It is official: RR to Zona
Per the Intrawebnets and the Twitter-sphere-verse:
November 21st, 2011 at 8:38 PM ^
to "bear down (https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Bear_Down )".
November 21st, 2011 at 8:39 PM ^
Nice guy. Truly wish him the best.
November 21st, 2011 at 8:40 PM ^
Wow, congrats to Coach Rod and Arizona!
Like someone else said above, I now have a second team to follow.
Anyone know of any good Arizona football blogs?
November 21st, 2011 at 8:41 PM ^
It'll be fun to watch RR take on Chip Kelly. Time to put my money where my mouth is.... Arizona is now my 2nd fav team.
November 21st, 2011 at 8:42 PM ^
Has he learned anything yet about forming a defensive staff? Time will tell. If he brings Gibson over, that will not be a good sign.
I wouldn't be surprised if Barwis eventually ends up there.
November 21st, 2011 at 9:02 PM ^
HARD EDGE
November 21st, 2011 at 9:38 PM ^
Barwis isn't going anywhere. I just talked to him the other day and he is very happy in the area. He is opening more gyms and having great success here in Michigan. I am hoping he opens a gym in GR. I have some buddies who would love to get down on some Bariws Beach.
November 21st, 2011 at 9:40 PM ^
He tweeted that he is indeed opening a gym in GR a while ago. I think it opens in February.
November 21st, 2011 at 9:49 PM ^
Well that just made my day. February is puking time.
November 22nd, 2011 at 9:23 AM ^
I feel like Hallmark just got a new idea for Valentine's Day!
November 21st, 2011 at 9:54 PM ^
I live in GR and I can tell you one thing... he would make a killing here. I would be there for sure and I have several buddies in their early to mid thirties that would pony up the cash to train with him. If he can make Bacon (John U.) lean, he can turn the west side of Michigan into a HARD EDGE!
November 21st, 2011 at 8:47 PM ^
Just get yourself a DC coach, and you'll be just fine
And just to review, GERG is not a DC. He's a scourge on any football team that is made up of people who don't make millions of dollars to make you look good.
November 21st, 2011 at 8:51 PM ^
"He's a scourge on any football team that is made up of people who don't make millions of dollars to make you look good."
He was also a scourge on some teams made up of people who DID make millions of dollars to make him look good. Just talk to any Kansas City Chiefs fan (like my neighbor) and they'll fill your ears for an hour about how awful his defenses were in KC.
Still shaking my head over RR's decision there.
November 21st, 2011 at 9:34 PM ^
No worries, they don't play defense in the Pac-12.
November 21st, 2011 at 8:48 PM ^
Tell Barwis to start packing the wolves for the trip out west.
November 21st, 2011 at 8:55 PM ^
I am happy for Rich. I hope he has much success at Arizona. Wrong fit for Michigan, but great coach and person. I am very happy we have Coach Hoke, almost brings a tear to my eye when I see him on the sidlines, perfect fit for Michigan.
November 21st, 2011 at 9:09 PM ^
Ok, now I know who my second favorite team is not....
November 21st, 2011 at 9:10 PM ^
Best of luck Rich Rodriguez...
...but keep away from Chuck Heater the DC at Temple..k...
November 21st, 2011 at 9:10 PM ^
.... look at that smile; it's great to see him happy...
And to think some on this board last week said that Tulane was the best he could do!
He will put some real offense into the Pac 12; Stanford is about to trend toward the mean and Oregon should go on probation soon.
And right now, on the Arizona Wildcats athletics website, there is a great picture of RichRod, announcing the news conference tomorrow. Here it is, with a slight annotation:
November 21st, 2011 at 9:12 PM ^
As an Arizona student and close (an underestimate) follower of Michigan football, I am ecstatic about this hire.
JIZZZED
IN
MY
PANTS
November 21st, 2011 at 9:28 PM ^
peanut butter jelly time in Arizona. God bless 'em.
November 21st, 2011 at 9:35 PM ^
It always is in the beginning.
November 21st, 2011 at 9:38 PM ^
Most of us were pretty unsatisfied with the Hoke hire initially.
November 21st, 2011 at 9:42 PM ^
A vocal minority on this blog were dissatisfied with the hoke hire. Most alum were ecstatic, including many former players.
November 22nd, 2011 at 7:04 AM ^
to Ohio gets done, and the NCAA goes all toothless or wrist slappy on final sanctions, how hard will it be for Hoke to recruit versus say a Harbaugh or Miles, or another well known coach?
Given the bumper crop of recruits (which was a known factor) and the disarray at Ohio (which was not known at the time of Hoke's hire) the sledding has been a little easier this year. Hopefully this is enough of a jumpstart to get them established. Hopefully the NCAA lands USC like sanctions on them and / or Meyer decides to stay on the bench. Otherwise the initial gamble of hiring Brady-who? may be a competitive problem on the recruiting trail (especially given how tough our road schedule is next year).
November 22nd, 2011 at 1:24 AM ^
Can you provide us with a good blog for AU football? Congrats on your new coach. Hope he kicks ass in the PAC 12.
November 21st, 2011 at 9:35 PM ^
but RR's first game with UA will be against Toledo.
I kid you not.
November 21st, 2011 at 9:43 PM ^
with second chances. Best of luck in that first game and getting a jump on Recruiting.
November 21st, 2011 at 9:48 PM ^
Then again, he won't have Sheridan or Threet under center ... that's got to count for something.
November 21st, 2011 at 9:42 PM ^
Everybody hide your recruits..its that guy in the wizard hat..hes back
Add his snake oil to the list of things to bring
November 21st, 2011 at 9:43 PM ^
I liked Rich Rod alot and wish him lots of luck in Arizona...Thanks to him we have the a great group of kids who are kicking butt on Saturday... He deserves some credit for Michigan's success....He will always be a Michigan Man in my eyes. Just get a good defense and you'll be OK.
November 21st, 2011 at 9:43 PM ^
Here's to many years of beating USC. Best of luck.
November 21st, 2011 at 9:45 PM ^
I'm glad Rich Rodriguez is back coaching at a BCS school. However, I wish he would have waited a bit longer and surveyed some of the other potential opennings. I can't imagine that the North Carolina job won't be available at the end of the year, along with Arizona State (a better job than UofA - but I'll get there in a moment), Penn State (even with the whole mess still has a ton in place), and others with the possibility of being open such as NC State, UCLA, and I still can't say for sure that UGA wont' do something all SEC and fire Richt if they don't win the SEC championship (yes even if that means they have to beat a #1 ranked team - it's the SEC, that's how they do things).
Tucson is not a great place to try to recruit kids too, the facilities are lacking, and the support is kind of non-existant. At least ASU has Phoenix, some national noteriety, and actually has been to a Rose Bowl occassionally (though it's been well over a decade). North Carolina, if/when it comes open is a sleeping giant, and with the right coaching, could dominate the ACC. Plus, I think Rodriguez did pretty well their coaching offense while the OC at Clemson. Just seems like he might have rushed to taking this job.
Of course, there isn't a lot of pressure at this position, as Mike Stoops was given eight years despite proving they were going nowhere after four seasons. So this would be a nice change from Michigan in terms of fractured fan base/athletic department and expectations. However, he'll have less support in Tucson than he ever had in Morgantown, and a HUGE step down in facilities from the Michigan he left (and even compared to the one he inherited).
That all being said, I think he was a good guy, a class act, and deserved better at Michigan. Still might not have worked out, but I wish him the best of luck, and might make the drive down to see a game when my fall sports season is finished.
November 21st, 2011 at 9:50 PM ^
Obviously it won't happen, but it would be nice to be able to cheer for both of them at the same time. So many good memories (awful ones too) ... but that ND game will be with me forever.
November 22nd, 2011 at 6:48 AM ^
Wonder if Tate can pull a Threet and double transfer. How does that work with eligibility since he hasn't played for San Jose State yet? (It would be a big boost for Rich's 1st year if that could happen.)
November 21st, 2011 at 9:51 PM ^
As luck would have it, I learned of the RR to AZ rumor late this afternoon, just as I was preparing to go to a book signing event with John U. Bacon hosted by the UM Alumni Association of Cleveland. When he walked into the room (I was there fairly early), I asked him right away "what do you think about the RichRod to Arizona rumor." He held up his iPhone and said "its no rumor. I just got a text from RR's sister." It was 6:45 or so, before the public announcement.
I wish the best to RR and hope he gets a top notch defensive coordinator and some good advice about whatever the heck it takes to be an Arizona man.
John Bacon was as entertaining and good in person as he always is on film and in print. I understand that he has another Q and A coming up on MGoBlog some time after the game this weekend. I'm looking forward to it.
November 21st, 2011 at 9:51 PM ^
Isn't the Arizona football program similar to Indiana or Kansas, a school know primarily as a basketball school? Granted, they have not been quite as bad at football at those two schools, and while I think he will have success, it will be a difficult job to pull off. Looking at Arizona's schedule this year, the only conference wins they have are against UCLA (whom they dominated--interesting that those championing Houston point to their squeaking by UCLA as a quality win) and Arizona State. They are 3-8 and all but one of those losses is by 10 or more points.
November 21st, 2011 at 9:52 PM ^
coordinators, Rich will be dominating the Pac 12 in no time.
November 21st, 2011 at 9:57 PM ^
Will he bring Greg Robinson?
November 21st, 2011 at 10:15 PM ^
That is the expression of a man who is minus all the points.
November 21st, 2011 at 11:17 PM ^
Will Arizona allow him to spend a little cash to get a good defensive coordinator?
November 21st, 2011 at 10:13 PM ^
What's the over-under on transfers from Pitt to Zona?
<br>
<br>Good luck to him. I am happy that he landed another BCS level job and can move on. (Hopefully this will also allow the RR holdouts to move on.)
November 21st, 2011 at 10:16 PM ^
Pitt just lost half their staff?
November 22nd, 2011 at 9:40 AM ^
Tate has eligibility left.Another transfer for Tate perhaps.
November 21st, 2011 at 10:55 PM ^
Bought my first Arizona football t-shirt! Go Nike!
November 21st, 2011 at 10:46 PM ^
I wish him good luck. Seems like a nice guy.
I think 'Zona's lack of tradition and his humbling years here will help him to avoid anything like the fatal overconfidence, to put it as kindly as possible, that he had on arrival in A^2 ("I was like anyone else... I thought, it's Michigan, just roll them out there and you'll win your share.") The lack of pressure on the HC (Stoops gets 8 years?) should be great for RR too.
My prediction is that he's a solid 8-4 within a couple of years, though I don't think he'll ever get to Chip Kelly levels consistently (admittedly that's a high standard).
November 21st, 2011 at 10:58 PM ^
I wonder what the chances are for a home and home with Arizona! I would love for Michigan to come out to AZ and play!
November 22nd, 2011 at 7:00 AM ^
...but I'm going to guess zero