The Arizona Wildcats face tough competition this weekend. Saturday’s home game is against #18 Oklahoma State. The Cowboys are coming in, guns blazing, after an unheard of 84-0 victory over Savannah State. The Cats have not had much recent success against the Cowboys, losing both of the teams past two meetings (although they did win the meeting before that, but it was in 1942).
In order to have a chance at victory, Arizona will have to fix some areas of concern. Pass completion will be vital; every down is an opportunity for yardage the Cats will need. Receivers will need to get into a flow with Quarterback Matt Scott in order to minimize dropped passes and eliminate interceptions. Receiver Austin Hill, who had 8 receptions for 128 yards against OK St. in 2011, will play a big role in this weekend’s game. With seven catches for 139 yards against Toledo, Hill will see many looks from Scott, as well as heavy coverage from OK St. One thing to watch for is that turnovers could be a problem for Arizona. Toledo may not have been able to capitalize on Arizona’s three turnovers, but Oklahoma State is more likely to take advantage of them. Overall, Arizona is looking forward to a tough match up. And with the blowout of last weekend, the Cowboys are rolling into Arizona with a lot of momentum that the Cats will have to subdue with an explosive start on offense. Scoring first and scoring often will need to be Arizona’s mantra.
As many fans discovered last weekend, Arizona is HOT. I again recommend bringing a sealed water bottle (any size) to the game. Tucson is expecting a high of 95 and a 30% chance of rain. Any fans interested in a close up encounter with the players can participate in the Wildcat Walk. Two hours before game time, players will be bused to campus and dropped off on the corner of University and Cherry, where they will be met by the Pride of Arizona and other waiting fans.
Photo courtesy of AZCentral.com
The game will begin at 7:30PM at Arizona Stadium. The ZonaZoo will begin admitting students at approximately 5:30PM and the Coca-Cola Fan Fiesta will begin at 4:30PM on the University of Arizona mall, just west of Cherry. This event is free to the public and includes “live entertainment, food vendors, interactive displays and a fun zone for the kids.” Often times, the Pride of Arizona makes an appearance, alongside some of the pomline. The Fan Fiesta is a great way to tailgate without having to set up a grill.
For those looking for a fuller tailgating experience, The Game Day Grill will be located in the Eddie Lynch Pavillion, north of McKale Center. This event offers a food buffet, beer, wine, and Coca-Cola products. This event will begin 4 hours before every home football game. The menu theme is “Best of Baja Hoorah!” which will include white fish tacos, black beans, and vegetable chilaquilas, among other offerings. Admission for The Game Day Grill is $20/person/game-day and this event reoccurs before every home game.
From the heart of Wildcat Country, Bear Down
