National Champion Drive

Disappointing farewell

2007-03-18T19:00:00.000-04:00

So long Mustafa Shakur and Ivan Radenovic. I imagine it is tough to end your college careers on such a low note after a season that showed so much promise early on. Careers in the NBA (perhaps) await.

I'm not really sure what to expect for next year. I suppose I am optimistic. How can you not be with two five-star recruits (Jerryd Bayless and Jamelle Horne) coming in? I would expect there to be a sense of urgency. Arizona had too much talent this year to finish the way they did. I hope they once again become a team nobody wants to see, rather than one everyone wants a shot at.

Four months ago, I didn't think I'd be saying this, but I'm glad football season is just around the corner. We may be witnessing the decline of the Arizona basketball dynasty under Lute Olson.

Ugly

2007-03-08T17:23:00.000-05:00

U-G-L-Y. Only one word needed to describe how Arizona looked Thursday against Oregon. And it wasn't the new uniforms.

The Wildcats couldn't get anything to go down, and couldn't keep Oregon from scoring. The Ducks destroyed Arizona's defense with constant dribble penetration, and spot-on shooting. Aaron Brooks looked unstoppable. Ivan Radenovic, Mustafa Shakur and Chase Budinger had an insignificant impact on the game.

I wouldn't say I'm worried about how Arizona played today. I would say I'm disheartened; I thought the Wildcats would come out with focused intensity. Frankly they were outplayed by a quicker, more relaxed Oregon team.

Arizona will make the NCAA Tournament, but they're probably looking at an 8 or 9 seed. If they make it out of the first round they'll be looking at a match-up with the number one seed. Yikes.

Let's hope for an 8 seed. I wanna see what the new white uni's look like.

New uni's

2007-03-07T13:05:00.000-05:00

Arizona will debut some new form-fitting jerseys tomorrow in their game against Oregon. Personally, I think they're pretty sweet. The baggy shorts with the tight jersey looks a little weird in the picture, but honestly, I didn't even notice it watching Florida play in them for the first time last week. I will miss the old bottoms, though - the new ones are rather plain.

In other news, I just picked up College Hoops 2K7. It's a cool game, but hard to be good at right away. I spent about an hour doing drills in practice mode, and still got blown out in my first game. Part of the reason I wanted to get this version instead of March Madness (EA Sports) is the chant creator. Although creating a good chant is a bit harder than I thought it would be - you can only make combinations of letters - it's a really cool feature.

Next year:

Freshman of the year

2007-03-05T22:20:00.000-05:00

Just saw Chase Budinger was named Pac10 Freshman of the Year. At this point I don't even think of him as a freshman. Could a Naismith Trophy be in his future? He'll have to be more assertive to get that kind of attention, I think. To his credit, he flows within the offense so smoothly he doesn't really get a lot of hype unless he has a huge game (see performances at Washington and Oregon).

Thursday's game against Oregon should be pretty good. Arizona feels like they should have won the first one in Tucson, Oregon like they should have won the second in Eugene. A nice neutral court showdown for the rubber match.

On a side note: I just saw the movie Zodiac. I had heard of the Zodiac killer, but didn't realize how interesting the whole story is. I was horrified and amazed. The guy was either brilliant or extremely lucky not to get caught. Definitely very sick in the head. Go see it.

2007-02-21T16:13:00.000-05:00

Arizona's staff showed the tape of UCLA's Lorenzo Mata, growling at Chase Budinger after blocking his shot and no one on the squad got back in Mata's face.

"Everyone in the room was pissed," Arizona associate head coach Jim Rosborough said. "We're done taking bologna. We've got to get real angry. We need to have an edge."

*You have to be an ESPN Insider to read the rest of Andy Katz's story. I am not.

But I am very encouraged by the second of those two paragraphs. I think Arizona is finally seeing the big picture. After playing at a mediocre level by Arizona standards virtually all of Janurary, and certainly last week against the L.A. schools, Arizona has finally realized they are missing a crucial piece of the puzzle: killer instinct. Clearly, UCLA has it. So why not use video of the PAC10's new "standard" as motivation?

The next step: actually establish that edge on the defensive end. Then we'll see who's done talking baloney.

"A great call by the officials"

2007-02-19T19:40:00.000-05:00

I don't care what anyone says about Mustafa Shakur, he will be missed.

?

2007-02-19T19:04:00.000-05:00

Who knows what will become of this season for Arizona?

What once looked so promising - winning 12 of their first 13 - has turned into a nightmare the likes of which have literally never been during the Lute Olson era (read: 5 home losses including the two worst since Olson arrived at the U of A) .

It is disappointing as a fan, sure, but it must be far more disappointing for members of the team, coaches and training staff. I mean, it's not as if they all decided this season was unimportant, and therefore aren't working hard.

Of course, I still love watching Arizona play. I'm already looking forward to the next Thursday after the Saturday game has just ended. But the luster of Arizona basketball just isn't there anymore. Gone are the days when I expected blowout wins over teams like Oregon State, Washington State and ASU. I'm actually a little concerned about Arizona's ability to win at Arizona State next week after watching the Sun Devils beat USC three days after the Trojans owned the Wildcats.

I keep hearing that Arizona doesn't play defense, and really I agree. It's not like they just stand around, but if you watch a team that plays great team defense, they are pressuring the ball constantly, forcing turnovers. And since Lute Olson has always insisted that defensive intensity feeds your offense, I wonder if that - in a way - has been turned against him. Where his teams past have fed the fast break with a surplus of forced turnovers, giving Arizona the image of a run-and-gun team, his teams today seem to concentrate on scoring first, defending second. You'd have to ask high school recruits to be sure, but I bet most of them choose Arizona because of the offensive prowess Lute Olson teams have a reputation for.

Add into the mix the fact that Arizona has limited depth, and you've got the recipe for a team that doesn't have the stamina to really commit to playing 40 minutes of nose-to-the-grindstone defense. That may be why they have trouble winning close games. If you don't execute offensively (see last four minutes against USC), you have no failsafe.

So I guess that doesn't bode well for the rest of this season. We'll just have to wait and see. I'm sure a lot of people gave up on the 97 team, and they ended up winning the National Championship. Arizona's gonna need to get hot fast.

What a weekend

2007-02-10T18:26:00.000-05:00

Arizona is a good team. I'm not editorializing here; that is straight from Oregon head coach Ernie Kent after the Wildcats defeated his Oregon Ducks 77-74 Saturday. Arizona is a good team.

In case you are still skeptical, here's a little perspective:

14 teams have gone into Oregon's McArthur Court and lost - that includes UCLA. Only two teams have won: USC and Arizona.

Arizona has not lost to a team lower than 44 in kenpom.com's Ratings Percentage Index (North Carolina-1, UCLA-2, Oregon-20, Washington State-28, Virginia-31, USC-44).

Arizona has 5 wins over teams in the RPI top-50 (Memphis-8, UNLV-10, Oregon-20, Stanford-35, Illinois-42).

The tournament resume to-date is strong, but at least three tough games remain. Arizona hosts USC (AP 19) and UCLA (AP 2) before going on the road to face ASU, Cal and Stanford (AP 25).

This season is really starting to get interesting.

Tickets unsold, seats unfilled?

2007-02-06T10:24:00.000-05:00

As reported by the Arizona Daily Wildcat, the student section in McKale is not filling up like it used to. Tickets are going unsold, seats remain empty and people are getting pissed off.

"What it is, is up to the student section," Lute Olson said. "We can't keep people from being here because students aren't using their seats."

Coach Olson isn't happy the place isn't full, people from town aren't happy they can't go to a game, and if you've ever tried to get a student ticket to a men's basketball game, I'm sure you aren't happy either. (Remember the ticket "riot" of 2002?)

I tried to get a ticket to the UNLV game just before the winter break. As I had been hearing, tickets were not selling out so plenty would be available starting the morning of the game - all you have to do is call or show up with your CatCard. So, as I was instructed to do by my friendly neighborhood McKale Center Ticket Office employee, I made the call. And made the call again and again, hitting redial about 30 times. Busy every time. I figured I had missed out, and tickets were instantly sold out.

As I ventured down towards campus to do some laundry later that morning, I figured I'd stop by the ticket office to give it one last shot. (It turns out parking is a bit of a problem on the UofA campus, and naturally, every metered spot around McKale is reserved on game days.) So I sat in my car, and called once again. Busy, busy, busy. "All ticket office employees are serving other customers at this time" is about how the recording goes. That's hard to believe when there isn't a soul waiting at the ticket windows.

After finally getting through - 'victory is mine' I thought - the ticket office voice mail picked up. I gave up at that point.

Going through the newspaper the next morning, I expected to read how crazy McKale Center was for last night's game. But lo and hehold, the student section had once again gone unfilled.

Now, I will admit that UofA students can, at times, appear to be less than die hard fans. The Zona Zoo frequently empties before halftime at football games if the Wildcats aren't winning. But the problem is not the students, it is the ticket purchasing process.

So I offer this solution. Forget registering your pass, forget calling in. (I suspect the road block for many is the confusing process you must go through to get a ticket.) Why not just have a good old-fashioned line up. If you buy a Zona Zoo pass, you earn the right to line up for a game. I was able to get into a handful of games last year because of this. If you show up at a reasonable time, you get in. If you show up 10 minutes after tip-off, you don't. It's simple.

'Just go out there and dominate'

2007-02-04T11:01:00.000-05:00

On Friday I listed some possible reasons for Arizona's recent struggles.

Chemistry
"This was a team win," coach Lute Olson said after the Wildcats' 84-54 victory Saturday. "For example, Marcus only took two shots in the second half, but he had six assists and no turnovers. That is a team game. The overall spirit of the team was high coming into the game."

Key stat: 21 assists. Teams with talent can go far. Talented teams win championships.

Intensity
"It felt good to go out there and get a win, but we know we can't just walk into the Oregon schools, and think it's going to happen for us," Marcus Williams said. "We're going to need a good combined effort like we had tonight."

Arizona may have lost some of their focus after an impressive win at Washington four weeks ago (read: losing 6 of 8). Judging by Saturday's performance, it's back.

Key stat: the box score

Defense
Lute Olson describes the development of his team's defense as "coming along." Only time will tell, but Arizona held Washington, who averages 80 points a game on 47% shooting, to 54 and 38 Saturday.

Key stat: 5 blocked shots (Jordan Hill). Arizona may have found the dominating defensive presence they've been lacking.

Upcoming games at no. 9 Oregon (ABC 2/10), and against no. 5 UCLA in Tucson (CBS 2/17) are opportunities for Arizona to polish their post-season resume.

Up next: at Oregon State. 10:30 p.m ET.

I am stunned

2007-02-02T15:17:00.000-05:00

Something just isn't right here, Washington State sweeping Arizona. What is the source of the problem? No one outside the locker room can know for sure, but here are a few theories:

1. Chemistry - these guys seem to enjoy playing with each other, and do share the ball quite a bit. But when faced with adversity, the tendency for these immensely talented players is to force the action. When they need each other the most, Arizona's players revert to a me-first style of play.

2. Coaching - I really doubt this is the source of Arizona's woes over the past four weeks or so, and Lute Olson has always said he will give up coaching when he longer has a passion for teaching or his health fails. I think the guy has earned the benefit of the doubt.

3. Intensity - I can only speak for what I saw on television, but Mustafa Shakur has enough heart to go around. However, overall intensity as a unit lacks in certain areas...

4. Defense - Bingo. Arizona has failed again and again at playing team defense when it matters the most. How Olson has let this go for so long, I am not sure. But this is for certain: Unless the Wildcats start playing defense with some intensity, and a sense of desperation, an invitation the NCAA Tournament is not a sure thing.

But, as the ever optimistic observer that I am, I am still excited about what this team can do. The first half of last night's game against the Cougars was littered with easy buckets in the paint as a result of good screens, and movement without the basketball. If Arizona can continue to do that, and their shots start falling, I think this team becomes very dangerous come March. And as I have said, and will continue to say, all these guys need is a little confidence.

Time for round 2

2007-02-01T16:04:00.000-05:00

...of the Pac10 schedule, and time for Arizona to just start over. The non-conference schedule and first-half of Pac10 play were exhilarating, exciting, interesting and somewhat... discouraging. So, at 14-6, after losing 5 of their last 7, it is time for Arizona to play as if the season starts tonight, and anything can happen. And really, anything happen.

Winning streaks start at one, and knocking off surprisingly strong Washington State (AP 18) at home tonight would be good start to re-building some confidence. After losing at Virginia on opening night, Arizona ran off 12 straight wins. Hey, it could happen again.

But winning these next two games is crucial because guess what, there are no gimme games in the Pac10, and things only get tougher in the weeks to come. After hosting the Washington schools this weekend, Arizona is on the road to play the Oregon schools, then it's USC and UCLA in Tucson. They finish conference play at Arizona State, Cal and Stanford.

So what needs to happen to ensure a favorable seed in the NCAA tournament, and what are realistic expectations?

1. Defend your home court.
It is up to Arizona to decide if that is realistic. Raucous fans in the seats (or standing) will certainly help. We'll know more after tonight.

2. Win the tough ones.
After beating (then)no. 18 Memphis, and (then)no. 20 Washington, Arizona dropped games to (then)no. 17 Oregon, (then)no. 2 UCLA, and (then)no. 4 North Carolina. Two of those losses came at McKale. Quality wins make it easy for the Tournament Selection Committee to award a high seed, and they feed a team confidence.

3. Play within the team concept, and pass the ball!
When things aren't going well, it isn't time to start heaving the ball at the basket like shooting is going out of style, or pound the ball into the floor. Mustafa Shakur is at his best when he finds his teammates first, scores second. And this team does know how to share: Arizona has combined for 20+ assists in four games this season.

Realistically...
4. Anything can happen (see Arizona 1997), let's have fun watching it all unfold.

Take It From Me

2007-01-31T15:14:00.000-05:00

Note: I've decided to rename Living It Live "National Champion Drive" since I am no longer in school, living it live.

It's been quite some time since I last posted. I've been busy with trying to find a job (since I graduated in December), and taking care of things around the house, but I wanted to jump back into writing about Arizona basketball, so here we go.

It's been quite a season, hasn't it? Here's a little flashback:

Arizona stormed out of the gate to a record of 12-1, and after watching Arizona come from behind to win at Washington by 9 - McClellan shot absolutely lights out in that game - I started thinking about how I could get my hands on some Final Four tickets.

Then came a four point loss at Washington State two days later, a two-point home loss to Oregon, and getting swept in L.A. After the party that was 12 straight wins, some sort of hangover was inevitable, and the cure for losing 4 of 5 came at just the right time. I had never been so happy to see Arizona State up next on the schedule.

Arizona looked much better dominating ASU 71-47. Their defense was solid - ASU shot just under 35% - and they out-rebounded the Sun Devils 33-21. They shot well, making 50% from the floor (with Marcus Williams out of the lineup), and shared the basketball (16 assists). I was very encouraged, and excited for Arizona's next game. The ship had been righted.

Or so I thought. A rematch against North Carolina was a chance to avenge the 86-69 smack-down the Tar Heels laid on Arizona last year in Chapel Hill. It was a chance to prove losing four of five was a fluke, and solidify some of the confidence they seemed to have lost. Instead, Arizona shat the bed on national television, and was outplayed in nearly every facet of the game. (They out-rebounded UNC 41-38.)

What seems alarming is that Arizona combined to go 1 for 23 from 3-point range. That's pretty bad, but sometimes the ball just doesn't go in. This team can shoot the ball. What is alarming is they weren't sharing the ball. The Wildcats combined for 10 assists against the Tar Heels. If I recall correctly, a lack of synergy was Arizona's undoing last year.

Earlier in the season Arizona was absolutely rolling when their offense came from back-door cuts and patience to pass the ball until an easy shot presented itself.

Thankfully, the season is not over yet. Before the game from hell, Arizona's five losses were by a combined 20 points. Close losses will burst the bubble of a team that feels they can beat anyone. So take it from me: All this team needs is a little confidence. Lute Olson and his staff will prepare the Wildcats for every game, and these kids will work hard. Don't give up on Arizona just yet.

Condemned to repeat their mistakes?

2006-12-02T13:57:00.000-05:00

Do you remember where you were when it happened - when Arizona let a 15 point lead (and trip to the 2005 Final Four) slip away in less than four minutes?

It was - perhaps - the most classic of classic NCAA tournament games.

Said Lute Olson: "Anytime you lose a game like that, it's always tough. The reason it's really tough is our seniors. That was the first senior group since '87 that hadn't played in one Final Four. That will be the one thing that stands out in my mind."

The Fighting Illini - Wildcat rivalry is truly becoming a legit one. Arizona is 3-0 in games played in Tucson, 0-3 in Champaign, Ill., and 3-3 at neutral sites.

Today's "neutral site" matchup in Phoenix is comparable to the one in 2005, when the two teams met in the Chicago region final - just two hours from the Illinois campus.

I don't think there is any question - the pedal will be to the floor for the whole forty minutes of this game. Arizona learned a valuable - and heart wrenching - lesson when they let up on a team that refused to quit.

"Those who do not remember their past are condemned to repeat their mistakes"
George Santayana

Transition

2006-12-02T13:52:00.000-05:00

Now that football season is over, I will focus on UA basketball.

Canales Resigns

2006-11-28T00:12:00.000-05:00

The Arizona Daily Star reports co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Mike Canales has resigned.

A Season on the Brink

2006-11-25T22:39:00.000-05:00

It's so much better
When everyone is in are you in
It's so much better
When everyone is in are you in
Ooooh............Are you in?
-Incubus

Sitting at 3-5 with games against (then no. 25) Washington State, (then no. 8) California, and (then BCS no. 24) Oregon, I'm sure Arizona surprised you by winning not one...or two...but all three. I bet you were also surprised when Arizona State came into The Stadium Saturday, and played like they had something to prove to the football world.

This was a season on the brink for Arizona. After losing Willie Tuitama to a concussion (number 1 - at LSU), the Wildcats were on the brink of watching their season go down the drain without their golden boy at the wheel. He returned just a week later showing no ill effects from his first brain shaking of the season.

Arizona then lost three straight, and judging by fan "comments" on azstarnet.com, people around town were not convinced Mike Stoops was the man to turn the program around. I, too, had my doubts. It seemed as though Arizona was on the brink of yet another public outcry for a new head coach.

And just when it seemed things couldn't get any worse, Tuitama sustained another head injury (number 2 - at UCLA). This one would sideline the sophomore QB for three weeks. During his absence, Arizona persevered, winning one of two. But the Wilcats were on the brink of another season without the possibility of playing in December.

Then came the improbable win at Washington State, another field rushing on Homecoming, and the smackdown the Wildcats laid on Oregon in Autzen Stadium. Suddenly, Arizona was on the brink of not only their first bowl game since 1998, but a winning season.

Here we are at the end of another season, and Mike Stoops and his staff are hard at work. They've just locked up "one of the state's most prized football recruits."

So, I hope you're all still on the Arizona bandwagon - regardless of whether or not the Wildcats are invited to a bowl game. Mike Stoops is on the brink of having a real winner in Tucson.

Arizona v. Oregon - Live

2006-11-18T15:38:00.000-05:00

1:33
I hope you're as excited as I am. This game is a great opportunity for the Wildcats to reintroduce themselves to the football elite. A win today makes Arizona bowl eligible.

1:40
Dave Sitton is now covering Arizona football games. What doesn't this guy do?

1:48 (0-3, 9:11 remaining 1st quarter)
Really looked like Oregon would march down the field for an easy touchdown. The Ducks are incredibly elusive. The Arizona defense will have to be huge today.

1:54 (6:22 remaining 1st quarter)
Run Chris, run. Arizona will have to run the ball effectively to control this game. Oh, by the way, the Wildcats have not won in Eugene since 1986.

2:00 (7-3, 4:06 remaining 1st quarter)
Thank you Cam Nelson - great hit to force the fumble. Thank you special teams - great coverage on the punt. Thank you Chris Henry - nice little run for the TD.

Oregon may be out of the AP and USA Today polls, but they are ranked 24 in the BCS.

2:08 (2:13 remaining 1st quarter)
Chris Henry has over 50 yards rushing. Yeah, really.

2:15 (end 1st quarter, 14-3)
Another one? Arizona's offense is clicking and has Oregon on its heels.

2:19 (14-10)
Stupid fog horn.

2:26 (10:35 remaining 2nd quarter)
Now would be a good time for a big defensive play - I'm thinking a pick to the house.

2:28 (14-10, 9:20 remaining 2nd quarter)
Ask, and ye shall receive. Who is Michael Klyce?

2:33 (21-10, 6:16 remaining 2nd quarter)
Arizona - as Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano likes to say - just keeps "choppin wood". The Wildcats are, dare I say, "laying a smackdown" on the Ducks defense.

14 UA points off Oregon turnovers.

2:45
The defense came to play today. Two INT's on the day so far.

I'm not sure why Adam Austin is in the game, but hopefully it's (insert optimistic inference on Tuitama's health here).

2:58 (24-10, end first half)
Extraordinary first half for the Wildcats. Next challenge: avoid complacency.

Key halftime stats, courtesy of ESPN:

Chris Henry - 98 yards on 14 carries, 21 yards on 1 catch, 2 TD's.
Willie Tuitama - 8 of 9 passing for 120 yards, 2 TD's.
Arizona defense - 2 INT's, 1 fumble recovered.

3:22 (start 3rd quarter)
Looks like Adam Austin has the reins of the Arizona offense.
The Wildcats will have to play like the game is 0-0 to win.

3:29 (10:12 remaining 3rd quarater)
If the rest of the Ducks are as fired up as Jeremiah Johnson, look out.

3:32
Sitting back in my chair, I'm really enjoying this game.

3:36 (6:27 remaining 3rd quarter)
Arizona recovers a muffed punt! Oregon, I'd like to introduce you to the Wildcats' special teams unit.

3:39 (4:21 remaining 3rd quarter)
You're killing me number 76...two consecutive false starts. Seven penalties for 119 yards? Gotta focus.

3:47 (1:11 remaining 3rd quarter)
Another score would be nice heading into the fourth quarter. Just throwin it out there.

3:48 (10 seconds later)
I now believe Chris Henry and I have some sort of telepathic connection. TD number three on the day for 19. 34-10 Wildcats.

4:01 (37-10, 11:21 remaining)
Spencer Larsen's pick makes 6 turnovers for the Ducks. This is officially a rout.

4:11
7 minutes, 24 seconds until Arizona is bowl eligible for the first time since 1998.

4:20 (4:46 remaining)
Can you hear the U of A chants? Given the history of Autzen Stadium, you aren't supposed to.

4:39 (0:00 remaining)
Bowl eligible. Welcome back Arizona.

For what it's worth...

2006-11-13T19:17:00.000-05:00

CBS Sportsline now ranks Arizona (50) above Florida State and Miami(FL).

Nothing short of "exhilarating"

2006-11-12T03:47:00.000-05:00

Arizona v. #8 California
W (24-20)

I've gotten to rush the field at Arizona Stadium twice now. And I'll tell ya, it's pretty fun.

"The crowd was sitting down for a while," UA cornerback Antoine Cason said. "After that, they got up. It was exhilarating."

"That" would be a 39-yard interception return for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter.

And "that" is precisely when all 55,519 fans in attendance Saturday realized Arizona could win this game. But I'm sure if you asked the players, they'd say they knew it all along.

"This was a surprise to everyone — but us," Cason said.

Quite a surprise.

Believe it or not, the Wildcats (5-5) are one win away from being in contention for a bowl game. Get ready for expectations to go through the roof.

Suddenly games at Oregon and against Arizona State, in Tucson, have new meaning.

"We're 5-5 and we've got a chance every time we suit up," head coach Mike Stoops said.

There's plenty of room left on the Arizona bandwagon...but get on now.

Homecoming

2006-11-10T16:56:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow's a big day for the UA. Here are few things to do you may not know about...

A "kickoff celebration" starts at 7 p.m tonight.
Some live bands will perform, and Mike Stoops and the Wildcats will be there for a good ol' fashioned pep rally.

Tents on the mall open at 9 a.m.
University clubs and departments will have tents on the mall offering a variety of activities.

The homecoming parade starts at 10 a.m.
All the floats will gather on University at Campbell. Check out how creative clubs at the UA are. It's cool, seriously.

Drunken debauchery begins when you want it to, and lasts all day.
Don't forget the game is now at 1:30.

Arizona v. Washington State - Live Blogging

2006-11-04T18:07:00.000-05:00

3:45 (14-10 UA)
Wow. Arizona scored before I turned the game on. I tuned in just in time to hear Chris Henry punch it in for touchdown number two. I'm a little disappointed Washington State has already scored, though.

4:06
The offense has stalled a bit, but the defense is doing a good job of getting after WSU QB Alex Brink. They've already recovered a fumble - the Wildcats are hitting hard today.

4:10 (3:20 remaining 2nd quarter - 17-10 UA)
Another WSU punt. Niccce. I'd like to see the Wildcats throw the ball downfield - show a little killer instinct. The old Wildcats play conservatively with a lead going into halftime. The new Wildcats should look to put pressure on the Cougar's defense. Throw something at them they aren't expecting.

I cringe every time Tuitama has to scramble.

4:17
Arizona forces the Cougars to punt. Big play by special teams on fourth down...botched snap...Arizona gets the ball on the WSU 21. Major opportunity for Arizona to attack. Please, I beg you, throw it in the end zone. Don't just run the ball.

4:23 (0:00 remaining 2nd quarter - 20-10 UA)
Ok. I'll take a Nick Fold field goal. Do my ears deceive me? Is Arizona really going into the locker room with a halftime lead? I'm getting fairly excited here. 182 yards of offense in the first half? Let's see if they can do more of the same in the second half.

4:40
Some nice halftime stats courtesy of ESPN.com:

Willie Tuitama - 7 of 10 for 116 yards with 1 td

Chris Henry - 41 yards on 16 carries with 1 td

Arizona defense - 1 fumble recovery, 3 punts

Arizona offense - 5 for 9 third down efficiency

Nice to see Arizona executing on offense, isn't it?

4:48 (start 3rd quarter)
Washington State gets the ball to start the second half. They aren't messing around - three straight completions. Arizona can't let the Cougars gain any confidence.

4:56 (20-17 UA)
What could have been a huge play for Arizona ends up being 3 extra tries at the endzone for the Cougars. You can't fumble the ball away right after you force and recover one yourself. The Wildcats let Wazzu to do exactly what they wanted to do: get a quick second half score. This cannot turn into an offensive shootout.

5:02
Arizona's first offensive series of the half sputters. They're going to have to be better than that to win the game. It's time for the Wildcat's to make a big play. How about a pick to the house?

5:10
The defense has got to get a stop. If the Cougars score again, that might just take all the wind out of Arizona's sails.

5:14
Yeah, about that...everyone knows fake punts never work. A big risk for Wazzu doesn't pay off - Arizona takes over at their own 48. THROW THE BALL DOWN FIELD!

5:18 (5:18 remaining 3rd quarter)
Thank you, Syndric Steptoe - huge (one-handed) catch on 3rd and 11. But, surprise suprise, they run on first down.

5:21
Ok, Ok. Sniffing the end zone - a Tuitama-Thomas connection puts the Wildcats inside the Wazzu 10.

5:22 (27-17 UA)
Chris Henry powers in for touchdown number 2. Three offensive scores - niccce. I think Arizona stunned the Cougar defense a little with this drive.

5:30
Arizona D forces another Wazzu punt. They continue to put the offense in great position to win this game.

5:32 (end 3rd quarter)
You can't see me, but I'm holding up four fingers.

5:36 (begin 4th quarter)
Key to the fourth quarter: continue to stop Wazzu, control the football game by chewing up clock.

5:44 (11:18 remaining 4th quarter - 27-17 UA)
Another Wazzu punt, and a chance for the Wildcats to bury the Cougars. These are the times whe teams that know how to win put the game away.

5:51 (5:56 remaining 4th quarter)
We're going to learn a lot about this team over the next five minutes, fifty-six seconds. They've got a ten point lead over a top-25 team, late in the game. The old Wildcats figure out a way to lose. They new Wildcats know they will win.

5:57 (3:33 remaining 4th quarter - 27-17 UA)
According to radio coverage by 1290am "The Source", Wazzu fans are heading for the exits.

6:10 (Arizona wins 27-17)
Time to celebrate!

__________________________________________________________

Next week:
Homecoming - Arizona hosts Cal

What to do, what to do...

2006-10-28T15:59:00.000-04:00

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

2006-10-23T15:38:00.000-04:00

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

2006-10-22T16:32:00.000-04:00

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

2006-10-21T03:43:00.000-04:00

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

2006-10-17T03:42:00.000-04:00

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

2006-10-15T19:00:00.000-04:00

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.'

2006-10-08T22:59:00.000-04:00

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?

2006-10-01T21:47:00.000-04:00

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.

Could've been worse

2006-09-24T22:31:00.000-04:00

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

2006-09-17T20:25:00.000-04:00

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"

2006-09-13T18:56:00.000-04:00

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

2006-09-10T23:16:00.000-04:00

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

2006-09-09T17:17:00.000-04:00

"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

2006-09-04T00:26:00.000-04:00

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

Are you ready?

2006-08-27T16:30:00.000-04:00

Hi. My name is Mike. I am a UofA football fan.

And who could blame me? The atmosphere in Arizona Stadium on game day is truly a special experience. Take a look around and you'll see fans young and old. You'll see screaming students covered in red and blue paint. Smells of popcorn, nachos and hot dogs waft through the air. A highlight reel displaying the best of teams past plays on the jumbotron. The announcer's voice booms over the stadium p.a. system. And here they come..."your Arizona Wildcats." It never gets old. College football is back in the desert.

Arizona is not a favorite to win the Pac-10. And they might not earn a bowl bid this season. But the hype surrounding the wildcats this season is enormous. Here are a few things I'm excited about:

1. Willie Tuitama is ready to go and will have the opportunity to play an entire schedule.

2. Louis Holmes was the most sought after junior college prospect this past off-season. Ranked #1 by Rivals.com, the 6-6, 270-pound defensive end will add more speed and toughness to the D-line.

3. 6 wins. 6 wins and Arizona is headed to a bowl game for the first time since 1998.

Arizona opens it's 2006 season next Saturday at home against Brigham Young University. I know where I'll be.

This season I'll be living it live and recapping my experience for you each week. I hope you have as much fun reading this as I will writing it.