ESPN insider: Shame Scott, Rodriguez have only one year together at UA

Before the 2012 season, senior quarterback Matt Scott was a virtual unknown both on the UA campus and around college football. In his first three seasons in Tucson, Scott had six touchdowns and less than 200 pass attempts to his name — most of which came during mop-up duty or as a backup.

Just six games into his final season as a Wildcat, Scott has burst on to the national scene, resurrecting both his own career and the Arizona offense.

While Rich Rodriguez’s squad is currently mired in a three-game losing streak, and has yet to a win a Pac-12 contest, hopes still remain high for a bowl appearance, largely because of Scott’s play.

In Saturday’s 54-48 overtime loss at Stanford, the senior passed for a career-high 491 yards to go along with three touchdown passes.

He currently ranks No. 2 in all of the NCAA in passing yards with 2,099 — over 1,600 yards more than Heisman hopeful Matt Barkley from USC.

His recent rise to stardom has left many to wonder how his collegiate career could have been different if Rodriguez had come to town a little sooner.

Here’s what ESPN’s Pac-12 blogger Ted Miller had to say following Scott’s sensational play against the Cardinal:

It’s too bad that Matt Scott and Rich Rod get only one year together: Arizona quarterback Matt Scott is putting up huge numbers this year. He threw for 491 yards and three TDs at Stanford — completing 45 of 69 throws — a brilliant performance that nonetheless only earned the Wildcats another excruciating loss. The Wildcats will scare everyone on their schedule because of Scott, who seems like a perfect fit for new coach Rich Rodriguez, even if the primacy of keeping Scott healthy is preventing him from being much of a factor in the running game. But the team will still be challenged to become bowl-eligible due to an overmatched defense.

Up next for Scott and the No. 4 ranked passing offense is a home showdown against previously-ranked Washington next Saturday.