quarterback and lost its most electric playmaker, wide receiver John Ross, to a season-ending injury in spring practice.

Loser: Piñatas

With Pac-12 Media Days being held at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, California, the event had some theatrics to it but also a strong element of fun for the coaches and players that were involved.

When not doing interviews or having pictures taken, the team representatives participated in off-the-wall activities such as dressing up as cowboys, putting for glory and taking out their offseason frustrations on team-themed piñatas.

Those piñatas never had a chance.

Even though the players were blindfolded, many showed off some vicious swings and even a few punches as they annihilated their own logos. Imagine if they were teeing off on their rivals' crests?

There were also some really bad swings that completed missed the piñatas, too. Good thing you can throw with great accuracy, Cody Kessler, because baseball isn't in your future.

Follow Brian J. Pedersen on Twitter at @realBJP.