HUSKER 37 Posted December 17, 2009 Share Posted December 17, 2009 Didn't see this posted yet.. Q & A with Az Coach Mike Stoops Tom Dienhart It wasn't long ago when Arizona's Mike Stoops was on the hot seat. Now, he's coaching one of the fastest-rising programs in the Pac-10. Stoops, 47, entered 2008 under fire. In fact, some felt he had to deliver a bowl bid or lose his job. Stoops hadn't been to a bowl or had a winning record in any of his first four years on the job, and Arizona closed 2007 with three losses in the final four games. The outlook has changed. Last season, he guided the Wildcats to an 8-5 record and a Las Vegas Bowl win over BYU. This season, Stoops' Wildcats are 8-4, including a 6-3 mark in Pac-10 play (second). It could have been better, as the Wildcats were just a 44-41 home overtime loss to Oregon away from playing in the school's first Rose Bowl. Arizona will play in the Holiday Bowl against Nebraska, which is coached by Stoops' Youngstown, Ohio, friend Bo Pelini. Arizona hasn't been to consecutive bowls since 1997-98. Since a season-ending win at USC, Stoops has seen his brother, Mark, leave to take the defensive coordinator post with Florida State. Mike Stoops now will have co-defensive coordinators, promoting Tim Kish and hiring Greg Brown from Colorado. Stoops feels good about the direction of his team and recently spoke to Rivals.com. Q: At what point did you know this could be a good team? A: I felt confident about this team all along. I thought we were underrated going into the year by prognosticators. We thought we had a pretty solid team coming back. We felt that if we could find some balance offensively, that we would have a pretty good team. We also needed to find a quarterback. Plus we had [tight end] Robby [Gronkowski] coming back. It was disappointing to lose him before practices started [to a back injury]. It took us a little bit of time to move around the offense we had installed around him. Once we had our quarterback situation squared away and found a new identity on offense, we kind of took off. Q: How did you end up going with Nick Foles over Matt Scott at quarterback? A: Both were good and bad. You see signs, but both lacked consistency. It was a predicament, trying to find the right guy. We gave Matt the first shot. And he did some awfully good things. It was more us trying to re-identify ourselves after losing Robbie early on. We then started spreading it. We like the zone read ... but that's not what we like to feature. We went to more spread and four wides with Gronkowski out. And that is where Nick flourished. He liked that and adjusted well to it. Q: What's the most underrated part of your team? A: Our consistency is what you look at. Look what we have done over the last two years. We have been very consistent against top-tier teams, what we have done against top-25 teams. I mean, come on, look at how many good teams we have beaten this year. Oregon State, Stanford, Central Michigan, USC. I think we've been an undervalued team. Q: Do you think you were on a hot seat entering 2008? A: Oh, yeah. It was pretty hot. That was really hard -- hard on our players and coaches. We had played good football the last three or four years when you looked at it. Look at our schedule strength. We played a top-10 schedule the year before and this year. Playing nine conference games? I mean, come on, let's be real about this. How many [league games] does the Big East play? Seven. And how many do they play outside the conference? Look at some of the schedules. Look at the indifference in scheduling. Come on. That is a joke. It is a travesty what we go through. We don't get any credit for that. We don't buy wins. We played Iowa and Central Michigan [this year]; they won 21 games between them. And we had five conference games on the road this year. We played Cal, Oregon State, Washington, USC and ASU [Arizona State] on the road. Q: What facilities need to be improved to make Arizona a better job? A: We desperately need a football facility. We don't have one. We are in the McKale Center [the basketball arena]. Our facilities definitely need upgrading. We haven't done anything facility-wise in I don't know how long. People are excited about what we're doing. This is the time. We have to parlay this into building a program that can take this to the next level. Q: What has been the low point of your tenure? A: There have been a lot. There have been so many hard losses. There has been a lot of stuff we have had to fight through. Even within your own program, you are fighting. You inherit such poor attitude and work ethic. It just gets better and better, and you keep working at it every day. It has taught us a valuable lesson. We appreciate where we are at a lot more than other people just because we have had to fight through so much. Q: How bad of shape was the program when you took over? A: We didn't even have a summer workout program. Not even a voluntary one. Not a good work ethic. But from Day One, the players never quit on us through this whole experience. People forget that we were 6-6 our third year. And look at the teams we beat, and we didn't get a bowl. Are you kidding me? They act like we didn't know what we were doing. Q: What was the best team you played this year? A: I would say it's between Iowa and Oregon. Iowa defensively, to be able to play their scheme like they did and be as physical and fast as they were ... their defense by far was the best and most difficult for us to deal with. And obviously Oregon's offense; they have so many ways to attack you and put so much stress on you every play. Those two teams stressed us going into the game. Q: What was wrong with USC this season? A: I think maturity and change. Some of the stability they had, whether it be players or coordinators, was missing. Look at the players they lost. Those linebackers were studs. That's hard to go through something like that. And the conference has gotten better. And any time you lose your coordinators, it hurts. Not having those guys to lean on hurts, the comfort level. I think that's pretty important. Q: Was it good for the Pac-10 to have someone other than USC win the league title? A: Sure, it's great. I think people are starting to respect the depth of the Pac-10. There isn't any question about it. Washington is coming on, Stanford -- it is incredible to go nine deep now. It's impressive. Q: How long will it be before Arizona plays in its first Rose Bowl? A: We were about six seconds away this year. That quarterback [Oregon's Jeremiah Masoli] made some great plays. He is so good under pressure. He's strong, fast and just makes plays. Q: What do you think of Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh? A: He's very good, fantastic, one of the best offensive minds I have see in a long time with a traditional offense. He certainly has bravado. He is an interesting guy. He's very confident. I like him. Q: What will it be like to coach against fellow Youngstown, Ohio, Cardinal Mooney High alum Bo Pelini? A: It'll be interesting. Philosophically, we are similar in a lot of ways in how we structure our teams. Our discipline and toughness are what we stand for. We always are putting out good defensive efforts. It will come down to which offense can make some plays. You have to score some points. And they have been hard to come by vs. them. And we have played pretty sound defense. It will come down to offenses trying to get the ball into the end zone. It'll be a pretty intense game. Tom Dienhart is a national senior writer for Rivals.com. He can be reached at dienhart@yahoo-inc.com. ---------------------- Q:Any way of studying and emulating Oregon's Offense in the off season? Quote Link to comment
huskered17 Posted December 17, 2009 Share Posted December 17, 2009 This was a make it or break it season for Stoops. Everyone here knew he had to have a good season, and it looks like he will be in Tucson for a while now. When John Mackovic was run out of town, he left Stoops with nothing. At least BC did leave some good players for Bo to work with. So what I have watched him do with this team is really a surprise. It shows that you have to give a coach time. The expectations in Tucson are just the same as Nebraska's. We all like to win. I sure hope we win the Bowl game. It will make it easier to live here, lol.... GBR!!! Quote Link to comment
NUance Posted December 17, 2009 Share Posted December 17, 2009 Mike looks a look like big brother Bob. Less a few lbs maybe. Stoops on the hot seat just last year, a loss or two from being canned. Glad to see him doing better this year. But I hope his run of success, for this season anyway, is over. Quote Link to comment
clone Posted December 18, 2009 Share Posted December 18, 2009 Didn't see this posted yet.. Q & A with Az Coach Mike Stoops Tom Dienhart Q: What was the best team you played this year? A: I would say it's between Iowa and Oregon. Iowa defensively, to be able to play their scheme like they did and be as physical and fast as they were ... their defense by far was the best and most difficult for us to deal with. [/b] wait 'till they meet mr suh!! should be an easy win... Quote Link to comment
HUSKER 37 Posted December 18, 2009 Author Share Posted December 18, 2009 Arizona-USC: Five Things We Learned This Week by Tom Phillips Featured Columnist . Written on December 06, 2009 Stephen Dunn/Getty Images 1. Happy Holiday (Bowl) to Arizona With their win over USC, the Arizona Wildcats accepted an invitation to the Holiday Bowl. The bid to the bowl means that Arizona finished second in the Pac-10 and is respected enough by bowl officials to be recognized as such. This is a big step for Arizona moving forward. It means they are starting to be noticed and taken more seriously as a team. They are no longer the laughingstock of the Pac-10, but a legitimate contender for the Pac-10 title in future years—this year included. The game is set to be played in San Diego's Qualcomm Stadium on Dec. 30 at 5 p.m. Pacific time (6 p.m. Arizona time) Ironically enough, they will be playing Nebraska, their opponent the last time they played in the Holiday Bowl. 2 . Last Drive Changed Arizona's Season Leave it to the Wildcats to wait until their final drive of the season to change their fate. How many times have Cats fans seen opponents march down the field and score the game-winning touchdown despite Arizona putting together a great game? Well Arizona finally played the part of their opponents, putting together their finest drive of the season just when they needed it most. The offense seemed to have the right play call to counter USC's defense. On third down the Cats would convert, it almost seemed like karma had kicked in for the Cats. Then the play of the year—an audible. Foles audibled out of a run play when he saw man coverage on Juron Criner. Criner caught the ball and stumbled into the end zone for the game-winning score. Criner has impressed all season as the Cats' leading receiver but nothing was more impressive than his last catch of the regular season. 3. Tale of Two Halves Arizona played well in the first half. They looked like a well-oiled machine hitting on all cylinders, minus the interception. USC had one good touchdown drive in the first half. Arizona had two drives and controlled the ball for 20 of the 30 minutes in the first and second quarters. Then at halftime, it seems that the tide turned in USC's favor. They were able to put several drives together, but Arizona was able to stop the Trojans. USC only scored 10 points. Every time USC got the ball, they would seem to start hot on a drive before Arizona would stop them at midfield. Arizona on offense was awful in the second half. They were unable to move the ball and seemed to be outmatched by USC's defense. That was until the final drive. 4. Stoops Exorcises Final Demon With Arizona's win over USC, Mike Stoops has now officially beaten every team in the Pac-10. Pete Carroll had been undefeated over Stoops. Stoops and Co. had a good game plan and were able to pull it out. Arizona played a near perfect game on defense. While the second half wasn't what Cats fans had hoped for offensively, the defense was spectacular. For every chess move USC made, Arizona matched it. Just when it looked like USC was about to put together another big drive, Arizona was able to stop them on third down. Considering how long the defense was on the field in the second half makes it that much more impressive. Now it seems the only step Stoops has to complete in Arizona is win to get over the Wildcats' final hump, the Rose Bowl. Of course, he has to beat Nebraska first. 5. Arizona Is No. 2 The Cats finished in second place in the Pac-10 after Washington defeated Cal. Arizona finished 6-3 in the Pac-10, tied with Stanford and Oregon State. Arizona held the tiebreaker over both Stanford and Oregon State. The Cats defeated both teams in the first half of the season, holding off late game surges from teams in order to get the win. The last time Arizona finished in second place was 1998, when, yes, they played Nebraska in the Holiday Bowl. Quote Link to comment
HUSKER 37 Posted December 18, 2009 Author Share Posted December 18, 2009 Arizona-Arizona State: Five Things We Learned This Week by Tom Phillips Featured Columnist http://bleacherreport.com/articles/299506-...a-arizona-state . Written on November 29, 2009 Christian Petersen/Getty Images 1. In His Blood For all of the criticism Alex Zendejas got after the Oregon game, he made up for it against ASU. Zendejas followed in his uncle Max's footsteps, hitting the game-winning field goal as time ran out to win the game for Arizona. Max Zendejas is famously known for beating ASU not once but twice on fourth quarter field goals in Sun Devil Stadium. Zendejas' game-winner in the 1983 matchup kept ASU out of the Rose Bowl. For Alex, missing chip shots has been his credo this year. He has fans holding their breath when he kicks extra points. The game-winner showed that he has the same clutch blood that is in his family's genes. This kick may have been the one to give the younger Zendejas, and fans, the confidence they both need in the kicking game. 2. Special Play Special teams ended up being the key to Arizona's victory on Saturday. ASU's Kyle Williams muffed a punt that was recovered by Arizona's Mike Turner at the Sun Devil 22-yard line. That was the key play that set up Zendejas' game-winner. Orlando Vargas, Arizona's special teams guru, came up big when he blocked a punt then he came up even bigger when he picked the ball up and walked into the endzone for his first career touchdown. Vargas' play ended up being a crucial for the Cats. Without the blocked punt and return for a touchdown, they would have lost the game. On a day when the offense struggled, the special teams play won the game for the Wildcats. 3. A Tale of Two Teams The Wildcats suffered from a hangover on Saturday but not the kind that you get in Vegas. They had a psychological hangover from the Oregon game; the disappointment of losing that one was clear with how the Cats played. They came out flat and played that way all game. Minus the touchdown run by Keola Antolin, the Wildcats didn't move the ball well against Arizona State. Some of this could be contributed to Arizona State having the best defense in the Pac-10 statistically, but the Cats just seemed to be going through the motions. This team did not look like the same squad that almost took down the Ducks last week. Hopefully, the big win over the Sun Devils will allow the Cats to play better next week against USC. 4. The Catch Relapse Kyle Williams’ second touchdown catch in the endzone was reminiscent of an infamous play that happened over 30 years ago, one that haunts Wildcat fans. The Catch. Every Wildcat fan is haunted by John Jefferson's diving catch in the back of the endzone to beat Arizona and it looked like that was how it would play out again for the Cats. Williams made a great diving catch on 4th-and-12 to tie the game with two minutes left. The play sucked the life out of Wildcat fans after the team had forced a fourth and long, one play after a touchdown got called back on a penalty. Luckily, ASU fans will now be haunted by The Muff. 5. By Scott With Nick Foles nursing a broken left hand, Arizona played backup QB Matt Scott for his first extended playing time since the Iowa game. Scott ran the zone-read offense meaning he handed the ball off or kept it and ran it himself depending on what the defense gave him. He didn't throw a single pass while in the game. I thought he did very well faking the handoffs and running when he kept it himself. His running ability gives Arizona a different aspect that ASU wasn't prepared for. Future opponents will be on the lookout for it now. Extra Knowledge Arizona was due for a fluke play to go their way. When Kyle Williams dropped the punt, the football gods smiled on the Cats for the first time all season. The Washington and Cal games both went against Arizona. It seems as though the universe always has a way of evening itself out. Hopefully there is one more in store for Arizona. Quote Link to comment
Dundermifflinite Posted December 18, 2009 Share Posted December 18, 2009 I like his honesty. You live in Arizona 37, has he always been so open and candid? Seems much less defensive than Bob. Quote Link to comment
HUSKER 37 Posted December 18, 2009 Author Share Posted December 18, 2009 Holiday Bowl Preview: Arizona Offense vs. Nebraska Defense by Tom Phillips Featured Columnist http://bleacherreport.com/articles/310179-...ebraska-defense . Written on December 17, 2009 Stephen Dunn/Getty Images Vote Now! - Author Poll Who will win this matchup? Arizona's Offense Nebraska's Defense vote to see results Outside of the BCS bowls, the Nebraska-Arizona match-up might be one of the more intriguing ones in the country. Arizona's spread offense versus Nebraska's vaunted defense. Arizona has come a long way from where they were three years ago, and some would argue even three games into this season. Arizona started slow before naming Nick Foles their starting quarterback four games into the season. Foles not only impressed 'Cats' fans, but also national football analysts. Foles, through his first three starts, averaged almost 50 passes a game and had a completion percentage over 70 percent. Foles cooled as the season went on but still put up big numbers for Arizona, throwing for 2,438 yards, 19 touchdowns, and only completed 66 percent of his passes. Arizona's running game was grounded as their top two running backs, Nic Grigsby and Keola Antolin, battled injuries all year. Redshirt freshman Greg Nwoko and Nick Booth both impressed for the 'Cats when pressed into action. No player on the team rushed for more than 600 yards on the season, but the Wildcats still managed to have their top three rushers run for over 1,200 yards despite all the injuries. Grigsby and Antolin are both expected to be healthy and able to play for the Holiday Bowl. The receivers for Arizona felt like they were a dime a dozen. It seemed like each week Arizona decided that it was a different receiver's week to step up and make the big plays. No player on the 'Cats had more than 50 catches, but five receivers had at least 30 and could end up with four receivers grabbing 40 passes this season. The one who made the biggest impact and biggest plays was Juron Criner. Criner was tied for first in receiving touchdowns in the Pac-10 with nine touchdowns, including the game-winner over USC. Nebraska's defense this season was nothing short of spectacular. In fact, they are scary good. They are 11th in the nation against the run only allowing 96 yards a game and are ninth in the nation in yards allowed a game, only giving up 285. The even scarier stat: Second in the nation in scoring defense, only giving up 11.2 points a game. So who leads this Nebraska defense? Only a player who came in fourth in the Heisman trophy award voting, Ndamukong Suh. The senior defensive tackle lead the Cornhuskers in tackles with 83, had 23 tackles for loss, and was tied for third in the nation with 12 sacks. He absolutely dominates the line of scrimmage and his opposition and demands a double team on every play. His biggest game came on the biggest stage of the season so far: The Big 12 Championship game. He put constant pressure on Colt McCoy and the Longhorn backfield, racking up 12 tackles, seven for a loss and 4.5 sacks. The passing defense is no slouch, either. They rank 25th in the nation, allowing 189 yards per game through the air. Cornerback Prince Amukamara and safety Matt O'Hanlon both had five interceptions while backup cornerback Dejon Gomes picked off four passes. Needless to say, the Huskers have some ballhawks in the cornfields. Whichever team wins this battle will likely win the Holiday Bowl. Quote Link to comment
HUSKER 37 Posted December 18, 2009 Author Share Posted December 18, 2009 I like his honesty. You live in Arizona 37, has he always been so open and candid? Seems much less defensive than Bob. I thought Tomey was still their coach.. Probably was ..the last time I visited Tucson..Searching out wedding sites with Buckeye37 and our Hybrid. I don't think anyone I know even knows much about the "Mildcats". I have a Lunch bet with another Chemist on the outcome of the Holiday Bowl, but I was asking him today about their Injured TE and it turns out he just hates ASU.. Doesn't know much about UA except that he once lived in Tuscon as a child. He did have Cardinal season tix at one time, though. Quote Link to comment
AF Husker Fan Posted December 19, 2009 Share Posted December 19, 2009 Holiday Bowl Preview: Arizona Offense vs. Nebraska Defense by Tom Phillips Featured Columnist http://bleacherreport.com/articles/310179-...ebraska-defense . Written on December 17, 2009 Stephen Dunn/Getty Images Vote Now! - Author Poll Who will win this matchup? Whichever team wins this battle will likely win the Holiday Bowl. ya think !?!? Quote Link to comment
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