Pac-12 Notebook: Stanford signs David Shaw to 'long-term' extension

Stanford head coach David Shaw was rewarded for his fantastic coaching start. (US Presswire)

Here are some news and notes from around the Pac-12:

• The Stanford Cardinal could not keep Jim Harbaugh on the Farm too long, not with the San Francisco 49ers calling. No matter -- David Shaw has kept things clicking, taking the Cardinal to even higher heights. Now he's being rewarded for it, Jon Wilner of the San Jose Mercury News reported.
  
  The former Cardinal receiver had two years remaining on the contract he signed in 2011 but a 22-4 record and back-to-back BCS bowl appearances prompted the school to open its coffers even further.
  
  Not that the higher-ups have to worry too much.
  
  "I want to be around until my kids graduate from here," Shaw told Wilner. "This is not a stopgap job. I love it here. My family loves it here. My wife (Kori) loves it here. We want to be here for a long time."
  
  
• There once was a time when Robert Woods and Marqise Lee weren't even considered the top prospects from their own high school, much less USC. But their Trojan careers have taken off much quicker than prep teammate George Farmer's. Now he's looking to make a bit of an introduction.
  
  With Woods potentially declaring for the NFL Draft, Farmer -- a former five-star recriut -- could become a household name in a hurry.
  
  "(Coaches) said, 'You have to play faster,''' Farmer told Rich Hammond of the Orange County Register, "so that's what I'm trying to do, just come out here and compete and learn from two great guys, Robert and Marqise."
  
  
• Needing to bolster an offense that faltered with quick talent, Utah signed two of three junior college transfers on the offensive end, Lya Wodraska of the Salt Lake Tribune reported.
  
  Tight end Greg Reese (Arizona Western), offensive lineman Andrew Albers (Orange Coast Community College) and cornerback Davion Orphey (Santa Ana Community College) all will compete for starting roles, with Albers getting a shot to come in at the all-too-important left tackle spot.
  
  "He is a big, 6-7, 310 guy who has a lot of physical attributes," coach Kyle Whittingham said of Albers. "He could fill a big need for us."
  
  
• The Utes were not able to get their hands on a local product, however, as Snow College defensive tackle Siale Hautau signed with Oregon State, the school announced Thursday.
  
  A 6-foot, 315-pound former all-state selection out of Salt Lake City, Hautau will help boost an Oregon State defense that loses important defensive linemen.
  
  “Siale will have an immediate opportunity to impact our team with the losses of Castro Masaniai and Andrew Seumalo,” coach Mike Riley said.
  
  
• UCLA head coach Jim Mora has made it a point to establish new traditions around Westwood, while simultaneously and summarily dismissing others.
  
  One that stuck around, and probably will for a while: On Thursday after practice, the Bruins hoisted their senior teammates on their shoulders and walked them off the field following practice.
  
  "I relied on them a lot," Mora told Ryan Kartje of the Orange County Register. "I had a lot of questions for them about how they've done things, what needed to change, what didn't need to change. They've proven themselves to be trustworthy guys, so when they give me advice, which I'm not afraid to take, it's something I can put stock in."
  
  
• It's not only teams undergoing wholesale staff overhauls that are trying to fill coaching vacancies. Arizona promoted former assistant director of operations Charlie Ragle to his first collegiate coaching gig, tabbing him to replace departed tight ends coach Spencer Leftwich, Ryan Finley of the Arizona Daily Star reported.
  
  A former three-time state championship winner in the high school ranks at Scottsdale's Chaparral High, Ragle takes over as Leftwich is expected to join the staff at Texas-El Paso.

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