Mon, Jul 06, 2009
ez access
Subscriber services | Subscribe now
Custom clipper icon
In their own words
Arizona recruiting coordinator Bill Baker played linebacker for the Wildcats from 1973 to 1976; his father, Bill Sr., coached under Bob Weber from 1971 to 1972.
Baker discussed what the rivalry means, 35 years after coming to the UA.
"This rivalry is special. It's really two cities, two parts of Arizona, the haves and the have-nots in some cases, the old versus the new. It's very healthy, though. I don't think anybody gets hurt.
Nationally, it's unknown. It really takes living here, being a part of it and going to the games to get the sense it's as big a rivalry as there is in the country. It's right up there with Michigan-Ohio State, Oklahoma-Texas. If you look at it with what it means to the schools involved, it's pretty damn intense.
I've always looked at Arizona State kind of like a little brother. We're the big brother; we're the University of Arizona; they're Tempe Normal. Little brother every once in a while has puffed his chest and said, 'I want to take on this guy,' and they've done it. They're still the little brother. They still need to be put in their place occasionally."
Up next
• What: Arizona at Arizona State
• When: 6 p.m. Saturday
• TV: ESPN2
• Radio: 1290-AM, 107.5-FM, 990-AM (Sp)

Related articles:

Wildcats Football '07

UA Sports

UA football

Relaxation has been a key during Cats' three-game winning streak

By Ryan Finley
arizona daily star
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 11.27.2007
Mike Stoops might not be channeling Phil Jackson, or even Dr. Phil, just yet.
But the UA football team's fourth-year coach is learning that it's OK to relax a little.
Stoops, the Wildcats' sultan of sideline warnings, has seemingly turned over a new leaf during his team's three-game winning streak. Stoops said Monday that the UA will stay loose in preparation for Saturday's "Duel in the Desert" against Arizona State.
With a win, the Wildcats (5-6) would likely make their first bowl game since 1998 and ruin ASU's chances of sneaking back into the Bowl Championship Series.
Stoops' attitude changed when the Wildcats were 2-6.
Arizona's coaches backed off the players in practice before their Oct. 27 game at Washington in hopes that a more relaxed atmosphere would allow everyone to play loose in games.
"When we start to relax as a staff, they start to relax and play better and not worry about it," Stoops said. "Worrying really inhibits you in a lot of ways. It's really, really true."
The approach has worked.
Arizona has won three games in a row heading into its regular-season finale.
"That's the biggest turnaround with this team, the relaxed feel," linebacker Spencer Larsen said. "It's like, just let your talents and abilities show up on Saturday and play well. Don't try to do too much. Don't try to be all-world on every play."
The Wildcats' new attitude is ironic given this week's opponent. ASU coach Dennis Erickson has posted a 9-2 record in his first season using basically the same on-field approach as his predecessor, Dirk Koetter.
The main difference has come on the sidelines, where Erickson — a 30-year coaching veteran — has urged players to relax.
Stoops has adopted the same approach, even if it took three-plus seasons of trial and error to figure it out.
"You try to lead in a very positive way, do the right things and good things happen," Stoops said. "If it's not meant to be, it's not meant to be. I'm not too worried about it."
Let the smack begin
The trash talk between Arizona and Arizona State began in earnest Monday, when UA cornerback Antoine Cason said he enjoyed watching ASU get knocked around in a Thanksgiving night loss to USC.
Sun Devils quarterback Rudy Carpenter told a radio interviewer in August, "I might not have a lot of TD passes this year, but I'll probably have five or six against UA," a boast the Wildcats star said is "awesome for me."
"I like to hear that from him and go out there and get him," Cason said.
Cason said the jawing is part of the in-state rivalry. Cason won't back down against ASU, a team he has beaten only once in his college career.
"It gets ugly sometimes, and that's just the beauty of rivalry competition and playing the game of football," Cason said. "You need that. That just heats the game that much more and makes it a better game."
Carpenter, for his part, played it safe. He told the media on Monday that "I think Antoine Cason is a very good corner. He plays the run well and the pass very well."
Extra points
● Saturday's game will be broadcast on ESPN2.
The network announced Monday that the "Duel in the Desert" will air opposite a pair of big games: Pittsburgh at No. 2 West Virginia and the Big 12 Conference title game between No. 1 Missouri and No. 9 Oklahoma. Mark Jones, Bob Davie and Stacey Dales will call the UA game.
ESPN and ESPN2 were originally contracted to carry either the UA-ASU game or Hawaii's regular-season finale against Washington, with the bigger game being carried on the main network.
The network audibled Monday. The West Virginia-Pitt game will be carried at 5:45 p.m. on ESPN. The Hawaii-Washington will kick off immediately after the UA game is over.
Saturday will mark the first time this season that the Wildcats will have played on ESPN2. Their Nov. 15 win over then-No. 2 Oregon was carried on ESPN.
● Stoops spent Saturday afternoon in Norman, Okla., where his brother Bob's Oklahoma team defeated rival Oklahoma State 49-17. Stoops said the trip "wasn't a vacation" because football was involved.
"It's almost like work when you go back there," he said.
Wildcat newslettersARIZONA• sign up now for U of A basketball coverage
Get Arizona Daily Star home delivery and SAVE BIG!
Go Back