The Arizona Wildcats officially fell out of bowl game contention following a 49-28 loss at TCU on Saturday. The Wildcats showed some flashes, including a two-touchdown performance from wide receiver Chris Hunter, and a 70-yard scoop and score touchdown by Sterling Lane II. Biletnikoff Award semifinalist wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan also became the program’s all-time receiving yards leader (3,355), passing currently receivers coach Bobby Wade. See what Arizona head coach Brent Brennan, along with quarterback Noah Fifita, wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, and defensive back Dalton Johnson had to say postgame following the loss to TCU.
Arizona TCU Postgame: Brent Brennan
On Arizona rallying back after going down 14-0 early in the first quarter:
“I thought it was great. I thought it was a great fight. We missed a play on the first play of the game and we throw a pick, but I thought it was great how the team battled back there. I think even late in that game we were fighting our tails off, we just couldn’t get that one stop. We couldn’t get that one extra first down, we just couldn’t answer that when we needed to.”
On wide receiver Chris Hunter’s two-touchdown performance:
“I’m just excited about the development of him and I think he’s making great progress. I think Coach Wade is doing a fantastic job with him, and it’s exciting to see him playing with confidence and making the play he’s able to make.”
On Tetairoa McMillan breaking the program’s all-time receiving yards record and what it means to his career:
“To his credit, he shows up every day, and I think that’s one of the things that speaks to his character and who he is. He’s an incredibly hard worker, he’s a high level competitor, and that shows up every week. The beauty of that is you have a star player and the season’s not going the way he wants it to go, but that’s not changing how he approaches the work, that’s not changing how he competes on game day. You see him fighting for extra yards, making plays off his feet, like that is what an absolute stud is. I’m just so impressed with him, and I’m so appreciative of the effort he gives us and gives our football team.”
On the defensive game plan and creating confusion for TCU’s offense:
“I thought there were multiple opportunities for us to finish some of those things and we just – the player, [Savion] Williams, like, where’d they find that guy? Oh my gosh, what a stud. He’s so powerful and so strong. I thought we had him dead to rights on that fourth and one, and he was able to fall forward for a first down. We’re just close, and I think that’s one of those things that we can look at that and we can be encouraged, but then also pissed off that we didn’t make the play, that we didn’t finish it.”
On looking ahead at the Territorial Cup:
“This game is the biggest game of the year for this football program every year. ASU is playing good football right now, and this is an incredible challenge for us. I think everybody in the state of Arizona looks forward to this weekend – Thanksgiving weekend, UofA-ASU game, it’s the biggest thing happening. It’s something that every player that comes to UofA dreams about and thinks about, and so for us, we have to show up on Monday doing the work.
We don’t get to feel sorry for ourselves because we’re not bowl eligible. We don’t get to feel sorry for ourselves because we didn’t get it done today at TCU. It’s all about what’s next, and I think these players will do that. I think they’ll show up ready to work. I think they’ll be pissed off about how today went, and they’ll be excited about the opportunity that’s happening next weekend.”
On Tetairoa McMillan passing his receivers coach, Bobby Wade, for the all-time receiving yards record at Arizona:
“I think the first thing Bobby Wade said when he got here is that he wanted T-Mac to break that record. T-Mac has been such a great player here for so many years, and lots of people have had a hand in his process and his development, but I think Bobby has too, and Bobby’s had an important part of that. They have a great relationship, and I think watching him play is really, really special. It’s not every day a player like that comes around, that plays that hard, that competes like that in games, that finishes on balls the way he does, that’s able to separate, and create, and explode. Like I said, the thing I love most about him is that guy loves football. He loves to play, and it shows up every Saturday.”
On his message to fans doubting the direction of the program:
“We’re building a championship football program, and it takes time to do it the right way, and we’re going to do it the right way. We’re going to recruit our assess off, we’re going to bring good football players, and good people, into this program, and we’re going to do it the right way. And I can’t wait.”
Arizona TCU Postgame: Noah Fifita
On the most difficult part of this season:
“Losing. Losing is never fun. That’s probably the most difficult part for sure.”
On T-Mac breaking Arizona’s all-time receiving yards record:
“It’s a blessing, and he deserves it more than anybody. Obviously, week in, week out, like I’ve said all the time, regardless of the outcome, he’s the best player on the field and he’s just continued to show that since he has put on an Arizona uniform. It’s just special to see him become – first, was the highest rated recruit to ever come in, and now, God willing, the person to go out, so I’m extremely happy for him. Great player, better person.”
On last year’s Territorial Cup and his outlook ahead of Saturday:
“Only thing I remember is beating them at their home in dominating fashion. That feeling was tremendous and we’re looking to replicate that. We’ve got a great opportunity next week. That’s our bowl game, that’s our Super Bowl, being able to go beat them at our home, send the seniors off the right way, and keep the Territorial Cup in Tucson. That’s the end all, be all for us.
On what a win over ASU would mean for the team after this season:
“It’s huge. Give the credit where it’s due, they’re having a great year and we have a chance to spoil that. That’s our mindset, that’s our goal, and it’s just kind of perfect, because yeah, we didn’t make a bowl game and it sucks, but we’re full speed ahead to go dominate our rival at home.”
Arizona TCU Postgame: Tetairoa McMillan
On becoming Arizona’s all-time leading receiver and his career in Tucson:
“Man, it’s been a roller coaster ride, but shoot, God has blessed me with a bunch of opportunities, especially this opportunity, being able to put my name in the record books. At the end of the day, it’s a team sport. We didn’t win today, we don’t get a chance to play in December, so all we’ve got to do is focus on being able to play in pretty much our bowl game this upcoming week. It’s the last time that this Arizona Football team gets to play together in 2024, so all we’ve got to do is be grateful for an opportunity to have fun and just go out there and play.”
On passing his receivers coach, Bobby Wade, for the all-time record:
“That’s been the plan since day one, since he stepped in to the building. His idea, his vision for me was to break his record. We were able to do that tonight and it’s been a blessing to be able to be under his wing and him being able to teach me the ropes about this game. First thing he said was, ‘Congratulations, let’s get this pic!’ We had to take a picture real quick, and it’s going to be memories.”
On wide receiver Chris Hunter’s development over the last month:
“Fortunately enough for me, I got to see him – we came in at the same time, so I really got to see him develop as far as freshman, sophomore, into know. Shoot, sky’s the limit for the kid. He had two touchdowns tonight. He’s going to be an up-and-coming receiver next year for sure. I wish him nothing but the best, and we’ll see what happens with him.”
On his career at Arizona:
“It’s been a blessing. Despite the season not going the way we planned it to go, shoot, I don’t regret any decision I made. Whether it’s coming to Arizona out of high school when they went 1-11, don’t regret it. Coming back to Tucson when Coach Fisch left, don’t regret it. I’m here because I’m supposed to be here. God never makes a mistake, God’s plan is perfect, and I’m here.”
Arizona TCU Postgame: Dalton Johnson
On his outlook on the season after falling out of bowl game contention:
“It’s been a ride, but we have ‘Scummy’ week next week, so we’ve just got to focus on keeping this team together and not letting guys wander off and think the season’s over, because it’s not. Very important week next week and that’s all we’re focused on is ‘Scummies’.”