European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 25, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                L thursday August 25. 1994 sports the stars and stripes Page 33 Arizona rates an is cover Tucson Ariz a the desert swarm just Call them the cover Guys. From obscurity two seasons ago the Arizona defense has elevated the wildcats to sports illustrated Stop ranked football team. Five players from the defensive unit nicknamed the desert swarm for its successes in 1992 and 1993, adorn the Magazine s cover this week. The program hit the big time on new year s Day when Arizona beat Miami 29-0 in the fiesta bowl capping a school Best 10-2 season. That s a Long Way from the 4-7record of 1991 or the 6-5-1 in 1992. The associated press preseason Media poll has the wildcats ranked no. 7 the Usa today in coaches poll rates them eighth. The first Ever cover Page Atten Tion for any Arizona team no even the two final four men s basketball teams since 1988 made it also is Likely to paint an even big Ger target on the wildcats this sea  s great for the program coach Dick Tomey told the Tucson citizen noting that it was recognition of past and present  next week it won t mean a  opens sept. 1 against Georgia tech in  is something for people in this Community to be proud of said local radio sports talk Host Mike Gabrielson adding that speculation of the sports illustrated Honor had generated tremendous enthusiasm and Pride. But he said i think it s unrealistic to expect Arizona to go through a season 11-0," because the Pac-10 conference is simply too Tough. And that s pretty much what you have to do to be ranked no. 1 at the  athletic director Jim Livengood said an entire University often is judged by the perception of its football  you get this Type of recognition the perception across the country is wow that must be a Crackerjack program " he told the citizen. West Virginia coach Don Nehlen looks at his play Sheet As he walks with his team to practice tuesday in Morgantown. Kickoff classic holds key to Mountaineer recruiting by Matt Harvey Morgantown . A West Virginia s recruiting efforts could soar or sink when the mountaineers open the season sunday against no. 4 Nebraska in the Kickoff classic at East Ruther Ford . My friends Are going to be watching this on to West Virginia coach Don Nehlen said. All my players friends Are going to be watching this on to. And a lot of High school football players Are going to be watching this game from new Jersey to North Carolina and All Over. If we win this game that s goo be a tremendous plus for our  to win Nehlen usually establishes a running game then throws when defend ers Aren t expecting it. It works unless the mountaineers get too far behind. In last season s sugar bowl they fell behind Florida 21-7 and fell apart losing 41-7. Since West Virginia should be Strong est on defense this season and has one of the nation s top punters in Todd Sau Erbrun Nehlen does t plan on gambling. If Nebraska can beat us so be it Nehlen said. But we Don t want to beat ourselves. We have a Guy who i think can punt the football Well. Don t think when it s fourth Down and 6 inches to go i m not sending him  Nehlen does t believe the mountaineers will be Able to sneak up on Nebraska like they did another big eight team in the 1982 season opener. Oklahoma was mad we were on their schedule Nehlen said. They had just beaten us by 42 Points in 1979 and they did t feel like they ought to be playing  they should t have been West Vir Ginia won 41-27. When i first got Here we were every body s Homecoming opponent said Nehlen now in his 15th season at West Virginia. And you know when somebody schedules you for Homecoming you be got problems. So we made a few changes and we tout and beat Oklahoma West Virginia once again is starting against a big eight foe. Once More the mountaineers Are big underdogs 16 a Point but Nehlen does t think his24th-ranked team can utilize the element of Surprise this time. Nebraska is playing a team that was 11-1 last year Al he said. We Haven t snuck up on anyone for eight or nine  that Victory a dozen years ago Over Oklahoma was used by West Virginia to build its program. Just two years later the mountaineers eat Penn state for the first time since 1954. Since then West Virginia has been11-1 twice 1988 and 1993 and had two legitimate chances at the National title. Vols open with Urcla Georgia Florida by Tom Sharp Knoxville Tenn. A Tennessee s coach Sand defensive Backfield won t have to wait Tang for a test of just How much they have improved. Pass Happy Urcla Georgia and Florida Are All on the 13th-ranked volunteers schedule by sept. 17. If you feel like you re the Best you need to want to play the Best and i think that s what s happening Early in the season said cornerback Deron Jenkins. Jenkins and Jason Parker a pair of juniors Are the veterans in the  has been a fixture at safety since the second game of his freshman year and Jenkins has been a starter since late that season. The other cornerback is senior Ronald Davis who was shifted from receiver before last season and started every  other safety is Sophomore Raymond Austin who played in every Quarter last year and started in the Cit nos bowl loss to Penn state. Depth and experience were both problems last year but neither is As much of a concern now. I m confident that we have enough really Fine ath letes in the secondary to be sound coach Phillip Fulmer said. We be got to be More technique conscious but there is a lot of ability Back  while the starters were called on to play virtually every snap last year the secondary is better stocked. Junior Shawn Summers has been moved from cornerback to his More natural spot at safety. Sophomore Shane Begnaud Spring training discovery Troy Pratt Junior College Transfer James Smith and freshmen Terry fair Steve Johnson and Cory Gaines Are the depth that was missing a year ago. For Davis who still practice with the offence some last year the conversion to defense is completed. And just in time. We re not starting with a Ricky Dink team this year he said. We be got to Start fast. Hopefully we can work some kinks out in the Middle of the season i we have to but we have to be focused from snap one. If we do that i think Well be  Urcla the defending Pac-10 Champion and 14th in the preseason poll features receiver . Stokes and 3uarterback Wayne Cook. Stokes caught 17 touch owns last season by comparison Cory Fleming Settle Tennessee single season record for to receptions  then comes Georgia with senior Heisman trophy hopeful Eric Zeier no already ranks first second and fourth in school history for pass attempts in a season. Then it s top ranked Florida and the pass oriented offence of coach Steve Spurrier. The gators threw Heball 488 times last year and that was with Derrict Rhett in the Backfield. Secondary coach Lovie Smith has found the Bright Side of the season s Early 1-2-3 punch. Once you get in the pass defense Mode you can kind of stay in it he said. I like