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Wildcat File Photo Arizona Daily Wildcat UA senior running back Trung Canidate escapes a would-be tackler during last year's 38-3 win over Oregon. Canidate is one of the most highly-touted running backs in the nation, and will encounter the country's best rushing defense tomorrow against Penn State.

t's time to throw out all the hype, all the press, all the talk, all the predictions.

All the comparisons on paper, all the experts' claims, all the coaches' and players' words of caution, mean nothing.

Now it will be decided over the course of 60 minutes in State College, Penn., at Beaver Stadium tomorrow morning at 10 a.m., Tucson time, in the Pigskin Classic.

No. 4 Arizona and No. 3 Penn State are finally going head-to-head on the field, and what happens in the end is all that matters.

"You just don't find anybody marching up and down the field on them," UA head coach Dick Tomey said of the Lions. "You're certainly not going to make big play after big play against them."

All week, the Wildcats have heard nothing but how tough Penn State's defense is. Led by a trio of Butkus Award candidates at linebacker, junior LaVar Arrington (65 tackles, 7 sacks), senior Brandon Short (67 tackles, 5.5 sacks) and senior Mac Morrison (47 tackles, 4.5 sacks), the Nittany Lions did not allow anyone to rush for 100 yards in a game last season.

"I'm going to meet great linebackers throughout the season," UA senior running back Trung Canidate said. "Everybody can hit. From a team aspect, they're a great team. One individual player doesn't make a team, (but) of course he (Arrington) is a great player. When I'm out on the field it's not any specific numbers that I'm looking at."

Canidate (1,220 yards, 10 touchdowns) knows he doesn't have to have a huge game, just a mistake-free one.

"I approach it as I can do everything I can to help the team win," he said. "There are key moments that change the (momentum) of the game, whether it's one yard here, or 50 yards there."

Penn State senior cornerback David Macklin said the Lions are aware of Canidate's prowess.

"We know he's a tough back and he runs the ball with a lot of enthusiasm," Macklin said. "We know that we have to bring him down on the first hit because he's going to try to make you miss and get some extra yardage. He's very versatile, but we'll come out on our toes."

UA running backs coach Jeff Woodruff said he's not planning on anything special to counter the Lions' defenders.

"You can't trick them, you can't run away from them," he said. "You've got to block them, you've got to hit them. Teams that tried to find ways to get around them failed."

The ultimate battle that will decide the war, Tomey said, will occur up front.

"The match-up between the offensive and defensive lines for both teams, will probably determine the game," he said.

UA sophomore, left tackle Makoa Freitas, said there's no one Lion the UA offensive linemen are worried about.

"All of them," he said. "The full front seven is the best we've played."

Going through the air may be Arizona's key to beating the Lions, but it won't be easy.

UA receivers coach Rob Ianello said Penn State's secondary is just as talented as its corps of linebackers.

"Very talented, very quick, maybe the best tackling secondary we've ever faced," he said. "It'll be a heck of a test."

In addition to Macklin (24 tackles, 6 INT), a preseason All-American, PSU returns two other starters in senior cornerback; Anthony King (38 tackles, 11 passes broken up) and senior strong safety Derek Fox (35 tackles, 5 PBU).

The Wildcats counter with a five-man rotation at wide receiver of senior Dennis Northcutt (63 receptions, 922 yards, 6 TD), senior Brad Brennan (314 yards, 3 TD), redshirt sophomore Malosi Leonard, junior Marvin Brown and true freshman Bobby Wade.

Tomey said Wade might return the opening kickoff.

"I'll (just) have to decide whether I want to look or not," Tomey said jokingly.

UA quarterbacks Keith Smith (1,732 yards, 13 TD) and Ortege Jenkins (1,011 yards, 5 TD), will have their hands full throwing past Macklin and company while also avoiding preseason All-American defensive end Courtney Brown (11.5 sacks).

"We just want to go and play well at Penn State," Smith said. "It is going to be a hard-fought game, but the key to a game like that is to take care of the football and eliminate turnovers."

The Lions have senior Kevin Thompson (1,691 yards, 6 TD, 8 INT) as their starting quarterback. Penn State is more of a running team, led by sophomore Eric McCoo who had 822 rushing yards as a true freshman.

"I see them trying to take the ball and ram it down our throats for three quarters and I see us saying it's what we want, bring it," UA junior defensive end Mike Robertson said. "Our defense loves to stop the run,. (It'll) be a chance to prove what the University of Arizona is all about, what Pac-10 football is all about. I think it's as tough as everywhere else. I know football was born and bred back east, but we play tough football out here."

UA secondary coach Duane Akina said the Wildcats will not ignore the passing threat.

"Penn State has a lot of people who make plays," he said. "They run and they play action pass and they've got more than their share of talented receivers. They are not short on talent and we'll have to be ready to play both the run and pass."

UA senior linebacker Marcus Bell (139 tackles, 3 sacks), who was named a team captain for the game along with senior linebacker DaShon Polk (56 tackles, 4.5 sacks) and senior offensive right tackle Manuia Savea, said the Wildcat defense's biggest task is to not be overcome by the moment.

"The emotion on this team is really high, but we have to learn to control that and just play the game," he said.

Despite the hype of the game, Tomey has stressed that this is not the most important game for the Wildcats in 1999.

"I've cautioned the team that this is not the most important game of the year," Tomey said. "No matter what happens, it's not final. We win it, it doesn't mean we have a great team. We lose it, it doesn't mean we have a bad team."