The Arizona football team will look to forget about "Xs" and "Os" this weekend as it plans to focus primarily on getting some "Zs."

Smiles could be seen across the football practice facility after yesterday's practice as the squad headed toward McKale Center to hit the showers. It was evident that the players knew not only that they would be free from running sprints all weekend, but that they were also excited about having some time to kick back.

"It can be a great weekend (if the players) use it wisely and relax," said Wildcat interim head coach Mike Hankwitz. "(They) get a chance to watch some football."

The Wildcats have been going full throttle even before school started. This weekend will be the first time they will have a chance to get away from each other in three months.

Ironically, that is exactly what they won't be doing.

"We have a little get together," senior safety Clay Hardt said of this weekend.

This is the second team get-together since head coach John Mackovic was fired on Sept. 28.

"(The get-together) is the players thing," Hankwitz said. "To me, it can be encouraging when the team does more things together because that's something you can't orchestrate. You can't tell guys to get together."

The players aren't the only ones excited about the weekend.

"I'm going to a cub scout campout with my son Friday night and Saturday," Hankwitz said. "But I'll be back working on Sunday."

A lot of players will also be heading home this weekend ÷ if they aren't planning to get worked on by the trainer.

"I have to get a lot of treatment on my ankle," said Hardt of the injury that kept him sidelined for most of the Wildcats' 24-21 loss to UCLA last weekend. "I think that everyone is going home if they can."

Are they going to miss practice?

"I like practicing," Hardt said with a smile. "But it will be fun to get a chance to have some time to yourself."

The Wildcats will have all weekend to get ready for their road trip next weekend to Pacific 10 Conference foe California by scouting the Golden Bears tomorrow. California is playing UCLA at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. The game is televised on ABC.

"It's a great chance to watch football," Hankwitz said. "You get to watch the good teams and see what they do and what mistakes they make. Unfortunately, I won't have a TV where I'm at."

The break will help the Wildcats get ready to end a six game slide that started at home with the team's blowout loss to Louisiana State in early September.