Quick hitters from the Arizona Wildcats’ media availability after their fifth practice of spring Monday afternoon:
* I asked UA coach Rich Rodriguez about the Star’s story from Sunday in which signee My-King Johnson revealed that he’s gay. “I don’t think My-King or anybody in the program is looking to make a big deal out of it,” Rodriguez said. “We’re just excited to have him be part of our program."
* Rodriguez knew of new Arizona athletic director Dave Heeke through Butch Jones, a former Rodriguez assistant at West Virginia whom Heeke hired as the head coach at Central Michigan. Rodriguez is hopeful Heeke can make progress with facilities: "I have a list. I had it for Greg (Byrne). I’ll have it for Dave as well."
* Rodriguez is still helping with the wide receivers but expects new position coach Theron Aych, who was on the field Monday, to catch on fast. "He's a quick learner,” Rodriguez said. “(It's) business as usual."
* Aych gathered his players in the end zone after practice, according to receiver Shun Brown. Aych wants them to get used to being there.
* Aych said he reached out to Calvin Magee, now Arizona’s running backs coach, several years ago to learn the zone-read offense. Now they’re on the same staff.
* Rodriguez on Aych: “Not only do I think he can help our wide receivers, but I think he can help us in recruiting, particularly in the Houston area.” Rodriguez said he plans to recruit Texas harder, as previous UA coaches have done. Aych, who coached at UTEP and Angelo State, is confident he can persuade Texas kids to come to Arizona. He considers the UA an established brand.
* Aych is one of several assistants on the UA staff with coordinator experience. Rodriguez said that can only help in game-planning.
* Rodriguez said more players are "committed" to doing extra in the weight room this year as opposed to simply being "compliant" with what's required of them.
* Rodriguez expects senior Zach Benjamin to be part of the receiver rotation and still doesn’t understand why Benjamin wasn’t eligible last season after transferring from South Florida and walking on at Arizona. “I think he should have been eligible,” Rodriguez said. “I think it’s silly that he wasn’t.”
* Offensive lineman Michael Eletise, who was limited to start spring practice, had a helmet as he left the field and didn’t have a yellow or green jersey, possible signs that’s back to full participation.
* Offensive lineman Harper Sherman, who left the field on crutches last week, walked out of practice without any noticeable limp. He did have a green jersey, suggesting limited participation.
