What to do, what to do...

Not an even field
to be on
feels like standing still
for eons and eons
stare it dead in the eye
what now?
all we can do is try
to shut it down
shut it down
-311

I might need a break from Arizona football this weekend as badly as the Wildcats do. The bye week will give them extra time to get healthy and prepare for Washington State.

The weekend is not lost, though. Having grown up in New Jersey, I'm excited about Rutgers v. Connecticut. But I have to admit, I haven't had this much interest in RU football since...well, ever.

Rutgers is a great example of where Arizona could be in a few years. My dad used to take my brother and I to RU games when we were little. They sucked. Then Rutgers hired Greg Schiano in 2000. He, not unlike Mike Stoops, was expected to turn a struggling program into a winner. His first winning season didn't come until 2005; the Scarlet Knights played Arizona State in their first bowl game since 1978.

This season Rutgers is 7-0, and ranked #16 in both the AP and USA Today polls. So, like Rutgers was with first time head coach Schiano, we're just going to have to be a little more patient with Stoops.

For those of you who need your weekly fix of Wildcat football, here's a little highlight clip from last season to tide you over:

Progess? You decide

Go back to Mike Stoops' first year at Arizona - 2004: The Wildcats beat Northern Arizona (21-3) in the season opener. They proceeded to lose 7 straight games.

Remember last year: Arizona lost on the road to Utah (27-24), won their home opener against Northern Arizona (31-12), then lost 5 straight.

2006: After opening the season 2-1 with wins over BYU and Stephen F. Austin, the UA dropped 3 in a row.

It may be a little optimistic, but I'd call that progress.

Four games are left on the Wildcats' schedule. Forget a bowl game this season. A reasonable - and achievable - goal for Arizona is to win two more. Do that, and they'll finish 5-7. After two straight 3-8 seasons, that's real progress.

Running out of time

Arizona v. Oregon State
L (17-10)

There is no pain you are receding
A distant ship, smoke on the horizon
You are only coming through in waves.
Your lips move but I can't hear what you're saying.
-Pink Floyd

It's official. The fans are starting to turn on Mike Stoops and his coaching staff. Check out the comments on any UA football story at the Arizona Daily Star online.

I'm not ready to give up on Stoops' ability to coach just yet, but we better see some progress soon. Finish with anything less than a winning record next season - year four of the Stoops era - and that might be it for him. The ball is rolling, and until they start winning, it will only get bigger and bigger. It's only a matter of time before the domain name "firestoops.com" is unavailable. Firecanales.com is already taken.

"You can't win in this league scoring 10 points per game," Stoops said. You may be wondering what they're going to do about it. I am. Take a look at Arizona's 2007 recruiting class thus far, and you'll notice one glaring deficiency: no offensive linemen have committed. You can't build the house before you've got a foundation.

At this point, all I really have to say is: I'm glad basketball starts this week.

Next (11-4):
At Washington State.

He's ready to go

I gotta tell you, I'm starting to feel OK about Kris Heavner starting at quarterback against Oregon State.

Check out his interview with the Star's Ryan Finley.

Bring on Heavner

The Arizona Daily Star reports that Kris Heavner will be Arizona's starting quarterback for Saturday's game against Oregon State. Looks like he's going to be the number one guy for the rest of the season.

It's almost like Arizona is throwing their quarterbacks in front of a firing squad. I hope Heavner fares better than Tuitama and Austin.

Reason to keep paying attention

Arizona v. Stanford
W (20-7)

Evolution has exponential timing
it'll be half as long
till the next breakthrough that blows our mind
-311

You may have been surprised that Arizona was not on the tube this weekend. Then again, a matchup between conference bottom dwellers is not exactly a huge draw. Too bad. UA probably looked pretty good against Stanford. But, rest assured. It won't be long before Arizona is always on TV - hopefully.

Listening to a football game on the radio isn't easy, and after three straight losses, I was prepared to turn mine off, and find something else to do. But I now have a reason to keep paying attention. Losing to Stanford (0-7, 0-4) would have been the final nail in the coffin. Arizona now has a glimmer of hope to make a bowl game, and barring a collapse of epic proportion, will finish with a record better than 3-8.

No longer the laughing stock of the Pac-10 (that would be Stanford), Stoops troops should have a renewed confidence. The defense had a sack-the-quarterback party, and you've got to feel pretty good about getting a win with your backup's backup. I'm sure Kris Heavner didn't expect to play this season, but if he starts next week, you've got to like his experience.

So, keep paying attention, and make sure to get your tickets for Oregon State because the Stadium is the only place you'll see the game.

Next week
Oregon State. Arizona Stadium. 4 p.m. NO TV.

'I see Blue. He looks glorious.'

Arizona v. UCLA
L (27-7)

Now he's falling hard
He feels the falling dark
How he longs to be
Beneath his dreaming tree
-Dave Matthews Band

I'm going to be honest. It's hard to be a Wildcat fan right now. But I'm not telling you anything you didn't already know. Another loss, another Willie Tuitama concussion and maybe another 3-8 season. Only in my wildest dreams do I see Arizona making a bowl game this year. Here is why it is so hard to watch the Wildcats play week-in and week-out:

-They can't run. Chris Jennings, Chris Henry and Xavier Smith (backs that have seen the field this season) are more than capable of making big plays, but they run into a wall at the line of scrimmage. I'm not sure what the offensive line is doing, but it sure isn't opening holes for the backs to run through.

-They can't score. If you can't run, you can't score - pretty simple. The Wildcats just aren't successful at running the ball, allowing teams to key on the passing game which has resulted in Tuitama being absolutely assaulted. Arizona won't find success on offense until they have an experienced offensive line that can successfully run-block and protect the quarterback long enough for him to get the ball off.

-They can't protect the quarterback. When was the last time you saw a quarterback suffer two concussions in one month? It seemed inevitable that Tuitama would get hurt again, but this time he ended up in the hospital before the game was over. I'm not sure it would be safe for him to play again this season.

Don't get me wrong. I still have faith in Mike Stoops and Arizona football, and you should too. Things will get better. It is just going to take a little longer than we all hoped.

Next week
At Stanford. 2:00. 1290AM.

What now?

Arizona v. Washington
L (21-10)

You took the word and made it heard
And eased the people's pain and for that
You were idolized, immortalized
You were not the same after that.
-Ben Folds

Ah, we all long for the Willie Tuitama that led Arizona to a 52-14 victory over UCLA last November. Willie, you have not been the same since that day. Blame it on the offensive line. Blame it on receivers who can't get open. Blame it on Tuitama - the guy teamates have dubbed, "The Savior." But let's face it, the Wildcats probably won't be going to a bowl game this year if they can't score. It is now time for Arizona to come together as a team, win a couple more games...and wait til next year.

The atmosphere in Arizona Stadium was bipolar Saturday as (student section) fans were easily excited at the prospect of a big play, but suddenly dour after dropped passes, stuffed runs and penalties started to add up. And fans were not shy about voicing their discontent. I overheard one student say he has given up on the football team, and watched another attempt to start a "Fire Canales" chant. As the team jogged across the field to the locker room at halftime, the student section booed.

I am as optimistic as anyone about Mike Stoops and company turning the program around, but when the student section starts to empty before the second quarter is over, and about half the seats are filled at the end of the fourth, I become somewhat discouraged.

Stoops and his troops need to get it together. They need to figure out a way to put some points on the board. They need to figure out a way to rush for POSITIVE yards. They need to figure out a way to make the big plays - when a big play is needed. They need to learn how to win. I sure hope they figure it out, before the people of Tucson start calling for the head coach's job.

Next week:
UCLA. 4:00 p.m at the Rose Bowl (Pasadena, CA).
Catch the game on Fox Sports Arizona.