The strong majority of vocal Arizona Wildcats fans did not take well to the reports on Wednesday that New England Patriots quarterbacks coach Jedd Fisch will be their school’s next head football coach.

At least, if we’re going by Twitter reactions.

It certainly didn’t help that ahletic director Dave Heeke listened to hundreds of past Wildcat football players speak on the importance of hiring a coach who understood the challenges and history of the Arizona program. Heeke said he would find someone who “embodies the incredible ‘Bear Down’ spirit,” insinuating that the hire would at least have some connection to the school.

Fisch, 44, has an extensive career across college football and the NFL. While he’s worked under respected head coaches like Bill Belichick, Pete Carroll, Jim Harbaugh and Sean McVay, he has not held a head-coaching job beyond a brief interim appointment with the UCLA Bruins in 2017.

An offensive-minded coach, Fisch has held roles from analyst to passing game coordinator to quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator.

But again, he’s missing the one thing that was deemed a priority for rehabilitating an Arizona football program that has traditionally struggled. He doesn’t have a connection to any past success within the program that was built with grinding work ethic that has yet to be sustained.

Past players were not pleased with the hire.

Last week we were told by @Dave_Heeke it was our program as alums. We just found out otherwise. This hire goes against his words that day talking about who would lead @ArizonaFBall.I’m too emotional to say anything else. Not happy with @UArizonaPres would be an understatement

— Barrett Baker (@BarrettBaker27) December 23, 2020

How do you fumble the bag this much? Damn shame,burried your own grave again.

— Scooby Wright III (@TwoStarScoob) December 23, 2020

I am announcing that I am entering the alumni transfer portal and I’ve decided to take my talents to @CoastalFootball

— Scooby Wright III (@TwoStarScoob) December 23, 2020

They basically said. Let’s continue the streak 😭😭😭😭

— Trevin Wade (@TwoStarWade) December 23, 2020

Reporters and football writers criticized Heeke and president Dr. Robert Robbins. The president has a relationship with Fisch and reportedly had a strong say in the decision of how to replace fired coach Kevin Sumlin.

Arizona will surely spin the convoluted hire of Jedd Fisch by throwing a legend like Chuck Cecil into the deal. And that's the lane thru which Arizona AD will walk back his Zoom comments about the program's history last week

— Greg Hansen (@ghansen711) December 23, 2020

How does someone like Jedd Fisch even get a sniff for a job at Arizona? Search firm persuasion, administrative meddling, bad short-term thinking, call from Belichick. Fisch: 9 jobs in 12 years. One year at bad UCLA. UA fans should be worried even if he agrees to hire Chuck Cecil

— Greg Hansen (@ghansen711) December 22, 2020

what are y’all even doing https://t.co/HXLzIVtk1p

— BUM CHILLUPS AKA SPENCER HALL (@edsbs) December 23, 2020

When university presidents think they know football … like, *really* know football … the results are rarely beneficial for their football program

— Jon Wilner (@wilnerhotline) December 23, 2020

Dave Heeke last week: “We need someone who embodies the incredible ‘Bear Down’ spirit that is what this program is all about. We need someone with great integrity, great character — someone who cares deeply about their players."

Also, Jedd Fisch will be the next UA head coach. pic.twitter.com/EIbHxSJI9M

— Alec White (@AlecWhite_UA) December 23, 2020

I'm the grim reaper right now, so here's another.

There is a very serious divide in the Athletic Department right now.

President Robbins and Dave Heeke are not on the same page.

— Jason Scheer (@JasonScheer) December 22, 2020

You're going to see this a lot. Robbins and Heeke are goin to have to explain this. They lied to alumni. That can't and won't go over well. Fisch should be on the phone with them right away. https://t.co/6Vsklug66I

— Jason Scheer (@JasonScheer) December 23, 2020

here is my Stat Of The Day

Since 2010, only 33 NFL QBs have managed to start 8 games and throw more INTs than TDs

4 of the 33 have had Jedd Fisch a QB coach or OC

In 6 seasons coaching 4 NFL teams, the only Fisch QB who did not throw more INTs than TDs is Jared Goff https://t.co/zpn09ndCIy

— Rodger Sherman (@rodger) December 23, 2020

Fans were especially upset after it was reported by multiple outlets that there was a divide between Heeke and Robbins.

Decent chance #BearDown hires a coach today. Niumatalolo interviewed but is out; Brennan and Fisch left, per sources. Will AD Dave Heeke make the hire, or will prez Bobby Robbins force the issue?

— Jon Wilner (@wilnerhotline) December 22, 2020

If @UArizonaPres is trying to get in the middle of the @ArizonaFBall coaching search and get Jedd Fisch as the new Head Coach I will never give @AZATHLETICS or @uarizona another dime until Robbins is no longer the president. Let @Dave_Heeke do his job.

— Bear Down Steve (@BearDownSteven) December 22, 2020

🤦🏾‍♂️

— Jabar Triplett (@jabar_triplett) December 23, 2020

Who. T. F. is HE?

Feels like the 13th L in a row.@Dave_Heeke make it make sense. Touch on EVERY talking point you made in your presser and sell me and every season ticket holder on him. Quick. And don't sound like a used car salesman doing it.

— Jose Roman Jr (@OldPuebloJay) December 23, 2020

Yes let’s go to the Patriots coaching tree because Cam Newton is having a banner year. Once again Robbins does his friend a favor and the program will forever be left to rot in the sewers. pic.twitter.com/sbINNbclNW

— Michael Coronado (@TheMikeCoronado) December 23, 2020

Underwhelmed, how does this create any buzz with fans

— Mark Byrne-Quinn (@Markbq) December 23, 2020

Not everyone is down on the hire. Fisch does have some successful history.

Congrats @CoachJeddFisch! Pac 12 gets a great one!

— Matt Leinart (@MattLeinartQB) December 23, 2020

I see a lot of people criticizing the move, especially those who wanted alum Antonio Pierce, but as a Michigan fan I can say he did wonders with UM's offense. Will be interesting to see how this turns out…

— Jim Weber (@JimMWeber) December 23, 2020

While Jedd Fisch is not the hire I would have made for Arizona, I did hear good things about him this week. Also worth noting that Herm Edwards was an unpopular hire by ASU in 2017 + that has turned out well. Proof's in the pudding. Fisch does face an extreme uphill battle here.

— Michael Lev (@MichaelJLev) December 23, 2020

I'll say it again, Fisch needed to go prove it at the G5 level, but you could have said that about a few people Arizona chose to interview, but from a football perspective he's solid.

Hire a good staff and this works. Hire some alum to be DC and it won't.

— Rob Bowron (@beta_rank_fb) December 23, 2020

My guess is Fisch is also going to get a lot of the folks out of the portal. He cleaned up Michigan's passing game and his '17 UCLA offense was #6 in Effective Pass in Beta_Rank. pic.twitter.com/nKcnhnMb51

— Rob Bowron (@beta_rank_fb) December 23, 2020

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