Arizona Wildcats College Football Pregame Quote, 10/14/2024

On what he’s most optimistic about at the halfway point of the season: “The thing I love about this team is they just keep playing. They play hard and they play for each other. I was optimistic about how we were on third down, because that had not been consistent and where we wanted it to be. Offensively we’re doing a good job moving the football, obviously we have to finish those drives. You can’t kick field goals every time you’re down there. Defensively I think those guys continue to improve, they continue to make adjustments. There’s just a lot of really good stuff on that film.”

On if Noah Fifita is trying too hard or to do too much: “All he wants to do is play for the guys he’s out there with. For us, we’ve got to do a better job of putting him in the right spot all the time, I think we can help him with that. He cares so much, he works so hard, his preparation is more thorough than any player I’ve been around. We gotta put him in the right spot and give him a chance to make the plays he’s capable of making.”

On Fifita’s interception near the end zone: “That ball was being thrown to Keyan (Burnett), and Keyan was open. Montana (Lemonious-Craig) took so much collision, we didn’t have good spacing on it because of the contact Montana took, and the corner dropped him. And then right as Noah is making the throw he takes a big shot, so that throw kind of sailed on him. And then the flip side of that is the safety made a hell of a football play.”

On Fifita’s time to throw up significantly from 2023: “I think there’s lots of parts to that. Some of that could be the concepts that we’re running require a little more time to develop. But we’re focused on trying to get the ball out of his hand, because he’s taken too many hits and we need to protect him. Because he’s a great player and he’s the leader of our team and we need to take better care of him.”

On coming up short on 3rd/4th and 2: “We got beat at the point of attack a couple times there, which is disappointing. They were standing there with nine guys on the line of scrimmage, and blocking nine guys is hard. We can come up a little bit more variation out of that formation, because that’s been a good formation for us this year.”

On the team’s identity: “I think in some ways we’re still finding that. When you turn on the tape we play hard, which I love. If you don’t have that you’re dead. I like where we’re at in terms of our effort, and right now that’s what we have to hang our hat on.”

On why the offense can look so good on the first drive and then struggle after that: “I think that has more to do with that space that we’re struggling in, the plus-30 and going in. We only punted once in that game, we had 25 first downs. There was good production there offensively. The thing that, we as a staff are working, on is what are we going to do, what is our best stuff when we get to that spot on the field.”

On if the play calling changes when getting inside the 30: “I think the thing that changes it is you’re capped vertically. Any type of route concept where you’re trying to control safeties or people on the third level can be more challenging because they’re not worried about someone running by them for a 60-yard (gain). A lot of defenses will also change when you get into the red zone.”

On Colorado coach Deion Sanders: “I’ve met him a couple times. He’s an awesome. He’s a really nice guy, he’s fun to talk to. He’s got interesting perspectives on everything. I hung out with him a little at the Big 12 meetings and the media day. He’s a really good dude, obviously he’s done a great job at that program.”

On Colorado 2-way star Travis Hunter: “I’ve been impressed with him for years now. I think his impact on the game, his ability to impact both sides of the ball, is incredible. I think that’s one of those challenges, when you’re playing this time, is knowing he’s on the field.”

On if he’s worried about the players’ effort: “The players are playing their tail off, and I think any challenges that we’re having in terms of getting the outcomes we desire, is on the coaching staff, and we have to fix those things.”

On LB Kamuela Ka’aihue filling in for Jacob Manu: “I thought he did a really good job. He’s a young player who’s just going to keep getting better. I think we’re excited about Kamu and he’s going to be a lot of fun.”

On the backup defensive backs: “I think those guys are fighting their tails off. The challenge of some of those guys who aren’t available, or weren’t available last weekend, is just they have so many reps. And they’re team captains and they’re leaders. They’ve seen so much in their careers. Coach Viney and Coach Akina and Coach Arce have done a great job building depth there and finding guys that can help us.”

On his message to the team at the midpoint: “In football you have to be in one-week seasons, you have to be focused on just this next thing. It doesn’t do anything for us to be looking backwards. We have to be mindful about what’s ahead and what’s coming. A year ago this team was 3-3, which is where we sit today. And the only difference between those things is how we feel about it, because of the expectations going into the season. Now all of a sudden is it feels worse. The good news is we have six opportunities left to play, like we have so much football left to play, and if we just focus on right now and the work that’s required to give yourselves a chance to get the outcome you want, that’s where you need to be.”