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The polls are in and we're out

Arizona Summer Wildcat

Autumn is almost here and Associated Press has officially released its top-25.

Shockingly the Arizona football team wasn't in the top-25, in fact the Wildcats didn't even receive a single vote.

Toledo, of the Mid-American Conference, got three votes and we can't even get one.

What in the name of Pop McKale is going on here?

You mean a team that finished a disappointing 6-6 last year and lost its all-time leading rusher and receiver in Trung Canidate and Dennis Northcutt to the NFL can't get a vote.

Who is doing the voting here? Has all sensibility been lost on these poor writers?

But wait, the Arizona community should be quite happy that we were left out of the polls.

Remember last year, or what about 1994?

Anyone who has any sense of the history of Arizona football - I say history and not tradition, because schools like Notre Dame, Nebraska and Michigan have tradition, not the Wildcats - will realize that UA crumbles under the expectations of the national media.

So I say keep the expectations low, I am sure head coach Dick Tomey doesn't mind.

Tomey is at his best when his teams are overlooked, that is as long as he quits having O.J. run the damn ball every snap instead of using his rocket arm.

Coach, the Juice played for USC, not Arizona, so let our favorite breakfast beverage throw long bombs to Bobby Wade and Brad Brennan, instead of the quarterback sneak.

Arizona got no respect either this past weekend at the Pacific 10 Conference football media day where the Wildcats were picked to finish eighth in the conference.

At least we can say we don't go to Cal or Washington State.

Don't get down though, UA will be better than the so-called experts think.

You won't have to go home this winter break and listen to your friends go "ah, you guys suck, how could a major Division I school like Arizona win only three games?"

The Wildcats will surprise people and slip into a bowl game this year, probably the Aloha Bowl, a Tomey favorite.

With a solid offensive line led by center Bruce Wiggins, the running game will be better than expected and O.J. will thrive now that he is the man.

For three years I have been bitching to anyone who would listen to me that O.J. should be starting and Doug Flutie clone Keith Smith should ride the pine.

The only thing that will put this season into serious jeopardy is if O.J. gets hurt. If that happens I will suit up and line up behind center because no one else on the roster is even close to being a dependable backup, unless you count freshman transfer John Rattay, but he can't play this year.

The defense will also be better than expected, led by defensive end Joe Tafoya and linebacker Antonio Pierce. Pierce will be all over the field causing havoc while youngsters Lance Briggs and Joe Siofele get thrown into the fire quickly.

So tell all your friends to expect the worst, but know that come late December while you are sitting in the comforts of your home the Wildcats will be playing in Hawaii on ESPN2.

I feel ashamed to say it but I would be proud to witness a 7-5 season out of the Wildcats.

Luckily, we don't go to Florida State or Michigan because students would be hanging themselves at the thought of a 7-5 season.

Chris Martin is a journalism senior and can be reached at sports@wildcat.arizona.edu.