The main attraction on campus today will undoubtedly be the ASUA concert at Arizona Stadium featuring Ryanhood, The Veronicas, Third Eye Blind, Kelly Clarkson and Jay-Z.
However, there could be something to fill the void until the show begins, as the baeball game between Arizona and No. 3 ASU teams will be sure to provide some fireworks at Sancet Stadium starting at 3 p.m.
In an effort to help fill up Sancet Stadium before the show, let’s see how many references can be made to the songs you might hear at the concert.
The Wildcats (19-20, 5-13 Pacific 10 Conference) have led a “”Semi-Charmed Life”” in 2009. With an influx of freshmen and many first-year starters, the Wildcats have struggled to capture any sense of consistency thus far, but they are trying desperately to “”Breakaway”” from the limitations that usually hold back freshman-heavy teams.
“”Coach (Andy) Lopez pulled us aside and said that this is going to be our program,”” said freshman designated hitter Shaun Cooper. “”We took that to heart and tried to do as much as we can.””
The freshmen pitchers have been a “”Horror Show”” and have provided Lopez with about “”99 Problems”” this year, but the freshmen hitters ain’t one. As a matter of fact, the combination of Cooper, Steve Selsky, Jett Bandy and Kyle Stiner have been playing so well that they’ve made it “”Impossible”” for Lopez to take them out of the lineup.
Those three will need to continue to come up big if Arizona wants to have a chance against ASU.
In addition to the freshmen, sophomore shortstop Bryce Ortega has been a spark in the lineup and in inspiration to the entire team. In fact, it’s “”Because of You”” and the ability to deliver in the clutch, Mr. Ortega, that the Wildcats were able to steal their first Pac-10 series over the weekend. You “”Can’t Knock The Hustle.””
But “”How’s It Gonna Be”” that the Wildcats turn around and defeat the same team that outscored them 34-14 in three games back in March?
Rather than “”Wishing On A Star,”” Arizona needs to play its heart out. Steal bases, make diving plays, rub the “”Dirt Off Your Shoulder”” and do it all over again for nine whole innings. Basically, the Wildcats need to treat this game as if were a tournament game – not only for any chance at a postseason appearance but for the team’s pride.
Rather than resigning to next season and “”Losing A Whole Year””, the team realizes that there is still baseball to be played.
“”There’s definitely some more excitement since it’s (ASU), but we need to play hard and play the game,”” Ortega said.
A 5-13 record in the Pac-10 has left the team feeling “”Numb”” and waiting for an “”Encore””, and has really disappointed a coach who led his team to a Super Regional appearance last year.
“”We’ve been playing well enough to win a lot more than our record shows,”” Lopez said. “”It’s nice, but if (winning a Pac-10 series) is one of the greatest moments in our lives then we don’t have very good ones.””
For weeks, Lopez has been calling for his team to focus more and start to step up its game, but the teams’ inability to turn it around has led him to wonder “”If No One Will Listen.”” Perhaps Lopez can be a little too honest at times, but the “”Truth Hurts.”” And here’s a “”Dirty Little Secret”” – Lopez is disappointed in his team because they have the talent.
That’s 15 references, which is about how many paces Sancet Stadium is from Arizona Stadium, but for the Wildcats to come out on top against the Sun Devils they may need to capture some energy from the UA football squad’s win against ASU.
After all, sometimes it takes “”A Moment Like This”” for Arizona’s talent to be realized and for a team to upset the third-ranked squad in the country.