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Mildcats not as good as 1998 team

Daily Collegian football writer

Last week, I took the time to look at the Arizona football team's losses and returnees in more detail, and this year's squad might not be as good as in 1998.

In fact, the losses are so significant, many would call the Wildcats an imposter top-five team.

Playing in the mediocre Pacific-10 Conference, the Wildcats have put up a winning record against a sad crop of schools. Players both on and off the field have proven that the Pac-10 is just another wannabe conference lacking the depth or maturity to put out a national title contender.

Arizona lost more talent from last year than the media has acknowledged, and are in a worse predicament than the Nittany Lions going into tomorrow's Pigskin Classic.

That's not to say there aren't capable replacements for the Wildcats. I'm sure the Lions coaches have spent time reviewing film of second-team players from last year, looking for weaknesses. But, Arizona coach Dick Tomey hasn't told the public where the problems are. Instead, he's complimented everybody on his team, from highly touted tailback Trung Canidate to the second-string water boys.

Chris McAlister and Yusuf Scott, both in the NFL now, were named All-Americans last season, while Jeremy McDaniel was their second-leading receiver behind Dennis Northcutt, who returns as one of the most dangerous deep threats in the nation.

In numerous articles this season, Tomey has expressed his worries with the kicking game, namely the loss of punter Ryan Springston, who averaged 39.8 yards-per-kick on 37 punts last season, but we'll talk about that later.

The Lions second and third teams are full of suitable substitutes should the first team flounder.

These include talented players such as Aaron Gatten, Gus Felder, Ron Graham, Omar Easy, R.J. Luke, Eric Sturdifen and Rashard Casey - all backups who improved during spring and summer workouts.

Numerous first-team caliber players are fighting for playing time, from tailback to fullback to linebacker to the offensive line.

Arizona also has its share of returnees. Marcus Bell, an All-American last season, is considered by many to be in the same field as Penn State linebackers Brandon Short and LaVar Arrington. Penn State also has preseason All-Americans Courtney Brown and David Macklin, along with Anthony King, who could become an all-conference candidate should he play the way he did against Kentucky in the Outback Bowl.

How do the Mildcats expect to come into Beaver Stadium, with 96,000-plus fans chanting "We Are? Penn State!" and expect to compete against the nation's best?

As wily as Paterno is, it is hard to believe the Penn State coaching staff didn't have an inkling about how overrated Arizona was going to be when they agreed to play them in the Pigskin Classic.

Arizona could turn out to be similar to the USC squad Penn State played in the 1996 Kickoff Classic - talented and very hyped by the media, but in reality just another Pac-10 loser.

We'll find out if Arizona can make it out of Happy Valley alive tomorrow.