Arizona offensive coordinator Dino Babers’ decision to move aside and let 35-year-old Arizona assistant football coach Matt Adkins call plays for the Wildcats doesn’t come as much of a surprise. It is history repeating itself.
Babers, 63, was similarly mentored by former Arizona offensive coordinator Homer Smith in 1997, studying under the former head coach at Army and esteemed offensive coordinator at Alabama and UCLA. Then 36, Babers replaced Smith as Arizona’s OC when Smith chose to retire after the ’97 season.
Babers became Arizona’s offensive coordinator in 1998, a 12-1 season, best in UA history. He has gone on to become the head coach at Bowling Green and Syracuse, as well as the offensive coordinator at Texas A&M.
This entry is part of longtime Star columnist Greg Hansen's weekly notebook. Looking for more? Find updates and Greg's archive at Tucson.com/Hansen.
When Babers returned to Tucson last winter, it was with the understanding he would be the offensive coordinator, but also with the hope that he could help Adkins get ready to be the play-caller and, someday, an offensive coordinator.
Arizona offensive coordinator Dino Babers answers questions during a preseason media luncheon at Arizona Stadium on July 30.
It takes a special person to become a mentor as well as an all-in, full-time coach. Babers and Smith have done so.
Dick Tomey excelled in fostering relationships. Five years before Babers and Smith, Tomey hired former Arizona, Purdue and Army head coach Jim Young, at age 57, to be the UA’s offensive line coach, 1992-94.
Young, who did not recruit at that stage of his career, mentored up-and-coming UA assistant coach Charlie Dickey, then 29, to someday take his job. When Young retired in ’94, Dickey was elevated to Young’s spot. Dickey has since coached at Kansas State, Utah, Washington and is now at Oklahoma State, one of the best in the business.
Talk about a proud legacy.
Salpointe Catholic's sports Hall of Fame class a big-time golf lineup | Greg Hansen's NotebookFrom Greg Hansen's Notebook: Quick hits including how Arizona baseball alumni Chase Davis, Kiko Romero, Nik McClaughry did in their first year of minor league baseball, Salpointe's big-time hall of fame class, the curious firing of D-backs pitching coach Brent Strom and more.
From Greg Hansen's Notebook: The UA announced last week its Oct. 19 homecoming football game against Colorado is a sellout. As far as I could research, not even an ASU-Arizona Territorial Cup game has been sold out more than a few days before kickoff.
From Greg Hansen's Notebook: In February 1985, Pete Rose was offered $3,000 to participate in Arizona Wildcat's annual All-Pro Alumni baseball game. Rose, 44, turned down the money, played and managed and gave fans on the UA campus a show.
From Greg Hansen's Notebook: Among the takeaways from Friday night's McKale scene, transfers Trey Townsend and Anthony Dell'Orso bring life and intrigue to Arizona basketball's Red-Blue Showcase.
