Arizona Football Head Coach Rich Rodriguez can be damn funny one minute and just as serious the next.
We thought it would be perfect for fans to experience Arizona Football Head Coach Rich Rodriguez the way we have come to know this coach.
Our final installation of Pac-12 media days will be a compilation of highlights from all teams coaches and players. But first, let’s take a little time to get to know Coach Rod and his thoughts on his job, past, present and future.
More from Zona Zealots
- Arizona Football begins Conference play against Stanford
- Arizona Football starts slow but runs away from UTEP
- How Wildcats Fans Can Claim $200 INSTANT Bonus at BetMGM Betting $10 Right Now
- Costly Mistakes doom Arizona Football in loss to Mississippi State
- Arizona Basketball likely to schedule Florida Atlantic for 2023
Most Wildcats fans don’t get a chance to sit and hang out with Arizona Football Head Coach Rich Rodriguez. He’s a hoot, believe me. Last year, he had a lot more fun with the questioning though. He had just come off a big New Mexico Bowl win.
After Michael Lev had got through the hard questions, hot seat type questions, Coach Rod started to loosen up a bit. This is the Rich I really enjoy. It was hard at times to not laugh out loud, but In The Front Row Producer Akili Tate, a former NCAA receiver himself, put together these highlights from our lunch time conversations with the Arizona Coach.
Rodriguez also spoke about how he found out about 26-year-old freshman quarterback Donovan Tate. Bringing in Donovan Tate adds maturity to the locker room, competition and it’s going to get interesting. It seemed to me that his top two QB’s are still Brandon Dawkins and Khalil Tate, but if nothing else, he has SEVEN quarterbacks this season. And he assured me he will be using the Tight Ends more this season, especially Trevor Wood, and he mentioned Jamie Nunley (redshirt freshman).
Rich Rod had fun talking about his son Rhett Rodriguez and how their relationship works now that they have two different relationships, father/son, and coach/player. Rhett was the topic of most of the non-Arizona media folks, they were very curious about how Rodriguez felt about having his son on the team this season According to dad, the book is out if Rhett is living the life or not but dad will find out after preseason is over.
Related Story: Get to know Rhett Rodriguez, You'll be Impressed
For those of you who haven’t kicked it with the Arizona Head Coach, we hope you got to know him better. Please do take note; the lunch is relaxed, it is supposed to be and usually is not taped, so we ask that you don’t judge coaches seriousness about winning based on having a little fun at lunch although some complicated subjects were brought up.
If you would rather listen to the official interview stuff, check out the video on Jacob Alsadek’s post.
Related Story: Jacob Alsadek is ecstatic about his running backs
“I want to beat you at everything! It’s gotta bother our players more when we don’t have success when we lose it’s gotta be awful.” Rich Rodriguez
Rich also spoke to us about recruiting more in Texas and Florida, and he hired for just that reason. He held a Polynesian camp this summer. He loved the results and wants to double the camp size next summer, and he feels Arizona must be successful in this space.
Rich talked about adding a greater sense of urgency this season than the last year and a half; he needs everyone who is part of the program to feel the same sense of urgency he does. “I can’t be happy and losin’,” said Rodriguez, “I want to beat you at everything! It’s gotta bother our players more when we don’t have success, when we lose it’s gotta be awful.”
Just remember how Coach Rods team ended the season. Yes, with a Territorial Cup win! Also, don’t forget that the team did not attempt a pass in the second half. Rodriguez told us he thought that it was because they never had to get to a third down, so no need to pass. The huddle may have thrown ASWHO as well, the players loved it, so Rich told us he may have more huddling next season.
https://twitter.com/AZcruzin/status/894406735045120000
Must Read: More about Arizona Football
“Not that I need to be a prick, I mean I kinda half am, but I have to portray that urgency,” quipped Rodriguez. The urgency to win and winning is the theme of this season. So far, it looks like the team has gotten the message.