Arizona State Head Coach Shaun Aguano
On the instant success from the offense and reflection from it:
“You always cross your fingers since it could be a disaster at some point. I thought from a preparation standpoint and what I saw from both Trenton (Bourguet) and Emory (Jones), then the kids' excitement of opening up a little bit, getting the tight ends involved. I was hoping that it was working, I thought our mismatches in the game were advantageous for us. When you look back you ask ‘was there points left on the board?’ and I thought that from an execution standpoint we could’ve been better. On third down, we were at 50 percent, but I thought there were a couple of check-down plays that we took shots at instead. Overall, I thought the kids did really well and executed the plan that we put together in three days.”
On the team playing different in the second half:
“Going into the fourth quarter we were up three scores and you get into that game of ‘Do I help run the clock out?’ or “Do I keep on playing aggressive?’ so it’s a catch-22 because that can happen the wrong way too. I thought we needed to execute a few more plays, I didn’t think we were good on first-down runs. That was something I need to make sure I do better myself. We were six of 10 efficiently from a passing standpoint but we weren’t efficient enough on the long runs so we need to make sure that we’re deliberate on those and making sure it’s an emphasis for our offensive line to understand that we need four or five yards in that regards. Overall, I thought that the kids did pretty well. “
On Trenton’s play at quarterback against Colorado and if he’ll start against UCLA:
“First of all, I thought he did an incredible job getting the ball out quickly, making those decisions. That was the game plan, making sure that it wasn’t long progressions and we understand from a stature standpoint that we to do movements we had to do all of those things to give him a chance and he did really well. Trenton has earned the right to be the starter, and our kids are doing well with him and they trust him. It’s a bad spot for Emory, but I had a great conversation with Emory and he said ‘Coach I’ll be ready when the time comes.’ So it’s always hard on the kid, but Trenton will be our starter, I think he did everything right, he plays with that moxy and that little bit of ‘it’ to it. Our kids trust him.”
On how it enhances the offense:
“I think it gives the offense confidence that Trenton will be the guy moving forward, Emory is very competent and very willing and able to take care of this offense. Will there be different changes with both quarterbacks? I don’t think so since I think the offense will fit both of these guys. But going forward Trenton will be the guy that I think will give us the best shot to win.”
On what his philosophies learned from Linfield:
Coach Rutschman was a huge influence in coaching. I think they're at 67 consecutive years that they've have not had a losing season. And I've been fortunate to be in part of that. The way he took care of his players and his coaches is something that I try to do as well. And just the way he went about his business and he's still there coaching kickoff returns. You know, one of my coaches Ed Langsdorf is here and retired. too, and so just a great coaching staff, but the culture that they have there is something I absolutely, definitely want to instill here too. When you can go 67 years and not have a losing season, and that's consecutively, I think you're doing something right.”
On the performance and chemistry of the defensive line:
“Now we have some depth there. We still need to manufacture pressure. I mean, all of the Pac-12, there's probably only a couple of schools that are getting to the quarterback with just four (defensive linemen), we have to manufacture pressure. I think our D-line is getting back in full force, I think our linebackers are playing well, we just need to fundamentally make sure that we run five because in the run game we've been exploited a little bit. And now we're going to face a UCLA team that runs the ball really, really well. And then we have to, again, have an emphasis about the third downs, I showed them on there, and they're at 50%. That's not good enough. And so we’ve got to get off the field. A lot of it is situational football, from a knowledge standpoint we as coaches need to educate the kids, what do we need to do in order to be in situations where we understand the situation we need to get off the field? I don't know. If kids play today played a play more than the situational aspect of it. And from a coaching standpoint we need to make sure we teach them so they understand that more.”
On the status of offensive lineman LaDarius Henderson:
“He's running this morning. So we'll see how it goes this week, but he's questionable going into this week. So I haven't got with (ASU Director of Football Athletic Training) Gerry Garcia, because we have our 3:00 meeting in regards to any of the major injuries. But I know he was running out there. And so we'll see how that plays out.”
On the emergence of tight end Jalin Conyers:
“I think he's a huge weapon now moving forward, just because they called him on TV, that Ralphie running down the middle of the field. He was looking for contact. You can't be looking for contact. But he feels more comfortable, I think in space, blocking in space. With his great big mitts, he makes plays all over the field. I think he is a lot more comfortable with the schematics that we brought. And he is a mismatch for the smaller safeties. And then they got to tackle that guy. And they look like in Colorado, some guys shied away from that. And he's going full force. I didn't know he was that fast. And so I tease him. But he, again, he must have been watching Ralphie run through the field at halftime, but he had an incredible game.”
On the deficiencies of the red-zone defense:
“I think it's all factors. I think from an execution standpoint, for the kids knowledge to understand … they're going to throw a slant, the reason why the receivers a little lighter, because they’re coming to you. And then we are backing up from it. From a schematic standpoint, we need to make sure that we are putting our kids in the best situation to stop that too. I sat down with Coach Don (Henderson) and Coach Marvin (Lewis), and we need to fix that. And so they understand that it caught my attention too. I thought at one point going into the fourth quarter with three scores up, I want to be four or five. But I want to finish the game being five scores up and we need to get off the field. but yeah, we need to finish games, In a dominant fashion.”
On impact of not having LaDarius Henderson:
“He’s one of our better linemen and when you don’t have that you’re shuffling guys around. There is that chemistry but when you lose someone who means so much to the offensive line from a leadership standpoint, we miss him a lot. I also think it’s our depth too, so we’re just praying hopefully nobody goes down as well. As soon as he gets back, I think we will be full force and ready to go. It also gives the other guys some time to play other positions in case something happens again.”
On run defense and perspectives on what the challenges have been and how they’ll handle UCLA running back Zach Charbonnet:
“To me from a schematic standpoint on defense, everybody has a gap to fit. It’s all run fits. When somebody does not do his job and strikes or uses his hands, puts it on his head and slides the gap does those things then you put the guy next to you then you got two gaps open. So it’s all about execution on the kids and making sure they fill your gap and not doing something that you shouldn’t be doing trying to gain an advantage. In the game of football I think from a defensive standpoint, sometimes people get selfish and think I’m going to go make a play but that’s not your play to be made. You need to make sure you take care of your job, so going forward from an emphasis standpoint that’s what I’m telling the defense. Do your job, other people are making plays but the defense will get better. You don’t have to go make the play, just do your job and run fit and we’ll be solid. I think we’re solid from a fit standpoint, we’re not solid from making the tackle wrapping up and we’re not solid from everybody doing their job and everybody being on the same page. That’s what happens when you see us get hit for a couple of times but just overemphasizing that with our kids. ”
On what he takes from USC performance and defending their running back Travis Dye in comparison to UCLA:
“They’re two different types of running backs, Charbonnet is the power guy, Dye was more of a slippery, lateral guy and then burst guy. We need to make sure we hit him as soon as he gets to the line of scrimmage and not let him get going. So, again going back to those run fits, we better be solid on those and then we gotta wrap up and play team defense. When one guy has got him wrapped up, everybody got to be at the football, that’s our emphasis this week.”
On taking over play calls and coordinating with Glenn Thomas:
“Glenn does a great job, he handles the pass game with me and we go back information-wise from the top. We’re always talking, it’s always hard for someone to have to make that decision but he’s done great with our quarterbacks to Trenton in that conversation. We still sit down and game plan together and so it is a team effort on the offensive side. Maybe the play calling is a little different but the way we prepare is exactly the same and so he plays a huge part in that.”
Former ASU Quarterback Gus Farwell on his upcoming performance at ASU Gammage on Friday:
On being a Sun Devil and having the opportunity to perform:
“It’s incredible to come back here and be in front of you all in this room to be here with the incredible people at this university, to be welcomed back with such open arms and having the opportunity. I’ve been talking with my wife about singing, there’s always pressure in performance right? I just want to deliver, you just want to sing well and she keeps telling me enjoy every second of it. It’s an opportunity, who knows what happens in the future. I get to be on that stage again. I’m here, for a longtime throughout my career, I’ve always thought about what’s next, I’m overthinking about what’s next. I just want to concentrate on being here being present and after everything that happened in the pandemic and how I ended up here to begin with and to be there now in a special place with everybody together, you forget that it wasn’t that long ago that we were all separated.”
On comparing being on TV to a live music performance:
“Yes, it’s pretty funny really, it sorta hit me until I started to do it, and then i realized there’s the analytical side, understanding football side and then there’s the entertainment side. Everytime you turn on the television you want to see a good program, it’s not about the sport on the field, it’s also about all the other things going on and it sorta hit me and I said ‘Maybe i’m training for this all my life.’ Living in the two worlds of performance and been on plenty of stages and cameras. As a flashback I see all these cameras set up, I think back to the Rose Bowl when we went to the universal studios and coach said ‘hey there’s going to be a talent show tomorrow’ and I went out there the next day as any 19-year-old kid could, and went out and sang Ridi Pagliaccio at the talent show. That was the first time i’ve ever sang Opera in public. So the performance side, the football side it’s great to be able to live in both worlds and it’s an honor to be on the Pac-12 Network and to have that opporutnity as well. For all this to come out of the pandemic has been dubly strange. It’s something else.
On a crossover of audiences that could seen at his performance on Friday night:
“It’s a Friday night before a game so I understand it may be difficult for some players to get there. I think there’s going to be some potentially. As far as the audience is concerned, i’ve always wanted to be sort of a gateway drug to the opera community. I’ve always sung at concerts. It will be a mix of American standards, some Billy Joel and we’ll get into some of the big firework stuff in Opera. I like being that entry point because i think there’s so much in the Opera world and classical world that can be so standoffish and that’s not truly what Opera was meant to be… Couple of weeks ago I was here for one of the games and at the tailgates and someone came up to me and said ‘Hey, I can’t wait to go to your concert, it’s the first time i’ve ever been to Gammage.’ and that is really what makes me happy. It’s the kind of thing that’ll get kids in there, people in there, and I hope people bring their families. I did a concert in northern California years ago and a family came up to me afterwards and had a 16-year-old daughter that wanted to sing and be a singer and from that point on she wanted to explore Opera and sing opera, that’s what I loved more than anything else.”
On the instant success from the offense and reflection from it:
“You always cross your fingers since it could be a disaster at some point. I thought from a preparation standpoint and what I saw from both Trenton (Bourguet) and Emory (Jones), then the kids' excitement of opening up a little bit, getting the tight ends involved. I was hoping that it was working, I thought our mismatches in the game were advantageous for us. When you look back you ask ‘was there points left on the board?’ and I thought that from an execution standpoint we could’ve been better. On third down, we were at 50 percent, but I thought there were a couple of check-down plays that we took shots at instead. Overall, I thought the kids did really well and executed the plan that we put together in three days.”
On the team playing different in the second half:
“Going into the fourth quarter we were up three scores and you get into that game of ‘Do I help run the clock out?’ or “Do I keep on playing aggressive?’ so it’s a catch-22 because that can happen the wrong way too. I thought we needed to execute a few more plays, I didn’t think we were good on first-down runs. That was something I need to make sure I do better myself. We were six of 10 efficiently from a passing standpoint but we weren’t efficient enough on the long runs so we need to make sure that we’re deliberate on those and making sure it’s an emphasis for our offensive line to understand that we need four or five yards in that regards. Overall, I thought that the kids did pretty well. “
On Trenton’s play at quarterback against Colorado and if he’ll start against UCLA:
“First of all, I thought he did an incredible job getting the ball out quickly, making those decisions. That was the game plan, making sure that it wasn’t long progressions and we understand from a stature standpoint that we to do movements we had to do all of those things to give him a chance and he did really well. Trenton has earned the right to be the starter, and our kids are doing well with him and they trust him. It’s a bad spot for Emory, but I had a great conversation with Emory and he said ‘Coach I’ll be ready when the time comes.’ So it’s always hard on the kid, but Trenton will be our starter, I think he did everything right, he plays with that moxy and that little bit of ‘it’ to it. Our kids trust him.”
On how it enhances the offense:
“I think it gives the offense confidence that Trenton will be the guy moving forward, Emory is very competent and very willing and able to take care of this offense. Will there be different changes with both quarterbacks? I don’t think so since I think the offense will fit both of these guys. But going forward Trenton will be the guy that I think will give us the best shot to win.”
On what his philosophies learned from Linfield:
Coach Rutschman was a huge influence in coaching. I think they're at 67 consecutive years that they've have not had a losing season. And I've been fortunate to be in part of that. The way he took care of his players and his coaches is something that I try to do as well. And just the way he went about his business and he's still there coaching kickoff returns. You know, one of my coaches Ed Langsdorf is here and retired. too, and so just a great coaching staff, but the culture that they have there is something I absolutely, definitely want to instill here too. When you can go 67 years and not have a losing season, and that's consecutively, I think you're doing something right.”
On the performance and chemistry of the defensive line:
“Now we have some depth there. We still need to manufacture pressure. I mean, all of the Pac-12, there's probably only a couple of schools that are getting to the quarterback with just four (defensive linemen), we have to manufacture pressure. I think our D-line is getting back in full force, I think our linebackers are playing well, we just need to fundamentally make sure that we run five because in the run game we've been exploited a little bit. And now we're going to face a UCLA team that runs the ball really, really well. And then we have to, again, have an emphasis about the third downs, I showed them on there, and they're at 50%. That's not good enough. And so we’ve got to get off the field. A lot of it is situational football, from a knowledge standpoint we as coaches need to educate the kids, what do we need to do in order to be in situations where we understand the situation we need to get off the field? I don't know. If kids play today played a play more than the situational aspect of it. And from a coaching standpoint we need to make sure we teach them so they understand that more.”
On the status of offensive lineman LaDarius Henderson:
“He's running this morning. So we'll see how it goes this week, but he's questionable going into this week. So I haven't got with (ASU Director of Football Athletic Training) Gerry Garcia, because we have our 3:00 meeting in regards to any of the major injuries. But I know he was running out there. And so we'll see how that plays out.”
On the emergence of tight end Jalin Conyers:
“I think he's a huge weapon now moving forward, just because they called him on TV, that Ralphie running down the middle of the field. He was looking for contact. You can't be looking for contact. But he feels more comfortable, I think in space, blocking in space. With his great big mitts, he makes plays all over the field. I think he is a lot more comfortable with the schematics that we brought. And he is a mismatch for the smaller safeties. And then they got to tackle that guy. And they look like in Colorado, some guys shied away from that. And he's going full force. I didn't know he was that fast. And so I tease him. But he, again, he must have been watching Ralphie run through the field at halftime, but he had an incredible game.”
On the deficiencies of the red-zone defense:
“I think it's all factors. I think from an execution standpoint, for the kids knowledge to understand … they're going to throw a slant, the reason why the receivers a little lighter, because they’re coming to you. And then we are backing up from it. From a schematic standpoint, we need to make sure that we are putting our kids in the best situation to stop that too. I sat down with Coach Don (Henderson) and Coach Marvin (Lewis), and we need to fix that. And so they understand that it caught my attention too. I thought at one point going into the fourth quarter with three scores up, I want to be four or five. But I want to finish the game being five scores up and we need to get off the field. but yeah, we need to finish games, In a dominant fashion.”
On impact of not having LaDarius Henderson:
“He’s one of our better linemen and when you don’t have that you’re shuffling guys around. There is that chemistry but when you lose someone who means so much to the offensive line from a leadership standpoint, we miss him a lot. I also think it’s our depth too, so we’re just praying hopefully nobody goes down as well. As soon as he gets back, I think we will be full force and ready to go. It also gives the other guys some time to play other positions in case something happens again.”
On run defense and perspectives on what the challenges have been and how they’ll handle UCLA running back Zach Charbonnet:
“To me from a schematic standpoint on defense, everybody has a gap to fit. It’s all run fits. When somebody does not do his job and strikes or uses his hands, puts it on his head and slides the gap does those things then you put the guy next to you then you got two gaps open. So it’s all about execution on the kids and making sure they fill your gap and not doing something that you shouldn’t be doing trying to gain an advantage. In the game of football I think from a defensive standpoint, sometimes people get selfish and think I’m going to go make a play but that’s not your play to be made. You need to make sure you take care of your job, so going forward from an emphasis standpoint that’s what I’m telling the defense. Do your job, other people are making plays but the defense will get better. You don’t have to go make the play, just do your job and run fit and we’ll be solid. I think we’re solid from a fit standpoint, we’re not solid from making the tackle wrapping up and we’re not solid from everybody doing their job and everybody being on the same page. That’s what happens when you see us get hit for a couple of times but just overemphasizing that with our kids. ”
On what he takes from USC performance and defending their running back Travis Dye in comparison to UCLA:
“They’re two different types of running backs, Charbonnet is the power guy, Dye was more of a slippery, lateral guy and then burst guy. We need to make sure we hit him as soon as he gets to the line of scrimmage and not let him get going. So, again going back to those run fits, we better be solid on those and then we gotta wrap up and play team defense. When one guy has got him wrapped up, everybody got to be at the football, that’s our emphasis this week.”
On taking over play calls and coordinating with Glenn Thomas:
“Glenn does a great job, he handles the pass game with me and we go back information-wise from the top. We’re always talking, it’s always hard for someone to have to make that decision but he’s done great with our quarterbacks to Trenton in that conversation. We still sit down and game plan together and so it is a team effort on the offensive side. Maybe the play calling is a little different but the way we prepare is exactly the same and so he plays a huge part in that.”
Former ASU Quarterback Gus Farwell on his upcoming performance at ASU Gammage on Friday:
On being a Sun Devil and having the opportunity to perform:
“It’s incredible to come back here and be in front of you all in this room to be here with the incredible people at this university, to be welcomed back with such open arms and having the opportunity. I’ve been talking with my wife about singing, there’s always pressure in performance right? I just want to deliver, you just want to sing well and she keeps telling me enjoy every second of it. It’s an opportunity, who knows what happens in the future. I get to be on that stage again. I’m here, for a longtime throughout my career, I’ve always thought about what’s next, I’m overthinking about what’s next. I just want to concentrate on being here being present and after everything that happened in the pandemic and how I ended up here to begin with and to be there now in a special place with everybody together, you forget that it wasn’t that long ago that we were all separated.”
On comparing being on TV to a live music performance:
“Yes, it’s pretty funny really, it sorta hit me until I started to do it, and then i realized there’s the analytical side, understanding football side and then there’s the entertainment side. Everytime you turn on the television you want to see a good program, it’s not about the sport on the field, it’s also about all the other things going on and it sorta hit me and I said ‘Maybe i’m training for this all my life.’ Living in the two worlds of performance and been on plenty of stages and cameras. As a flashback I see all these cameras set up, I think back to the Rose Bowl when we went to the universal studios and coach said ‘hey there’s going to be a talent show tomorrow’ and I went out there the next day as any 19-year-old kid could, and went out and sang Ridi Pagliaccio at the talent show. That was the first time i’ve ever sang Opera in public. So the performance side, the football side it’s great to be able to live in both worlds and it’s an honor to be on the Pac-12 Network and to have that opporutnity as well. For all this to come out of the pandemic has been dubly strange. It’s something else.
On a crossover of audiences that could seen at his performance on Friday night:
“It’s a Friday night before a game so I understand it may be difficult for some players to get there. I think there’s going to be some potentially. As far as the audience is concerned, i’ve always wanted to be sort of a gateway drug to the opera community. I’ve always sung at concerts. It will be a mix of American standards, some Billy Joel and we’ll get into some of the big firework stuff in Opera. I like being that entry point because i think there’s so much in the Opera world and classical world that can be so standoffish and that’s not truly what Opera was meant to be… Couple of weeks ago I was here for one of the games and at the tailgates and someone came up to me and said ‘Hey, I can’t wait to go to your concert, it’s the first time i’ve ever been to Gammage.’ and that is really what makes me happy. It’s the kind of thing that’ll get kids in there, people in there, and I hope people bring their families. I did a concert in northern California years ago and a family came up to me afterwards and had a 16-year-old daughter that wanted to sing and be a singer and from that point on she wanted to explore Opera and sing opera, that’s what I loved more than anything else.”