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ZonaZealots Editors Early Pre-Season Thoughts on Arizona Wildcats Football

By Miguel Gonzalez

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With The Arizona Wildcats Football season less than 2 months away I took my turn at asking my editor what her thoughts were on early season rankings and how the Wildcats will fare this season.

Shereen Rayan is the editor of Zonazealots.com and if you haven’t noticed she is one of the biggest and best Wildcats fans you will find. So I couldn’t help but fire off a couple of questions her way to get the excitement rolling for the upcoming season. Recently we noticed a preseason poll and I had to get her take on the rankings.

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The article we are referring to can be found at si.com , where the Arizona Wildcats were ranked 13th. Here are is the interview:

  • What are your thoughts on Arizona Wildcats being ranked at 13th and the brief description given in this article?

Shereen: I am pleasantly surprised actually; most “experts” leave Arizona Football out of the conversation, so this is great! Last year the Wildcats started out unranked, I think Coach Rich Rod is getting some major kudo’s with this ranking

Related story –>> Breaking down Pac-12 ‘Expert Football’ Predictions

  • What do you think is Arizona Wildcats biggest strength and weakness going into this season?

Shereen: Lots of new talent coming in, I’m wondering if they will perform out of the gate or will take some time to get used to the weather and surroundings in Tucson, as well as the workouts, etc.

I have high hopes and belief that Scooby Wright will be even better this year fueling those defensive players around him to try to keep up with him. If Scooby is as relentless and powerful as last year and can rise to the occasion in big games like he did against Oregon last season, Arizona will do well.

Arizona was close to beating most teams last year, a few Solomon, Skowron and other mishaps less this season and we are on top all of the time.

I am also not scared by USC and UCLA’s “star count” for each incoming freshman, it’s heart, hunger and drive that gets a team to excel. I have gotten to know some our Arizona incoming freshman and they are passionate, driven, and dedicated to the program, they have something to prove.

  • In all the Pac-12 has 6 teams in the top 25 what does that say about the Pac-12 Conference?

Shereen: Folks are waking up!!!! Thanks to Oregon for getting to the National Championships even though it was at our expense, and although faltering, they totally embarassed the number one draft pick in the Florida State game, what was his name again?  Hopefully this filters into the morning Sports Show conversations like Mike and Mike, His and Hers, Colin Cowherd; they hardly ever talk about the Pac-12.

  • What is your take on Arizona having 3 Pac-12 teams ranked ahead of them?

Shereen: Underestimation of the potential of the Arizona Wildcats, plain and simple, better to rise in the standings than start out on top and fall.

  • Out of all the Pac-12 teams who could you see making their way out of or into the Top-25 by years end?

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Shereen: This is a hard one, who knows really, right? What the heck to they base their rankings on anyway? Statistics? Probably not, probably a gut feel.  I think a number of experts look at the star rankings of the incoming class and go from there. UCLA, Oregon I get how they might rank them ahead of Arizona, both beat Arizona once last season. Stanford is the team I am baffled by.

  • Do you think a Pac-12 team will compete for a spot in The College Football Playoffs this season?

Shereen: The Wildcats always compete! “ALL 60 MINUTES!”

  • What is your take on the rest of the rankings? Any teams that surprised you with being in the rankings or not being in them?

Shereen: Kind of surprised about Florida State, they seem to excel because of their QB and the QB is gone. The one time their QB faltered in the Oregon game the rest of the team fell apart, why are they ranked so high?  The other surprising thing is that Boise State is ranked two below Arizona at No. 15, well I guess the Wildcats helped them with that, right? That darn “Statue of Liberty” play gets us every time!

  • I know it’s still early but what is your projection for your Arizona Wildcats season and final ranking?

Shereen: I am a homer, so it is really hard for me to be objective, I think Arizona can repeat if Coach Rich Rod gets his team to jell like last season, I think it is the team, the mantra’s like “play all 60 mintues” “Defense” and all the other Rich Rod mantra’s and traditions that keep that team focused on the goal. I think they repeat, but it will be harder this time, and if they go against Oregon in the Pac-12 championship game, they have a better chance this season.

It is really hard for me to disagree with any of her answers and now I can’t wait for kickoff on September 3rd!  Let us know what you think about the rankings and don’t forget to BEARDOWN and support Arizona Wildcats Football this season!! Only 53 days to Kickoff!

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