Rodriguez-The Michigan Man-For Better or For Worse?

Yes folks, it is true. The once proud football powerhouse of the Midwest is changing, however, only you can decide for better or for worse. One aspect of the situation is definitely for certain. Rich Rodriguez could care less about being a "Michigan Man."

The powers that be at Michigan with sailor Bill Martin at the helm knew exactly what they were getting by hiring Rodriguez away from West Virginia. They knew that Rich is a fierce competitor. They knew that Rich had built a competitive program at West Virginia. They knew that Rich had previously flirted with leaving Morgantown for the likes of Alabama. (can you imagine if Rich has just completed his second year in Tuscaloosa like he has in Ann Arbor-whew!) Hey if he was a good enough coach for the Tide, why not the Wolverines-The Harvard of the Midwest. All jokes aside folks, Martin and Coleman wanted a grand slam hire that would finally propel the winged helmet to the BCS National Championship game. It can be said, however that the hiring of Rodriguez at Michigan has led to a ninth inning, game losing strike out in the World Series of college football. 

There is no doubt that Rich Rodriguez is an excellent football coach. His arrival in Ann Arbor, however, has amounted to a round peg being squeezed into a square hole. Yes, he doesn't fit. The Michigan football program has always been a proud, tradition based program- including the players that were recruited to play there. These kids were tough, they were big, and they played hard. They seemed proud to strap up and play for Bo, Mo and Loyd. The kids under Rodriguez look as if they are afraid are getting screamed at all of the time instead of respecting the leadership of the guy they are playing for. Could this signal a bit of disloyalty from the young players. How many kids from 1968-2007 complained to the Free Press or Detroit News. Of course, some will say that is because they are being pushed now. It is hard to believe that Bo, Mo, and Carr were soft on the boys. Something is not right when a number of kids are complaining and something is wrong with the demeanor of a team that looks liked a whipped puppy each week as they enter and exit the field. There is something wrong in Ann Arbor and Bill Martin is looking away, After all, it is really not his problem anymore. Happy retirement.

There is no doubt that by 2004, the Michigan football program had become stale. In fact, it can easily be said that perhaps Carr should have retired a bit earlier than he did. Loyd did alot of good things for Michigan. He ran a relatively clean program and by the way-wasn't he the head coach in 1997?-remember that year Michigan fans. The Appalachian State loss was the kicker for Michigan fans and for Loyd. Never mind the fact that Appalachian State was a very good team that year. Those same Michigan kids that lost that game played their hearts out for Coach Carr as they beat Tebow and Florida in the Citrus Bowl the same year. Loyd Carr went out a winner-instead, he is blamed in the media now almost every week for lousy recruiting- No matter how you feel about him, he does not deserve this.

On the other hand, there are things that Rodriguez deserves. The man was brought in to compete for a National Championship, not just the Big Ten Championship. After all, the sweater vest in Columbus seems to do this very thing every year. Rodriguez does deserve the time to recruit his players and develop them. He has had only one full recruiting class in Ann Arbor. Some of these players, however, did not look like they were developing by the end of the year, more like regressing (Forcier) and that should send up a red flag for any program. A third year is enough time for recruitment and development and Michigan fans are demanding it for 2010.

There are other things that are piling up on Rodriguez as well. What about the NCAA investigation? What will come of this? Will the university tolerate being put on probation or losing scholarships? There is also the possibility that nothing will show up. In the end, Rodriguez will be back In Ann Arbor for 2010. The pressure is mounting on him and his staff and you can see it in his face. Each week, he states that this is a process that will take time and that the past recruiting has hurt his program. He doesn't care about being a "Michigan Man" and what that really meant when Bo uttered this phrase in 1989. Rich Rod wants to win and win quick at all costs and Michigan fans must decide if his arrival in Ann Arbor has been for better or for worse. By November 2010, they will help the new Athletic Director decide.