Arizona Wildcats assistant coaches Jeff Hammerschmidt and Joe Salave’a are former Wildcat players who know all about the Arizona-ASU rivalry.

Hammerschmidt’s playing career spanned from 1986 (Chuck Cecil’s 106-yard interception return) to 1990. He never lost to ASU as a player. He went 5-0 against the Devils as a full-time assistant coach (1993-1995, 2008-2009) before last season’s double-overtime loss.

Salave’a went 3-1 against ASU as a player, from 1994 to 1997. He had 3.5 sacks in the 1997 game. He returned a fumble for a touchdown in 1995. Both were UA wins.

Our Gannett partner, the Arizona Republic, talked to both Cats about the rivalry:

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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WR Richard Morrison, celebrating a touchdown in the spring game, is a prime candidate at punt returner. Photo by David Kadlubowski, The Arizona Republic

One of the people we caught up with for a few minutes after Arizona’s first fall practice was assistant Jeff Hammerschmidt, who coaches special teams and defensive ends.

We’ll save some of the talk about the defensive ends for another time as Arizona shifts through replacements at those positions for three players who are now in NFL camps.

As for special teams, Hammerschmidt is working with a new punter (Kyle Dugandzic, who was here in the spring), new returners (look for speedy Garic Wharton on kickoffs) and possibly a new placekicker. Junior college transfer Jaimie Salazar is here to compete with incumbent Alex Zendejas.

Here is some of our conversation with Hammerschmidt following the first practice, which began at 6:15 a.m. at the Rincon Vista Complex:

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Junior college transfer Kyle Dugandzic punts during Arizona's scirmmage on April 2.
Photo by David Kadlubowski/The Arizona Republic

We caught up recently with Arizona Wildcats defensive ends/special teams coach Jeff Hammeschmidt after a recent practice to see how spring practice is going from his perspective.

Some of the good news is that Hammerschmidt has an emerging senior end in C.J. Parish to help replace Brooks Reed, Ricky Elmore and D’Aundre Reed.

But defensive end is one of the least experienced positions on the team, and Hammer is also trying to improve the kicking game. (We’re hoping to have an update on kicker Alex Zendejas later in the week.)

Until then, here are five questions for Hammer from me and Brad Allis of WildcatSportsReport.com — and one of the bloggers with the TucsonCitizen.com Sports Network:

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Titans defensive coordinator Chuck Cecil won't be back next season after the unit struggled much of the season, especially on third downs.
Photo by George Walker IV, The Tennessean (file)

Arizona Wildcats legend Chuck Cecil is out after two seasons as the defensive coordinator with the Tennessee Titans, fired Thursday by coach Jeff Fisher.

“Do I feel like the defense was to blame?” Cecil told the Tennessean newspaper.

“I felt like the entire team was to blame. People are going to have different opinions about that, and everybody is entitled to their own opinion. But I have my own and I’ll take it with me.

“I have no regrets. I think my players on defense played hard, and we showed up pretty much week to week and executed. I think the guys bought in to what we were selling, and they bought in and played hard. We just needed to be better than we were.”

Cecil is one of (by my count) 11 former Arizona Wildcat players who are coaching in college or the professional ranks. (Thanks to ZonaDennis at UASports.net for contributing Adam Austin to the list.)

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Duane Akina will be directing Wildcats next season, not Longhorns. Photo by Brett Davis-US PRESSWIRE

How excited were former Arizona Wildcats to hear that Duane Akina is coming back to coach the secondary under Mike Stoops?

So excited that two ex-Cats called me to talk about it.

The Wildcat network was absolutely abuzz Sunday night with the news that Akina is leaving Texas, where he has worked since 2001, to return to Arizona, where he coached from 1987 to 2000. (Read our confirmation story).

One of those who called was Heath Bray, the former Arizona quarterback/safety/linebacker/receiver/special teams captain/assistant coach.

He had already talked to several ex-Cats. He said he was so excited that, “I’m going to find it hard to sleep tonight.”

That Akina is a great secondary coach is not for debate. In a battle of resumes, he wins. But for guys like Bray and a whole cadre of Dick Tomey era players, it’s not all about Akina’s considerable teaching skills.

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Alex Zendejas, who has been struggling with his place-kicking, will take over pooch-punting duties from Keenyn Crier (also the holder). Photo by Chris Morrison, US-PRESSWIRE

Arizona spent part of its bye week practices figuring out how to improve special teams.

There aren’t many options in the kicking positions — although the Wildcats will tweak that a bit (more on that below) — but the coaching staff has found reason to overhaul kick coverage.

The bottom line: To get better on special teams, you need better players.

“It’s been pretty much my fault, but we’ve been getting away with using some backup guys who are out there helping,” said special teams coach Jeff Hammerschmidt.

“But when you go down for the first kickoff against USC, and three guys miss tackles in space, you kind of go, ‘Wait a minute, we’re playing USC and we have to play with the same kind of guys.’ For us to do that, there are some starting guys who are going to have to step up and be on everything.”

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Arizona Wildcats kicker Alex Zendejas says he hears it all the time. From fans. Students. Strangers. “Shoot, even I could kick an extra point.”

“Every day,” Zendejas said after practice Tuesday. “But it’s not as easy as everyone thinks it is.”

It’s also probably not as hard as he’s been making it, and it’s become an issue because the junior hasn’t been making them.

While solid on his field goal accuracy — and forever able to claim a glorious game-winner at Arizona State last season — Zendejas has missed an extra point try in each of the past two games.

Zendejas has missed three PATs this season and six for his career since taking over as the starter at the beginning of last season.

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Keenyn Crier, punting here against Iowa, has had trouble in the past few games knocking the ball inside the 20/Photo by Chris Morrison-US PRESSWIRE

For lunch and a quick therapy session, Arizona Wildcats senior punter Keenyn Crier just needs to go across the street from Arizona Stadium.

He’ll head over to Zendejas #13, probably order a green chile burrito, and hope to run into the Arizona legend himself, former place-kicker Max Zendejas. Crier is looking for some good eats and good advice on the never-ending battle to win the mental game.

That is where Crier is struggling right now. Trying to find his comfort zone. Trying to relax. To trust his powerful right leg. To believe in his punt protection.

“I think my biggest thing is I get so excited, I start freaking myself out,” Crier said.

So, what does Zendejas tell him in general terms?

“Just kick the ball,” Crier said.

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Cecil is entering his second season as the defensive coordinator of the Tennessee Titans.

The Arizona Wildcats’ ol’ No. 6, hard-hitting safety Chuck Cecil, was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame over the weekend.

KOLD Channel 13 has some footage from the event … as well as the holy grail of UA highlights — Cecil’s 106-yard interception return against Arizona State in 1986.

It’s hard to see that clip too many times.

The Hall of Fame selection committee announced this enshrinement class back in April 2009, when the Tucson Citizen still had a print edition.

Here is part of my story for the newspaper from back then, starting with quotes from former UA assistant coach Duane Akina:

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