After allowing 133 points in their past three games, Arizona head football coach Kevin Sumlin made a change Sunday firing defensive coordinator Marcel Yates the day after the Wildcats’ (4-4, 2-3) losing streak extended to three following a 41-31 loss to Stanford in Palo Alto.
Former UofA star safety Chuck Cecil, who had been working as a defensive analyst for Sumlin, has been named Yates’ replacement as the ‘Cats prepare to host Oregon State Saturday afternoon in Tucson.
“You always had this feeling that Chuck Cecil was the next guy in line,” Arizona Daily Star reporter and ESPN Radio Tucson host Justin Spears said to Sports360AZ.com’s Jordan Hamm in a Skype interview on Monday. “Whether it was coaching the defensive backs or being the defensive coordinator or heck, even being the head coach, you always felt that Chuck Cecil was due for a bigger role on this Arizona coaching staff and now he’s going to get his chance.”
Kevin Sumlin says Arizona’s defense surrendering 133 points in 3 weeks led to the decision of firing DC Marcel Yates.
“I wanted to give our players the best chance to win. … This is a job for big boys — grown men.” pic.twitter.com/8M85BtVd1m
“This is an audition,” Spears continued. “These next four games they have coming up…this is an opportunity for Chuck Cecil to really put things together and show that he’s capable of running this Arizona defense.”
Kickoff against Oregon State is set for 1:30 at Arizona Stadium.
Eric Sorenson
