Arizona head coach Brent Brennan addressed several topics Monday as the No. 22 Wildcats opened preparation for Saturday’s matchup against No. 2 Utah at Casino Del Sol Stadium.
The biggest themes from his press conference were the importance of getting a sellout crowd, the challenge of stopping Utah quarterback Devon Dampier, Arizona’s improving offensive line and the excitement surrounding FOX’s Big Noon Kickoff appearance and Rob Gronkowski’s return to Tucson for the 5:30 p.m. game.
Here are the biggest takeaways.
1. Brennan challenges Tucson to sell out the stadium
Brennan made a direct appeal to Arizona fans to fill Casino Del Sol Stadium for Saturday’s game.
“That’s one of those things that we’ve talked about a lot — we haven’t gotten it (a sellout) done this year,” he said. “This is the game to show up for your alma mater, to show up for your university, or show up for this city. … Let’s show everybody how freaking dope the city of Tucson is.”
Arizona has averaged just over 42,056 fans in a stadium with a capacity of 50,800. The last sellout was the 2024 Homecoming game against Colorado.
2. Brennan has tremendous respect for Utah’s program
Brennan acknowledged that Utah is a program Arizona can look to as an example.
“There’s lots of things about that program that are fantastic,” he said. “There’s been a consistency there. They’ve played in the Rose Bowl. They’ve won the conference. I know it was the old conference (Pac-12), but they’ve done a great job since moving from the Mountain West into the Power Four. And so I got a ton of respect for what they do there.”
He pointed to the Utes’ consistency, conference championships and Rose Bowl appearances. He also praised Utah coach Morgan Scalley. Brennan said Utah is very well coached and noted that he has worked with three members of the Utes’ coaching staff during his career — offensive coordinator Kevin McGiven, safeties coach Derrick Odum and quarterbacks coach Ryan Gunderson, all of whom coached under Brennan at San Jose State.
Odum has a connection to Tucson with his kids living with their mother here. His daughter Ryann Odum is a senior with the Marana flag football team. His son Jeremiah was a standout baseball player at Tucson High who went on to San Jose State and has since transferred to Gavilan (Calif.) College.
3. Devon Dampier presents a major challenge
Brennan had plenty of praise for Utah quarterback Devon Dampier, who previously faced Arizona while playing for New Mexico. Arizona beat the Lobos 61-39 in the 2024 season opener — Brennan’s first game as Arizona’s head coach. Dampier was 24 of 42 (57.1%) for 260 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions. He also rushed 15 times for 130 yards (8.7 yards per carry) with two touchdowns.
“He’s awesome. He’s an awesome player. Made all kinds of plays against us,” Brennan said. “He was super impressive. Still is.”
Brennan also discussed the challenges of defending mobile quarterbacks.
“That’s kryptonite in all of football. Like, who are the best quarterbacks in the NFL? All the guys that can move, so guys that they’re able to utilize plus-one run game or escape these incredibly athletic, twitchy defensive linemen. I think that’s a challenge for for all of college football, and obviously Dampier is exceptional at it.”
4. Utah’s offense will test Arizona physically
Brennan discussed Utah’s ability to use both Dampier and Byrd Ficklin, sometimes on the field together. He praised Utah’s creativity with the two quarterbacks. He also highlighted several other strengths:
- A strong running game.
- Receivers who make plays.
- Big, talented tight ends.
- An offensive line that is massive, athletic and tough.
- A defense that is particularly good in the red zone.
Brennan described Saturday’s matchup this way: “It’s going to be a physical, physical game.”
5. Brennan believes Arizona’s offensive line is improving
One of the more interesting comments concerned Arizona’s offensive line following the victory over TCU.
Brennan said: “I do think this is the best O-line we’ve had since I’ve been here.”
He was encouraged by the improvements in communication, finishing blocks and technical execution. He also liked what he saw from Arizona’s running game against TCU. The Wildcats rushed for more than 130 yards while also throwing for more than 300 yards. Brennan said establishing the run gives Arizona better balance offensively and makes the team less one-dimensional.
“We’re playing against the best defense in the conference, right?” Brennan said, referring to TCU. “We still ran for, what, 130-plus, and and still threw for 300, right? Scored 29 points. There was still a hell of a lot of good production in that game. In my experience, there’s always give and take with the O and D lines when you’re playing, and same thing with our defensive front and our opponent defensive front.
“So I think that’s just part of college football that you’re trying to do a good job of giving guys a scheme that they can execute. And I mentioned that, like coming from Texas Tech into that game last week versus TCU, I thought our O line had made great strides in that. Just like everybody being on the same page a little bit better, finishing a little bit better, being a little bit more technically exact in their work, and so I was encouraged by it.”
6. Big Noon Kickoff is a tremendous opportunity for Tucson
Brennan was excited about FOX bringing its Big Noon Kickoff program to the Arizona campus. He sees it as an opportunity to showcase the university, its students, the football program and the city of Tucson to a national audience.
He referenced ESPN College GameDay coming to Arizona for basketball last season and hopes Saturday’s experience will be even bigger. FOX’s show begins at 8 a.m. Saturday.
“It’s such a great thing to have one of these shows come on campus and broadcast from campus, and so I’m optimistic that the Zona Zoo and our students and everybody in the Greek system starts early and gets ready to go and shows up for that moment,” he said.
7. Rob Gronkowski’s return is special
Brennan had glowing remarks about former Arizona star Rob Gronkowski, who will return to Tucson for Saturday’s game. He will join the Big Noon Kickoff set with Urban Meyer, Matt Leinart and the rest.
“Gronk’s awesome. I really have a ton of respect for him,” Brennan said. “Just kind of who he is and how he carries himself. He’s been very supportive of me and the U of A since I’ve been here. It’s awesome to get him back again. He’s got such a great way about him.
“He is one of those people that is authentically himself always, and I think that’s why he’s so endearing to everybody. He really is who you think he’s going to be, and just a great dude with great energy, and he loves the U of A. And so I’m excited for him to come back, and I’m excited to see him. I’ve gotten spent some time with him over the last couple years, and he’s just, he’s really an impressive person, man. He’s just really a great, great guy.”
8. Brennan praises Michael Salgado-Medina
Brennan enjoyed the news that Michael Salgado-Medina was named Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week following his performance against TCU, which included kicking the go-ahead 37-yard field goal with 38 seconds left in the 29-28 win.
“It was awesome,” Brennan said of Salgado-Medina, who earned Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week honor. “I have a lot of faith in Michael. We all do, and so it was awesome to see him get out there and pipe that kick, and there was never a doubt for any of us.”
9. Dajon Hinton deserves recognition
Brennan singled out defensive back Dajon Hinton for his performance against TCU. Hinton returned from a knee injury suffered in last year’s Holiday Bowl and recorded a tackle. His father David is a former Arizona player.
“I’m so proud of that young man,” Brennan said. “What a great job. I mean, coming back from from a really tough injury, and he played 60 snaps and played well. Played his tail off, and so I just think that’s one of those young players that’s going to continue to grow and improve the more live snaps he gets.”
10. The TCU comeback ranks among Brennan’s most memorable games
Brennan called Arizona’s dramatic victory over TCU one of the more incredible games he has coached.
He highlighted several individual contributions, including:
- Noah Fifita recovering the fumble that allowed Arizona to maintain possession.
- Fifita then throwing the touchdown pass to Quincy Craig, who fumbled on the play in which Fifita made the recovery.
- Zuri White recovering the pooch kick.
- Salgado-Medina making the winning field goal.
- Arizona’s execution throughout the comeback to the end.
“It’s up there; tt’s incredible,” Brennan said when asked where the game rates as one of the craziest games he has coached. “I think it was just awesome to see everybody execute their part of that in that moment. If you’re going back to, like even the fumble recovery by Noah. Like that might be the biggest play of the game, Noah, being there over the ball getting on it.”
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