SALT LAKE CITY — The question comes up from time to time on sports-talk radio shows, usually from other precincts in the Pac-12 Conference: If the Arizona Wildcats’ 2016 season goes south, could UA coach Rich Rodriguez find himself on the proverbial hot seat?
The man who makes those decisions took umbrage with the notion that Rodriguez possibly could be in trouble.
“From time to time, I’ve been asked some ridiculous questions by the media,” UA athletic director Greg Byrne said Saturday night. “I think that one just went to the top of the list.”
Although this season got off to a rocky start, including Arizona’s first non-conference loss under Rodriguez, the program is in the midst of one of its most prosperous stretches.
The Wildcats have posted four consecutive winning seasons and have made four straight bowl appearances for the first time in school history – all under Rodriguez.
Byrne addressed a handful of other football-related topics with the Star during before the Arizona-Utah game Saturday night.
On the season to date: “We’ve had some good points. We’ve had some challenging points, too. Coaches don’t want to talk about it, and understandably so, but the health of the team has been something … you feel for the guys on the team. The individuals, the team itself and then obviously the program. But we’ve got to play through that. And that’s where we are tonight.”
On whether the rash of injuries will prompt changes to Arizona’s training methods: “Anytime the injury bug hits you, you say, ‘What can we do different?’ But no, the coaches know what they’re doing, and so does the strength staff.”
On Arizona’s home attendance so far: “We were a little ahead on both Hawaii (50,116) and Grambling (45,686). It’s something we’ve always got to work at. It’s obviously really important for the success of our team to have a full Arizona Stadium. We talk about that regularly.”
On whether the crowd for the Washington game (48,747) was disappointing: “We had a lot on the line. We really appreciate everybody who was there.”
On the progress toward building an indoor practice facility: “Nothing right now. We want to do it. All it takes is money.”
False-start frenzy
Despite being Arizona’s least-experienced starting lineman, redshirt-freshman center Nathan Eldridge has become a symbol of stability.
Entering Saturday night, Eldridge had started and finished every game. Only one other UA lineman, left tackle Layth Friekh, could make the same claim.
Utah played without starting center J.J. Dielman, who suffered a season-ending lower-leg injury last week.
The Utes’ line was out of sorts without him.
Utah got called for an astonishing eight false-start penalties in the first half.
In the second quarter, a series of penalties, including a chop block, pushed the Utes back from Arizona’s 10-yard line to the 40. They ended up punting.
Dielman’s replacement, senior Nick Nowakowski, also got whistled for a snap infraction.
Utah had 11 penalties in the first half for 63 yards. Arizona had only three for 31, but two were costly. A pass interference on Dane Cruikshank and a personal foul on Michael Barton accounted for 27 of the Utes’ 47 yards on their touchdown drive late in the second quarter.
Arizona got called for a false start on its first play from scrimmage in the third quarter.
Extra points
• Barton made his first career start as a Wildcat, at “Will” linebacker. He moved to “Mike” linebacker later in the first half when Cody Ippolito left the game because of an undisclosed injury. Ippolito spent most of the game sitting next to fellow linebacker Jake Matthews behind the Arizona bench. Matthews did not play because of a broken toe.
• Freshman free safety Isaiah Hayes made his second straight start but exited in the first quarter after delivering a hard hit on Utah tight end Harrison Handley. It appeared that trainers were administering a concussion test to Hayes on the bench.
• Tailback Nick Wilson (ankle) and left guard Freddie Tagaloa (knee) dressed but did not play.
• Linebacker DeAndre’ Miller (ankle) returned after missing the past two games and recorded a sack in the first half.
