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Great job by KOLD-TV’s Dave Cooley for being on the spot to interview Anu Solomon (who was graceful after such a defeat) and capture the conversation between Solomon and Oregon’s Marcus Mariota. “You’re going to be wreaking havoc in this league for a long time to come,” Mariota told Solomon. “You’re a Polynesian player. You remember that. Keep that true to your heart, OK?” (Click on the photo to access the Cooley’s video)
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Jared Tevis and the Arizona defense have nothing to be ashamed of. The unit had no reinforcement last night.
Disappointing loss, love this team though, wouldn't want to go to war with anyone else. Gotta prepare to end this season off right #beardown
— Jared Tevis (@TucTownTevis) December 6, 2014
Mark it down: Safety William Parks will be an all-conference performer next year as a senior. Along with Scooby Wright, Tra’Mayne Bondurant, Dan Pettinato, Jourdon Grandon and Tevis, Parks had multiple stellar performances in Pac-12 games.
Great season.. Couldn't come up with the W but definitely thankful for the opportunities God blessed us with this season.. #BowlGameNext ✊
— Parks Place ⚠️ (@PhillyWill11) December 6, 2014
How can the College Football Playoff committee penalize Arizona for playing an extra game (13th of season) with a loss against a Top 5 team that it beat earlier in the season on the road? If the committee is true to its “total body of work” credo, Arizona passes in flying colors by winning one of the toughest divisions (Pac-12 South) and beating Top 25 teams Oregon, ASU and Utah.
I'd reiterate, not a given Arizona will fall out of Top 10/NY6. Committee may treat conf. title game losers less harshly than BCS did.
— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) December 6, 2014
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It’s hard to hate Oregon with the amount of class they showed after the game with Mark Helfrich and Marcus Mariota seeking out a physically and mentally spent Anu Solomon.
Mark helfrich sprinted across the field to make sure he caught Anu Solomon and talk to him. #Class pic.twitter.com/Qur1Myp4xj
— Justin Hopkins (@JHopkins247) December 6, 2014
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It’s true: In the three games in which Rich Rodriguez’s teams at Arizona have allowed 50 or more points, the Wildcats have bounced back in a big way. After Stanford beat Arizona 54-48 in overtime in 2012, the Wildcats responded with a 52-17 win over Washington. After UCLA pummeled Arizona 66-10 later in 2012, the Wildcats fought back with a 56-31 win over Colorado in which Ka’Deem Carey gained a school-record 366 rushing yards. After ASU routed Arizona 58-21 last season, the Wildcats looked sound in a 42-19 drubbing of Boston College in the AdvoCare V100 Bowl.
Dear Fiesta Bowl: 3 times after #ArizonaWildcats allowed 50-plus under RichRod: 3-0 record w/routs vs Wash (52-17)/Colo (56-31)/BC (42-19)
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) December 6, 2014
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The Pac-12 has seen how successful the basketball tournament has become at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Las Vegas is an ideal destination for the Pac-12 football title game. Spruce up the facilities at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas (a smaller stadium so less empty seats will be noticeable). The announced attendance for last night’s game was 45,618 when it was actually more like a quarter of that. Capacity at Sam Boyd is about 40,000, which is about right for a game like this.
With how embarrassing stadium looked tonight, I think #Pac12 should foot the bill to upgrade UNLV's stadium and play title game in Vegas
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) December 6, 2014
“@wilnerhotline: Levi's Stadium minutes before Pac-12 title game pic.twitter.com/CowAeWejxu” SEC dominates attendance too… #AwfulShowing
— FeedJake14 (@FeedJake14) December 6, 2014
Pac-12 Championship Game or Ohio state high school football title bout? RT @MikeDyer: 9,570 is attendance for this game
— Luke Zimmermann (@lukezim) December 6, 2014
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A good shot of Mariota and Solomon, who have done Hawaii and their Polynesian heritage proud this season.
LOCAL BOYS!!! Both QB’s in PAC-12 title game, Marcus Mariota (Ducks), Anu Solomon (Wildcats), are Hawaii-Born. pic.twitter.com/CQYkrVBPST
— KITV4 (@KITV4) December 5, 2014
Scooby Wright passed one Arizona great in Tedy Bruschi and is close to breaking a 46-year-old school record.
Scooby Wright had 1 tackle for loss, giving him 28, passes Tedy Bruschi (27.5) for 2nd, 1 behind Tom Nelson (29) for #ArizonaWildcats record
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) December 6, 2014
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ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com publisher, writer and editor Javier Morales is a former Arizona Press Club award winner. He also has published articles for Bleacher Report and Lindy’s College Sports.