By
Ryan Finley and Maxx Wolfson
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Tomey, McBride friends on and off the field
When Utah head coach Ron McBride looks across the field at his team's opponent this Saturday night, he won't see an enemy - he will see a friend.
The game between Utah and Arizona will be a reunion of sorts between McBride and UA head coach Dick Tomey - friends and former coworkers.
McBride served under Tomey as Arizona's assitant head coach and offensive line coach from 1987-89.
According to Arizona athletic director Jim Linvengood, the friendship between the two coaches will add to the importance of the game, the season opener for both teams.
"It makes it more interesting and sentimental," Livengood said. "Certainly you want to win, and you want to have compassion for (the other) person. The games are all big."
In a press conference held yesterday at McKale Center, the two head coaches traded compliments via teleconference. Since taking the helm at Utah in 1990, McBride is 71-46 with seven-straight wining seasons.
In the only meeting between the two teams since then, the Utes defeated the Wildcats, 16-13, in the 1994 Freedom Bowl in Anaheim, Calif.
McBride was quick to note Tomey's influence on his program.
"He gave me a great opportunity," McBride said. "He's taught me a lot as a coach and a person - how to do things the right way. He's a good friend."
McBride, who admitted to watching Arizona games during bye weeks last season, has been as successful as Tomey since leaving Tucson for Salt Lake City 10 seasons ago.
Following last season, the 50-year old coach was rewarded with a four-year contract worth more than $310,000 per season. McBride's paycheck can increase based on classroom and on-the-field performances.
If history is any indication, the Utah team will likely fulfill its end of the bargain.
The Utes, which won the Mountain West Conference in its inagural season with a 9-3 record, is predicted by MWC coaches and media to repeat as champs.
According to Tomey, McBride's personality and commitment to winning with class has helped him maintain excellence in his program.
"They're positive in recruiting, not negative," he said. "Ronnie's a uniter - he's not the kind of coach who's a divider."
McBride owes a part of his success to Tomey's influence.
"A lot of my philosophy comes from Dick," he said. "He was the best role model I ever worked for."
The Wildcats, coming off a 6-6 1999 season, enter the new season optimistic despite poor predictions. McBride, however, believes the Wildcats could surprise the collegiate football world.
"Dick's better when (the Wildcats) are coming off what, for them, (was) a mediocre season," he said in a press release. "It inspires him and the team. I think they'll be a 9-2 (or an) 8-3 team this season.
The Utes enter the game ranked No. 30 in the USA Today Poll.
Tomey, who enters 2000 as UA's winningest coach with a 90-58-4 record, noted that McBride may be the best coach in Utah's history and is impressed with the Utes' style of play.
"I admire the way they play - hard and competitve," Tomey said. "(McBride's) done the best job of anybody with that program."
Both men were quick to point out that their friendship will not be harmed during the course of the game.
"We're just out there to play," McBride said. "We both want to do the best we can. It won't change my feelings for (Tomey)."
Tomey agreed.
"The most important thing is our friendship," he said. "It's not going to affect the way we view each other - win, lose or draw."
