As the Oregon Ducks prepare for the Kansas State Wildcats in Thursday's Fiesta Bowl, Duck defensive coordinator Nick Aliotti met with the media to answer their questions about the upcoming game.

Q. How has practice been so far? Is the team seeing any rust at all?

Coach Aliotti: There was maybe a little rust on day one. You forget there's an hour difference, just that little bit of hour difference, so they're getting up a little bit earlier and stuff.

I think as the week has gone on, the rust is coming off. Felt really good about the way we've practiced and paid attention to everything we need to do. It's tough, a lot of times you go on a road trip, eight or nine days in a hotel. It's not an excuse.

Bottom line is I feel good about the way we've practiced and paid attention to meetings. It's been smooth up to this time, knock on wood.

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