Could've been worse

Week 4: Arizona v. USC
L (20-3)


It's a real shame Arizona couldn't find the end zone. The defense couldn't have done anything more to put this team in a position to win. Antoine Cason bobbed his head to the stadium music being played over the p.a. - seemingly brimming with confidence - and intercepted John David Booty on the very next play. The bottom line is the Wildcats might have won this game...if they had any kind of offense whatsoever. Too many third downs - not enough third down conversions.

The good news is that Arizona was able to compete with a top-25 team. The score was 13-3 with just over three minutes to play.

And...fans are really packing into Arizona Stadium. I got there an hour and a half before kickoff to find the student section about half full. Two years ago, the "Zona Zoo" wouldn't fill up until sometime during the first half, and begin to empty after halftime. The mass exodus didn't begin until a fumbled punt turned into a USC touchdown (20-3) with about three minutes remaining.

Wildcat fans - at least those in the Zona Zoo - are savvy to when it is appropriate to be loud, and when it is time to just watch. On every USC third down the noise was ear-ringing loud. On every UA third down the crowd noise diminished - with students motioning with their arms to "keep it down."

Arizona is getting closer to being a winning program, one worthy of a top-25 ranking. Heck, if Rutgers (#23 AP, USA Today) can find their way in, anything is possible. Wildcat fans just need to be a little bit more patient. Judging by the turnout Saturday night, that shouldn't be a problem.

Next week:
Washington. 7 p.m. Arizona Stadium.

Stupid...ballsy...but stupid

Week Three: Arizona v. Stephen F. Austin
W (28-10)

Impressions
Arizona pushed all-in playing Willie Tuitama in the fourth quarter – just one week removed from a concussion – and survived. An extraordinarily ballsy move by Mike Stoops and company paid off, and the Wildcats walked away with a 28-10 victory Saturday night. It was a must-win win.

Fortunately, Tuitama did not take another hit to the head. Imagine going up against USC with Adam Austin as your starting quarterback.

No disrespect to Austin, of course. He did exactly what he was supposed to do. He was solid, but didn’t really do much to get excited about. Austin went 11 for 16 passing with one (tipped) interception, but no touchdowns.

Chris Jennings introduced himself as Mr. Reliable, continuously running for solid gains (without fumbling), and seems to have earned himself another start next weekend. He was shifty without losing forward momentum, and kept his legs churning while protecting the ball. Stoops called him “electrifying” and will put him on scholarship Monday. Smart move coach.

Said Jennings: “I’m grateful and happy that I’ve been given this chance, this opportunity. It was there for me tonight, and I took advantage of it, and ran with it.”

He’s got a great opportunity next Saturday with USC in town, a game that will air on ABC.

The good:
Jennings’ 201 rushing yards on 26 carries. That's 7.7 yards per carry. Oh yeah, he had two touchdowns, too.

Willie Tuitama stayed healthy, didn’t look afraid to sit in the pocket, and made precise passes. He looked liked himself for a change.

Adam Austin put Arizona in position to win the game. He needed some help, but hey, it’s a team sport.

The not-so-good:
Arizona needed a win and got one. But there will be those who say the Wildcats should have scored more, and given up less. Doubts about Arizona’s ability to hang with a top-25 team for a full game have not yet been put to rest. We'll see on Saturday.

Next week:
USC. 5 p.m. Arizona Stadium.

"Free mahi-mahi"

It looks as though Willie Tuitama will not play this weekend against Steven F. Austin. It has been confirmed that Tuitama suffered a concussion on a helmet-to-helmet hit at LSU. The Arizona Daily Wildcat reported that he was seen vomiting in the airport before traveling back to Tucson with the team following last Saturday's game.

Tuitama missed a second consecutive day of practice Tuesday, and will not be cleared to play until he undergoes further testing. The Arizona Daily Star reports that "Arizona's quarterback will take the computerized ImPACT test, which is designed to measure the attention, memory, processing speed and reaction of athletes who have suffered concussions."

What a perfect opportunity for senior backup Adam Austin to get a start. Austin looked calm and poised in mop up duty for the Wildcats last week, and - having been here for four years - should know the offense quite well. Surely he knows it well enough to guide Arizona past division 1-AA S.F. Austin. Stoops and company should realize sitting Tuitama - ensuring he is absolutely 100% - is worth letting Austin bask in the glory that would be his first career start - at home nonetheless.

Resistance was futile

Week Two: Arizona at LSU
L (45-3)

Impressions
The beginning of the end came early for Arizona. LSU’s defense put a lot of pressure on the Wildcats – as head coach Mike Stoops said they would – and Arizona couldn’t handle it. An inexperienced, young offensive line didn’t protect quarterback Willie Tuitama, and he was sacked on a helmet to helmet hit from an LSU defender on the first play of the game. The sophomore signal-caller from then on played like he was in a fog, and for the second straight week the Wildcats couldn’t get anything going on offense. LSU played stifling defense, forcing four turnovers and keeping Arizona out of the end zone.

The good:
- Arizona’s defense forced three LSU turnovers (2 fumbles, 1 interception).
- 3 points. The Wildcats weren’t shutout.

The not-so-good:
- Willie Tuitama went 8 of 17 passing with 2 interceptions. He must read defenses better, and start looking off defenders.
- Arizona had 152 total yards. LSU had 461.
- LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell went 13 of 20 passing for 196 yards. He was pulled late in the game when the Tigers decided to rest many of their starters. The guy Arizona needed to contain couldn’t be contained.
- No go-to player. Mike Thomas had 3 catches for 19 yards. Syndric Steptoe had 4 for 26. Chris Henry carried the ball six times for a whopping 2 yards. Arizona needs someone they can count on in third down situations.

Player of the game: LSU defense

The Experience
Before the game I tuned into 1290am “The Source” to listen to some pre-game stuff. Brad Allis and John Shuster do a phenomenal job leading up to the games. They had interviews with offensive coordinator Mike Canales and tight end Brad Wood, and provided insightful analysis of both LSU and Arizona. Their game-day radio show from 1:30 to kickoff is a great place to learn about Wildcats match-ups each week.

UA v. LSU pregame thoughts

"They're (LSU) going to put a lot of pressure on us and we've got to be sure we can handle it," Mike Stoops told espn.com. "No one scores a bunch of points on them."

Yes. LSU will pressure Arizona like a top-10 team should. For the Wildcats to have a chance to win this game, they must run the ball successfully, and be able to sustain drives. If they can keep the defense off the field - allowing them to catch their breath - Arizona can win this game. The defense will have to contain LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell, and - as always - they must prevent game-changing plays.

Said safety Michael Johnson: "We can match up with anybody in the nation."

LSU is ranked #8 in both the Associated Press and USAToday polls.

Note: Arizona recieved six votes in this week's (2) AP top-25 poll.

A Win is a Win

Week One: Arizona versus Brigham Young

W (16-13)

Impressions
Arizona has some work to do on offense. The running game never got going, and quarterback Willie Tuitama struggled a bit through the air. The defense stymied BYU's offense - which averaged 33 points per game in 2005 - giving up one touchdown and two field goals. Nick Folk made the biggest kick of his career with a last-second, game-winning field goal from 48 yards.

The good:
- Arizona's defense kept the Cougars out of the end zone after a first quarter score, and didn't give up a game-changing big play.
- No fumbles. Even though Arizona managed just 67 yards rushing, running backs Chris Henry and Chris Jennings took care of the ball.
- Louis Holmes. The prized junior college transfer lived up to the hype with two sacks – one resulting in a fumble.

The not-so-good:
- Tuitama. Arizona’s golden boy completed 19 of 39 passes for 186 yards with one touchdown and an interception.
- Michael Thomas. The team’s best receiver caught one pass for 14 yards early in the first quarter and disappeared for the rest of the game.
- The (non-existent) running game. 54 of the 67 total rushing yards came on one play. What
does that tell you?

Player of the game: Nick Folk/UA defense

The Experience
Where you watch the game is almost as important as who you watch it with. This weekend I decided to forgo my seat in Arizona Stadium for one at Sam Hughes Place Championship Dining (446 N Campbell Ave) with some friends who couldn't get tickets. Instead of being surrounded by screaming fans in the student section, I was surrounded by screaming fans in a semi-private room with two high-definition TV’s and a projection screen taking up practically the whole wall.

There were food and drinks aplenty, and a good time was had by all. We didn't - couldn't - miss a minute of the game. Hi-def TV's are scattered throughout the restaurant and even in the bathroom.

Next week: Arizona at LSU