Reader’s Blog: A day with the Wildcats in Sierra Vista
EDITOR’S NOTE: James Gordon Patterson is a professional photographer who teaches photography and information technology at Paradise Valley Community College in Phoenix. He is a UA journalism graduate who at one time was the news director at KUAT. He offers professional services, including photo sets for weddings and special events. Please visit his professional Web site and his Shutterfly Web page for more information.
By James Gordon Patterson
FORT HUACHUCA/SIERRA VISTA — Arizona Wildcats head football coach Mike Stoops said he is proud of where his players are at less than three weeks before the season-opening kickoff Sept. 5 against Central Michigan at Arizona Stadium.
They are tremendous players with great character, he told a group of UA supporters Saturday.
Speaking to more than 120 Wildcat fans and nearly 100 Arizona football players, coaches, and trainers at the Fort Huachuca Thunder Mountain Activity Center, Stoops said this was his deepest team since he’s been head coach. The team, he said, is in great shape. The defense has played well. The offense now has a variety of ways to attack. And special teams have a great group of athletes.
Stoops concluded his brief remarks to the crowd by saying this team has no weaknesses, which he called a real strength.
Later on Saturday, the team moved on to the Buena High School football field for a 100-play scrimmage in front of over 700 fans. Quarterbacks Matt Scott, Nick Foles, and Bryson Beirne took turns running the offense. Scott took approximately 50 percent of the snaps, Foles took about 40 percent, and Beirne took 10 percent.
The quarterbacks struggled. None of them have played extensively at the Division I level. Offensive Coordinator Sonny Dykes was not very pleased at the conclusion of the scrimmage. Foles and Beirne, however, directed their offense to touchdowns during the scrimmage.
Special teams has some catching up to do as well, as place-kicker Alex Zendejas did not convert on three field-goal attempts. Give him time as well. He is replacing Jason Bondzio, who exhausted his eligibility, and is the nephew of legendary UA kicker Max Zendejas.
I was stunned by the lunch crowd size. Some of my tailgate partners for UA football games who live in the area and work for the Army said the crowd was twice as large as last year. The room was packed for lunch.
FOLLOW US BY CLICKING ON THE LOGOS:  |
with Head Coach Mike Stoops |
|
Tags: James Gordon Patterson, Reader Blogs, UA football 2009
WILDABOUTAZCATS.com (RSS) Feeds
This entry was posted
on Sunday, August 16th, 2009 at 2:17 PM and is filed under Reader Blogs, UA football 2009.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
Both comments and pings are currently closed.