[Goose]

I would agree, but the local radio honks feel he is in it to stay, the new AD has been nothing but positive as well.

I have heard that as well. The AD quotes can somewhat be attributed to the idea that he has nobody on standby and that he doesn't want a known lame duck before the start of the season. What is really true, who knows. The radio honks are, I think, mostly "homers". They won't go negative until or unless there is no other option.

Here are some of the issues for many fans as I am hearing them:
1) RichRod gave his son a full scholarship at QB for next year. His son was not even on most D1 or D2 team's radars. As a current local, I have heard many fans ask "Why did he give his son a scholarship when he gets nearly free tuition as the child of an employee."

Just speculation, but maybe he doesn't expect to be an employee next year. Also, if he gives the scholarship now, it isn't probable his successor would dare to revoke it somehow. It kind of looks more than a bit funny. Also, wasn't there somebody better to give it to, given that his son presumably wanted to go to the U of A in any case?

2) They have had 2.5 seasons of ridiculous injury problems, but the S&C coach has not been even mentioned as a problem.
3) RR keeps whining that a renovation of the stadium and an indoor practice facility are the main culprits in recruiting. This ignores how many times he has over signed and then asked kids to "blue shirt".

It seems that RR can't recruit offensive linemen. That has been an issue for the last two years, and doesn't seem to be getting better. Last year, they also had defensive line problems. I am not sure that is an ongoing issue, but U of A has made up for a lack of bulk with some just crazy linebackers. Without that, they struggle on defense as well. I think that also relates to the injury problem. Some of their athletes are just too small for what they are being asked to do. Anu Solomon got off to a good start initially, but just got killed over the years because 1) there was no protection and 2) he was expected to run a lot.

4) The former AD (Greg Byrne, now at Alabama) was adamant in sticking to the academic requirements for student-athletes. RR had a major issue with this.

These are not facts, just the things I have heard from fans, locals, faculty and students over the last few years.

Funnily enough, the local sports talk station increasingly comments on how many fans now refer to Richard Tomey as the best in the school's history, and forget that they ran him out of town at the end of '00 (IIRC).

Unfortunately that has been a bit of a pattern at the U of A. A coach starts out well, or at least shows year over year improvement, everyone gets excited, then things just don't work out. Sorry to see it happening again. I really enjoy going to football games in Tucson. The stadium isn't ultramodern, but it is big, and the sight lines are good. It is easy and pretty cheap to get a ticket. 

[Goose]

I would agree, but the local radio honks feel he is in it to stay, the new AD has been nothing but positive as well.

I have heard that as well. The AD quotes can somewhat be attributed to the idea that he has nobody on standby and that he doesn't want a known lame duck before the start of the season. What is really true, who knows. The radio honks are, I think, mostly "homers". They won't go negative until or unless there is no other option.

Here are some of the issues for many fans as I am hearing them:
1) RichRod gave his son a full scholarship at QB for next year. His son was not even on most D1 or D2 team's radars. As a current local, I have heard many fans ask "Why did he give his son a scholarship when he gets nearly free tuition as the child of an employee."

Just speculation, but maybe he doesn't expect to be an employee next year. Also, if he gives the scholarship now, it isn't probable his successor would dare to revoke it somehow. It kind of looks more than a bit funny. Also, wasn't there somebody better to give it to, given that his son presumably wanted to go to the U of A in any case?

2) They have had 2.5 seasons of ridiculous injury problems, but the S&C coach has not been even mentioned as a problem.
3) RR keeps whining that a renovation of the stadium and an indoor practice facility are the main culprits in recruiting. This ignores how many times he has over signed and then asked kids to "blue shirt".

It seems that RR can't recruit offensive linemen. That has been an issue for the last two years, and doesn't seem to be getting better. Last year, they also had defensive line problems. I am not sure that is an ongoing issue, but U of A has made up for a lack of bulk with some just crazy linebackers. Without that, they struggle on defense as well. I think that also relates to the injury problem. Some of their athletes are just too small for what they are being asked to do. Anu Solomon got off to a good start initially, but just got killed over the years because 1) there was no protection and 2) he was expected to run a lot.

4) The former AD (Greg Byrne, now at Alabama) was adamant in sticking to the academic requirements for student-athletes. RR had a major issue with this.

These are not facts, just the things I have heard from fans, locals, faculty and students over the last few years.

Funnily enough, the local sports talk station increasingly comments on how many fans now refer to Richard Tomey as the best in the school's history, and forget that they ran him out of town at the end of '00 (IIRC).

Unfortunately that has been a bit of a pattern at the U of A. A coach starts out well, or at least shows year over year improvement, everyone gets excited, then things just don't work out. Sorry to see it happening again. I really enjoy going to football games in Tucson. The stadium isn't ultramodern, but it is big, and the sight lines are good. It is easy and pretty cheap to get a ticket.