Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez: 'I understand the importance of the rivalry'
ANN ARBOR - Rich Rodriguez got indoctrinated into the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry the moment he set foot on campus for his first press conference - when someone slipped a “Beat Ohio State” button into his coat pocket.
Michigan head coach Rich Rodriguez answers a question during a post-game news conference after Saturday's game against Wisconsin.
AP photo
“Just because I did not coach here before, I did not play here, I'm not from the state of Michigan, doesn't mean I don't understand the rivalry,” Rodriguez said Monday. “Trust me, I understand the importance of the rivalry.”
This year in particular, the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry takes on extra importance both for Rodriguez and the Wolverines.
Michigan (5-6, 1-6) needs one win to become bowl eligible and avoid its first back-to-back losing seasons since 1962-63, while Rodriguez is under fire from a fan base fed up with the program’s recent losing ways.
Rodriguez is 8-15 in his second season as Michigan coach and 3-12 in Big Ten play. If the Wolverines lose Saturday, he’ll become the first coach in Michigan history to lose his first two games to Ohio State.
Making matters worse, the Buckeyes continue to roll along as the class of the league. Ninth-ranked Ohio State (9-2, 6-1) clinched its fifth straight Big Ten title and the conference’s automatic BCS bid last week with a win over Iowa.
“I'm going to give you a news flash here,” Rodriguez said. “I'm going to coach as hard as I can in every game I play, whether I'm playing Delaware State or Ohio State. Ohio State is a whole lot more important to a lot more folks, and I understand that.”
A win Saturday won’t cure all of Michigan’s ills, but it could signal things are at least on the right track.
Michigan has lost five straight in the series, and with a young nucleus Rodriguez said better days ahead.
“We can see the light at the end of the tunnel," he said. "Sometimes it’s hard when you’re losing to see that, but we can see it.
"We're going to be back there where I want it to be and everybody else wants it to be. It’s just a longer process that we’re going through now than we wanted to go through.”
And when will Michigan reach the light?
“Not as quickly as I’d like, but we’ll be there,” Rodriguez said. “We’ve had one full recruiting class, which are now our true freshmen. Those guys are 18 or 19. When those guys are 20 or 21, they’ll be more like men.”
Linebacker Stevie Brown, one of two seniors starting on Michigan's defense, said players share Rodriguez's optimism.
"There won’t be too many more seasons like this or last year happening anytime soon," Brown said. "It's coming very soon."
Dave Birkett covers University of Michigan football for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at 734-623-2552 or by e-mail at davidbirkett@annarbor.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.
Comments
vi4mi4
Tue, Nov 17, 2009 : 8:52 a.m.
The Question is: Will r.r. wear a RED wristband, running out of the Maize n Blue MICHIGAN tunnel to face the scarlet and grey schmuckeyes?!?! unless Bo's ghost pays him a visit between now and saturday, i think he will. He Don't Get It. sorry r.r., any MEECHIGAN Man knows you coach the schmuckeye game harder, you play the game harder, even if it means denying the laws of physics... Bo ran at least one drill EVERYDAY of EVERY practice in preparation for the LAST regular season game vs. the team down south, Hopefully, Graham, Matthews, Obi and others will push "coach" out of the way and LEAD like The Best! Ban The Red Wristband! Go Blue! v
rightmind250
Tue, Nov 17, 2009 : 6:03 a.m.
Hey Danny, which one of those little boys are going to smash Pryor. He is bigger and faster than your best player, Graham. 6-6 and 240. I think the UM db's are in for a long and painful lesson.
Macabre Sunset
Tue, Nov 17, 2009 : 12:57 a.m.
Terrific. He has optimized this team into a force capable of beating Delaware State by 50-plus point every time out. I don't think he gets the rivalry. I have never missed an OSU game in my life, but I think I'm going to have to pass on this one. Too painful to see what's certain to be a 40-point loss.
oneandseven
Tue, Nov 17, 2009 : 12:02 a.m.
well, guns4me.............42-10 would be an improvement over last year.
Danny
Mon, Nov 16, 2009 : 11:45 p.m.
I think we will see how the spread works against OSU when Oregon takes on OSU in the Rose Bowl. Yes, Oregon does have a better defense than UofM, but it should be entertaining to watch the spread work with a decent defense to back it up. If Michigan puts a spy on Pryor and hits him every fake or actual hand off they will win. Pryor can't take the punishment. He will be gun shy by the 2nd half. If UofM let's him run wild, we get smashed! Pryor will be looking for a big game Saturday. Hit him hard and hit him often! We win.
LakeErieMaize/Blue
Mon, Nov 16, 2009 : 11:37 p.m.
He says,"Ohio State is a whole lot more important to a lot more folks,I understand that".But he won't say beating them is a lot more important TO ME!!!He never directs anything DIRECTLY to "Tress"(as he calls him,like they are buddies!)or the Suckeyes! He talks like an outsider-never puts HIMSELF directly in it!That's my problem w/ RR(like when he said I've only been in one game against OSU).Trying to be too nice.Too PC! He doesn't have a problem yellin' at the team and coaches but God forbid if he says anything bad about the Suckeyes and "Tress"!!! RR better get a clue real quick.We are not FRIENDLY with that crap,I mean,state down under us!! And if the reporters gotta ask you a million times if understand the rivalry,then get a clue,and start making a better effort to project THAT YOU DO actually understand the rivalry(especially the HISTORY of the rivalry),b/c I for one am still not convinced that you truly understand Michigan Tradition.Like my Grandma used to say to us,"Don't talk about it,Be about it!" Just show us you understand-No more talk!!GO BLUE!!!Beat The Suckeyes!!
saginaw
Mon, Nov 16, 2009 : 10:30 p.m.
There is always hope. Purdue and Iowa have proven that OSU is not that great in 2009. I expect a very good game -- much better than 2008. In fact, Michigan may lead at the half. The question will be, can Michigan finish and play 60 minutes?
azwolverine
Mon, Nov 16, 2009 : 9:56 p.m.
When Michigan dominated the rivalry during the Cooper era, it still felt like a rivalry because the teams were evenly matched and no one knew going in who was going to win. Same thing in Carr's last 4 seasons. The games were tight, down to the wire matchups. After last year and the way this year has played out for both teams, it doesn't feel that way heading up to the game anymore. It feels like OSU is far and away the better team. I know these things are cyclical and our turn will come again someday...I'm 'All In For An Upset' though!
Hogan
Mon, Nov 16, 2009 : 9:44 p.m.
Jaxon 5 is right, there is no rivalry anymore, if you don't win you are not a rival, wasn't that UM's argument when MSU was claiming a "rivalry"??
Jaxon5
Mon, Nov 16, 2009 : 9:26 p.m.
Sorry, but I don't think he does understand the rivalry. See, anybody can say they understand the rivalry, but it's another thing to actually win games in this rivalry. Winning games is actually the most important part of the rivalry. Without winning games, you actually don't have a rivalry.
guns4me
Mon, Nov 16, 2009 : 8:53 p.m.
It will take more than luck.OSU 42 uom 10
Furious in MI
Mon, Nov 16, 2009 : 8:35 p.m.
Sorry, Rich, but as much as you "understand" this rivalry, the faithful in Columbus understand it better. They eat, sleep, breathe this rivalry 24-7-365. Their entire lives are built around 2 hours on a football field each November. If the upset were to happen, it would be MUCH bigger than 1969. One more year for Rich, and the faithful will force the University's hand if he doesn't win at least 7 games.