Arizona Wildcats defensive lineman Luca Bruno has a bad foot. It requires daily physical therapy. It hurts from time to time.
Yet Bruno soldiers on, putting in the hours, enduring the pain. The redshirt junior personifies the fighting spirit that still exists within the Arizona football program in the wake of a season that has gone south.
Bruno was asked Wednesday if he ever questions whether it’s all worth it.
“Never,” Bruno said. “That’s never been how I am. I love football. This is the game I love to play. I’m fighting for my brothers, too. If it hurts, then it hurts at times. But I can make it through it.”
It’s that time of year for most players. Two-thirds of the way into the season, “everyone’s a little banged up,” Bruno said. It’s not limited to injury-riddled Arizona, either.
“Even if you’re feeling bad, you’ve just got to fight through it,” Bruno said. “It’s getting better throughout the week so you can play Saturday. And then repeat and do it all over again.
“You train 12 months out of the year to play 12 or 13 games.”
The 2-6 Wildcats’ chances of playing 13 games are diminishing rapidly. They would need to win their final four games, starting with Washington State on Saturday, to ensure being eligible for a bowl game. They’re currently riding a five-game losing streak.
Losing isn’t fun. Nor is “joint mobilization,” one of the many techniques trainers use to increase the flexibility in Bruno’s troublesome right foot (and the sprained left ankle he suffered earlier this season).
The foot injury kept Bruno out of last year’s New Mexico Bowl, as well as spring practice. He was limited during training camp. He has played in seven of the UA’s eight games, compiling eight tackles.
An 11-game starter last season, Bruno made his first start of 2016 last week against Stanford. He replaced the injured Sani Fuimaono (concussion) at defensive tackle, played 40-plus snaps and contributed to a pass rush that sacked Cardinal quarterback Keller Chryst four times. Stanford’s 104 passing yards and 341 total yards were the fewest Arizona has allowed this season.
“It was good. I loved it,” Bruno said. “We did get a loss, which always sucks. We’re trying to give the best effort we possibly can. We’re always going to give our best effort.”
Coach Rich Rodriguez sees Bruno doing everything he possibly can to contribute. It’s the sort of dedication Rodriguez was referencing in his impassioned plea after the Stanford game for every Wildcat to care as much as hardworking Samajie Grant, Parker Zellers and others do.
“It’s been a battle,” Rodriguez said of Bruno. “He’s missed a lot of practice time. He’s still kind of playing his way into shape. He’s a tough guy. He’s one that wants to be in there every snap he can.”
It’d be understandable if frustration got the best of Bruno at some point. Or if it seeped into the defensive-line room; the group has gotten better but hasn’t produced the game-changing turnovers Arizona needs. Or if it permeated the locker room amid the longest losing streak of Rodriguez’s tenure.
Yet Rodriguez, who isn’t prone to hyperbole, said the enthusiasm at Wednesday’s practice “was probably the highest it’s been all year.”
“They’re into it,” Rodriguez said. “They’re still enjoying football. That’s what I want. I want them to have some fun. Sometimes as coaches we make it too tight for them. They’ve had a good time this week in practice as far as working and being engaged.”
Despite the pain in his foot, Bruno had a hop in his step and a smile on his face. There are still four games to play, maybe five.
“We’re not the type of people that feel sorry for ourselves,” Bruno said. “Things aren’t going the way we want it. The only thing you can do is try and get better. Just keep going and working.
“We have pride in this program. We’re not going to go out without a fight.”
Out of position
Turnover margin and field-position differential continue to hurt Arizona, and there’s a correlation between the two.
In the USC game Oct. 15, the Trojans had a 10-yard advantage in average starting field position. They started drives in Arizona territory three times — all after turnovers.
In the Stanford game, the Cardinal had a 17-yard advantage. Stanford began five drives on Arizona’s side of the field, including three after turnovers.
One, of course, was cornerback Dane Cruikshank’s fumble, which immediately followed his interception of Chryst. What was going through Rodriguez’s mind as that play unfolded?
“I was thinking we’ve got great field position finally. We’re going to have the ball,” Rodriguez said. “We already had the next play ready to go. Coach (Calvin) Magee and I were like, ‘This is it.’
“I don’t want to say that’s the kind of season we’re having, but that’s the kind of disappointment that we’ve been facing for a few weeks.”
Extra points
- Because of injuries at middle linebacker and the way Washington State plays, some Arizona defenders will have new and/or expanded roles Saturday. They include DeAndre’ Miller, Tellas Jones and Jake Matthews. “I got what I got,” defensive coordinator Marcel Yates said. “I gotta play a little chess game this week.”
Most of Arizona’s injuries the past two years have hit middle linebacker, running back and quarterback. “It’s kind of strange,” Rodriguez said. A focal point in recruiting is to restock those positions.
- Rodriguez talked to injured middle linebacker Cody Ippolito this week about applying for a sixth year. Ippolito is out for the season because of a knee injury and has missed two full years because of knee issues. Ippolito wants to play. Rodriguez is unsure at this point if it’s in Ippolito’s best interest to “keep pursuing that deal.”
- Concussions are unpredictable, but Fuimaono should be back against Washington State. He has been practicing and seemed upbeat while briefly interacting with reporters.
