By Kevin Clerici
Arizona Daily Wildcat
September 25, 1997

On the Sidelines

Arizona Daily Wildcat Kevin Clerici

Kickers needed

Hey coach Tomey I picked up the $16.20 advertising tab, it's yours for a week.

Make us proud...

In his weekly press conference before the Ohio State game, UA head coach Dick Tomey laughed at the gesture of putting an ad in the school paper if the kicking game didn't improve.

Well, a missed field goal, shanked extra point, bobbled punt that resulted in the Buckeyes first touchdown, plus kickoffs no further than the 35-yard line, then the ugliest onside attempt in the history of college football is no laughing matter.

So Mr. Tomey, no more excuses. Even if the mild-mannered, babyfaced Ryan Springston showed booming potential in spring drills, and T.J. Rodriquez is a story book tale of walking-on into the starting lineup and has more local family than the Waltons, and Tim Ferlan has paid his dues backing up Matt Peyton and Jon Prasuhn before that, it's time for action.

It's time to open up the possibilities of other kickers doing the job. Heck, I heard Mike Lucky can kick the ball a country mile. Why not Keith Smith, he does everything else?

I understand that it is part of your sell, being loyal to your players, standing behind them when faced with adversity. When you skipped the Illinois game in 1996 to attend Damon Terrell's funeral, you gained a human respect that most coaches dream of, but this isn't death. At least not yet.

I remember looking back at my notes last season when your punt team ranked tops in the conference and you saying something of the nature of "We at Arizona take pride in our special teams, it's crucial in winning."

What happened to that mentality? When did the kicking game become a second-page issue?

Granted, you have always had good kickers. Peyton was Mr. Everything last season and Steve McLaughlin before him won the Lou Groza award(nation's best placekicker). Gary Coston was a second team All-American before him.

So like I said the $16.20 is on me, hopefully somebody, anybody, will step forward, but that's all I can offer. I bought season tickets on the premise we would at least try to be a winner.

How about you doing the same.

Kevin Clerici is Wildcat sports editors and really did buy season tickets