Joseph Perkins, Safety

Paul Vassallo and Arizona's other linebackers will be forced to cover receivers down field when they face the Cowboys Wednesday night in San Antonio.

On Oklahoma State having more fans in attendance and how the defense plans to adjust to the crowd noise inside the Alamodome:
Really, when you play at Oregon, I don’t think it gets any louder than that. That place rocks all the time. Being indoors it should be a fun experience. The crowd noise, we actually love it so we should be fine.

On leaving the Arizona football program as a senior:
We’re just trying to keep the mindset right for the freshmen now. We all know this will probably be our last game for me. The others, they’re gonna go to the (NFL). But we wanna go ahead and keep this going from now on, instill it in the freshman and make it look like they’re privileged to go to a bowl game. When we first got here the Las Vegas Bowl was something totally new for us so we’re trying to get the freshmen to know that it doesn’t come easy. It’s a fight to get bowl eligible.

Paul Vassallo, Linebacker

On whether Oklahoma State’s offense resembles any Pac 10 offenses:
Besides our team, I think a little bit of (Arizona State). They like to use the screen game and the quick pass game to get their offense going. We were able to have some success at getting the quarterback at ASU so hopefully that continues.

On coming out of high school without a college scholarship:
I did go to a small private high school, I think my graduating class was right around 120. Talking to the guys, we kind of just make fun of each other about it, especially me, one of our linebackers, R.J. Young, I think he went to a school of 4 or 5,000 people, I had 500 in mine, I think the size may have had something to do with it, I'm not really sure why, but I definitely was a non-scholarship guy coming out of high school.

On choosing Arizona over Iowa State after junior college:
I don't think I could have asked for anything more, Iowa State, the weather was a lot like home, the snow and everything, so I kind of wanted to stay away from that, when i found out the three linebackers were all graduating, I definitely was intrigued by that.

On the success he's had this year:
I expect success from myself, but as to what extent, no, I couldn't really tell you i expected this and that, but i always have high expectations for myself.

On receiving a yelling from Coach Mike Stoops:
I think it's all the same, regardless of whatever coach is in your face, you just want to make sure you get it right the next time so you don't have the same conversation over again.