Arizona Football: Wildcats Just Can’t Catch a Break

So here we are in week nine of college football. Unfortunately, it has been a rough couple of weeks for the Arizona Football team and their fans.

Writing in tough times in this job is never easy.

Let’s start with the Wildcats football team, and let’s not single anybody out as there is plenty of blame to go around. We have heard it from fans all over the place, ‘the players aren’t playing up to their standards.’ They also complain that the coaches are not playing to the team’s strengths or are missing simple reads and not putting our players in the proper positions or formations to help us win.

Now whether you agree or not with everything being said, that is not the point of this article. Rather, Zona Zealots is going to give you a  viewpoint that a lot of people are forgetting or missing. Call it an excuse if you want, but if that’s how fans are going to react to this viewpoint, then these fans are what is wrong with sports today.

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First things first. Let’s talk about how badly the Pac-12 is doing in trying to compete within the NCAA and to become the best conference in the country. What is it that they always say? You have to put yourself in a situation to succeed. So explain to me how you give one of your teams, the defending Pac-12 South Champions, a schedule that has no bye week.

Can you name another team in all of college football that has a season with no bye week? I’ll wait…let me know when you find a team. If you can find one, are they in a Power four conference? Talk about dropping the ball Pac-12!

How are you ever suppose to get healthy in one of the toughest conferences when you’re playing a game every week? It’s football! So, even if you don’t see injuries on the injury report, it doesn’t mean that every player doesn’t have bumps and bruises. When you’re getting hit week in and week out you’re body is bound to be worn down.

For example, let’s look at a team that’s always in the NCAA football scene, the University of Alabama. Not only do they have a bye week every season, but they also play a weaker non-conference team late in the season (this season they play Charles Southern in week 12).

It’s like their conference added a second bye week to their schedule. Nothing against Charles Southern, but seriously, is that going to be a tough game for Alabama? Imagine if the Arizona Football team played Northern Arizona in week 11 instead of the likes of Utah or USC? Wouldn’t that have been nice.

Come on Pac-12! Talk about scheduling? They are working harder for the Norte Dame vs. USC game then for games in its own conference. Again, nothing against history and a great game, but seriously shouldn’t you be more worried about your own conference then an independent team? Yes, you should.

Now lets talk about kick-off times, what Power four conference plays more games past 10 p.m. than the Pac-12? Yes, kickoff time is usually 7-8:30 p.m, but what time do those games conclude? When is the last time we saw other Power-four conference game goes past 10 p.m.?

We keep using the Power four conference because that is who the Pac-12 will compete with for the College Football Playoff and national recognition. Lets take the Arizona Wildcats out of the equation. Some of the other conference teams kickoff at 7 p.m. but maybe only 2-3 games all season. Oregon already has played four games with 7 p.m. kickoffs and more to come. Stanford already has played six games with a kickoff of 7 p.m. or later. When is the last time we had a Pac-12 showdown before the sun went down?

Coach Rich Rod himself has made it well-known how much he disagrees with the late kickoffs. He has even filed a complaint with the Pac-12. How do they thank him? Two straight weeks of games kicking off at 7pm or later. So yes I know money plays a big part in this, and that fact is not lost on Rodriguez but is the money worth the integrity of your conference and its teams? Something to ponder.

So let’s not feel completely down and out yet Wildcats fans, Although Wildcats football may not be in the running for the conference, we do have games they may affect the way the conference does shape out in the remaining weeks. And then there is a bowl game possibly. So lets BEARDOWN and be sure to support our boys in the next coming weeks!

Next: Paul Magloire, a Bright Spot in the Wildcats Defense