With its regular season in the rearview mirror and a tidy four-game winning streak under its belt, the Arizona men's rugby team's trip to Austin, Texas, for this weekend's Austin Invitational could be viewed as a weekend of rest, rugby and relaxation.
Arizona head coach Dave Sitton has different ideas about the visit.
"It's about the focus and direction of our program," said Sitton, who will conclude his 26th year at the Wildcat helm. "We've got many, many players coming back (next season). (This tournament) is not about an end-of-the-year fun run. It's all about, 'Hey, next year starts now.'"
Next year may not come soon enough for the Wildcats (8-5, 5-3 So-Cal Conference). Despite closing the season with four consecutive division wins, Arizona finished third in the So-Cal Conference for the second year in a row. But unlike 2003, when statistical circumstances bumped the team out of the postseason, many members of this year's squad blame themselves.
"We have affirmed with one another that none of us are happy with our performance this season," Sitton said. "There's no feeling that we can relax, no feeling that we've accomplished what we've set out to accomplish this year. But we do have an opportunity to finish on a high note."
To the UA ruggers, the Austin Invitational would seem to be an opportunity for redemption. The No. 1 seed Wildcats won the tournament in 1993 and 1994, and have blown through the field in recent visits.
"Every team before us has just gone and (done well) at the Austin Invitational," said junior halfback Ben Rubke. "There's a lot of pressure on us right now."
Oklahoma and Rice are already on tap to compete at the Invitational, and Arizona also aims to face at least two teams from the home trio of Texas, Texas Tech and TCU.
With "a minimum of four games" on the Wildcats' bill, according to Rubke, the team will have its final chances to build a foundation for the fall.
"What everyone's decided is that the season's coming to an end, and we're trying to set the tone for next season," Rubke said.
Sitton said he considers 2003-2004 an "ecletic" chapter in the books of UA rugby.
"I have not experienced as high highs and as low lows in one season as this year," he said. "There was nothing catastrophic, but - and our match against UCLA's a perfect example - we will play 20 minutes of flawless rugby and for the remainder of the game, we (won't) play much at all. That's been a fairly evident example of our season.