Arizona Football Journal Week 4: Cats Licking Wounds After Loss to UCLA
By Brad Malone
Saturday night is one Arizona Football fans are trying to forget. It was rough, but if you think you feel bad, imagine how Rich Rodriquez and the boys feel after getting trounced 56-30 by UCLA.
The Cats have eight games left, and it doesn’t get any easier against Stanford. If the Cats can find a way to win at the Farm on Saturday, they have a stretch of four winnable games in a row against Oregon State, at Colorado, Washington State, and at Washington.
Arizona Wildcats
The season is not over.
Let’s grudgingly take one more look at the UCLA massacre and the aftermath of it.
More Injuries
Saturday was bad. Sunday was silent.
Monday didn’t get much better. We thought we had Scooby Wright back.
Nope.
Rodriguez told reporters that Scooby will be out several more weeks with a foot sprain.
Rich Rod also said that quarterback Anu Solomon is “day to day” after suffering a concussion against the Bruins. If he can’t go against the Cardinal, Jerrard Randall and Brandon Dawkins are candidates to fill in.
Sep 26, 2015; Tucson, AZ, USA; Arizona Wildcats running back Jared Baker (23) runs the ball under pressure from UCLA Bruins linebacker Kene Orjioke (46) during the fourth quarter at Arizona Stadium. UCLA won 56-30. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports
Bakery Treats?
Turnovers destroyed any chances the Cats had to compete in this game.
Going into Saturday night Arizona held a +6 advantage on the Bruins in the takeaway department.
In the Rich Rod era, forcing turnovers is one reason the Cats have been able to compete at such a high level against elite teams at times.
With time winding down in the second quarter and the Cats trailing 35-14, Arizona shot itself in the turnover foot for the third and final time of the night when backup Randall threw an interception to recently reinstated UCLA cornerback Ismael Adams.
UCLA didn’t take much time to get on the board again to lead 42-14.
The Cats had dug a hole too deep to climb out of but still scored 16 more points.
Wilson and Randall
Randall had a rough night passing, but on the ground he was amazing, again.
The first time he touched the ball, he ran for a 39-yard touchdown, his shortest rushing touchdown of his career. He finished with 128 yards rushing.
Nick Wilson continued to impress. He finished with 136 yards rushing, and it was his tenth 100-yard rushing game in his short career.
Randall and Wilson have had back to back games in which they have both rushed for over 100-yards and have combined for 576 yards on the ground in those contests.
Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports
Sellout
Arizona officials stated that Saturday night’s game was a sellout.
A reported crowd of 56,004 was announced.
A sell-out is great for the school, but I did see a few empty pockets at the top of the west side of the stadium.
For the most part, I was proud of the Arizona crowd. They stuck around into the fourth quarter. The traditional mass exodus didn’t occur until there was 9:32 remaining in the game. They left just after the Cats turned the ball over on downs. The Cats trailed 49-23.
Let’s hope there is not too much of a drop-off in attendance when Oregon State comes to town in a few weeks. It’s a 1:00 p.m. start, and it’s Parent Weekend.
Jumbotron
This thing is amazing. It has brought a whole new feel to the stadium the past few years.
The one thing I could have done without is how the ZonaZoo reacted to the camera when the Cats were down by 26 in the fourth quarter. Particular fans in the Zona Zoo could have toned it down a notch when they get a camera in their faces.
I doubt these knuckleheads care, but it just looks wrong when they show everyone having the time of their lives and their team is in the middle of an embarrassing night on national television.
Coach Rich Rods injury Conference: