LGC15

Wed, Nov 18, 2009 : 2:06 p.m.

Is Rich Rodriquez in a coma or just arrogant? Does he not realize there are rules especially NCAA rules! Its bad enough that he has spiraled a once proud Wolverine Nation into the murky depts of not competitive! He one year and now closing in on two this wanna be Coach has tarnished, destroyed and humiliated the tradition of Michigan Football! And, now we have the NCAA visiting Ann Arbor! Prior to Rich Rod, Michigan Football never saw an NCAA person on campus. Does he not know? or does his over paid incompetence of coaching football spill over into simple practice work-out reporting? And for all you Rodriquez supporters, I have no comprehension of what you see...last year we won 3 games and this year 5, surely we can't count that high school rented team, Delaware State can we? So we have one more W...this is disgraceful. Get him outta Ann Arbor before its too late, or is it already? Lorenzo of Novi

DAVETGC

Wed, Nov 18, 2009 : 10:35 a.m.

I wonder if this same group of coaches kept Summer workout logs at West Virginia or the other schools that they were previously at, it would be interesting to find out what the historical record of practice logs is with this coaching staff. They knew the rules, but chose not to enforce the rules by keeping logs; it seems to me that this is a coaching responsibility that is preventative in nature since it prevents the possibility of future issues. Of course, Coach Rod had all his previous records shredded before he left West Virginia so records like Summer workout logs may not be recoverable.

julieswhimsies

Tue, Nov 17, 2009 : 4:17 p.m.

Figures.

Steve Hendel

Tue, Nov 17, 2009 : 10:37 a.m.

I would like to say that when you are paid $2.5 million a year to coach a football team, YOU are responsible for whatever goes on with the program, even if it's some member of your staff holding the "smoking gun." Richard Nixon also tried to blame his staff for Watergate, as I remember,

15crown00

Tue, Nov 17, 2009 : 9:24 a.m.

Could be used as a reason separate Snake Oil Salesman Rod from the program.----LET-----US-----HOPE-----SO.

amazenblue

Tue, Nov 17, 2009 : 9 a.m.

I can remember back as far as Bump Elliot and never have we had the kind of problems that are going on now. Lack of discipline,violations and not a losing football program. Please RR spare us another season of losses. At M we don't ever say maybe next year. Go RR go! Move on! Maybe try your hand at baseball.

iMissMyNewspaper

Tue, Nov 17, 2009 : 8:11 a.m.

are we really surprised here?

Chris Goodman

Tue, Nov 17, 2009 : 2:13 a.m.

Reply to@ BornInA2: I am not questioning that RR as head coach is ultimately responsible for the football team, but there is probably a formal inquiry involving a root-Cause analysis of the breakdown of compliance process underway right now. There is so emotion-frustation in the air right now that irrationality reigns. I agree that RR is almostly hopelessly embattled, and may have to resign because he cannot be effective as a coach - leader. However, as a loyal fan of Michigan, who has season tickets, and personally watched Schembechler, Moeller, and Carr coach, I am also concerned about the status of Michigan football. The players play the game, not the coaches, and it is evident that their morale is dwindling. However, whoever picks up the pieces on this mess must agree a multitiude of issues including: 1) recruit and train effective athletes for the defense 2) recruit and train effective athletes for the offensive line, along with the rest of the offense. 3) address the consequences of the NCAA inquiry, including possible loss scholarships. (the outcome remaining in question at this point) The problem with compliance staff is they do not just answer to the coach, but answer to a seperate supervisor (i.e. head of Football Operations and the Athletic Director) as part of standard checks and balances to avoid conflict of interest. The organizational chart is designed to avoid fraud and deception, since the instiution is at risk, not just the coach. Hence, the inquiry will now address, where blame is assigned, what processes broke down, and how they will be put in place again. This kind of situtation usually doesn't happan as a single act of an individual, but as a combined effect of the compliance officers breaking down and not doing their job. They don't answer to Rodriguez, since they are there to limit him much like accountants make sure the books are kept according to standards. U of M as an institution stands separately from Rodriguez, and even if he and his associates leave, the institution will have to answer to the NCAA as well as the state of MIchigan, if there are any criminal acts. I am taking this situation very seriously, and you should too!

BornInA2

Mon, Nov 16, 2009 : 11:48 p.m.

@Chris Goodman: The head coach is ultimately responsible for all aspects of the team: Wins/losses, following rules (NCAA, internal, and other), team morale, recruiting, development of the players, behavior of the other coaches and players, etc. One of my big concerns about RR is that he rarely, if ever, seems to acknowledge this, and this makes me wonder if he believes it himself. I've heard him blame the players, the injuries, the other coaches, problems that wasn't aware of until he got here, and on and on. Maybe if HE was super-extra-mega-focused he could have determined that this important paperwork wasn't getting kept and turned in for an entire season. Or maybe his assessment of the team: "We're just not good enough to make any mistakes and win" applies to him, too. Then again, maybe if he hadn't fired the entire staff on his second day someone who knew how important this is could have pointed it out. He's reaping what he sowed. No matter what, he is ultimately responsible.

Chris Goodman

Mon, Nov 16, 2009 : 10:54 p.m.

Rather than just criticize RR: 1) Are the UM football compliance staff a source of dissidence against RR as Coach? 2) Did the Free Press writers have any knowledge of the improper auditing for CARA reports? 3) Was RR so consumed with the disarray within UM football during his first year that he relied on staff he felt he could trust to make the proper CARA reports, but now finds he was betrayed? 4) Did Bill Martin retire in order to take responsibility for inappropriate CARA auditing, Not just for any improper behavior with UM football security staff? 5) Will President of UM or new athletic director clean house for dissident staff, in order to end the internal revolt within UM football and help begin its turnaround? 6) Can RR be effective this year in recruiting for much-needed defensive personal, and probably offensive lineman despite the bad karma of the NCAA investigation? 7) What will be the outcome of the NCAA investigation, including any penalties? 8) If the sharks in the water around UM Football are not satisfied with these results, what will they try next? These are questions I am curious about. Would anyone care to comment?

Dave7777

Mon, Nov 16, 2009 : 7:49 p.m.

Practice logs? We ain't got no practice logs! We don't need no practice logs!! I don't have to show you any stinking practice logs!!! --RR

amaizenman

Mon, Nov 16, 2009 : 7:41 p.m.

tomhagen So let me understand this. The UM has an outstanding compliance officer. So I would assume that during LC era all the proper logs were submitted to this officer for review. Now the RR era starts, and all of a sudden none of these logs are submitted for review. So wouldn't you think the compliance officer would be all over RR and his staff to submit these logs in order to be within the internal requirements that supposedly had been followed for years. Or maybe, these logs have never been required of the football program, but we want to make it a public mud bath for RR. Your comments show your stupidity

GettingBluer

Mon, Nov 16, 2009 : 6:42 p.m.

Thick Candy Shell wrote: "On the lighter side Charlie W. will be available and then we can flounder for 6 more years!" Hmmm, "flounder" or "continue plummeting off a cliff"? Doesn't seem to be that hard of a choice.

Ignatz

Mon, Nov 16, 2009 : 6:22 p.m.

Does anyone really think that a Division 1-A coach files the documentation himself? Please don't give me the "Captain of the Ship" reasoning, either.

KzooGoBLue

Mon, Nov 16, 2009 : 6:07 p.m.

I am a lifelong UM fan and Alum who wants nothing but a clean and successful program. I read the audit report and quote the following, "Based on the specific testing performed, University Audits did not observe any issues of non-compliance with NCAA rules and regulations...". My understanding of audits is that when they find something like this, the very next audit will go back to that issue to see if it has been corrected. If not then further steps will be taken. I agree that the failure to have these reports filed look really bad but it does not constitute and NCAA violation. We also do not know the answers from the football staff as to what happened. We should all let the NCCA finish its investigation. If Rich Rod broke the rules he will be fired as dictated in his contract.. If the NCAA says there are no violations or "major violations" then the issue should be closed and the perfomance of the football team on the field will determine his remaining years at UM.

guns4me

Mon, Nov 16, 2009 : 5:48 p.m.

Someone should be on site at all times to investigate this program. We have seen this act before.

tomhagan

Mon, Nov 16, 2009 : 5:46 p.m.

maizenbluedoc...the reports are supposed to be submitted to the universities compliance dept...Why this was not done is anyone's guess...however UM does have one of the best lead compliance officers in the NCAA, and has never had an issue with other sports....so that would suggest that the fault would lie within the current football program administration and staff...

maizenbluedoc

Mon, Nov 16, 2009 : 5:37 p.m.

The aspect of this investigation that puzzles me is: if the coaching staff was supposed to submit hes practice logs, to whom were the logs supposedly been submitted? Is it not the responsibility of the person receiving and reviewing these logs to ascertain that the logs were in order. It appears that there are a group that is hell bent on making sure RR's life is so miserable at Michigan that he resigns. Someone should investigate the people who oversee the athletic department, specifically football. Enough of the innuendoes and allegations. Get to the truth...once and for all.

guns4me

Mon, Nov 16, 2009 : 5:37 p.m.

Shooooot...all in for michigan. what a joke

djuninho

Mon, Nov 16, 2009 : 5:29 p.m.

This is how I see it playing out: MSC simply "relieves" RichRod of his coaching duties this weekend but does not "fire" him per se... UM will continue paying him as if he were the HC cause that is cheaper than firing him and owing him millions... The NCAA will release their findings in early 2010, and then UM will have the grounds to terminate him with cause... If RR takes them to court, they'll have plenty of ammo to tarnish his image and make sure he never becomes a Head Coach again... Gut instinct says UM forces him into a settlement in the $1-2 Million range...

heartbreakM

Mon, Nov 16, 2009 : 5:27 p.m.

Hey A2D2--your list was great, except I have one quibble. I personally don't care what kind of football he plays. WHat he has been coaching, though, does not appear to be "football". What it is, I don't know. But it's not football as I know it. No tackling. No set up pass plays. No blocking. No tackling. No holding onto the ball. No tackling.

heartbreakM

Mon, Nov 16, 2009 : 5:25 p.m.

Charley--you make an interesting point about Captains. Except RR does not believe in the Michigan tradition of team captains, until after the season that is, when the captains are really useless. Do you believe, today was the first day that the seniors called a team players only meeting? That's what happens when there is no peer-elected, peer-respected team leadership. I am sure everybody respects BG or the line, or whoever. But without a captain, there is nobody on the inside to 'right the ship'. And the longstanding Michigan tradition and honor of being chosen captain is now gone, thanks to RR and his "all In" stuff.

tomhagan

Mon, Nov 16, 2009 : 5:20 p.m.

djuninho.... good points, that just may be. Upon his dismissal, RR would not be paid his buyout if the NCAA has found violations... look for RR to then turn around and try to sue UM for the money on the back end. Its funny, my neighbor out here in LA who is a USC fan and his son played QB at Colorado said that straight up "Rich Rod will end up suing Michigan because thats the kind of guy he is"... and I cant say Ill disagree with that IF it happens/goes down that way.

djuninho

Mon, Nov 16, 2009 : 5:16 p.m.

@ A2D2: Agree with you completely... why is the report being released now? Cause the higher ups (not named Bill Martin) want to fire RR after the OSU game...

Charley Sullivan

Mon, Nov 16, 2009 : 5:13 p.m.

How any head coach doesn't know to have weekly practice logs signed by the team captains or representatives on file is beyond me. How a compliance department doesn't know to ask a head coach for such documents is even worse. Both are simply basic administrative parts of running an NCAA program. Not having them in is like having walked around with your fly undone (for the coach) and with your pants just down around your ankles (for the compliance office). Ya sorta should notice immediately if it's not the case...

A2D2

Mon, Nov 16, 2009 : 5:07 p.m.

Mark my words, this will be the excuse U of M needs to move Rich Rod out. Is is a valid reason? Maybe not. Will it be used? Yes, because it is one more "rock in the backpack" that will ultimately bring him to his knees.. Will the next coach be so dyed-in-the-wool Michigan non-controversial that he squeeecks Maize and Blue? You can bet you season tickets he will be. Michigan has had enough of: 1. he doesn't really fit in 2. he doesn't play smash-mouth football 3. he costs us big money because he tried to shake down his former employer 4. he embarrasses the good-old-boy network with his real estate investments gone bad And Now....... 5. he doesn't run a tight compliance ship.

guns4me

Mon, Nov 16, 2009 : 4:56 p.m.

Football just like Basketball

MiamiBlue

Mon, Nov 16, 2009 : 4:48 p.m.

Harbaugh emerges?? Don't think so! www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/15/AR2009111502587.html So get off the if Bo was here, and Carr would have, and Les would have! Bo is gone, Carr is not coming back, and Jim is not coming here! Let's Go Blue

djuninho

Mon, Nov 16, 2009 : 4:13 p.m.

UM is releasing this now during Ohio St. week so it'll be easier to fire RR if he loses on Saturday... Gut instinct says MSC and Board of Trustees are taking this out of Bill Martin's hands and into their own hands so they'll have grounds to terminate RichRod after this weekend...

Macabre Sunset

Mon, Nov 16, 2009 : 4:10 p.m.

Practice logs long lost Rodriguez weeps, and loses Harbaugh emerges

Thick Candy Shell

Mon, Nov 16, 2009 : 3:52 p.m.

No where in the Freep Article does it say Mandatory and the only place it says it in the ESPN is in the title. Where is the NCAA regulation stating this???? True, he didn't meet school requirements, but there is no statement of NCAA violation.

BornInA2

Mon, Nov 16, 2009 : 3:47 p.m.

What I'd like to know is if the audit was completed in May and the report was finished in July, why is only only being released to the public in November? It certainly seems relevant to the allegations printed in the Freep in August that are now the subject of a full-blown NCAA investigation.

BornInA2

Mon, Nov 16, 2009 : 3:36 p.m.

@FlintMaize: That's one sentence out of context. Here is the entire quote from the Detnews: --------- The authors of the audit, in their summary, said they "did not observe any issues of non-compliance with NCAA rules and regulations" regarding practice and playing seasons. But the university, in a statement issued today, said the auditors weren't claiming there were no problems, just that it found no problems in those areas that could be audited. Without the logs, it could not audit the football program's CARA requirements. The audit did note this was an "area of concern" and sent a memo to the athletic department to correct it. According to the university, the department did "correct" the problem. --------- So they aren't saying there are no problems, they are saying they can't see any problems because the reports they need were not submitted.

tomhagan

Mon, Nov 16, 2009 : 3:30 p.m.

Oops!

chosen1

Mon, Nov 16, 2009 : 3:26 p.m.

if u read the espn article it states these are mandatory reports and forms. the detroit free press and news likewise state that. With no forms how could the univeristy auditor find there were broken rules? put the kool aid down when you read articles about our program under this hillbilly moron

FlintMaize

Mon, Nov 16, 2009 : 3:22 p.m.

"University Audits did not observe any areas of non-compliance with NCAA rules," the report says. This is the key point above.

Thick Candy Shell

Mon, Nov 16, 2009 : 3:17 p.m.

@BornInA2 funny enough, the last line of the article states the most revealing part. "University Audits did not observe any areas of non-compliance with NCAA rules," the report says.

treetowncartel

Mon, Nov 16, 2009 : 3:14 p.m.

Failing to follow the U of M's policy is different than failing to follow an NCAA mandate. As for showing these logs being a part of policy to show compliance, do you really think they are going to write down they had 22 hours of practice one week and then they practiced six hours on another day?

BornInA2

Mon, Nov 16, 2009 : 3:07 p.m.

@marineblue: Did you read the DetNews article? All sports programs at UM are audited in this way on a five-year rotation. ALL the sports audited this summer passed, except football. The audit was completed during the summer and the university sat on the results until today. RR screwed himself.

marineblue

Mon, Nov 16, 2009 : 3:03 p.m.

i would really like to know who it is that is pushing so hard to get the coach fired? i wonder if they have any idea what they are doing to the program w/ all the negativity swirling. what coach is going to come here under this type of scrutiny and back stabbing???

Thick Candy Shell

Mon, Nov 16, 2009 : 2:56 p.m.

There is not one mention of Mandatory. In addition, if all of you who want to fire him are so smart, who is the replacement? Les Miles was never going to be the Michigan coach. Nobody wanted him from in house anyway. (Ask Gary M. what he thinks about Miles) Greg Schiano, he said no. (reportedly). Brian Kelly, most likely going to Notre Dame. On the lighter side Charlie W. will be available and then we can flounder for 6 more years!

Stophersports

Mon, Nov 16, 2009 : 2:53 p.m.

My concern is that should the NCAA uncover workout violations, they might use the audit (and July memo) as a basis for citing lack of institutional control. For if the allegations are proven true, it would appear that the school knew about it, but failed to monitor the situation more closely.

BornInA2

Mon, Nov 16, 2009 : 2:48 p.m.

The Detroit News article says the reports are required by the university so that they can audit compliance with NCAA regulations. Gee, RR, maybe if you hadn't fired the entire in-place staff on your second day you would have been better informed about things like the CARA reports and Michigan football traditions. Keep up the good work, on and off the field!

Art Vandelay

Mon, Nov 16, 2009 : 2:43 p.m.

Where are you folks reading "mandatory"? It says "The forms are not required by the NCAA".

big things 77

Mon, Nov 16, 2009 : 2:41 p.m.

we must as michigan cut ties with this man after this saturday we are michigan and this absolutley should not be tolerated here this man is a disgrace hire a true coach not one that leaves his other team the way this man did,go blue i am sorry to all of the senoirs for this season and that man

chosen1

Mon, Nov 16, 2009 : 2:27 p.m.

michigan= integrity. richrod not filing mandatory forms= dishonesty this is not a good match for us, cut losses before he gets us in further ncaa trouble

captain

Mon, Nov 16, 2009 : 2:12 p.m.

just the tip of the iceberg... we now know that. the real bombshells start falling w/ the ncaa investgation results bye bye bill martin...

BornInA2

Mon, Nov 16, 2009 : 2:12 p.m.

To paraphrase Bugs, Daffy, and Elmer: "Should we fire him now, or wait 'till we get home?" "Fire him NOW! Fire him NOW!" Then let's go hire a good coach with integrity and honor.

chosen1

Mon, Nov 16, 2009 : 2:08 p.m.

yeah the word mandatory is nothing, tater. wake up from your lovefest with rich. Smell the aroma of reality. If rich has broken the rules (and each report makes it seem more and more likely), then his head should be chopped off so that michigan fans can get back to rooting for a winning team. This is something he is not capable of doing.

fensk

Mon, Nov 16, 2009 : 1:57 p.m.

"That's a shredder???? no wonder I keep losing stuff"..... -RR

chosen1

Mon, Nov 16, 2009 : 1:55 p.m.

hmmmm. wonder what the explanation will be. C'mon theo and tater give us the excuses your hero will give the press. How do you not file MANDATORY forms? this does make wonder about the future of the program in his hands, he appears to be very shady