Now what?

That’s the question the University of Arizona football team – coaches, included – should be asking themselves.

It’s a question that could have been asked in any of the past couple of weeks as Arizona continued to reel from defeat after defeat after defeat after defeat.

Get the picture? It isn’t pretty.

That’s the case more so now after – yes, another defeat – as winless Oregon State defeated Arizona 37-27 on Saturday afternoon at Reser Stadium in Corvallis, Ore. Figure that OSU snapped a six-game losing streak in winning for the first time this season. (1-4)

In short, Arizona coach Mike Stoops called it “a tough day.”

Arizona is now 1-5 overall (0-4 in the Pac-12 Conference) and on a 10-game losing streak to FBS schools. Just this week, Stoops called it a “big game in a lot of ways” and a “desperate situation” to win.

OSU played like its life depended on the win; Arizona didn’t.

Maybe Arizona’s last-ditch second half attempt at a comeback – 21 unanswered points to make it 30-27 midway through the fourth quarter – was just a tease, or a noble effort to save face and ease some pressure on all parties.  Figure this, however, Arizona has now been down at least 22 or more points in each of the last five games.

“It’s a 60-minute game and not a 30-minute game (and) the sooner we realize that the better off we will be,” Stoops said, responding to Arizona’s late comeback.

One thing is certain: Arizona can no longer make the excuse of the toughest part of the schedule being gone after losing the first four games against three top 10 teams (Oklahoma State, Stanford and Oregon) and a blue-blood program in Southern California. On Saturday, Arizona went into the game facing a Beavers team that started the season losing to Sacramento State. Arizona went into the game a two-point favorite.

To read more visit FoxSportsArizona.com.

Nick Foles made his first start against Oregon State in Corvallis in 2009. Photo by Chris Morrison, US-PRESSWIRE

It seems so long ago, and yet not so long ago for Nick Foles when it comes to Oregon State.

Back in 2009, then wet-behind-the-ears Foles was given the chance to start against the Beavers at Reser Stadium and, well, he made the most of it.

He led UA to a 37-32 upset win over OSU and, for all intents and purposes, has been Arizona’s starting quarterback ever since, save for an injury or two that has prevented him from starting or playing.

“Your first college start, that’s something that will always stick with you,” Foles said, recalling that mid-September game. “I had a lot of fun.”

He was nervous, but that diminished as the game continued. He was good enough and poised enough to go 24-for-34 for 254 yards and three touchdown passes. He also scored on a 1-yard run.

Oh, the memories and the magic. And the all-important victory.

Read the rest of the story at FoxSportsArizona.com …

It was 1988 and I was getting word that there was a chance Arizona center Joe Tofflemire might be named a first-team All American by Football News.

Pre-Internet. You waited to get the news to be sure.

I couldn’t confirm it. And Tofflemire knew nothing of it. So I told him that I was expecting a call from a friend at 6 a.m. local time to get the news to see if he was in or not. I needed a quote from him at that time.

Sure enough, he called. Was he in? And, sure enough, he was. He was understandably excited in a way an offensive lineman can be excited. Teddy Bear-like.

I, too, was excited in that I was able to make deadline for the same day’s paper. On a team full of pretty good guys in Dick Tomey’s second season, Tofflemire was one of the better ones — if not the best.

I can’t remember him ever being upset or unavailable to the media. Always willing to talk, and in this line of work — wins AND losses — it’s a Godsend.

Sadly, Tofflemire died Tuesday in Post Falls, Idaho. He was 46.

He was found unconscious in his home and died in a hospital, according to a story in the Coeur d’Alene Press. News trickled in to former teammates on Wednesday.

“I truly loved Joe Tofflemire,” said former teammate Donnie Salum. “I’m very upset, shocked and in disbelief of his passing. … God must have needed a center. Joe was such a dear friend — like a brother. He was a great person with a heart of gold. He was a role model and inspiration to me and many others.”

Salum said he met Tofflemire in 1987. Their lockers were next to one another.

“He was No. 52 and I was 54. We became immediate friends. And I’m blessed to say lifelong friends. I always hung on every word he told me.”

Tofflemire was a three-time first-team All-Pac-10 player, in 1986, 1987 and 1988. And a first-team All-American that year in 1988. I still remember getting his call to letting him know.