Michigan athletic director David Brandon, left, arrives at Schembechler Hall on Wednesday afternoon for a meeting with Michigan football players.

Lon Horwedel | AnnArbor.com

Dave Brandon had a full agenda when he talked with Michigan football coach Rich Rodriguez on Tuesday afternoon, but firing him was never part of the plan.

At least not immediately.

Brandon, Michigan's athletic director, said for weeks that he planned to do a thorough review of Michigan's football program once the season ended. Together, with the third-year coach, Brandon would consider the Wolverines' on-the-field performance, Rodriguez's recruiting practices and retention, academic performance and university performance.

The two met for about 3 1/2 hours Tuesday, discussing the 7-6 season and a 15-22 record over three seasons. Outside of the meeting, media reports sourced and unsourced - reported that Rodriguez either had been fired or was about to be.

Long before the meeting ended around 5:30 p.m., outlets - both local and national - were reporting the end of Rodriguez's tenure. Shortly after, Michigan's athletic department issued a statement, insisting that everything that had been reported was speculation.

"I wanted the opportunity to reflect on the meeting and take the evening to reflect on the conversations we had," Brandon said at a press conference Wednesday when he announced Rodriguez was relieved of his coaching duties.

Various reports surfaced Tuesday night, including from ESPN analyst and former Michigan receiver Desmond Howard, who spoke to Brandon during that evening. Howard said Brandon had not yet made up his mind.

The Michigan football players were not informed of what was happening.

"It's a very difficult thing when you've got players particularly today who are starting classes, and that's where we want them to be, to sequence anything in this world where it doesn't leak out where it becomes something they hear from someone else," Brandon said.

Although the Brandon and Rodriguez agreed to meet again Wednesday morning, Brandon said he made his decision before he went to bed Tuesday.

The two met for an hour Wednesday morning, when Brandon broke the news to Rodriguez.

Rodriguez, who did not address the media Wednesday, was clearly disappointed, Brandon said.

"I know he's frustrated, because he would have loved to continue," Brandon said. "I think when you consider - as he would put it - the drama that he has dealt with since the day he got on this campus, I think he's handled himself in an amazingly controlled and measured way."

Brandon said the decision wasn't easy. Almost since Rodriguez had been hired to replace Lloyd Carr following the 2007 season, there had been factions dividing a once loyal fan base.

"Coach Rodriguez has faced many challenges and difficulties over his three years here," Brandon said Thursday. "Rich Rodriguez is a good man. None of us are pleased with the results we have achieved over the last three seasons, but I don't believe this was a result of lack of effort."

By 11 a.m. Thursday, Michigan announced a press conference. At Schembechler Hall, players arrived at the football building.

"I don't know nothing," defensive back Troy Woolfolk said as he walked into Schembechler Hall. "I'm telling you, I'm not going to lie. This is what it is. They most likely are going to tell ya'll before they tell us."

Other players walked past reporters, saying they knew nothing.

Within an hour, Brandon announced Rodriguez's firing, stating he would begin a national search for a new coach. Brandon said he would act quickly, but would do the right thing.

"I think what we've learned in the past is that these decisions last a long time," Brandon said. "So my job is to get the right coach and to engage in a process that affords me the opportunity to do that."

Over the next 30 minutes Wednesday, Brandon dispelled rumors swirling around Michigan's interest in former quarterback and current Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh while also stressing the importance for Michigan's fan base to rally around Rodriguez's successor. He asked fans not to make "hasty judgments" before a new coach arrived on campus.

Brandon acknowledged that he is not set on hiring a "Michigan man", but said the new coach must have a clear understanding of what Michigan is about.

"This is a unique place, it creates unique challenges and it also provides unique opportunities," Brandon said. "What I know and believe is that whoever comes into this job has to understand that clearly and be well suited for it."

Jeff Arnold covers sports for AnnArbor.com and can be reached at (734) 623-2554 or by e-mail at jeffarnold@annarbor.com. Follow him on Twitter @jeffreyparnold.