Quick hitters from Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez’s weekly news conference Monday afternoon at the Lowell-Stevens Football Facility:
* Starting middle linebacker Cody Ippolito will miss the rest of the season because of a knee injury suffered Saturday night against Utah, Rodriguez said. This is the third season-ending knee injury Ippolito has endured during his UA career. He is expected to apply for a hardship waiver for a sixth year of eligibility.
* Jake Matthews, who has played and can play middle linebacker, sat out against Utah after suffering a bout of vertigo. He is believed to be fine now and available to play vs. USC despite a toe injury. He and Michael Barton would share the MLB duties.
* Rodriguez implied that quarterback Brandon Dawkins is in the concussion protocol. Dawkins did not leave the Utah game because of his rib injury, Rodriguez said. Dawkins took a hit to the back of his head in the third quarter and did not return after that drive.
* If Dawkins can’t play against USC, freshman Khalil Tate would start. Anu Solomon is “doing more every day (but) I don’t know when he’s going to be ready for a game,” Rodriguez said.
* Rodriguez said Tate again played with great composure at Utah. “The future’s great at that position,” Rodriguez said. “It’s just right now, we’ve got to put a package together for whoever the quarterback is.”
* Rodriguez called Utah coach Kyle Whittingham’s claims that Arizona was making “disconcerting signals” on defense an “empty accusation.” Whittingham blamed the Utes’ abundance of false-start penalties on the Wildcats’ defense calling out signals that caused Utah linemen to move early.
* Rodriguez said the coaching staff was hopeful tailback Nick Wilson (ankle) could play last week but that he couldn’t push off like he wanted to during warmups. His status is up in the air for this week.
* Rodriguez said receivers coach Tony Dews has gained more confidence in redshirt freshman Cedric Peterson and that Peterson will get more playing time as a result.
* Rodriguez on the play of cornerback DaVonte’ Neal, who has lost his starting job to Jace Whittaker: “Probably not as good as we would like or he would like.” Rodriguez said Neal has been playing through a wrist injury.
* Among Arizona’s many concerns against USC is the size and athleticism of the Trojans’ tight ends. Tight ends accounted for all three touchdown receptions in USC’s 21-17 victory over Colorado last week.
* Despite recent results, Rodriguez believes the team is improving. It’s “unfortunate” that the Wildcats haven’t been able to put four good quarters together, Rodriguez said.
