When Rhett Rodriguez entered the game for the Arizona Wildcats late in the first half Friday night, a TV viewer in Tucson had a particularly vested interest in how he performed.
Rich Rodriguez, Rhett’s father and Arizona’s coach for six seasons, did not attend the game in Salt Lake City. Nor did Rhett’s mother, Rita. It was only the second game this year that they have missed. They had no idea their son would play the entire second half of a 42-10 loss to Utah.
“I’m mad about that,” Rich Rodriguez told the Star in a phone interview Sunday. “You’re never sure if your backup quarterback’s gonna play. I was certainly glued to the TV.”
Rich anxiously watched the ESPN broadcast from home. Rita was so nervous she couldn’t sit down. It was another unusual experience for the former UA coach, who was fired in January — but also a proud moment amid what he called “the worst 10 or 11 months of my life.”
“There’s stress anyway, because I’m obviously close to all the guys,” Rich Rodriguez said. “When it’s your son, there’s even more anxiety.
“It’s probably harder to watch in this kind of role because you have no control. You don’t have any input in it whatsoever. I thought he competed pretty well.”
Arizona parted ways with Rich Rodriguez on Jan. 2, largely for off-field reasons. Rhett, who played for his dad last season, elected to remain with the program. The sophomore set career highs with 20 completions, 226 yards and one touchdown in two-plus quarters against the Utes.
This season isn’t the first time Rich has watched Rhett play. He was a multiyear starter at Catalina Foothills High. Rich would attend Rhett’s games whenever his schedule allowed, usually standing along the sideline, keeping a respectful distance.
Friday night was different. The stakes were much higher.
“You know every move he’s making is going to get scrutinized,” Rich Rodriguez said. “There’s going to be mistakes. You just hope he can have fun and enjoy it.”
Rhett phoned home before boarding the team bus. Like everyone else on the team, he was disappointed Arizona didn’t win the game and wished he could have done more.
“I told him I was proud of the way he competed,” Rich Rodriguez said. “It was a tough environment.
“I’ve always told him, whether you’re the second quarterback or the third quarterback, you’re one or two plays from getting in there. You’ve got to be ready when your number’s called. He wasn’t sure when that was going to happen. He had about 30 seconds to get ready.”
Khalil Tate — who soared to superstardom in Rich Rodriguez’s offense last season — started the game but, on the second series, reinjured the left ankle that has plagued him since Week 2. Freshman Jamarye Joiner, who committed to play for Rodriguez, played the third and fourth series. Kevin Sumlin then summoned Rhett Rodriguez, who played the rest of the way. He previously had made three brief relief appearances.
Trying time
Rhett spoke to the media for the first time this year after the game. He was asked what the past 10 months have been like for him.
“It’s definitely been an interesting couple months here,” Rhett Rodriguez said. “It’s been up and down – a lot of highs, a lot of lows. To say that there’s been a lot of behind-the-scenes stuff would be an understatement.
“But at the end of the day, I’m just here to do my best, help my team win and just try to be the best player I can be.”
It has been a trying time for the Rodriguez family. Rich was fired in the wake of accusations of sexual harassment by his former administrative assistant. The woman, Melissa Wilhelmsen, filed a $7.5 million notice of claim against Rodriguez. She and her attorney never followed through with a lawsuit, although they could file one at any time.
The university commissioned an independent investigation, which could not corroborate Wilhelmsen’s claims. But UA administrators had become concerned with the “direction and climate” of the football program under Rodriguez and decided to dismiss him anyway.
On the advice of his attorneys, Rodriguez declined to discuss the allegations in any detail. He did describe the way the story has been told as a “false narrative.”
“Our family’s handled it amazingly well,” Rodriguez said. “It’s been really difficult and really frustrating in a lot of ways.
“There’s a lot they want to say, and a lot I want to say. Hopefully sometime soon I’ll be able to make some statements and move forward.”
Rodriguez, 55, said he’d like to resume his coaching career. He’s not sure if that will happen in college or the NFL, or whether he’ll be a head coach or an assistant. He has spent much of his time away from the sport re-examining his schemes and philosophies and trying to learn new ones from friends in the profession.
“I think I have a few good years left,” Rodriguez said. “I’m anxious to get another opportunity and help somewhere in some role.”
Rich-Rhett reunion?
Rich would love to have Rhett on his team because “I know who he is and what he’s all about” and because “he could help me win in a lot of ways.” Rhett Rodriguez is unusually mature and advanced for a college sophomore. He’s been around football his whole life and sees the game “like a veteran coach would,” his father said.
Rich Rodriguez said he didn’t want to violate any NCAA rules by making it seem like has recruiting his son. Whatever Rhett wants to do in the future is “100 percent up to him,” Rich said.
Rich Rodriguez has avoided extensive interaction with Sumlin, whom he knew before Sumlin got the UA job. They’ve talked once, Rodriguez said, and exchanged text messages a handful of times.
“It’s his program now,” Rodriguez said. “I didn’t want to be a helicopter dad or be the coach that’s always hanging around. It’s really not my place to do that anyway.”
Rodriguez has attended every home game and the game at Houston. It’s the first time in about 40 years that he hasn’t been playing, coaching or broadcasting football.
Making that experience even stranger, his son’s team consists mostly of players Rich Rodriguez coached or recruited.
“There’s no question you watch with a lot of mixed emotions, a lot of mixed feelings,” he said.
There’s no ambiguity when it comes to Rodriguez’s rooting interest, though: He fully supports his son and his teammates.
He and Rita plan to be there in person when Arizona visits UCLA on Saturday. Given the state of Tate’s ankle – and the state of the Wildcats’ season – it’s not inconceivable that Rhett could make his first career start.
“That would be awesome,” his father said.
