Arizona - Arizona St.

[ajcardfan]

Dirk survives.
Good comeback, good game.

Exactly!

I think there will be a LOT of pressure to win the bowl game too. It'll be awfully hard to argue that they are moving up as a program if they lose to Rutgers in their own backyard.

I liked how the Devils RAN the ball on the last drive. That's about desire, and they finally looked like they wanted this game more than the UofA did.

 

[Diamondback Jay]

It just said HATE.

The A was the UA logo.

Could have been worse. In fact, that's pretty mild in comparison to some of the shirts I've seen.

I think there will be a LOT of pressure to win the bowl game too. It'll be awfully hard to argue that they are moving up as a program if they lose to Rutgers in their own backyard

Irony Time..

The last time Rutgers went to a Bowl Game, in 1978, they played (and lost to) Arizona State in the Garden State Bowl 34-18. The game was played at Giants Stadium, right in Rutgers' backyard (East Rutherford is roughly 20-25 miles away from New Brunswick). Now, in Rutgers' return to the Bowl scene, they'll be facing Arizona State essentially in Arizona State's backyard.

Also, shifting to hoops, Arizona State's men's basketball team beat Rutgers in the NCAA Tournament in 1991.

 

[arthurracoon]

argh...dissapointing game.

 

[jw7]

argh...dissapointing game.

Yup - very dissapointing. Grasping a loss out of a strong start.

But cheer up.

At least we don't have the ASU hoops team to worry about.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Devils are bowl eligible now.

It's also the 7th year in a row that the U of A won't go to a bowl game.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

dissapointing

dissapointing

You U of A fans are killing me.

disappointing

 

[jw7]

You U of A fans are killing me.

disappointing

How many Top 20 NCAA ranked teams did you beat this year?

Fer crying out loud our football team showed improvement and a last second field goal win by a team who was supposed to be 9-2 over a no-chance team is nothing to brag about.

You guys were supposed to be BCS, and now you get the crappy Insight bowl. Whoo-hoo!

 

[O]

How many Top 20 NCAA ranked teams did you beat this year?

Fer crying out loud our football team showed improvement and a last second field goal win by a team who was supposed to be 9-2 over a no-chance team is nothing to brag about.

You guys were supposed to be BCS, and now you get the crappy Insight bowl. Whoo-hoo!

Bitter, table for one?

 

[jw7]

Bitter, table for one?

Oh, absolutely.

Hoops season underway!

 

[Renz]

We covered the spread!

 

[devilalum]

I'll take 6-5 with a win against the Cats over 8-3 with a loss any day.


The only reason ASU hasn't dominated this series more over the years is because it always seems to be the Cats "bowl game."

 

[PHXviaDTW]

Channel 12 was interviewing ASU fans (at least they were wearing ASU gear) saying they were happy with the win but disappointed that Koetter would be back.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

The only reason ASU hasn't dominated this series more over the years is because it always seems to be the Cats "bowl game."

Actually it's because ASU has never been that good of a football team. Arizona's been worse, but outside of Plummer's senior year the Devils have never been a contending team in around 20 years. USC has been UCLA and Notre Dame's "bowl game" for the past half decade or so yet the Trojans still manage to own those teams. Face reality Devil fans, for a "football school," you're really only slightly better than the "basketball school" down south.

Congrats on the win by the way.

 

[KingofCards]

USC has been Notre Dame's "bowl game" for the past half decade or so

If that was true Norte Dame has a "bowl game" every week.

 

[green machine]

I was at the game, on the field no less. Let me tell you that once the momentum shifted (and it clearly did), that place was LOUD!

A couple thoughts.

How did that ASU team look dominant over USC? They looked terrible.

The Cats were essentially without their top TE, their QB, and their top RB in the 4th, and that's when the Cats offense just completely stalled. Without those injuries, it's a different ballgame.

That said, the Devils fought back and got a much needed win. A promising finish for the Cats, things are looking up. For the Devils, it's their typical mediocrity.

 

[HooverDam]

That said, the Devils fought back and got a much needed win. A promising finish for the Cats, things are looking up. For the Devils, it's their typical mediocrity.

Why do the Cats get to make excuses about injuries but ASU doesnt? ASU was w/ out Keller, and both their lines have had a ton of injuries. Plus consider all the terrible bad luck/off the field BS ASU had to deal w/ this year at RB. Come on, if you are going to make excuses and play the moral victory card, dont be so biased.

Everyone seems to be looking ahead to next season, so I decided to look up each teams schedules and hazard some VERY premature guesses as to the outcomes:

ASUs schedule:
Sept. 2 - New Mexico State (W) Should be an easy win.
Sept. 9 - Nevada (W) Another win. Hope ASU kills these first two teams, and doesnt play like they did against NAU the other year.
Sept. 16 - at Colorado (W) The Buffs showed improvement this year, but I think ASU can squek this one out.
Sept. 23 - at California (W) DK finally snaps his California losing streak.
Sept. 30 - Oregon (L) If the Ducks build on what they have now, they could be quite good.
Oct. 7 - Open Date
Oct. 14 - at USC (L) USC losses a lot, but is getting a lot and are at home.
Oct. 21 - Stanford (W)
Oct. 28 - at Washington (W)
Nov. 4 - at Oregon State (W)
Nov. 11 - Washington State (W)
Nov. 18 - UCLA (L) I could see this going either way
Nov. 24 - at Arizona (W)

ASU has a very legitimate chance of going 9-3 or 10-2 next year. And if DKs pattern continues, after a disappointing year, they will do better next year.

A look at UofAs 2006 schedule:

Sat, Sep 09 @ LSU (L) No way UofA goes into Death Valley and wins
Sat, Sep 16 Stephen F. Austin (W) easy cream puff win
Sat, Sep 23 Southern California (L)
Sat, Sep 30 Washington (W) Two Pac bottom feeders, both perhaps improving, give UofA the slight home edge.
Sat, Oct 07 @ UCLA (L)
Sat, Oct 14 @ Stanford (L) Could go either way, Stanford has the home edge (and I think theyll be in their "new" stadium at this point)
Sat, Oct 21 Oregon State (W)
Sat, Nov 04 @ Washington State (W)
Sat, Nov 11 California (L)
Sat, Nov 18 @ Oregon (L) Ducks are good, especially at Autzen
Sat, Nov 25 Arizona State (L)

So I think its realistic to say UofA will win between 3 and 5 games next year. Perhaps a little improvement. I think 6 wins would be quite the boon for them if they could manage it. I think they also have an open date they may fill before the LSU game.

Ok well there you have it...a completely unnecessary look into the future.

 

[Chaz]

That dropped pass that would have made it 24-5 was a killer.


The Cats needed that cushion after Tuitama went out.



Nice comeback by the Devils.

 

[boondockdrunk]

Why do the Cats get to make excuses about injuries but ASU doesnt? ASU was w/ out Keller, and both their lines have had a ton of injuries. Plus consider all the terrible bad luck/off the field BS ASU had to deal w/ this year at RB. Come on, if you are going to make excuses and play the moral victory card, dont be so biased.

Everyone seems to be looking ahead to next season, so I decided to look up each teams schedules and hazard some VERY premature guesses as to the outcomes:

ASUs schedule:
Sept. 2 - New Mexico State (W) Should be an easy win.
Sept. 9 - Nevada (W) Another win. Hope ASU kills these first two teams, and doesnt play like they did against NAU the other year.
Sept. 16 - at Colorado (W) The Buffs showed improvement this year, but I think ASU can squek this one out.
Sept. 23 - at California (W) DK finally snaps his California losing streak.
Sept. 30 - Oregon (L) If the Ducks build on what they have now, they could be quite good.
Oct. 7 - Open Date
Oct. 14 - at USC (L) USC losses a lot, but is getting a lot and are at home.
Oct. 21 - Stanford (W)
Oct. 28 - at Washington (W)
Nov. 4 - at Oregon State (W)
Nov. 11 - Washington State (W)
Nov. 18 - UCLA (L) I could see this going either way
Nov. 24 - at Arizona (W)

ASU has a very legitimate chance of going 9-3 or 10-2 next year. And if DKs pattern continues, after a disappointing year, they will do better next year.

A look at UofAs 2006 schedule:

Sat, Sep 09 @ LSU (L) No way UofA goes into Death Valley and wins
Sat, Sep 16 Stephen F. Austin (W) easy cream puff win
Sat, Sep 23 Southern California (L)
Sat, Sep 30 Washington (W) Two Pac bottom feeders, both perhaps improving, give UofA the slight home edge.
Sat, Oct 07 @ UCLA (L)
Sat, Oct 14 @ Stanford (L) Could go either way, Stanford has the home edge (and I think theyll be in their "new" stadium at this point)
Sat, Oct 21 Oregon State (W)
Sat, Nov 04 @ Washington State (W)
Sat, Nov 11 California (L)
Sat, Nov 18 @ Oregon (L) Ducks are good, especially at Autzen
Sat, Nov 25 Arizona State (L)

So I think its realistic to say UofA will win between 3 and 5 games next year. Perhaps a little improvement. I think 6 wins would be quite the boon for them if they could manage it. I think they also have an open date they may fill before the LSU game.

Ok well there you have it...a completely unnecessary look into the future.

It is way too early to be looking to next season. There are still a bunch of good recruits out there to be had, not to mention the number of players heading to the NFL from those schools. I think that both teams will be much improved next year though.

 

[HooverDam]

It is way too early to be looking to next season. There are still a bunch of good recruits out there to be had, not to mention the number of players heading to the NFL from those schools. I think that both teams will be much improved next year though.

Oh agreed 100%, I just think its fun, and said it was meaningless.

 

[boondockdrunk]

Oh agreed 100%, I just think its fun, and said it was meaningless.

Also, look at the difference in schedules: Nevada, New Mexico, and Colorado to start the season for ASU. While UofA has one cream puff in Stephen F. Austin. Colorado is a team that could beat ASU, but I wouldn't put my money on them.

The last two years for the Wildcats have had a pretty strong schedule to face and next year doesn't look any weaker. Does the NCAA make the schedules, because I like the fact that UofA has had a challenging schedule.

 

[ajcardfan]

Does the NCAA make the schedules, because I like the fact that UofA has had a challenging schedule.

The schools negotiate their own nonconference games.

 

[HooverDam]

Comparing ASU and UofAs out of confrence schedules, I wouldnt say UofAs is harder. Obviously LSU is the best team out of the bunch, and they are on UofAs schedule. SFA is a total cream puff, division 2 and all. UofA also has another non confrenece slot to fill, so we'll have to see who goes in that slot. Colorado is going bowling and may still make the Big 12 championship game. Nevada I believe is 7-3 and may win the Wac. And of course NMSU is a puff cake.

It seems that teams generally try to schedule a good/very good non confrence team, a mid level team, and a cup cake. IE for ASU this year, LSU was the good/very good team, NU was the mid level team and they had Temple as a cupcake. Next year is Colorado filling the good slot, Nevada the mid level team and NMSU as the cup cake. This all may be a coincidence, but it seems to hold true most of the time.

 

[PHXviaDTW]

New Mexico

Actually, they play New Mexico State - I think they and Temple are the only IA teams without a win.

For some reason ASU and UNM don't schedule one another in football or men's hoops.

 

[devilalum]

The schools negotiate their own nonconference games.

I think the PAC has some kind of deal with the SEC for a few years.

I also think ASU was supposed to play LSU here the week UofA plays them.

ASU had a home and home deal with LSU But the second game was dropped as part of the hurricane deal.

 

[AZBALLER]

Good game cats, your team is improving...

Also, ASU was supposed to challenge for a BCS birth, but lost to 3 top 10 teams, and was in position to beat 2 of the top 3 teams in the nation during those games...I guess we can't use injuries as an excuse like the cats despite the fact that 4 of our 6 top offensive lineman were hurt, out starting qb was hurt, and our backup qb played the entire game with strep throat not to mention the various other injuries...

Hopefully this game will mean more than one team being bowl eligible next time we meet...