via www.msnsportsnet.com

Okay, I was originally going to make this a quick Fan Shot, but I'm not entirely sure if the links will hold up in the future, so I'll just block-quote a lot of them for posterity.

Well, this blog has been a little more focused on basketball recently, which is understandable. Arizona is still in the midst of making the transition from "Basketball School" to "School Where They Also Play Football and Like It." Plus, it's basketball season, so no harm no foul.

Nevertheless, this is pretty big news. Rich Rodriguez (or as the Wildcat faithful may soon call him, Ol' Rich Rod) has finally nailed down his prime target for defensive coordinator: Jeff Casteel, formerly of West Virginia. This blog already ran a similar story, but it would hardly satisfy you if you were looking for something official:

Hey, so Jeff Casteel is almost hired. Soon. Maybe. Even though it's final. What those smart people in the field do know is that it looks like he's going to the Arizona Wildcats for sure.

In the past week or so, we assumed that it'd happen following the Orange Bowl. Then it got delayed. Then rumors about Penn State arose, as did rumblings that Casteel was somewhat torn on leaving his alma mater to join Rich Rodriguez in Tucson.

Colin Dunlap tweeted that the contract was finalized and Ryan Finley of the Arizona Daily Star believe it'll happen by tomorrow. Anthony Gimino of the Tucson Citizen wrote a good background piece regarding Casteel and RichRod, and he said the announcement will come tomorrow afternoon, as will the naming of a couple of other defensive assistants that will fill out Rodriguez's staff.

Anyway, this should be done soon. Perhaps.

I don't know about you, but that doesn't sound very "official" to me. This blog was sort of just waiting on the official news to break. (Yeah, I don't always trust Twitter either, even though Greg Byrne used it to show that he had hired Rodriguez, but this is the exception, not the rule.)

Well, it's been a couple days, and the news broke.

Here's the Arizona athletic department's official release on Casteel:

TUCSON, Ariz.--Arizona’s Rich Rodriguez completed his football coaching staff today with the appointment of Jeff Casteel to defensive coordinator, David Lockwood as a defensive backs coach, Bill Kirelawich as defensive line coach and Spencer Leftwich as tight ends coach.

Casteel, Lockwood and Kirelawich come from similar posts at West Virginia University and Leftwich joins Rodriguez’s staff from the offensive line position at Pittsburgh. Casteel and Kirelawich worked under Rodriguez during his tenure as head coach at WVU.

"We are very excited to have Jeff, David, Bill and Spencer, and their families, join our family here at the University of Arizona. They are not only great coaches, but great people who bring a lot of quality experience and knowledge to our staff," Rodriguez said.

And it doesn't get any more official than the Washington Post:

TUCSON, Ariz. — Longtime West Virginia defensive coordinator Jeff Casteel is reuniting with old boss Rich Rodriguez at Arizona.

Rodriguez announced the hiring of Casteel and three other coaches Wednesday to complete the staff in his new job with the Wildcats.

Casteel had been defensive coordinator and linebackers coach for the Mountaineers since 2003 and was co-coordinator the season before that.

"I have enjoyed my time at West Virginia University, and it’s been 11 great years," Casteel said in a statement released by West Virginia. "I have coached some outstanding young men, and I would like to thank them for their hard work and dedication."

Continue reading this post »

Hello to everyone again. Thanks to a lack of a link I missed the first 10 mins or so of the game, but I saw enough to give some fair grades. As a team the cats put this game out of hand fairly early one, and never looked back. They had a stretch of play that was just simply amazing. However, towards the end they did manage to get a little sloppy and let the sun devils scratch back to within 13 points before finally putting the dagger in. You'll find all my grades for the players after the jump.

Continue reading this post »

What a great game by the Wildcats, and just what we needed after a tough non conference schedule to get some confidence heading into our first PAC 12 game. However, I don't just grade on how many points a player scores, but rather how they are playing compared to their potential and their position on the team. After the Jump you can find my game grades.

Continue reading this post »

Hello Wildcat fans. I hope everyone is having a great time watching and supporting our Cats this year, because I know I have. We just finished up our first 10 games of the year, and have a week break before our next test. Speaking of tests, its that time of year where students are finishing up their finals and receiving their class grades before they head home for the holidays. This seems to be the perfect moment to hand out some grades for the players and coach for the first part of the season. Below the jump you will find my grades for the players along with some stats and thoughts about their play throughout the year so far.

Continue reading this post »

As a Michigan alumnus, Rich Rodriguez fan, and new Arizona football fan, I thought you all might be interested in this article: http://www.detnews.com/article/20111202/SPORTS0201/112020417/1131/SPORTS0105/Rich-Rodriguez-wants-to-play-Michigan

Not sure what people there in Arizona think, but Michigan fans seem to be divided. Its definitely an interesting prospect for Rodriguez - I'm not sure whats in his mind but it would be a great chance for redemption if he could go to the Big House and beat the Wolverines (I highly doubt Michigan would schedule a home-and-home with Arizona). Then again, it seems like he could be setting himself up for insult to injury. Either way, it just doesn't seem like a great idea for either school. Would Arizona want to use one of its non-conference games to travel to the Big House?

Yesterday athletic director Greg Byrne hired former Michigan head coach Rich Rodriguez to coach the Wildcats in 2012. Here are some notes from Rodriguez's first press conference in Tucson. In case you missed it, you can watch the press conference on the Arizona athletics website.

First, though, some overall impressions. Rich Rodriguez largely seems like the same guy. I have followed his career at Michigan. Rodriguez works hard and speaks his mind. A lot of what he says is "coach speak" (his term), but he tries to be as honest as he can without getting himself into trouble or offending anyone.

Second, Rodriguez is pretty open about himself. He is who he is. He has a certain style, likes to do things a certain way, and has a plan. This apparently has not changed since his days at Michigan or at CBS. I think he understands the difference between a good fit and a bad fit, and he will embrace Arizona if it embraces him. He says a lot about everybody needing to "pull in the same direction."

Rodriguez has learned a lot from his struggles and mistakes at Michigan. He is approaching Arizona differently, largely because Arizona is a different place. He does not want to make the same errors (failing to connect with the former players, the fan base, etc.) if he can avoid it.

More specific notes on the press conference after the jump...

Continue reading this post »

I've been to a couple games at Arizona stadium before, but I usually sit in the cheap seats. However with not a ton of stuff to do over Thanksgiving weekend I decided to go ahead and get one of the general seating tickets for the Zona Zoo section over Thanksgiving. Is there anything I should know about it? Also is anyone else going? Most of my friends are long gone this holiday, and I have a feeling that the attendance is going to be pretty sparse

I've rooted for the U of A my whole life as my entire family went there (not kidding: parents, grandparents, aunts/uncles, etc...). However I grew up in Texas and ended up a Texas Tech guy. 

Start talking to everyone you can about hiring Mike Leach.

If you do the research, you'll learn that he was fired on completely baseless charges that stemmed more from egos and money than anything to do with concussions. I can tell you this - Texas Tech fans are still not over the stupid firing, even 2 years later. We had something special, and our idiotic administration threw it away. 

And once you're past that unfortunate incident, why wouldn't you hire Leach? He's one of the greatest offensive minds ever, he's hilarious, and he will put butts in seats. Frankly, he's exactly what the U of A needs. 

Someone will eventually hire him, and all the schools that could have had him will feel like idiots. Let's help U of A to not be one of those idiots. Bring the pirate to Tucson, and your football dreams will come true. 

HIRE LEACH!

Arizona Wildcats

Every game of AU football I watch I am just amazed at the sideline behavior of the Wildcats coach. Every time the camera is on him he is ranting and raving about something. What is his problem? I thought Bo Pelini at Nebraska was bad but Stoops makes him look like a piker. Maybe some pre game drugs would be appropriate.I'd replace the guy if I were anyone in a seat of power at AU. Civil behavior on the sidelines should be required what....80% of the time? Stoops can't make 50% if that!!! If they had a line in Vegas whether the guy will have a stroke on the sidelines, I'd take the odds!

OK - here we go! To all of you 'Zona fans...

Any of you that claim to be true Coach Miller fans watching the "Fish That Saved Pittsburgh" on NBA TV tonight? Look for 'coach' standing in line for the open team tryout dribbling multiple basketballs. The 'first Coach Miller' (Sean's dad) used to bring him to a lot of the same camps that I went to as a kid. We were all more impressed by his cameo in the movie! ... :)

Bet you guys didn't know about his fame as an actor? You might have to wait until the credits to verify the story! LOL!

Rock it Sean!!!