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.
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.
posted by mike destasio at 10:31 PM
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