Pac-12 Notebook. How Stanford QB Josh Nunes won the job

Here are some Pac-12 links from media outlets that regularly cover the conference:

Why was Josh Nunes chosen over Brett Nottingham as Stanford’s quarterback? Consistency, an ability to make all the throws and an ability to make the right reads and checks at the line of scrimmage, Tom FitzGerald of the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
Here’s a look at Stanford’s most legendary QBs, the guys who replaced them and how they fared, courtesy of the San Jose Mercury News.
The University of Arizona's football program is a work in progress but the Wildcats are banking on new coach Rich Rodriguez's system, an aggressive athletic director and $72 million in facilities upgrades, Scott Bordow of the Arizona Republic reported.
Arizona State receiver Alonzo Agwuenu admits to taking the easy -- and costly -- route through high school. He could have played major-college football at Oregon instead of junior college ball had his grades been better coming out of two Chino, Calif., high schools. "But I failed in life," Agwuenu told Jeff Metcalfe of the Arizona Republic. "That's why I wanted to come (to ASU) and get that hard, tough coaching to make me more accountable.”
Former Cal defensive end Andre Carter politely waved off reporters Tuesday after a workout with the Raiders. Carter, whom the 49ers drafted No. 7 overall in 2001, made his first Pro Bowl last season after recording 10 sacks for the New England Patriots. But he suffered a torn quadriceps Dec. 18 and ended the season on injured reserve. His chances of being a Raider will have a lot to do with how the team thinks he has recovered at age 33, Jerry McDonald of the Bay Area News Group reported.
USC dedicated the John McKay Center on Tuesday, but its positive impact already has been felt on the recruiting trail. While the $70 million, 110,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art athletic facility was under construction, football coach Lane Kiffin would show recruits videos of what the building would look like. Now they can walk through it. It's hard to come away unimpressed, Michael Lev of the Orange County Register reported.
Speaking of facilities upgrades, here’s another look at the doings at Cal.
The signs of change are evident everywhere you look on UCLA’s defense, from the switch to a 3-4 base to the multiple fronts the unit now employs. The Bruins needed change after an abysmal 2011 season, Miguel Melendez of the Orange County Register reported.
Michael Bowlin, a kicker and punter at Washington State, was kicked off the Oregon team in 2010 after redshirting his freshman season. He played for two years at a junior college and was recruited to Pullman by new coach Mike Leach to fill a gaping hole for the Cougars. This could be his last chance, Bud Withers of the Seattle Times reported.
Derrick Brown knew Keith Price would dominate the headlines and playing time at Washington. Brown is OK with that so long as he can secure the backup spot ahead of Jeff Lindquist and Denver's Cyler Miles and position himself as price’s heir, Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times reported.
Geoff Norwood may be the best player on the University of Utah football team you've never heard of. Norwood is a 5-foot-8, 180-pound walk-on who plays wide receiver and has already worked his way to the top of the punt returner depth chart, Mike Sorensen of the Deseret News reported.
Colorado is putting Nick Saban’s "every (offensive) possession should end with a kick” mantra into action with a solid punting and kicking game that have put special teams coach J.D. Brookhart’s mind at ease, Tom Kensler of the Denver Post reported.
Oregon defensive backs coach John Neal has spent this month’s preseason camp focusing on depth and versatility in his secondary. Free safety John Boyett may be the headliner in Oregon’s defensive backfield, but there are seven or eight more who could be featured prominently this fall, Rob Moseley of the Register-Guard (Eugene, Oreg.) reported.