It's official: Byrne announces football hire of Rich Rodriguez over Twitter
by K_Zim on Nov 21, 2011 4:48 PM PST
in Arizona Wildcats Football
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Annnnd there you have it. Greg Byrne announced the hiring of the new Arizona head football coach, Rich Rodriguez, and his family at around 5:38 MST on Monday night via Twitter of all things.
(Will Rich Rod become an Arizona man?)
That was fast. That was also typical of Greg Byrne's use of the social media landscape to announce a pretty big decision. Just an hour before he tweeted the photo, Pete Thamel of the New York Times tweeted that he confirmed Byrne to be in Michigan.
Looks like he was right.
What's this mean for Arizona? Fans appear to have mixed feelings about Rich Rod, his Michigan flop and how well his offensive system will work. But with a mobile quarterback in Matt Scott and a talented, young running back in Ka'Deem Carey, we're guessing here that there won't be a whole lot of transfers that will be put off by the hire.
Interestingly enough, Arizona quarterbacks coach, Frank Scelfo, was a recruiting coordinator and tight ends coach at Tulane from 1996-98. From 1997-98, Rodgriguez was the offensive coordinator at Tulane.
Will he keep around Scelfo, who's had a lot to do with the development of current quarterback Nick Foles and of course Scott?
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Great Hire
I am a die hard Michigan fan and I created an account on SBnation specifically to comment on this thread. You guys just got a HELL of a coach. Rich Rod, imo, learned a few things from Michigan. 1. The 3-3-5 defense probably won’t work well unless you have a DC who is used to running it. 2. Greg Robinson sucks. 3. Rich Rod has confirmation that he is at least among the top 3 offensive minds in the game (Malzahn, Chip Kelly, and Rodriguez – take your pick). Congrats. There is a large Michigan contingent that will be watching your games next fall and rooting you guys on, not that you will need it. Rodriguez is going to win.
Thanks for the imput
Definitely have heard mixed reaction among Arizona fans regarding the hire. Most are for it. He’s a big name, has proven himself to be a winner at West Virginia, and despite the Michigan stint, it can only be good experience for him as a coach.
Kevin Zimmerman
@offensivelyfoul
Sure
However, now that we have gone over what Rodriguez has learned, it’s time to go over what you guys should know, namely that this thing will take time. Rich Rod’s trajectory, whether it be Glenville State, Tulane, WVU, or Michigan is it basically takes 3 – 4 years to get humming. In John U. Bacon’s book “3 and Out” (basically a chronicle of how/why Rodriguez failed at Michigan), there is a side note about a time when Rodriguez attended some sort of coaches conference (IIRC) that was put on by Bowden. Bowden was telling him that you go through 4 phases when building a program: lose big, lose close, win close, and finally, win big. The essence of the story, although I don’t remember it exactly, was that you can expect about a season for each phase. Hopefully that isn’t the case with you guys, but keep your patience. I have no doubt that if Rodriguez was still at Michigan (and Greg Robinson never happened), you guys would right now be referring to Rich Rod as a pipe dream rather than reality.
It takes 3 or 4 years (minimum) to bring ANY team out of the dregs.
And every football fan should bear it in mind.
Arizona is down there with WSU and Colorado right now.
Anyone expecting them to suddenly compete for the Rose Bowl (or even the Peanut bowl) in 1 or 2 or even 3 years is stupid.
PATIENCE!
by ConfofChamps on Nov 21, 2011 9:18 PM PST up reply actions 2 recs
Rec'd
because you are both correct and reasonable. Give Rodriguez time and you will reap what Michigan did not.
by Meager Reader on Nov 21, 2011 10:46 PM PST up reply actions
Looks like you guys
will be seeing a lot more of me on this blog.
As A Pac12 Fan, I'm Excited;
I think this is a terrific hire for AZ. While I was pulling for Leach, I don’t think there’s a better offensive mind with head coaching experience that AZ could have hired.
Congrats to Byrne for having the guts to fire Stoops midseason and then get the job filled before the season ends. Now there’s time to properly recruit with a coach (and soon his staff) in place.
Even better, RichRod has a lot to prove. IMHO, he got a raw deal at Michigan. Today’s 9-2 Michigan team is made up of Rodriguez’s players. He should have had 1 more season to try to prove himself. It was not to be. Now, AZ has a hungry coach with everything to prove and the PAC 12 has (hopefully) another quality team in the works which is better for everybody.
Sorry AZ, you’ll not beat Oregon – no matter who is working the sidelines in Tucson.
BUT, hopefully you beat the living shit out of Washington, hammer USC, Dominate Cal and Furd and crush ASU!!!
I hope this turns out to be a red – letter day in UofA history!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Offensively, this is a hire that can work out well.
The question will be how the defense progresses, or if it does. Who Rich Rod puts in charge of the defense, and how much emphasis is even put on that side of the ball, could be the biggest keys to the whole thing.
Andy Wooldridge, andy_wooldridge@yahoo.com
BuildingTheDam.Com
Go Beavs!
Good point.
A quality D coordinator and ’Zona could be contending in that weak Pac12 South.
by ConfofChamps on Nov 22, 2011 10:52 AM PST up reply actions
YES!!!!
I’m excited, can’t wait to re-new my season tickets! I’ve been waiting for Byrne to pull the trigger on Stoops. He did a respectable job getting UA out from a hole Mac put us in, but he failed to get the star power and peeked at mediocre. I hope RR finds a good DC which will make or break this new era of Wildcat football. I’m for RR offering the job to Duane Akina and bring some Desert Swarm pride back to our defense!
Did you see Stoops on ESPN?
Right after RichRod was announced, Stoops was on the expert panel on ESPN talking about the hire. He joked that he was unemployed when they were talking about who RichRod would fill his staff with.
Kevin Zimmerman
@offensivelyfoul
I did not.
I get most of my sports news online since I’m in Afghan. Highly unlikely Stoops would be considered, but it would be very interesting. Whoever is hired I hope they can match RR’s offensive mind. Needs to be someone that will return a hard nose D back to Tucson.
Good Hire
I can pretty much garauntee the following:
You will suck next year.
You will get progressively better each season.
You will have a metally and phyically tough football team.
Your offense will become one of the most exciting in football.
You will become a consistent winner.
Rich will begin flirting with other schools.
The last is what I've heard a lot of
RichRod said this is his last job. Even if he bounces, he can hopefully build it into a more credible program. I think that’s the compromise fans must make in their minds.
Kevin Zimmerman
@offensivelyfoul
No way Rodriguez leaves if he starts winning big
His interviews where he admits he shouldn’t have ever left West Virginia because he had a good thing going there (even if the WVU brass wasn’t cooperating with him), and the fact that his family wants to stop moving are indicators that this is his last stop. I think his kids like Arizona because it’s a fun place, and Mrs. Rodriguez likes it because it’s not effing cold.
by Meager Reader on Nov 23, 2011 1:42 AM PST up reply actions
Congrats on a great hire!
I’m a Michigan fan that is now a Wildcats fan!
As I posted on another thread you got a great coach and a great man. He was fighting an uphill battle at Michigan before he ever coached a game as documented in the book Three and Out by John U Bacon. Hard to succeed when you have people inside the program working against you.
If given time, he will succeed and I will be following Arizona football very intently from here on and I know a lot of Michigan fans that love Rich who feel exactly as I do.
Arizona just gained a lot of fans from Southeast Michigan!
Bear Down!!
dogs and cats
I’m liking the support from all you Michigan fans. I thought dogs and cats didn’t get along, hahah. Welcome!!! In turn I will be wishing your Wolverines success as well. I liked watching Denard Robinson, he was an awesome athlete. I can’t wait to see the recruits RR will bring to Tucson.
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