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Ridiculous? Probably. But history has a strange way of repeating itself.
The Michigan Wolverines had a forgettable year (or unforgettable, depending on your allegiance) under Rich Rodriguez in his first season as head coach. They finished the 2008 season a humiliating 3-9, missing out on post-season play for the fist time in many of our lives.
However, one bad season doesn't define a team nor a coach.
Rodriguez came to Michigan after having a very successful career at West Virginia. But it didn't start out so successfully.
His first year as Mountaineer head coach pitted him with a 3-8 record, sound familiar? But it didn't take him long to turn things around.
In the following season, Rodriguez led his team to a runner-up spot in the Big East and ended the season with nine victories to only four defeats.
Quite the accomplishment.
Of course we're all aware of the accolades that followed. Rodriguez will be remembered as one of the best coaches ever to hold the position in Morgantown, WV.
He himself won multiple Big East Coach of the Year awards and the team won their conference championship a couple of times.
So what does this mean for Michigan in 2009?
It means that you can't count the Wolverines out based on their performance last year.
Many pre-season conference rankings have the Maize and Blue located at the bottom of the barrel in the Big Ten, but I have a feeling they'll prove otherwise.
Everyone was shocked by the Wolverines 2008 season under Rodriguez. I'll never forget the video of the fans, disbelief in their eyes, arms crossed, just staring at the scoreboard unable to believe their eyes, week after week.
Rodriguez is a good coach, he's already proved so at West Virginia, and that's why Michigan hired him.
But one thing we must remember is that Rodriguez isn't a conventional coach.
He went to Ann Arbor with a plan, and he's sticking to it.
Fans, and professionals relished the thought of finishing 3-9, missing a bowl game, but I'm sure Rodriguez is still confident in his vision for the team, and I'm sure he feels like the ship is still on course.
Success is only a short distance from failure.
If you make the right moves and take advantage of all opportunities, you'll do well in life, whether its coaching, or flipping burgers at Wendy's.
And success seems to be a pattern for coaches entering their second season at a university.
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