 |
|
CHRIS CODUTO/Arizona Daily Wildcat
|
QB Kris Heavner looks for an open receiver while avoiding an oncoming defender during Arizona's 13-10 loss saturday to TCU.
|
|
|
By Charles Renning
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Tuesday September 30, 2003
Interim coach plans to make few changes
Although the Arizona athletics department made a midseason change in replacing former head coach John Mackovic with interim head coach Mike Hankwitz, Hankwitz said no one should expect any big changes out on the field.
"I don't feel at this point it is possible to make any major changes, just some minor things that we are going to try to do to help morale," Hankwitz said.
The loss of Mackovic raised the question of who would call offensive plays. Hankwitz said it would be a joint effort among all the offensive coaches.
"We have to work together, we have to have input from everyone, and we have to all be in this together," Hankwitz said.
Hankwitz ready to build on positives after overtime loss to Texas Christian
For the first time all season, the Wildcats were participants in a competitive football game. Although the team lost 13-10 in overtime to No. 19 Texas Christian, Hankwitz said it would be important to build off of the performance.
The new interim head coach said he was not big on "moral" victories, but the team's effort in the TCU game would be a good thing to off of which to build.
"We have to identify the things that we can do well and we have to build on those," Hankwitz said. "Let's get something we do well and build on it."
|
Up Next
Who: Arizona Wildcats at Washington State Cougars
When: Saturday, 2 p.m.
Where: Martin Stadium; Pullman, Wash.
|
|
Trio of Cats nominated for Pac-10 players of week
Freshman quarterback Kris Heavner, senior safety Clay Hardt and sophomore punter Danny Baugher were all nominated for Pacific 10 Conference players of the week honors for offense, defense and special teams, respectively.
Heavner went 14-for-29 with 276 yards, a touchdown and three interceptions in his first start with the Wildcats. Heavner is one of only five true freshman quarterbacks to start for a Division I-A football team this season.
Hardt led all Wildcat defenders with 13 total tackles, including one sack and another tackle for a loss.
Baugher finished the night with eight punts for a 47-yard average ÷ including two punts inside the 10-yard line ÷ routinely keeping the Horned Frogs honest with poor starting field position.
