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CHRIS CODUTO/Arizona Daily Wildcat
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Former UA running back Clarence Farmer breaks a tackle earlier this year. The UA baseball coaching staff does not expect him to play baseball this year.
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By Justin St. Germain
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Thursday, October 30, 2003
Arizona head baseball coach Andy Lopez said yesterday that he does not expect Clarence Farmer to play for the Wildcat baseball team this year.
The recently dismissed running back has been shagging balls in the outfield during fall ball batting practice from time to time, but Lopez said he does not foresee Farmer returning to the baseball team. The former All-Pac-10 football player briefly played for Lopez in 2002.
"No, I don't think (he will)," Lopez said. "Clarence and I have a good relationship, and he's been out here messing around a little bit, but he was just shagging fly balls. He was on the team my first year, but he hasn't indicated to me that he's going to play baseball this year."
Lopez also said that Farmer was not late to football practice Tuesday because of anything he was doing on the baseball field.
"Oh, no. He was out here early," he said. "He left at 1:30 exactly."
Tuesday's football practice, at which interim football head coach Mike Hankwitz dismissed Farmer, started at 4 p.m.
But Farmer may have a future in baseball somewhere, according to senior infielder Moises Duran.
"He's got raw talent, that kid. He's something special," Duran said. "If somebody works with him, I think he could be very special. He could go a long way."
Lopez said he would not prohibit Farmer from trying out for the team in the future.
"We don't stop anybody from trying out, that's for sure," he said.
Timeline:
Clarence Farmer's UA career
Sept. 16, 2000
A freshman, Farmer sees his first significant amount of playing time as a Wildcat against San Diego State at Arizona stadium. He racks up 95 yards on 13 carries - 7.3 yards per carry - solidifying his role as Arizona's starting tailback.
Sept. 30, 2000
Farmer posts his first collegiate career 100-yard rushing game with 116 on 18 carries and a touchdown at Stanford.
Oct. 7, 2000
Farmer tops last week's performance against the Cardinal with a 134-yard effort at USC, including an 80-yard run and a touchdown.
Nov. 24, 2000
En route to being named to The Sporting News' Freshman All-American team, Farmer concludes his freshman season with an 82-yard performance against Arizona State in Tucson.
November 2001
A sophomore, Farmer solidifies his role as Arizona's MVP with 464 yards and 4 TDs in Arizona's last three games of the season. Farmer finishes the 2001 campaign with 1,229 yards - tops in the Pac-10 - and 10 TDs.
Sept. 28, 2002
Farmer gains 70 yards on 15 carries at home against North Texas - his final performance of 2002. Farmer misses the final 8 games of the season due to a knee injury.
March 4, 2003
Then-UA head coach John Mackovic suspends Farmer for the remainder of the spring practice season. Mackovic says the Privacy Act disallows him to divulge details that led to Farmer's suspension.
Summer 2003
Mackovic meets with Farmer and his family several times in an attempt to reconcile their differences. Farmer was listed as the No. 4 running back on Arizona's depth chart for the start of fall practice.
Oct. 11, 2003
After struggling for much of the first half of 2003, Farmer breaks loose with a 125-yard performance at home against UCLA. Farmer seems to regain his feature back status for good.
Saturday
UA interim head coach Mike Hankwitz sits Farmer for the first quarter of Arizona's game at California for violating team rules, opting to start sophomore Mike Bell in his place. Farmer picks up 21 yards on just 7 carries against the Golden Bears in what would be his final game as a Wildcat.
Tuesday
Hankwitz says Farmer is "dismissed from the team and will not return" for violation of team rules. Hankwitz says the dismissal is entirely Farmer's fault.
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