By Scottie Bricker
Arizona Daily Wildcat
October 8, 1997

Fans should turn criticism of Tomey elsewhere

Ian Mayer Arizona Daily Wildcat Scottie Bricker

Why is it that at the first sign of turmoil in a team's season the fans and members of the community become vigilantes and cry out for the ousting of the team's coach?

Did it ever occur to anybody that maybe the players just didn't have it all together, or their chemistry just wasn't solid?

Frankly, I have had it with the talk I hear every day about Arizona head coach Dick Tomey and how he belongs six feet under ground with the rest of the cadavers and maggots who have passed on to other duties.

You people know who you are. Occupying my every free second with chants of "We hate Tomey," and "Let's Fire Dick."

It's funny, after Saturday's win over San Diego State, I didn't hear any support of Tomey's play calling or game strategy.

How about the 4th and 14 call early in the second quarter. With the ball on the SDSU 35-yard line and Arizona down 21-0, Tomey decided to ditch the good-for-nothing pooch punt and go for the first down.

Quarterback Ortege Jenkins completed a pass to Rodney Williams for Arizona's first touchdown of the game, starting what turned out to be the biggest comeback in school history.

If Tomey decides not to go for it on that play, Arizona is 1-4 and everybody and their mother is still crying about what a sorry, pitiful head coach we have.

So let me get this straight.

When the Wildcats win the players did a great job but when they lose it is all the coach's fault.

Somehow none of that makes any sense to me.

I had a fantastic realization last week as I watched the replay of Arizona's pitiful showing against UCLA. I didn't enjoy the game the first time and I have no idea what possessed me to think I would enjoy it a second time around.

At any rate, I decided to stomach the pain of our performance once more and I discovered a very interesting and lesser known fact.

Our players are not getting the job done on the field.

Some of this improved with the victory over the Aztecs, but the fact remains that for the third straight week the Wildcats found themselves in an early hole, down 21 points with three minutes to go in the first quarter.

I have heard many of my comrades say that it is the coach's fault for not being able to motivate his players to get ready for the game.

No way. I'm not buying it.

Ian Mayer Arizona Daily Wildcat Fans sit below a self-explanatory sign that expresses a desire for Arizona head football coach Dick Tomey at Saturday's game. Arizona was 1-3 and in last place in the Pacific 10 Conference going into the game after being ranked as high as 15th in Sports Illustrated's preseason poll.

If you can't get emotionally ready to play a Division-I football game then you have serious issues to deal with.

I have seen students get more emotionally charged and ready to play intramural flag football games for a handful of their friends than the football team does to compete in front of thousands of fans.

So be careful who you blame when you criticize a struggling team.

And I emphasize TEAM. There is no 'I' in team, you can't just blame one person.

So if you think you have what it takes to coach then I suggest you submit your application to Mr. Livengood immediately.

Otherwise, let Dick Tomey do what he does best - coach Arizona football.