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ASU, Cats featuring new looks after '06arizona daily star
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 11.28.2007
Antoine Cason says he does not think about last year's 28-14 loss to Arizona State. Ever.
"I really don't like to think about losing to ASU," the Wildcats' star cornerback said. "I still don't want to think about it."
Tough.
The 2006 game helped bring changes that have turned both the UA and ASU into exciting bowl contenders. Despite their respective makeovers, the teams will play Saturday's game with the same things on the line as last year.
If Arizona wins, the Wildcats would likely go to a bowl game. ASU is already bowl eligible but could improve its lot with a decisive victory.
The 2006 "Duel in the Desert" reflected both teams' downward trajectory. ASU scored three quick touchdowns and held on against an Arizona team that looked lost.
The game might have been relevant, but it was ugly.
Changes were made almost as soon as the final gun sounded, and for good reason. ASU fired coach Dirk Koetter the next day. Arizona coach Mike Stoops soon junked his entire offensive staff in favor of a pass-heavy offense.
"We were both mediocre teams, and we didn't have much to trash-talk about" last year, UA linebacker Spencer Larsen said. "They weren't great. We weren't great. We just went out there trying to get a win."
The Wildcats and the Sun Devils again have bowl berths riding on this year's rivalry game. But players say the circumstances — and overall talent level — should make for a more memorable "Duel."
Arizona (5-6 overall, 4-4 Pac-10) has won three consecutive Pac-10 games but must earn a victory just to be eligible for a bowl game.
With a victory, the Sun Devils (9-2, 6-2) can punch a ticket to either the Holiday Bowl or Sun Bowl — or possibly slip via the back door into the Bowl Championship Series.
Both teams have enough offensive firepower to make for a watchable game.
ASU first-year coach Dennis Erickson has allowed quarterback Rudy Carpenter to flourish in a pro-style system. The UA, meanwhile, is averaging 391.5 yards per game in its new "Air Zona" offense.
"The last couple years, there's been a lot at stake for us. That's similar, but we're a different football team," Stoops said. "We're more complete as a team; we're playing confident. … We're just playing differently."
Even Erickson will admit as much. He said Stoops "made changes when he's felt he had to make changes offensively to get them better, and they are."
"They started out a little slow, but now they're playing extremely well," he said.
Extra points
● UA tight end Rob Gronkowski and punter Keenyn Crier were named to the Rivals.com freshmen All-America team, the first of what will likely be a handful of awards for both players.
Gronkowski has caught 26 passes for 496 yards this season. Crier leads the Pac-10 with 43.4yards per punt.
● UA defensive coordinator Mark Stoops will try to be in Florida to attend a service for Sean Taylor, the Washington Redskins safety who died Tuesday after being shot Monday at his home. Stoops coached Taylor at the University of Miami from 2001 to 2003.
"I think he was misunderstood sometimes because he was a little bit to himself, but he was a lot of fun," Stoops said. "He was just a very quality young man."
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