Stoops Quotes

Arizona football head coach Mike Stoops

On last week's win

"Well, I think we're playing much more consistently, you don't see great fluctuation in one week to the next, so that's probably the biggest thing I think you see. We've showed some maturity and toughness a couple of times to come back in that game and really establish ourselves which was good to see against a good football team. So, we continue to mature, this team has done virtually everything we have asked them to do, so I'm very proud of the way we're playing and we're doing a lot of good things right now, so that's really the reason I think we're just much more consistent in our approach."

On team being in the Pac-10 race

"We knew that this would be our best group of players, I think it's one of our best teams since we've been here, just because we have balance across this football team when you look at us, offense, defense, special teams - we have a few Pac-10 type caliber players, but I think the overall bulk of our team is just hard working guys that play awfully well together and that's really been the reason for any success we've had this year, it's because of that. I think we have talent. I think we have balance in our football team, because when you look at us, I don't know if we are overpowering in any particular area, but I feel like we're a good football team in virtually every aspect."

On quarterback Willie Tuitama

"Willie is playing well within himself right now which is the thing I am very pleased about. He's taking what the defense gives him, he has good command of our offense, he's playing with a lot of poise and confidence, that always hasn't been the case. You can obviously see the evolution of a guy that's been through the wars and really has played well this year for us. He's very accurate and has a great philosophy. He can make a lot of good throws. The thing I'm probably the most proud of is the way he's been managing the games. Really, it's about winning and losing, and he's not just that type of guy, so I'm pleased with the way he's progressed throughout his career."

On team's offense

"Mike Thomas has just been one of the main players in the Pac-10 for the past three years. He's got great speed and explosiveness. Anytime he touches the ball he can go, so he gives us a big play threat wherever he's at, and he's been very consistent. He shows up virtually every time we step on the field. Rob Gronkowski's given us a lot of versatility on our offense to run the football, because he blocks so well and then stretches the field vertically so well being 6-6, 260 and can run. So, that's opened up some running spaces for our running backs. Nic Grigsby has had a good start. He's had a problem with the football which is obviously concerning, and it was good to see us establish another back in Keola Antolin last weekend had a tremendous game. I think we're gaining playmakers with depth too, which hasn't always been the case here."

On team's defense

"I don't know, we have eight new starters on this defense from a year ago. I think it's just a really cohesive group. Devin Ross has been a spectacular player for us. He's a corner that can really jump some things and play aggressive. Nate Ness and Cam Nelson, are two of them, we only had three starters back and two of them came from the safety position, and those two guys have really done solid for us. Devin has come in and really played well in that corner picking up the slack for (former cornerback) Antoine (Cason), and being the playmaker in the secondary at the corner you're going to need a guy that can be a shut down caliber kind of player, and that's what Devin's been playing like this year."

On thoughts about the USC team

"They're very, very good. Everywhere you look they have quality players and great depth. They're a very complete football team with no real weakness, so you have to match that with some toughness and some creativity in your offense and your defense and understand that you're going to have to play good football for 60 minutes. You're going to have to execute, because they will make you execute. That's the great thing about it, we certainly understand that. We are working hard on our execution on both sides of the ball. They're a very explosive football team, and they seem to like to throw the football now more than ever with Mark Sanchez. He's been very effective throwing for them, so that adds, you can see he has a very strong arm and they can do a lot of things with him. They have a lot of balance in their offense too, they've always been a good running team but now they are throwing the ball more effectively this year which is the big difference. I see a difference
in their receivers' ability to get open and run, which I think is much different."

On if Saturday's game is the game of the year in the Pac-10

"Oh, I don't know, there's probably going to be a lot of big games as we move through the season. At this point, anytime you're playing for first place and it's starting to get late in the year, I think it can create momentum. More teams will start weeding themselves out, so here in the next couple weeks we're going to find out who the contenders will be."

On USC's streak of 138 unanswered points

"I don't know. What's it about? It's about playing some good football, that's what it's about. They obviously execute very well, and like I said they've got tremendous players. I think says a lot about their coaching too, I think that gets overlooked. I know everyone knows what Pete Carroll has done, but obviously he's got some great assistants on both sides of the ball that do a tremendous job. They make you earn every yard on the football field, and they make you execute. If you come in and you don't have people that can match up against them you've got no chance. We're going to have to be creative in some of our matchups, but that's what coaching is about. We have to try to find some ways to move the football, and we feel like we have weapons on offense that will give us that opportunity as we go out there and execute on Saturday."

On home field advantage and impact for this weekend's game

"Well, I think it'll have a huge impact on the game. Crowd noise can help your defense get quicker off the football, and make it harder to communicate for the other team. It gives you momentum and gives you some confidence. We're 6-0 in our last six games, and I think we're averaging close to fifty points over the last - we beat Oregon, we beat UCLA, two bowl teams from a year ago. I think it tells you we're improving as a football team as you look at us evolve through the end of last year to where we're at right now."

On USC center Kristofer O'Dowd being from Tucson

"He's a great player, we love Chris. His family has been in Tucson a long time. In fact, I'm supposed to give his mother some tickets, so maybe he'll take it easy on us. They have a great family, and Chris comes back and we see him. I'm sure he'll play well as he does every game."

On how this game will rank among his top games as a head coach

"Well, anytime you play USC it's a big game. This has a lot of significant meaning for us in the Pac-10. We have not be relevant in the Pac-10 in the past eight to ten years, so that part makes it really good for the people and I'm happy for our players and our coaches that we actually get to play in a big game. I think our kids will handle it well, I don't think anyone really feels any different. I think we understand that we have a big job to do, and I think our kids will be excited about it. Besides that, I don't think anyone puts more pressure on it. I don't think anyone expects us probably to win, so I think that takes some of the pressure off you."

On Willie Tuitama's ability to practice against a tough defensive line

"He's played against them for the last two years, so he understands what they do and he understands their speed, so that experience I think helps him. You know, that can be very disruptive to your timing, and that's what they do to you, they make you, even when you feel like you have time, they force you to throw the ball before you're ready even when you're protected. So it can be very disruptive, just the constant pressure you're under. Our line is going to have to do a good job at giving him some time, because that's probably going to be one of the big keys for us, is protecting Willie and giving him time to get a couple of reads. If we can do that, we feel like we throw the ball pretty well this year."

On how good the USC defense is

"They're big, fast and physical - that's the first thing you realize. They make you earn it on the field. When you're good at all the positions, that's what makes it hard. They're very sound and very fundamental too. They're not just big, strong, fast athletes, it's their technique and the way they're coached, I think that's what tells you what they are."

On the motivation of playing in the Rose Bowl

"Well, we haven't talked about it. We haven't even been to a bowl game, so we haven't really talked about it. We don't even bring it out. Our kids understand what comes with being on top, so I don't really spend any time with it. I haven't said one word about it. We want to stay at the top of the Pac-10. If you're able to win against USC, it gives you a game breather on top of them if you beat them head to head, you know what I'm saying, if you tie with them. It's significant in a lot of way. That's really all we're concentrating on, is winning this game and staying on top of the Pac-10."