Francis Mauigoa, the young and promising offensive lineman, shared his thoughts on his performance throughout his freshman season, the team's recent win over Clemson, and what lies ahead.
When asked about his personal progress as a freshman starter, Mauigoa confidently expressed, "I'm still improving,there’s no other way to put it" attributing much of his growth to his fellow offensive linemen - Jalen Rivers, Matt Lee, Anez Cooper and Javion Cohen. He particularly highlighted the teachings of Coach Mirabal, emphasizing how he's been "showing us what to do, how to do it, and why we do it."
Mauigoa and his teammates managed to snap a long-standing losing streak against Clemson, a victory that was much-needed after their previous stretch. Reflecting on that, Mauigoa said, "Nobody wants to lose, but at the end of the day, it is what it is." He emphasized the need for continuous improvement, citing areas of focus like turnovers and penalties. But when it comes to those past two losses, Mauigoa's mindset is clear: "We just got to move on from it. We can look back at it after the season."
When the conversation turned to Brashard Smith's notable performance against Clemson, Mauigoa didn't hold back his admiration. Describing Smith as "very fast and very explosive off the ball," he commended Smith's ability to "speed up and make other guys miss him and take it downfield."
Perhaps the most exciting revelation was Mauigoa's reaction to the possibility of qualifying for a bowl if they win their next game. "I've always wanted to play in a bowl game," Mauigoa admitted, though he hadn't been aware of the qualification details. "Now to think of it, it's very exciting," he added, showing excitement for the opportunity.
Looking forward to the next matchup against Virginia, Mauigoa stressed the importance of preparation. Describing Virginia as a "hardworking defense," he highlighted their aggressive playstyle and recent win over UNC. "We take every opponent seriously," he stated, adding a special note about Virginia's formidable defensive line, which he described as "aggressive" and "explosive off the ball."
