The Arizona Wildcats will hold their first team meeting Tuesday night since Rich Rodriguez was fired one week ago.
The players were on winter break when the UA abruptly dismissed Rodriguez last Tuesday amid allegations that he created a hostile work environment and sexually harassed his administrative assistant. Arizonaโs spring semester begins Wednesday.
Defensive coordinator Marcel Yates was named interim coach, and he will lead the meeting unless a new coach is named and arrives in Tucson by Tuesday night โ and thatโs considered unlikely. Yates is expected to tell the team to crank up its game in the classroom and weight room regardless of who the new coach is.
Whether Arizona athletic director Dave Heeke would attend the meeting was not completely clear Monday night. It is believed that Heeke wants to be there but couldnโt guarantee it if he were busy interviewing coaching candidates.
Heeke is working closely with search firm DHR International. No definitive favorite had emerged as of Monday. The reported candidates seem to fall into two categories: established โbig namesโ who are currently out of work such as Kevin Sumlin and Les Miles; and younger, lesser-known offensive coordinator types with recent or current head-coaching experience such as Beau Baldwin (Cal) and Neal Brown (Troy).
Current and incoming players have campaigned for Yates โ or a combination of Yates and Sumlin. The two worked together at Texas A&M.
Sumlin seems to be the top choice among UA fans, who spent part of Monday night analyzing the color of Sumlinโs shirt and water cup during ESPNโs โCoaches Film Roomโ accompaniment to the national-championship game. Sumlinโs shirt was a blueish gray; his cup was red.
Wood transferring
In a move he says is unrelated to the coaching change, tight end Trevor Wood is transferring.
Wood told the Star that he is seeking a โfresh startโ after a four-year career at Arizona that did not live up to his expectations.
Wood caught nine passes for 63 yards and a touchdown in three seasons. He missed the 2015 season because of a shoulder injury and three games in โ17 because of leg injuries and a concussion.
Wood said he hopes to be at his new school in time for spring practice โ which is why he didnโt wait to find out who the next UA coach will be.
As a grad transfer, Wood will be eligible to play immediately at another FBS school. His release comes without restrictions, so he conceivably could transfer within the Pac-12.
Wood said Arizonaโs firing of Rodriguez and the likelihood of sweeping staff changes did not impact his decision.
โI was gonna leave regardless,โ Wood said. โI havenโt had the career I was hoping or expecting to have here. I canโt say thatโs on the coaches.โ
After years of empty talk about increased tight end usage in the passing game, Arizona finally got its tight ends more involved this past season. But after a promising training camp, Wood hurt his knee and ankle in the season opener.
Freshman Bryce Wolma became the primary pass-catching tight end, totaling 28 receptions, 241 yards and two touchdowns. Redshirt freshman Jamie Nunley had six catches for 159 yards and a score. Wood had two catches for 14 yards and one TD.
At the end of the season, with injuries accumulating along the defensive line, Arizona moved the 6-6, 265-pound Wood to defensive end. He started and played there exclusively in the Foster Farms Bowl, recording two tackles and two pass breakups โ including a near-interception that might have clinched the game.
Despite showing promise on that side of the ball โ and coaches telling him he could play in the NFL if he committed to defense โ Wood wanted to give offense another shot. Heโs hoping to find a school whose system has more โpro styleโ elements and makes better use of the tight end
โYouโve gotta do what you love,โ Wood said. โI like playing offense.โ
Woodโs father, uncle and brother played at Arizona, but Wood said his family โis 100 percent behindโ his decision to transfer.
Rodriguez speaks
Rodriguez gave his farewell speech as president of the American Football Coaches Association at the organizationโs annual convention in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Rodriguez concluded his one-year term Monday. Bill Cronin of Georgetown (Ky.) College succeeds him.
Rodriguez began his 751-word address by saying, โItโs been a crazy week for me.โ The Athletic reprinted the speech in its entirety. Rodriguez mainly spoke about his fondness for the coaching profession. His main point, though, was about dealing with adversity.
โYouโre going to face adversity as a coach on the field and off,โ Rodriguez said. โSome wonโt even be football-related. It could be an angry parent, a frustrated booster, something with the media, it could be false allegations against you. โฆ
โYouโre going to face adversity. The question is, is it worth it? Is it worth it as a coach to go through all that, to go through (those) things? Absolutely. โฆ
โItโs been worth it for me. Iโve been grateful for over 30 years to have a staff and family that have supported me wherever Iโve been.โ
Schooler, Wilborn honored
Defensive standouts Colin Schooler and Kylan Wilborn have been named to the Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-America Team.
This is at least the fourth such honor for Schooler, who also earned Freshman All-America accolades from ESPN.com, USA Today and 247Sports.
The linebacker from Orange County, California, ranked second on the team with 95 tackles, including 13.5 for losses. All 13.5 came in Pac-12 play. Schooler, who also had four sacks and two interceptions, was named the conferenceโs Defensive Freshman of the Year.
Wilborn, named to the FWAA team as a defensive end, had a UA-high 7.5 sacks and a conference-best four forced fumbles. Wilborn also was named a Freshman All-American by USA Today. He missed most of the season-ending Foster Farms Bowl because of an apparent shoulder injury.
The FWAA team includes true and redshirt freshmen.
