Spring practice brings good and bad news to UA football

Any fans interested in getting aquainted with next season's squad can "Meet the Team" tonight at 7 at the Arizona Stadium.

"We need people to come out and support the team," UA head coach Dick Tomey said. "It's a good chance to meet the players."

With three months until fall practice begins, off-season improvement will rely heavily on how hard the players work from this point on.

"We have a long way to go," Tomey said. "But I think every team in the country does.

"We've had a number of guys that have been unable to work, particularly on the defensive line, we just haven't had our top group in there this spring because of different circumstances."

The worst news of spring practice came when doctors said that sophomore to be running back Leon Callen had torn his anterior cruciate ligament in his knee. Callen could be out all of next season.

Callen backed up Gary Taylor last season at tailback and was predicted to be the heir apparent at the position.

In his place, sophomore Trung Canidate has risen as the top back heading into the fall.

Tomey said that Canidate has been a pleasant surprise this spring. Along with Kevin Schmidtke, Canidate leaves spring drills one of the top two at the position.

However, the most improved player according to Tomey is punter Ryan Springston.

"He has really improved on his get-offs and hang-time this week," Tomey said. "He's made more progress in four weeks than any other player we've ever had."

Springston replaces Matt Peyton, who handled all the kicking chores last season.

Tomey was also pleased with adjustments on the defensive side of the ball instituted by new defensive coordinator Rich Ellerson, who replaced Larry Mac Duff , the creator of the vaunted "Desert Swarm" defense, who is now with the New York Giants.

"We're making some defensive changes, but they won't be noticeable to people in the stands. Our opponents will notice," Tomey said.

Ellerson was the head coach at Southern Utah last season, but was the defensive line coach for the Wildcats two years ago.

"He's one of the guys who created this defense. He knows it better than anyone in college football," Tomey said.