ESPN NCAA analyst impressed with Arizona’s Rodriguez
Sep 11, 2012, 9:53 PM | Updated: 11:14 pm
Rich Rodriguez appears to be building something in Tucson.
The first-year Wildcats football coach has his team 2-0 after an upset win over Oklahoma State, in the Top 25 and seemingly heading for a 3-0 start.
For perspective, Arizona won all of four games just last season.
“The things that he’s done already just in the first couple of weeks, the excitement that’s down in Tucson,” ESPN NCAA analyst Mark May told Arizona Sports 620’s Burns and Gambo. “When you beat a ranked team that’s coming into your house…they come into your backyard and you put up 59 points on them, I mean that’s impressive.”
May went on to say that while Rodriguez was not a good fit in Michigan, he is clearly perfect for what the Wildcats are trying to do in Tucson.
“He tried to change the culture at Michigan,” May said. “That’s not a place where you try to change the culture; they’re used to doing things their way.”
Pointing to the Wolverines’ defense as a reason for Rodriguez failing in Michigan, May said the Wildcats will benefit greatly from the coach’s ability to bring Jeff Casteel over from West Virginia to be the defensive coordinator.
“I think they’re going to get better on defense,” May said. “But their offense is there, it’s hitting on all cylinders.”
