Chuck Cecil was only hired to come back to Arizona a week ago, and the Wildcats have only practiced five times in fall camp, but the UA legend already feels comfortable referring to the Wildcats as "we."
Of course, he has every right to do that — Cecil, who played safety, is considered one of the greatest players to ever play at Arizona, completing a career he started as a walk-on with an All-American selection and, eventually, induction into the College Football Hall of Fame. Cecil also played seven years in the NFL and coached in the league for 15 seasons.
Now, he's back at Arizona, hired onto UA coach Rich Rodriguez's staff as the new director of player development and a defensive analyst.
Cecil spoke to the media for the first time on Friday at the Lowell-Stevens Football Facility after Arizona's practice.
What made you want to come back?
"Oh gosh, you kidding me? In my life, anybody that thinks that fairytales don’t come true, I’m standing here. My time in Tucson was a true Cinderella story and anything I can do to come back here and try and help out as little as possible or as much as possible, however it turns out. I'm just trying to give back a little bit for all the wonderful things that happened to me when I was here."
How did it come about for you to return here?
"We (Rodriguez and Cecil) had a couple casual interactions and we’ve kind of discussed a little bit of this, a little that. There was some movement on the staff and I happened to be somewhere that he was so we talked about it and thought that it’d be a good fit."
Have you had a lot of people coming up to you around town, welcoming you back?
"I try to keep a low profile as much as possible. But I’ve been welcomed back with open arms. The people of Tucson are wonderful so I have much love for them. Like I said I’m just really blessed to be back and back with my Wildcats."
Have you ever had any opportunities to come back before?
"I would say no for the most part but the NFL, I’ve kind of been pretty locked in there for the last 15-17 years. I was retired for a little while but this was kind of the first real opportunity. When it opened up and Coach Rodriguez and I talked about it, I just couldn’t be more excited to come back and appreciative to have the opportunity to come and help."
How’s the reception been from the players?
"It’s been great. The players are great. They’ve been very respectful and have given me a lot of compliments. I’m very humbled by that. Like I said, hopefully I can just do something to help them the way I was helped when I was here."
How would you describe what your duties are?
"When I talk about the players, I’m technically not supposed to interact a whole lot as far as on the field, even in the meetings, so we talk about more general things in life and trying to be a good person and be a good football player and not as much Xs and Os. My input, if anything, is going to be more with the coaches."
What are your thoughts on what you’ve seen, after ? What do you think of this group?
Well, obviously we didn’t…I’d say we finished great, and anytime you beat the ‘Scummies’ (ASU) that’s a good thing. But the amount of wins was not what the Wildcats are aiming for or what our goal is. That’s something we are looking to fix this year."
Are you too vicious for this coaching staff?
"(Laughs) Absolutely not. I’m way down on the ranks as far as viciousness goes on this staff here. It’s a really great staff and they do a great job motivating the players as far as helping to not just be quality football players but quality people and that’s what it’s all about."
How tough is it in the limited role, to watch and not be able to do what you want to?
"It’s, I wouldn’t say difficult but it’s a little limiting. Just bite your lip a little bit and you see things here and there. Shoot, I’ve been here four days, five days watching practice, so I have a lot to learn before I’m really going to say a whole lot anyway. But it’s, like I said, anything I can do to help, I’m just happy to be here."
Ultimately to want to get back to being a full-time coaching staff member, coaching up guys?
"My future is right now, I’m coaching the Wildcats and helping out here. That’s my goal. To help the Wildcats win some more games this year, a lot more actually. What happens next year will happen next year."
