No coach was more fun to interview, quotable or more engaging in yesterday’s Pac-12 Media day in Burbank California on the Warner Bros lot than our own Arizona Head Football Coach Rich Rodriguez. Safety Will Parks and WR David Richards added to the fun.
Coach Rich Rodriguez seemed in his element yesterday as the focus turned to Arizona Football. It all started the day before when ASU Coach Todd Graham and Coach Rich Rod were showcased on Sports Center discussing the Territorial cup and rivalry between the two schools. Rich Rod couldn’t hold back his giddiness when discussing that he was the current owner of the trophy, can you blame him?
By far the most hilarious part of his focus interview with Pac-12 media was when he was describing Washington State Head Coach Leach and an experienced they shared in Mexico while at a lagoon.
ICYMI: @CoachRodAZ just recalled the time he watched @Coach_Leach surface from a lagoon. No Joke. #Pac12fb http://t.co/KlKxEZjRVG
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) July 31, 2015
Coach Leach’s recollection:
.@Coach_Leach's rebuttal to @CoachRodAZ's speedo story. We can't make this stuff up.
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) July 31, 2015
WATCH: http://t.co/YfMNDWLu5w http://t.co/nlYK9ViiZ1
Javier Morales of AllSportsTucson.com caught a classic one-liner from Arizona’s head football coach.:
Rich Rod seeing Mike Leach in Speedo:"Image I can't get out of mind. I got nightmares to this day. Might've been polka dot Speedos at that."
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) July 31, 2015
Following are excerpts from Coach Rich Rodriguez’s opening remarks before taking questions from the pool of reporters:
"“Just a couple brief remarks. Did you all know it was the hundredth anniversary of the Pac-12? Just making sure. It’s exciting.” He followed with, “Let’s see. I’ve got two outstanding players here. David Richards, senior wide receiver, and Will Parks, senior safety. That’s good. Got some good players returning. Got a quarterback coming back, and that’s a good thing. I said this, am I excited to be here? I’d rather be practicing, watching film, golfing or at the lake, but I appreciate you all coming. That’s the truth."
In response to the Coaches Poll on which team would win the Pac-12 South, Arizona coming in fourth:
"“Good, that’s a good sign. Somebody told me, maybe you’ll know. There was some poll, I don’t know, some expert poll that gave us a 2% chance, is that what it was? Hey, it’s like that dumb and dumber. What are the chances of me, a guy like me getting with a girl like you, like one in a hundred? One in a million? More like one in a million. So you’re telling me there is a chance. So 2% is better than one in a million, right?"
The trick to getting recruits to commit to the University of Arizona?
"“Once we’ve got them on campus, we get a lot of them. So just getting them to visit. You don’t pass through Tucson. That’s unfortunate because we’ve got a great place.”"
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His comments on the addition of an eighth official on the field:
"“There is one more guy to yell at that won’t listen to you. I quit yelling at officials anyway because one, they’re usually right, and two, they can’t hear you anyway because of the crowd noise, so it’s pointless to do that.”"
At ZonaZealots we have discussed the last two losses for the Arizona Football team at he end of the season at nauseam. We aren’t the only sports media still thinking about it, Coach Rich Rod answered two questions on the subject.
"Q. On those two last losses, did those factor into the season?COACH RODRIGUEZ: Did you see the movie Lion King? There is a point in the movie where the monkey hits the lion over the head. He said, what did do you that for? And the monkey says it, doesn’t matter. It’s in the past.Q. I’ve never heard that.COACH RODRIGUEZ: You’ve never heard that? What was your question again? Oh, the last two losses. I was in a good mood. Now I’m pissed."
ZonaZealots caught some of his one liners if you missed it, these came from an interview with the Pac-12 media team:
You are looking at the Pac-12 Coach of the Year folks!
— ZonaZealotsFS (@ZonaZealots) July 31, 2015
"2% chance to win, sounds like a good t-shirt" - Rich Rod pic.twitter.com/U0vTHlePMK
On Scooby, "He still has a chip on his shoulder..he embodies everything you want in a college football player" pic.twitter.com/t5VYSrcVrO
— ZonaZealotsFS (@ZonaZealots) July 31, 2015
"We'll get enough good players to compete for a championship" on five-star players "hey we'll take 'em" pic.twitter.com/ewQrPQEUsT
— ZonaZealotsFS (@ZonaZealots) July 31, 2015
As did other fans, reporters and sites.
Rich Rod on relationship with Todd Graham: "We're not going to twitter/Instagram each other or anything." #BearDown Coach!
— AZ Wildcat Country (@Wildcat_Country) July 29, 2015
"We do this once a year ... We're not vacationing together." -Todd Graham pic.twitter.com/7c9JKDj0ho
— ABC15 Sports (@abc15sports) July 29, 2015
"I don't like to coach in the cold. Couple of places I coached in, we had two seasons: winter & August." - Rich Rod
— Michael Castillo (@MichaelCastFS) July 31, 2015
Rich Rod on why more QBs are coming from the West: “You ever get on the 405? There’s just a lot of folks."
— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) July 31, 2015
Will Parks will be one of most quotable #ArizonaWildcats this year. Says he listens to Marvin Gaye/Smokey Robinson before games.
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) July 31, 2015
RichRod: "I have a mortgage, I'm not letting someone (Anu) who grew up watching SpongeBob call plays." Best line so far at these media days
— Pacific Talks (@PacificTalks) July 31, 2015
Coach Rich Rod’s players got in on the action. Will Parks and David Richards were asked about their experiences with their coach off the field, his personality, etc. Their reaction was priceless. They also divulged which Wide Receiver always wants the ball, their answer was “Samajie Grant, he comes off the field and he always says he was open.”
These players are getting to know their coach more and are enjoying him off the field “I love this dude!” Will Parks pic.twitter.com/R4X9eXz01L
— ZonaZealotsFS (@ZonaZealots) July 31, 2015
And then there was the ride home, and that is some ride.
It's been good talking for 2 days about the work being put in but now it's time to let the pads do the talking.. #NL pic.twitter.com/Lam1hFDDA2
— William (@PhillyWill11) August 1, 2015
Last but not least, Will is going to bring Rondae’s Shimmy to football…our last tweet is courtesy of the newest member of the New Jersey Nets, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson.
https://twitter.com/RondaeHJ24/status/627293564846735361
Only 33 days left until Arizona Football Wildcats fans!