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AG's Wildcat Report - Dispatches on the Wildcats, from Anthony Gimino

National spotlight ready to fall on the football Wildcats

by on Oct. 31, 2010, under Sports

If Erin Andrews is interviewing Mike Stoops at halftime Saturday, that probably means the Wildcats are winning. Photo by Kirby Lee, US PRESSWIRE

The Arizona Wildcats will get another chance to show off for a national audience Saturday at Stanford, as ABC will televise the game beginning at 5 p.m. Tucson time.

The Wildcats are 15th in the BCS standings; the Cardinal is 13th.

That is one of the biggest matchups of the college football Saturday, the others being a battle of unbeatens — No. 3 TCU at No. 5 Utah — and No. 6 Alabama at No. 10 LSU. (Those are all BCS rankings.)

ABC is sending its announcing A team to the game — play-by-play man Brent Musberger, analyst Kirk Herbstreit and sideline reporter Erin Andrews. (Will Andrews be doing double duty, up early to host the first hour of ESPN’s GameDay show from Salt Lake City and then flying to the Bay Area?)

ABC’s other game in the time slot is Missouri at Texas Tech. The Arizona-Stanford game is expected to reach about 75 percent of the country.

Arizona has appeared on ESPN three times this season (beating Toledo, Iowa and Washington). The Cats have been on FSN (defeating UCLA on Saturday) and Versus twice (losing to Oregon State and winning at Washington State).

For better or worse, more prime exposure is on the way.

The Nov. 13 home game against USC is set for ABC and a 6 p.m. local start. The Wildcats will close the season with two games on ESPN — at Oregon on Nov. 26 (the day after Thanksgiving) and vs. visiting Arizona State on Thursday, Dec. 2.

Arizona is an 8-point underdog to Stanford, which is 7-1 with the only loss coming at Oregon. The Wildcats are 7-1 for the first time since 1998.

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  • Shotgun Slade

    Should be an excellent game for the nation to watch & enjoy!

  • dani305

    We’re looking forward to see how good AZ is. It is very likely that one of these two teams will end up in the Rose Bowl. Go Pac-10!!!

  • Carlos J. M.

    Hey dani, two things.  I take it you’re already a Stanford fan and believer, that you know how good the Tree is.  I say this ’cause you say you’re looking forward to see how good Arizona is.  My translation is that you’re convinced the Cardinal are as good as advertised but that you’re not quite sure about our dear ‘ol U of A. 
    And I say this with a measure of bewilderment, considering both teams have played the same amount of teams this season.  And I say this knowning that you know the Cats have been on TV a lot, so they aren’t sneaking up on anyone.  That Harbaugh is your coach may explain some of this there-ain’t-no-one-out-there-but-us-Stanfordites-really approach to things.  That’s OK.  We’ve got Coach Stoops & Co. with their workman-like attitude, where everything is earned the old-fashioned way.  Through commitment, determination and never giving up until your last ounce of energy, make that blood and sweat, is spent.    

    Yes, Stanford has already played and lost to Oregon, convincingly, 52-31 or something like that, and after being up 21-7 or something like that.  Arizona’s yet to take on the Ducks, but they’ve beaten some pretty good teams, losing only to OSU by just a couple of points.  UA will find out just how good UO is soon enough and you all in Palo Alto will indeed learn what it is that makes this Arizona team tick.

    Until Saturday then.  May the best team win.

  • DuckU

    Carlos,
    Obviously you’re an idiot.
    And I quote: “That’s OK. We’ve got Coach Stoops & Co. with their workman-like attitude, where everything is earned the old-fashioned way.”

    Dude, how stupid is that? Now when my Oregon Ducks nueter your patheic wildcats I’ll be doubly happy.

    … Loser

  • Carlos J. M.

    Oh here we go again with the trolling quacks.  Yeah what’s idiotic about that Donald?  I’d call you Daffy but that’d be an insult to Daffy.  So you’re gonna neuter the Cats, huh ducky?  Typical clap-trap from Eugene. 

    Here, let’s play a game of stupid, stupider, stupidest.  You win.  Just don’t n-u-e-t-e-r our Wildcats too badly, smart guy.  

  • Ryan E.

    LoL… I must admit that I’m one hardcore UofO fan and alumni, but if you’re going to talk smack and insult someone’s theories on their teams work ethic, you should probably do a spell check before you post!  I’ve lived in Arizona for almost 10 years now transplanted from my hometown of Eugene and follow with respect all genre’s of athletics.  I must say if Oregon was visiting Tuscon and not the other way around, I would be very concerned about the UofA matchup!  Luckily they come to our turf and have no chance of taking us in Eugene.  Go Ducks!!!

  • CatFanInLA

    The only way either of these two teams is going to the Rose Bowl this year is by winning the Pac-10 outright. If Oregon goes to the BCS title game, the Rose Bowl will select two other BCS teams. The tie-ins to the Big 10/Pac-10 are, as of this season, out the window of the Rose Bowl loses either conference champion to the championship game.

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  • PAC10fan

    Carlos J. M.: I think you’re reading much too much into what dani305 wrote.  Let’s all just take a deep breath and prepare for a good game on Saturday.

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