The football coaches took up opposite sides. One wore an Arizona hat, the other an Oklahoma visor. The stakes were significant.
OK, that last part isn’t true. When Rich Rodriguez and Mike Stoops paired off and squared off in the Tucson Conquistadores Classic pro-am Thursday morning at Omni Tucson National Resort, the prize for the winning team — dinner — was far less important than the experience itself.
The current Arizona coach, Rodriguez, and his predecessor, Stoops, reunited in Tucson this week for the first time since they dined together here more than four years ago. Although Rodriguez was taking his place, Stoops welcomed him to town. Rodriguez hasn’t forgotten that generous gesture.
“It was unique,” Rodriguez said. “He was great with the transition. Mike, being the great guy he is, was going to help no matter who it was.”
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Stoops even let Rodriguez stay in his house for about six months — a house Stoops recently put on the market. Getting the house ready was part of Stoops’ agenda on his first trip back to Tucson, which conveniently coincided with Oklahoma’s spring break; Stoops is the Sooners’ defensive coordinator. He also got to play golf and hang out with Rodriguez and buddy Scott Verplank, an Oklahoman who’s playing in the tournament. Local businessmen and UA supporters Humberto Lopez and Jordy Ensio rounded out their pro-am quintet.
Stoops said Rodriguez was going to give him a tour of the Lowell-Stevens Football Facility on Friday. The lack of top-level facilities, financial support and resources during his tenure at Arizona (2004-11) still bothers Stoops. But he has mostly fond memories of his time in Tucson.
“We probably took it as far as we could,” Stoops said. “But it’s just how life goes. I was very fortunate to have some really quality coaches and players. Seven-and-a-half years — that’s a long time here, considering the circumstances we were under and the duress we were under.
“We didn’t have a lot of the things other teams had, but the kids never really complained about it. It’s kind of crazy. We never talked about what we didn’t have; we talked about the things we did have. Great place, great university, great climate … great crowds.”
Even though the timing didn’t work in his favor — the Lowell-Stevens Football Facility opened in 2013 — Stoops said he has no bitter feelings.
“I’m happy for the players. They deserve it. It’s long overdue,” Stoops said. “It’s kind of mindboggling that we were in that situation. We overcame it, and that says a lot.”
The conversation among the pro-am golfers Thursday morning included plenty of trash talk. They still were debating the two-stroke penalty the Rodriguez-Verplank team imposed on Stoops and Ensio the previous day at The Gallery Golf Club.
“That was an egregious penalty,” Rodriguez said, grinning. “We had to enforce it — especially since we were losing.”
“It ruined Mike,” Verplank said. “He wasn’t the same.”
“He still isn’t,” Rodriguez joked.
Stoops got payback Thursday. His team, which also included Lopez, rallied to win their friendly wager.
