What goes around comes around: In the winter of 1982, UA football coach Larry Smith permitted me to accompany him and defensive coordinator Moe Ankney on a recruiting visit to five Phoenix prospects.
It was the day the Wildcats visited with and got a commitment from South Mountain High School linebacker Byron Evans, who became the 1986 Pac-10 defensive Player of the Year.
But the day began ominously.
Smith pulled into the parking lot at Tempe McClintock High School to meet with the state’s No. 1 recruit, linebacker Frank Rudolph. Something went wrong right away.
The McClintock coach was standing in the parking lot, waiting for Smith.
“Frank’s not going to attend Arizona,” the coach said. “He’s going to go to ASU.”
That was it. After a brief, awkward conversation, the McClintock coach returned to the gym. Smith didn’t even get out of the car.
Last Wednesday, Larry’s son, Corby Smith, who grew up on the sidelines shadowing his father at Arizona Stadium, became the head football coach at McClintock High School.
If that’s not football justice, what is?
