It was back to the regularly scheduled programming Monday as Rich Rodriguez met with the media to preview the upcoming week after taking some time off last week for the bye. It's officially a game week again but Colorado was about fifth or sixth down the line of what the media wanted the UA head coach to address Monday.
A lot went on for UA last week and it was those things that the media wanted to get comment on first.
* We'll start with the important stuff and that is the health of receiver Donovan Moore, who is involved in a car accident last week that left the driver of the car he was in dead. Moore was treated for "serious" injuries at the hospital that Rodriguez said was injured ribs and a concussion among other physical injuries. Moore was released from the hospital Monday and visited the team and Rodriguez in the afternoon. Rodriguez said the injuries will take a few weeks to heal.
"He stopped by to say hello," Rodriguez said. "He got banged around a little bit, a concussion and some ribs. So he'll be a few weeks for him, but he just got out of the hospital I think this morning."
* There was another situation the media wanted to hear Rodriguez's thoughts on that was the arrest of starting free safety Scottie Young Jr. last week on a misdemeanor assault charge after an altercation with his girlfriend. The freshman practiced with the team Sunday and as far as Rodriguez is concerned Young is moving forward with the team.
Rodriguez was asked then how it differs from Orlando Bradford's situation and Rodriguez said it is different and didn't want to elaborate much beyond that on how it is different. Bradford' situation involved multiple felony counts and Young's does not but back then the UA head coach took a stance and mentioned that if one of his players put hands on a woman he was done with the program. Rodriguez was asked a few times how it was different but he declined to comment further beyond a follow-up response.
"Well, it is different," he said. "Every situation with our players is evaluated individually."
He declined to comment whether there was any disciplinary action taken by the team.
* The other aspect of Arizona's week that was actually a positive was the Arizona Board of Regents approving plans for several projects that will improve athletics facilities in the coming years. One of the projects is of course Rodriguez's indoor practice facility that he says will be a big boost to the program and in particular recruiting. The facility also sounds like it will be used for a tailgating area on game days and many other uses.
It is something Rodriguez feels will help tremendously in recruiting.
* Arizona receiver Cam Denson has only played in one game this season and has been battling a foot injury. I have mentioned that it is one of those things that teeters on being better and being much worse at times. That is the battle Arizona has faced this year in determining how he will be used and when he can play. As of now Rodriguez isn't optimistic that Denson will get on the field soon.
"He's not been able to play because of his foot," Rodriguez said. "We're not optimistic that he's going to be ready any time soon. It's really frustrating for Cam because I thought he was ready for a breakout year at wide receiver. He would've probably been, along with Shun, our most explosive wide receiver. It's just one of those injuries that's going to take a lot of time, and I'm not optimistic that he'll be ready any time soon."
A medical redshirt is still available to Denson and Rodriguez said the coaching staff is leaving it up to the doctors and to Denson to figure out how to approach the injury with rest being one option and surgery being another.
Sophomore safety Isaiah Hayes is out for the rest of the year Rodriguez finally confirmed today. The free safety had shoulder surgery recently.
* When it comes to the quarterback situation nothing has changed going into Saturday's game against Colorado. Rodriguez continues to say that the turnovers have certainly been the negative for Brandon Dawkins but the UA coach also feels his quarterback has made some strong plays that make the case for continuing to roll with him at the starting position. Rodriguez did leave a sliver of an opening for Khalil Tate to move back into the conversation now that he's doing more in practice.
"It's been uneven, there's no question about it," he said. "It's been frustrating a little bit for him as well. It's the big mistake that has certainly hurt us, but he's not the only one who's made some of those. We've all made them. We've made them as coaches too.
"Brandon knows we can't have the big mistake, we can't have the turnovers, we have to capitalize when we have an opportunity on big potential plays. I still think he's our starter but at the same time Khalil Tate is healthier now. Khalil hasn't been able to practice as much in the last few weeks because of his shoulder and he's healthier now so he'll continue to push him as will two of the freshmen."
A lot went on for UA last week and it was those things that the media wanted to get comment on first.
* We'll start with the important stuff and that is the health of receiver Donovan Moore, who is involved in a car accident last week that left the driver of the car he was in dead. Moore was treated for "serious" injuries at the hospital that Rodriguez said was injured ribs and a concussion among other physical injuries. Moore was released from the hospital Monday and visited the team and Rodriguez in the afternoon. Rodriguez said the injuries will take a few weeks to heal.
"He stopped by to say hello," Rodriguez said. "He got banged around a little bit, a concussion and some ribs. So he'll be a few weeks for him, but he just got out of the hospital I think this morning."
* There was another situation the media wanted to hear Rodriguez's thoughts on that was the arrest of starting free safety Scottie Young Jr. last week on a misdemeanor assault charge after an altercation with his girlfriend. The freshman practiced with the team Sunday and as far as Rodriguez is concerned Young is moving forward with the team.
Rodriguez was asked then how it differs from Orlando Bradford's situation and Rodriguez said it is different and didn't want to elaborate much beyond that on how it is different. Bradford' situation involved multiple felony counts and Young's does not but back then the UA head coach took a stance and mentioned that if one of his players put hands on a woman he was done with the program. Rodriguez was asked a few times how it was different but he declined to comment further beyond a follow-up response.
"Well, it is different," he said. "Every situation with our players is evaluated individually."
He declined to comment whether there was any disciplinary action taken by the team.
* The other aspect of Arizona's week that was actually a positive was the Arizona Board of Regents approving plans for several projects that will improve athletics facilities in the coming years. One of the projects is of course Rodriguez's indoor practice facility that he says will be a big boost to the program and in particular recruiting. The facility also sounds like it will be used for a tailgating area on game days and many other uses.
It is something Rodriguez feels will help tremendously in recruiting.
* Arizona receiver Cam Denson has only played in one game this season and has been battling a foot injury. I have mentioned that it is one of those things that teeters on being better and being much worse at times. That is the battle Arizona has faced this year in determining how he will be used and when he can play. As of now Rodriguez isn't optimistic that Denson will get on the field soon.
"He's not been able to play because of his foot," Rodriguez said. "We're not optimistic that he's going to be ready any time soon. It's really frustrating for Cam because I thought he was ready for a breakout year at wide receiver. He would've probably been, along with Shun, our most explosive wide receiver. It's just one of those injuries that's going to take a lot of time, and I'm not optimistic that he'll be ready any time soon."
A medical redshirt is still available to Denson and Rodriguez said the coaching staff is leaving it up to the doctors and to Denson to figure out how to approach the injury with rest being one option and surgery being another.
Sophomore safety Isaiah Hayes is out for the rest of the year Rodriguez finally confirmed today. The free safety had shoulder surgery recently.
* When it comes to the quarterback situation nothing has changed going into Saturday's game against Colorado. Rodriguez continues to say that the turnovers have certainly been the negative for Brandon Dawkins but the UA coach also feels his quarterback has made some strong plays that make the case for continuing to roll with him at the starting position. Rodriguez did leave a sliver of an opening for Khalil Tate to move back into the conversation now that he's doing more in practice.
"It's been uneven, there's no question about it," he said. "It's been frustrating a little bit for him as well. It's the big mistake that has certainly hurt us, but he's not the only one who's made some of those. We've all made them. We've made them as coaches too.
"Brandon knows we can't have the big mistake, we can't have the turnovers, we have to capitalize when we have an opportunity on big potential plays. I still think he's our starter but at the same time Khalil Tate is healthier now. Khalil hasn't been able to practice as much in the last few weeks because of his shoulder and he's healthier now so he'll continue to push him as will two of the freshmen."
