More photos » by Jae C. Hong - AP

16 days ago: Arizona quarterback Nick Foles (8) looks to pass against Southern California defensive end Armond Armstead (94) during the first half of their NCAA college football game in Los Angeles, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2009. AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

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Arizona will take on Nebraska in the Pacific Life Holiday Bowl on December 29, 2009 at 8:00 ET.  The Arizona Wildcats finished 8-4 and 6-3 in the Pac-10.   Arizona finished 2nd in the Pac-10 in 2009.  Nebraska finished 9-4 and was 1 second away from playing in a BCS bowl game.   Other than the BCS games, the Nebraska/Arizona matchup will be one of the most anticipated games of the bowl season.  Mike Stoops has been with Arizona since 2004 when he started his Arizona career with a 3-8 record.  He has turned the program around and created a winning atmosphere that has led him to an 8 win season in 2008 which included a Las Vegas Bowl victory over BUY 21-10.  Stoops added another 8 win season in 2009.  It was Arizona's first bowl game since 1998 where Arizona defeated Nebraska 23-20. 

Bo Pelini has been at Nebraska as the head coach since 2008.  He won 9 games in 2008 and another 9 this year. Nebraska beat Clemson last year in the Gator Bowl 26-21.  Pelini rescued Nebraska who was 5-7 in 2007.  Nebraska had a great year winning the Big XII North and going to the Big XII Championship game to face Texas.  It seemed as if Nebraska had it sewn up when Colt McCoy threw the ball out of bounds with :00 left on the clock.  It was all for not as the replay booth gave the Horns 1 second and that was all they needed to kick the game winning FG.  Nebraska will be a tough opponent who has a guy named Ndamakuh Suh.  Yeah, you know him.

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There is still time to join if you haven't!

I have created a bowl pick'em league in yahoo for our readers to challenge each other on the bowls.  Please join the group and make your picks.  It's going to be a fun December. 

Group page

Group ID#: 28472
Password: foles

Winner will receive an Arizona nike visor from the U of A bookstore.

Stoops and his team have been working on their class of 2010 for almost a year now.  They have 18 commitments, including 3 four stars committed.  As this article states, Stoops doesn't care much for star ratings.  He recruits for talent and then develops at will.

Jim Livengood is currently one of three finalists for the AD at UNLV.  He visited the school on December 15, 2009 and UNLV will make its decision in the next few days.  I'm not really sure how I feel about this.  I love the Sean Miller hire and Livengood has been good to all Arizona programs.  I think I'll miss him if he goes.

Arizona has moved quickly to replace defensive coordinator Mark Stoops, who left for Florida State last week.  The Cats will replace him with Greg Brown who was the secondary coach at the University of Colorado.   I fully trust Stoops on this decision.  Brown will make it to the Holiday Bowl and help the Cats play against Nebraska.  Rumor also has it that Stoops will name Tim Kish as the co-defensive coordinator for this year and the 2010 season.  Rumors, rumors, rumors.

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More photos » by Lenny Ignelzi - AP

9 days ago: Arizona's Derrick Williams dunks against San Diego State during the first half of a NCAA basketball game Saturday Dec. 12, 2009 in San Diego. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)

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The Wildcats woes on the road continue as they fell to San Diego State 63-46.  The Cats were all tied up at 14 when Aztecs went on a 9-0 run and never looked back.  Derrick Williams was his usual self with 13 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist and only 1 turnover.  Jamelle Horne must have had the green light last night because he would not stop shooting.  He ended an abysmal 3-11 with 5 and ended with 6 points.  He also missed both of his free throw attempts. Nic Wise wasn't much better.  He shot 2-9 from the floor, had 4 assists and 2 turnovers.  He finished with 4 points.  

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Mark Stoops is headed to Florida State.

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Arizona's defensive coordinator Mark Stoops has been hired by the Florida State as their defensive coordinator and will help out Jumbo Fisher to try and restore the Seminoles back to the perennial powerhouse of the 90's.  This is a huge loss for Arizona.  No word yet on who will replace Stoops or be calling the defense for the Holiday Bowl. 

More photos » by Amy Gutierrez - AP

Be Afraid. Be VERY Afraid!

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Arizona took down USC on Saturday 21-17 with some late heroics by Juron Criner catching a 36 yard TD from Nick Foles with 3:14 left in the game as the Cats beat the Trojans for the first time in Mike Stoops' tenure.  Nice way to finish the season

After the win, the Cats were officially invited to play in the Holiday Bowl against Nebraska on December 29, 2009.  Nebraska won the Big XII North and nearly knocked off Texas in the Big XII Championship.  If you don't know who Ndamukong Suh is you need to look at some video.  Our offensive line has their work cut out for them.

The basketball team fell to Oklahoma on Sunday night 79-62.  The Cats are displaying their youth by traveling to Oklahoma to play their first real road test and were never in this one.  Back to the drawing board for Coach Miller.

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