To get ready for the upcoming Arizona football season, All Sports Tucson offers a countdown, which will include history notes and a look ahead to the season — a good way to keep Arizona football on the mind in the summer months leading up to fall camp in early August and then kickoff against New Mexico on Aug. 31 in the start of the Brent Brennan era.
CLICK HERE TO ACCESS PREVIOUS DAYS IN THE COUNTDOWN
A LOOK BACK — NO. 31 MARK ARNESON
With it being the 31st day until kickoff between the Lobos and Wildcats, the best player to wear No. 31 for Arizona is linebacker Mark Arneson, a Palo Verde graduate who played for the Wildcats in 1969 to 1971. He went on to play nine years in the NFL with the St. Louis Cardinals. He was a second-round draft pick by the Cardinals in 1972. Arneson had 21 unassisted tackles for Arizona when the Wildcats played at Michigan in the 1970 season opener (won by the Wolverines 20-9). He is inducted in Arizona’s Hall of Fame. Following his football career, Arneson worked as a general and flooring contractor. He had a passion for hunting. He passed away at age 73 last April reportedly from complications with CTE (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy). He engaged in the CTE Research Project through Boston University. His wish was to donate his brain for further research and possible diagnosis of CTE. Mark also suffered from Alzheimer’s last decade of his life. Arenson’s brothers Jim and Tom also graduated from Palo Verde and played football at Arizona.
NO. 31 IN 2024 — LS JUSTIN HOLLOWAY & S KADEN WICKS
Holloway, 6-foot-3 and 226 pounds, is a transfer from Ohio who did not play last season. In 2022, he made 14 appearances at long stapper with Ohio. From 2018 to 2021, he played in four games. He did not play in 2018 and 2019. He was a two-year varsity starter as a wide receiver and long snapper at Venice (Fla.) High School. Helped lead the Indians to the 2018 Florida 7A State Championship.
Wicks, 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds, is a freshman who finished his high school career at IMG Academy in Florida after beginning it at Bishop O’Dowd in Oakland. He is an unranked athlete that played safety at both schools.
NOTE
Yes, all of these players could have transferred elsewhere after the coaching change but returned to the Wildcats in 2024:
Among the Nation's best.
Noah Fifita & Tetairoa McMillan have been named to the Preseason Maxwell Award Watchlist pic.twitter.com/aoZyGMxY26
— Arizona Football (@ArizonaFBall) July 29, 2024
Jonah Savaiinaea has been named to the 2024 Outland Trophy Watch List pic.twitter.com/qpyRy5KxfL
— Arizona Football (@ArizonaFBall) July 30, 2024
@TacarioD and @Jacobmanu6 have been named to the Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watchlist pic.twitter.com/lngP6wURQV
— Arizona Football (@ArizonaFBall) July 30, 2024
THEY SAID IT
“There were seven head coaching changes in Division I football last year and those seven coaches all had to deal with the 30 day portal the day the head coach left. That’s a really unique thing and really complicated. I just think the players here are really special because they chose to stay committed to each other and that’s not happening a lot in college football right now.” — Brennan at Tuesday’s press conference that started fall camp
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ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com publisher, writer and editor Javier Morales is a former Arizona Press Club award winner. He is a former Arizona Daily Star beat reporter for the Arizona basketball team, including when the Wildcats won the 1996-97 NCAA title. He has also written articles for CollegeAD.com, Bleacher Report, Lindy’s Sports, TucsonCitizen.com, The Arizona Republic, Sporting News and Baseball America, among many other publications. He has also authored the book “The Highest Form of Living”, which is available at Amazon. He became an educator in 2016 and is presently a special education teacher at Sunnyside High School in the Sunnyside Unified School District.
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