For Stoops and Arizona it's now or never

Welcome to college football 2008!

Before you can ran from Tucson to New York the football season will have kicked off. Well, I'm not sure you could run to Huston between now and then, unless your Usain Bolt. But, anyway, Saturday will be here before you know it and the season will be underway.

And for Arizona there is no turning back. The heat in Mike Stoops office has been turned all the way up. The fan base is split and if he should stay or if he should go. Some have even made the stupid argument that they hope Arizona losses so they will be able to fire Stoops. Let's put this one to rest first. I would much rather see Arizona win then see Mike Stoops go. Not a lot more to say about that other then what's been said.



So what does Mike Stoops need to do to keep his job?

Simply put he needs to go to a bowl game, which means he needs to win at least seven games. That should be enough. Some have made the argument that if he wins only seven games, which would mean either a loss in one of the three "easy" non conference games or a losing record in the Pac-10 he need to be let go. I don't see anyway that happens. Despite all his faults and he has lots of them, you can not let a coach go who got a team to a bowl game for the first time in ten years.

So what happens if Arizona does have a losing season?

At this point it's going to be really interesting. U of A president Robert Shelton is going to have to decide what he wants to do with athletic director Jim Livengood. If he wants to keep him, the likely next step is Stoops being fired. If he wants another AD that should by Stoops at least one more year. If another AD comes in some time in the 09 calender year he is going to want to make his own hire as a football coach, not get a first year coach thrown in his lap.

What happens if Stoops is fired?

This could mean more bad news. It likely means at least two more years of loosing football. That will likely also mean lost money-from not playing on TV, from low ticket sales, from paying off Stoops. This could affect the amount of money the school could spend to hire a replacement coach.

Any chance he leaves on his own?

A little. He need to have a winning season for that to happen. The most likely, if not the only school he would leave Arizona for would be Iowa. The people in Iowa are unhappy with the way the program is going. Stoops went to, played at Iowa. But they are not going to want to hire a coach who hasn't won.



The bottom line of all this is simple. Mike Stoops and the Cats have to win and they have to win now. So lets kick it off!

Season Preview: Arizona State

Week Twelve:

Saturday December 6, 2008

The University of Arizona Wildcats versus the Arizona State Sun Devils
Arizona Stadium: Time TBA

Arizona State Facts: The Devils and the Wildcats play for the oldest traveling trophy is sports, The Territorial Cup. Sadly for all Arizona fans, the cup has lived in Tempe for many years in this decade. But I don't want to get into this. Both the Cats and the Devils have gone with several different coaching staff since both schools fired head coaches at the end of the 2001 season. As hard as it is to type and I'm not even sure I could say it out loud, Arizona State is a better program overall. What this means for this year or for the future-I don't know.

Good Cat News: As fun as playing the game on the day after Thanksgiving, the hangover would affect the crowd. No to mention the number of students who are in town. This year this won't be a problem because the game isn't until December. It will also be fun to see if Arizona has already rapped up a bowl spot by then, there is chance they may have already accepted a deal by then.

Bad Cat News: Just read the Arizona State Facts section of this blog, because I can not say it again. Head Coach Mike Stoops has proven that he can not win, when the chips are all the line. If Arizona needs to beat Arizona State to get into the bowl I'm not sure they can do it.

Season Preview: Oregon State

Week Eleven:

Saturday November 22, 2008

The University of Arizona Wildcats versus the Oregon State University Beavers
Arizona Stadium: Time TBA

Oregon State Facts: Remember the Dick Tomey days when it seemed like every season the Cats would finish in third or fourth place? Well that's what it's been like for the Beavs since they went from a nobody to a somebody in 2000. Since 2002 OSU has been to the Insight Bowl twice, plus the Vegas, Sun, and Emerald bowls. Who would have thought Oregon State and Arizona would switch places like that.

Good Cat News: Another home game in November allows Arizona to play at home, rather then having to play in Corvallis, another one of the most brutal places to play in the Pac-10. The Beaves only bring back three starts from last year defense which make Arizona look bad, in the mean time Arizona's offence should be much better.

Bad Cat News: Oregon State has had Arizona's number over the last few years. Arizona is going to have to make sure to change that. Can they do it? Not sure. The only other team to dominate over the Stoop years the way the Beavers have (besides USC) are the Sun Devils. And we'll get to them tomorrow.

Season Preview: Oregon

Week Ten:

Saturday November 15, 2008

The University of Arizona Wildcats versus the University of Oregon Ducks
Autzen Stadium: Eugene, Oregon, Time TBA

Oregon Facts: Mike Bellotti has now been the head coach of the Ducks for 14 years, far longer then anyone else in the Pac-10. Since that time they have been one of the best teams in the Pac-10, although they haven't gone to Rose Bowl since the mid 1990s. Not a lot of reason to think 2008 is going to be any different, including the second place finish. Autzen Stadium is arguably the loudest stadium in the Pac-10 (although USC has many more fans, not as loud).

Good Cat News: For whatever reason it doesn't seem like Mike Bellotti and Mike Stoops like one another. This has worked in the Cats favour, as they have had the Ducks number as of late. Another November game against what should be a ranked team also seem to play in Arizona's favour-as they have had luck with that as well.

Bad Cat News: We'll see if revenge means anything in football with this game. If any group of players or fans want revenge it would be the Oregon Ducks. Arizona could be blown off the field in that game if they don't come out ready to play. We'll also have to see whats going on in the Pac-10, if the Ducks are still in the mix-it could be bad news for Arizona.

Season Preview: Washington State

Week Nine:

Saturday November 8, 2008

The University of Arizona Wildcats versus the Washington State University Cougars
Martin Stadium: Pullman, Washington, Time TBA

Washington State Facts: The Cougs have been to two Rose bowls since 1997. Both in '97 and '02. They haven't really been the same since Mike Price left Pullman for very, very, brief stay at Alabama and now at UTEP. This will mark the major head coaching debue of Paul Wuliff at Washington State.

Good Cat News: If we are taking stock of teams that should be worse then Arizona, Washington State would be on it. Bad teams tend to struggle under knew head coaches and that's what the Cougs have. By November, with any luck, Arizona will have gelled and be ready to roll against anyone. Arizona, under Mike Stoops, has a record of winning games, lots of games, in November.

Bad Cat News: This is a road game in November. The Cougs might have over came the hurdle of another head coach by this time in the season. I can not predict the weather this far in advance (sorry), but in that part of Washington-that time of year-it's likely going to be cold. For sure it will be colder then Tucson. Possibly over coming the weather could be a factor.

Season Preview: USC

Week Eight:

Saturday October 25, 2008

The University of Arizona Wildcats versus the University of Southern California Trojans

Arizona Stadium, Time TBA

USC Facts: Unlike Idaho and Toledo, it should be easy to argue that USC is one of the five best teams in the country. Since Pete Carroll took over 8 years ago the Trojans have been far and away the best program in the Pac-10. We are talking about a program that was disappointed to be 11-2 last season. I don't even have to write anymore by just saying: USC doesn't rebuild, they just reload. They are what everyone in the Pac-10 wants to be. After all, they have been to The Rose Bowl Game three of the four last years. The one year they didn't it was the Orange Bowl for the National Championship. Any of the other nine teams would trade place with them in heart beat.

Good Cat News: Ah.....with this game. I don't know. Arizona has had good luck with homecoming games. USC over the past few years has dropped games they shouldn't have. I guess that might happen. One day or another Arizona is going to get that season/program changing win. It could be this year? Couldn't it? Arizona has come close to beating USC a few times over the past few years. Arizona has it as a home game, that could help.

Bad Cat News: USC is very good. Arizona is good. Arizona would have to play a game unlike anything we have every seen them play. Nothing in Mike Stoops past (or Jon Mac or Dick Tomey for that matter) has lead me to thing Arizona could play an A+++ game. Anything less then that the Cats are in trouble with this game.

Season Preview: California

Week Seven:

Saturday October 18, 2008

The University of Arizona Wildcats versus the University of California Golden Bears

Arizona Stadium, Time TBA

Cal Facts: It's hard to believe that at one time last season Cal was ranked number two in the country. Then the wheels came off. They not only came off, but the car rolled down the mountain. When back up QB Kevin Rieley ran the ball on a last second play (rather then pass it), time ran out, and the Bear lost to Oregon State. And then they lost again...and again....and again. They finished 7-6 and had to settle for the Armed Forces Bowl. What does this mean for this season? Only time will tell. One could make the argument that head coach Jeff Tedford is the second best coach in the Pac-10. He should be able to turn this around.

Good Cat News: Cal is replacing all it's best players from a team that more or less folded last years when all the chips were down. Last years Arizona was never really in the game against Cal. But that was a different Cal team then we saw late in the season. By the time Arizona plays Cal we should know how good QB Kevin Reily is-could be good news for the Cats.

Bad Cat News: Cal is likely the best or the second best team in the Pac-10. Arizona isn't. If Cal is as good as I think they could be Arizona needs to play a perfect game to beat Arizona. We've yet to see Arizona do this under Mike Stoops, more then once a season. That's really it all comes down to.