Notes and takeaways from the Arizona Wildcats’ media availability Wednesday evening as the team continued to prepare for the Dec. 27 Foster Farms Bowl against Purdue:
* Quarterback Khalil Tate practiced and said his injured left shoulder is “a lot better” than when he first hurt it against Arizona State on Nov. 25. Tate added the following about his first season as a regular: "It went all right. I just put my foot in the door. I haven’t come in the room yet. That’s what I’m excited for."
* Receiver Shun Brown on the Wildcats not placing anyone on the All-Pac-12 first or second teams despite leading the league in offense: "It just blows our mind, the level of disrespect." UA players are legitimately mad about this. We’ll have more on that topic later tonight.
* Coach Rich Rodriguez was disappointed too. "We’re not huge on individual awards,” he said. “But it is nice recognition for the guys and the program. I would have thought somebody on our offense would be first or second team"
* Rodriguez on Colin Schooler and J.J. Taylor winning Defensive and Offensive Freshman of the Year honors: "That’s really neat. The good part about it, with both of those guys, I know they’ll keep getting better. Football’s really important to them. They had really good years. Their best football’s still in front of them."
* Graduate assistant Kyle Quinn and staff analyst Glenn Parker will coach Arizona's offensive line in the wake of Jim Michalczik's departure for Oregon State. The UA was granted a waiver so Parker could participate in on-field coaching.
* Rodriguez said he'd like to hire an offensive line coach before the bowl game if he can. Quinn and Parker, both former UA players, will be considered. Rodriguez is not looking for a coordinator type for this job. "I need a line guy,” he said.
* Rodriguez doesn't anticipate much more staff movement but said he has to be ready for it now, after the bowl games and after the NFL season ends. He said he has an idea for what he wants to do with the new 10th assistant come January but remains flexible.
* Defensive tackle Luca Bruno, who sat out the Territorial Cup because of a concussion, said he’ll back for the Foster Farms Bowl.
* Defensive end Justin Belknap, who missed the ASU game because of a knee injury, did not have a brace on his leg as he left the locker room.
* What did the Pac-12 say about the so-called block-in-the-back penalty that cost Arizona a touchdown against ASU? "I believe they agreed with our assessment,” Rodriguez said. He'd like coaches to have one challenge per game on a "subjective call" such as pass interference or holding.
* It was Brown's punt return that got wiped out by the mistaken call. He summed up his reaction in one word: "Really?"
* Arizona will use the first week and a half or so of practices to evaluate scout-team players, in addition to prepping for Purdue. It’s hard to accurately assess those guys in season because they aren't running Arizona’s stuff, Rodriguez said. He added that this time is more important for vets who haven't played much than freshmen. "It’s time for them to make their mark," he said, "or they’re going to get passed up."
* Rodriguez said he expects to sign 15-17 players during the new early signing period Dec. 20-22. Recruiting experts say that number might be a little high.
