Arizona Wildcats football: On the new Haka, the spirit of Matt Scott, Taylor's moves
- Updated
Seen and heard at Arizona Stadium during the Arizona Wildcats' game against the No. 9 Washington Huskies.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
The Arizona Wildcats debuted a new Haka before the game, and — just as senior defensive lineman Sani Fuimoano promised — it was different.
Fuimaono stood in the center of a crowd of his teammates Saturday. They followed his every move, debuting the new dance.
The Haka’s debut was delayed by a week. Fuimaono decided last week that the team wasn’t up to speed to show it off publicly; the Wildcats performed it in the locker room instead.
Arizona has been doing the Haka pregame since 2009.
The Wildcats developed their own dance following a series of complaints that arose a year ago. Some native New Zealanders said the pregame routine was offensive; a petition started by a California college professor garnered more than 2,000 signatures, and the UA shelved it.
Fuimaono, a Kaneohe, Hawaii, native, met with UA athletic director Greg Byrne and agreed to help come up with a new dance for the 2016 season. He researched and developed the new Haka on his own, and taught his teammates the dance during training camp.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
308: Days between interceptions for UA quarterback Brandon Dawkins. The Huskies intercepted Dawkins in the second quarter, marking the quarterback’s first pick since last year’s Arizona State game. In between, Dawkins had thrown 63 passes without an interception.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
“B dawk I need you to stop taking hits and slide cuz we need you” — UA basketball player Ray Smith (@raysmith2297), looking out for Arizona’s quarterback
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
The Wildcats have defeated a top-10 team every since Rich Rodriguez arrived. They topped USC in 2012, Oregon in 2013 and 2014, and Utah last season.
Saturday, the Wildcats decided to bring back some of the good vibes from last year’s Utah win, which the Wildcats won 37-30 in double overtime.
Arizona wore the same uniform combination — blue helmets, blue jerseys and blue pants — that they sported a year ago.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Matt Scott had a standout season at quarterback in 2012, ushering in the Rodriguez era with an eight-win season and New Mexico Bowl victory.
To casual fans — or gross ones — Scott may be best known for his in-game vomiting. He did it during a win against USC, during a game against Utah, and then during the preseason when he was playing for the NFL’s Bengals in 2014.
Scott and UA’s coaches and trainers characterized the quarterback as a puker, and medical tests performed during his time at the UA ruled out head injuries.
Dawkins honored Scott on Saturday, in a way, throwing up on the sideline after running for a 79-yard touchdown.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Freshman J.J. Taylor had a coming-out party against Hawaii last week, side-stepping, stiff arming and spin-moving against the Rainbow Warriors’ weak defense.
Washington, Taylor learned Saturday, is not Hawaii.
In the first quarter, Taylor attempted a stiff arm on a Washington defender. It didn’t do much — he simply pushed him back a few inches, then was promptly tackled. Taylor’s night ended in the third quarter, when he was forced from the game with an apparent ankle injury.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
“Brandon Dawkins can run.”
“J.J. Taylor can also run.”
— Tacoma News Tribune beat writer Christian Caple (@ChristianCaple) about Arizona’s quarterback after two big runs. Dawkins and Taylor combined for 192 rushing yards in the first half alone.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
The Arizona Wildcats debuted a new Haka before the game, and — just as senior defensive lineman Sani Fuimoano promised — it was different.
Fuimaono stood in the center of a crowd of his teammates Saturday. They followed his every move, debuting the new dance.
The Haka’s debut was delayed by a week. Fuimaono decided last week that the team wasn’t up to speed to show it off publicly; the Wildcats performed it in the locker room instead.
Arizona has been doing the Haka pregame since 2009.
The Wildcats developed their own dance following a series of complaints that arose a year ago. Some native New Zealanders said the pregame routine was offensive; a petition started by a California college professor garnered more than 2,000 signatures, and the UA shelved it.
Fuimaono, a Kaneohe, Hawaii, native, met with UA athletic director Greg Byrne and agreed to help come up with a new dance for the 2016 season. He researched and developed the new Haka on his own, and taught his teammates the dance during training camp.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
308: Days between interceptions for UA quarterback Brandon Dawkins. The Huskies intercepted Dawkins in the second quarter, marking the quarterback’s first pick since last year’s Arizona State game. In between, Dawkins had thrown 63 passes without an interception.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
The Wildcats have defeated a top-10 team every since Rich Rodriguez arrived. They topped USC in 2012, Oregon in 2013 and 2014, and Utah last season.
Saturday, the Wildcats decided to bring back some of the good vibes from last year’s Utah win, which the Wildcats won 37-30 in double overtime.
Arizona wore the same uniform combination — blue helmets, blue jerseys and blue pants — that they sported a year ago.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
Matt Scott had a standout season at quarterback in 2012, ushering in the Rodriguez era with an eight-win season and New Mexico Bowl victory.
To casual fans — or gross ones — Scott may be best known for his in-game vomiting. He did it during a win against USC, during a game against Utah, and then during the preseason when he was playing for the NFL’s Bengals in 2014.
Scott and UA’s coaches and trainers characterized the quarterback as a puker, and medical tests performed during his time at the UA ruled out head injuries.
Dawkins honored Scott on Saturday, in a way, throwing up on the sideline after running for a 79-yard touchdown.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
Freshman J.J. Taylor had a coming-out party against Hawaii last week, side-stepping, stiff arming and spin-moving against the Rainbow Warriors’ weak defense.
Washington, Taylor learned Saturday, is not Hawaii.
In the first quarter, Taylor attempted a stiff arm on a Washington defender. It didn’t do much — he simply pushed him back a few inches, then was promptly tackled. Taylor’s night ended in the third quarter, when he was forced from the game with an apparent ankle injury.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
“Brandon Dawkins can run.”
“J.J. Taylor can also run.”
— Tacoma News Tribune beat writer Christian Caple (@ChristianCaple) about Arizona’s quarterback after two big runs. Dawkins and Taylor combined for 192 rushing yards in the first half alone.
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