RANDY METCALF/Arizona Daily Wildcat UA head football coach John Mackovic considers his next play during the Wildcatsā game against Washington State on Oct. 17, 2001. The expectations are higher for Mackovicās team next season, which will be his second at the helm of the program.

When I was asked to write a season-ending football story for the commencement issue, I told my editor it could not be done.

How can I wrap up the 2001 season and preview the 2002 season for the Wildcat football team in less than 700 words?

So much has changed with the team in just the season and a half that head coach John Mackovic has been with the program.

Mackovic brought in an entirely new coaching staff minus Marty Long, Charlie Dickey and Rob Ianello, who are holdovers from the Dick Tomey era.

Mackovic brought in an entirely new offensive system with a pass-first, run-second attitude that saw last seasonās starting quarterback Jason Johnson nearly break every UA passing record.

He and defensive coordinator Larry Mac Duff have tweaked the once-powerful double-eagle flex defense into something that far from resembles what was once a staple at UA.

Mackovic brought in bigger, faster and taller recruits, many from the state of Texas ö 11 of the 29 players (23 high school and five junior college transfers) hail from the Lone Star State ÷ and only two in-state players.

He will have to deal with the loss of nine starters from last season ö four on offense and five on defense.

With so many changes expected in the program over the next couple years, some things at least will be familiar when the Wildcats line up against Northern Arizona University for opening day on Aug. 29.

On offense, Johnson will be behind the center. Junior tailback Clarence Farmer will lineup behind his quarterback. Senior Bobby Wade and junior Andrae Thurman will be slotted on each side of Johnson at wide out. There will be four returnees from the offensive line (Reggie Sampay, Darren Safranek, Makoa Freitas and Keoki Fraser), which if they can stay healthy, will be one of the better corps offensive line coach Dickey has had in a long time.

On special teams, senior Sean Keel will kick the field goals and junior Ramey Peru will punt. It will be the second year of duty for both players.

On defense, senior Lance Briggs will be the anchor on a team that gave up 34.3 points per game in 2001, the most in school history. But if the team needs someone to turn that around, Briggs is the guy. He is a two-time first-team All Pacific 10 Conference player and is coming off a great spring practice season.

Junior Michael Jolivette is another player who had a great spring and the cornerback will have the tough job of lining up against the opposing teamās top wide receiver.

The biggest question mark comes on the defensive line where the Wildcats lost five starters and return only three lettermen ÷ sophomore Carlos Williams, senior Young Thompson and sophomore Fata Avegalio. But Arizona will be getting help from six newcomers who will add muscle and size to what was an undersized line last year.

Like last season, the Wildcats will look to get off to a good start to the season ÷ UA beat San Diego State, Idaho and UNLV to open 3-0.

The Wildcats play three of their four non-conference games at home with their only road game a Sept. 21 matchup against Wisconsin, a member of the Big Ten Conference.

However, if Arizona wants to make it to a bowl game for the first time in three seasons, it will have to win inside the conference. Like last season, the Pac-10 is stacked with talent and no team will be taken lightly, meaning UA will have to beat the teams it is supposed to beat and even upset a few to make it to a bowl game.

If Mackovic wants to end his 2002 season at a bowl game, he will have to bring in a better conference record than last yearās 2-6 record.