Pine Donkey

No team was ever able to go undefeated in Pac10 basketball...surely it won't happen in the Pac12. The conference season is grueling. It is early, but no denying the Cats are fun to watch.

Before the faithful or the haters get upset and start shooting daggers from under their respective rocks, let me tell you I am a fan of the Arizona Wildcats and the ASU Sun Devils. I have attended all four universities in the state and have degrees from two of them, so I pass the casual fan litmus test that some posters apply. I was not happy with the dismantling of the Cats last week, but understand that this year the Devils are a much better team. I am very upset with the game tonight. The devils did not step up to play on this stage. The Devils will still have their best year in the last 17 rankings wise, so why were they completely dominated tonight? I have been thinking about this for some time, and have had conversations with many fans, from both sides about why college football in Arizona can't make it to the upper tier of the game. The best answer I can come up with is, WE ARE AIMING AT THE WRONG TARGET". The football rivalry between the two teams is one of the strongest and most emotional in the country. Ask any Wildcat fan and they will tell you that the U of A leads the all-time football series. The Devil fan will respond that is only because of the years before ASU was a university. Quickly, the Wildcat fan will point out that during that time, ASU was the better team during the WAC era (ancient history) and U of A was better during the Pac10 era (recent times). Each fan will attempt to draw the line at the point that "proves" their team is the best. The reality is that arguing which school has the best football team is like arguing with your neighbor over who's spike had the longest eye guards! ( I stole that line from an earlier CWT post, but can't remember who made it). Over the last twenty years, based on the year end rankings, ASU is the 37th best team in the country, and U of A is the 56th best team (collegefootballpoll.com). So the ASU spike has longer eye guards, however both teams are spikes. As a comparison, let's look at U of A basketball during the same time. They are ranked as the number 6 team (ESPN College all-time rankings) along with iconic programs such as Duke, North Carolina, Kentucky and Kansas. (No this is not a shot at ASU basketball). How can a basketball national powerhouse be built in Tucson, yet either of the two football teams can only manage to end the season in the top ten about once every two decades? I believe this is partly due to the rivalry that works to tear the other team down as often as it works to build up a team. Just think of the impact on ether team if they had a couple more blue chip players. The culture of the rivalry has created the belief, in many, that true evil lives just a couple hour drive away via I-10. For this reason, both schools are loosing impact players to other teams. For example, there may be a stud QB at an Arizona high school that loves one of the colleges, but hates the other. Now if his favorite school offers a scholarship to another QB, he will feel left out. Due to his hatred for the other program he turns to out of state teams and the school in Arizona looses out. (Think Hundley, UCLA). It only takes this scenario happening a few a year to drag both teams down below the top tier. Carry this thought process forward to today. How man ASU fans will attempt to mitigate the impact of tonight's loss by saying "at least we beat the U of A...it is a good season". This false bravado, while embracing mediocrity is at the core of the problem. Who cares that ASU beat the U of A...they had the chance to win the PAC 12, go to the Rose Bowl and earn their first top ten ranking since 1997, but they failed. Beating a pathetic Wildcat team is not in the same realm of significance...that long eye guard spike is still a spike. When next year's schedules come out, there will be football fans, wearing red bad blue or maroon and gold, who quickly scan down to the rivalry game and circle it as the most important game of the year. By contrast, the fans of Wildcat basketball don't place huge significance on the ASU match ups. They know that whether they win or loose those games, the important games of the season take place in the later rounds of the NCAA tournament. Next year college football will see its first national championship playoff series. That should be the focus of both teams, and of all the fans. Until that time, let's shift our focus and root for that Devil/Wildcat basketball National championship game. Now that would be something to make some noise about, and would be like you and your buddy arguing who's 120 inch coues is a better deer!

That's perfect.

Very nice, congratulations!

Holy ... If the story is half as good as the picture, it will be a great one!

Thanks for posting the story Justin. Sounds like you two had a great hunt. Stop by if you get over this way during the archery hunt. Good luck!

Yep, them are big eye guards on that spike!

6B

Justin, Do you remember back in high school Mr. Wood's biology class would dissect cow hearts. Afterwards, he ground it up, mixed it with some fat, and grilled heart burgers for all who were interested. They were always good and always seemed to be plenty to go around. Good times!

TJ, you have the most unique and admirable ability of making good friends out of strangers over a campfire. Nice bull, and nice payoff for all the work. I am sure you will have the chance to do it again next year! Congratulations!

Great mass and character on that buck. I think it will be North of 90. Congratulations!

Anything other than Cole is second rate.

Beautiful and very unique.

You had a great fall TJ! Thanks for posting the stories and pics. By the way, how did the elk hunt go?

It is very tough to beat a good team twice in the same season. I like the Devils chances in this one!

I clean the heart and slice it in pieces about 3/8 inch thick. Next I soak them in saltwater for several hours. Remove from water, pat dry, bread with flour salt pepper garlic and any other spices you enjoy. Fry in pan with a little olive oil.

Huntitup and I have talked through PM's. Based on location and broken points, I am sure this is the same bull. I am thrilled that a 10 year old took this beast!

Great story, I love all the pictures of the kids. Congratulations to all on a great buck.

What a great story! I love to see kids having success. This is a great bull, and I know the group will cherish the memories for a lifetime. Congratulations to all.

He is all fattened up and ready for winter. Great bear.

Great bull, great shot!

Kinda a toad? That thing is toad royalty!

What are the chances! Cool video, thanks for posting.

That could be him. He is a little broken up but still has that split 4 on the left and the wide third point. Regardless, great bull.

What a deer! Congratulations