2024 Season Thread

[84Cat]

That was well done. By the way, who's the guy talking?

Mark Wystrach. Alex Flanagan's bro. He's an actor and country singer in the band Midland

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Wystrach

[azgreg]

Thanks

[Merkin]

They hand out WWE wrestling belts at the football and basketball championships for the Big 12

That is very truck stop-ish. Something I would not be remotely interested in seeing even with the very slim chance UA wins either.

[TheCatInTheHat]

So, after all the drama and waiting, we're finally underway, and the new chapter begins.

[Merkin]

Herm Harris representing the UA in the WAC. Before my time, but certainly remember the name.

[wyo-cat]

That was well done. By the way, who's the guy talking?

Mark Wystrach. Alex Flanagan's bro. He's an actor and country singer in the band Midland

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Wystrach

Their parents run the Steak Out in Sonoita. A classic.

[pc in NM]

Herm Harris representing the UA in the WAC. Before my time, but certainly remember the name.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herman_Harris

"Herm the Germ" - one of my favorites of the Snowden era!!

Herman B. Harris[1] (born c. December 1953)[2] is an American former professional basketball player.
Playing career

Harris played basketball at Chester High School in his hometown of Chester, Pennsylvania.[2] He was lightly recruited despite being one of the leading prospects of his college recruiting class, which Harris attributed to scouts avoiding the city of Chester and its high crime rate.[2] Harris impressed a scout from the University of Arizona in 1972 by being able to dunk while in a cast for his broken left foot, which led to a basketball scholarship offer from the university.[2] He was named a Parade All-American during his high school senior year in 1973.[2]

Harris began his career with the Arizona Wildcats as a reserve player.[2] He had a breakthrough year during his senior season in 1976–77 when he was named a member of the first-team in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC).[3] Harris scored a career-high in points with 35 against the Utah Utes on January 20, 1977, then tied his record when he scored the same amount against the BYU Cougars two days later.[2][3]

Harris was selected as the 43rd overall pick in the 1977 NBA draft by the Philadelphia 76ers but he never played in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He began his career with the Anchorage Northern Knights of the Eastern Basketball Association in the 1977–78 season.[4] Harris played with the Montana Sky of the Western Basketball Association (WBA) during the league's only season in 1978–79.[5] In 1979–80, he played for SSV Hagen of the Bundesliga in Germany.[6]

Later life

Harris spent 14 years in the United States Army and worked for 20 years at the Pima County Courthouse in Tucson, Arizona.[2] He elected to return to the University of Arizona in 2011 to finish his degree, which he had not completed when he left for his NBA attempt.[2] Harris received his diploma in 2017.[2]

[TheCatInTheHat]

I've probably told this before, but here goes again. I was pretty excited about the '73-74 basketball team's prospects, so I went to a few of Fred Snowden's practices at McKale to see Money, Norman, Fleming, Allen, Rappis, and some freshmen: Bob Elliot...and Herman Harris. Harris was the most physically impressive of them all. It wasn't remotely as organized as an Olson practice. Just roll out the ball and let different groupings play some half-court together at about 2/3rd speed, with Snowden watching and occasionally stopping them to instruct on different players' roles and responsibilities. Now I think Herm was maybe one of those kids who would get distracted by butterflies when standing out in the outfield of a little league game. So he's kind of dutifully jogging through to his various spots on the floor...just another practice. Eric Money was the floor general in every sense of the word, and for a little guy, he had a temper and could be a bit scary. He suddenly fired a two-hand chest pass off Herm's forehead that bounced high and may have wound up in the stands. And then he got about an inch away from the muscular 6-5 Harris, looked up at him and bellowed, "Don't you EVER look away from me when I have the ball!" And Snowden said nothing, but he turned away so the players couldn't see him smiling. It was kind of a microcosm of the way things were in those days.

[azgreg]

Preseason coaches poll

1 Georgia (46 1st place votes)
2 Ohio State (7)
3 Oregon
4 Texas (1)
5 Alabama
6 Ole Miss
7 Notre Dame
8 Michigan (1)
9 Penn State
10 Florida State
11 Missouri
12 LSU
13 Utah
14 Clemson
15 Tennessee
16 Oklahoma
17 Kansas State
18 Oklahoma State
19 Miami
20 Texas A&M
21 Arizona
22 NC State
23 USC
24 Kansas
25 Iowa

[azcat49]

Did the Fisch man vote us in the top 25?

[Merkin]

I remember Spurrier used to always vote for Duke the first preseason poll, even when they sucked.

But UA is predicted 5th in the Big 12, so that fits about right.

[EastCoastCat]

And Udub not in the top 25. Eat that Jedd.

Michigan faces 5 teams in the top 25 with 4 of them in the top 10. Brutal schedule.

[LuteIsGod]

Preseason coaches poll

1 Georgia (46 1st place votes)
2 Ohio State (7)
3 Oregon
4 Texas (1)
5 Alabama
6 Ole Miss
7 Notre Dame
8 Michigan (1)
9 Penn State
10 Florida State
11 Missouri
12 LSU
13 Utah
14 Clemson
15 Tennessee
16 Oklahoma
17 Kansas State
18 Oklahoma State
19 Miami
20 Texas A&M
21 Arizona
22 NC State
23 USC
24 Kansas
25 Iowa

Arizona has no equal this year!

[wyo-cat]

This is a great story about Feef’s character.

[UAEebs86]

Check it out RC: (Is he an Aussie rules FB guy?)

[wyo-cat]

Maybe Aussie FB, maybe soccer or rugby.

He’s was kicking with some sweet hang time at practice today.

Richard Cranium, any local intel??

[RichardCranium]

Not finding much. I assume his background is Aussie Rules - that's where most punters come from. Field goal kickers seem to come from Soccer.

Seems to have been a star at City Of San Fransisco JC

[tweet]https://x.com/lachlanbruce4?lang=en[/tweet]

[RichardCranium]

Some film from San Francisco here: Includes a heading photo of him in Aussie Rules gear.

Lachlan Bruce film

Shows him field goal kicking too.

I also found him listed on an Oregon roster - dunno if that is wishful thinking or not.

I thought I saw a reference that he was a transfer from LSU too. Can't find it again so I don't know what I was looking at.

P.S. the LSU thing was a furphy. He was mentioned in an article that was talking about somebody else from LSU. But apparently he did spend time at Oregon.

P.P.S. Looks like he was eligible for the 2019 AFL draft. I suspect he decided to not go into the draft or was not drafted to go to NCAA footy instead.

[Fishclamps]

From what I remember he's an Oregon transfer

[wyo-cat]

JCM looking fire.

We got a gem.

[84Cat]

[TheCatInTheHat]

Lev has a preview story in the Star where he compares the weight of this year's defensive line to last year's team. It's certainly a legitimate issue and concern, as size and depth there contributed to our success last year. It also plays into the schematic change of being in more of an attack mode this year. My only comment is that I seem to recall a comment somewhere along the line, maybe by Spears reviewing the roster, that unlike Fisch embellishing the roster to get the attention of pro scouts, Brennan plays it straight, so we "shrunk" in some positions. Sounds a little like in hoops, where some players during pro workouts turn out to be a few inches shorter than listed by a school.

[azcat49]

Fisch, the great embellisher

[dmjcat]

[azcat49]

Sounds like we are having some OLine issues. Lots of guys hurt and bringing in a guy late is a red flag

[Merkin]

Had a couple years at SDSU before Nevada, but only saw the field once.

[azgreg]

Had a couple years at SDSU before Nevada, but only saw the field once.

He played in 25 games with13 starts for Nevada.

[Fishclamps]

These are always a fun watch. This one goes through Tacario's thought process on staying too.

[Merkin]

[azgreg]

Preseason AP Top25

1 Georgia (46 1st place votes)
2 Ohio St (15)
3 Oregon (1)
4 Texas
5 Alabama
6 Ole Miss
7 Notre Dame
8 Penn St
9 Michigan
10 Florida St
11 Missouri
12 Utah
13 LSU
14 Clemson
15 Tennessee
16 Oklahoma
17 Oklahoma State
18 Kansas State
19 Miami
20 A&M
21 Arizona
22 Kansas
23 USC
24 NC State
25 Iowa

[azcat49]

Thought we might get a bit more respect but at least we are ranked. 5 Big XII teams, not bad

[Merkin]

UDub 14-1 last season.



Greg Byrne must be pleased. I guess it's one way to make more money.

[PHXCATS]

New coach new traditions

All good with me

[84Cat]

Preseason AP Top25

1 Georgia (46 1st place votes)
2 Ohio St (15)
3 Oregon (1)
4 Texas
5 Alabama
6 Ole Miss
7 Notre Dame
8 Penn St
9 Michigan
10 Florida St
11 Missouri
12 Utah
13 LSU
14 Clemson
15 Tennessee
16 Oklahoma
17 Oklahoma State
18 Kansas State
19 Miami
20 A&M
21 Arizona
22 Kansas
23 USC
24 NC State
25 Iowa

[AZCatGirl]

Greg Byrne must be pleased. I guess it's one way to make more money.

The only one I have a problem with is the stripe out, because those never turn out right.

Now if they could try a red and blue stripe I think they'd have better success.

[TheCatInTheHat]

Per Scheer, evidently somebody who's been attending practices since at least RichRod's time tweeted out some injury information, resulting in the coaching staff declaring all practices closed for the time being. He said the individual has had run-ins with previous coaches. My assumption is it wouldn't be anybody from the Star or TV, so I'd guess some radio or website type. Haven't seen anything else on it, and I'm curious as to who it might be, if anybody here has any thoughts.

[Merkin]

Chief?

Just came to post the same thing:

[wyo-cat]

Seems like a repeat offender. I can’t place any of this stuff.

[azcat49]

Word is David Kelly

[EastCoastCat]

I’m sorry but Tucson/UofA sports media is fucking amateur league.

JFC…

[UAEebs86]

Fuck David Kelly

[KillerKlown]

You'd think once everybody calls you an asshole you'd finally realize it and stop. There's a handful of people that are notorius for not giving a shit and every UA fan that dabbles online knows who they are without even having to mention names.

[Chicat]

Went to look up his timeline on Xitter.
Apparently I blocked him a while ago.

[Merkin]

Can't blame Scheer, this affects his income and reputation.

[Fishclamps]

Well there you go. If he's done this three times now maybe just don't give him access?

[FreeSpiritCat]

Venu Sports is set to start Aug 23, unless there is an injunction to stop it. The price will be $42.99/month.

https://cordcuttersnews.com/the-new-liv ... t-23-2024/

[PHXCATS]

I heard a things about the media thing

1290 is still the radio home of UA Athletics so you can’t just ban their guy and no one else even though their guy clearly is in the wrong here

Media can still attend practice and talk about the team and profile players etc just can’t talk or write about anything practice related


While it obviously isn’t idea it does still allow the Spears of the world to do things that helps the Star and helps get fans more familiar with the team and players and coaches etc

[PHXCATS]

I’m sorry but Tucson/UofA sports media is fucking amateur league.

JFC…

Except for Lev this is 100% true

[TheCatInTheHat]

Word is David Kelly

Thanks; that was my guess. For such a little dude with a pretty privileged upbringing (NFL HOF dad/USC degree) the guy seems to have a pretty big chip on his shoulder.

[Carcassdragger]

I heard a things about the media thing

1290 is still the radio home of UA Athletics so you can’t just ban their guy and no one else even though their guy clearly is in the wrong here

Media can still attend practice and talk about the team and profile players etc just can’t talk or write about anything practice related


While it obviously isn’t idea it does still allow the Spears of the world to do things that helps the Star and helps get fans more familiar with the team and players and coaches etc

In the journalistic world, isn't this unethical? Allowing yourself to be given access in exchange for censorship? I understand why the program would want this but surprised it's not considered a no no.