It took Rich Rodriguez 51 seconds to compose himself. Fifty-one seconds before he began speaking about the son whose accomplishments have provided a welcome respite for a trying season.
“As tough a year as it’s been for us, (I’m) a proud dad,” he said Tuesday about struggling to answer a question about Rhett a day earlier.
Thanksgiving weekend will be a memorable one for the Arizona coach and his family. On Friday, he will attempt to salvage a 2-9 season in a home game against rival Arizona State for the Territorial Cup. On Saturday, he will be at University of Phoenix Stadium watching Rhett, the quarterback for the Tucson Catalina Foothills team playing in the Class 4A state championship against Scottsdale Saguaro.