Coordinator aids Wildcats’ bowl run

Arizona offensive coordinator Sonny Dykes learned a lot about football from his father, Spike, the winningest coach in Texas Tech history. But he didn't inherit his dad's run-first philosophy.

The younger Dykes' gridiron mindset was more influenced by Mike Leach and Hal Mumme, masterminds of potent pass-oriented offenses.

But when Dykes arrived in Tucson two years ago, he quickly realized he needed to adjust his system to suit the Wildcats' players.

It's a big reason the team is preparing for its first bowl game in 10 years. Arizona (7-5) faces No. 17 Brigham Young (10-2) at 5 p.m. Saturday in the Las Vegas Bowl at Sam Boyd Stadium.

The Wildcats averaged 37.1 points per game, second best in school history, and 401.2 yards this season -- up from 28 and 385.2 last year.

"That's what any good coach does; you've got to manipulate your offense to get the ball to the players who can make plays," Arizona coach Mike Stoops said after Wednesday's practice at UNLV. "This has been a little bit of an adjustment for us finding an identity. It's taken a little bit of time, but I feel like we understand our personnel very well."

The players also have grown more comfortable with Dykes and his system.

"It's a whole lot easier, trust me," quarterback Willie Tuitama said. "From last year to last summer, really, there's a huge difference with the way that we're practicing now."

Not that Dykes is satisfied. He still envisions an offense closer to that of Texas Tech, where he was co-coordinator in 2005 and 2006 and was named the nation's top assistant in '06 by the All-American Football Foundation.

"He could sit there and learn from a guru like Mike Leach ... and it kind of rubs off on you," Arizona wide receiver Mike Thomas said.

Leach's Texas Tech offense averaged 417.2 yards passing this season out of a one-back, four-receiver set.

But quarterback Graham Harrell and wide receiver Michael Crabtree -- the Red Raiders' dynamic passing combination -- aren't catching a flight to Las Vegas for this game, so the Wildcats will continue to feature a traditional two-back, one-tight end offense.

Arizona tight end Rob Gronkowski was a third-team All-America selection after catching 43 passes for 645 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Dykes knew better than to keep Gronkowski off the field.

And if continuing to utilize the tight end and make the running game a significant part of the offense -- the Wildcats averaged 164 yards rushing this year -- gives the team its best chance to win, that's what Dykes will do.

Perhaps he and his dad aren't so different after all.

"Maybe I am morphing more into a run-the-ball guy," Dykes said.

Contact reporter Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914.