Desert Ink

Last night the Arizona Wildcats went up to Eugene, Oregon to play the #2 Oregon Ducks in a game that was expected to be an easy win by the Ducks. After Oregon’s domination of 3 of their first 4 games, including a trouncing of then #7 Michigan State, it looked like only UCLA and Stanford were their only speed bump at a shot at a National Championship.

 

In honor of the very surprising Arizona 31-24 win I decided to go with some of my favorite Wildcat autographs.

I begin with my favorite Wildcat football player Chuck Cecil. His 109-yard interception return against ASU in 1986 was voted as the Greatest Football Play in Wildcat history. He went on to be drafted by the Packers in 1988, he also played for the Cardinals and Oilers and is currently the Titans Defensive Secondary Coach.

 

Next up is Trung Canidate. He was part of the successful Dick Tomey era, also known as the Desert Swarm years. After a solid college career he was drafted in the First Round by the Rams where he backed up Marshall Faulk. He was later traded to the Redskins where he backed up Clinton Portis. Sadly his best season was a 600-yd season in 2003 (1,095 career yards) and has made it on to the Rams list of Top 10 Draft Busts.

 

From a draft bust in Canidate to a draft bargain in Nick Foles. He came to Arizona in 2008 redshirting behind Willie Tuitama, in 2009 he split time with Matt Scott but the next two seasons he got better each year. He was drafted by the Eagles in the 3^rd Round of the 2012 NFL Draft. In his time in Philly he has thrown for 5,568 yards with 39 TDs and 9 INTs and looks to be the team’s QB of the future.

 

Matt Scott replaced Foles in 2012 and proved to be a decent quarterback taking the team to an 8-5 record and a win over Nevada in the New Mexico Bowl earning MVP honors. He went undrafted in the 2013 NFL Draft but was signed by the Jaguars to their practice squad. This year he was released by the Jags but was signed by the Bengals a day later. He was cut by the Bengals prior to this season and is currently unsigned.

 

My final autograph is Ka’Deem Carey. His 366-yard game against Colorado in 2012 is a Pac-12 record and his 1,929 rushing yards that same year led the nation. He was drafted by the Bears in the 4^th Round this year and is currently backing up Matt Forte.

 

I am looking to add a couple of Wildcat autographs in Willie Tuitama, Rob Gronkowski and Tedy Bruschi still.