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Opinion: Kevin Sumlin will have lot of work this off-season

By Eric Townsend

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 19: Head coach Kevin Sumlin of the Arizona Wildcats on the sidelines as his team trails 10-0 to the USC Trojans during the first half at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on October 19, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 19: Head coach Kevin Sumlin of the Arizona Wildcats on the sidelines as his team trails 10-0 to the USC Trojans during the first half at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on October 19, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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We’re approaching the end of year two of the Kevin Sumlin era at Arizona, and with the Wildcats unlikely to make a bowl again, he has quite the off-season ahead.

It’s now been almost two full seasons under head coach Kevin Sumlin, and things haven’t been quite honky dory in the Old Pueblo, as the Wildcats are likely headed to another bowl-less season.

I know it’s hard not to expect immediate results in college football, because that’s just the way a results-driven society has molded us to think. Moreover, what Sumlin inherited versus what Mike Stoops inherited were completely different.

Arizona Wildcats
Arizona Wildcats /

Arizona Wildcats

To refresh, one program was coming off a 2-10 season (the worst in program history), while the other was 7-6, coming off a bowl loss, so that certainly played a part in early expectations.

Now, to be completely honest, it’s always fair to give head coaches enough time to try to implement their system, turn things around and to inject enough of their own players into the program while instilling their football culture. And to be frank, Sumlin hasn’t had nearly enough time to do all those things here, not yet.

However, again with the results-driven industry that is college athletics, the expectation was for Arizona and Sumlin to win and win now. Already through 21 games into Sumlin era at Arizona, and the Wildcats sit at 9-12 (4-5 this season). Even worse, it appears that team has seemingly regressed this year and may not win another game.

As Saturday showed against the Oregon State Beavers, the Wildcats need a lot of work on defense and that means more talent and depth along the defensive line specifically will be needed.

To make things more challenging, gone is defensive coordinator Marcel Yates and linebacker coach John Rushing, so not only will Sumlin possibly enter next season on a seat that is growing hotter, but he will have to find a way to get immediate results and get the Wildcats winning again.

To say this off-season is going to be a busy and perhaps one of the most important off-season for Sumlin would be an understatement.

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At Zona Zealots, we’re hoping the Wildcats and Sumlin specifically can turn things around and find some success! As always, Bear Down, Arizona!

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