Written by Nancy Mason on 12 October 2011
Mike Stoops (courtesy of U of Arizona athletics)
The Arizona Wildcats have this week off before they return to action with an televised home game against UCLA on Thursday October 20 on ESPN.
The bye-week was a good time for UA athletic director Greg Byrne to decide to fire head coach Mike Stoops or not.
Byrne decided to drop the hammer now instead of at season’s end.
The Stoops era ends after 7.5 years with a 41-50 record and a 1-5 record this season.
Stoops took Arizona to bowl games in each of the past three seasons, but the Wildcats finished last year on a five-game losing streak and have lost five straight this year since beating Northern Arizona University in the opening game.
Arizona has not beat a Football Bowl Subdivision school since beating UCLA last year.
Tim Kish, longtime UA linebackers coach will take over the team for the rest of the season.
Stoops took Arizona to the 2008 Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl, the 2009 Pacific Life Holiday Bowl and the 2010 Valero Alamo Bowl.
This year the Wildcats are ranked among the nation’s worst defensive teams and have been hurt by poor starts in every one of their five losses.
Stoops is a native of Youngstown, Ohio and the brother of University of Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops.
Info compiled from the University of Arizona
Tags: Arizona Wildcats., Bob Stoops., ESPN., Football Bowl Subdivision., Greg Byrne., Mike Stoops., Northern Arizona University., Pacific Life Holiday Bowl., Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl., Tim Kish., UA., UCLA., University of Oklahoma., Valero Alamo Bowl., Youngstown Ohio.
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Written by Richard The Guitarman on 07 October 2010
DAILY ALMANAC
Today is Thursday, October 7, the 280th day of 2010. There are 85 days left in the year.
HIGHLIGHTS IN HISTORY
* In 1777, the second Battle of Saratoga began during the American Revolution. British forces surrendered 10 days later.
* In 1949, the Republic of East Germany was formed.
* In 1959, singer-actor Mario Lanza died in Rome at age 38.
* In 1991, University of Oklahoma law professor Anita Hill publicly accused Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas of making sexually inappropriate comments when she worked for him. Thomas denied the allegations.
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS
68 Joy Behar, comedian and one of the co-hosts of The View TV show.
59 John “Cougar” Mellencamp, singer and native of Indiana and Indiana Hoosiers fan.
57 Tico Torres, drummer of the group, Bon Jovi.
53 Michael W. Smith, gospel singing great.
51 Simon Cowell, music executive and one of the creator’s of American Idol.
34 Taylor Hicks, singer from American Idol.
Tags: American Revolution., Anita Hill., Battle of Saratoga., Bon Jovi., Clarence Thomas., Indiana Hoosiers fan., Indiana., John "Cougar" Mellencamp., Joy Behar of The View., Mario Lanza., Michael W. Smith., Republic of East Germany., Rome., Simon Cowell of American Idol., Supreme Court., Taylor Hicks of American Idol., Tico Torres., University of Oklahoma.
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