Tucson Citizen.com
AG's Wildcat Report - Dispatches on the Wildcats, from Anthony Gimino

Another week, more weekly honors for an Arizona opponent

by on Oct. 10, 2011, under Arizona football

Oregon State's Clayton York, returning his blocked punt for a TD, was the Pac-12 Special Teams Player of the Week. Photo by Thomas Patterson, Salem Statesman Journal

UCLA running back Johnathan Franklin might be feeling pretty good right now. Or UCLA receiver Nelson Rosario. Or linebacker Patrick Larimore. Or quarterback Kevin Prince.

Opponents are simply eager to play Arizona these days.

Two more Arizona opponents earned Pac-12 Player of the Week honors on Monday, which marks the third consecutive week that has happened.

This time, it was Oregon State safety Lance Mitchell who took home defensive player of the week honors. He had seven tackles, an interception and a fumble recovery in a 37-27 win over the Wildcats. He also caught a 13-yard pass on a fake punt that was good for a first down and led to an OSU field goal.

Oregon State’s Clayton York won the weekly award for special teams. He blocked a punt and returned it 41 yards for a touchdown.

A week earlier, USC quarterback Matt Barkley won Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week honors after throwing for a school-record 468 yards vs. Arizona. The week before that, Oregon’s LaMichael James rushed for a school-record 288 yards vs. UA.

Let’s go back further …

In Arizona’s past eight conference games — all losses — the opponent has produced seven weekly award winners. The Wildcats have produced none.

There are the four winners this season — Mitchell, York, Barkley and James. There were two from Arizona State at the end of the 2010 regular season — defensive end James Brooks and kicker Thomas Weber. And Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck won weekly offensive honors after leading the Cardinal to a 42-17 win over what was then a 13th-ranked Arizona team on Nov. 6.

So, yeah, UCLA might be feeling pretty good as it gets ready for the Thursday, Oct. 20, game in Tucson.

This entry was posted on Monday, October 10th, 2011 at 2:23 pm and is filed under Arizona football. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

RSS feed for this post (comments)
  • handwind

    Can it get any worse? That was a rhetorical question.

    In fairness to the players (not Stoops)…with the injuries and lack of recruiting (not having 2nd or 3rd string ready to go) AZ loses to the big 3 earlier this season. Fine. USC was very winable. Beavers were a must win. The remaining games should HAVE been probable wins with the exception of ASU. Now??? After the bowl game last year I gave the Cats 4 wins this season. That prediction looked pathetic then but looks pretty good now given the alternative no-wins.

    Year 8 should have consistency in personnel for both coaches and players and especially on the O and D lines where the game is won or lost. Why such a high turnover rate of players and coaches? 

    Sometimes the only thing to do is start new or as CEO’s and AD’s often say…
    “A change is needed.” 

    I graduated from the UA in ’87 and was sure I’d see ‘em win a national championship at least once…get to and win the Rose Bowl a few times by age 50. I’m starting to feel like the Cubs fans.

«
»