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Arizona head coach Brent Brennan's dad, Steve Brennan, played at San Jose State in the late 1960s and the Spartans' spring game was the battle for steaks.Ìý

The team would split up evenly and the winning team celebrated with steaks, while the losing team ate hot dogs and beans, "so there's a little something in the spring game," Brennan said.Ìý

Nowadays, "everyone is aware that the spring game has become something different," said the Arizona head coach.

At Arizona's spring showcase Saturday night at Casino Del Sol Stadium, the Wildcats held a few team periods, but the Wildcats' final practice of the spring was a truncated version of the previous 14 practices mixed with fun drills, like players jumping over pads and catching passes while diving into pads.Ìý

There were moments where Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita was pressured, but the defense has a strict rule: "Nobody comes close, nobody reaches, nobody does anything that's going to jeopardize (quarterback) Noah Fifita from being healthy in the fall," said defensive coordinator Danny Gonzales.Ìý

"I think the way the numbers are now and the investment we have in the people on the field, it's something we have to be smart about it," Brennan said. "It's more of an NFL thought process than historical, traditional college football." 

Added Brennan: "Why would we not learn from the people in the world who are the best at this in the National Football League? Why would we not follow their example now that we have this financial investment in these young people?

"With that being said, these are 18- to 23-year-old young men and they're not these grown-ups that are playing in the National Football League. There's a certain level of professionalism, maturity and accrued reps by those guys in the National Football League, where when you go and watch them practice, they're absolutely incredible at staying on their feet and taking care of each other, but also getting the necessary work done to be ready to play." 

The cautious approach is why Arizona wore shells (shoulder pads and helmet) for the entirety of the spring. The Wildcats wore full pads and pants for the spring showcase, with the defense in all-red uniforms and the offense in all-blue uniforms — quarterbacks in all-white.

Whether it's full pads or shells, Arizona's approach is the same.Ìý

"When we have shells on, we're in full pads," Brennan said. "The pants? Have you ever seen a thigh pad? It's like a saltine cracker. It's not stopping a quad bruise. We feel like we're able to get the required physicality. We've had a great spring that way. We've gone after each other every single day.

"The physicality part of it has been great. Whether or not we have thigh pads or those little knee pads in, I don't know if that really (makes a difference). The players don't think of it that way either. ... We've been playing a ton of football and that's been really good." 

The showcase is designed for the Arizona players to cap their spring season on a healthy note, and allow fans to interact with the team and be entertained. The fan area with the on-field beer garden, kids zone and stage for reggae artist Spawnbreezie's concert was in the red zone and end zone on the south side of the field.Ìý  

Brennan said the spring showcase was "an awesome day for the city of Tucson."

Here are notes and observations from Saturday night at Casino Del Sol Stadium: 

– Arizona wide receiver Giovanni Richardson dazzled with a couple of touchdowns, albeit the first one likely would've been a sack for Georgetown transfer linebacker Cooper Blomstrom. Fifita launched it to the right corner of the end zone and Richardson high-pointed the touchdown grab over UConn transfer defensive back Lee Molette III. Richardson had a wide-open touchdown later in the showcase. Richardson and wide receivers Tre Spivey and Chris Hunter and tight end Cole Rusk were among the top performers in the pass game.Ìý 

– Arizona defensive lineman Mays Pese had a sack, as did USC transfer defensive back Matai Tagoa'i on a safety blitz. Wyoming transfer cornerback Tyrese Boss also had a sack. Charlotte cornerback transfer Dwight Bootle and former safety Coleman Patmon, who's now playing linebacker, combined for a tackle for loss. Howard transfer cornerback Zuri Watson had a pass breakup.Ìý

– Arizona's starting defense was Pese and freshmen Kaisi Lafitaga and Prince Williams, with Blomstrom and seniors Chase Kennedy and Taye Brown at linebacker, and Watson, Molette, redshirt sophomore Quinn Olson, redshirt junior Gavin Hunter and Boss.Ìý

– Tucson native and walk-on running back Anthony Wilhite had a first-down run of 10-15 yards.Ìý

– Over 250 UA football alumni were in Tucson for the spring showcase, "which is awesome and speaks to the unique brotherhood of Arizona football," Brennan said. Former Wildcats Brooks Reed and Willie Tuitama, among many others, stood on the sideline near the north side of the stadium.Ìý

– Arizona basketball star Koa Peat, who recently declared for the NBA Draft, attended the spring showcase and took photos and signed autographs while sitting front row in the Zona Zoo.

– Tucson native and former Santa Rita basketball star Terrell Stoglin was on the sidelines for the spring showcase. Former MLB standout and Tucson Sidewinder Junior Spivey attended to support his son, Tre, who's been one of the Wildcats' top offensive players this spring.Ìý

– Arizona basketball forward Mabil Mawut was at Casino Del Sol Stadium collecting basketball shoes for his charity, which is raising shoes and basketball equipment for South Sudanese children. If you'd like to help with Mawut's charity, visit .Ìý