State of Confusion: Arizona Coaching

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