Canidate becomes Leader of the Pac

While Texas' Ricky Williams was busy breaking Tony Dorsett's career rushing mark, Canidate was doing his own damage, shattering an Arizona record of 232 rushing yards in a game set by Jim Upchurch with 288 yards against the Sun Devils.

"Personal goals are great because you want to be the best you can be," Canidate said. "I didn't know about the record, but it feels great now."

He gained the 288 yards on 18 carries, an average of 16 yards per rush, to go along with his three touchdowns.

"Canidate had a great night tonight," ASU senior free safety Mitchell Freedman said. "He has speed and agility. You can't catch him every time because he runs so hard. I had a front row seat to watch him tonight."

Canidate increased his season total to 1,220 rushing yards, which made him the first UA back to win the Pacific 10 Conference rushing title, beating out ASU's J.R. Redmond and Washington State's Kevin Brown.

"We knew we had to solidify our goals tonight, which were to have Trung lead the conference in rushing and get him 1,000 yards," junior offensive guard Yusuf Scott said. "He proved himself as the best in the Pac-10 and one of the best in the nation."

Canidate had rushes of 80, 66 and 48 yards for touchdowns, which gave him 15 touchdowns in his career of which all but two have been for 28 yards or more.

The 48-yard scamper happened with 4 minutes, 2 seconds remaining in the game and it proved to be just enough to put the Sun Devils away.

"They were bringing the whole team and I knew I was going to have to put some moves on. I just brought it to the house and it feels good," Canidate said. "They hit us with some good shots but I don't think they could take that last one."

This season, including the three against ASU, Canidate had touchdown runs for 75, 71, 54, 45, 38 and 37 yards. He also had a one yard score against Iowa.

Canidate has fully recovered from his early season foot injury which kept him out of preseason drills and the season opener as he has rushed for 526 yards in the past four games.

With all the accolades and long rushes, talk of the Heisman Trophy next year for Canidate is not a farfetched idea.

"To win the Heisman you have to be a great player and have a lot of luck as well," Canidate said. "But most of all you just got to come out and play the game you love."

On thoughts of a Heisman Trophy in Tucson next year, UA athletic director Jim Livengood said, "I don't think there is any question about that. (Canidate) has such great speed and does so many good things."

All the talk of the Heisman was something that in the past would have been a laughing matter as Canidate was tried out as wide receiver, defensive back and on special teams before getting one more chance at running back.

"What excites me about him is that he was a guy two years ago in this same game running down on special teams and blocking kicks. He then came to me and Coach Tomey and said I think I can help this team as a running back and he believed in himself," offensive coordinator Dino Babers said. "He is now the number one back in the Pac-10. If somebody really believes he can play a position you have to give him another chance."

Dan Rosen can be reached via e-mail at Dan.Rosen@wildcat.arizona.edu.