BYU football is less than 48 hours away, and yet there are many of you out there that know next to nothing about the University of Arizona or their football team. Well you’ve come to the right place, because we’ve done all the important research on everything you need to know about the Arizona Wildcats, as well as a lot of stuff that you probably should forget. HEAD COACH: Kevin Sumlin What a ride it has been for Coach Sumlin. After starting out as a graduate assistant at Washington State, Kevin made the conscious decision that if he wanted to make it to the very top of the college coaching world, he would need to reach descend to the very depths of human existence. That of course would be life in Laramie, Wyoming. Our brave friend was the wide receivers coach for the Cowboys for not one, but TWO FULL SEASONS. I once stopped at the Taco Bell in Laramie for 17 minutes and spent the next four years trying to wash it off in the shower. I can’t imagine what two full years would do to a man. Either way, it’s clear that Kevin endured his tribulations well as he was able to land a job in the vaunted SEC West. It was there he did his best Bronco Mendehall impersonation (impressive 11-2 season followed by a bunch of 8-5 seasons) before getting fired. His teams were known for their high powered offense and defense that...well they sure did try sometimes. Outside of coaching, Kevin enjoys wearing sunglasses and embracing the local performing arts scene. Here we have a tweet from 2010 where Sumlin expounded in great eloquence the concert of one Shawn Carter (aka Jay-Z). Couldn’t have said it better myself. Jay Z.... What a performance! — Kevin Sumlin (@CoachSumlin) February 23, 2010 OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Noel Mazzone I thought that all people with the name Noel were born on Christmas (or Christmas Eve), but here we have Noel Mazzone who was born on March 21st. Bold move, Mazzone Family. The last time BYU faced off against Noel was in the 2015 when BYU lost a close one to UCLA in the Rose Bowl. From what I remember, the Bruins had a boatload of talent on that team but they struggled to put the ball in the end zone. This appeared to be the same issue at Texas A&M, and we can only hope that Noel can take his “let’s take these good players and make them appear to be worse than they are” magic and apply it to Khalil Tate. Also, the fact that he posted a horizontal photo like this tells you everything you need to know about the guy. Teaching the Q90 fundamentals to the next generation of Japanese QB's pic.twitter.com/17GVoTHQvP — Noel Mazzone (@NzoneFootball) July 16, 2013 DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Marcel Yates I could have sworn that Arizona played all of last season without a defensive coordinator and instead opted to have players “guide themselves through the power of crystals and yoga healing”, but it looks like Marcel Yates has been collecting a paycheck from Arizona as the team’s defensive coordinator for the last three years. The more you know! The best part of his bio is when it reviews his performance in 2017 by simply saying that he “coached one of the youngest defenses in the Pac-12”. I wonder why they don’t say anything else... BEST OFFENSIVE PLAYER: Khalil Tate AKA Desert Vick. He haunts my dreams. BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER: The referee who is positioned in the middle of the field who sometimes bumps into wide receivers on their crossing routes. FUN FACT: I just read an article that said Arizona “lost Jhevon Hill and Tony Wallace to academics late in the summer”, which makes it sound like both of these young men were stricken with the disease known as academics and died as a result. They’re not the first and I’m sure they won’t be the last Arizona Wildcats who will meet the tragic fate of academics. NOTABLE ALUMNI Kourtney Kardashian - Famous for being...famous Gilbert Arenas - Famous for pulling a gun on his own teammate Luke Walton - Famous for getting insulted by Lavar Ball Rob Gronkowski - Probably was stricken with academics while in Tucson *** UNIFORMS They’re fine. Like a lot of college football teams they’ve opted for something a little more flashy every couple of years, which means that after three seasons they start to look dated. If I was in charge, I would stick with a more traditional look with the clean lines and limited color options as seen in this concept. Arizona unveils the new football uniforms. Your thoughts? https://t.co/EpUGLDSI0l pic.twitter.com/cyeOY0ekq9 — AZ Desert Swarm (@AZDesertSwarm) June 27, 2017 STUDENT LIFE In order to beat the heat in Tucson, the University of Arizona has instructed their students on the proper art of “passing out into a bathtub”. It’s saved 37 lives this last year alone. A post shared by Barstool Arizona (@barstoolarizona) on Jul 21, 2018 at 6:38pm PDT MASCOT Well this is something. Arizona has two mascots named Wilbur and Wilma. This seems very appropriate considering the fact that they’re both 87 years old and are happy to be in Arizona where it doesn’t snow and the cold doesn’t both Wilbur’s hip replacement. Wilma likes to knit during sporting event while Wilbur enjoys listening to the radio broadcast while in the stadium. They’re a swell couple. WHO WOULD WIN IN FIGHT BETWEEN COSMO AND WILBUR (AND WILMA)? Even though there are two Wildcat mascots, Comso would dance circles around these geriatrics before beating them to a pulp. WOULD I ALLOW MY FUTURE CHILD TO ATTEND THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA? Yes, but only on the condition that I don’t have to drop them off at school, or come visit for parents weekend, or attend their graduation. You’re on your own, future child. BYU VS ARIZONA: MOMENTS IN SPORTS HISTORY While I am tempted to dedicate this section to one Jake “The Make” Oldroyd, I have to defer to the GOAT and one of the first of his many transcendent performances.<doc-sep>PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 27: Head Coach of Texas A&M University Kevin Sumlin visits the SiriusXM NFL Radio talkshow during the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft at Philadelphia Museum of Art on April 27, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Lisa Lake/Getty Images for SiriusXM) Arizona Football Head Coach Kevin Sumlin held his first game-week press conference on Monday heading into game plan preparations to beat the BYU Cougars. Arizona Football head coach Kevin Sumlin held his first press conference in his tenure at Arizona before the BYU game coming up this Saturday night at 7:45 pm in Tucson. The game will be shown on ESPN, and our own Site Expert Eric Townsend breaks down the matchup in his post, “Arizona Football: Wildcats Week One Match-up with BYU.” Sumlin started his press conference talking about how happy he is that he can have five more players on his team roster per the new rule because of injuries and such as the season progresses. He’s happy with the way his guys are getting better and handling the fall camp and that it helped to have guys start over the summer. “BYU is a well-coached team; you know they finished sixth in the country last year in total defense with a lot of their players back. And it will be as large a team as we’ll face this year, this is going to be a large football team,” explained Sumlin. Sumlin said he and his staff have spoken to different coaches ferreting out what to concentrate on to beat the Cougars. BYU’s defense seems to be what Sumlin is focused on, and he is working on alignment and assignment. Bomb Shell! Santino Marchiol was informed Monday morning that he is no longer with the Wildcats according to Sumlin. Sumlin didn’t have to give the reason; the internet has been buzzing about a HUDL video now taken down where it is presumed he referred to a black player as a “Monkey” according to Justin Spears of Tucson.com who stated that the Dallas Morning News first reported the story. Shocking this language is still used at all, but it is not welcome in Tucson, thank goodness. Kevin Sumlin announces that linebacker Santino Marchiol is no longer with Arizona. pic.twitter.com/GEbCPpaBx6 — The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) August 27, 2018 Another Texas A&M transfer center Robert Congel is not eligible to play this season. The reason this question was asked is that we do not know the status of Nathan Eldridge after his injury. Eldrige is predicted to be NFL Draft worthy and is listed on the 2018 Rimington Trophy Watch List. Michael Lev, Tucson.com, Tweeted out this report from the press conference, “Arizona coach Kevin Sumlin indicated that veteran OLs Nathan Eldridge and Alex Kosinski aren’t in the mix as of now. Believed to be injury-related, but Sumlin wouldn’t say. Also said freshman OT Donovan Laie, who has impressed, was recently hurt but should be back next week.” Having Eldrige out and Congel not able to play may prove to be a challenge for the Wildcats as they have seasoned centers in both, so now who will be the next man up? Ourlads.com has Junior OL Steven Bailey who is 6-foot-3 and weighs 318 pounds as the backup center, but we think redshirt sophomore Josh McCauley is the likely choice. “We have made some strides certainly in the last three or four days with the mock game — We’re not in pads today,” explained Sumlin, “We are in shocks working schematics, then tomorrow, Wednesday, we’ll be back in pads — we’ll probably get a depth chart out to you sometime this week.” Arizona Alumni have to be jealous of today’s University of Arizona’s ZonaZoo, as Dave Heeke listened and is trying hard to make sure Arizona Football is an enjoyable experience. Remember Eegees slushies are back and there will be a lot of new food choices available! We're working around the clock to deliver a game day student section experience unlike any other 😼#BearDown | #EraZona pic.twitter.com/mJEdkEar1O — Arizona Athletics (@AZATHLETICS) August 27, 2018 Here is the full press conference: “Our guys are excited, and I think our students are excited — our students are fired up, and you can really feel it on campus,” said Sumlin, “I think there’s some excitement — everybody wishes us good luck, and the majority of them say they’ll be there.” Sumlin feels fans do have an effect, they can play a role in the game, “The more, the merrier,, the louder the better” Well, you heard coach, go support this team!<doc-sep>Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images Arizona linebacker Santino Marchiol has been dismissed from the football team after a video appeared to show him using racial slurs to describe black players. "He was informed this morning that he's no longer on the team," head coach Kevin Sumlin said Monday, per Michael Lev of the Arizona Daily Star. The video surfaced last week and appeared to show the former Texas A&M player at the team's practice referring to two different black players as "monkeys," via Ben Baby of the Dallas Morning News. While the voice had been unconfirmed to be Marchiol, Lev noted that the decision to remove him from the team confirms the allegations. "As someone who helped lead the effort to advance diversity in the legal profession ... I understand and respect the University's decision," Marchiol's attorney Thomas Mars told Adam Rittenberg of ESPN. "On the other hand, as someone who's grown close to Santino and who knows the quality of his character, the depth of his faith, and the sincerity of his convictions, I'm heartbroken. What can be heard on the highlights video doesn't reflect the values or beliefs of the young man that I've come to know." The Colorado native was a 4-star recruit in the 2017 class, per 247Sports, as part of a Texas A&M class that ranked No. 13 in the country. Marchiol was prepared to remain with the Aggies even after Sumlin was fired but decided in June to transfer and follow the coach to Arizona. He also alleged several NCAA violations from new coach Jimbo Fisher and his staff regarding recruiting and practice schedules, per Dan Wolken of USA Today. After sitting out last season with an ankle injury, he had been seeking the opportunity to play right away following the transfer. However, it appears he will not get a chance to play for Arizona at all following the release of the video.<doc-sep>Associated Press TUCSON— Squally Canada scored on three short touchdown runs and Brigham Young spoiled Kevin Sumlin's Arizona coaching debut with a 28-23 win over the Wildcats on Saturday night. BYU went 4-9 last year, but looked like a far better team in its 2018 opener. The Cougars were overpowering up front on offense and the defense limited Arizona quarterback Khalil Tate's effectiveness by not letting him get out and run. Arizona had some good moments in the first half in its first game under Sumlin, but struggled on both sides of the ball in the third quarter as BYU built an 18-point lead. Tate rallied Arizona in the fourth quarter. He scored on a 2-yard run and set up J.J. Taylor's 1-yard TD run with just over three minutes left, but Arizona trailed 28-23 after the 2-point conversion failed. BYU never let the Wildcats get the ball back, grinding out a pair of first downs behind its powerful offensive line. Tate threw for 197 yards and a TD on 17-of-34 passing, but was held to 14 yards rushing on eight carries. Mangum battled injuries last season, throwing nine interceptions and eight touchdowns before going down with a season-ending Achilles' tendon injury. He was sharp against Arizona, throwing for 209 yards and a touchdown on 18-of-28 passing. Mangum orchestrated a drive to set up Canada's first 1-yard TD run in the second quarter and opened the third with a 24-yard scoring pass to Matt Bushman that put BYU up 14-10. The Cougars began blowing the Wildcats off the ball on their next quick-hitting drive, marching 58 yards for Canada's second 1-yard TD run. Canada's 2-yard run at the end of the third quarter put BYU up 28-10. Defensively, BYU was effective at limiting Tate's running options, but he found ways to beat them with his arm in the first half. Tate led Arizona on a late scoring drive in the first half — with help from BYU's two 15-yard penalties — and hit Tony Ellison on a 15-yard touchdown pass to put the Wildcats up 10-7. The takeaway BYU is clearly not the same team that won four games last season. Arizona has a ways to go if it expects to contend in the Pac-12 South. Up next Arizona plays at Houston next Saturday.<doc-sep>
Linebacker Santonio Marchiol, who just last week alleged multiple NCAA violations against Texas A&M and new coach Jimbo Fisher, is no longer on the team at Arizona, according to first-year Wildcats coach Kevin Sumlin. "He was informed this morning that he's no longer on the team," Sumlin told reporters on Monday. While Sumlin did not get into the details of the dismissal, a video surfaced last Friday of a person who appears to be Marchiol using the term "monkey" to describe multiple black players when he was at Texas A&M. Marchiol followed Sumlin, who was fired from A&M last season, to Arizona. The Dallas Morning News reported that the 17-minute video appeared on a Hudl account linked to Marchiol. In the video, a voice believed to be Marchiol's uses the term to describe Aggies safety Keldrick Carper along with another player during an April scrimmage. That video has since been deleted. Regarding the video's authenticity, Arkansas-based attorney Thomas Mars, who has been representing Marchiol, said the following in a statement to CBS Sports: "As someone who helped lead the effort to advance diversity in the legal profession, served on the National Urban League board, and worked closely with people like Dennis Archer, Rev. Al Sharpton and other prominent African-American leaders, I understand and respect the university's decision. "On the other hand, as someone who's grown close to Santino and who knows the quality of his character, the depth of his faith, and the sincerity of his convictions, I'm heartbroken. "What can be heard on the highlights video doesn't reflect the values or beliefs of the young man I've come to know." Marchiol told USA Today last week that while at A&M, he was given cash by staff members to host prospects on unofficial visits. He also claimed the the new staff organized summer practices that were not permitted by NCAA rules and pushed him to work through an ankle injury. Through Mars' representation, Marchiol was using the allegations as a loophole to receive immediate eligibility to play at Arizona. Suffice to say, that will not be happening for Marchiol in 2018.