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Rich Rodriguez didn't talk to Anu Solomon for two weeks after Fiesta Bowl

Boise State defensive lineman Kamalei Correa (8) tackles Arizona quarterback Anu Solomon (12) during the final seconds during the second half of the Fiesta Bowl. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Boise State defensive lineman Kamalei Correa (8) tackles Arizona quarterback Anu Solomon (12) during the final seconds during the second half of the Fiesta Bowl. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Arizona head coach Rich Rodriguez was so mad after his team’s loss to Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl that he didn’t talk to quarterback Anu Solomon for two weeks.

The Wildcats were down 38-30 and facing a third-and-goal with no timeouts in the waning moments of the game when Solomon, a freshman, inexplicably took a sack instead of throwing the ball away. Instead of giving his team another chance to tie the game on fourth down, Solomon was unable to get another play off as time expired.

Solomon threw for 335 yards and a touchdown in the game, but he completed only 28-of-49 passes and threw two interceptions in the loss. The loss was a tough one to get over for Solomon.

“It hurt the next couple weeks,” Solomon said per The Daily Wildcat. “I say it to myself, ‘Anu, you looked sloppy at times.’ Watching those films, watching those sloppy mistakes I made, I was so disappointed in myself.”

With spring practice already underway and the ankle injury that bothered him late in the season fully healed, the Fiesta Bowl loss is in the rearview mirror for Solomon. Still, Rodriguez, back on speaking terms with his quarterback, says Solomon has plenty to work on.

“He’s a little big bigger and obviously he’s got a little bit more confidence in him now, which is good,” Rodriguez said. “It’s a big spring for him, too, because he knows there’s a lot of things he can work on to get better.”

Solomon says he’s faster and stronger than he was last year, but still is working on his “pocket presence, accuracy and leadership.”

Solomon threw for 3,793 yards and 28 touchdowns while running for 552 yards and two additional scores as a redshirt freshman. A faster and stronger version of him has to strike a bit of fear in the hearts of defensive coordinators across the Pac-12.

For more Arizona news, visit GOAZCats.com.

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Sam Cooper is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!