The fans are weighing in on Rich Rodriguez’s firing today as Arizona’s coach after six years.
Rodriguez is gone after compiling a 43-35 record as the Wildcats’ coach from 2011 to 2017. The impetus of the firing is apparently a possible lawsuit following an investigation this fall for potential workplace misconduct, according to the USA Today story.
On Twitter, a question was posed to fans: What will you think of most about the Rich Rod era at Arizona? Here are the responses:
What could have been
— Beat ASU (@Y_not_AZ) January 3, 2018
2 Heisman trophy candidates in Carey & Tate.
— Clair Wyant 😂😝😭🤣 (@KG7MAJ) January 3, 2018
Arizona’s punting woes vs. ASU …
There can be only one answer. pic.twitter.com/rk2Tt9vkLg
— Punt Flag (@PuntFlag) January 3, 2018
2-4 against ASU
— Mark (@cmark12) January 3, 2018
Really shitty defense. Plus the embarrassment of a yelling,snarling coach on sidelines. Hostile work enviorrnment? Big surprise!After 10 years of coaches on tilt can we please hire one with some composure. Please!!!!
— Lone_Hand (@Lone_Hand) January 3, 2018
2014 was the most fun I’ve had watching college football. Oregon game, Washington game, and ASU game were some of the most memorable UA football games of all time. Grateful I got to experience those.
— Tyler McCoy (@NotTylerMcCoy) January 3, 2018
Soft, undersized and no commitment to defense or special teams
— Les Roach (@wlroach) January 3, 2018
Thank god it’s over. Now bring in Cecil and get back to smash mouth football.
— BC (@bconnollyAZ) January 3, 2018
Scooby's fumble/steal on Marriota
— C-Daddy (@Cdogrob) January 3, 2018
Made Arizona Football relevant again. Ups and downs but mostly positive.
— Josh Howell (@JoshTHowell) January 3, 2018
Never should of hired him!
— #MTGA (@Bl_Esser) January 3, 2018
Great promise unrealized
— Geoff with a G (@LeftCoastBias) January 3, 2018
Not the biggest RR fan, but if accusations were unsubstantiated and the accuser wouldn’t even cooperate, this is a weak move by the U of A.
— Stuart Wright (@arizonastu) January 3, 2018
Unfulfilled potential.
— Joanna Strohn (@Shimmers411) January 3, 2018
The same as I think of when I think of AZ FB as a whole…gave it their best shot, but always come up short. He's a good coach, but gets out coached too often. I'd put him AZ's 3rd or 4th best
— Jimmy Membrila (@JaymemSS) January 3, 2018
somehow managing to gain zero recruiting momentum off a 10 win season (by passing on texas until it was too late among other things)
— Joe Sweet (@JCF628) January 3, 2018
That he never should have been here to begin with.
— Kim DC (@azshadowwalker) January 3, 2018
Poor defenses.
— WaterGunCAD🔫 (@WELLofCAD) January 3, 2018
Let’s be fair. He did bring us a PAC 12 South title. Not insignificant
— Bret Seeley (@bretseeley) January 3, 2018
Side line melt downs…
— Dalai Llama (@Advantage_CT) January 3, 2018
#RichRod is a good football coach. This year was a better year than last year. The defense needs some work, and he seems to focus mostly on his good players than helping to teach ALL his players. #BearDown 🔵🔴🏈 @ArizonaFBall
— KrissyWilson #SSDir (@greysanatomy112) January 3, 2018
People will say he struggled but bottom line he made us relevant again and that’s tough to do especially in Arizona.
— Matt (@Coach_Ruiz9) January 3, 2018
Here are some national media reactions:
Just talked to one of #Arizona's assistant coaches. How'd you find out that Rich Rodriguez got fired?
"Twitter."
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) January 3, 2018
Whoever takes over at #Arizona is going to inherit a pretty good situation. You have a star in sophomore QB Khalil Tate and 47 true freshmen (including some good walk-ons). Just last week Rich Rodriguez was telling us he thought this group could be special.
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) January 3, 2018
Rich Rodriguez was fired at #Arizona without cause. I'm told by a source at U of A this move was strictly for football reasons and due to the direction of the program.
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) January 3, 2018
Source: Decision to fire Rich Rodriguez was made before bowl. Even a win in bowl wouldn’t have saved Rodriguez’s job
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) January 3, 2018
The guy I feel for in this whole Rich Rodriguez situation/mess is Garin Justice, the former Concord coach and WVU linemen who last week left a job at FAU to join the Arizona staff under his former college coach.
— Dave Morrison (@sddsports) January 3, 2018
$75 million: Combined buyout currently owed to EIGHT recently fired coaches — Bret Bielema (Arkansas), Todd Graham (Arizona State), Mike Riley (Nebraska), Kevin Sumlin (Texas A&M), Jim Mora (UCLA), Butch Jones (Tennessee), Jim McElwain (Florida) & Rich Rodriguez (Arizona).
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) January 3, 2018
Former players:
I stand with coach Rod @CoachRodAZ hell of a coach and person! Thanks for everything you did for the University of Arizona, Tucson, and myself 💪 🐻⬇ pic.twitter.com/Sr2BzoQp24
— Jared Tevis (@TucTownTevis) January 3, 2018
Informed him via email?! And after all he's done for the program, you let false allegations play a part in the decision? You're supposed to stand by your coaches, staff, and players. #KeepUAcoaches #BearDown
— Jared Tevis (@TucTownTevis) January 3, 2018
Some of you need to get off your high horse and look up the definition of UNSUBSTANTIATED… headlines catch clicks, not truth…
— Jared Tevis (@TucTownTevis) January 3, 2018
Completely shocked… no words
They talk to us about being good men, and always doing the right thing but then stuff like this happens and it makes you wonder..
Do as I say, not as I do.
Love ya coach you gave me a 2nd chance and changed my life. Here for you, just disappointed https://t.co/dQKmhkV3DT— Coach Worthy (@WorthyJ_55) January 3, 2018
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ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com publisher, writer and editor Javier Morales is a former Arizona Press Club award winner. He is a former Arizona Daily Star beat reporter for the Arizona basketball team, including when the Wildcats won the 1996-97 NCAA title. He has also written articles for CollegeAD.com, Bleacher Report, Lindy’s Sports, TucsonCitizen.com, The Arizona Republic, Sporting News and Baseball America, among many other publications. He has also authored the book “The Highest Form of Living”, which is available at Amazon.
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