Solomon, Wildcats going back to basics in Fiesta Bowl preparations
TUCSON, Ariz. -- Anu Solomon hasn't felt this good in at least a month, maybe two.
The ankle sprain the Arizona freshman quarterback suffered late in the season, the one that forced him to the sideline in the Pac-12 championship loss to Oregon, is healed. Solomon is ready for the Fiesta Bowl and Boise State as the Wildcats look to better their 10-3 record in the season finale.
"It was really difficult," Solomon admitted when asked about the pain down the season's home stretch. "But for me to just keep telling myself that I can keep going on (and) don't give up on your team (was important). It was about being mentally strong. It was difficult because I (couldn't) do my part, making the defense play true. I (couldn't) be that dual threat kind of guy. I had to tough it out."
The road to recovery continues next week as Arizona faces Boise State at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. And it has to do more than just injured body parts. Never mind the 27 touchdowns and 285 completions in 491 attempts. The time spent preparing for the Broncos is about improvement.
Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez was matter of fact and to the point when asked about what Solomon needs to do: "I want him to play better," Rodriguez said.
"I won't prepare him any differently this week because they are all coached the same way," Rodriguez said. "It's a big game but our biggest thing has been getting back to fundamentals. Half of the practice has also been Boise State preparation. Like a lot of other young guys, Anu's fundamentals sometimes slip and we have to get back to that."
Solomon understands, saying the team has gone back to "Day 1 stuff" in getting the "reads right and making sure I make the right decisions."
"It's making sure that I stay focused," Solomon said. "They are really challenging me right now, challenging me to be the best I can be in this last game."
Rodriguez, the task master, is on Solomon as much as ever recently, if not more.
FIESTA BOWL
Arizona vs. Boise State
When: 2 p.m. Wednesday
Where: University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale
TV: ESPN
"You can ask anybody," Solomon said. "He's trying to get the best out of me. But that's something in a coach I look forward to."
Senior Austin Hill said he's admired Solomon because of his fortitude, knowing he had to fight through the ankle injury.
"He's trying to get better and improve every day," Hill said. "It's been hard for him to run on the ankle but he's pushing through and it's tough."
What Hill, however, has noticed the most is how Solomon has grown this season in his role at quarterback.
"He's gotten more confident and he's understood the offense more each week," Hill said. "That's the most important thing in this offense. Understand why we do things and understand why we are running the plays."
And then there is the beyond-his-years of being calm and composed.
"He doesn't let anything get to him," Hill said. "He's been able to thrive and come through things even though we (were) in tight positions."
If not Solomon, then maybe Jessie Scroggins, Arizona's redshirt senior who saw action in four games and most recently in Arizona's big loss to Oregon to begin the month. Scroggins said he's ready and always has been.
In his limited role vs. Oregon he said there "was no better feeling" than to be part of it. Then he clarifies it by saying, "other than graduating." He did that earlier this month, getting his psychology degree.
He called it a "positive vibe" because the team "rallied around me."
And that includes Rodriguez, who Scroggins thanked for giving him the opportunity to play at Arizona after transferring in from junior college after attending USC.
"Coach has the faith in me to put me in that situation (to play vs. Oregon)," he said. "I've had to build that trust. I worked tremendously to be in that position. It's not the best position, but it's a darn good one to be in to have your coach have your back like that. I'm blessed."
What's next could be anything, Scroggins said, but the bowl game is what's the most important right now. Then he'll attempt to move on, possibly using his psychology degree to help kids cope or progress.
"I know where I've been in shoes where I have been lost," he said. "And somebody helped me. I'm going to try to share that."
To be clear, he said being at Arizona wasn't lost despite just playing a few games.
"Not at all, at all," he said. "I accepted my destiny basically, embraced my role and been having fun and balling ever since."
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