CNNSI.com - 2000 College Football Preview - CNNSI.com's Arizona preview

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Arizona Wildcats

No predicting where 'Cats ship will sail

College Football: The New Century

'99: 6-6, 3-5 Pac-10

Coach

Dick Tomey (14th year, 90-58-4; 153-104-7 overall)

Key offensive players

Ortege Jenkins, QB, Sr.
Best known for amazing end zone flip to beat Washington two years ago. The offense is his alone with Keith Smith gone.

Bobby Wade, WR, So.
Future star will play both ways. Set school's freshman record with 30 receptions and averaged 15.1 per catch.

Bruce Wiggins, C, Sr.
One of conference's top linemen for an offense that has gained 15,428 yards during his three years as a starter.

Brandon Manumaleuna, TE, Sr.
Second-team All-Pac-10, he caught 20 passes last year.

Key defensive players

Joe Tafoya, DT, Sr.
Led team and was fourth in the league with 10 sacks and 14 tackles for a loss.

Ivan Maisel's Player of the Century: Rob Waldrop, DT, 1990-93
"Two-time All-American and '93 Outland winner plugged up the middle"

Brightest Moment: Led by DB Chris McAllister, Arizona capped a 12-1 1998 season with a 23-20 victory over Nebraska in the Holiday Bowl and finished ranked No. 4 in the land -- its highest final ranking.

Lowest Moment: Shortly after leading Arizona to its first bowl game in 11 years (1979 Fiesta), Tony Mason was fired and the team banned from bowl games when the NCAA uncovered, among other things, a slush fund for payments to players.

Brandon Nash, FS, Sr.
Needs to give terrible defensive backfield a lift. That group had just five interceptions last season.

Key newcomer

Lance Briggs, LB, So.
Briggs was a fullback last year, but defensive coaches are enthused about his physical play at linebacker during spring practices.

Throwback player

Center Bruce Wiggins, a 6-3, 280-pound second-team All-Pac-10 selection last year, bench pressed 405 pounds his senior year of high school.

21st century player

Wade will be the Wildcats' Charles Woodson this year. During the spring game, he caught three passes on offense, had an interception and returned a fumble 83 yards for a touchdown on defense.

Fast Fact

Arizona set a Pac-10 record with 5,663 yards of offense last year but finished 110th in the nation in turnover margin (-1.09 per game).

Outlook

Who knows what the Wildcats will do? They were supposed to be the class of the Pac-10 last year and contend for the national title. Instead, they were blasted 41-7 by Penn State in the season opener and finished tied for sixth in the conference with a 3-5 mark. Jenkins won't be platooning at quarterback anymore, but he also won't have star tailback Canidate or receiver Dennis Northcutt to lend a hand. Four starters return on the offensive line, which should help a trio of running backs led by Leo Mills. Wade looked like a budding star on both sides of the ball during spring practice. The defensive line is solid with Tafoya and Keoni Fraser, but the defensive backfield needs an overhaul after snagging just five interceptions in 1999.

-- Ted Miller