Citizen Staff

Young group will get lots of work with starter Biren Ealy out for a month with a foot injury.

By JOHN MOREDICH

jmoredich@tucsoncitizen.com

There will be plenty of chances for Arizona Wildcat receivers to make big plays this year in UA’s new spread offense.

UA’s running game is already solid with tailback Mike Bell returning for his junior season, but the receivers must do their part.

“We need to catch the ball,” receivers coach Charlie Williams said. “We don’t want to be the weak link in this deal. We need to catch the football consistently, and we’re not doing that right now.’

Arizona’s top returning receiver, Biren Ealy, is out for a month because of a broken right foot. That still leaves a number of receivers trying to catch onto the offense. It’s a relatively young group, with seniors Ricky Williams and Juan Valentine being the exceptions.

Ricky Williams was second last year in receiving with 36 catches for 563 yards and two scores. Valentine is working his way into the rotation after not playing last year because of an injury.

That leaves sophomores Mike Jefferson, Syndric Steptoe, Ryan Eidson and Aaron Butler, redshirt freshmen Anthony Johnson and true freshmen Bobby McCoy and Gerald Rodrigues.

They all could receive their share of receptions in an offense geared to spread the passing attack around the field so defenses can’t double-team anybody.

“I told the guys on offense that we don’t know who is going to catch the ball 10 times in a game,” UA offensive coordinator Mike Canales said. “It will depend on what the defense gives us. It could be Biren Ealy, or Mike Bell. This offense allows everybody a chance to catch the ball.”

But they need to catch the ball first, something they struggled with in the first two practices.

“We have to do our part,” Charlie Williams said. “This is part of a plan that has been well thought out. Everybody has to execute their part in the plan.”

That did not happen Monday during UA’s first practice.

“I expect more from the veterans and for the young kids to get better fast,” Charlie Williams said. “We don’t have time to wait for anything. We have to go right now.”

Ealy is expected to return by either the Sept. 11 game against Utah, or a week later against Wisconsin. He caught 42 passes in 2003 for 577 yards and four touchdowns.

It shouldn’t take the 6-foot-4, 192-pound receiver long to once again become the go-to receiver he became last season.

“Hopefully I have become that type of guy,” said Ealy, who broke his foot two weeks ago during a 7-on-7 summer drill. “The quarterbacks look at me like they have confidence in me, and I have confidence in myself.”

Ricky Williams was consistent throughout last year, while Jefferson emerged late in the season after a slow start.

Jefferson had the drops in the spring, but he also scored touchdowns in the scrimmages.

“When the lights come, on Jefferson knows how to make plays,” UA quarterback Ryan O’Hara said.

Johnson showed sensational hands in spring workouts, and Butler, a former Catalina High School star who transferred from Pima Community College, has shown he has the athleticism to go deep.

It would not be a surprise if either of the true freshmen see the field immediately.

“I see good things in the young guys,” Charlie Williams said. “I like the way they come off the ball and they are learning. Those young guys are going to be special.”

UA RECEIVING THREATS

• Ricky Williams, Sr., 6-2, 210

• Juan Valentine, Sr., 6-1, 195

• Anthony Johnson, Fr., 6-2, 202

• Mike Jefferson, So., 6-2, 203

• Syndric Steptoe, So., 5-9, 184

• Aaron Butler, So., 6-2, 191

• Bobby McCoy, Fr., 6-1, 170

• Ryan Eidson, So., 5-10, 156

• Biren Ealy, Jr., 6-4, 192 (injured)

PHOTO CAPTION: RENEE BRACAMONTE/Tucson Citizen

UA’s Keil McDonald (left) tries to pull down Ricky Williams in practice Tuesday night at the Rincon Vista Complex.

Citizen Staff

By SHELLY LEWELLEN

slewelle@tucsoncitizen.com

Competition to improve the team and gain roster spots got the best of some Arizona Wildcat players last night at practice.

During 9-on-9 drills, players on the offensive and defensive lines pushed and shoved after the whistle blew. The outbreak, which quickly involved more than 20 players, took a few minutes for coaches to break up. The players drew extra running drills.

Coach Mike Stoops said it was apparent the players were practicing in pads for the first time in fall camp.

“It was good. I guess it’s a good sign, I hope, that the guys were a little feisty,” Stoops said.

Senior Brandon Phillips said the team needs to avoid infighting.

“At times, especially in camp, when you have guys that are real fired up and working for a position, it will happen,” said Phillips, an offensive tackle.

“It’s not something that you want to practice, but the intensity is there,” he said. “That’s what you like. They just need to learn how to channel that into doing something productive instead of destructive.”

Citizen Staff

Cats land top back

Longbons adds clout to early recruiting

By JOHN MOREDICH

jmoredich@tucsoncitizen.com

The University of Arizona football team is not ignoring recruiting, even though preseason workouts began Monday.

The Wildcats landed another top in-state player, receiving a verbal commitment from Peoria Centennial High School tailback Terry Longbons.

He is a four-star (out of five) running back and is ranked the 16th-best tailback nationally, according to Rivals.com.

“I think Arizona hasn’t had a closer like (coach Mike) Stoops in a long time,” PrepStar editor Rob MacIntyre said. “Stoops, I believe, is getting kids to Arizona on his reputation, but once they are there he closes the deal and sells the program and his philosophy. He did it at Oklahoma and is now doing it at Arizona. Wrapping up Longbons is huge.”

Longbons is the third Arizona player the Wildcats have had pledge for 2005, ending years of drought and recruiting losses to Arizona State.

“Our recruiting has been fabulous,” Stoops said even before Longbons committed. “It shows the strength of this great university and the facilities. We have to hope we can back it up with some big wins.”

Under NCAA rules, Stoops cannot talk specifically about recruits who have given a verbal commitment.

Longbons is a big pickup to a class of nine known commitments. The 5-foot-11, 210-pound standout is one of seven players with at least a three-star rating.

“I have coached for 32 years and he is the best back I’ve ever coached,” Centennial coach Richard Taylor said last night.

Longbons rushed for 2,053 yards, averaging nine yards per carry and scored 28 touchdowns as a junior.

“The players they have been signing and the coaches they have on their staff was a big reason,” Longbons said. “Having (teammate Jordan Lowe) going there also helped out. We talked about it every day, about playing together for the next four or five years.”

Lowe, a two-star offensive lineman recruit according to The Insiders, committed a week ago.

Besides Lowe’s commitment to Arizona, it seemed destined Longbons would decide on Arizona. His sister is a junior at the UA and he has a friendship developing with Sunnyside tailback Xavier Smith, who pledged to UA last weekend, giving the Wildcats an all in-state backfield of recruits.

“One Pac-10 coach says he is the best tailback in the West,” Rivals recruiting analyst Rick Kimbrel said.

The recruiting victory is sweet for Arizona and bitter for ASU, which was the first school to offer Longbons a scholarship. Suns Devil coach Dirk Koetter was a frequent visitor to the Peoria school.

“It was a tough decision for him,” Longbons father, Terry Sr., said last night. “A-State was the first to offer him anything. They were high on him, but the people at UA seemed a lot more friendlier. He would go down there and it was like a family reunion.”

The commitment of Longbons is typical of how well the Wildcats are doing despite being 2-10 last year, having a program without a winning season since 1998 and being guided by a first-year coach.

It is the first-year coach who seems to be making the world of difference.

“Arizona has always been hot and cold when it came to recruiting, but I have never seen them this hot – ever,” Kimbrel said. “If (Stoops) can’t win on Saturdays he will be out the door, but if he coaches like he is recruiting, then Arizona will be a tough team and a competitor for the Pac-10 crown.”

The Wildcats have commitments from three players each from Arizona, California and Texas, covering the areas they have concentrated on since Stoops has been hired.

“I think we can recruit as well as anybody in the country,” Stoops said. “I think this program has the chance to be one of the best in the West. It has a great proximity to California and Texas, it is a college town and it gives you an opportunity to recruit some of the top players.”

“Everything, as good as it is right now, will only get better. Winning will play a big part of that this year.”

Notable

• Junior quarterback Nic Costa was back at practice last night after missing the opening day because of family matters.

• Defensive back Dramayne McElroy was working out after finally receiving certification for eligibility.

• An ESPN camera crew had a microphone on Stoops during practice for a segment that will air later this month.

OTHER COMMITMENTS

Rankings by TheInsiders recruiting service.

• Four stars: Eben Britton, OL, Burroughs HS, Burbank, Calif.; Jermichael Finley TE, Diboll (Texas) HS; Terry Longbons, TB, Centennial HS, Peoria; Willie Tuitama, QB, St. Mary’s HS, Stockton, Calif.

• Three stars: Corey Hall, S, Desoto (Texas) HS; Xavier Smith, TB, Sunnyside HS; Michael Thomas, WR, Desoto (Texas) HS.

• Two stars: Jordan Lowe, OL, Centennial HS, Peoria.

• Also: Anthony Sapa, DT, Riverside (Calif.) JC (junior college players not ranked).

PHOTO CAPTION: Emmanuel Lozano/The Arizona Republic

Terry Longbons, a senior football player at Centennial High School in Peoria, runs the ball during practice. He has committed to the University of Arizona.

Xavier Smith

Citizen Staff
Corky Simpson COLUMN

Stoops has fire brewing under Cats

The afternoon was on simmer when coach Mike Stoops entered the practice field at Tucson Boulevard and 15th Street, carrying a clipboard in his left hand and holding a cell phone in his right hand – to his left ear.

Stoops wore a white visor, white T-shirt and tan shorts. On the back of the T-shirt were the words: “Bear Down.”

A couple of minutes later, at 5:25 p.m., the Arizona football team arrived in two buses. It must have been oven-shock when they left the air-conditioned vehicles and walked onto the lush tiff grass field. But they did it with enthusiasm.

A few menacing clouds wafted in from the Catalinas, but there were no meteorological pyrotechnics this time. Lightning interrupted Monday night’s practice.

In their new navy-blue outfits, the Wildcats looked like visitors from another league. Hopefully, they will play like it.

A year ago they played like weenies (franks for the memories, guys) and finished 2-10. That was better than coach John Mackovic, who didn’t finish at all. He was removed at midseason.

And UA athletic director Jim Livengood pulled off the recruiting coup of the year by signing Stoops from the staff of his brother, Bob, at the University of Oklahoma.

What strikes you most about the new program is the intensity and involvement of the coaching staff.

There’s a whole lot of teaching goin’ on in this preseason camp.

Stoops’ troops are undergoing a cram-course in how to win football games, from a faculty with top credentials.

Stoops is a show, by himself. He is animated, forceful, sharp, piercing, scathing and – when it’s needed – soothing. He will watch a play, hands on his knees like an infielder, and when the ball is snapped you’d swear there were bees in his shoes.

“I couldn’t be more pleased with the way we’ve practiced the first two days,” Stoops said when last sprints were run at about 8:15 p.m. “We’re progressing nicely.”

What he wants from this little army dressed in navy is for each and every member “to play hard and know what to do.”

They will play hard, or they won’t play at all.

Observers had to be impressed with injured wide receiver Biren Ealy, recovering from a broken bone in his right foot. He was on crutches last night – except when he got down on his knees to play catch with assistant coach Mark Hill.

And then there was redshirt freshman defensive lineman Matt Richards, tossing his cookies halfway through practice, but showing the toughness to hang around and run wind sprints at the end.

If you ask me, there’s a rosy future for this team in blue.

Citizen Staff

Search for right QB

Wildcats need a clear-cut No. 1 to lead offense

By JOHN MOREDICH

jmoredich@tucsoncitizen.com

The message being sent to University of Arizona quarterback Kris Heavner is clear – don’t make it close.

That is what Wildcat offensive coordinator Mike Canales is telling Heavner, the team’s No. 1 quarterback as preseason camp started last night at the Rincon Vista Complex.

“The important thing Kris has to do is make sure it is obvious, that there is no second- guessing whether he should be the starter or not,” Canales said. “He has to assert himself. I told him I didn’t want it to be close. That is the mind-set he has to have.”

Heavner was told following an intense battle in the spring he would be the No. 1 quarterback heading into the practices.

The sophomore started eight games last year, taking over for Nic Costa and Ryan O’Hara in week five of the season.

“There is a little pressure off my shoulders, but I still have a long ways to go and there is a lot of work for me to do,” Heavner said. “I got a lot of experience, so when I get into the games, I will be able to handle the pressure and the fans. I can come into the season ready to go.

“As a true freshman I was a little itchy. Now I can go in with the game plan and know that here is my reads and here is (where the blitzes are coming), stuff like that.”

The 6-foot-2, 230-pound product of Lyndon B. Johnson High School in Johnson City, Texas, worked hard to earn the starting nod. In order to keep the position he needs to cut down on turnovers and make big plays.

Heavner, one of six true freshman quarterbacks to start for a Division I-A team last year, set UA freshman passing records by completing 101 of 237 passes for 1,501 yards.

The one glaring problem was his eight touchdowns-to-15-interceptions ratio.

“We are trying to get him to relax and let him know that other guys around him can make plays, too,” Canales said. “We are trying to teach him to be a smart player and not just a better player.”

Lengthy hours this summer were spent not only in the weight room but studying game film and shoring up flaws in his technique.

Game film was a major priority for Heavner. He watched the same plays repeatedly.

“I know the differences between coverages better, who is coming here or there, and different blitzing schemes. It has been very helpful,” Heavner said. “Every part of my game was missing something, so I went into this summer wanting to work on everything. We worked on footwork, drops, every little aspect.”

If Heavner falters, even a little bit, O’Hara, Costa and Richard Kovalcheck are ready to pounce on the opportunity.

Costa, who is already seeing action at wide receiver and running back as a contingency plan, started the opening three games of last year after starting once as a freshman in 2002.

Costa mopped up a few times in a season where he completed 30 of 76 passes for 362 yards and four touchdowns.

Costa missed last night’s practice because of family matters. He is expected to return today.

O’Hara, a redshirt sophomore, started against Purdue but never got back on the field under center, instead catching a pass as a receiver against Arizona State in the season finale.

“I am confident I can play quarterback at this level. I am excited for the chance,” O’Hara said. “I have to prove I can be a leader of this team and I can lead the offense, that I can lead the team down field and score points and the team knows they can look at me to make plays. I have to make plays at the right time.”

Kovalcheck, a redshirt freshman, proved he was accurate this spring, but he still has some ground to make up.

Whoever emerges as the starter throughout fall camp better make the decision easy on the coaches.

“The starter should not be close,” Canales said. “If it is close, we are going to go with the guy who is the most consistent.”

CHECKING OUT THE QBs

UA offensive coordinator Mike Canales is looking at four quarterbacks in the preseason, hoping one clearly emerges at No. 1:

• Kris Heavner: “His competitiveness right now sets him apart. He really competes and he is poised at times when we put some pressure on him. He is a true competitor that will help out.”

• Ryan O’Hara: “He is a playmaker, he makes plays.”

• Nic Costa: “Has playmaking skills. He is one of the best players we can get on the field somewhere.”

• Richard Kovalcheck: “Very smart and understands what we are looking for and gets us in good plays.”

Training camp schedule

• Today: Practice, 5:45 p.m., Rincon Vista Complex

• Tomorrow: Practice, 5:45 p.m., Rincon Vista Complex

UA FOOTBALL NOTES

Rain-delayed practice features speed

By JOHN MOREDICH

jmoredich@tucsoncitizen.com

The University of Arizona football team’s first preseason practice was delayed by rain and lightning, but once the players hit the field it was full speed ahead.

With the key words full speed.

“We were out there moving quick, wow,” Arizona safety Darrell Brooks said last night. “That is what we focused on all during the summertime, getting faster.

“It showed. Coach (Mike) Stoops likes running a fast defense and a fast offense. We are out here with a high intensity level and we are out here to make plays.”

Most players were stuck on a bus outside the Rincon Vista Complex gates, waiting for weather conditions to improve.

The wait lasted about an hour. Then coaches turned around the bus and headed to McKale Center for walk-through drills.

“I was going crazy on the bus,” tailback Mike Bell said. “I was excited on the bus to get going. I had to stand up. I felt like I was in a psycho ward.”

While Bell was itching to get going, offensive linemen were feeling uncomfortable, having put on uniforms and knee braces before boarding the bus.

Defensive end Marcus Smith and buddies made the most of the time by having a few laughs.

“It was fun on the bus,” Smith said. “We were telling jokes and impersonating different people on the team and the coaches and telling lines from movies.”

Once rain subsided, the players moved to the outdoor practice facility, and there was no messing around as the team went through a 1 1/2 workout in shorts and helmets.

There was no standing around.

“You could tell we are much further along than at any time this spring,” Stoops said. “The kids move with a lot more snap. It looks like we understand what we are doing a little better.

“I was happy with the overall performance on both sides of the ball. We obviously have a long way to go, but this team is on the right track.”

Good first impression

If true freshmen defensive backs wanted to make a statement early, they did.

Cornerbacks B.J. Dennard and Antoine Cason, free safety Dominic Patrick and strong safety Michael Klyce all caught Stoops’ eye.

“That is the hardest part (for young players), understanding the urgency and how fast the game really is,” Stoops said. “You can see we have some very talented freshmen.

“I like all four of our DBs. They are all quality football players. Those were the guys I saw the most of (yesterday) because I spent a lot of time with the secondary.”

Transfer Dramayne McElroy, a junior from Chaffey College in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., did not see action.

McElroy is waiting for paperwork that clears him to practice, Stoops said.

“I wanted to see Dramayne out there,” Stoops said. “I think he has a chance to be a great playmaker for us.

Not present

Not reporting were linebacker Marquell Stinson, defensive backs Gainus Scott and Brent Bolden, defensive tackle Jeremy Willoughby, linebacker Justin Stewart and junior college transfer Byron Smith because they quit or fell into academic difficulties.

Stoops is not talking about such players.

“If they are not here, they are not here,” he said.

PHOTO CAPTION: RENEE BRACAMONTE/Tucson Citizen

University of Arizona quarterback Kris Heavner steps back in the pocket in last night’s practice.

Citizen Staff

UA players check in

Locals Lopez, Butler thrilled to be Cats

By JOHN MOREDICH

jmoredich@tucsoncitizen.com

University of Arizona linebacker Brandon Lopez committed well before coach Mike Stoops was even hired.

He always wanted to be a Wildcat.

Wide receiver Aaron Butler had dreams about playing in Arizona Stadium, but he was sidetracked to Pima College and then was headed to Boise State before joining the UA roster.

The local players were two of the 105 players checking in to the team yesterday during reporting-day activities. Practice opens tonight at 6 at Rincon Vista.

“I am so excited. I have been waiting for this all summer,” said Lopez, a 6-foot-2, 210-pound Tucson Citizen All-Star from Cienega High School. “I have been lifting hard in the weight room like crazy.”

A year from now Sunnyside High senior tailback Xavier Smith will join the Wildcats after committing over the weekend.

“(UA) told me they were going to take the first two backs that jumped on board, and I wanted to make sure I could go there,” Smith said. “I just saw the future in front of me and I knew where I was going to go so I just committed.”

While Smith, who rushed for 1,806 yards and 26 touchdowns last year for Class 4A state champ Sunnyside, will have to wait a year, Butler and Lopez checked in. They had their physicals, were fitted for their uniforms and helmets and then attended meetings the rest of the night.

Lopez committed to Arizona in September while John Mackovic was still at the controls. Getting Stoops made the possibilities even better.

“I can’t wait to get out there at practice,” Lopez said. “I knew I could get here if I worked hard. Thank God I have the size to do it.”

The ability of Lopez was never in question, not after rushing for 1,509 yards and 25 touchdowns as a senior and making nearly 100 tackles as a defensive back his junior season.

Getting his grades improved in summer school proved to be an obstacle, but after seeing a tutor two or three times a week, he reported as originally planned.

“I studied my butt off,” Lopez said. “I had to get a certain grade-point average and I got way above it. I was not worried about playing, I was worried about getting my schoolwork taken care of, and once that was over then I could focus on football.

“And that is what I’m so excited to do right now. I am going to work 110 percent when I’m on the field to see if I can get some playing time.”

Butler, formerly of Catalina High, has thought about practicing with the Wildcats for over three years. The detour ended when he was given an offer recently by Stoops.

“I was going to Boise State, but the UA came through in the end. One of my dreams is met,” Butler said. “I still have more to accomplish.”

Butler, a relative unknown from a 1-9 Catalina team in 2001, attended Pima Community College last year. He filled out financial aid papers recently to attend Boise State, but when UA said come on down, he came.

He rejected offers from California, Marshall and Middle Tennessee, as well as LSU.

Most schools, including LSU and Arizona, wanted him to play another year at Pima, but Butler was tired of waiting, and the Wildcats changed their minds.

“I will let the coaches judge (what I can do). I am not going anywhere to waste my time,” Butler said. “I came here to reach my goal no matter how hard it is. If I make the field and then my goal is met, if not then I have even more work to do.”

The 6-3, 195-pound receiver will be given ample opportunity at receiver with leading pass catcher Biren Ealy out at least a month with a broken foot.

UA FOOTBALL NOTES

By JOHN MOREDICH

jmoredich@tucsoncitizen.com

Top receiver Biren Ealy reported to the University of Arizona football team yesterday limping around on crutches and with a protective boot on his right foot.

The junior said he is out three to four weeks after breaking his foot two weeks ago during 7-on-7 drills as part of Arizona’s voluntary summer workouts.

“I planted on it and it just snapped,” Ealy said. “I knew right away. I did not hear it, but the pain was so sharp. As soon as the doctors tell me I can touch the field and run again, I will be ready.”

Ealy led the Wildcats a year ago with 42 receptions for 577 yards and four touchdowns.

The team’s go-to receiver could be back by Arizona’s game against Utah on Sept. 11 or Wisconsin on Sept. 18, according to UA coach Mike Stoops.

“I am not a rookie anymore so I can get a lot of mental reps,” Ealy said. “I will be watching the guys from the sidelines. It will set me back, but it is only a minor setback for a major comeback.”

Also injured during the drills was senior free safety Tony Wingate from Sahuaro High School, who enters fall practice on top of the depth chart despite breaking his hand.

Wingate reported to the team yesterday, then headed to the doctors to get another cast.

“I will be able to play it,” Wingate said. “It will just be a little annoying.”

Costa will play QB and more

Arizona junior quarterback Nic Costa will get a few reps at quarterback tonight when the team opens practice at 6 at Rincon Vista, but he will also be thrown into the mix at receiver and running back.

Those are the plans for the 5-foot-11 all-around athlete, who opens fall camp listed as the No. 2 quarterback behind Kris Heavner.

“He is going to play somewhere,” UA offensive coordinator Mike Canales said. “I think we are going to throw him into receiver positions, running positions throughout camp. We are not going to wait until this or that day. We have to get him on the field. We are going to throw him in there during fall practice as quick as we can.”

Costa started three games last season before concluding the season as a backup to Heavner. He completed 30 of 76 passes for 362 yards, throwing four touchdowns while being intercepted twice.

Also competing for quarterback duty is sophomore Ryan O’Hara and redshirt freshman Richard Kovalcheck.

ESPN in town

College football television analyst Kirk Herbstreit of ESPN was in town interviewing Stoops yesterday for a feature that will air later this month.

Herbstreit was shown around by UA defensive coordinator Mark Stoops in between meetings with coaches and players.

Excitement abounds

Stoops was as eager as his players for practice to start.

“It is an exciting time for everybody who loves college football,” Stoops said. “This is the greatest time of the year, everybody has a lot of high hopes and a lot of expectations. We are excited to get back together as a team and back to work and get coaching again.”

The Wildcats will practice at 6 p.m. every day this week, with two-a-day drills beginning Saturday. Practices are open to the public.

UA 2004 SCHEDULE

Date Opponent Time TV

Sept. 4 NAU 7 p.m.

Sept. 11 Utah 7 p.m.

Sept. 18 Wisconsin 1 p.m. FSN

Sept. 25 Wash. St. 12:30 p.m. ABC

Oct. 9 at UCLA 12:30 p.m.

Oct. 16 at Oregon 12:30 p.m.

Oct. 23 California 4 p.m.

Oct. 30 Oregon St. 4 p.m.

Nov. 6 at Wash. 1:30 p.m.

Nov. 13 at USC 7:15 p.m. FSN

Nov. 26 ASU 1 p.m. FSN

FSN: Fox Sports Net

Radio: KCUB-AM (1290), KHTY-FM (107.5)

PHOTO CAPTIONS: FRANCISCO MEDINA/Tucson Citizen

Former Cienega High School player Brandon Lopez tries on his new shoulder pads with the help of Wendell Neal, University of Arizona director of equipment services, during check-in yesterday.

University of Arizona junior Copeland Bryan shows off his new gloves during football check-in yesterday.

UA’s Biren Ealy tries on his gear with the help of Wendell Neal, director of equipment services, at check-in yesterday.

Citizen Staff

By JOHN MOREDICH

jmoredich@tucsoncitizen.com

Reporting to the University of Arizona football team tomorrow is a formality after virtually every player spent the entire summer lifting and taking part in conditioning drills.

Yet, protocol says the team needs a reporting day to get physicals, be fitted for uniforms and receive their next assignments.

“We are not going to waste a day,” said Arizona coach Mike Stoops. “We have to work extra hard to get caught up. We are making up ground each day to get a little better.”

The first practice is Monday at 5:45 p.m. at the Rincon Vista Facility, East 15th Street and South Tucson Boulevard. The practice is open to the public.

What the coaches are likely to see are the benefits of a summer of dedicated and emphasized workouts.

Unlike years past, when UA strength coach Brad Arnett was left alone in the weight room with little support from the previous coaching staff, new football strength coaches Corey Edmond and Mark Hill had the players’ utmost attention.

“We talked to other players and no team worked harder than us,” Arizona tailback Mike Bell said. “We asked them what they did in the summer, and we did their stuff, plus a whole lot more. I don’t think any team worked as hard as us.”

Players worked four days per week in a weight and conditioning program, with an optional day on Saturday, which Bell said nearly 60 percent of the team took advantage of throughout the offseason.

Stoops wanted this team to get bigger, faster and stronger. It appears to have done just that.

“We have had our ups and downs, but they seem to be getting it and really seem like they are anxious to improve the team,” Stoops said. “Everything has gone about like I expected. I thought the players would respond and they have. That is exciting.”

The task for the Wildcats is to pick up where they left off in the spring, which means on offense trying to solidify the quarterback position.

Sophomore Kris Heavner is the man to beat, although Ryan O’Hara, Nic Costa and Richard Kovalcheck will continue to compete for the starting nod.

“We are going in with Kris as our No. 1 quarterback,” Stoops said. “If Kris does not perform well early on there are other possibilities.

“I tell the kids you earn your way on the football field at every position. Kris has to keep playing well and getting us in good situations if he is going to be our quarterback.”

Wide receiver Biren Ealy, the team’s leading receiver, injured his foot during workouts last week. His status won’t be determined until next week.

If Ealy is out for an extended time, that leaves Ricky Williams, Syndric Steptoe, Mike Jefferson, Juan Valentine and Anthony Johnson getting extra looks during preseason practices.

The offensive line was in and out of action throughout the spring because of injuries, but led by center Keoki Fraser the unit appears in good shape heading into Monday’s workout.

“Last year there were no offensive linemen here working out, their strength was in question and their speed and conditioning was a question. This year they were all there,” Bell said. “I have so much confidence in them. I know they are going to take me far this year.”

Bell is one of the few givens offensively, and Stoops has gone out of his way to praise his “special back.”

Defensively, there is a depth chart, but that means little with the season opener on Sept. 4 against Northern Arizona less than a month away.

“We have an idea on who we are going to start,” UA defensive coordinator Mark Stoops said. “We are going into two-a-days letting guys compete for positions. Some guys were working harder in the summer than others, and we will see how it works out.”

Last year the front line was pushed around, and the secondary was exploited for numerous long touchdown passes. The Cats also will have three new starting linebackers.

No longer is being ranked near the bottom nationally in every statistical category going to be accepted.

“I will find myself very involved with our defense,” Mike Stoops said. “That is something that is going to have to take place for awhile. We have a long way to go, but we are making some strides on defense.”

KEY DATES

• Tomorrow: Players report

• Monday: Workouts begin at 5:45 p.m. at East 15th Street, and South Tucson Boulevard

• Aug. 21: Fan Appreciation Night, 5 p.m., Arizona Stadium

• Aug. 26: Kickoff luncheon, noon, Doubletree Hotel at Reid Park, 445 S. Alvernon Way, $35

• Sept. 4: Season opener vs. NAU, 7 p.m., Arizona Stadium

2004 Pre-fall workout depth chart

Offense

Pos. Player Class

SE Biren Ealy Jr.

Juan Valentine Sr.

FL Ricky Williams Sr.

Syndric Steptoe So.

TE Steve Fleming Sr.

Clarence McRae Sr.

LT Chris Johnson Sr.

Tanner Bell Jr.

LG John Abramo Jr.

John Parada So.

C Keoki Fraser Sr.

Erick Levitre So.

RG Kili Lefotu Jr.

Phillip Brown Fr.

RT Peter Graniello Fr.

Tanner Bell Jr.

QB Kris Heavner So.

Nic Costa Jr.

TB Mike Bell Jr.

Gilbert Harris Jr.

FB Pedro Limon Jr.

Ryan Shirley So.

Defense

Pos. Player Class

DE Marcus Smith Jr.

Jason Parker Fr.

NT Carlos Williams Sr.

Brad Brittain Jr.

DT Paul Philipp So.

Brad Brittain Jr.

DE Andre Torrey Sr.

Copeland Bryan Jr.

LB Dane Krogstad Fr.

John McKinney So.

LB Randy Sims Jr.

Patrick Howard Sr.

LB Sean Jones Jr.

Kirk Johnson Sr.

SS Lamon Means Jr.

Marcus Hollingsworth So.

FS Tony Wingate Sr.

Darrell Brooks Jr.

CB Wilrey Fontenot Fr.

Gainus Scott Jr.

CB Kiel McDonald Jr.

Zeonte Sherman Sr.

Special Teams

PK Nick Folk So.

Adam Goldstein Fr.

P Danny Baugher Jr.

Citizen Staff

Gold medal for Crowe

By JOHN MOREDICH

jmoredich@tucsoncitizen.com

University of Arizona outfielder Trevor Crowe brought home a gold medal and a bad thumb after his USA Baseball experience in Taiwan.

Crowe helped lead the American team to an 8-0 record and a gold medal in the 2004 World University Games last weekend, capped with a 4-2 victory over Japan in the championship game in Tainin, Taiwan.

“That is the proudest I’ve been, is wearing a USA baseball uniform and going to all the places, where they don’t like the USA much,” Crowe said. “It was great going in there and winning.”

Crowe tore ligaments in his left thumb while competing in the summer tour. The injury may require surgery after he rests it for the next two weeks before reporting back to school and the Wildcat baseball team.

The junior injured his thumb midway through the tour, in which he played in 24 of 25 games, with 17 starts.

“There is no doubt about it. I was able to get better by playing in front of big crowds,” Crowe said. “That will help me when I get into pressure positions this year.”

Crowe hit .295 with eight doubles and three triples. He had 11 RBIs, scored 11 times and tied for the team lead with five steals.

He helped the Wildcats to a 4-3 win over Korea in the World Championship games with a one-out double in the bottom of the eighth inning.

The gold medal capped off a season in which Crowe helped lead the Wildcats to their first College World Series appearance in 18 years.

Top catcher commits

The Arizona baseball program is already receiving the benefits of a trip to the College World Series, receiving a verbal commitment from Simi Valley (Calif.) High School catcher Bryan Anderson, called by TeamOneBaseball.com “one of the stronger hitting prospects at the position and an above average runner for that position.”

The 6-foot-1, 190-pound catcher was an all-state player after hitting .396 with 11 doubles, eight homers and 36 RBIs as a junior.

Citizen Staff

UA seniors picked for Wooden preseason hoop team

Channing Frye and Salim Stoudamire are on the 50-player list, but junior Hassan Adams is not.

By STEVE RIVERA

srivera@tucsoncitizen.com

The University of Arizona landed two players on the prestigious John R. Wooden preseason basketball all-America team, but the Wildcat not on the list may be the school’s best.

Seniors Channing Frye and Salim Stoudamire made the list of Wooden’s top 50 players for the second straight season. Junior Hassan Adams didn’t make the cut.

Adams, one of UA’s most consistent players last season, led the team at 17.2 points a game and was second in rebounding at 7.3.

He is coming off a summer tour with Team USA’s young men’s (under 20) team.

UA’s media prospectus for the coming season touts forward Adams as the team’s “heart and soul.”

Frye and Stoudamire also will be pivotal in Arizona’s success.

Last season, Frye averaged 15.9 points and 7.4 rebounds in a season when he played center with little to no help because of an injury to junior Isaiah Fox.

Stoudamire was the most inconsistent Wildcat last season. He averaged 16.3 points and 2.7 rebounds a game. When he was on, the guard looked like one of college basketball’s best perimeter players, but he struggled in other games.

Adams will have a chance to be considered for the Wooden Award.

Players are re-evaluated at midseason and he could join the list then.

UA is one of 11 schools with two or more players on the preseason top 50 list.

2004-05 Wooden List

Sean Banks, Memphis

Andrew Bogut, Utah

Kevin Bookout, Oklahoma

Daniel Brown, Illinois

Taylor Coppenrath, Vermont

Paul Davis, Michigan State

Travis Diener, Marquette

Ike Diogu, Arizona State

B.J. Elder, Georgia Tech

Raymond Felton, North Carolina

Torin Francis, Notre Dame

Channing Frye, Arizona

Francisco Garcia, Louisville

John Gilchrist, Maryland

Ryan Gomes, Providence

Joey Graham, Oklahoma State

Justin Gray, Wake Forest

Chuck Hayes, Kentucky

Chris Hernandez, Stanford

Julius Hodge, North Carolina State

Daniel Horton, Michigan

Jarrett Jack, Georgia Tech

Carl Krauser, Pittsburgh

Keith Langford, Kansas

David Lee, Florida

John Lucas Jr., Oklahoma State

Sean May, North Carolina

Jason Maxiell, Cincinnati

Rashad McCanths, North Carolina

Gerry McNamara, Syracuse

Chris Paul, Wake Forest

Leon Powe, California

J.J. Redick, Duke

Anthony Robertson, Florida

Lawrence Roberts, Mississippi State

Nate Robinson, Washington

Luke Schenscher, Georgia Tech

Wayne Simien, Kansas

Craig Smith, Boston College

Salim Stoudamire, Arizona

Chris Thomas, Notre Dame

P.J. Tucker, Texas

Ronny Turiaf, Gonzaga

Charlie Villanueva, Connecticut

Hakim Warrick, Syracuse

Deron Williams, Illinois

Shelden Williams, Duke

Kennedy Winston, Alabama

Curtis Withers, Charlotte

Bracy Wright, Indiana

PHOTO CREDIT: Citizen File Photos

CUTLINE: Wildcats Salim Stoudamire (above) and Channing Frye were selected to the John R. Wooden all-American team.

CUTLINE: Junior Hassan Adams was not selected for the Wooden preseason all-American team.

Citizen Staff

Stoops’ pitch sways local talent

By JOHN MOREDICH

jmoredich@tucsoncitizen.com

Stay close to home, play in front of friends and family, be a hometown hero.

Without University of Arizona first-year coach Mike Stoops, this sales pitch probably would have fallen on deaf ears.

But no longer.

Ironwood Ridge High School offensive lineman Daniel Borg and Sunnyside tailback Xavier Smith are both considering an early commitment to the Wildcats.

The change of heart has something to do with the reasons above, but mostly because of Stoops himself.

“I never thought about staying in town and playing for UA,” Borg said. “I never thought it was an option. Stoops has changed that. I want to see what happens this season.”

Borg is a four-star (out of five) recruiting prospect from SuperPrep.com recruiting service while Smith is a three-star recruit.

“If Stoops was not there I would not be (considering) going to that place,” said Smith, who is still deciding between UA, Oregon, Northwestern and California.

Arizona State has fallen far behind on both Tucson standouts’ lists.

That is a step in the right direction for an Arizona program that has repeatedly lost the head-to-head recruiting battles for in-state players over the past several years.

“If I was going to an in-state school, I don’t consider them as good as UA,” Borg said. “Why wouldn’t I go to the UA if I was going to stay (in state)?”

Borg has Arizona and Washington tied as his leaders, with Oregon State third and Notre Dame, Northwestern and Utah also under consideration.

Nebraska was hot on Borg’s trail throughout the summer, but his summer camp trip to Lincoln changed that.

“I went to a camp in Nebraska, and it seemed like the other schools I am looking at were better places for me,” Borg said. “I liked the coaches a lot (at UA), especially coach Stoops. I like his attitude and work ethic. I like the staff he has brought in.”

“I like the opportunity to play early. They are in a rebuilding mode, and they have one of the best strength and conditioning programs around.”

Better than Nebraska’s?

“Way better. Arizona’s weight room is newer and bigger,” Borg said. “It was more impressive.”

The prominent pass blocker likes the Seattle area, the Huskies’ tradition and line coach Charlie Dickey, a former Wildcat player and UA coach.

Smith watched UA spring practices intently after leading the Class 4A state champs with 1,806 yards and 26 touchdowns as a junior. The speedster is down to four schools, with a vested interest in how the Wildcats fare in the early going.

PHOTO CAPTION: RENEE BRACAMONTE/ Tucson Citizen

Ironwood Ridge High School offensive lineman Daniel Borg says he likes UA coach Mike Stoops’ attitude and work ethic, and that Arizona State has fallen far behind on his list of college choices.

Citizen Staff

Stars rise in Arizona

UA’s Stoops seeks to beat out ASU for top in-state recruits

Tomorrow

Stoops impresses Tucson players.

By JOHN MOREDICH

jmoredich@tucsoncitizen.com

Arizona State has owned the in-state recruiting battles, but new University of Arizona football coach Mike Stoops is out to change that.

For UA, this would be a good year to close the gap, with more than a dozen top Division I prospects being heavily recruited.

“The state of Arizona is very unique in recruiting. We may not have as many, but there are quality players that can play anywhere,” Stoops said. “I think this state has the chance to put out 20 to 25 Division I football players, and for our population that is very, very strong. I think there are some fabulous players in the state of Arizona.”

The NCAA prevents college coaches from talking specifically about individual players, but Stoops has already crossed the state looking to turn a trend that has favored ASU over the past several years.

ASU has signed 31 Arizona high school and junior college players in coach Dirk Koetter’s four-year tenure.

UA has signed eight in the past three years.

But the Cats got one last night when 6-foot-3, 295-pound offensive lineman Jordan Lowe from Peoria Centennial picked UA over ASU.

The star power in Arizona is lengthy this season, with Glendale Mountain Ridge linebacker Nick Covey already committing to Nebraska and Paradise Valley running back Matt Clapp recently pledging to Oklahoma.

And UA is trying desperately to get the two best Tucson players to stay home.

So far the Wildcats are in the running with Ironwood offensive lineman Daniel Borg and Sunnyside running back Xavier Smith both seriously considering Arizona, yet still waiting to see how it does on the field this season.

The top prize in the state is defensive lineman Ekom Udofia of Scottsdale Chaparral. The 6-foot-1, 290-pound senior is regarded as one of the nation’s top tackles and is the state’s lone five-star recruit.

Udofia is still not sold on the Wildcats, although they appear to be making up ground on Miami, LSU and Oklahoma.

Prospects Peoria Centennial tailback Terry Longbons, and Borg are the four-star candidates.

The Wildcats would like to land three-star players Smith, Gilbert Highland offensive lineman Richard Tuitu’u and Phoenix Moon Valley receiver Chris McGaha.

The biggest battle between UA and ASU might be for Longbons, a 5-11, 210-pound back who rushed for 2,053 yards and scored 28 touchdowns a year ago. His preference is to stay in state, but where?

“I don’t know yet. It is a pretty tough decision,” Longbons said. “I’m still thinking it over.”

Nebraska, Northwestern, Stanford, Colorado and Oregon are still under review, but this appears to be a two-school race.

“(UA) has their new coach in Stoops, and famous (assistant) coaches from all over the country,” Longbons said. “They think they are going to have a pretty good season. ASU has done well and they are close to home, so my family and friends could watch me play.”

ASU can boast about its recruiting victories and blowout wins over the Cats in the past two years.

“We make no bones about it, we want to start with the state of Arizona and we have done that,” Koetter said. But he said Stoops has made an “obvious” difference in getting recruits to look at UA as well.

The Wildcats’ 11-24 record in the last three years and player turmoil under fired coach John Mackovic has been well-documented. And that is an obstacle UA coaches face heading into their second recruiting season.

“This is an area we have to cultivate and work with and do a better job in the state,” Stoops said. “When you have this much turnover and the problems we have had within our program, (local players) are the ones most familiar with the problems you have internally.

“Obviously with the change our attitude has changed, and our perception of the football program at the University of Arizona has hopefully changed over the past several months.”

Stoops has tried to make up ground by opening up practice sessions and office visits to local high school coaches and players.

While almost everyone else is stopped at the practice field gates, players are allowed in to watch how the new coaches relate with Wildcat players.

“I think the coaches do a wonderful job. Our job is to keep helping our area’s high school coaches to develop better ways of doing things,” Stoops said. “That is why we have a very open policy with high school coaches, and we try to make them feel confident …. It also helps us in the long run.”

GRAPHIC: ARIZONA’S ELITE EIGHT (ranked by SuperPrep recruiting)

Pos. Player School U.S. rank Stars Colleges

DT Ekom Udofia Scottsdale Chaparral 5th 5 Miami, LSU, USC, Oklahoma, UA

RB Terry Longbons Peoria Centennial NR 4 UA, ASU

OL Daniel Borg Ironwood Ridge 28th 4 UA, Washington, Oregon State

RB Matt Clapp Phoenix Paradise Valley NR 3 Committed to Oklahoma

LB Nick Covey Glendale Mountain Ridge NR 3 Committed to Nebraska

WR Chris McGaha Phoenix Moon Valley NR 3 UA, Cal, Nebraska, Utah

RB Xavier Smith Sunnyside NR 3 UA, Cal, Oregon, Northwestern

OL Richard Tuitu’u Gilbert Highland NR 3 UA, ASU, Nebraska, Utah

PHOTO CAPTION: FRANCISCO MEDINA//Tucson Citizen

Sunnyside High School running back Xavier Smith, leading the Blue Devils over Cottonwood Mingus in last year’s Class 4A state playoffs, is considering playing at UA, Cal, Oregon or Northwestern.

Readers

Readers appear to be split over the University of Arizona football program’s decision to change its helmet to navy after 23 years of being white.

• Would the U.S. Marines sacrifice their traditions for fashion? Would Michigan, Penn State or USC change their traditional helmet colors?

No! That ugly Michigan helmet will be with us forever.

This change in UA helmet color is coming because our new coach has assumed that Arizona has no strong traditions in athletics, and he needs to get a copy of Abe Chanin’s “They Fought Like Wildcats” before he charges out to make unilateral changes in uniforms.

After Tony Mason left, the Wildcat Club and Spirit Committee, which Bobbi Olson was part of, successfully convinced the university to standardize colors and institute controls resulting in the football uniform colors of the past 20 years.

So now what? We start looking like Ole Miss or Kansas?

Traditionally we stand for nothing if we make this change.

- Bob Bunting

• Blue helmets make us look tough? OK with me as long as the body supporting same gets the message.

About 100 years ago (1941, actually) I was student manager at Grand Island (Neb.) Senior High. One of my jobs was to paint the leather helmet straps alternating purple and gold. We lost every game and scored only three touchdowns.

I have to think blue is better.

- Jerry Pulliam, Sahuarita

• Over the years I have never understood why the Wildcat bench is on the east side of the stadium. Games that take place in the early afternoon leave the Wildcat football players standing and facing the sun. Their opponents are in the shade the entire game.

Now, not only will UA players be standing in the sun, they will be wearing helmets that absorb the heat instead of reflecting it. I hope there are lots of fans (as in electric) and plenty of water for our team when they play the Badgers of Wisconsin on a hot day in September. – Mike Morales

• I prefer the 1990-2003 helmet style with white jerseys and pants on the road, and blue jerseys and white pants at home. That style worked well enough to beat Miami in the Fiesta Bowl and Nebraska in the Holiday Bowl. – Michael R. Lindquist, Menlo Park, Calif.

• I like the change – I think it looks very striking. It’s a no-nonsense, in-your-face kind of helmet. Good choice! – David Knudson

• I wish they would have kept the white helmets, which reflected the heritage of the Desert Swarm defense, the zenith of Arizona football. The dark blue helmets are attractive, but will absorb much more heat from the sun. – J.T. Masaryk, Mesa

• The red helmets were the best! – Joe Whitehead

• They’re horrible!!

If it ain’t broke … well, you know.

- John Schieffer

• The new helmet is ugly, they should stay with the white helmet. Besides that, the color of the helmet doesn’t win games.

The best helmet was 1981-89. The “A” on that helmet looks better than the stupid “academic A” … that doesn’t look tough at all, no matter what the background color is. – Mike Dahl

• Michigan, Notre Dame, USC, Texas, Ohio State, Alabama all keep tradition alive by keeping the same helmets and uniforms.

What’s next, red shoes? – John Zowin

• I don’t like the all-navy colored helmet – I like the white helmet with the red A with the blue striping around it … the one that we have had for the past 14 years. – John Wogan

• I would put a stripe down the middle of the new dark helmet, white/red-blue/white. Use last year’s white helmets for home games and the new dark helmets for away games. Then use the dark helmets at home for special occasions. – Steve Ybarra

• No matter what the color of the Wildcats’ helmets is to be this year, I know for a fact that they will look good getting pummeled by the Sun Devils.

That is all.

- Stephen Mellentine

• Putting aside the controversy over what the university initially paid for the “academic A” logo ($29,000), I think the design has paid dividends for the university in unifying its overall branding presence …. I think the “academic A” decal on a navy helmet will unfortunately look like someone merely plunked a sticker on a helmet ….

One positive is the navy helmet may look more snazzy with the road white jerseys and navy pants (if that is this year’s road garb). I’m just hoping Mike Stoops refrains from duplicating ASU’s all-yellow mistake by trotting out the Wildcats in navy helmets, navy jerseys and navy pants during a home game. Yuck.

Maybe the Cats could wear the traditional white helmets at home and take the navy helmets on the road. Just a thought.

- Tony Jones

• I for one like the new helmets. Maybe the fans will make a change also and start wearing blue to the games. Our teams uniforms are predominately blue, not red. Bring on the Blue Brigade! Go Cats and Bear Down!

- Brian Fritts, Offutt AFB, Nebraska

• My favorite helmet is the first one I can remember: the white helmet during the “T” Bell and Jim Young days of 1973-76. I can still recall the big upset of when the UA beat Frank Kush and ASU in the mid-’70′s after losing to them all those years when I was a kid. – Dan Bartley

• I don’t object to the change proposed by coach Stoops. I feel he should be allowed to redefine his team in his own image. However, I was favoring red jerseys and keeping the white helmet. With red uniforms, we fans would finally match our players at home games.

Nonetheless, I support his selection of the navy helmet. I think they’ll look great in night games with the navy jerseys and pants. For away games, blue helmets, white jerseys and navy blue pants would look great too. – Maximiliano “Max” Torres

• Regarding the change to blue football helmets, I do not care for it. I coached football for 13 years and played five. I have lived in Tucson for 48 years and my belief is that dark helmets will be hotter and heat saps the body of strength and endurance.

Obviously, I refer to day games when the sun is shining. I can understand a desire to make changes because they also represent a change in philosophy or attitude.

(But) the choice of a dark colored helmet or even a jersey may help lead to heat-related problems such as heat exhaustion or heatstroke. I was a Tucson firefighter for 30 years and many times I saw these problems occur when men expended great energy for extended periods. Close monitoring of players regarding heat is always a good idea. – Doug Morris

• Whatever Mike Stoops and his staff want, that’s fine with us. I always liked the stripe down the center of the helmet, but solid color helmets might give a “stronger” look. I always thought a helmet should be bright colored so the quarterback could see his receivers better downfield.

I still like the white helmets, because that’s what I always think of for UA. But the change will be good, because we have a lot of bad memories lately with the white helmets. – D. Stowe

• A blue football helmet will be nice only if it is a metallic color, such as Oregon’s metallic green and Oklahoma’s metallic red. Otherwise it will look like a high school football helmet. – Frank Valenzuela

• The white 1981-1989 “block A” helmets were the best-looking.

- Bob Stephenson, Casa Grande

• No doubt the 1973-76 snake “A” helmets were really “hot”! Looks like the new ones need a stripe or two down the middle.

- Ronald Combs, Indianapolis

• I think the new helmet looks terrible. I agree with Mike Bell the present white helmet looks the best. – Ed Bove

• I’m OK with the new navy helmet, but the 1981-89 block “A” would look better! – Cathy Rempe

• I like the new helmet, although the helmet in coach Tomey years was great, too. The academic red, white and blue “A” was worth $29,000. – Eddy South

• The new helmets aren’t bad, and I’m very glad that they’re not red, but I really love the white helmets. I particularly like the white helmets used in the ’80s. I’ve never gotten used to that weak “academic A” that the UA so overpaid for.

I agree with former coach Larry Smith that white is better in the Arizona heat. The new ones are probably my second favorite of all the UA’s past and future looks, though. – Kimberly Doss-Cortes

• I really like the new look, although the red ones are nice. I agree the new look will identify us with the new direction we are headed.

- Ronald Hutzler

• UGLY

- Wes Henderson

Citizen Staff
Corky Simpson COLUMN

Expect Cats to vault over poll’s listing

From an Arizona perspective, the best thing about the pre-season football media poll is the preseason media pollsters themselves.

They don’t know what they’re talking about.

I know, I have been one many times over the years, and I have never known what I was talking about. It’s just a silly guessing game played out because everybody expects it.

Publication of the results unfortunately makes the poll look scientific and serious. Burro biscuits!

Predicting who will win a league championship and who will finish in what position – Nos. 1 through 10 – is like predicting the next 10 road construction traps in Tucson.

In a word, impossible.

OK, we all know Southern Cal is unbeatable, which means the Trojans will lose only a couple of games.

And California is the second-best team in the Pacific-10 Conference, which means the Bears will finish anywhere from fourth to eighth (as one Bears fan put it, “We are talking about Cal, aren’t we?”).

Arizona State is picked sixth, so you can count on the Sun Devils finishing anywhere from second on down.

And the Wildcats?

Well, Arizona has struggled the past three seasons, finishing eighth, ninth and 10th in that order, so the Cats are obviously the worst team in the conference, and the poll awards them the cellar position. Meaning they will finish sixth or seventh, maybe as high as fifth.

Nuts? Yes, just like the preseason media poll.

For years I picked Oregon to win because I liked its school colors, emerald green and lemon yellow. My “science” was as reliable as anybody else’s.

My favorite poll was back in the Pac-10 Skywriter Tour days (1978-89) when a bunch of us stuffed the ballot box one year and picked Oregon State, a horrible team, because we were tired of coach Joe Avezzano complaining about being picked last. The Pac-10 voided the election.

Preseason polls are to reality what cotton candy is to a well-balanced diet: nada. But we have to have cotton candy. What else are we going to do with those paper cones?

We have preseason football polls for the same reason. What are the papers going to do without them?

There’s never been an Arizona season with so much excitement over so little expectation. Fans are enthused about new coach Mike Stoops, a proven winner, and his staff. The coaches have done a remarkable job putting muscles on and confidence in the young guys they’ll be working with.

The Cats will be tougher and they’ll play harder than they have in years. There’s no way this team will finish last.

They will win this year’s poll vault.

Citizen Staff

UA updates its football headgear for the sixth time since 1973.

By CORKY SIMPSON

csimpson@tucsoncitizen.com

They’ve been white for 24 years. Before that, they were red. And once upon a time they were silver.

They’ve been leather, they’ve been space-age plastic, and they’ve even been polka-dotted with battle-star decals awarded to individuals for outstanding plays.

For the upcoming season Arizona football helmets will go navy.

Under new coach Mike Stoops, the blue headgear will show the “academic A” logo in red, white and blue on both sides. There will be no striping down the middle.

Stoops hopes the helmet will give the Wildcats “a tougher look,” although UA tailback Mike Bell said he still preferred the white one.

UA helmets were leather and painted silver in the 1930s during the years of the “Blue Brigade,” when the color sky-blue replaced traditional navy in jerseys and pants.

And there has been an assortment of doo-dads stuck on Wildcat helmets over the years. TV numbers, in the gridiron fashion of the day, adorned the sides of the helmets in the 1960s.

In the early 1970s there was a curving “snake-A” inside a football-shaped oval on the sides of the Wildcats’ cardinal helmets. A short time later, under coach Jim Young, the helmets turned white with a blue “snake-A” on the sides and the Wildcats image on the front.

The late Tony Mason favored red, so when he became head coach in 1977, helmets went back to cardinal and bore Tony’s invention, the “movin’ A” (it was an italic A), on the sides.

Larry Smith replaced Mason in 1980, and a year later he changed the helmets back to white with a block-A on the sides. Smith reasoned that white would reflect heat, particulars important in preseason workouts.

During the Dick Tomey years (1987-99) the helmets remained white. But in 1990, the block-A was replaced by the “academic A,” a logo that drew public fire when the school paid a Baltimore artist $29,000 to design it.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

How do you like UA’s new navy helmet? What’s your favorite Wildcat helmet throughout the years? E-mail your responses to sports@tucsoncitizen.com.

ILLUSTRATION: RECENT UA HELMET PROGRESSION

1973-76

1977-79

1980

1981-89

1990-2003

2004-?

The Associated Press

Adams leads U.S. to win

The Associated Press

University of Arizona junior basketball player Hassan Adams had 15 points as the United States topped Brazil 87-64 in qualifying for the World Championship for Young Men in Halifax, Canada, last night.

UA sophomore Mustafa Shakur added six points for the U.S., which led 41-35 at halftime.

The U.S. (2-0) will face Puerto Rico tonight.