Rich Rodriguez at an Arizona basketball home game in 2012. Photo by Chris Morrison-USA TODAY Sports
Arizona football coach Rich Rodriguez is a big basketball fan, so I asked him in how many ways did he enjoy the Wildcats’ win at Michigan, which fired him after the 2010 season.
“Oh geez,” he said Sunday. “Should I even comment?”
Well, of course.
“That was a good win,” he said with a grin. “Let’s put it that way.”
The basketball team recognized the moment by announcing on Twitter it was giving its official game ball to Rodriguez.
“That was a really proud moment for me,” he said.
Rodriguez wishes no ill will on Wolverines hoop coach John Beilein, who spent five seasons at West Virginia when RichRod was coaching there.
“He was my neighbor at West Virginia, so we go way back and they’ve got a really good team,” Rodriguez said.
Arizona was the better team Saturday, winning 72-70 in Ann Arbor, where Rodriguez remains a polarizing figure for his three-year tenure that produced a 15-22 record amid a rough transition from the Lloyd Carr era.
He has won as many games in two years at Arizona (with a second bowl game pending) as he did in three seasons at Michigan. In fact, he has won as many games at Arizona in the past two years as the Wolverines have won in that span under Brady Hoke.
Rodriguez, who is preparing his team for the AdvoCare V100 Bowl in Shreveport, La., on Dec. 31, is known for his offensive acumen, but can appreciate how Sean Miller’s team is getting it done.
“I think Sean and his staff have done a phenomenal job,” Rodriguez said. “They’re fun to watch because they play so hard on defense.”
The official game ball goes to Coach Rich Rod for our win today #BearDown #ontothenextone
— Arizona Basketball (@APlayersProgram) December 14, 2013