Rich Rodriguez talks to the media at the Arizona Wildcats football finale last year. Photo by Chris Morrison-USPressWire

The official start of the 2012 University of Arizona Wildcats football season is Saturday, and fans have been waiting for the start of the season since Rich Rod named head coach last November.

Yes, we’ve all received the PR & marketing about the future of this team, and yes, the anticipation for the season is a little overrated.  Rich Rod’s tenure, yes, potential there to get excited (I say wait & see).

There are five reasons why fans should be cautious for the 2012 season.

1. Rich Rod has had a dismal record in the first season in all his previous head coaching positions. Fact of the matter is most coaches do.
2. With the hiring of Rich Rod done toward the end of last season, he got a chance to recruit some of the players for the incoming class.  The downside is he naturally got a late start, so he couldn’t get the types of players he be looking for.  Mike Stoops recruited some of the freshmen when he was head coach.
3. The defense is expected to be anything but Desert Swarm.  Even Rich Rod has said so.
4. The biggest thing the football team has going for them is 5th-year senior quarterback, Matt Scott, fits very well in the spread offense.  What if one of those wacky things in sports known as “it doesn’t happen for whatever season” occurs (ie chemistry, injuries, etc)?
5. Pac-12 competition in Washington (at home – 10/20) & USC (at home – 10/27), both with Heisman Trophy potential QBs in Matt Barkley and Keith Price respectively.

Photo by: Chris Morrison-US PRESSWIRE I Josiah Turner goes for a layup against UCLA.

University of Arizona Wildcats head coach, Sean Miller, announced Freshmen guard, Josiah Turner has been suspended indefinatly for violation against team rules.

“I am disappointed in Josiah for his actions. Unfortunately this suspension comes at a time of great excitement and opportunity for our team. However, the standards of our program will not be compromised under any circumstances. Hopefully, Josiah will learn a valuable lesson from this experience” Miller said in a statement.

This is not the first time Turner has been suspended.  This is not the first time has been suspended this year.  The most notable game he missed was at Florida. While it was arguably the best the Wildcats played this season, having Turner in the game could have won it, as they were leading with only seconds left. If the Cats’ won the game, they could be an automatic lock for the NCAA tournament.

Arizona is in a situation where they have to win every game in the Pac-12 Tournament, thus clutching the automatic bid, to go dancing.

While credit is due to Miller for teaching his players for what to do/what not to do, and sending the message no one is entitled, Turner’s loss is potentially detrimental to the team, as they go to Los Angeles for the Pac-12 Tournament.

Turner has been a key player during Pac-12 conference play. He’s been viewed as a team player, on the court.

It’s off the court where Turner has become a headache. The last thing Arizona needs is to lose against UCLA in the second round of the Pac-12 Tournament, and have him be the reason.

Turner has not only been putting points on the board (6.8/game), but also distributing the ball (2.4/game), rebounding (3.1/game), and causing turnovers (averaging approximately two per game in conference play). He is an all around player, and will be missed.

Turner has let his team down (again) by not playing due to his actions.

Face it, the reality is this is a time to teach these student-athletes about life. It makes what happens on the court only a supplement of the teachings. It will only better the players on the long-run.

Chris Morrison-US PRESSWIRE; Arizona Basketball against Washington in McKale Center in Tucson, AZ

The University of Arizona basketball team did their fair share to make the Pac-12 more confusing than it already was by sweeping the Bay Area schools, but how favorable is the remaining schedule?

In their last seven games, three of them are teams currently in the bottom three in the Pac-12 standings (as of games ending February 4).

What will continue to be interesting is how the team reacts to games on Saturdays, as they have had trouble closing them out.  We know they can do so, as they beat Stanford this past Saturday in Maples Pavilion.

The remaining games follows (all standings and win/loss records as of games ending February 4):

• Feb 9 Colorado
  Last game: Jan 21; lost 64-63
  This game is not only for “revenge,” for the loss in Boulder (where they are undefeated), but also for the Wildcats to keep the momentum going from last week. The odds are in the Cats’ favor. It’s a Thursday game, and the Buffalo have won only one game on the road (won against current last place USC).

• Feb 11 Utah
  Last game: Jan 19; won 77-51
  Arizona is facing a Utah team that is second to last in the conference, and currently winless on the road. The immediate question is, can Arizona win, what could be, its fourth straight? Last time this season Arizona won four straight? Beginning of the season (Valparaiso, Duquesne, Ball State, St John’s).

• Feb 16 at Washington State
  Last game: Jan 26; won 85-61
  Arizona kicks off the last regular season out-of-state road trip in Washington, but it will not be easy. Washington State can be a treat at home, as they have shown so already this season, beating Cal team at home.

• Feb 18 at Washington
  Last game: Jan 28; lost 69-67
  This will be the toughest game remaining on the schedule. Washington is currently on the top of the Pac, and playing as well as anyone right now (if there is such of a thing this season). Of course, it’s not like Arizona already beaten a team on top of the Pac-12 at home this season already. Right?

• Feb 23 USC
  Last game: Jan 8; won 57-46
  If there is such thing as a “guaranteed win,” this is it. USC is horrible in every aspect. Arizona won on the road, and it is also a Thursday game, where Arizona has performed the best thus far.

• Feb 25 UCLA
  Last game: Jan 5; lost 58-65
  UCLA has been getting it together, picking up a few road victories, and is expecting to get better game by game. Out of all the Pac-12 teams that struggled during non-conference play, and picked it up in the conference play, it is UCLA. Home, away, watch out.

• March 4 at ASU
  Last game: Dec 31; lost 68-51
  ASU is the rival, so naturally, there is some intensity by both teams.  Face it, depending on other games go, if Arizona loses this game, it could be very bad news. That is enough fire in itself; top it off with the rivalry. Good news is Arizona only focus that week will be ASU.

Photo by: Chris Morrison-US PRESSWIRE - Kevin Parrom goes for a layup against Washington

Arizona Wildcats junior forward/guard, Kevin Parrom, season ending injury puts the team in a major set back.

Two best players, on the court, are Solomon Hill and Kyle Fogg.  Emotionally, it’s Kevin Parrom.

Arizona’s mental game elevated when Parrom was on the court, only to see his on-court production elevate.

Parrom did not return to the floor in the second half of Arizona’s 69-67 loss to Washington, as his foot was getting examined.  He returned to the Arizona bench midway thorough the second half, wearing a boot.

Head coach, Sean Miller, spoke about Parrom’s impact in the game against Washington.

“Not having him available for the second half was kind of the same look we’ve had prior to him coming back and our margin for error is razor thin without him, that’s for sure,” Miller said.

Parrom scored 7 points, dished out 2 assists, 3 rebounds, no turnovers and steals in the 10 minutes he played in the first half.

“For him to go down, it’s a big part of our team. It kind of sucked not having him earlier in the season. Lately, it was breakout time and to see him go down like that really took a toll on our team,” Arizona forward, Solomon Hill said.

The player’s point of view, which is arguably the most important view to look at in a student-athlete, is one to feel sorry for.

The last six months Parrom has gone through is the worst most people will ever go through, with the passing of his grandmother and mother and getting shot in the leg.

Basketball was his refuge, and it’s been taken away from him temporarily.  He will come back next year stronger then ever, and will lead him the rest of his life.

A game is a game.  College is a learning experience, win or loose on the court.

As far as the team is concerned, post-season play is looking bleaker then ever, but it isn’t over till it’s over!

Remember when fans were looking forward to basketball season during the football season? These same fans now are looking forward to the next football season.

Photo by: Kelvin Kuo-US PRESSWIRE - Kevin Parrom goes for a layup against UCLA in Anaheim, CA.

Finding a something positive for Wildcat fans this season has been difficult, but the reemergence of Kevin Parrom is a bright sport.

A matter of fact, it should be idolized, as the Arizona guard has had a tough time on and off the court.

Parrom’s Grandmother died last summer, and he got shot in the leg while visiting his mother in The Bronx, who passed away from cancer few weeks later.

There was a hindsight point of view that Parrom should have redshirted this season as a result.

It’s easy to say, but is college basketball for the fans and the team to win?  Or is it for the college student-athletes to grow and learn about life?

It’s the opportunity to grow and learn.

The better Parrom gets physically, and he says he is at 98%, it would do nothing but help him mentally.  Playing the game was an escape for him.

“In order to recover, I also had to recover mentally. People don’t understand that. In order to recover mentally, I wanted to play basketball I needed to play this year, whether it was good or bad,” Parrom said during a midweek press conference. “Mentally, it’s much better than it was a couple of months ago.”

Something else that will help him mentally is playing well on the court, and Parrom has done just that the last three games.

“When you have a player like Kevin, who has gone through so much, it’s difficult to prompt him to get him to do more because he’s gone through a lot of things physically and mentally.  We’ve always hoped that maybe the light would turn on and he would really settle in and find himself. I can only hope that this weekend is the starting point for him,” head coach Sean Miller said.

Parrom has had a stellar stat line past 3 games, best consecutive stretch all season.

• at Utah: 12 points, 2 assists, 4 boards, 1 block
• at Colorado: 6 points, 2 assists, 5 boards
• Washington State: 9 points, 4 assists, 4 boards

It appears the light did turn on.  If that is the case, he will return as a key player, like last year.  If the Wildcats are going to be dancing this year, having Parrom contribute will be vital.

Kelvin Kuo-US PRESSWIRE - Nick Johnson & Angelo Chol against UCLA on January 5th.

University of Arizona basketball team is having not the best of years.

They are small in size, living and dying with the three as a result.  Shooting, rebounding and defense is inconsistent while turnovers are a common occurrence. And head coach Sean Miller is frustrated.

“I’m very disappointed in our team. We are not the most talented Arizona team. We’re certainly not the biggest Arizona team. But what we can control is collective effort and for 20 minutes we picked and choosed how hard we were going to play,” said Miller after a 59-57 loss at home to Oregon on January 15.

It is resulting in a 12-6 overall record, and more importantly 3-2 record in conference play, as of January 15.

Not having a leader may not show up on the box score, but can mentally eliminate a lot of the inconsistencies plus provide emotional support.  Not having a leader is the biggest missing piece of the puzzle, although there are six possibilities.

• Kyle Fogg: The senior guard is a big offensive player, but if you catch him on the wrong night, he can be a treat defensively as well.  If it was not for his drive to get a layup or a tray, the Cats’ defiantly will have a few more losses.

• Solomon Hill: If there is a leader, it is Hill.  Coach Miller has looked at him to be important on both sides of the court.  When Hill plays well, the team plays well, regardless what other players do.

• Nick Johnson: Yes, he is only a freshman, but he has played a big role.  He has the athleticism, knows how to score.  Not only that, he is a freshman who has his ego in check.  I think he is the most NBA ready player, but he is not ready yet.

• Brendon Lavender: The senior guard has had a solid career at Arizona, especially the last 2 years, as a contributing player.  He was sluggish to start the season, but has turned it up a notch or two since Christmas, resulting in more minutes.  If he keeps on playing the way he’s been playing, he will be key as the season goes down the finishing stretch.

• Kevin Parrom: Parrom is the most improved player returning to the team this year, who showed what he could do last season during the NCAA tournament.  The team was emotionally devastated with the death of his mother and getting shot in the leg.  The team got an emotional lift when he first got on the court, and every time there after.  Unfortunately, I have the sense that has worn out.

• Josiah Turner: Yes, another freshman, but he was the player with the most promise.  When you look at the full body of work, since mid-December, he has consistently been rebounding very well for a guard, being unselfish with the ball while putting points on the board.  He played well in late December, early January. He has a high amount of turnover though.  He was also in Sean Miller’s doghouse beginning of the year, but his ego appears to be in check.  It has shown on the court.

There are one or two other players one can easily throw in the debate, but the fact six players are being discussed for being the leader middle of January is a major problem.

Where is Derrick Williams when you need him?

It’s been a year since Jared Lee Loughner shot Gabrielle Giffords in the head in, as she was meeting constituents front of a Safeway Supermarket in Tucson.  The event shook the Tucson community, and brought national attention to a city that normally does not get attention.  It event brought US President, Barack Obama, to the city.

During the week of the incident, I wrote a column for SportsFan4, back in my guest poster days for the site. The column is below.  I was also living in Boston, since moved back to the southwest.

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Sports fans can get carried away with wins & losses & Xs & Os. At the end of the day, sports is entertainment. It is a way for us to get away from worries & concerns in life for a few hours once or twice a week. There are times when things occur in life that that puts sports in it’s proper perspective.

It was an ordinary Saturday morning in sunny Tucson, AZ, where it was more then likely in the high 50s/low 60s. A well-liked US Congresswoman by the name of Gabrielle Giffords was talking to constituents at a major supermarket chain located at a major intersection in the far north-west side of town. A man in his early 20s went to see the Congresswoman, only to shot her point blank in the head, and then continuing shooting at other innocent people, only to kill 6 & injure 13 people. Thank fully enough, Congresswoman Giffords is recovering. How she will function will remain to be seen in the weeks, months & years ahead.

It occurred on a day when the University of Arizona was scheduled to play Stanford University. The game was rescheduled for the next day in front of a near sell-out crowd. University of Arizona Athletic Director, Greg Byrne, said in a statement, “The University feels the game should be delayed with deep respect to the victims and families impacted by this tragedy.”

I am a Tucsonan, born & raised. I moved to Boston 6 years ago. I like Boston more then Tucson & have not regretted moving here. This incident really hit home to me. I was grieving, still grieving & will more then likely will remain to do so till further notice.

I was born at University Medical Center, the same hospital Giffords is getting care at. The memorial service was held in the University of Arizona arena, McKale Center, next door to where my father works, the same place he worked at since he moved to Tucson from Boston before I was born. US District Court Judge John Roll, one of 6 killed, graduated from the same high school as me. I drove by the intersection the incident occurred when I went to interstate-10 and to visit one of my best friends.

Before I know it, the quiet city I live the majority of my life in was plastered all over the news, in a way it did not deserve & got to the point where the President made a trip here. The last sitting President to visit Tucson was Bill Clinton. I am used to never hearing about Tucson on the national news, and if it makes national news, the on-air graphic would be spelled “Tuscon,” not “Tucson” the correct spelling.

Now the memorial service is over, funerals will be done in a few days & we know Congresswoman Griffords will be making a recovery, it is time for the community to heal. The memorial service at McKale Center was one piece of the puzzle. The rest is where the basketball team comes into place. Sports wise, the University is the only game in town. They gave a little flavor of it on Sunday January 9, while virtually surrounding facilities & attention for rest of the week due to the tragedy.

University of Arizona head coach, Sean Miller, said in a press conference, “One thing that’s so evident to all of us as we watch this whole tragedy unfold is it’s amazing how the university is the centerpiece of Tucson. For example, the ceremony being in McKale, and [University of Arizona President] Dr. [Robert] Shelton having such a prominent role and us moving the game to Sunday and having that many people show up one day after it happened, almost letting everyone get their mind off things.”

McKale Center sold out virtually every game during the Lute Olson era. The lack of stability in the program past 4 years, missing the NCAA tournament for the first time in recent memory last season, and loosing key games this year has made attendance lack luster. That could change starting Saturday afternoon. “We anticipate having another full crowd. They were spirited (Sunday), for a combination of factors. The McKale Center crowd is great in that way – once the game gets close, and the team needs their support, they respond, ” said James Francis, UA’s associate athletic director for external operations to the Arizona Daily Star Newspaper.

The game after the memorial service was against in-state rival in Arizona State. The crowd was at capacity & they walked away with a victory. The energy, support what we hope will be the continuation of Arizona’s winning will be a factor in the healing process.

A 13-3 record did not look good to Arizona fans on January 7. A 15-3 record on January 15 will looks very good. At the end of the day, records do not matter. It is only entertainment, in a way that bonds a community full of wounds.

I will be there, healing & cheering, 3,000 miles away, while putting life in perspective.

Interim University of Arizona president Eugene Sander and Arizona Athletic Director, Greg Byrne with new Arizona Head Football Coach, Rich Rodriguez.

The University of Arizona hired Rich Rodriguez as there new head football coach, and came with fanfare from Arizona athletic director, Greg Byrne, and critics.

Arizona fans have heard this before with John Mackovic, and Mike Stoops.  Both were fired with no Rose Bowl.

Byrne is an energetic, passionate athletic director.  In his second year on the job, and he has shown a big commitment to the football program.

The new scoreboard on the south endzone, and the expansion of the north endzone are prime examples.  After firing 7-year coach, Mike Stoops, the hiring of a new football coach is the next big step.

Byrne quoted former Florida head coach, Urban Meyer, during recent conversation the two had, “If you hire Rich You are getting one of the 5 greatest minds in college football.  That would be an incredible hire for the University of Arizona.”

Rodriguez did very well in West Virginia with a 60-26 record.  He was fired from Michigan after the school went on probation for requiring players to workout and practice more then the NCAA allowed, and had graduate assistants as coaching, resulting in more coaches then NCAA allows.  He left with a 15-22 record.

Arizona has a virtually a clean program, but Byrne has little trouble convincing fans he did a through check on Rodriguez.

“We spoke to many people throughout the country, including the NCAA, multiple conference offices, athletic directors and senior officials across the country,” Byrne said in an afternoon press conference at McKale Center before the local media and fans. “We talked to football coaches on the professional level, on the college level and on the high school level.  And yes, even a few media members, get a little background from them.”

“I think of a couple of things.  Who’s the most hungry guy out there? And the other thing, who do the other coaches not want to show up in Tucson, AZ. In my opinion, it’s Rich Rodriguez,” said Byrne, quoting Arizona Head Men’s Basketball Coach, Sean Miller, in a conversation last week.

Rodriguez is excited to be here, and is ready to embrace the community.

“I am usually a pretty open person when it comes to getting to know myself, my staff our family and the program,” Rodriguez said in the afternoon press conference.  “I want you all to be around.  I want you to ask questions.  I want you to get to know the staff.  Get to know our players.  Get to know me.”

He also wants the fans to enjoy the fast-paced style of play he has been known to deliver.

“All that I will promise you is we will not be boring.  We will have fun watching, and we will play as hard as any team you have seen in the country,” Rodriguez said.

So far, he is a good choice, but Arizona fans have heard this before with John Mackovic and Mike Stoops.  The potential is there, but will the good deliver?

After a 2-5 start, there is a sign of hope for the 2011 University of Arizona football team.  There was a scene of optimism beginning of the season.  There were a lot of injuries with linemen, and 3 of the 4 first games were against top 25 teams.  If there was one silver lining, it was the QB Nick Foles to WR Junor Criner combination.

Last year, Criner had a stellar stat line; 82 catches for 1,233 yards, 11 touchdowns, averaging 15 yards a catch for 94.8 yards per game.  He also entered the season as a Maxwell and Biletnikoff Award candidate, an award given to the best college football player.

There was a gray cloud over the sky regarding if he would play this season as he spent the summer taking care of family and personal issues.  He put on a solid performance in the first game of the season against Northern Arizona (151 yards, 1 touchdown), but did not play the next game against Oklahoma St. from recovering from an appendectomy.

Then, things fell off like a cliff the next four games.  He combined for 20 catches for 187 yards and 2 touchdowns, all resulting in losses for the Cats’.  He was down.  Per press reports, he would not say a word to the media, and his body language showed he was not happy with the way things were going.

Was his personal & family issues still lingering?
Was his injury still lingering?
Was he simply going through a slump?
Was it former head coach Mike Stoops?

Looks like it was Stoops.  The whole team was down after the first 6 games, including a devastating loss to the projected last team in the Pac-12, Oregon St.  Excluding the NAU victory, Arizona had not won a football game since October 30 last year, 10 straight losses.  Special teams could not make a field goal to save their life, and the defense just let the opposing offense looks like they were playing against a Pop Warner team (ranked last in defense in the Pac-12).

Arizona Athletic Director, Greg Byrne, released Stoops as head football coach, and named defensive coordinator, Tim Kish, as interim coach.  There was a feeling it was Stoops, and his relentless attitude that did not make the game fun for these college kids.  They did not feel motivated, and some of his antics Stoops was known to do on the sidelines actually hurt, not help, the team.

Criner broke out for 10 catches, 101 yards for 3 touchdowns, the type of numbers he was expected to produce every game this season, leading Arizona to a 48-12 win over a struggling UCLA team.

With the new enlightened atmosphere in the Arizona Wildcat football program under interim coach Kish, so far, appears Criner got what he needed to get a breakout.  Kish did what he needed to do with Xs and Os to have the star become a star for a game.  He also did what he had to do in the locker room to regroup, and get a “fresh start” to the season.