Arizona Football: Brent Brennan Previews West Virginia Trip
- Arizona faces West Virginia in Morgantown for a Saturday morning kickoff.
- Arizona brings a 4-1 overall record and a 1-1 conference mark into its upcoming matchup against West Virginia.
- Saturday marks the first trip to Morgantown in program history for both Arizona and head coach Brent Brennan.
Arizona faces West Virginia in Morgantown for a Saturday morning kickoff. Head coach Brent Brennan prepares his team for a hostile road environment while confronting a historic matchup against former Wildcats coach Rich Rodriguez.
Arizona Prepares for the Morgantown Road Environment
Arizona brings a 4-1 overall record and a 1-1 conference mark into its upcoming matchup against West Virginia. The Wildcats have won five consecutive games at home, including all four contests played since the venue was renamed Casino Del Stadium, according to azdesertswarm.com. Road results have proven more volatile this season, with an opening loss at BYU preceding a victory at Washington State.
Saturday marks the first trip to Morgantown in program history for both Arizona and head coach Brent Brennan. The environment’s going to be on us, like all the stuff that you would expect going on the road in the Big 12,
Brennan said Monday, as quoted by azdesertswarm.com. And so we’re hard at work putting our plan together and attacking our process, and I’m excited to get the guys back tomorrow in the building and and go to work.
Facing Former Coach Rich Rodriguez in a Rare Milestone
The matchup pairs Arizona against former head coach Rich Rodriguez, who directed the Tucson program from 2012 to 2017. azdesertswarm.com notes this is the first time the Wildcats have faced an opposing head coach who previously led their own program since Larry Smith played against them while coaching USC in 1992.
I remember watching those teams with Pat White at West Virginia, and just how different it all looked and how fast they played.
Roster Adjustments and Injury Recovery on Offense
Younger pass catchers and utility options have stepped up to fill the void. Brennan highlighted the perimeter blocking of Isaiah Mizell and RJ Mosley, while identifying Jet Smith as another young receiver pushing for increased playing time. In the backfield, Quincy Craig earned praise as a complete football player contributing across special teams, pass protection, and receiving.
Managing the Three-Hour Time Change on the East Coast
Logistical adjustments accompany the cross-country trip to West Virginia. The team has altered its weekly routine slightly, scheduling a morning practice on Thursday before flying out later in the day, as reported by azdesertswarm.com.
Brennan dismissed concerns regarding the three-hour time difference and the 9 a.m. Arizona time kickoff. I think if you let that be an excuse, it will be,
Brennan said, as documented by azdesertswarm.com. I think if you let going on the road be an excuse, it will be. So we’re not in the excuse-making business. We’re in attacking the challenge ahead of us, which is playing a good West Virginia team at their place on Saturday at 9 a.m. Arizona time.
Scouting West Virginia and Dual-Threat Quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr.
Brennan described West Virginia as an offensively explosive team running a high-tempo scheme featuring quarterback run packages. He characterized the opposing quarterback as a total badass possessing twitchy, powerful acceleration that presents a unique defensive challenge compared to previous mobile signal-callers Arizona has faced this season.
Defensively, West Virginia presents a multi-pressure front with significant coverage variations that have proven stingy in the red zone and efficient on third downs.