Football team looks for Rose Bowl berth

Nicholas Valenzuela Arizona Daily Wildcat UA junior quarterback Ortege Jenkins goes back for a pass during the Wildcats' spring scrimmage. The football team will prepare earlier this year for the upcoming season and for opening game at Penn State Aug. 28 in the Pigskin Classic.

After all, the team hasn't stepped onto the field yet, and beating last year's school-best 12-1 overall record and No. 4 national ranking won't be easy.

"I think it has a chance to be a very good team," he said. "You have to look at last year's team, though, there's only been ... very few teams in the history of the Pac-10 that have been as good in terms of national finish.

"For us to say this team can be better is not realistic right now."

1999 UA football schedule Date Opponent Time Aug. 28 at Penn State 1 p.m. EDT (ABC) Sept. 4 at TCU 6 p.m. CDT Sept. 11 Middle Tenn. 7 p.m. MST Sept. 18 Stanford 7 p.m. MST Sept. 25 at Wash. St. 2 p.m. PDT Oct. 9 USC 7 p.m. MST Oct. 16 UTEP 7 p.m. MST Oct. 23 Oregon *7 p.m. MST Oct. 30 at UCLA 12:30 p.m. PDT Nov. 6 Washington** 7 p.m. MST Nov. 13 at Oregon St. 1 p.m. PST Nov. 27 at Arizona St. 11 a.m. MST (ABC) * Family Weekend ** Homecoming

The summer will be a quick one for the Wildcats as they open the season at Penn State Aug. 28 in the Pigskin Classic.

UA returns a number of starters, and of those returning, junior quarterback Ortege Jenkins said he and fellow quarterback Keith Smith are encouraging as many players as possible to stick around for the summer to practice together.

"But some can, some can't," Tomey said of his players' ability to work out together. "I think we have most of the guys who can stay will stay. I don't think they should stay for the whole summer, though. They need to get some time off, especially in the second summer session before (Camp) Cochise, so they'll be ready for it."

Camp Cochise will kick off earlier in August because of the Penn State game, but until then Tomey and the coaching staff are not allowed by the NCAA to have contact with players. That leaves the players on their own to improve themselves.

Arizona lost six seniors and one junior to the NFL in the offseason, and Tomey said that replacing the leadership those players took with them will be a difficult task for this year's crop of seniors.

"No, they haven't had a chance yet," he said. "We won't know about this team till we get through the summer.

"We have a strong group of seniors, they should provide outstanding leadership, but you really don't know until you have some problems. Leadership emerges best in problem situations."

Tomey said his ultimate goal for 1999 is the same as it was for 1998.

"What I want is for this team to reach its potential, to improve every day until the end of the season," he said.

Chris Jackson can be reached at Chris.Jackson@wildcat.arizona.edu.

Arizona football 1998 record: 12-1 overall, 7-1 Pacific 10 Conference Final ranking: No. 4 Postseason: Defeated Nebraska 23-20 in Holiday Bowl Head coach: Dick Tomey (84-52-4 in 12 years at UA) Who's gone: CB Chris McAlister (7 INT, 15 PBU), DT Daniel Greer (9 sacks, 38 tackles), RB Kelvin Eafon (16 TD, 532 yards), WR Jeremy McDaniel (9 TD, 916 yards), TE Mike Lucky (142 yards), OT Edwin Mulitalo, OG Yusuf Scott, P Ryan Springston Who's back: LB Marcus Bell (3 sacks, 139 tackles), LB Scooter Sprotte (3 INT, 58 tackles), LB DaShon Polk (4.5 sacks, 56 tackles), DE Joe Tafoya (4.5 sacks, 34 tackles), DT Keoni Fraser (2.5 sacks, 21 tackles), FS Rafell Jones (2 INT, 59 tackles), SS Greg Payne (2 INT, 38 tackles), CB Kelvin Hunter (2 INT, 45 tackles), QB Keith Smith (13 TD, 1,732 yards), QB Ortege Jenkins (5 TD, 1,011 yards), WR Dennis Northcutt (6 TD, 922 yards), RB Trung Canidate (10 TD, 1,220 yards), OT Manuia Savea, C Bruce Wiggins, OG Steven Grace, OG Makoa Freitas Who's stepping up: CB Leland Gayles, FS Brandon Nash, RB Leo Mills, HB Dolphin Tillman, WR Malosi Leonard, TE Brandon Manumaleuna, OT Chris Redding Who's new: CB Zaharius Johnson, SS Michael Jolivette, LB/HB Lance Briggs, LB Joseph Siofele, DE Cory Kipp, DE Ben Tuinei, WR Marvin Brown, WR Brandon Marshall, RB Bobby Wade, RB Larry Croom, RB Pablo Henriquez, OG Kevin Barry