Arizona football: On The Force, Ippolito's return, and Luuuute
The Arizona Wildcats hosted the No. 23 Utah Utes at Arizona Stadium on Saturday in both teams' Pac-12 season opener. Here's what you might have missed.
The Force Awakens
Updated
Arizona players run their hands over the bust of Button Salmon as they file into the stadium to face Utah in their Pac-12 opener at Arizona Stadium, Friday, September 22, 2017, Tucson, Ariz.
It was Star Wars Night at Arizona Stadium on Friday night, and the UA really committed to the theme.
During the pre-game coin toss, those from the “dark side” — Darth Vader and a storm trooper — stood with the teams’ captains.
Standing opposide the bad guys were Arizona employees dressed as Princess Leia, Han Solo and Luke Skywalker.
All of those characters posed for photos with fans before the game. A handful of students in the ZonaZoo dressed either as storm troopers or Darth Vader.
One local TV anchor even incorporated a toy lightsaber into her live shot on the field before the game.
Star Wars-themed tweet of the night
UpdatedThese are not the crowds Arizona is looking for
— Alec White (@AlecWhite_UA) September 23, 2017
— @AlecWhite_UA, referencing the famous quote — “These are not the droids you are looking for” — from “Star Wars: A New Hope”
The big number
Updated24:49
Arizona senior running back Nick Wilson didn’t receive his first carry against Utah until the 5:11 mark in the second quarter, exactly 24 minutes 49 seconds in to the game. Wilson gained three yards.
Cody’s comeback
UpdatedFormer Arizona Wildcat and Utah grad transfer Cody Ippolito talking with his former teammates Jace Whittaker and Trevor Wood. pic.twitter.com/RgD3Mdhile
— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) September 23, 2017
Cody Ippolito suited up at Arizona Stadium again on Friday night. But he wasn’t in an Arizona uniform.
The linebacker transferred to Utah in the offseason following five years in Arizona’s program.
Few players endured more during his UA career than Ippolito. He redshirted in 2012, and missed the entire 2013 and 2015 seasons and most of 2016 before transferring. During his time with the Wildcats, the former Scottsdale Chaparral High School standout recorded 80 tackles in 27 games, 11 of them starts.
Earlier this week, Ippolito had nice things to say about the UA program — specifically UA coach Rich Rodriguez.
“Before (Rodriguez and his staff) were there, the team wasn’t fully bought in,” Ippolito told the Salt Lake Tribune. “They did a good job of letting everyone buy into the program.”
Luuuute
Updated
Lute Olson, left, smiles along with Channing Frye as they laugh at Salim Stoudamire before the Elite Eight in 2003. Photo by David Sanders / Arizona Daily Star
Legendary UA basketball coach Lute Olson was honored before on the field before the the game. Olson, who turned 83 years old on Saturday, is the subject of a new statue set to be unveiled outside McKale Center in March.
More basketball
UpdatedLarry Scott said he spoke with Sean Miller today about basketball scheduling. For an example: Arizona only playing UCLA once this season. pic.twitter.com/mWQ6p430Jo
— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) September 23, 2017
Larry Scott visited Tucson for Friday night’s game. While here, the Pac-12 commissioner talked to UA basketball coach Sean Miller about the league’s unbalanced schedule.
Of note: Arizona only plays UCLA once this season, Feb. 8 in Tucson. The Wildcats will miss their trip to Los Angeles, part of a rotation designed to make the 12-team league’s schedule work.
Scott said the Pac-12 is “constantly evaluating the schedule.”
“I’d certainly like to see us play more conference games,” he said at halftime. “Certainly when you have Arizona and UCLA not playing each other in a given year, it highlights one of the (scheduling) weaknesses.”
Adding more conference games “is a conversation we’re going to have,” the commissioner said.
The bigger number
100 Consecutive pass attempts without an interception by UA quarterback Brandon Dawkins before Utah picked him in the third quarter. Dawkins’ last interception came Nov. 19 against Oregon State.
Playing both sides
Zach Davila spent Friday night an hour south of Arizona Stadium in Rio Rico, coaching the Hawks in a rivalry game against Nogales. He recorded the Arizona-Utah game on his DVR.
Davila has interest in both sides, though he considers himself an Arizona fan.
Davila was a standout offensive tackle at Cienega High School in 2008 when he signed with Utah. The 6-foot-5-inch, 300-pound high school senior probably could’ve played at Arizona, but ultimately was sold on Utes. Colorado State and New Mexico also showed interest.
Utah assistant Charlie Dickey, a UA grad and former Wildcats coach, helped sell Davila on the Utes. Dickey bolted for Kansas State following Davila’s first year, where he’s still coaching the offensive line. Davila suffered an injury before moving back home. He played briefly at Pima College before becoming one of Southern Arizona’s top young high school coaches.
