Kevin Sumlin will remain Arizona’s head coach in 2020

Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images

TEMPE, Ariz. — The Arizona Wildcats lost their seventh straight game Saturday to ASU to complete Kevin Sumlin’s second season at 4-8, but UA athletic director Dave Heeke told reporters afterwards that he will return as head coach in 2020.

“I just want to make it real clear that as we embark into year three of this rebuild program, Coach Sumlin is our head football coach,” Heeke said. “We’re not where we want to be. This isn’t what we wanted, the spot we wanted to be at this point. But we’re committed to the process of moving this thing forward, moving into year three, and getting a defensive coordinator on board, continuing to build through player development and continuing to build the talent level and the number of players through recruiting.”

Here’s Arizona AD Dave Heeke’s statement on Kevin Sumlin returning as head coach in 2020.

He said the program is not where it wants to be, but they’re committed to the rebuilding process. pic.twitter.com/qXdoSA3ZM7

— Ryan Kelapire (@RKelapire) December 1, 2019

The Wildcats are 9-15 in two seasons under Sumlin after going 43-35 in six seasons under Rich Rodriguez. Arizona went 5-7 in 2018. 2019 marks the first time UA has failed to reach a bowl game in consecutive seasons since 2007.

The Wildcats’ 2020 recruiting class ranks 73rd in the country, per 247Sports, 18 spots lower than last year.

Here is Sumlin’s message to fans who are frustrated with the direction of the program:

“People, including myself, care very deeply about this program. There’s a lot of things that go into it, and a lot of things that are involved. The way you get better is through recruiting and player development, and that’s where we are. Is it frustrating? Yes. I know fans are frustrated. But we’ve got to trust the process, and we have a process in place that I believe in and a lot of our players believe in. I can say this, our guys don’t quit. We play hard, and you start there. But you’ve got to execute better, you’ve got to develop players. And that’s my job. That’s my job to fix things. I know the fans are frustrated. Believe me, we’re frustrated. The way you handle these situations becomes important. You can’t go back and do a bunch of different things. How you respond to this is going to be extremely important.”

Here’s Kevin Sumlin’s message to Arizona fans who are frustrated with the direction of the program pic.twitter.com/0mEmRuccjY

— Ryan Kelapire (@RKelapire) December 1, 2019

This story will be updated.

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Arizona falters in second half, loses to ASU in Territorial Cup for third straight year

Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images

TEMPE, Ariz. — Leading by four and driving late in the first half, there was a glimmer of hope for the Arizona Wildcats following a long stretch full of struggles.

And then Khalil Tate threw the first of three interceptions in his final college game, and Arizona quickly returned to the doldrums of the past two months.

ASU scored on four of its next five possessions, running past Arizona 24-14 on Saturday night at Sun Devil Stadium. The win gives the Sun Devils the Territorial Cup for a third straight year and sixth time in the past eight seasons.

The Wildcats (4-8, 2-7 Pac-12) lost their seventh straight game thanks to a lot of the usual mistakes: poor tackling, woeful special teams, inefficient red zone play, costly turnovers and listless play after halftime. Arizona has been outscored 145-64 in the second half during the losing streak, including 74-19 in the third quarter.

Tate started and went the whole way, throwing for 228 yards on 22-of-38 passing with two touchdowns and three picks, his first career three-interception game. Yet when he found Jamarye Joiner for a 48-yard TD pass midway through the second quarter, giving the UA a 7-3 lead, it genuinely looked like Arizona had a chance to win.

It had held ASU (7-5, 4-5) to three points and just over 100 yards late into the first half. Tate was running with confidence and throwing it well, getting Arizona to the ASU 24 with just over two minutes left before halftime.

Then Tate threw it directly to ASU’s Jack Jones, starting a snowball that would turn into an avalanche of Sun Devil scoring.

ASU got a 23-yard field goal on the final play of the first half to cut the deficit to 7-6, then went ahead 5:30 into the third quarter on an 11-play drive that was all runs. Eno Benjamin scored form six yards out, the first of his two TD runs, to make it 13-7.

The drive saw the Wildcats miss several tackles, with Kylan Wilborn completely whiffing on a sack attempt when ASU quarterback Jayden Daniels rolled right into him.

Tate threw his second interception on Wildcats’ first possession of the second half, again to Jack Jones, then after getting the ball back on a 3-and-out his pass over the middle went off Bam Smith’s hands and into those of ASU linebacker Merlin Robertson.

Benjamin would score from a yard out seven plays later, with Daniels scoring on a two-point run to make it 21-7 with 1:20 left in the third.

Arizona got inside ASU’s 10-yard on its next drive but couldn’t do anything once it got there, settling for a 26-yard field goal try from Lucas Havrisik that he’d miss wide right.

Havrisik also missed from 47 yards out midway through the first quarter, making him 10 for 17 for the season.

Down 24-7, Arizona marched downfield during garbage time and ended ASU’s 21-0 run with a 4-yard TD pass from Tate to Joiner with 4:48 left.

Joiner was Arizona’s lone offensive bright spot with seven catches for 140 yards, both career highs, and a TD. The converted quarterback, who picked UA over ASU, finished the season as Arizona’s leader in receiving yards (552) and TD catches (four).

Coach Kevin Sumlin’s seat has been warming by the week since the Wildcats started 4-1 and were alone in first place in the Pac-12 South. Arizona is now 9-15 in his two seasons.

Will there be a third?

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Arizona vs. ASU game thread

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

It’s game day! The final one this season!

The Arizona Wildcats close out a disappointing 2019 slate with the biggest game of them fall, traveling to Tempe to face the Arizona State Sun Devils on Saturday night. At stake is the Territorial Cup, the oldest rivalry trophy in college football.

Arizona (4-7, 2-6 Pac-12) has lost six in a row heading into this one, with ASU (6-5, 3-5) locking up a bowl bid a week ago with an upset of Oregon. The Wildcats have dropped the last two meetings in the series, last winning in Tempe in 2011.

Below are all the important details about tonight’s game, including plenty of pre-game reading. Come chat with us!

Arizona-ASU game time, details:

Date: Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019

Time: 8 p.m. MST

Location: Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Ariz.

Line: ASU -13.5

Which TV channel is Arizona-ASU on?

Arizona-ASU will be televised on ESPN.

How can I watch Arizona-ASU online?

The stream of Arizona-ASU can be viewed at ESPN3.com.

How can I listen to Arizona-ASU on the radio?

You can listen to Arizona-ASU on the Arizona IMG Sports Network.

How can I follow Arizona-ASU?

By following us on Twitter at @AZDesertSwarm!

You can also follow our writers at @rkelapire and @realBJP.

Arizona-ASU pre-game coverage:

• What to watch for when Arizona battles ASU in Territorial Cup
• Territorial Cup expert Shane Dale talks Arizona-ASU rivalry and makes a prediction
• Arizona, ASU to wear home jerseys for Territorial Cup matchup
• Arizona playing for Kevin Sumlin? Rivalry game should not factor into coach’s job
• What Arizona players are saying about ASU and the Territorial Cup
• ‘Do it for the seniors’ is Arizona’s mantra heading into Territorial Cup
• ASU expert previews the Territorial Cup and makes a score prediction
• First look at the Arizona State Sun Devils
• Arizona’s defense entering ASU game still adapting to latest coaching change
• Kevin Sumlin discusses ASU, his relationship with Herm, in-state recruiting, and more in weekly presser
• Arizona facing another large point spread for Territorial Cup at ASU

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Arizona volleyball loses to ASU in five sets on senior day

Photo by Jacob Snow/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

In the past 10 years, Arizona had only lost six matches to Arizona State. They hadn’t been swept by the Sun Devils since 2007. After dropping the first match to ASU earlier in the season, the Wildcats hoped to keep that streak alive on senior day.

The thought they had, too. At 14-13 in the fifth set, an ASU attack was called long. Arizona ran off the floor, believing they had taken the match. After review, the call was overturned and the teams were back at it. After a set with nine ties and five lead changes, the Sun Devils took the match with a 17-15 victory.

“Definitely tough,” senior setter Julia Patterson said. “Obviously, thinking we had it won. Coming back and the call reverse, and then ending like that. It was tough, but we showed grit, fight, and competed.”

That grit and fight were something the Wildcats showed all season as they dealt with shifting lineups due to injuries. Patterson and fellow senior Devyn Cross weren’t sorry that it went that way, though.

“I’m just really proud of us,” Cross said. “This game just showed how much fight our team has and that even though our season didn’t go the way we wanted, nobody can ever talk down on us and never say that we didn’t try. Because we did.... We did everything we could and never gave up. So, I’m just really happy. I’m truly proud of us.”

When asked if she felt robbed by the injuries that the team has faced the last two years, Patterson said that wasn’t reaction she had to the circumstances.

“I think throughout the years of injuries, we’ve definitely grown probably more than we would have if we had less injuries,” she said. “I think each person individually and as a group, whether it’s on or off the court, has matured and faced things that a lot of other people our age probably haven’t faced. So I think it’s probably a blessing for the past four years.”

The Wildcats came into the match with several players approaching career milestones. Junior Paige Whipple surpassed 1,000 kills for her career in the second set. She needed only seven. She got 24. Only six players had met the 1,000 kills mark for Arizona volleyball.

Cross got her 400th career block in set three becoming just the eighth player in program history to meet that mark. She had six blocks on the day.

Patterson needed 26 assists to move into sixth all time for the program. She ran past that, ending the day with 48.

It wasn’t just the upperclassmen setting records, though. Freshman libero Kamaile Hiapo moved pass the Arizona record for digs by a freshman (370) in the third set. She ended the day with 20 digs.

Those weren’t the things the seniors were concerned with as they ended their Arizona volleyball careers.

“Honestly, I didn’t know,” Cross said, describing the thoughts that went through her head when she was first told. “Like ‘Oh, you’re at 400 block.’ Sounds cool. Like, ‘No, that’s like a record.’ I was like, ‘What record?’ I was confused, and then my mom was telling me, I was like ‘Oh, that’s cool.’”

Their coach was more impressed.

“Those are two of the greatest players I’ve coached and certainly put on an Arizona uniform,” Arizona coach Dave Rubio said about Cross and Patterson.

Those two players and their teammates reached their milestones in one of the most exciting matches of the season. The first set was all Arizona State. The Sun Devils never trailed. They built the lead to eight points on several occasions, and eventually closed it out 25-18.

The Wildcats flipped the script in the second set. It was their turn to lead the entire set. Their biggest lead was 12 points until the end of the frame. Arizona took the set 25-11 to even things up.

The Sun Devils began to pull away fairly early in the third set. The Wildcats got a scare when hitter Katie Smoot went to the floor with an injury. With Arizona already playing a former libero at outside hitter, it was scary for both Smoot and the team. She was able to return several points later, but ASU already had a sizable lead.

Arizona didn’t go away, though. The Wildcats used a 5-0 run to close the lead to three points. After an ASU timeout, Arizona stayed on the comeback trail, saving three set points to tie things at 24-all.

It wasn’t enough. The Sun Devils earned another set point at 25-24, and put this one away to go up 2-1.

The momentum at the end of the third set was big for the Wildcats, even if they didn’t get the win. Arizona ran out to a big lead in the fourth set, peaking at 22-12 before ASU went on their own run to cut that lead in half.

The hole was too deep for the Sun Devils. The Wildcats pushed the match to a fifth set with the 25-20 victory.

Arizona got off to the quick start they needed in the final set, but ASU was able to grab the lead at 7-6. The biggest lead for either team down the stretch was three points for ASU before they finally earned the two-point victory in the final set.

Rubio always says that he doesn’t measure success by outcomes, but by effort. That was no different on Saturday afternoon.

“It was just a really outstanding year with a group of young ladies who you would want to go to war with every single day,” he said. “And that’s how it was. Really one of the most enjoyable seasons that I’ve had since I’ve coached here.”

His message to his players wasn’t one of regret.

“I told them, ‘What happened this season was magical,’ Rubio said. “I mean, it really was. As a coach every season I’m trying to find the right ingredients to have a team perform and to be together like this group was. It’s just, it’s so hard to do what these guys have done, and it won’t certainly be reflected by the win-loss record. But as a coach, all you’re asking for is what these guys gave me every single day in practice and every single match. And so it was really magical for me, and I think for them as well. And I wanted them to make sure that they remember that 10 years from now, they’re not going to remember the wins and losses. They’re just going to remember how hard we fought for each other and the character that we showed throughout the season. Very few seasons I’ve had where it’s been magical like this with a team, just so together and willing to sacrifice so much for one another. The selflessness that goes on along with having a magical season. It’s just so rare that that ever happens.”

In addition to Cross and Patterson, the Wildcats said goodbye to Elizabeth Shelton, Shardonee Hayes, Makenna Martin and Emi Pua’a in the senior day ceremony before the match.

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Roundtable: How important is the Territorial Cup for Kevin Sumlin’s job security?

Photo by Harry How/Getty Images

The Arizona Wildcats will either end Kevin Sumlin’s second season on a high note by beating the Arizona State Sun Devils in Tempe on Saturday, or it will end on the lowest of lows, with seven straight losses and a 4-8 season.

The Wildcats are 9-15 under Kevin Sumlin, missing a bowl game in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2007. Which begs the question, if Arizona falls to ASU on Saturday, could it be the last time Sumlin strides the UA sidelines? Or does he deserve a third season to right the ship?

Here’s what our staff thinks.

Christian Mortensen: The conventional thinking is that win or lose against ASU this weekend, Sumlin will be back at the helm in 2020.

Being that it would be his third season in Tucson, he’d naturally have more of his own recruits to work with and even more time to put together the exact coaching staff he wants.

With that being said though, a loss against the Sun Devils would likely irreparably damage his relationship with an already alienated fan base.

The question in my mind is, if Arizona were to lose to ASU this weekend, what would Sumlin have to do next season to gain back everybody’s trust?

I doubt a 7-5 season in 2020 would make up for a 9-15 record in his first two years and I personally don’t see the Wildcats doing anything crazy next year like going to their first ever Rose Bowl or even winning the Pac-12 South.

So, while I don’t think Sumlin would get fired immediately for losing to ASU, I do think if he loses, it will probably seal his fate as a dead man walking next year.

Matthew Rein: I think regardless of what happens in the Territorial Cup game, Sumlin will return for his third year at Arizona. That being said, winning against ASU in Tempe — which Arizona hasn’t done since 2011 — would go a long way with Wildcat fans. Considering last year’s 4th quarter collapse against ASU at home, the game this Saturday is certainly high-stakes for the coaching staff and team.

If Arizona loses, especially in embarrassing fashion, the program would go into the off-season losers of seven straights contests. If Arizona manages to win, the ‘Cats are able to build some momentum headed into a make-or-break year for Sumlin.

While this game won’t determine Sumlin’s job on its own, it has major implications for his future with the Arizona football program next year and beyond.

Gabe Encinas: I don’t think that the ASU game should have any impact on whether or not Sumlin comes back next year. I personally don’t think Sumlin will end up being successful at Arizona, but he without a doubt needs to get his entire third year unless catastrophe hits.

Over the last two years there has been a good amount of talent in the starting lineups, but there were some glaring holes and a lot of young guys he had to play which he couldn’t fix in one recruiting class so you at least need to give him one more season to show he’s actually building towards something.

Last year was a very disappointing start to the Sumlin era, as I felt like they could have won about six or seven games. Recruiting ended up being pretty solid when you look at the talent brought in. It’s not a good look to finish 11th in the Pac-12 in rankings but when I evaluate that class I feel like it’s probably around 8th which to me is fair.

Looking back at expectations for the 2019 season, I had this group winning five games. The schedule was unfavorable even with a shaky Pac-12 and it didn’t seem likely that Arizona was going to suddenly flip the switch against teams like USC, Stanford, Washington, Oregon and Utah, even if three of those five ended up being vulnerable.

It’s tough to win when so many starting offensive linemen go down to injury so it’s hard to truly evaluate the offense. But it’s also hard to win when you’re flipping between two quarterbacks. Defense was an absolute nightmare this season and it they just seemed so unprepared and undisciplined.

Losing this game certainly leaves a sour taste in the mouth and makes Sumlin’s first two years look extremely mediocre. Beating ASU takes a lot of pains and aches from the season go away as we saw in 2016. But after blowing a 19-point lead at home last year, Sumlin put himself in a big hole.

Regardless of the outcome, I’d love to see Sumlin continue to make changes in the coaching staff and get some firepower. Sumlin absolutely has to turn recruiting around as well. The staff did a terrible job of recruiting for the early signing period this year and lost a lot of recruiting battles to the Pac-12. This class looks extremely weak so far and it doesn’t seem likely for Arizona to land a single top 500 prospect at this point.

Ronnie Stoffle: I don’t believe the outcome of this game will factor into Kevin Sumlin’s future with the program. I think no matter the outcome (and we all have an idea of the outcome) he’s safe for another year.

There are a few reasons for my logic. First, it’s far too costly to cut bait at this point given all the money that was also tied up in the Rich Rodriguez buyout.

Secondly, Sumlin inherited a few nice pieces on both sides of the ball but overall, the roster was a mess when he showed up. There wasn’t much in the way of depth and size (specifically on the defensive front).

Lastly, the Marcel Yates situation really held things back. I’m not saying that this roster could have done better without Yates calling the shots. But come on, it probably would have done better. There were plenty of flashes over this season and last that suggest the defense was capable of better production. They just couldn’t string it together for consistency.

I think it only makes sense for him to come back for year three. He’ll finish up another recruiting class that is completely his and find a competent defensive coordinator. If next season yields similar results and they miss a bowl game, I’m cool with showing him the door.

Scott Moran: For this year, I would hope that the ASU game has no effect on Kevin Sumlin’s job security. I am a firm believer that all coaches deserve three years at any given job, especially now that the early signing period often cuts a new coach’s first recruiting class off at the knees, which did happen to Sumlin in 2018 thanks to his late hiring.

With that being said, Sumlin will and should enter 2020 with one of the hottest seats in the nation. Arizona hasn’t historically had a very talented roster, and despite that, the John Mackovic debacle at the turn of the milennium is U of A’s only serious long-term slump since they joined the Pac-10 in 1978. It’s hard to shake the feeling that this program is getting perilously close to another long stretch of rebuilding. A lot of that feeling is just due to malaise, and the best and sometimes only way to come out of a malaise like this is to beat a rival like ASU.

The Territorial Cup is unique in how single-minded each school is towards the other. Both UA and ASU had passive dislike for the New Mexico schools in the WAC era and have passive dislike for the SoCal schools in the PAC era. That passive dislike pales in comparison to the mountains of hate UA and ASU have for each other. As this decade closes, ASU has the upper hand of late, and a win in Tempe would bring things back to balance in a dramatic fashion.

Will a win in Tempe guarantee future success? Probably not, as Arizona’s recruiting has taken a dip it can’t afford and Sumlin is perceived as more of a recruiter than a game manager. What it would do is bring a jolt of energy that keeps the fanbase invested for Sumlin’s trial-by-fire year next season and possibly get some momentum in recruiting before that new December deadline. It’s a critical game that is close to a must-win, but a loss shouldn’t and probably won’t result in Sumlin’s firing this winter. He better be ready for 2020 though.

Brian J. Pedersen: I don’t think the result itself is as important as the effort that is shown, both by players and coaches. And by which players, since it’s very possible Arizona will see a mass exodus of contributors via graduation, NFL Draft early entry and transfers. Some of those guys may already have one foot out the door, but the younger players who Sumlin seems to have a better relationship with will need to show they’re giving their all. Winning this game isn’t necessary for Sumlin to keep his job, but it sure can’t hurt. It would be really hard to make a coaching change with the team coming off its highest point of the season.

Adam Green: Let’s put it this way: If the Territorial Cup will determine whether or not Sumlin is back for a third season, then the leaders in Arizona’s athletic department do not have a good plan in place for the program.

A win over the Sun Devils would not mean Sumlin has things heading in the right direction, nor would a loss indicate he can’t get things turned around. Short of an ‘18-style collapse or some other calamity of a coaching performance, nothing that happens Saturday night should matter in terms of Sumlin’s fate.

The good news is unlike a couple years ago, if Dave Heeke is going to make a move you figure it will come quickly after the game. Who knows, word might even leak out before it.

If that’s the case, then at least Arizona will have an early start in trying to find a new coach. Waiting weeks to part with Rich Rodriguez meant the new coach (Sumlin) would be behind when it came to assembling a staff and then coaching, the effects of which we may be seeing today.

But if Sumlin is kept, then it will up to him to try and find the right defensive coaches, as those hires will determine whether or not he makes it through his third season and into a fourth.

Brandon Combs: I don’t think that the T-Cup will have any bearing on if Sumlin gets canned or not after this season.

I completely understand why people want him gone. The results on the field haven’t been there and the defensive staff mess resulted in a defense that can’t get it done, among other things. If I’m being honest though, the fan base isn’t patient (this is not meant to be a stab at the fans). What I mean is it takes way, WAY more time to actually build a college football program than, let’s say, a basketball program.

First, Sumlin was brought in at a disadvantage being hired in January. By that time most, if not all, assistants had jobs and the pool was very thin to choose from.

Second, Sumlin had to make sure that he kept the 2018 recruiting class together. Not to mention he had to do that pretty much by himself and while getting a staff together. With that comes the fact that Sumlin has only had one actual recruiting class at Arizona. That isn’t enough to build the depth needed for this team.

Third, Sumlin has shown at least a willingness to make necessary changes. All I need to say is three defensive coaches fired.

Finally, as I mentioned above, it takes time to build a football program and two years isn’t it chief. Now if a lot of the same issues happen next year, then we can start talking.

All that being said, the T-Cup is a VERY important game and it’s time to bring the Cup back to Tucson.

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Arizona vs. ASU score predictions

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Will the Wildcats bring the Territorial Cup home?

The Arizona Wildcats (4-7) will wrap up the 2019 season Saturday in Tempe when they will take on the in-state rival Arizona State Sun Devils (6-5), who have won two straight in this series.

Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. MST on ESPN. Las Vegas oddsmakers peg ASU as 13.5-point favorites.

Here is who we think will claim the Territorial Cup. Be sure to leave your predictions in the comment section below.

Brian J. Pedersen — Arizona wins 34-31

It’s been a really bad year, far worse than anyone could have expected, and it would be very easy for Arizona to just pack it in and look toward 2020. If the final game weren’t ASU, I’d probably be predicting another blowout loss for the Wildcats. But it’s hard to think this team won’t put in maximum effort against the Sun Devils, who are arguably the most vulnerable team Arizona has faced since Stanford more than a month ago. Sure, they just upset Oregon but before that they had dropped five in a row, looking like the young team they are. And it’s worth noting that, in three of the last four times Arizona has entered the Territorial Cup knowing it wasn’t going bowling, it’s treated that game like a bowl and came out on top.

Brandon Combs — Arizona wins 42-28

This game means a lot to the players, fans, and Tucson. I believe that everyone is on the same page with that this year. Couple that with how last year’s game went and I see the Cats coming out and playing inspired football.

There’s been a lot of negatives this season, with some positives sprinkled in here and there, and I believe the team will want to end on a high note and bring the Cup back to Tucson.

Arizona has nothing to lose and ASU is already bowl eligible. That makes for a good recipe for UA to win. Though it is a rivalry game...

Anyway, I foresee a lot of the same issues that plagued ASU to reappear again. Remember, they lost five in a row before having a freak win against Oregon last week. Also, in no way, shape, or form could I ever project ASU to beat Arizona.

Gabe Encinas — ASU wins 34-21

I know anything can happen once this game, but this has been an absolutely brutal stretch of six games for Arizona.

Perhaps it could be a let down game with ASU coming off a top-10 win but I just don’t trust Sumlin in Tempe with this group.

Scott Moran — ASU wins 44-28

This feels like a two-possession game to me. An Arizona victory is totally possible, but ASU is the better team and the game is played in Tempe.

The key for this game will be ASU quarterback Jayden Daniels. He’s been red hot at home and against bad defenses...and now he’s at home against a bad defense. Eno Benjamin has had a down year, but with Frank Darby and Brandon Aiyuk against the UA defense, I feel safe betting on ASU to score points.

Grant Gunnell is a solid future option at quarterback, and this running game will have a chance, but I can’t force myself to pick U of A no matter how much I want to. Close, high-scoring game in the first half, boring pull-away job from ASU in the second. Here’s to being wrong.

Adam Green — Arizona wins 31-27

This is such a tough game to predict because while Arizona isn’t particularly good, Arizona State isn’t really much better. Really, they’re not.

As I see it, Arizona’s issue has been less about talent (though they aren’t great along the defensive front) than it is about injuries. Specifically, injuries along the offensive line have crippled an offense that at the very least could keep things competitive in most games.

Assuming Arizona gets a couple of its injured linemen back, the Wildcats should be able to move the ball and put up points against the Sun Devils. Add in the fact that ASU isn’t built to score nor is really all that capable of blowing people out, and you have the makings of a close game I’ll say the Wildcats win.

Ronnie Stoffle — ASU wins 38-25

I wish this game were taking place in Tucson. If it were, I would feel so much better about the potential outcome. Unfortunately it is not, which leaves me feeling not so great.

The two-quarterback scheme for the Wildcats has completely paralyzed the offense. With that, the defense has no reason to care. It’s not a good situation and it’s time to turn the page on this season.

Ryan Kelapire — ASU wins 31-21

If Arizona’s offensive line is somewhat healthy, I think the Wildcats can hang in there against ASU and its extremely inconsistent offense. If Arizona’s offense can’t move the ball, this will get ugly because the UA defense will get tired and eventually start getting gashed for big yards and big plays by stars like Benjamin and Aiyuk.

I feel like I say this every week, but the one thing that cannot happen, but always seems to happen in road games under Sumlin, is getting off to one of those patented slow starts where Arizona is down by multiple scores before it starts to do anything.

There aren’t many things worse than being uncompetitive in a rivalry game and in this case it could even cost Sumlin his job. Besides, the longer you hang around in a rivalry game, the greater the chance that something ridiculous happens and you can steal a win.

Arizona absolutely needs to force a turnover or two to have any shot. And “force” probably isn’t the right word, as ASU fumbling a snap and/or muffing a punt would do the trick as well.

For UA fans’ sanity, I hope this does not come down to a field goal because we all know how that will end.

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Arizona vs. ASU: Game time, TV channel, live stream, odds, and radio info

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

It’s game day! The final one this season!

The Arizona Wildcats close out a disappointing 2019 slate with the biggest game of them fall, traveling to Tempe to face the Arizona State Sun Devils on Saturday night. At stake is the Territorial Cup, the oldest rivalry trophy in college football.

Arizona (4-7, 2-6 Pac-12) has lost six in a row heading into this one, with ASU (6-5, 3-5) locking up a bowl bid a week ago with an upset of Oregon. The Wildcats have dropped the last two meetings in the series, last winning in Tempe in 2011.

Below are all the important details about tonight’s game, including plenty of pre-game reading.

Arizona-ASU game time, details:

Date: Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019

Time: 8 p.m. MST

Location: Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Ariz.

Line: ASU -13.5

Which TV channel is Arizona-ASU on?

Arizona-ASU will be televised on ESPN.

How can I watch Arizona-ASU online?

The stream of Arizona-ASU can be viewed at ESPN3.com.

How can I listen to Arizona-ASU on the radio?

You can listen to Arizona-ASU on the Arizona IMG Sports Network.

How can I follow Arizona-ASU?

By following us on Twitter at @AZDesertSwarm! You can also follow our editors at @RKelapire and @realBJP.

Arizona-ASU pre-game coverage:

• What to watch for when Arizona battles ASU in Territorial Cup
• Territorial Cup expert Shane Dale talks Arizona-ASU rivalry and makes a prediction
• Arizona, ASU to wear home jerseys for Territorial Cup matchup
• Arizona playing for Kevin Sumlin? Rivalry game should not factor into coach’s job
• What Arizona players are saying about ASU and the Territorial Cup
• ‘Do it for the seniors’ is Arizona’s mantra heading into Territorial Cup
• ASU expert previews the Territorial Cup and makes a score prediction
• First look at the Arizona State Sun Devils
• Arizona’s defense entering ASU game still adapting to latest coaching change
• Kevin Sumlin discusses ASU, his relationship with Herm Edwards, quarterbacks, in-state recruiting, and more in weekly presser
• Arizona facing another large point spread for Territorial Cup at ASU

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Arizona volleyball seniors look for win over ‘that school up north’ in their final match

Photo by Jacob Snow/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Six players will say goodbye to Arizona volleyball on Saturday. They also get the chance for a little revenge against their rivals from Tempe. But the most important part of the day will be celebrating their accomplishments over the past few years and what lies ahead.

“You’re more than just friends,” middle blocker Devyn Cross said. “It’s people you care about the rest of your life. You don’t want to leave. You’re excited to see what everybody else is going to do, where you’re going to go in the world. You just take that with you, and just kind of run with it.”

The team didn’t have the season they had hoped for, but the difficulties they have encountered gave them an opportunity to forge bonds that might be even stronger as a result.

“All the obstacles and adversity that we’ve gone through, either together or individually, those lessons will take us far into the rest of our careers,” setter Julia Patterson said. “So I think just adding the relationships and bonds that we’ve made here is just going to be something that’s unforgettable.”

Some of those adversities have brought their volleyball careers to a premature end. Both Elizabeth Shelton and Shardonee Hayes had another year of eligiblity left. With redshirt years in their past, they could have returned for one more go-round as Wildcats. Injuries led both of them to the conclusion that it was time to call it a career.

“It’s been hard for those guys because they haven’t fulfilled, I think, what they envisioned what their career would be like as freshmen because of the injuries and the concussions and all those kind of things,” coach Dave Rubio said. “I think it’s always a difficult decision to make when you finally say, ‘Look, I’ve had enough and it’s time to turn the page and start another chapter in my life.’”

Shelton suffered her second concussion in as many years early in Pac-12 play. Last year, she was out of the line-up for the entirety of the conference season. This year, it was more of the same.

Hayes has also missed most of league play after a concussion this season, putting the final nail in the coffin of her life on the volleyball court. She and her teammate ultimately arrived at the same comclusion.

“For Shardonee, it’s been a laundry list of injuries, so not just the concussion,” Rubio said. “It’s been her shins, it’s been her back.... but it’s hard because when you have a year of eligibility left, it’s like you still want to play but your body just can’t do it. And so last week was I think when they both decided, 'It’s time. We have to move on,' and I think it’s best for them and best for the team. And overall it’s the right decision to make.”

So, the five players who came in together—Cross, Patterson, Hayes, Shelton and Makenna Martin—will celebrate the bonds they formed with each other and the fellow senior who joined them along the way.

“I think we’re a very special class where really none of us have ever left,” Patterson said. “A lot of the different classes on our team and before, there’s been people that left. And we’ve all pretty much stuck together and stayed here through four years. So that’s something special for all of us.”

“And we added one more,” Cross said. “We added Emi (Pua’a).”

“Yeah, we added Emi and she just fit right in,” Patterson concluded.

On Saturday, they want two more things.

For Cross?

“I just don’t want to cry,” she said.

For Patterson, it’s going out with one more special victory.

“Obviously it’s going to be a great game,” she said. “It’s against ASU. It’s a big rivalry game. And for our seniors, it’s our last game. And so we’re going to go all out and we don’t want to end on a loss, especially with that school up north.”

The Wildcats (15-16, 5-14) face the Sun Devils (16-14, 8-11) on Saturday, Nov. 29 at 12 p.m. MST in McKale Center.

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What we learned from Arizona’s win over Penn in the Wooden Legacy tournament

Jacob Snow-USA TODAY Sports

The No. 14 Arizona Wildcats knocked off the Penn Quakers 92-82 on Friday to clinch a spot in Sunday’s Wooden Legacy championship game vs. the Wake Forest Demon Deacons in Anaheim, Calif.

Our full recap can be found here, and here are some additional takeaways.

Nico Mannion is different from other Sean Miller point guards

A day after recording a career-high 11 assists and knocking down the game-winner against Pepperdine, Mannion dropped a career-high 24 points on 11-of-14 shooting against Penn.

From floaters to pull-ups to a pair of 3-pointers, Mannion had everything going. The freshman scored 15 points in the second half, helping Arizona withstand a late run by Penn that saw the Quakers trim a 16-point deficit to four with 3:03 left.

That’s when Mannion sank a floater, then flung a mind-bending, one-handed pass over a defender’s head to a cutting Josh Green for a layup that put Arizona up seven. The lead only grew from there.

I had to watch this clip several times to figure out how Nico Mannion fit that pass in there pic.twitter.com/Q7bAUHV6tZ

— Ryan Kelapire (@RKelapire) November 30, 2019

That feed was a reminder that as impressive as Mannion is as a scorer, what makes him special is his ability to combine that with elite distributing skills.

Arizona has had good scoring guards (Mark Lyons) and solid passing guards (T.J. McConnell) under Sean Miller, but Mannion is the first who can do both at an extremely high level—and it is why he is a threat to take over any game, at any time.

His killer instinct doesn’t hurt, either. Like analyst Jon Crispin said during the broadcast, “when Nico Mannion is making shots and he is smiling, you know you’re in trouble.”

“I was just trying to be aggressive and trying to make plays,” Mannion said. “I hit a couple and started feeling good. We were just playing well together. We were pushing the ball in transition and I think that’s when we’re at our best. I was getting good looks; we were all getting good looks and it just made it that much better.”

Zeke Nnaji’s post passing is sweet

If Nnaji flew under the radar early in the season, he isn’t now. Defenses are doubling him and he is getting better at making them pay.

The freshman forward had three assists Friday, including a pair of beautiful dimes from the low block that resulted in easy buckets for Chase Jeter. Take a gander:

Simple but sound play by Zeke Nnaji, who handled this double team with ease.

Penn’s rotation was a bit slow, but that’s good patience and recognition by Nnaji. Important since he’s gonna see a bunch of doubles moving forward. pic.twitter.com/1yVYP1VQe4

— Ryan Kelapire (@RKelapire) November 30, 2019

Here’s another instance of Zeke Nnaji handling a double. Good stuff. pic.twitter.com/md8fnRzzry

— Ryan Kelapire (@RKelapire) November 30, 2019

Jeter finished with a season-high 19 points, and a lot of it was because of how much attention his frontcourt partner was commanding.

Even still, Nnaji had 16 points on 5-of-9 shooting plus a 6-of-6 mark from the free-throw line to along with a team-high seven rebounds.

“A lot of teams have been scouting and seeing what Zeke has been capable of, so early on teams were starting to double team him and he’s able to find me out of the trap,” said Jeter, who went 8 for 9 from the field.

Arizona’s porous 3-point defense is no fluke

Pepperdine’s hot shooting wasn’t a one-off. Arizona has legit issues defending the 3-point line. Penn went 13 for 34 from behind the arc, including 10 makes in the second half. That allowed the Quakers to make things interesting even though they trailed by as many as 17 points.

“I‘ve never seen so many 3s go in in two days,” Miller said. “Some of it is clearly who we’re playing. Some of it is our defense, we have to get better and I really think the early part of our season, we’re going to only go as far as our defense improves.”

Arizona currently has the No. 6 offense in the country, per KenPom, but the No. 51 defense, a number that won’t cut it come March.

Wake Forest is 10 for 42 from 3 in the Wooden Legacy and shooting 33.9 percent for the season, so it will be an ominous sign for Arizona if they catch fire Sunday.

“I do think we were better through stretches of this game on defense, but we have to continue to improve, we really do,” Miller said. “Some of it is just we have a lot of young guys out there and these types of teams, like Pepperdine and Penn, they drive young guys crazy. They just have never seen the movement and the shooting at these spots like they’re dealing with right now.

“But that’s a good part about being here at this tournament. We’ve seen two unique styles. We’ve been on a neutral court, and we came here to compete for the championship. It’s been four or five years since we’ve won one of these. And we have a chance here on Sunday against Wake Forest and we’re really excited. The ACC is a great league and they’re a part of it so we have to be ready to go.”

This tournament is taking a toll physically

The downside of a tournament like this? The physical toll it has taken on Arizona.

Nnaji suffered what appeared to be a shoulder injury Thursday against Pepperdine and both Green and Mannion got shaken up Friday after driving to the hoop.

Green took a hard fall but stayed in the game. Mannion landed awkwardly after making a layup and immediately clenched his right side before exiting the game and briefly heading to the locker room.

Nico Mannion exited the game after tweaking something on his right side.

He’s back in the game now, but here’s the play. pic.twitter.com/JQtiwK6xan

— Ryan Kelapire (@RKelapire) November 30, 2019

Mannion returned and made some critical plays, so it’s probably nothing to be too concerned about. Arizona has Saturday off, which should help him be in decent enough shape for Sunday’s championship game.

But, wait, there’s more! Stone Gettings, who played a season-low nine minutes, reportedly took a blow to the face, suffered a black eye, and will be monitored for a concussion. It’s a good thing Arizona has almost a whole week off before heading to Baylor next Saturday.

As for Stone Gettings, Sean Miller said he has a black eye after being hit on a play that had no foul called. The team will monitor him for any concussion issues, but he should also be fine.

— Matt Moreno (@MattGOAZCATS) November 30, 2019

Jemarl Baker Jr. is so dang valuable

When Mannion was in scoring mode, Baker was often playing the role of facilitator. He had three assists and zero turnovers, bumping his ATO ratio to 26 to 3 on the season.

Two plays stand out: Baker found Mannion on the wing for a 3 on double pin-down screen, then lobbed an entry pass to Nnaji in semi-transition for an easy bucket.

Baker also buried a pair of triples, and is now shooting 56 percent (14 of 25) from 3. Arizona was +10 with the Kentucky transfer on the court. Only Ira Lee (+15) fared better.

I’ve written it before, but it’s worth repeating: Baker receiving immediate eligibility has been a season-changing event for the Wildcats. He is filing Brandon Williams‘ void nicely.

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Arizona downs Penn to advance to Wooden Legacy title game

Jacob Snow-USA TODAY Sports

If not for Nico Mannion’s last-second heroics on Thursday, the Arizona Wildcats might have suffered their first loss of the season.

On Friday night Mannion decided not to wait as long to ensure his team would get to play for its first holiday tournament championship in five years.

Arizona’s freshman point guard scored a career-high 24 points, including 13 in the first nine minutes of the second half, to lead the 14th-ranked Wildcats to a 92-82 win over Penn in the Wooden Legacy semifinals in Anaheim, Calif.

The Wildcats (8-0) will face Wake Forest on Sunday night for the title. A win over the Demon Deacons (5-2) would give Arizona its first holiday tourney championship since it won the 2014 Maui Invitational.

Mannion, whose running hook shot with 2.1 seconds left gave Arizona a 93-91 win over Pepperdine on Thursday, was 11 of 14 from the field via a mix of floaters, drives and long jumpers. He made his first seven shots in the second half despite going to the locker room briefly after appearing to injure himself on a baseline drive.

After returning to the court with 13:11 left, though, Mannion scored on three straight possessions to put the Wildcats up 68-52.

Arizona shot 58.6 percent for the game, with Chase Jeter going 8 of 9 for a season-high 19 points while Zeke Nnaji had 16 and Josh Green added 14, as the Wildcats had double-digit leads twice in the first half and for much of the second half yet could never put Penn (4-3) away.

The Wildcats held a 41-33 edge at halftime but the lead quickly dwindled to three as the Quakers kept managing to get an open man underneath the basket thanks to its ball movement. But the game turned when Penn’s leading scorer, senior forward AJ Brodeur, picked up his third and fourth foul within a second of each other and had to sit with 17:07 left.

Arizona responded by outscoring the Penn 13-2 to go up 58-42 before Brodeur returned with 14:24 to go.

A 16-point lead with 10:36 left got down to 82-78 with 3:03 to go as Penn caught fire from the perimeter. The Quakers were 10 of 20 from three in the second half, making six in a row at one point, but Mannion hit a stepback jumper with 2:29 remaining to get the edge back to six.

Mannion then threaded the needle to Josh Green for a running layup to make it 86-79 with 1:57 left.

I had to watch this clip several times to figure out how Nico Mannion fit that pass in there pic.twitter.com/Q7bAUHV6tZ

— Ryan Kelapire (@RKelapire) November 30, 2019

Penn scored on six of its first eight possessions to start the night, the only empty ones because of turnovers. The Quakers hit their first five shots to lead 13-9 but then went cold from the field, missing 12 of 13 as Arizona went on a 17-3 run to lead 26-16 with 7:55 left.

A 9-0 run got Penn within one at 28-27 with 3:53 to go, then it went up 31-30 on a pair of free throws by Brodeur with 2:29 to go. Arizona responded with the next nine points and finished on an 11-2 run to lead 41-33 at the half.

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Arizona vs. Penn game thread

Jacob Snow-USA TODAY Sports

Come chat with us!

It’s time for tip off!

The No. 14 Arizona Wildcats (7-0) will continue the Wooden Legacy on Friday in Anaheim against the Penn Quakers (4-2), with the winner advancing to Sunday’s championship game against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons.

Here is all the info you need to tune in, and we will be chatting about the game in our comment section below. Join us!

Penn-Arizona game time, details:

Date: Friday, Nov. 29, 2019

Time: 8:30 p.m. PT

Location: Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, Calif.

KenPom projection: Arizona will win 80-68, with an 85 percent win probability

Which TV channel is Penn-Arizona on?

Penn-Arizona will be televised on ESPN2.

How can I watch Penn-Arizona online?

The stream of Penn-Arizona can be viewed at WatchESPN.com.

How can I listen to Penn-Arizona on the radio?

You can listen to Penn-Arizona on the Arizona IMG Sports Network.

How can I follow Penn-Arizona?

By following us on Twitter at @AZDesertSwarm! You can also follow our editors at @RKelapire and @realBJP.

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Arizona sets defensive records in blowout win over UC Riverside

Playing a day after Thanksgiving isn’t always ideal. Lethargy has been known to sneak up on more than one team. That might have been a problem for the Arizona Wildcats, but only for about 3.5 minutes.

The Wildcats pulled things together quickly and ran away with a 70-27 victory over the UC Riverside Highlanders in front of 4,417 fans.

“We always want to punch first,” senior guard Lucia Alonso said.

The big question was whether the Wildcats would hold the Highlanders to the fewest points by an opponent in program history. They didn’t quite match the 16 points they gave up to NAU in 1974, but they did set the record for the fewest given up in the modern era (beginning in 1977-78).

Arizona also held UC Riverside to the fewest field goals by an opponent. The Highlanders connected on just nine field goals, two fewer than the Wildcats gave up to South Carolina State last season.

A bit of a slow start by Arizona had UC Riverside with the 6-5 lead at the 6:39 mark in the first quarter. It didn’t last. The Wildcats woke up and the Highlanders had no response.

A flurry of steals and the Wildcats were up 13-6 just a minute later. UC Riverside wouldn’t score again in the quarter as Arizona ran out to a 22-6 lead.

Things didn’t get better for the Highlanders. The Wildcats held them to six points again in the second quarter, then just two in the third. UC Riverside finally broke into double digits with a 13-point fourth.

Arizona coach Adia Barnes subbed liberally. Every one of her 13 healthy, eligible players got on the court. Eleven of them put points on the board

McDonald led all scorers with 14 points on 67 percent shooting, but freshman guard Mara Mote had the breakout game. Mote scored a career high 12 points on 4-for-5 shooting. All four of her shots came from behind the 3-point line. Mote also had two steals in her 16 minutes on the court.

The rest of the defense was furiously stealing the ball, as well. The Wildcats had 15 steals on the day led by Thomas with five.

On the offensive end, the team was able to find the open shooter with regularity. As a team, they shot 47.5 percent and dished out 16 assists. Alonso led the Wildcats with five dimes.

Arizona will next be in action against Monmouth on Monday, Dec. 2 at 6:30 p.m. MST.

This story will be updated.

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What to watch for when Arizona battles ASU in Territorial Cup

Photo by Carlos Herrera/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Remember back in August, when there was so much promise for this Arizona Wildcats team? Or at least a decent hope they could get to a bowl game in Kevin Sumlin’s second season? Yeah, those were good times.

Flash forward three months and 11 games and Arizona (4-7, 2-6 Pac-12) is staring at another losing record, regardless of what happens in its final game. But being able to knock off the archrival Arizona State Sun Devils (6-5, 3-5) would at least somewhat soften the pain of what happened before that.

The Wildcats are on a six-game losing streak and haven’t won at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe since 2011, losing the last three by an average of 21.3 points.

Here’s what to keep an eye out for when the Territorial Cup is a stake on Saturday night:

Finishing on a high note

Arizona’s six-game losing streak is its longest since 2016, when the Wildcats dropped eight in a row during a 3-9 season. That skid ended with a 56-35 win over ASU, a game in which UA famously did not attempt a pass in the second half.

Ironically, Arizona has won three of the last four meetings with ASU when nothing was at stake beyond bragging rights. Since 2004 the Wildcats have entered the Territorial Cup knowing they would not play in a bowl afterward on four occasions, and topping ASU in 2004, 2011 and 2016.

Arizona’s current senior class has only one win against the Sun Devils, that 2016 triumph. Giving the likes of cornerback Jace Whittaker, offensive guard Cody Creason and running back J.J. Taylor a second victory would make for a heck of a sendoff.

Milestones to be made

Taylor entered this season 10^th on the school career rushing list, and if he had a big 2019 he might have challenged UA record of 4,239. Injuries early on, as well as Arizona going with a rotation in the backfield, derailed any hope of Taylor getting to the top spot prior to 2020.

And now that Taylor has announced he’s leaving school after this season, most likely to enter the NFL Draft, it’s all about seeing where he’ll finish.

Taylor heads into his final game with 3,215 rushing yards, good for fifth in school history. If he were to go for 167 yards against ASU he’d pass Art Luppino for fourth place.

At 4,630 all-purpose yards, Taylor is seventh and needs 126 combined rushing, receiving and return yards against ASU to pass Bobby Wade for sixth.

Quarterback Khalil Tate is firmly locked into third place in school history in passing touchdowns (55) and fifth in passing yards (6,090), while his third-place spot in total offense (8,297) looks set unless he somehow manages to amass 431 yards through the air and on the ground against ASU.

Also worth following: Whittaker needs one pass breakup to tie Kelly Malveaux for third in school history at 35, while junior linebacker Colin Schooler is 1.5 tackles for loss shy of tying Bill McKinley for fourth place with 45.

How the line … lines up

Arizona started the same five guys on the offensive line during the first five games of this season. Not coincidentally, the Wildcats averaged 37.2 points and 519.2 yards per game as well as 7.01 yards per play while going 4-1.

Then left guard Robert Congel missed the Washington game, starting a revolving door of linemen that aligned with the six-game skid. Each of Arizona’s last six games have seen a completely unique starting five in the trenches, with nine different players starting over the last three contests.

And just as unsurprisingly, Arizona has averaged 20.5 points and 367 yards per game, its per-play average dipping to 5.09.

Sumlin said there was a possibility that one or more of the injured lot that includes Creason, center Josh McCauley and tackles Paiton Fears and Jordan Morgan could return for the finale. If Creason or McCauley were to return that would be particularly helpful to a unit that’s allowed 32 sacks in 11 games after yielding 20 all of last season.

Not holding back

During his Monday press conference, Sumlin was asked how much he considered going for it on fourth down deep in his own territory during the second quarter against Utah. He said he gave it a lot of thought, ultimately opting to punt.

Asked if he’d be willing to take more chances against ASU, knowing it wouldn’t have any effect on bowl eligibility, Sumlin didn’t completely shut down the idea.

“We went for it on 4^th and 10 one time (against Utah), actually, maybe 4^th and 11,” he said. “We’re trying to win a game. Every game is mutually independent. As a coach we’re trying to give our players the best chance to win.”

For the season, Arizona is 13 of 19 on fourth down, a 68.4 percent success rate that’s third in the Pac-12.

If it comes down to a kick ...

(For those that may have PTSD from last year’s game, or even farther back in the Territorial Cup history, please skip this section)

In addition to blowing a 19-point fourth-quarter lead at home against ASU in 2018, Arizona had a chance to win at the end but Josh Pollack missed wide right on a game-winning field goal as time expired. Sadly, that wasn’t the first time the Wildcats fell short against the Sun Devils because of a missed kick.

The 2009 Territorial Cup, which went to two overtimes, ended when Alex Zendejas had an extra point blocked in the second OT of the 30-29 loss. Zendejas, whose uncle Max Zendejas is Arizona’s career leader in field goals (79) and kicking points (360), had two PATs blocked in that game.

And as fate would have it, ASU’s kicking duties are handled by sophomore Cristian Zendejas, Max’s nephew and Alex’s cousin.

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Territorial Cup expert talks Arizona-ASU rivalry, previews Saturday’s game, and makes a prediction

Photo by Carlos Herrera/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

If you ever want to learn about the Territorial Cup, Shane Dale is the guy to talk to.

The University of Arizona grad authored “Territorial: The History of the Duel in the Desert” and is expected to publish a second book about the in-state rivalry—“Graham vs. RichRod”—before next year’s tilt between the Arizona Wildcats and Arizona State Sun Devils.

Dale spent four years as a sports journalist at ABC15 Arizona and is now a digital journalist for the City of Goodyear. We caught up with him to discuss Saturday’s game, what makes the Territorial Cup so special, and lots more.

Here’s the Q&A.

Why are you so fascinated by this rivalry?

Shane Dale: “I’m sure some people scoff at the idea of being so passionate about a rivalry in which very little, other than state pride, is typically on the line. But that, ironically, is one of the reasons it’s so fascinating to me. It’s amazing the amount of people who have participated in this game who have said it’s the nastiest they’ve ever been a part of. That includes people who have played in the NFL and coached in more nationally prominent collegiate rivalries. It definitely piqued my curiosity.”

How have you managed to stay objective despite being a UA alum?

SD: “It’s really not that difficult, to be honest. I grew up in the Valley and was one of those odd people who grew up cheering for both schools, since I didn’t have a dog in the fight and I just wanted to see all of Arizona’s teams to succeed. Things changed, of course, when I decided to go to school in Tucson, and trust me that I definitely want the Wildcats to win that game every year. But I’ve never hated ASU.

“Wildcat fans don’t want to hear it, but there are a lot of things to like about that school, athletically and academically. I’ve also always had a terrific relationship with ASU’s media relations staff, and they were especially helpful in helping me gather interviews for my first book, as well as the one I’m currently working on.”

What is your favorite moment in Territorial Cup history?

SD: “It has to be the 2008 game. I’d been to three previous Territorial Cup games, and ASU had won all of them. And the Sun Devils had beaten UA in three straight games going into this one. But Arizona finally got past the Devils, and Mike Thomas’ punt return late in the third quarter sealed the win. It was an awesome game to watch in the stands, especially because it secured the Wildcats’ first bowl appearance in a decade.”

Since you have talked to lots of people on both sides of the rivalry (over 150, to be more specific), what makes it so unique?

SD: “Regardless of the era they played in, from the 1950s to today, nearly every player and coach who has participated in this rivalry has told me the same thing: It’s the nastiest and most intense they’ve ever been a part of, and they didn’t fully appreciate it until they actually played or coached in it. The Territorial Cup itself also makes this rivalry unique. It’s the oldest traveling rivalry trophy in the United States, and yet it wasn’t actually used in that capacity until 2001. Guys who played before then had never even heard of the Territorial Cup.”

A recent study found that Arizona-ASU is the most intense rivalry in college sports. How accurate do you think that is?

SD: “I’m sure it’s accurate, and I think there are a pair of simple reasons for it. The first is the one that the study cited. ASU and UA are sort of on an island, as they’re the only two schools in the state with an FBS program. The next closest FBS team is a five-hour drive. In terms of geography, you could argue that ASU and UA are the two most natural rivals in the country.

“The second reason is what truly makes this rivalry unique: the off-field history. Tucson and Tempe were both hoping to land the first university in the state -- or, back in 1885, the first university in the territory -- of Arizona. Over seven decades later, UA attempted to prevent then-Arizona State College from becoming a university, to the point of vandalizing the brand-new Sun Devil Stadium. There’s also the Ultimatum Bowl in 1968, in which UA head coach Darrell Mudra pressured the Sun Bowl committee into giving the Wildcats an invite to the game before the UA-ASU game -- which could have determined the WAC champion -- was even played. Throw in some nasty on-field incidents -- the Gable-Greer altercation in 1996, Clarence Farmer stomping on Sparky in 2001 -- and it’s easy to understand why these two schools and communities really, really don’t like each other.”

How badly does Arizona need to win Saturday’s game given the current state of the program?

SD: “In terms of fan investment, this game is always a big deal, and fans are certainly desperate for something to get excited about. A win in Tempe for the first time in eight years would definitely help. As far as Kevin Sumlin’s fate, I’m not sure it’ll make much of a difference. I suspect Dave Heeke has already made up his mind on whether Sumlin will be back next year, and I really have no idea which way he’s leaning (though Sumlin’s $10 million buyout definitely looms large). But the pressure to fire him will certainly be greater if the Wildcats lose, and especially if they get blown out.”

What are you keeping an eye on in this year’s matchup?

SD: “I’m interested to see how ASU opens this game. Will the Devils be locked in after last week’s upset (of Oregon), or will they simply expect to roll over Arizona since the Wildcats have lost six straight games? Jayden Daniels is mature beyond his years and I suspect he’ll be able to avoid that trap, but I’m not sure if that’ll be the case for some of his young teammates. The Sun Devils are a good team, but not as good as they think they are. Not yet, anyway.

“On the Arizona side, the Wildcats will either come out determined to salvage their season and play with a level of intensity we haven’t seen this season, or they’ve already been demoralized to the point where they won’t even get up for this game. I suspect the former is more likely, as I fully expect Chuck Cecil to light a fire under this team with a passionate pregame address just like he did in 1993, the day before the Wildcats beat ASU in Tempe. I’d also like to see Kevin Sumlin start Khalil Tate in this game. I like Grant Gunnell more than I do Tate, but I think the senior gives UA a better chance to beat ASU. It’s easy to argue that Tate should be 2-0, rather than 0-2, in this rivalry.”

What is your prediction for Saturday’s game?

SD: “I could see Arizona coming out swinging and taking an early 10-14-point lead. But even if that happens, ASU doesn’t get rattled when it falls behind early. (I think Jayden Daniels’ composure has a lot to do with that.)

“So, while it wouldn’t shock me to see an upset, I’m just not brave enough to pick Arizona to win this game. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Wildcats play their best, most complete game of the season, and still come up short. I’ll pick ASU to win, but probably not cover the 12.5-point spread.”

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Thank you to Shane for answering our questions. Again, be sure to check out his book on the rivalry, which has received glowing reviews on Amazon.

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Arizona, ASU to wear home jerseys for Territorial Cup matchup

Courtesy ASUDevils.com

If you’re a fan of uniforms, particularly the home ones, this year’s Territorial Cup is for you.

The Arizona Wildcats and Arizona State Sun Devils will both wear their traditional home tops when they face off Saturday night at Sun Devil Stadium.

It will be the first time in series history that Arizona will wear blue at Sun Devil Stadium, pairing that with a white helmet and white pants, with ASU going with its maroon tops along with gold pants and a gold helmet featuring its Sparky mascot. Per ASU’s Rivals site, its the first time since 2014 the Sun Devils have worn the Sparky helmet in the Territorial Cup and first time at home since 2009.

Bringing out the ⚪️ under the lights!
️ #BEARDOWN pic.twitter.com/cgpI1aix4x

— Arizona Football (@ArizonaFBall) November 29, 2019

Home-on-home jerseys have started to become a trend in rivalry games, with UCLA and USC traditionally doing so each year. The Civil War between Oregon and Oregon State often goes this route, as do BYU and Utah as well as the Florida/Georgia matchup each year in Jacksonville, Fla.

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Arizona playing for Kevin Sumlin? Rivalry game should not factor into coach’s job

Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images

Shortly after his team fell to the Utah Utes, Arizona’s sixth straight defeat and one that officially eliminated the team from bowl contention, Kevin Sumlin said something that likely resonates with most Wildcats fans.

The second-year coach was asked if he ever envisioned missing the postseason each of his first two seasons in Tucson.

“No, never,” he said. Asked why he thinks it’s happened, Sumlin noted there were multiple reasons.

“It’s my job to right the ship,” he added.

It is, but for how much longer?

Back in January 2018, when Sumlin was hired, he arrived with lofty expectations. After all, he was inheriting a team that reached a bowl game the previous season and returned an electrifying QB. The defense was bringing back some talent, too, and there was a level of excitement generally not reserved for Arizona football.

Nearly two full seasons later the team has lost 16 of its 25 games played, and while last year four of the seven defeats were by one score or less, this season has featured six of seven being by a double-digit margin. The Wildcats don’t look like they have quit on the season, yet they have been largely non-competitive for the better part of two months.

Add in the firing of a trio of defensive coaches, some fighting on the sideline and a clumsy handling of the quarterback position and you have ample reason to say “that’s enough.”

Given the lack of fans going to games in Tucson, many already have. An angry fan base is not ideal, but an apathetic one is the worst thing a program can have.

Arizona’s failure looks even worse when juxtaposed with its rivals, who have done little more than be average over the last two seasons under second-year coach Herm Edwards.

Oh, to be average.

This is how far the Wildcats have fallen, folks. The question is what they need to do to get back up and moving in a positive direction.

For many, the answer is as simple as moving on from Sumlin. That may be easier said than done given the money he is still owed as well as the perception should Arizona fire its second coach in three years.

Yet, there is no such thing as the wrong time to make the right move, and if the determination is that Sumlin is not the guy then the sooner the decision is made, the better.

The last thing you want is for the coaching search to begin late in the process, with the eventual hire not starting until sometime in January and immediately having to play catch up.

It’s also possible that Sumlin just needs a bit more time and the right defensive coordinator hire. At least offensively Arizona appears to have some solid pieces in place, and if the other side of the ball can improve then so too will the Wildcats.

Patience is a tough thing to ask for in times like this, especially since if Sumlin really isn’t the right man for the job then all keeping him does is waste time and possibly dig the program’s hole even deeper.

It will be interesting to see what kind of Wildcat team shows up Saturday. They have said all the right things about this being their bowl game, wanting to win for the seniors and pining to reclaim the Territorial Cup. They’ve talked a good game during the losing streak, though you’d have to believe they care about this one.

Assuming the team is sufficiently motivated, will it make a difference? Not as much as a more healthy offensive line would, but sure.

The truth is of the losses during this awful skid, only one or two — Oregon State and Stanford — were games the team could have or even should have won. That they would lose to Washington, USC, Oregon and Utah was a surprise to nobody.

That’s not an excuse for barely being competitive; it is important context.

Is Arizona better than its record? No. Better than its statistical rankings? Hardly.

As is often the case in rivalry games, it may be wise to throw all that out before kickoff. Besides, this year’s game is against a team that is not leaps and bounds better than they are, even if it may feel that way.

Despite the double-digit spread, the Sun Devils, who were on a four-game losing streak of their own before upsetting Oregon, are beatable. Two of Arizona’s four wins came against teams that beat the Sun Devils, for whatever that’s worth.

This game is winnable.

While a victory over the Sun Devils would feel great (really, really great), the result of the game should have no baring on any decision regarding Sumlin’s fate. Whether the plan is to keep him or relieve him of his duties, that plan should already be in place.

Win or lose, a rivalry game should not be the deciding factor in whether or not a coach keeps their job.

A win over the Sun Devils would let the departing Wildcats finish their college careers on a high note and it would bring a kind of satisfaction that only the Territorial Cup can serve.

But could it bring with it a third season for Sumlin?

If his job needs to be saved, it is already lost.

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