State of Confusion: Arizona Coaching

TUCSON â€”  Bruce Snyder gets one more game as Arizona State’s coach. Dick Tomey says he’s finished at Arizona.

Mike Barth kicked three field goals and ran 13 yards for a touchdown on a fake field goal as Arizona State beat Tomey’s mistake-prone Wildcats, 30-17, Friday.

After the game, Tomey stunned his players by telling them he was resigning after 14 seasons as Arizona coach.

“I just told them that I didn’t think I could continue because the public debate has become so difficult for my family, for our team, for our coaches and their families,� Tomey said. “I have no other choice and that’s all I’m going to say. If I have something smarter to say I’ll say it later.�

That leaves both the Arizona schools with coaching vacancies. Snyder was fired last week after nine seasons at the school.

“I don’t know how to put it into words,� Snyder said. “Proud is one. I’m happy for the team because I think they’ve been maligned a great deal, and a lot of things are said.�

Arizona State, 6-5 overall and 3-5 in the Pacific 10 Conference, ended a losing streak at three games and qualified for a postseason game--probably the Oahu Bowl, where Snyder will coach the team a final time.

Arizona (5-6, 3-5) lost its fifth in a row--its longest losing streak in a season since 1958. Tomey, who had three years left on his contract, was 11-12 in his last two seasons.

Terrell Suggs recovered a fumble by Arizona’s Clarence Farmer in the end zone for a touchdown, while an interception and fumble by the Wildcats set up Barth field goals.

Arizona quarterback Ortege Jenkins, in his final game, threw for a touchdown and ran for another, but was sacked eight times.

“We’re coached by a great coach,� Jenkins said, “but the players are the guys that make the plays and don’t make the plays. The last five games, we didn’t execute.�

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Two Down

Bruce Snyder and Dick Tomey coached their last regular-season games for their respective schools Friday:

BRUCE SNYDER, ARIZONA STATE

Years 9

Record 58-44

Conference titles 1

Bowl record 1-2

National titles 0

*

DICK TOMEY, ARIZONA

Years 14

Record 95-64-4

Conference titles 1

Bowl record 4-3

National titles 0