Rich Rodriguez is one loss from what he hoped to avoid: Being 'ticked'
Rich Rodriguez stood in a corner, cameras and recorders rolling in July at the Hyatt in Chicago. Back then, there was optimism for Michigan’s season and the path the Michigan football coach had the Wolverines on.
It seems like an eternity ago. There was no NCAA investigation. There were no failed real estate dealings with a booster. There was no misstep about a player suspension, no booting of players off Michigan’s team mid-season and no confrontations with other coaches. There was only hope, only optimism coming off a 3-9 season. The talk was about a second-season turnaround.
Michigan football coach Rich Rodriguez shouts during the first half against Illinois earlier this season. (Photo: Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com)
Rodriguez has looked positively seething lately. He’s figuratively backed into a corner entering Saturday against archrival Ohio State (noon, ABC-TV).
There are the real estate dealings. There is an NCAA investigation - the latest piece this week coming in the form of practice logs not turned in to Michigan compliance officers, something Rodriguez said was done immediately when he was notified they were missing.
And there is the losing, six straight in the Big Ten dating back to September. Michigan hasn’t beaten a FBS opponent since Sept. 26. It’s opened up critics and allowed embattled to almost become his first name.
One of the knocks on Rodriguez is that he’s an outsider at Michigan. It was something that has followed the West Virginia native from when he had a “Beat Ohio State” button given to him before he was introduced as the head coach.
It clearly irks him when people ask him about whether or not his offense fits, whether or not he can understand the rivalry. What the questions really mean are, ‘Rich, do you think you fit at Michigan?’
Rodriguez called those questions - especially about the offense and about himself - “misinformed.” He said he never thinks about it. The rivalry, though …
“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. “I understand it as well as any coach can understand it. I’ve only played in it in one game. Trust me, I understand the importance of the rivalry.
“Y’all get that I understand that. I understand it from before I took the job. I understand it after I took the job.”
Then Rodriguez certainly grasps how much beating Ohio State would help lessen what has gone on under his two-year reign at Michigan. He knows Michigan hasn’t beaten the Buckeyes since 2003.
Rodriguez would also know that no Michigan coach has gone 0-2 against Ohio State and that going to a bowl, in some ways, is less important than beating the Buckeyes. That it has come down to playing for a bowl berth is something Rodriguez likely couldn’t have fathomed back in July.
“Are we good enough to win a Big Ten championship,” Rodriguez said back then. “There’s a whole lot of things that got to happen for that. That’s our first goal every year is to compete for that, and there’s a lot of things got to happen for us and a lot of bad things to happen to someone else, but if we’re at least not competing for it and being more competitive in certain situations, then I don’t think we’ve made the progress we wanted to.”
On Wednesday, when asked again what no bowl would mean to Michigan and to him and how it would characterize the season, he used the word “disappointed.”
The losing, he said Monday, "eats at your soul." It’s been rough on his players, his family, himself. He’s not accustomed to that.
“You’ll be disappointed,” Rodriguez said if Michigan doesn’t win Saturday. “But not discouraged, if that’s the right word. There have been some positive things. I’m sitting here telling you that we’re not happy with our record, but there are other things that I see that I know the groundwork has been laid.
“This is not going to be a situation, I believe, that we’ll have to go through in the future. I’m talking about battling in the last game of the year for a bowl bid.”
If Michigan is in this situation again a year or two from now, Rodriguez likely knows what that means. Because whether it’s Ohio State or not, with what he has been through as a coach, Rodriguez has to win.
Soon. Very, very soon.
Michael Rothstein covers University of Michigan sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at (734) 623-2558, by e-mail at michaelrothstein@annarbor.com or follow along on Twitter @mikerothstein.
Comments
Danny
Thu, Nov 19, 2009 : 11:45 p.m.
God didn't creat Ram-"BO", I did says Woody Hayes. Get over it Bo is gone, finito, in heaven, wouldn't be able to cope with todays multiple sets, new looks and complicated defenses. Most of us loved him when he was here, however I remember some who called for his resignation on a regular basis. Emotions run high during football season and sometimes get verbally and physically out of control. RR has learned about the importance of defense. Next year he and the players will be better prepared. I guess we will have to wait and see if he can put it all together. Get Pryor!! Every play!!! Sick-em!!!! We Win!!!!! GO BLUE ALWAYS
ironman3f@hotmail.com
Thu, Nov 19, 2009 : 5:09 p.m.
120 kids on team.... 86 are either freshmen or sophomores... 24 freshmen on the 2-deep squad. enough said. 1 senior on defense..... 1 senior on offense. you expect what?? 10 win season? that will come, not next year, but the year after. My god we have high school kids playing against veteran teams that are running the same offense and defenses that have been run forever. you watch Oregon play? Thats our offense. Big difference with the right players and age group huh? Relax, its coming, then all will be well again and we will be playing the type of football that needs to be played in the 21st century, Just ask Florida,Cinncinatti,Oregon, and so on and so on. We need defense to get better. Hell, if they were just fairly good we would have at least 2 more wins and possibly 3. then you all would not be crying for the coaches head. GO BLUE!!
Man in the Mirror
Thu, Nov 19, 2009 : 3:42 p.m.
Hogan....UM unlike Colorado can't upset big name teams this year. Colorado's future is looking brighter than UM.
truebluefan
Thu, Nov 19, 2009 : 11:07 a.m.
How many times does RR need to answer the question about whether or not he "understands the rivalry"? Once is enough, for most people.
ODaized
Thu, Nov 19, 2009 : 10:02 a.m.
I hope he does get pissed off and all red faced. I think we might be able to create a cartoon character of him once he blows his top. BUCKEYE UP!!
djuninho
Thu, Nov 19, 2009 : 9:24 a.m.
@ blue50: "How on earth did RR ever become the selected leader for Michigan Football?" Ditto... you nailed it... Every time I look at RR I think, this is the man who was anointed to inherit the program that Bo built? This was the best man for the job?!!! I had nothing against RR in the fact that he was an outsider, it was the fact he came in and fired all of Lloyd's assistants and didn't commit to preserving what was in place... Driving off Mallett, Boren, et al, "ticked" me off the most... MSC and Bill Martin must be held accountable for what's happened...
XTR
Thu, Nov 19, 2009 : 2:17 a.m.
Rich Rod has his sleazy way of doing things. Rich Rod bolted for UM without paying his buyout to WVU. Good thing (Bad for UM) for him that the school paid his debt. Rich Rod dismissed all but one of Carr's coaches and ran away star players in Mallet etc etc. Then there is the sleazy real estate deal. The biggest folley is the probable NCAA violation at only his 2nd year as coach. This is not to mention the losing records he has in 2 seasons. This guy is sleazy, he is a bad coach in the big ten, gets into fight with players, gets UM into violations etc etc. UM does not get anything positive with this guy. All indications say that he does not fit the mold of a UM coach.
Lemansblue
Wed, Nov 18, 2009 : 11:53 p.m.
Ticked??? Can you believe this guy? I am ticked that he dismantled the winningest program in college football!!! We need coach Harbaugh now do not wait. He knows the Big Ten.
BlueInBama
Wed, Nov 18, 2009 : 11:23 p.m.
blue50, I feel your pain. Michigan football is in the toilet. Rodriguez is, well, uninspiring to say the least. This hire by Coleman / Martin was tragic. Through 2 years of poor coaching, uninspired football, player transfers, etc.., we as true fans have to hope that Michigan will wake up and move past this mistake. These dark days will pass, and I hope the RR lovers out there go with him when he's kicked out! IN MICHIGAN WE TRUST
Michiganiac
Wed, Nov 18, 2009 : 10:56 p.m.
I often ask myself after i read a Rothstein article. Is he a DOmer buckeye or sparty fan. Cause the way he trys to drag michigan down you know he doesn't like them. I mean what is it was RR rude to him once or what? Cause it seems like an all out attack on the man. I Know your a jounalist so taking out of context is what you dobut atleast quot him right.
Al McD
Wed, Nov 18, 2009 : 10:34 p.m.
People need to get off Rich Rod and understand what he is saying is true.Most of his players ARE young and ALL of his players are still learning the scheme. If R R's system never works here then you have to blame the people that chose him as well. There are a lot more people than just Martin and Coleman to blame too.Also, if Michigan does go and get Harbaugh,he too will not have the players to fit his style. I think we have no choice but to ride it out with Rich Rod. If he can somehow fix that defense by Saturday....... Go Blue!!!
Hogan
Wed, Nov 18, 2009 : 10:30 p.m.
Just admit there are NO meaningful games left. OSU is not a meaningful game, it is a dream, a fantasy, no real hope of victory, this year or next, or even the year after. UM football is now Colorado football, not even nebraska or notre dame, at least they can beat someone. The drop off in 2 years is remarkable. There is absolutley NO precedent of ANY program coming back fom this in a year or two. Goodbye UM we hardly knew ye!!!
Blueman Rick
Wed, Nov 18, 2009 : 10:30 p.m.
Excellent article, Mike.
blue50
Wed, Nov 18, 2009 : 10:19 p.m.
General Bo's legend stands on it's own merit. RR has given all of us true Michgan fans a new appreciation for the man from Ohio who built The Big House. Bo always had the right words to express the importance of football at Michigan. He is the benchmark for our tradition. As I reflect on the 50 plus years I have personally witnessed The Maize & Blue represent the tradition; I have never been so disappointed in the weak words of enthusiasm expressed by The Head Coach. How on earth did RR ever become the selected leader for Michigan Football?
blue50
Wed, Nov 18, 2009 : 10:16 p.m.
General Bo's legend stands on it's own merit. RR has given all of us true Michgan fans a new appreciation for the man from Ohio who built The Big House. Bo always had the right words to express the importance of football at Michigan. He is the benchmark for our tradition. As I reflect on the 50 plus years I have personally witnessed The Maize & Blue represent the tradition; I have never been so disappointed in the weak words of enthusiasm expressed by The Head Coach. How on earth did RR ever become the selected leader for Michigan Football?
mzanblu
Wed, Nov 18, 2009 : 9:52 p.m.
J rootz sorry not a bandwagon fan. Try a season ticket holder yeah 3-12 with back to back losses to Purdue & Ilinois keep spinning it RR is nothing but a huge embarassment.
J rodz
Wed, Nov 18, 2009 : 9:46 p.m.
bandwagon fans, there are plenty of other teams to root for. When things get better, we'll be right here don't you worry.
mzanblu
Wed, Nov 18, 2009 : 9:41 p.m.
He should take 2 weeks off... then quit!
Anonymous Coward
Wed, Nov 18, 2009 : 9:33 p.m.
Our wolverines are still a mess/I'm flying my Block M upside down in distress/won't right it until we progress/defined unrhymingly as winning a Big 10 game/which I expect next year more than less
Jaxon5
Wed, Nov 18, 2009 : 9:18 p.m.
The OSU game is Michigan's bowl game. There will be no others. So, this is their final shot this year and they need to make it a good one.
63Townie
Wed, Nov 18, 2009 : 8:52 p.m.
Rich Rod, please just be quiet and win a meaningful game.
tomhagan
Wed, Nov 18, 2009 : 7:10 p.m.
He should be "ticked" at himself and his staff only, if that happens.