TUCSON – For three consecutive years, the University of Arizona football has taken no momentum into the annual Territorial Cup with Arizona State.

Make it a fourth.

At least Arizona is consistent. And this year, it’s been consistently bad as it heads into next week’s rivalry game with ASU at Sun Devil Stadium. Arizona (2-8 overall, 1-7 in the Pac 12) is on a three-game losing streak, the same as heading into last year’s meeting with the Sun Devils.

“I challenged our team, and hopefully I didn’t have to challenge them too hard to know what next week means for us,” Arizona interim coach Tim Kish said in his postgame radio show after UA fell to Colorado 48-29.

Right now, it means the world.

“If you can’t get jacked up to play this weekend,” UA wide receiver David Douglas said, “you might as well not even play.”

When it comes to the in-state rivalry, a team that’s struggling to reach its season goals can point to one game and one game only – the Territorial Cup.

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TUCSON – Humbled State?

Maybe a little. What’s clear is that it isn’t exactly utopia for Sean Miller and his Arizona Wildcats.
Tuesday night’s 60-51 was hardly a highlight tape of excitement or awe.

One of Arizona’s fans sitting up close and personal may have said it best: “you could grow old watching this team.”

Indeed. Why not add frustrated and confused?

“Our new guys have no idea of hard it is to win,” said Miller, when asked if after last week’s exhibition loss to Seattle Pacific helped get his team’s attention. “We all recognized that ‘oh, oh, we have to get better.’ It wasn’t the coach trying to convince the team. I really think our team knew and still does that we have to get a lot better.”

It looks like that’ll be a continuing theme.

For the second consecutive game, a Division II team came into McKale Center and gave Arizona fits. Humboldt State, a team picked to defend its California College Athletic Association regular season title, played even with Arizona throughout, eventually falling in the final 12 minutes. Miller said he’s thankful for Humboldt State and Seattle Pacific (a 69-68 winner against UA last week) in part because the games will make his team better.

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Now what?

That’s the question the University of Arizona football team – coaches, included – should be asking themselves.

It’s a question that could have been asked in any of the past couple of weeks as Arizona continued to reel from defeat after defeat after defeat after defeat.

Get the picture? It isn’t pretty.

That’s the case more so now after – yes, another defeat – as winless Oregon State defeated Arizona 37-27 on Saturday afternoon at Reser Stadium in Corvallis, Ore. Figure that OSU snapped a six-game losing streak in winning for the first time this season. (1-4)

In short, Arizona coach Mike Stoops called it “a tough day.”

Arizona is now 1-5 overall (0-4 in the Pac-12 Conference) and on a 10-game losing streak to FBS schools. Just this week, Stoops called it a “big game in a lot of ways” and a “desperate situation” to win.

OSU played like its life depended on the win; Arizona didn’t.

Maybe Arizona’s last-ditch second half attempt at a comeback – 21 unanswered points to make it 30-27 midway through the fourth quarter – was just a tease, or a noble effort to save face and ease some pressure on all parties.  Figure this, however, Arizona has now been down at least 22 or more points in each of the last five games.

“It’s a 60-minute game and not a 30-minute game (and) the sooner we realize that the better off we will be,” Stoops said, responding to Arizona’s late comeback.

One thing is certain: Arizona can no longer make the excuse of the toughest part of the schedule being gone after losing the first four games against three top 10 teams (Oklahoma State, Stanford and Oregon) and a blue-blood program in Southern California. On Saturday, Arizona went into the game facing a Beavers team that started the season losing to Sacramento State. Arizona went into the game a two-point favorite.

To read more visit FoxSportsArizona.com.

The headline will tell you everything.

Arizona just isn’t ready for prime time football. And it showed again on Saturday night at Arizona Stadium, falling to No. 6 Stanford 37-10.

Once again, Arizona couldn’t run the ball effectively. It couldn’t move the ball with consistency. And it couldn’t stop the Cardinal in key situations.

Does defeat become any easier to explain?

Here’s my story in FoxSportsArizona.com.

Candrea is set to run in the 1 1/16 mile Oak Leaf in a couple of weeks.

What? Did Arizona softball coach Mike Candrea all of a sudden become a runner?

Well, not exactly. Candrea is one of the world’s best and fastest 2-year-old horses and named after, of course, Arizona’s world class softball coach. Local horse owners Paul Weitman and Karl Watson are back at it with one of the best 2-year-olds in the game with Candrea, winner last week of the $50,000 Phil D. Shepherd Stakes at the Fairplex in Pomona, Calif.

The win now puts Candrea into the prestigious Oak Leaf Stakes to be run in two weeks at Santa Anita in Los Angeles.

Weitman, Watson and Mike Pegram (another owner) have teamed up with former Arizona alum Bob Baffert, a Hall of Fame horse trainer, to have great success with horses named after Arizona coaches. Da Stoops (Mike Stoops) was a multi-stakes winner and Midnight Lute (Lute Olson) was a two-time Breeder’s Cup winner and one of the fastest horses a couple of years ago.

Now, Candrea.

The catch? Well, the horse is a fillie. Then again, Candrea does coach the women’s softball team.

It’s been a great summer for Weitman, Watson, Pegram and Baffert. Star horse Coil won the Haskell Invitational in grand fashion in late July, rallying from the back of the pack in defeating some of the best horses in the world. And to end the Del Mar meet almost two weeks ago, Drill, another 2-year-old, won the Del Mar Futurity, the same race won by Lookin’ at Lucky in 2009, the trio’s horse that won the Preakness in 2010 and was the Kentucky Derby favorite.

If it felt good for the Arizona football team to get back on the practice field for Day One, then Day Two must have been heart-pumping. It was intensity times two.

It was clearly heated, and the competition was was turned up a notch. As Marquis Flowers said, “it was more revved up. Crazy.”

It all brought a nice smile to coach Mike Stoops face, as he called it “a great first two days.”

“This is a good group,” he said. “We’re excited about the challenge that is presented. And that’s good. We’ve never backed down, and we don’t plan on doing that now. The kids have a lot of pride, and I think they take it personal how people feel about us and the way we finished (last year). We have to carry this through our season. I think if we do that, we will be an effective football team.”

Throughout the morning practice, the offense was jawing with the defense and vice versa.

“It’s just chirping, but we give our love to the offense,” said Marquis Flowers, a sophomore at strong safety. “When we get back into the locker room, it’s all good.

“There’s a little tit for tat, and obviously you have to go out there and back it up. You can’t go out there and get beat the next play. We’re trying to get them better. Once you start talking, the juices start flowing and it’s a lot more fun and competitive.’’

Even Stoops got into the action — sort of. After seeing redshirt freshman Josh Robbins get beat on a deep ball by receiver Dan Buckner, Stoops raced across the field and lit into Robins for a mistake on the play.

About 45 minutes later, Buckner ended the practice with about a 35-yard touchdown grab that had the offense celebrating.

“I thought it was another productive day,’’ Stoops said. “I thought it was good to see our offense finish strong. These situational things are good to see. We’re making each other better.’’

Read more by visiting FoxSportsArizona.com.

Joey “Boom Boom’’ Rivera didn’t mind the quick work.

In the world of being the best and toughest, quick work is good. And right now, business is good for Rivera (no relation).

It took him all of 54 seconds to beat Eric Regan (Phoenix) for the World Fighting Federation 170-pound title at Casino Del Sol’s AVA Theater.

In the other title bout, Tucson’s Nate Vorel beat Josh Montoya (Santa Fe, N.M.) in a 135-pound bout, beating him 2:53 into the second round.

For Rivera, it was one swift kick to the mid-section and Regan was done, doubling over like he couldn’t catch a breath. He also couldn’t catch a break against the powerful – yet affable Rivera – who continued his winning ways in the world of mixed martial arts. He’s now 6-0 and has won two fights in back-to-back months.

“I just wanted to finish the fight as fast as possible,’’ said Rivera. “I know Eric is a great opponent and has fought some great people. He’s taken people to the distance. I just didn’t want to be there long. I’m lucky and I’m blessed.’’

He also has some powerful moves. One being that swift, strong kick that did in Regan.

It was all part of a 10-fight night at AVA where more than 2,000 spectators enjoyed a couple of fists full of competitive fights. Co-founders of  World Fighting Federation – Thom Ortiz and Al Fuentes –  said they will return again in October for another card.

“Thom put a great card together again,’’ Fuentes said. “I’ve been really excited about my partner and what he does. We had a big crowd and we’ll get bigger and bigger. We’re blessed to have Tucson support us.’’

Most come to see their hometown heroes fight with Rivera being one. The 5-foot-11, 170-pounder (who fights out of Apex MMA) was aggressive, overpowering Regan from the start. His fights have a way of trending that way. Of his six victories only one has gone beyond one round. Last month, he defeated Doug Gordon at the CCFC 8 – Seek and Destroy in Atlantic City. It was stopped 1:07 into the second round.

“I’m just fortunate to be here and talk about it,’’ said Rivera. “I’m glad to be here in front of my friends and the Tucson crowd.’’

Rivera hopes to fight in a Bellator fight soon and sees that happening sometime soon. He hopes to fight at least once a month.

“I have the greatest people around me right now,’’ he said, referring to trainers. He also teaches at the University of Arizona a mixed martial arts instructor.  “The sky is the limit. Right now, I’m training to be part of the top two percent in the world.’’

Here are the results of the rest of the fight card:

145 pounds – Ben katshor (Tucson) defeated James Sziszak (Scottsdale);

145 pounds – Joey Miolla (Gilbert) defeated Carlos Castillo (Tucson);

155 pounds – Preston Harris defeated Shane O’Regan;

147 pounds – Van Sanders (Tucson) defeated DeWayne Parker (Clifton);

156 pounds – Rudy Ramirez (Mexico) defeated Danny Hilton (Prescott);

181 pounds – Freddie Contreras (Tucson) defeated Jeff Anderson (Tucson);

112 pounds – Adriana Nasca (Tucson) defeated Shasta McMurry (Scottsdale);

Pros

170 pounds – Corey Edwards (Tucson) defeated R.J. Gamez (Casa Grande);

153 pounds – Nick Rhoads (Tucson) defeated Nick Piedmont (Tucson);

130 pounds – Freddy Lux (Tucson) defeated Matt Betzold (Scottsdale);

135 pounds – Nate Vorel (Tucson) defeated Josh Montoya (Santa Fe, N.M.).

Visit: http://www.wffmma.com/index.html

Stacie Chambers is in a good place: a sweet-swinging, home run-hitting place.

The University of Arizona softball team is better for it. More importantly, Chambers, Arizona’s power-hitting catcher, is at peace.

Home (plate) is where her heart is. It’s her place of respite and solace.

“I find hitting relaxing,’’ she said, then qualifies it with “as long as I’m feeling good about it. I like to hit to stay relaxed. If I’m not frustrated, I like to just go hit.’’

But sometimes, life hits back, in the unkindest of ways (more later).

Chambers’ story is one of inspiration and fortitude, one where if you get knocked down — literally — you get back up, tap your cleats and hit it out of the park. Literally.

Chambers has — 87 times. Two of those came in last week’s regional round, which broke a tie at 85 and gave her the career record at Arizona, one of the nation’s most-storied softball programs.

The senior from Glendale, Ariz., isn’t so much an overnight sensation as a work in progress, that is now just four home runs away from being the all-time home run queen of college softball.

To read more, visit: Fox Sports Arizona

Want to re-visit last Sean Miller & Company’s great season from the past few months?

Well, here’s your chance.

IMG and the University of Arizona have produced a highlight video of the past season – “Elite Again’’ – a commemorative video that has just reached the shelves at book stores, including those on Arizona’s campus.

The vido DVD retails for $14.99.

It includes highlights from the season and behind-the-scenes shots and unseen footage. No doubt it’s a collectors item.

“It wasn’t until about three weeks left in the Pac-10 season that we started to talk about a championship,’’ said Arizona coach Sean Miller, on the back cover of the video. “It’s so much more important to do the things that enable you to win. The results will take care of themselves if you make commitment to the process THE most important part of your journey. We had hat we call “All In’ … everyone on the same page. ‘’