Message To Rich Rodriguez: Win or Go Home

It would be an understatement to say that the Rich Rodriguez era in Michigan has been a disappointment.

Before he even coached his first game, nearly all of Michigan's offensive starters who were eligible to return in 2008 either left early for the NFL Draft (Mario Manningham, Adrian Arrington) or transferred (Justin Boren to the hated school down south, and Ryan Mallet to Arkansas).

It's unknown if these players had planned on doing this regardless of who the new coach was going to be once Lloyd Carr announced his retirement, but it wouldn't surprise many if Rodriguez didn't help their cause.

Rodriguez maintained that he was bringing his spread offense to Michigan despite the fact that he did not have the players in place to execute a successful version of it. The linemen were big and not very quick, the returning running backs weren't in the mold of a Steve Slaton or Noel Devine. Ryan Mallet was an NFL prototype pocket passer, not an ideal guy to run the option, who has become one of the best quarterbacks in the country at Arkansas.

Nevertheless, Rodriguez stuck to his guns and watched as an anemic Michigan offense, averaging only 20 points per game (worst in the conference), carried the Wolverines to a 3-9 record. Their first non-winning season since 1967 and the most losses in a season in team history.

Now, Rodriguez got a pass because of the fact that he did not yet have his personnel in place to be effective on offense. While it was incredibly stubborn on his part, it was understandable.

Then 2009 brought promise. Michigan had a couple quarterbacks in Tate Forcier and Denard Robinson, who, while freshman, were able to run the spread offense. Also, with a year under the system, returnees would be more comfortable.

The Wolverines season was that of the beginning of a roller coaster. A slow climb, winning their first five games, beating big-time rival Notre Dame in the process, and then a free fall as they lost their last seven games to finish below .500 yet again.

For those counting, that's a total record of 8-16. That record may fly at Duke, but this is Michigan, the winningest program in the country.

Not only has Rodriguez had a horrible record, he's brought NCAA violations (the first ever for the football program) for holding too many practices during the off-season and a recruiting debacle otherwise known as the Demar Dorsey Experiment.

So, I hope one of two things occur this season as a die-hard Michigan football fan who was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio: either win 11 games or win three. Make a New Years Day game or don't make a bowl game at all. Don't win seven games because that will bring about the "he's improved every year" argument that may keep Rodriguez around. Seven wins shouldn't be considered a successful season at Michigan, it should be considered a failure.

Win, or let Michigan find a coach who can restore honor and winning to one of the greatest programs in football history.