[tps_title]Arizona finds it hard to maintain success[/tps_title]
A disturbing pattern exists after Arizona enjoys success. The Wildcats experience a drastic fall off shortly thereafter.
— The Wildcats won the Pac-12 South title last season and finished with a 10-win season. They are struggling at 5-4 overall and 2-4 in the Pac-12 this year.
— Arizona went 9-3 under Larry Smith in 1986 capped by its first bowl game victory in school history. Smith left for what he thought were greener pastures at USC. The Wildcats finished 4-4-3 the year after in Dick Tomey’s first season.
— Tomey’s Desert Swarm team in 1993 achieved a 10-2 record with a Fiesta Bowl victory over Miami. Arizona finished a respectable 8-4 the following season but lost three of its last five games, including a humbling defeat against Utah in the Freedom Bowl.
— Arizona followed a historic 12-1 season in 1998 with a 6-6 record in 1999. After Arizona lost five straight in 2000 to finish 5-6, the fans and boosters lost their patience and Tomey did not want to deal with the negativity any longer.
“I just told them that I didn’t think I could continue because the public debate has become so difficult for my family, for our team, for our coaches and their families,” Tomey told the Associated Press about his decision to resign. “I have no other choice and that’s all I’m going to say. If I have something smarter to say I’ll say it later.”
Two years after Tomey went 12-1, he was forced out and Arizona replaced him with John Mackovic, who set the program back much more than if Tomey stayed and made the Wildcats winners again.
Whatever happened to “Patience is a virtue?” Here’s another cliche: What goes around comes around.
