As Arizona’s “Fan Appreciation Day” began on a warm, sunny Saturday afternoon, Wildcats coach Rich Rodriguez wisely found a shady spot to sign autographs.
With temperatures climbing into the 90s, Rodriguez sat under a tent next to the entrance to the UA locker room at Arizona Stadium. His players were scattered about the field, baking on the artificial turf but happily signing team posters, jerseys, hats and mini-helmets.
The event drew several hundred fans, but it might have attracted more if Arizona had an indoor facility in which to hold it.
Rodriguez reiterated his desire for an enclosed practice facility in an interview with the Star, repeating a familiar line: “It’s not just a want. It’s a need.”
New athletic director Dave Heeke shares Rodriguez’s view that a multipurpose training facility would benefit all UA student-athletes. But building one falls firmly in the category of easier said than done.
Costs vary widely on such facilities depending on their size and other bells and whistles, but even a minimalist version likely would exceed $10 million. The Arizona Board of Regents recently approved a $100 per-student athletics fee, which won’t come close to covering the costs of the various facility upgrades the UA needs.
As Heeke wrote in a recent “Wildcat Wednesday” newsletter: “The expected revenue produced by the student fee, along with a generous, private $5 million donation, will make it possible for athletics to borrow approximately $75 million to get started on some, but not all, of our various infrastructure projects.”
An indoor training facility would give the football team a place to escape the heat and avoid monsoons during summer workouts and training camp. It also would provide a venue for other student-athletes to train and for fans to gather before football and basketball games.
“It would be a great place to get out of the heat, to be in an air-conditioned place to tailgate,” Rodriguez said. “Other sports could use it. It would be the only one in Southern Arizona. That thing would be used more than probably any facility on campus.”
“Last year wasn’t
what we want”
Heeke was working at Central Michigan when Arizona endured a 3-9 season last fall, the worst of Rodriguez’s tenure.
Heeke understandably is taking a wait-and-see approach with Rodriguez and all of the Wildcats coaches.
“I’m the new guy,” said Heeke, who has been on the job for three weeks. “I’m trying to listen a lot and learn.”
Regarding Rodriguez and the football program specifically, Heeke said: “It’s no secret. Rich and I have talked. Last year wasn’t what we want. It wasn’t what they expected, what Rich expects or wants.”
Heeke believes Rodriguez is doing the right thing by recommitting to recruiting, although it remains to be seen when those efforts will pay dividends in the win-loss column.
Walker needed
“fresh start”
Rodriguez said offensive tackle Keenan Walker, who recently announced plans to transfer, “needs a fresh start somewhere.”
Walker, a former four-star recruit from Scottsdale Chaparral, redshirted last season as a freshman. His time at Arizona was marred by injuries and off-the-field issues.
“I always tell the players: All I do is enforce the decisions that they make, right or wrong,” Rodriguez said. “More than anything, he’s got to get himself committed academically and to the game of football if he wants to have success anywhere.”
Extra points
- Senior receiver Cam Denson continues to sport a walking boot on his right foot. Denson missed the latter portion of spring practice because of a foot injury. Spring drills ended March 31.
- Rodriguez, quarterback Brandon Dawkins and tailback Nick Wilson had the longest autograph lines. Dawkins remained on the field after the event ended to sign additional posters and other paraphernalia.
- Most of the Wildcats will report back to school for summer workouts at the end of May, giving them a break of about 2½ weeks after final exams end May 11. The first academic summer session starts June 5.
