Arizona was back at it Tuesday as it prepares for its next test while trying to keep the momentum of the last two weeks going. Rich Rodriguez took some more time to talk with the media Tuesday morning and I also spoke with running back Nick Wilson and safety Dane Cruikshank. Here are the quick notes after today's practice.
* Arizona is feeling pretty good about things right now coming off the win to UCLA. There was certainly a positivity about the team that we haven't seen in quite some time. For Rodriguez the week has started off the way he would've hoped with a solid practice Tuesday to open things up.
"Yeah, it was good," he said. "The first sign you look at is the Sunday evening walk-through practice and it was good. I told them we have 24 hours to think about the last game and correct the mistakes and then move on. They've been able to do that really all year."
* So the Wildcats added three new commitments from Friday to Sunday and the buzz has been that Arizona is starting build a little momentum on the recruiting trail, so I asked Rodriguez if the response he and the staff are feeling has changed in the last couple weeks. He maintained that he feels good about the current class and went so far as to say he thinks it will be "really" good when all is said and done.
* It was clear that Arizona was motivated going into the UCLA game and that played a part in how the team approached that game. It was something that I said I had never seen from someone like Khalil Tate and Wilson said he's not sure he's seen that type of mentality from Arizona in his entire time with the team. UA was bothered by all that went on leading up to the game and it helped the Wildcats come together and play a strong game.
Now it will be about Arizona continuing to use that same energy on opponents that don't provide motivation like that and Wilson knows the team can now call on Saturday's game as proof of what needs to be done to continue racking up wins.
"We know we can do it and have seen that we can do it and how productive we can be," he said. "Now we just gotta stay on top of it and keep the ball rolling."
* In talking to Cruikshank today it became clear that there is something different about this team that has shifted the mentality from where it was a year ago. The plan all along was to get some of the bad elements of the team out of the program and hope that the infusion of young players helped both on the field and in the locker room. As of now that has proved to be the case with a more enjoyable atmosphere around the team. Winning has certainly helped but in talking with some players, including Cruikshank today, it is clear that the winning is going hand in hand with the attitude shift.
"I really feel something about this team," Cruikshank said. "We got our momentum back. We took two Ls earlier in the season but we've got the wheels rolling again and I'm feeling good about this one. ... You can just feel it. It's a very different vibe around here. A lot of positive vibes."
* Some odds and ends to end today's notes. Arizona is practicing with its same non-chrome red helmets this week. It worked against UCLA and it looks like the team is trying to keep that momentum going as it heads up to Berkeley. On the injury front receiver Tony Ellison is a bit banged up after hurting himself on his big catch against UCLA. At this point it sounds like he will be fine and ready to go for Saturday's game but he is a bit banged up right now and wasn't a full go in practice today. Defensive tackle Luca Bruno "ran around today" according to Rodriguez and the UA head coach says he remains "hopeful" the team can get him back for Saturday's game against Cal. Bruno didn't suit up against UCLA because of a concussion.
* Arizona is feeling pretty good about things right now coming off the win to UCLA. There was certainly a positivity about the team that we haven't seen in quite some time. For Rodriguez the week has started off the way he would've hoped with a solid practice Tuesday to open things up.
"Yeah, it was good," he said. "The first sign you look at is the Sunday evening walk-through practice and it was good. I told them we have 24 hours to think about the last game and correct the mistakes and then move on. They've been able to do that really all year."
* So the Wildcats added three new commitments from Friday to Sunday and the buzz has been that Arizona is starting build a little momentum on the recruiting trail, so I asked Rodriguez if the response he and the staff are feeling has changed in the last couple weeks. He maintained that he feels good about the current class and went so far as to say he thinks it will be "really" good when all is said and done.
* It was clear that Arizona was motivated going into the UCLA game and that played a part in how the team approached that game. It was something that I said I had never seen from someone like Khalil Tate and Wilson said he's not sure he's seen that type of mentality from Arizona in his entire time with the team. UA was bothered by all that went on leading up to the game and it helped the Wildcats come together and play a strong game.
Now it will be about Arizona continuing to use that same energy on opponents that don't provide motivation like that and Wilson knows the team can now call on Saturday's game as proof of what needs to be done to continue racking up wins.
"We know we can do it and have seen that we can do it and how productive we can be," he said. "Now we just gotta stay on top of it and keep the ball rolling."
* In talking to Cruikshank today it became clear that there is something different about this team that has shifted the mentality from where it was a year ago. The plan all along was to get some of the bad elements of the team out of the program and hope that the infusion of young players helped both on the field and in the locker room. As of now that has proved to be the case with a more enjoyable atmosphere around the team. Winning has certainly helped but in talking with some players, including Cruikshank today, it is clear that the winning is going hand in hand with the attitude shift.
"I really feel something about this team," Cruikshank said. "We got our momentum back. We took two Ls earlier in the season but we've got the wheels rolling again and I'm feeling good about this one. ... You can just feel it. It's a very different vibe around here. A lot of positive vibes."
* Some odds and ends to end today's notes. Arizona is practicing with its same non-chrome red helmets this week. It worked against UCLA and it looks like the team is trying to keep that momentum going as it heads up to Berkeley. On the injury front receiver Tony Ellison is a bit banged up after hurting himself on his big catch against UCLA. At this point it sounds like he will be fine and ready to go for Saturday's game but he is a bit banged up right now and wasn't a full go in practice today. Defensive tackle Luca Bruno "ran around today" according to Rodriguez and the UA head coach says he remains "hopeful" the team can get him back for Saturday's game against Cal. Bruno didn't suit up against UCLA because of a concussion.
