Mike Rish will be on the sidelines for his 29th USD homecoming football game today. But can it really be considered homecoming if he never left?
Once the Toreros' most prolific wide receiver, Rish graduated from USD in 1984 and returned to his alma mater the same year as an offensive assistant, working specifically with the wide receivers. He's still walking the sidelines and 25 seasons later is the coaching staff's senior member.
“In all of my time, I've never seen a game from the stands,” said Rish, 48. “I wouldn't even know what to do up there. I don't know how that would feel.”
Down on the field, he knew exactly what to do. In an era when USD was a power-I offense, Rish still set career marks in most receiving categories. Since USD adopted the West Coast offense this millennium, Rish has seen players he coaches pass him in the record books. And he couldn't be happier about it.
“People ask me if I'm mad or upset when I lose a record, but I'm just the opposite,” Rish said. “I'm happy for those guys. I want them to want to be the best. I wouldn't be doing this for this long if I didn't get some sort of satisfaction seeing these guys shoot for the top.”
Even so, Rish still ranks sixth in career receptions (101) and seventh in receiving yards (1,722). Not bad for a team that would throw only about 10 times per game.
“I think that tells you he must have been one heck of a player,” USD head coach Ron Caragher said.
No records are expected to fall today when the Toreros (4-0, 2-0) host Valparaiso (1-2, 0-0) in a Pioneer Football League contest.
Brian Fogarty, USD's head coach from 1983-1995, was able to work with Rish as a player and a coach.
“He was our go-to guy,” Fogarty said. “We didn't throw a lot, but when we needed a big play, we'd find him. As a coach, he understands the game and knows how to be a teacher. He's on his fourth head coach now, so it just shows how respected he is and how he can adjust to any system.”
People always ask Rish if his best memory as a player is the 1982 nationally televised game against Occidental. While he flourished in the contest and was named the CBS Chevrolet Player of the Game, it's a bittersweet memory.
“We didn't win,” he said, recalling the 34-20 loss. “It was neat, because back then you didn't have ESPN or other networks putting on games. When you were on national television, it was three quarters of the nation. We were favored, but we lost. It always leaves a sour taste in my mouth.”
As a senior vice president for Guild Mortgage Company in San Diego, Rish has been able to work “New York hours,” which allows him to coach. His time on the sidelines has served as his Zen time, especially during the recent turbulence in the financial market.
“When I'm out here, I can't think about what's going on at work,” Rish said. “When I'm at work, I can't think about what's going on here. It's pretty stressful and high intensity with the markets moving. When I'm here, it's another world and I can get away.”
Academic honor
USD defensive back
Patrick O'Neill is one of 164 semifinalists for the 2008 Draddy Trophy and a candidate for the 2008 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Award. O'Neill, who was named a First Team “ESPN the Magazine” Academic All-American in 2007, carries a 3.825 grade-point average as a double major in business and marketing.
Kevin Gemmell: (619) 718-5304; kevin.gemmell@uniontrib.com
