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Media session - Dec. 27

Matt Moreno

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Aug 8, 2011
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Today was the media session at the Fiesta Bowl, so Boise State sent its offensive players while Arizona sent its defensive players. The Wildcats also had Jeff Casteel speak today while Boise had its offensive coordinator Mike Sanford speak as well. Here are some of the notable topics discussed during the morning media session in Scottsdale.

Jeff Casteel

The Arizona defensive coordinator is not one for talking too much during the season, but he spoke for the hour-long media session on Saturday.

* On Scooby Wright's growth in the system this season: "I think if you talked to him this time last year he was probably playing with at least one eye closed if not both them," Casteel said. "He was still learning. He had to play as a true freshman, and I think that's hard on anybody. This year he was able to understand a little bit more. The game has slowed down for him.

"You jump into the Pac-12 and play some of the teams we've been playing, as a true freshman, that's a pretty big jump. I think that's kind of slowed down for him this year. Like I say, I think he's going to continue to get better as we move forward."

* On Jared Tevis' senior season and career at UA: "When we were here three years ago, we saw a guy that's a tough kid and a good football player," he said. "Measurable-wise you know it's not what you're looking for. When you start playing football he makes a lot of plays. He's a tough kid. He's able to do a lot of things that you can't coach.

"He has the innate ability to make some plays and just play the game. I think he's had a great year. He's been healthy for the first time since we've been at Arizona. He's had some ankles and that the past few seasons. But he's a leader. He does all the things that we want him to do on the football field, but he also does a lot of things off the field, in the locker room, in the meeting rooms, that really helps us coaches out."

* On Boise State's offense: "You know what, No. 1, they're tough and physical," he said. "Hard-nosed, very innovative. They don't hold still. They do a lot of movement. ... Obviously, the quarterback does a lot of things with his feet where he can run it and hurt you. They got some guys outside that can make some plays. I think the big things they're physical and tough. They play hard with multiple formations.

"It's ruined my Christmas trying to get ready for those guys."

* On Boise State running back Jay Ajayi: "He's such a physical guy, and he has the speed and quickness," Casteel said. "He has great vision. He's an NFL guy. He runs behind his pads. If you don't get under him you're going to take a pounding.

"He's a physical guy."

Mike Sanford

The Boise State offensive coordinator took some time to chat with the media and he had plenty of positive things to say about Arizona.

* On Arizona linebacker Scooby Wright: "Their scheme frees him up a lot," Sanford said. "... He's a tackle machine, a turnover machine, a tackle-for-loss machine. We have to do a good job within our schemes and techniques of getting the second level. He really is a special player. If you don't climb to the second level, he's going to have his run-of-the-mill 17 to 25 tackles per game.

"That would be about on pace for what he's done this season. The thing I respect most about him is his effort. You look at a big-name player and you say, 'that guy is lazy' or 'he's really talented' but he doesn't play hard. But everything he's gotten he has earned. He plays whistle to whistle. If he misses a tackle he always finds himself back in on the play. That's the thing I respect about him and the way he plays."

* On his running back Jay Ajayi: "I first want to make it known I'm so proud of Jay," he said. "Not only what he accomplished on the field, but off the field. When I come to work every day he puts a smile on my face and I put a smile on his face. That's the first thing is he's a tremendous young man. A tremendous high-character individual that's grown a ton throughout the course of the year and throughout the course of this year and throughout the course of his career at Boise State.

"In terms of his legacy, we still got one more. I think that's the thing he's most excited about. He had his best week of practice leading up to the 23rd. He has a little something to prove himself. We'll be able to hopefully cap an unbelievable career with a great finish. That's what we're looking for for him and us as a football team."

Scooby Wright

Much like his position coach Scooby Wright would much rather be on the field than talking about himself with the media, but the sophomore linebacker took some time to chat with the media Saturday morning.

* On the Oregon game: "For me personally, I still have a salty taste about that game," he said. "I just to go out there and play ball again."

* On his drive: "I mean, I've had that since I was a little kid," he said. "I mean, just my parents, my dad always told me to go as hard as you can and you'll have no regrets. Have fun playing football."

* On what the game means for Arizona's program: "I think it will be cool," he said. "I think the last time they played in one of the big six bowls was 1994 or '97. It will be cool to be back in one of those bowl games they haven't been at in a while."


Jay Ajayi

The Boise State running back was a popular guy Saturday with plenty of media attention in the morning session. Ajayi recently announced that he would be entering the NFL Draft after the Fiesta Bowl is played, and right now that is where his focus remains.

* On Scooby Wright: "First off, you can tell he's the leader of that defense," Ajayi said. "The guys really rally around him and his play. A thing he does really well is how fast and how intense he is all over the field. We watch him on film, and he's always showing up. He plays really hard, plays through the whistle. I feel a lot of his teammates look at that and try to emulate watching Scooby play because of how physical he is and how hard he works each play."

* On playing a school like Arizona: "Still Boise State is doubted about," he said. "We're still looked down upon a little bit. Now it's even more because there's this big thing about the Power 5 and the Group of Five. There's been a bigger divide between the two types of schools. i think this a great opportunity for us being a Group of Five school. We're just as good as the Power 5 schools.

"It's an opportunity for us to be on a great stage like the Fiesta Bowl to show Boise State's brand of football."

* On going up against Arizona's 3-3-5: "That 3-3-5 stack, it's a little bit different," he said. "i don't think a lot of teams run it. But with San Diego State, it was a little bit different because they brought a lot more blitzes out of it where Arizona is more man. They bring pressure a little bit.

"It would be a different look we'll get from Arizona, but a good look just because of the kind of players they have, led by Scooby of course. He is going to try to make havoc on the field as much as he can. We have a great game plan going in. We have to make sure these next practices leading up to this game are crisp and we can execute when we are on the field."

Arizona practices later today, so continue to check back for more updates from Scottsdale as the Wildcats continue preparations for the Fiesta Bowl.
 
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