New Mexico
No. 21 Arizona kicks off first season under Brent Brennan against New Mexico
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Arizona took three short years to go from one of the worst programs in the FBS to a 10-game winner on the rise.
That was under Jedd Fisch. Now it’s Brent Brennan’s turn and he appears to have a stacked deck.
Kicking off a season with more expectations than any in recent years, No. 21 Arizona opens the Brennan era Saturday night at home against New Mexico.
“My message to the team is: it’s all about us,” Brennan said. “It’s about our process and how we prepare. It’s very, very simple, it’s boring and it’s not sexy. I think that sometimes gets lost.”
After seven seasons at San Jose State, Brennan takes over an Arizona program that climbed from the depths of a school-record 20-game losing streak to winning seven straight games to close out last season, the current longest run in the FBS.
Fisch took some players with him when he moved to Washington, but two key ones remained: quarterback Noah Fifita and receiver Tetairoa McMillan.
With two of the program’s best players opting to stick around, several others joined them, giving Brennan a stacked roster for his first season.
Fifita and McMillan headline what could be one of the nation’s most explosive offenses and the defense, long an issue in Tucson, took massive strides last season. Arizona has numerous playmakers back on defense, including linebacker Jacob Manu — the Pac-12’s leading tackler a year ago — cornerback Tacario Davis and safeties Dalton Johnson and Gunner Maldonado.
The Wildcats were ranked in The Associated Press preseason poll for the first time since 2015 and now get a first chance to show that it was warranted in their first Big 12 season.
“I had that thought walking out here just now, how much has changed in seven months,” Brennan said. “It’s surreal but also really, really special, but I’m excited, just like our players are.”
Bronco’s Lobos
Arizona won’t be the only team with a new head coach at Arizona Stadium.
Veteran coach Bronco Mendenhall was hired during the offseason to replace Danny Gonzales, who was fired after four mediocre seasons. Mendenhall had a successful stint at BYU before spending the past six seasons at Virginia, where he led the Cavaliers to three straight bowl games.
The Lobos got the Mendenhall era off to a shaky start last week, blowing a 17-point lead in a 35-31 home loss to Montana State.
“I saw capability, certainly, two defensive touchdowns, some fourth-down stops and some other positive things, but not consistent enough, not clean enough and not sound enough really, from beginning to end, to put the game away,” Mendenhall said.
Talented connection
Fifita and McMillan give Arizona one of the nation’s most talented duos.
Fifita began last season as the backup, but played so well in place of injured Jayden de Laura that he kept the job when de Laura returned. Fifita threw for 2,869 yards and 25 touchdowns with six interceptions, setting a school record with a 72.4% completion rate.
McMillan was the top-rated recruit in program history nearly three years ago and has lived up to the hype. The native of Hawaii caught 90 passes for 1,402 yards and 10 touchdowns last season, helping him become the first Arizona player to earn preseason AP All-America honors.
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New Mexico
NC, New Mexico and New Jersey ask for four PFAS chemicals to be designated hazardous air pollutants
![NC, New Mexico and New Jersey ask for four PFAS chemicals to be designated hazardous air pollutants NC, New Mexico and New Jersey ask for four PFAS chemicals to be designated hazardous air pollutants](https://gray-wect-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SQ63UWXGRVGKJN7TP7N5POM2H4.jpg?auth=5253f1837bd6b6bf25c42ae7a8e5b1ca81847e228aa7ecdae6f5f672d8723ffb&width=1200&height=600&smart=true)
RALEIGH, N.C. (WECT) – North Carolina, New Mexico and New Jersey’s environmental departments are asking the Environmental Protection Agency to designate four PFAS chemicals as Hazardous Air Pollutants under the Clean Air Act.
The chemicals that the states under Section 112 of the act include:
- PFOA (perflurooctanoic acid)
- PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonic acid)
- PFNA (perfluorononanoic acid)
- GenX (HFPO dimer acid)
“The EPA has been proactive in addressing PFAS and supporting efforts to address PFAS contamination in our states,” said North Carolina DEQ Secretary Elizabeth S. Biser. “Adding these forever chemicals to the list of regulated pollutants addresses a gap in our regulatory authority and makes it possible to tackle a critical part of the PFAS life cycle: air emissions.”
You can find the full petition online here.
Copyright 2024 WECT. All rights reserved.
New Mexico
Arizona football vs. New Mexico score predictions
![Arizona football vs. New Mexico score predictions Arizona football vs. New Mexico score predictions](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/o6MkOOlXJIAos6kS81KYUVcjEvw=/0x80:4096x2225/fit-in/1200x630/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25594100/uafbfield.jpg)
The long offseason is almost over, and Arizona finally has a football game to play.
The Wildcats open the 2024 season on Saturday night against New Mexico, playing for the first time since the 2015 Albuquerque Bowl and the first time in Tucson since 2007.
According to VegasInsider.com, the Wildcats are a massive favorite, with the point spread between 30-31.5 points depending on the site. Here’s what our staff thinks.
Kim Doss — Arizona wins 45-13
Projecting the Wildcats’ first game of the season isn’t quite as difficult this season simply because the opponent has already played. While Montana State is a good FCS team and went into the game as a double-digit favorite, it’s still not encouraging for New Mexico to lose its season opener on its home field the way it did.
The Lobos were unable to hold their early double-digit lead against the Bobcats. It would be a shock for them to ever have such a lead at Arizona.
The Wildcats have superior talent all over the field. They are capable of scoring more than 45 points against the Lobos, but if they get sufficiently out in front, it would not be a surprise to see some of the younger players get some time. They should at least cover the 30+ spread.
Brandon Combs — Arizona wins 52-10
Arizona is coming off one of their best seasons in program history. They are returning plenty of talent and is starting the season off right at home. One of the questions is how this team will react in live action with a new coaching staff. Luckily for the ‘Cats, the first two games are perfect for ironing out the kinks and solidifying everything together. And the first game up is against the Lobos. I don’t foresee any major issues and do expect to see plenty of player rotation throughout the game.
Ezra Amacher — Arizona wins 42-10
This is a game that Arizona should win handily as long as it doesn’t commit many turnovers and executes well enough on defense. We already know the offense will be gearing up for an opponent that just gave up 21 fourth quarter points to Montana State. I’m most curious to see which running backs are utilized in which situations. Arizona has an explosive backfield but sorting out the depth chart is no easy task. I expect Arizona to just barely cover.
Adam Green — Arizona wins 45-13
This is the most anticipated season opener since, well, maybe 2018? That was Kevin Sumlin’s first game as coach and with a returning Khalil Tate, and suffice to say that game, season and coaching tenure didn’t go well. At least when it comes to this game, things should be different. Much different. Arizona has more than enough talent to beat New Mexico and plenty of motivation to come out and show that they are ready to build off of last season’s success. The Wildcats have some things to figure out, sure, and this game should give the team a chance to get plenty of guys live game action.
Juan Serrano — Arizona wins 45 – 17
Most teams have their most improvement from week 1 to week 2. Fortunately for New Mexico, they already have one game under their belt. This is not going to be the same Lobo team we saw last week against Montana State. They will be ready to play and show that they are not a push over team. However, it is the season opener for Arizona, the Wildcats will be ready to go just as much as the Lobos are. A packed Arizona stadium will help an already energized team. Arizona should be able to establish a run game, especially with Jacory Croskey-Merritt playing against his former team. At the end of the day, the Noah Fifita to Tetairoa McMillan connection will be there and should propel Arizona to a season opening win.
Devin Homer — Arizona wins 38-17
Arizona has the fire power to put up 40-plus points on New Mexico but as this is the season opener, there will be some kinks to work out and more guys will get opportunities on both sides of the ball. UA on paper should have no problem setting the tone for the season with a home-opener and keep an eye on Jacory Croskey-Merritt, who is playing against his former team.
Brian J. Pedersen — Arizona wins 38-17
On paper, and based on how New Mexico looked last week, Arizona should easily win this game and there’s plenty of blowout potential. But this isn’t a normal season opener, not with an almost entirely new coaching staff that inherited both a talented roster but also very high expectations. This game and next week against NAU are about settling into a rhythm, as the bigger contests begin after that. Also look for a lot of guys getting opportunities if/when the outcome is no longer in doubt as the Wildcats continue to tinker with their rotations.
New Mexico
New Mexico woman dead after Boar's Head listeria outbreak
![New Mexico woman dead after Boar's Head listeria outbreak New Mexico woman dead after Boar's Head listeria outbreak](https://www.kob.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/New-Mexico-woman-dead-after-Boars-Head-listeria-outbreak.jpg)
A New Mexican is now among those killed by the Boar’s Head listeria outbreak, according to the CDC.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – A New Mexican is now among those killed by the Boar’s Head listeria outbreak, according to the CDC.
In the last 10 minutes, KOB 4 learned it was an elderly Bernalillo County woman. This comes after the CDC updated the number of victims to eight due to a listeria outbreak in Boar’s Head deli meats.
At least 57 people have gotten sick and had to be hospitalized.
The CDC says people 65 and older, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of getting sick with listeria.
Boar’s Head has recalled more than seven million pounds of deli meat. Many of the recalled products are meant to be sliced at grocery store deli counters, some pre-packaged meats are also in the recall.
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