Homecoming 2008: Tailgating Changes

In an effort to keep the Homecoming crowd from trying to sprint a marathon the University has changed some of their tailgating rules for this weekend. Below is the new schedule and policy update that was released earlier today.

Quoted directly from the Arizona Athletics website.

1:00 p.m. Tailgate parking/loading on Eastbound University off of Cherry. Alcohol cannot be consumed until 2:00 p.m.

2:30 – 4:30 p.m. Cherry Ave will be closed to all traffic in preparation for the Homecoming Parade. (No tailgaters will be allowed to enter the Tailgating grounds under any circumstances during this time). There is no tailgate line during this time.

3:30 – 4:30 p.m. Homecoming Parade

4:45 – 5:30 p.m. Tailgaters with valid permits only may enter the tailgating grounds.

7:15 p.m. Kick-off

We will continue to enforce the rules about waiting for another tailgater to park next to you as well as requesting certain spots. It is a first-come first serve pass and you will be parked based on the order you arrive. Regardless of when your vehicle is parked on the tailgate grounds, alcohol consumption may not begin until 2:00 pm.

No one that I talked to had heard about this yet, and granted it was released today but thought this might help get the word out some.


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Arizona-USC: Things To Keep In Mind

The Wildcats are coming off a big win against previously ranked No. 25 Cal, which has put them in a four-way tie for first place in the Pac-10. Oregon, Oregon State, Arizona, and USC are all currently sitting at 3-1, but from where I’m sitting, Arizona and USC are sitting on top.

Everyone knows about USC’s prowess, influence in the polls, and overall program prestige. What you aren’t hearing is that Arizona is so confident in their squad that our Wildcats know that they are playing for the Pac-10 Championship this weekend.

What should you know about this weekend’s matchup between USC and Arizona?

First of all, the Cats match up very well against the Trojans and as of late have played them tough.

Hard to believe?

2007: Arizona travels to LA to take on No. 10 USC.

Tuitama, in his first year in Dykes' system, completed 30-43 passes for 233 yards and no interceptions or touchdowns. Sanchez completed 19-31 for 130 yards, one TD, and two INTs.

Neither running game was spectacular for either squad, and both have improved immensely from last year. As is the case with most Arizona losses, it simply came down to mental errors.

It is tough to win a game against a team like the Trojans of '07 when you lose three fumbles and only rush for 22 total yards. That’s what the Cats did, and that is why they narrowly missed pulling the upset.

Total yards for Arizona were 255 and 276 for USC.

The Trojans won 20-13.

Second of all, the Trojans have to come into to Tucson on Homecoming. Arizona has a history of upsetting in big games, especially when they have sellout crowds like this weekend will be.

In case you already forgot:

2005: Arizona 52, No. 7 UCLA 14
2006: Arizona 24, No. 8 Cal 20
2007: Arizona 34, No. 2 Oregon 24

Keep it in mind as this week goes on. I don’t think that this game is as unevenly matched as most people think. USC, you are officially on upset watch.

More as the week goes on...

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Fans making a difference

"Homecoming, man - it is just a good thing for us, I guess," said UA wide receiver Mike Thomas. "For some reason we always come out on top during Homecoming. I guess the environment really helps us out."

Mike Thomas was onto something with his statement after the University of Arizona Wildcats continued their Homecoming tradition of upsetting a California based opponent on Homecoming. It's time to dig in and look at why this is happening every year. And I think it can be brought down on the Zona Zoo and specifically the recent crops of Freshman at the U of A. It has nothing to do with the fact that it's homecoming. It has nothing to do with being amped up because they're a dog a home. It has nothing to do with earlier start time or national TV coverage. It has to do with the fans. Homecoming is a big game and people make it to that game who haven't made it to others. They're in town and these are the people who were here during the Desert Swarm years, or at least watched the Desert Swarm years. But here's the problem. We're all gone now and these new Freshman were still in diapers when we were running through Miami in the Fiesta Bowl (29-0, 1993). They look at football games as something to do for an hour, and usually leave at half, even if we're winning. If we're losing the student section is empty by the 3rd quarter. How is a team gonna make a rally when their home fans don't think they can pull it off? Losing games are when the stands should be at their loudest and trying to bring the team back into the game. I was sitting with a few friends on Saturday's game (a couple other alumni and a couple of Tucson natives who are taking a long break from the U of A). All we could discuss was the lack of fire in the Zona Zoo on Saturday, and it was the best I've seen it all year. Some of us can't afford to go to every game and don't get the benefit of the cheap student pass to the games. But for those who do get the pass, why aren't you using it?

Students I implore you go to the game against Oregon next Thursday, fill the stands an hour before kick-off don't stop making noise until the final buzzer sounds. Show these teams that Arizona is a pushover no longer, Macovick is gone and it's time to pull off a couple of surprise wins over top 10 teams, and we've got the chance to do it, and in the National Spotlight. If we go 6-6 we're bowl eligible and with a couple high profile wins (Oregon and @ ASU) that might do well in picking up one of those at-large bids floating around. Let's see some support next week, and get something special started for next season. It's up to you Cats fans it 'aint basketball season until the football season's over. Aren't you sick of telling your friends, "wait until basketball season" the folks in Florida and UCLA and USC and now UCONN don't have to do that. Wouldn't it be nice to be ranked in both sports polls, especially with the recent propensity of the basketball team to lose in March. The fans can make things change, can turn around the losing atmosphere and environment found at Arizona Stadium earlier in the year. Let's just hope we aren't a couple years away from telling our friends, "Oh yeah, just wait till Softball season"

Go Cats.
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Weekend thoughts...

...while refusing to do work.

The line at this very moment in the UCLA @ Arizona game is between 3 and 1 1/2 (UA as the dog). Apparently Vegas wasn't informed that it is homecoming here in Tucson and as we all know coming into Arizona Stadium...on homecoming...favored, never ends up well for that team. UCLA should be relatively aware of that after the dismantling of the then #7 team in the country. I think we all know the outcome of this game. GO CATS!

Onto the greatest football game to ever be played, the most important game of all time, and the first time the Super Bowl has been played in November. That's right Pats - Colts. In case you live under a rock, that doesn't get good radio reception, you have heard about this...at length...to a sickening level. So I figured I would pile on. I hope for a few different outcomes namely for the Colts to completely destroy the Pats. Sit Bob Sanders down right in the middle of the field about 13 yards away from the line of scrimmage so finally someone stops letting Brady throw that toss across the middle to a wide open receiver, am I the only one who has noticed this. All day long, right down the middle. That is the easiest pass for a QB and Receiver to connect on. Why is no one covering it. If the Colts can't win I hope for a lopsided blowout where Bellicheck does what he does best and runs up the score, only the Colts keep playing and the fact that Bellicheck is going for it on 4 and 3 up by 19 with 3 minutes left sets them into a rage where Tom Brady drops back and gets his leg snapped off in a Theisman-esque fashion. Then Bellicheck can have that self-actualization scene from many movies where he realizes he has become so infatuated with himself that a loved one has died. And lastly, and I feel the most improbable is for the Colts to win and during his post-game press conference Rocky err Peyton manning looks at Bellicheck and tells him "if I can change and you can change, maybe we all can change" and Bellicheck's heart grows like the Grinch's three sizes.

Onto Baseball and Barry Bonds. Not going to the HoF. That's right, initially I was for the asterisked ball, then I realized that it's emblazoning an image on a piece of history like it or not, but now I am definitely back on the Asterisk the ball bandwagon. Reports released today stated that Barry will not go into the hall if the ball is there. This is the answer we've all been waiting for. A legitimate excuse to keep Barry out of the Hall. Also, in the same article Barry said he still wants to play and can be a good "part time player" for any organization...What?... Part time player? You want to make millions of dollars to play 3 games a week in between the flax seed oil and B12 shots. This is sad. And I think the Yankees are already calling him. Another baseball note, Joe Torre in the NL, this should be good. The man is notorious for napping off the last 3 innings, that's when an NL manager does all his work. I think he might be able to make things work in a fresh new organization, as long as the Dodgers are willing to spend another 120 Mill on player acquisition.

Quick update, Mr. Paxson read my letter and realized that I had a very valid argument and cut off all Kobe trade talks. Thank you for seeing it through our eyes Number 5.

Well it's back to the grind of staring at my cubical wall. Till next time Sports Fans.

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