Does Rich Rodriguez’s past leave you smiling?
Photo by Rob Schumacher/The Arizona Republic

The University of Arizona has its new head football coach in Richard A. Rodriguez. Is Rich Rod the long awaited answer for the Zona Cats?

The response from the national media has been positive but the majority of the fan base was surprised. You’re not going to hire everybody’s first choice in any coaching search but many thought the same reasons that made former Texas Tech coach Mike Leach an unlikely candidate would also eliminate Rodriguez from serious consideration.

Those reasons? Stuff like getting fired, a lawsuit, player discontent, and those pesky NCAA violations.

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Dennis Erickson has been lacking upward-trajectory football games.
Photo Charlie Leight/The Arizona Republic

Arizona State has been the Pac-12 hot seat’s best friend the last couple weeks. Both Rick Neuheisel of UCLA and Washington State’s Paul Wulff got a boost by upsetting the Sun Devils.

Unfortunately for Dennis Erickson, in pushing his fellow coaches off the hot seat, he has fallen onto it himself.

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Who wants to start a bowl streak?
Photo Rob Schumacher/The Arizona Republic

So it ends.

With loss number seven against Utah last Saturday the Arizona Wildcats football team will not be setting a school record by going to a fourth consecutive bowl game.

The UA’s run had been the third longest active streak in the Pac-12 (and second longest among the old Pac-10 schools). That honor now belongs to Stanford.

Here are the streaks for each program:

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The UA’s #8 is trying to become #1 in the Pac-12.
Photo by Chris Morrison-US PRESSWIRE

It turns out Nick Foles might be better than we thought.

It is common knowledge among fans of the Arizona Wildcats that the strong-armed senior quarterback is rewriting the school’s record book. As the numbers have continued to pile up Foles is now in position to topple some Pac-12 marks as well.

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Yes, Rick, we’re talking about you.
Photo Rob Schumacher/The Arizona Republic

From the Arizona Wildcats’ perspective the only negative from the UCLA win – well, besides the fight and the mostly-naked guy – was pushing Bruin coach Rick Neuheisel to the edge of his increasingly hot seat.

Is it too late for Neuheisel to save his job or will UA athletic director Greg Byrne have competition in finding a football coach to work in the Pac-12?

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