During a third-quarter TV timeout, leading 35-0, Rich Rodriguez and quarterback Matt Scott had an extended, almost animated conversation standing near Arizona's No. 1 offensive platoon.
I trained the binoculars on the coach, trying desperately to read his lips, but like all coaches in the 21st century, he covered his mouth with the print-out of his game plan. He still had his game face on with six minutes left in the third period.
All I could see was Scott nodding again and again. Here's what he probably said:
"No sir, I won't run with the ball again tonight, even if they're playing a 1-1-9 alignment.
"And, no sir, I won't throw another block the way I did in the first half to spring Ka'Deem Carey open for a long run.
"And, trust me, coach, if I see a blitz coming, I'll throw it onto Sixth Street and call it a day."
Scott threw five consecutive completions, Arizona scored with ridiculous ease, leading 42-0, and then Scott, unscathed, retreated to the sidelines. He removed his helmet, put on some headphones and chatted with quarterbacks coach Rod Smith.
It was a quick conversation. Scott transferred the headphones to backup quarterback B.J. Denker, put on a baseball cap and with that, Arizona's remarkably upbeat preseason came to an end.
No one planned for Arizona to be unbeaten after three games, and fewer could have expected it. But when the Wildcats play the mighty Oregon Ducks on ESPN on Saturday night, you cannot say they are unprepared.
"Everybody's going to be talking about it," Rodriguez said late Saturday night. "It'll be a national stage."
The UA's 56-0 victory over South Carolina State was another Ducks-like display of offensive pyrotechnics. Do you realize that Scott threw for 995 yards in three games, rushed for 190 more, and accounted for nine touchdowns?
He is making you forget that Nick guy quickly. What was it, Foles?
As they broke training camp last month, the Wildcats appeared more vulnerable than all but perhaps Pac-12 partners Colorado and Washington State, but much of that has changed as Scott emerges as a franchise quarterback.
Arizona gained 1,814 yards and averaged 46.3 points in victories over Toledo, Oklahoma State and South Carolina State. (The Ducks have gained 1,789 yards, averaging 54 points in three games.) No, the UA's not a defensive juggernaut, not by a mile - and there isn't a light touch on the schedule until Colorado arrives at Arizona Stadium on Nov. 10 - but RichRod's first Arizona team, blessed by Scott's versatility and sharpness, has the look of a club that could outscore five or six of its remaining opponents.
If that's wildly optimistic, a bit unwarranted, let me know.
The last time Arizona had a quarterback this skilled was the injury-free Keith Smith in 1998.
Let me add this small disclaimer: South Carolina State was probably the least-skilled opponent to play at Arizona Stadium since 1961. Worse than the 1-10 Idaho team of 2008 that Arizona beat 70-0? Yes. Not as capable as the 2-9 Pacific team that lost here 55-7 in 1982? True.
In 1961, Hardin-Simmons arrived at Arizona Stadium (Game 3 on the schedule) on a 14-game losing streak that would grow to 0-27. The Wildcats won that game 53-7 and a week later upset the Ducks 15-6 in Oregon in what would be, to that time, the best season in school history, 8-1-1.
No one is suggesting this team has that type of up-side, but by beating the Bulldogs with such efficiency Saturday, you can say that Rodriguez's club didn't waste an opportunity to improve.
Rodriguez was nonetheless pleased that his team kept its foot on the gas.
"You want your defense to dominate; hold them to less than 10 first downs, and they did," he said. "We take every small victory we can."
Arizona scheduled South Carolina State for the simplest of reasons: Mike Stoops asked his boss, Greg Byrne, for some leniency, the old I'm-up-against-it routine, a man's last request before heading to the coaching gallows.
Next year's opening schedule isn't that attractive either. The Wildcats open at home against NAU, travel to UNLV and return home to play Texas-San Antonio. It will serve to break in Scott's replacement the way South Carolina State served as fodder for Rodriguez's first Arizona homestand.
In 1952, Arizona scored a school record 119 points in back-to-back games, beating Hawaii 57-7 and New Mexico State 62-12. RichRod's first UA team scored 115 in successive weeks, 59 against Oklahoma State and 56 Saturday night. Had it wanted to, it could've scored another 14 or even 21 against the Carolinians.
But who's counting?
What counts now is that the Wildcats can, at minimum, go 5-4 in the conference season, add to a dismal home attendance that averaged just 46,063 in the three-game homestand, and keep Scott healthy until December.
If he can start all 12 games, all of those empty seats at Arizona Stadium should be full until Thanksgiving.
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