The Arizona Wildcats haven't necessarily had themselves a season to remember during their 2011 campaign, but can still taste the sweet nectar of victory by taking out their arch-rival Arizona State Sun Devils this weekend at Sun Devil Stadium.
Senior quarterback Nick Foles knows this is his last shot at beating the Devils, and wants it especially bad after the sour taste left in his mouth from the 30-29 loss to State last season in double-overtime.
"It's for bragging rights," UA senior quarterback Nick Foles said. "It's really huge for the fans. Neither team can stand each other. I don't like ASU at all. It's always a hard-fought, dirty game."
But Foles' true motivation to beat the Sun Devils stems from a much more primordial level:
"I just don't like them. I don't need anything else."
Foles' college career was originally destined for ASU, the school where he first committed before Dirk Koetter was fired. Foles changed his mind after new coach Dennis Erickson went after another QB, Chasen Stangel. Obviously, his dislike for the program runs deeper than simply going to Arizona.
Foles would end up at Michigan State for a year before transferring to Arizona, where he became UA's all-time passing leader with 9,289 yards, and needs only 72 yards to break the record for season passing yards (3,612). And what a better time to do so then against the school that passed you over.
As for the team as a whole, Interim head coach Tim Kish does not have the 'any-another-game' approach that recently fired Bob Stoops had, he sees it as the most important game on the schedule.
"It really doesn't matter what the records are and what the situations are, year in and year out. Beating your rival, beating ASU for us, that's the key game each year.
The last time Arizona played at Sun Devil Stadium, the Wildcats pulled out a 20-17 victory, and currently own a 47-36-1 record against them all-time. The story lines are there, they talent is there, the rivalry is there. Now all we need is a dramatic, hard-nosed game of football from it.
For more on the Wildcats, head over to Arizona Desert Swarm. For the Sun Devils take, check out House of Sparky.