Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez: 'Everything's going to be OK'
MIDLAND - Michigan won’t learn the full extent of its punishment for violating NCAA rules for several months, but coach Rich Rodriguez said Monday he’s ready to put the protracted process behind him.
“I wish we could have got it done earlier,” Rodriguez said during an appearance at the Michigan sports editor’s meeting. “Get all this stuff behind us so the only conversation with the old ball coach is, ‘OK, who is your quarterback going to be?’ ‘Why’d you run this coverage?’ ‘What kind of scheme are you going to run on defense?’ Or, ‘What kind of opponent scares you,’ or something like that. So it could be more football-related.”
Michigan filed its official response to NCAA allegations of wrongdoing on Monday and will announce a handful of self-imposed sanctions at 7 a.m. Tuesday.
Rodriguez, the university and since-fired graduate assistant Alex Herron were issued separate notices of allegations in February outlining five potentially major violations. Rodriguez was accused of failing to promote an atmosphere of compliance within his program; Herron of lying to NCAA investigators; the university of failing to monitor the football program; and the program of exceeding NCAA limits on staff size and practice time.
Rodriguez said both he and the university filed 60- or 70-page responses that detail how and why some of the violations occurred and “hopefully will answer a lot of people’s questions.”
“Everything was very thorough,” he said. “And it’s not something that any coach ever wants to go through, trust me on that.”
Rodriguez talked with reporters for nearly an hour Monday, sharing stories about his family, addressing team personnel and admitting the NCAA investigation, which began on the eve of last year’s 5-7 season, was a topic on the recruiting trail.
"It’s not been easy because I think you have to explain yourself more,” he said.
Still, Rodriguez said he was optimistic about Michigan's 2010 season, especially with the investigation coming to an end.
“We’ve got to address everything head on and then let everybody - at least assure everybody that cares about our program, that cares about the University of Michigan, that everything’s going to be fine,” Rodriguez said.
“It’s easy to be all-in when you’re assured that everything is going to be OK. And I’m trying to tell everybody that everything’s going to be OK. I just got to show it. I just got to show it."
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
davebirkettisatroll
Fri, May 28, 2010 : 1:48 a.m.
Coach Rod, Now you can see the hate against Michigan. You even have Sparty alum who find their way to get a job for the Ann Arbor paper of all places to spew their hate. A large majority of the fans support you. The comments you see here are all haters from other teams and pass themselves off as Michigan fans. But they are Sparty, Buckeyes and Domers. I attend Michigan functions in chicago all of the time and everyone is on-board. Go Blue!!!! Go Rich Rod!!! Haters keep hating.
davebirkettisatroll
Fri, May 28, 2010 : 1:47 a.m.
Coach Rod, Now you can see the hate against Michigan. You even have Sparty alum who find their way to get a job for the Ann Arbor paper of all places to spew their hate. A large majority of the fans support you. The comments you see here are all haters from other teams and pass themselves off as Michigan fans. But they are Sparty, Buckeyes and Domers. I attend Michigan functions in chicago all of the time and everyone is on-board. Go Blue!!!! Go Rich Rod!!! Haters keep hating.
Patti Sonntag
Tue, May 25, 2010 : 8:30 p.m.
Sean T The worst thing that has happened to "our program" is the constant negative rhetoric that scum suckers feed from.
Sean T.
Tue, May 25, 2010 : 7:20 p.m.
Tater, What's up with the love-fest with Sparty? And let's be honest that there's not one fan of our Big Ten opponents that are afraid of RR. Especially a MSU Fan! These guys love what has happened to our program.
Patti Sonntag
Tue, May 25, 2010 : 5:21 p.m.
Mitch, My sentiments exactly. I want to see our Coach lead our team through a winning season. Yes, I agree that taking care of business and getting on with a new season is exactly what we need to do. Go Wolverines and Coach Roderiguez!!!!!!
Thomas Martin
Tue, May 25, 2010 : 12:24 p.m.
This is the same Rich Rodriguez who squealed like a spoiled brat when he could not have his own exclusive throne room at WVU. How do you spell CLASS; well, he for one showed his class (lack of) when his resignation at WVU was conducted by scribbling a note on a piece of paper and having an assistant hand deliver it to WVU's President, and that doesn't include the language he used. And has he ever explained why he and his staff shredded so many of his files. I personally believe that an outstanding university like Michigan deserves a hell of a lot better. Someone did not do their homework when RR was hired.
A2lover
Tue, May 25, 2010 : 8:38 a.m.
"Its not been easy because I think you have to explain yourself more, he said. Oh, RR, if only you would explain yourself more! You're an enigma. You don't seem to have a clue, not a clue. How you got this far in your career, I'll never know. Well, perhaps I do know. You talk a very good game, and academics are notorious for being gullible (especially at the U of M), so you pull the wool over everyones eyes, the emperors new clothes syndrome works perfectly for you, and it's only after you've got the job do people realize what a scam/sham artists you are. But that's ok. Because after all your gross mistakes, fabrications and misconduct here and at UWV, it'll be ok. No, I mean it, it'll be ok.
aarox
Tue, May 25, 2010 : 6:30 a.m.
Tater we know how obsessed you are with our little brothers, but this has nothing to do with them, and everything to do with our beloved program which is becoming increasingly iRRelevant.
aarox
Tue, May 25, 2010 : 6:28 a.m.
I feel assured. So assured. Sheesh.
ChelseaBob
Tue, May 25, 2010 : 5:49 a.m.
Yes, everything is going to be OK. No need to worry about that lawsuit from WVA. It will be OK.... No need to worry about all the talented players transferring out, we'll be OK...... No need to worry about lawsuits from my other business activities, we'll be OK...... No need to worry about recruits who have no business being at Michigan for academic or ethical reasons, we'll be OK...... No need to worry about me blaming players for losses and taking credit for victories, we'll be OK...... No need to worry about NCAA investigation, we'll be OK....... RR missed his calling. He should be a politician.
heartbreakM
Tue, May 25, 2010 : 12:42 a.m.
This is so in keeping with Rich Rod's past. He flat out refuses to look in the mirror and accept responsibility for anything (be it potential violations, embarrassing the program, bad coaching, etc). Get all this stuff behind us so the only conversation with the old ball coach is, OK, who is your quarterback going to be?"--Hey, newsflash coach--YOU WERE IN CHARGE when all of this occurred. It is on you. And it is an embarrassment, even if it turns out to be minor. Any rules violation at Michigan is an embarrassment, and he just doesn't get it. But he doesn't get a lot of things Michigan. Like winning. LIke MSU, like OSU.
JB
Mon, May 24, 2010 : 11:14 p.m.
Sparky/A2D2...My sentiments exactly. I was blown away by these comments, as they reflect a near complete disconnect with this guy in regard to the gravity of the situation. Instead of acknowledging the scope and relevance of this problem, he continues with a dismissive and even cavalier mindset. Yeah, I hope 'everything's gonna be okay' coach. And I'm sure the NCAA will be very impressed with your irritation at this inconvenience.
A2D2
Mon, May 24, 2010 : 10:33 p.m.
Okay, one more time, repeat after me...... "Everything's going to be okay, everything's going to be okay, just tap your heels together three times, and your ruby slippers will take you right back home.....". "oh, and just remember, you're not in West Virginia anymore"
Sparky79
Mon, May 24, 2010 : 10:29 p.m.
Get all this stuff behind us so the only conversation with the old ball coach is, OK, who is your quarterback going to be? Whyd you run this coverage? What kind of scheme are you going to run on defense? Or, What kind of opponent scares you, or something like that. So it could be more football-related." LOL... sorry Rich, but just because this stuff gets behind the program doesn't mean the media is going to stop asking about it. Not the media around these parts these days. And we all know if they're not talking about the violations, they will be talking about... EXPANSION!