The Arizona Wildcats spent the first month of the 2010 season climbing, first to their highest national ranking in 11 years and then to the top - albeit at 1-0 - of the Pac-10 standings.
For a week, they can enjoy the view.
"This bye week," wide receiver Juron Criner said, "could not come fast enough."
Arizona (4-0, 1-0) is exhausted, mentally and physically, following one of the best months of the Mike Stoops era.
A half-dozen starters are battling injuries varying from twisted ankles and sprained knees to, in Criner's case, turf toe. The Wildcats coaches are whipped, having exhausted their playbooks and untold amounts of stomach acid to pull off fourth-quarter wins over Iowa and Cal.
And the fans? Well, you're probably wondering exactly what to make of this team.
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Here's what we know - and what must be answered - as the Wildcats prepare for their Oct. 9 game against Oregon State:
Three things we know …
1. The Wildcats are fast starters. Arizona's perfect start can be traced to, well, its perfect starts. The Wildcats have outscored their opponents 28-0 in the first quarter and 44-15 in the second, giving them large leads late in games. If the Wildcats can continue to produce as they did against Iowa in Week 3 - defensive back Trevin Wade had a "pick-six" for a touchdown and Travis Cobb returned a kickoff 100 yards for a score - they'll be able to hang with the Pac-10's best teams.
2. Nick Foles is who we thought he was. Arizona's starting quarterback has established himself as an efficient passer and confident leader in his first full season as starter - exactly what the Wildcats needed following his shaky end to the 2009 season. Through four games, Foles has completed 74.5 percent (102 of 137) of his passes for 1,089 yards. He's thrown for six touchdowns, including two game-winners. Saturday, he drove the Wildcats 77 yards in seven plays to pull off a 10-9 win over Cal.
"He's gutsy," co-offensive coordinator Seth Littrell said. "He's going to grind it out."
3. … and the defense isn't. Arizona's re-tooled defense has been the most pleasant surprise of the season. Through four games the Wildcats are fourth - that's right, fourth - nationally in total defense, allowing 230.75 yards per game. Arizona has allowed just three touchdowns all season - all to Iowa. Saturday, Arizona limited Cal tailback Shane Vereen, the nation's touchdowns leader, to just 3.8 yards per carry. The stop-the-run strategy could serve the Wildcats well in their next game, against Oregon State.
"Our defense is getting better," Stoops said. "They are meshing well as a group and the kids are playing hard."
And three questions
1. What's with all the penalties? Arizona has been penalized 22 times for 202 yards in its last two games, disturbing numbers for a team that's mostly avoided penalties in Stoops' regime. The Wildcats were flagged for five pass-interference penalties against Iowa; Saturday, the problem was hands-to-the-face and holding calls.
"We made too many foolish plays that cost us," Stoops said. "Sometimes you get breaks, and sometimes you don't."
2. Can the Wildcats win without a true running game? Yeah, yeah, we've heard it. Arizona's short-passing game is just like a running game. That may be true, but the Wildcats are going to have to establish a power rushing attack at some point this season if they hope to compete for a major bowl game. Arizona is averaging just 120 rushing yards per game, which puts the Cats 90th nationally and ninth in the Pac-10; shockingly, only Oregon State (109.33 yards per game) averages less.
3. Will Criner stay healthy long enough to be productive? Criner's injuries - he was lost for all of training camp after suffering a concussion, then aggravated the turf toe against The Citadel in Week 2 - cost the Wildcats their biggest deep threat for long stretches. Despite his problems, Criner ranks first on the team in receiving yards (352) and yards per catch (18.5) and is tied for first with two touchdowns.
Arizona's going to need him at full strength to make the next few months as memorable as the first one.
"Juron," Foles said, "is a big-time playmaker."
Up next
• Who: Oregon State at Arizona
• When: Oct. 9, time TBA
• TV: TBA
• Radio: 1290-AM, 107.5-FM, 990-AM (Spanish)
AP TOP 25
With first-place votes in parentheses, records through Sept. 25 and previous ranking.
1. Alabama (57) 4-0 1
2. Ohio St. (2) 4-0 2
3. Boise St. (1) 3-0 3
4. Oregon 4-0 5
5. TCU 4-0 4
6. Nebraska 4-0 6
7. Florida 4-0 9
8. Oklahoma 4-0 8
9. Stanford 4-0 16
10. Auburn 4-0 17
11. Wisconsin 4-0 11
12. LSU 4-0 15
13. Utah 4-0 13
14. Arizona 4-0 14
15. Arkansas 2-1 10
16. Miami 2-1 19
17. Iowa 3-1 18
18. Southern Cal 4-0 20
19. South Carolina 3-1 12
20. Michigan 4-0 21
21. Texas 3-1 7
22. Penn St. 3-1 23
23. N.C. State 4-0 -
24. Michigan St. 4-0 25
25. Nevada 4-0 -
Others receiving votes: West Virginia 62, Florida St. 51, Missouri 51, Air Force 32, Kansas St. 27, Oklahoma St. 24, Clemson 9, UCLA 9, Oregon St. 7, Northwestern 4, Houston 3.
