How many times will Mike Stoops be celebrating this season? Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Arizona coach Mike Stoops, not even 30 seconds into his first weekly news conference of the season, said, “We’re tired of talking about it; we’re ready to go out and see what we’ve got.”

Amen to that.

If he’s tired of talking about it, I’m tired of writing about it after covering all of camp and posting 23 Wildcats-related stories in the past 23 hours.

There is only one thing left in our 24 Hours of Football Blogging series:

The season prediction.

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John Fina with the Buffalo Bills in 2001. Photo by Rick Stewart/Allsport

I caught up after Wednesday’s practice with former Arizona Wildcat standout John Fina, who will be the analyst on Saturday’s telecast of UA’s season-opener against Northern Arizona.

Fina, a left tackle, was a 1991 first-round draft pick and played in 10 seasons with the Buffalo Bills before finishing up with one year with the Cardinals.

I started our conversation by asking him about the Wildcats’ all-new offensive line, especially the redshirt freshmen at tackles — Fabbians Ebbele on the right side and Mickey Baucus on the left.

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Perhaps all you need to get fired up for the Arizona Wildcats season is the above video.

Nick Foles is the face of the Arizona program (more below on how that face looks) and he has the talent to be the first Wildcat drafted as a quarterback since backup John Conner in the 10th round of the 1985 draft (more on that below, too).

“Even more confidence,” quarterbacks coach Frank Scelfo said of changes in Foles from last season.

“He’s embraced the leadership role, and it’s coming out. That’s the big thing. He wants this. … He wants to win right now, and he feels we can do that. He believes in these guys. He says this is the closest group of guys since he’s been there. That’s important.”

As Arizona puts the final touches on preparation for Saturday’s opener against NAU, gets ready for the season, here are three things about Foles and then a bunch of links to other stories about him us and various other sources.

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Mohammed Usman

Mohammed Usman recounts his junior college exploits with a big smile, talking about sacking Cam Newton.

“That is a source of pride,” Usman said.

Usman, a new starter at defensive end for the Arizona Wildcats, will soon get a chance to add notches against Stanford’s Andrew Luck and a bunch of other top-flight quarterbacks on UA’s schedule. The production of Usman and the team’s other new starting end, C.J. Parish, will be critical to the defense’s success.

“It’s my last time to prove myself at the Division I level and show everybody I am capable of moving up to the next level,” said Usman, a senior who transferred from Navarro Community College in Texas after the 2009 season.

“I’m going to hold my own. I’m going to make sure every play the quarterback feels me, knows I am coming off that edge and make him think twice about running the ball my way. I have to instill that.

“Don’t run it my way, don’t throw it my way, don’t look my way, don’t even speak my way. My side is my side. That’s my edge. I don’t want anybody over there.”

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Wide receiver Dan Bucker says he's ready to roll after sitting out last season. Photo by Michael Chow/The Arizona Republic

The Arizona football team has no shortage of overarching concerns, including inexperience on both lines and a brutally tough early schedule.

Now, let’s look at three players who are X-factors. Three players who will have big roles to start the season.

Three players who, well, I have lingering doubts about.

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NAU RB Zach Bauman looks for running room against Arizona State last season. Photo by Mark J. Rebilas-US PRESSWIRE

Related: Arizona-NAU notebook: UA ready for youth movement

Beware the little brothers.

The Arizona Wildcats open their season Saturday night against visiting Northern Arizona, from the Football Championship Subdivision, the lower tier of Division I.

The Lumberjacks, who were 6-5 last season, are used to playing up, having played a Football Bowl Subdivision team in each of the past 10 years.

They have lost them all.

That included five losses to Arizona in that span and a 41-20 defeat at Arizona State last season. The Lumberjacks were within a touchdown late in the third quarter, however, and held the Sun Devils to only 56 yards.

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I was driving south through campus the other day … and there it was.

The biggest, brightest, most wonderful TV I’d ever seen. Love at first sight.

The athletic department was testing out its new 5,356-square foot video board at Arizona Stadium, showing footage of the team’s final fall scrimmage. Running back Daniel Jenkins had just twisted his left ankle and had crumpled to the turf in magnificent HD.

Jenkins is doubtful for Saturday’s scoreboard debut — otherwise known as the season-opener vs. NAU — because of that sprained ankle. That will delay his hopes of galloping into the end zone and then staring up to watch just how brilliant he looked doing it.

“I try to focus on the game, but that thing goes sideline to sideline. It’s going to be hard not to look,” Jenkins said.

“That video board is wild. I think it’s going to bring a great environment to our fans. I’m excited to see how our fans react to it, and the Zona Zoo. I’m excited, man. I’m excited.”

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There was a mix-up in the Arizona secondary. Cornerback Robert Golden gave a half-hearted chuck to Oklahoma State receiver Justin Blackmon and let him run by.

Problem was, there was no safety to help.

Oklahoma State quarterback Brandon Weeden easily connected with Blackmon down field … and then the real fun began.

Blackmon, nearing the goal line all alone, ran along the goal line, crossing the hashmarks from right to left before dipping into the end zone as defensive back Adam Hall closed in.

It was a 71-yard touchdown.

It wouldn’t be — at least it shouldn’t be — this season.

The major rule change in college football is that any taunting penalty that occurs before a touchdown will be a 15-yard infraction at the spot of the foul. In other words, no touchdown.

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The MUSS (Mighty Utah Student Section) awaits Pac-12 foes. Photo by Russ Isabella-US PRESSWIRE

The Pac-12 debuted Thursday night with two games that won’t show up on anybody’s best-of lists. ASU and Utah won against lower-division teams.

There are some of us who think any college football is good college football, but some — like these 10 games involving the Pac-12 — are, well, more good than others:

10. Oregon at Arizona (Sept. 24)
Can’t forget the thriller in Tucson in 2009, and this is one of only four true road games for the Ducks. Others would put Oregon’s rivalry game at Washington on a list like this, but the matchups vs. the Cats have been more competitive.

If I had to pick it now: Oregon 48, Arizona 35

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Wendell Neal talks with quarterback Nick Foles before last season's game vs. The Citadel. Photo by Chris Morrison-US PRESSWIRE

The technology of football helmets keeps changing, keeps improving, and Arizona equipment manager Wendell Neal could talk to you about from here till Sunday.

“We’ll never prevent all concussions,” he said one day last month. “What we’re trying to do in this profession is just try to minimize the risk. It’s all about the odds.”

Neal has a suggestion for improving those odds.

Less is more.

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