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

Archive for September, 2011

Arizona-Oregon game blog: Ducks roll behind James’ career night

Saturday, September 24th, 2011

It’s over. Oregon wins 56-31, dealing Arizona its eighth consecutive loss to FBS teams. I’ll be back later with postgame reaction and stories.

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RB LaMichael James set the school single-game record with 288 rushing yards against Arizona with a 6-yard run with about 3 minutes left. The former record was 285, set by Onterrio Smith in 2001 against Washington State.

The Ducks score again to lead 56-31 with 1:45 to go.

James also had 15 yards in receptions and 60 yards on two punt returns.

* * *

Arizona comes back with a 75-yard touchdown drive, capped by a 4-yard pass to David Roberts. QB Nick Foles has set a personal record with 56 pass attempts; the school record is 62, held by Willie Tuitama.

* * *

Oregon finishes off a drive with another touchdown, this one from RB Kenjon Barner, to make it 49-24 with about 10 minutes left … and the clock can’t run fast enough now.

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Oregon RB LaMichael James, with a 22-yard run with about 11:30 to play, set a personal record with 260 rushing yards. His former career high was 257 yards, set against Stanford last season.

He is the first player to rush for 200 yards against Arizona since Washington’s James Sims in 2005.

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Another week, another difficult, unique challenge for Arizona’s defense

Saturday, September 24th, 2011

Arizona's defense has given up nine TDs in the past two weeks, including this run by Stanford's Anthony Wilkerson. Photo by Matt Kartozian-US PRESSWIRE

Playing three consecutive games against top 10 teams is bad. Each has a national top 10 offense. That’s worse.

The worst part? Each of the three offenses is way different than the others.

The degree of difficulty continues to be off the charts for the Arizona Wildcats, who take on 10th-ranked Oregon tonight, trying to slow down the Ducks’ read-option attack, led by quarterback Darron Thomas, running back LaMichael James and a pack of thoroughbred tailbacks in reserve.

Oregon’s run-based spread attack comes one week after Arizona faced Stanford’s pro-style power attack in which the Cardinal crowded the line of scrimmage with an extra lineman and two tight ends to create a tight eight-man front.

That comes one week after Arizona was spread out by Oklahoma State, which can pass the ball with the best of anybody with quarterback Brandon Weeden and receiver Justin Blackmon.

“We’re going through a lot of different offenses right now,” said senior linebacker Derek Earls. “It’s kind of hard to get everything you need to do figured out. You get done with one game, then you have to go to a totally different look.

“Sometimes it gets frustrating, but it’s college football.”

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Arizona women’s basketball team loses out on local recruit

Friday, September 23rd, 2011

Jamee Swan is headed to Pac-12 rival Colorado. Photo by Andy Morales, TucsonCitizen.com

The Arizona Wildcats women’s basketball team failed to land Marana senior Jamee Swan, who has committed to play at Colorado.

The Arizona Republic’s Richard Obert posted the following blog at azcentral.com this afternoon:

Marana girls basketball player Jamee Swan has given Colorado a verbal commitment to play basketball. Swan, a 6-foot-3 senior who can play any position, is ranked 38th in the country overall for the class of 2012 by ESPNIU HoopGurlz 100.

She made her commitment Thursday night during an in-home visit by Colorado coaches. She also considered Arizona, Oregon and Oklahoma.

“Colorado got themselves a steal,” said Kenny Drake, Swan’s club coach with the Arizona Elite Girls Basketball Club. “If Jamee continues to work hard on her skills and basketball IQ, the sky is the limit for her basketball future.”

Diane Swan, Jamee’s mother, said in a statement that her daughter felt Colorado was a great fit.

“As a family, we would also like to thank every coach from every school who diligently recruited her to their program,” Diane said in a statement. “Finally, we would especially like to thank (Arizona) Coach (Niya) Butts and her staff for their constant support of Jamee over the past four years. We are very grateful and appreciate the opportunity afforded Jamee for being recruited by so many elite college programs.”

Hall of Famer Waldrop to be honored at halftime of Arizona-Oregon game

Friday, September 23rd, 2011

Rob Waldrop was the anchor of the Desert Swarm defenses in 1992 and 1993. Photo by Otto Greule Jr., Getty Images Sport

Former Arizona All-American defensive tackle Rob Waldrop, who was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in May, will be honored at halftime of the Wildcats’ game against Oregon on Saturday night.

The university, in conjunction with The National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame, will honor Waldrop. A Hall of Fame plaque will remain on display at the university.

“Rob Waldrop became one of the most decorated college defensive players in the history of the game while playing on one of the best defenses that we have ever seen,” said NFF President and CEO Steve Hatchell.

“He was the immovable force in the middle of the Arizona defensive line, and his dominance often took three opponents to contain. It will be a thrill to honor him in front of the Wildcat faithful on September 24.”

Waldrop is the third Arizona Wildcats player to be selected for the college Hall, the others are linebacker Ricky Hunley and safety Chuck Cecil. Waldrop will be officially inducted in a ceremony in New York City on Dec. 6.

From May: Hall of Fame honor ensures Arizona’s Waldrop will be properly remembered

The opponent’s view: Ducks look to continue conference road prowess

Friday, September 23rd, 2011

NOTE: This is an Oregon story from Gary Horowitz of the Salem (Ore.) Statesman Journal, one of our Gannett partners. Here is a link for more coverage of the Ducks from the newspaper.

Oregon's LaMichael James headlines an explosive Oregon offense. Photo by Jim Z. Rider-US PRESSWIRE.

EUGENE — As impressive as Oregon looked the past two weeks against Nevada and Missouri State, those lopsided wins come with a caveat.

The competition wasn’t stellar and the 10th-ranked Ducks were playing at Autzen Stadium, where they have won 18 games in a row.

Saturday’s game at Arizona should shed more light on the defending two-time conference champions.

“We’re a good team at home,” coach Chip Kelly said. “What we’ve gotta learn now is how do we play on the road? We lost our road opener.”

Technically, the season-opening loss against LSU in a matchup of top-five teams was a neutral-site game in Arlington, Texas, but the majority of fans at Cowboys Stadium where wearing the Tigers’ purple and gold.

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Arizona’s Nick Foles is a ‘superstar’ looking for a few good wins

Friday, September 23rd, 2011

Nick Foles is hoping for a happier look after games. Photo by Matt Kartozian-US PRESSWIRE

Arizona Wildcats quarterback Nick Foles doesn’t lack impressive stats, doesn’t lack the praise of his head coach, doesn’t want for respect from opponents.

The victory total, however, remains stuck at 12.

It’s a rudimentary stat, but Arizona is a mere 12-12 in games in which Foles starts — including seven consecutive losses to teams from the Football Bowl Subdivision. Quarterback play hasn’t usually been the issue, but the bottom line is the bottom line.

“I haven’t been good enough to win,” Foles said.

“It shows on the scoreboard. We haven’t put up enough points and that falls on the quarterback. I have to figure out a way to get the ball downfield more. … I don’t really care about my individual performance. I want to win a game.

“It’s my job to put us in a position to put points on the board, and I haven’t done that yet.”

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The opponent’s view: Tra Carson is Oregon’s emerging power back

Thursday, September 22nd, 2011

NOTE: These are Oregon notes from Gary Horowitz of the Salem (Ore.) Statesman Journal, one of our Gannett partners. Here is a link for more coverage of the Ducks from the newspaper.

Oregon's Tra Carson runs against Missouri State last week. Photo by Jim Z. Rider-US PRESSWIRE

EUGENE — Oregon has a full complement of speed running backs with LaMichael James, Kenjon Barner and De’Anthony Thomas.

Tra Carson is the Ducks’ emerging power back.

“I’m more of a banger, I guess you could say,” said Carson, a 6-foot, 227-pounder, who broke James’ single-season school rushing records as a senior at Liberty-Eylau High School in Texarkana, Texas.

Carson, who ran for 82 yards on nine carries in last week’s 56-7 rout of Missouri State, is the Ducks’ third-leading rusher this season with 116 yards (6.4 yards per carry).

No. 10 Oregon doesn’t alter its spread-option offense when Carson enters the game, but his running style is different than James, Barner and Thomas, who weigh less than 200 pounds. Think LeGarrette Blount.

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Arizona quarterback Matt Scott finds fun on the scout team for a week

Thursday, September 22nd, 2011

Matt Scott passes against Washington last season. Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images.

Perhaps in a different football world, Arizona Wildcats quarterback Matt Scott could really be like Oregon’s Darron Thomas, running a read-option offense somewhere.

In this football world, Scott gets to be like Thomas for only a week.

Scott, a senior who is still crossing his fingers that he can redshirt this season, has helped prepare the Arizona defense this week by being the scout team quarterback, trying to approximate the go-go speed of the Oregon offense and the run-pass skills of Thomas.

“I wouldn’t call me Darron Thomas, but it’s a lot like my high school offense, so I’m pretty comfortable with it,” Scott said.

“It’s pretty fun to go back and do what I did in high school.”

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Arizona football: All about the special teams

Wednesday, September 21st, 2011

Alex Zendejas will get one more chance to get everything straightened out. Photo by Mark J. Rebilas-US PRESSWIRE

Arizona Wildcats coach Mike Stoops said Monday that senior place-kicker Alex Zendejas is going to get his job back — at least for this week’s game against Oregon.

And Zendejas talked after Monday’s practice, talking about how he is “grateful and blessed” to be given a second chance.

“That’s all you can ask for sometimes — just another chance to get out there,” Zendejas said.

“I’ve continued to work just to get another chance. I’ve continued to prepare like I was going to play. I haven’t taken a day off.”

As far as redemption stories goes, this could be a doozy.

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The opponent’s view: Arizona game is a barometer for Ducks

Wednesday, September 21st, 2011

NOTE: This is a column from Gary Horowitz of the Salem (Ore.) Statesman Journal, one of our Gannett partners. Here is a link for more coverage of the Ducks from the newspaper.

EUGENE — It’s measuring stick time for Oregon. The 10th-ranked Ducks will be at Arizona on Saturday night in a nationally televised game (ESPN2). No. 5 Stanford faced the same scenario last Saturday and came away with a 37-10 victory behind Heisman Trophy candidate Andrew Luck’s 325 yards passing and two touchdowns.

We should know a lot more about Oregon after this game. It will be the Ducks’ first road test, although a neutral-site matchup against LSU in the season opener in Arlington, Texas, essentially was a home game for the Tigers.

“Winning on the road is a difficult challenge, especially in this conference,” coach Chip Kelly said. “Winning on the road’s the big thing.”

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