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AP: 1edd7d68-d402-4e21-81f7-d523983e0019
Arizona's head football coach Rich Rodriguez, right, congratulates Richard Morrison (8) for a kickoff return for a touchdown against Washington during the second half of an NCAA college football game at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Ariz., Saturday, Oct. 20, 2012. (AP Photo/John Miller)
Rich Rodriguez and Todd Graham were hired by their respective schools about the same time.

They each will have led their teams to bowl games in year one, surpassing all expectations placed upon their programs.

When asked which team is closest to competing for a Pac-12 South championship, though, ESPN NCAA football analyst Kirk Herbstreit said it's the team in Tucson.

"I think Rich Rod, because of his style of offense, if he gets the personnel to run it I think they can be a factor," he told Arizona Sports 620's Doug and Wolf Tuesday. "With Arizona State, I think it's going to be a little bit more of a challenge.

listen Listen: Kirk Herbstreit, College Gameday Analyst
Kirk Herbstreit joins Doug and Wolf to talk about a crazy weekend in college football. If Notre Dame loses how open is the fight for the BCS title game? Is Stanford's Head Coach, David Shaw, NFL bound? Plus, Kirk talks about the college football realignment and what it is causing this huge shift in conferences. And, Why does Kirk say it is going to be a challenge for Todd Graham to have ASU competitive?
"I think that Todd Graham is a coach that knows how to coach offensive football but I think it's going to take time to get the personnel up to the level where they can compete with the upper echelon on the Pac-12."

Herbstreit believes the caliber of teams the Arizona schools will be competing with in the conference is high, making it tough for either to consistently be near the top of the standings.

"What is realistic? I think every five years," he said. "Both of those programs should be able to get to a level where they're competitive enough to challenge USC and UCLA."

11 Comments   |   Join the conversation »
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  • Abuse
    Steve S. wrote...
    Uh....?
    Kirk must be high on something. Rich Rod has never done jack. He'll be fired before the 2015 season.
  • Abuse
    milkstar318 wrote...
    Dont Hate
    ASU or Tempe Tech has fired more coaches than we have over last 20 years or so!! UofA beat some good teams this year and
  • Abuse
    Rec wrote...
    Reply
    Lol Steve S. exemplifies your typical outlandish scum devil with no sense of college football knowledge. Compare both Rich Rods resume with that of your soon to be gone coach's and you'll see what a complete fool you sound like.
  • Abuse
    DZAZ99 wrote...
    Reply?
    "Compare both Rich Rods resume with that of your soon to be gone coach's and you'll see what a complete fool you sound like." So from this, we infer: 1. Rich Rod has two resumes? 2. Your hyphen key is broken? Give it up for that U of A education, folks!
  • Abuse
    BigDog wrote...
    Kirk H. is a Moron
    Ok Az fans you are missing the point...The simple fact that Kirk H saud UCLA was relivant makes the article null and void. UCLA hasnt accompished anything in 30the plus years..
  • Abuse
    cmjone24 wrote...
    Kirk
    Sounds like Kirk has been hanging out with Mark May. I respectable opinion would be one that states it's too early to determine which program will be more successful. Even if UofA's coaching is better, ASU will ALWAYS have better players. It's a no-brainer going to Tempe over Tucson if you have talent. Only chance Rich Rod has is if he can somehow manage to win with all 3-star recruits and even the best coaches can't do that.
  • Abuse
    AzSunnyD wrote...
    Settle down AS-Who?
    Ok... Mark May's opinion may not always be the right one (whose is?) btu I di recall him statng the Oregon v. Scum Devils game was going to be a blowout. It was in the 1st. Your coach jumps around liek Lane Kiffin but isn't even that good And for the Tempe over Tucson argument...take a look at the consistently top notch highschool basketball prospect go to Tucson. Just goes to show a commitment to the program and a solid coach can make it happen in Tucson...I'll see you here Friday afte UofA smacks down those scum devils and Todd Grahm. Drink heavily...you'll need it.
  • Abuse
    Mikey_D wrote...
    Really?
    @steve s... LOL, have done nothing huh? 34-14 @ WV and a BCS Bowl game that they won. Idiot ASU fan... too easy to pick on.
  • Abuse
    Mikey_D wrote...
    really again
    @Kirk H... i seem to think they were pretty good in the mid 80's, spotty till you hit 97 and 98. I am pretty sure the last time ASU beat a ranked team in a bowl was the in 87 Rose Bowl (or something like that). They have been more relevant then ASU has in the last 30yrs. Mark May did say that ASU would get a beat down by Oregon, and all you dopey ASU fines dismissed him, how did that work out for you.
  • Abuse
    Mikey_D wrote...
    reeaaally
    @Kirk... Always better players???? i love those whom use absolutes. Gronk??? Bruschi??? Parker??? Fina???? Foles (of recent QB's)??? There are a bunch more, but i think you got my point. Those listed were pretty darn good.
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