Being a Wildcat
Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2014 8:58 pm
After reflecting on the roller coaster ride that was the McKenzie recruitment, I decided to write this. UofA has never been a five star kinda place. I know it’s cool to get caught up in this stuff and dream, I am as guilty as anyone. And we hang our heads and kick the dirt because we feel fate will never bring us a Rose Bowl until we land a five star recruit. And I’ve even seen a lot of negative attitude about our past and tradition. But I’m here to tell you, there is a TON to be proud of when it comes to Arizona football.
People say I'm pretty pessimistic about everything. My response is "I grew up on Wildcat football. What do you expect?" haha. So, now that the dust has settled and all the super-charge positive folks out there are as let down as a kid who got a game boy instead of X-Box on Christmas, let the older Wildcat fans help pick up the pieces now. If you will indulge me a moment and read my ridiculously long post, I'd like to share why we shouldn't worry too much about this recruiting non-sense. Here is a run down of why I love being a Wildcat and could really care less about all this "we need five stars to compete for championships" nonsense.
In the 80's we played the almighty Notre' Dame down here. My dad was at that game. Every seat filled in a time when you could drink in the stadium and it was LOUD; people overflowing from the corridors to watch Notre Dame scrape by their teeth. The following year Arizona went up to South Bend and broke ND's hearts and chances for a title with a 50+ yard game winning field goal from the foot of Max Zendejas. I had a professor who said he had a friend at that game. He said Notre Dame fans stood up and clapped after that kick.
During that same decade Bill Switzer brought his 6th ranked Sooners to Tucson. They too scraped by us the year before up in Norman. Those Wildcats shocked the nation beating the Sooner machine in defensive slugfest 6-3.
In 1981 UofA went into the Colosseum and squared off with the mighty #1 ranked USC Trojans. Arizona rallied down 10-0 to shock the Trojans. Coach John Robinson was so impressed by Arizona's fight he walked into a loud, boisterous Arizona locker room and proclaimed "you boys celebrate. You deserve it."
I've heard Lee Corso's infamous pre-game predictions was aided in gaining notoriety by the Wildcats. In 1992 Lee Corso said the Desert Swarm defense was gonna be too much for the #1 ranked Washington Huskies. People balked at him. He was right... I was a kid when I watched Don James' indestructible force have to fight to gain an inch on any play. UofA gashed their title hopes and sent them back to Seattle with a sobering 16-3 loss.
We had a three-year series with Miami when they were "THE U." In '91 they buried a young Arizona team that featured no-name guys (at the time at least) like freshmen Teddy Bruschi, Tony Bouie, Chuck Levy and the likes of Sophomores like Rob Waldrop. In '92 that same young Arizona team traveled back to play the #1 ranked Hurricanes. I read an account of that game. Heath Bray said not one person in that stadium respected them. Even the security guards made fun of them as they walked out. At midfield for the coin toss UofA players went to shake the hands of the Hurricane captains. In line with who they were, the Hurricanes showed no respect and put their hands behind their back. UofA linebacker Charlie Camp had to be contained and a brawl at midfield broke out. And so the Desert Swarm defense was born.
Arizona's defense shut down every weapon they had. They were popping them at every turn. Down 7-8, kicker Steve McLaughlin lined up for a 50 yard game winning field goal that sailed wide. The 'Canes survived and went on to share the NC with Washington that year. But, as luck would have it for the 'Canes, they had to deal with Desert Swarm one more time the following year when they came back to the desert for a date with the Wildcats in the Fiesta Bowl. They met the Desert Swarm at it's peak, and it was not pleasant for them... the 'Canes played two QBs that year. By halftime both their jerseys looked like they just rolled around in the dirt for the day. The commentators joked "neither of these QBs can do anything. Miami is gonna have to find volunteers to play QB the second half."
And that is who we are. A gritty, gutty group of guys, tough as nails, and they don't give a damn what name is on your jersey. Our teams are, and always have been, a rag-tag group of guys that nobody wanted. But, I promise you this: WHOEVER comes into Arizona stadium better have it strapped on and ready to battle. "You're the number 1 team in the country? Well, we're the team that nobody knows about who is gonna pop you in the mouth for four quarters and we'll let the scoreboard worry about the rest."
Teddy Bruschi was a kid whose biggest offer was San Jose State. His coach called Dick Tomey and said you gotta see this kid. He's gotta a motor like I've never seen. I watched Bruschi run circles around blue chip OTs, crawling on his stomach to grab a shoelace to get a sack. Joe Salavea broke his arm in a game. He told the doctor's "tape this up. I got a game to play." Chuck Cecil was a small safety who didn't have a major offer. He was essentially forced out of the NFL because he was too mean. His play helped usher in the targeting rule.
It's not only about winning championships, being a contender, or getting some primadonna five star who feels he is so important to the world that he needs an ESPN audience to pick his school. This is college football. It's about pride, tradition, representing who you are. That is what it's about. Or at least it should be...
Samuel Morrison tweeted the other day that "he is never gonna take his Arizona hat off." For those of you that don't know, Morrison's father is Darryl Morrison, who played DB on that Desert Swarm defense that fought #1 Miami to a last second field goal, and then whipped #1 Washington the next year (and returned an a$$ whipping to Miami just to settle the score). I'm more excited to have Morrison than any other recruit. I wouldn't trade him for McKenzie or any other damn kid that needs a TV audience to pick a school.
I told you how being a 'Cat fan has made me rather pessimistic. But that isn't all I've got from growing up watching them.
Right after high school I enlisted and did two tours in Iraq. My second tour was in Fallujah - hulking around 80 pounds of gear in the dead of summer in the most God forsaken city on the planet. It took every ounce of grit and fight I had to stay sane sometimes. But I found it. We all did. I can’t speak what got others through, but I think I know what got me through.
Growing up there were two things that I idolized that inspired and reminded me to always be tough and fight as hard as I can, regardless of the size of the obstacle or giant in front of me: My Father and Arizona Wildcat football. I don’t think I would have gained much growing up if my favorite team featured a bunch of physically superior athletes who won 10 out of 11 games with ease every year. That would be conditioning to expect things to come easy and never learning to deal with heartbreak. And that’s not life. But watching Teddy Bruschi claw his way to a QB on his hands and knees taught me something. Watching a bunch of unheralded guys go out and beat a national champion taught me something. And dealing with heart-breaking losses when we’ve been so close also taught me something.
I will always have an unwavering love and devotion for this team; They were a great role model for a kid growing up who would end up battling in a hellhole.
Rich Rodriguez and company are the coaches who can bring back what we had in the 80's and 90's under Smith and Tomey. Like everyone else, I too get wrapped up thinking about nabbing a bunch of five-stars and competing for championships year-in-and-year-out. But, I realized today that I like what we have going here. Actually I love it. I love the idea of "OKGs." We’ve slayed giants with OKG’s before. Our boys aren't gonna wow anyone with loads of offers, accolades and stars following their name. But watch them fight... watch them "fight like Wildcats."
So bring those teams full of five-stars on down to Tucson. They might leave with sore a%^ and broken dreams.
McKenzie is great kid and a rare talent; and he is going where he belongs. Samuel Morrison is great kid who will play his heart out and bleed for this team; and is coming right where he belongs. I wouldn’t want it any other way. Bear Down!
People say I'm pretty pessimistic about everything. My response is "I grew up on Wildcat football. What do you expect?" haha. So, now that the dust has settled and all the super-charge positive folks out there are as let down as a kid who got a game boy instead of X-Box on Christmas, let the older Wildcat fans help pick up the pieces now. If you will indulge me a moment and read my ridiculously long post, I'd like to share why we shouldn't worry too much about this recruiting non-sense. Here is a run down of why I love being a Wildcat and could really care less about all this "we need five stars to compete for championships" nonsense.
In the 80's we played the almighty Notre' Dame down here. My dad was at that game. Every seat filled in a time when you could drink in the stadium and it was LOUD; people overflowing from the corridors to watch Notre Dame scrape by their teeth. The following year Arizona went up to South Bend and broke ND's hearts and chances for a title with a 50+ yard game winning field goal from the foot of Max Zendejas. I had a professor who said he had a friend at that game. He said Notre Dame fans stood up and clapped after that kick.
During that same decade Bill Switzer brought his 6th ranked Sooners to Tucson. They too scraped by us the year before up in Norman. Those Wildcats shocked the nation beating the Sooner machine in defensive slugfest 6-3.
In 1981 UofA went into the Colosseum and squared off with the mighty #1 ranked USC Trojans. Arizona rallied down 10-0 to shock the Trojans. Coach John Robinson was so impressed by Arizona's fight he walked into a loud, boisterous Arizona locker room and proclaimed "you boys celebrate. You deserve it."
I've heard Lee Corso's infamous pre-game predictions was aided in gaining notoriety by the Wildcats. In 1992 Lee Corso said the Desert Swarm defense was gonna be too much for the #1 ranked Washington Huskies. People balked at him. He was right... I was a kid when I watched Don James' indestructible force have to fight to gain an inch on any play. UofA gashed their title hopes and sent them back to Seattle with a sobering 16-3 loss.
We had a three-year series with Miami when they were "THE U." In '91 they buried a young Arizona team that featured no-name guys (at the time at least) like freshmen Teddy Bruschi, Tony Bouie, Chuck Levy and the likes of Sophomores like Rob Waldrop. In '92 that same young Arizona team traveled back to play the #1 ranked Hurricanes. I read an account of that game. Heath Bray said not one person in that stadium respected them. Even the security guards made fun of them as they walked out. At midfield for the coin toss UofA players went to shake the hands of the Hurricane captains. In line with who they were, the Hurricanes showed no respect and put their hands behind their back. UofA linebacker Charlie Camp had to be contained and a brawl at midfield broke out. And so the Desert Swarm defense was born.
Arizona's defense shut down every weapon they had. They were popping them at every turn. Down 7-8, kicker Steve McLaughlin lined up for a 50 yard game winning field goal that sailed wide. The 'Canes survived and went on to share the NC with Washington that year. But, as luck would have it for the 'Canes, they had to deal with Desert Swarm one more time the following year when they came back to the desert for a date with the Wildcats in the Fiesta Bowl. They met the Desert Swarm at it's peak, and it was not pleasant for them... the 'Canes played two QBs that year. By halftime both their jerseys looked like they just rolled around in the dirt for the day. The commentators joked "neither of these QBs can do anything. Miami is gonna have to find volunteers to play QB the second half."
And that is who we are. A gritty, gutty group of guys, tough as nails, and they don't give a damn what name is on your jersey. Our teams are, and always have been, a rag-tag group of guys that nobody wanted. But, I promise you this: WHOEVER comes into Arizona stadium better have it strapped on and ready to battle. "You're the number 1 team in the country? Well, we're the team that nobody knows about who is gonna pop you in the mouth for four quarters and we'll let the scoreboard worry about the rest."
Teddy Bruschi was a kid whose biggest offer was San Jose State. His coach called Dick Tomey and said you gotta see this kid. He's gotta a motor like I've never seen. I watched Bruschi run circles around blue chip OTs, crawling on his stomach to grab a shoelace to get a sack. Joe Salavea broke his arm in a game. He told the doctor's "tape this up. I got a game to play." Chuck Cecil was a small safety who didn't have a major offer. He was essentially forced out of the NFL because he was too mean. His play helped usher in the targeting rule.
It's not only about winning championships, being a contender, or getting some primadonna five star who feels he is so important to the world that he needs an ESPN audience to pick his school. This is college football. It's about pride, tradition, representing who you are. That is what it's about. Or at least it should be...
Samuel Morrison tweeted the other day that "he is never gonna take his Arizona hat off." For those of you that don't know, Morrison's father is Darryl Morrison, who played DB on that Desert Swarm defense that fought #1 Miami to a last second field goal, and then whipped #1 Washington the next year (and returned an a$$ whipping to Miami just to settle the score). I'm more excited to have Morrison than any other recruit. I wouldn't trade him for McKenzie or any other damn kid that needs a TV audience to pick a school.
I told you how being a 'Cat fan has made me rather pessimistic. But that isn't all I've got from growing up watching them.
Right after high school I enlisted and did two tours in Iraq. My second tour was in Fallujah - hulking around 80 pounds of gear in the dead of summer in the most God forsaken city on the planet. It took every ounce of grit and fight I had to stay sane sometimes. But I found it. We all did. I can’t speak what got others through, but I think I know what got me through.
Growing up there were two things that I idolized that inspired and reminded me to always be tough and fight as hard as I can, regardless of the size of the obstacle or giant in front of me: My Father and Arizona Wildcat football. I don’t think I would have gained much growing up if my favorite team featured a bunch of physically superior athletes who won 10 out of 11 games with ease every year. That would be conditioning to expect things to come easy and never learning to deal with heartbreak. And that’s not life. But watching Teddy Bruschi claw his way to a QB on his hands and knees taught me something. Watching a bunch of unheralded guys go out and beat a national champion taught me something. And dealing with heart-breaking losses when we’ve been so close also taught me something.
I will always have an unwavering love and devotion for this team; They were a great role model for a kid growing up who would end up battling in a hellhole.
Rich Rodriguez and company are the coaches who can bring back what we had in the 80's and 90's under Smith and Tomey. Like everyone else, I too get wrapped up thinking about nabbing a bunch of five-stars and competing for championships year-in-and-year-out. But, I realized today that I like what we have going here. Actually I love it. I love the idea of "OKGs." We’ve slayed giants with OKG’s before. Our boys aren't gonna wow anyone with loads of offers, accolades and stars following their name. But watch them fight... watch them "fight like Wildcats."
So bring those teams full of five-stars on down to Tucson. They might leave with sore a%^ and broken dreams.
McKenzie is great kid and a rare talent; and he is going where he belongs. Samuel Morrison is great kid who will play his heart out and bleed for this team; and is coming right where he belongs. I wouldn’t want it any other way. Bear Down!
