Rich Rodriguez Taking Michigan Down with Him to the Scrap Heap

Larry Burton (Panama City Beach, FL)—To sum up the Rich Rodriguez years so far, you only have to look at the summary of some of the headlines during the Rich Rod years.

"Michigan Wolverines Delighted With Signing of Rich Rodriguez"

"Blowout Loss to Illinois Makes Fans Worry About Rodriguez Era"

"Holy Toledo! Michigan Loses to Toledo"

"Penn Stomp, Rodriguez Era off to Rocky Start"

"With Loss to Michigan State, Michigan is Now the Little Brother"

"Following the Purdue Loss, Michigan Looks at Worst Record in Decades"

"It Took Michigan to Make Northwestern Look Good This Year"

"Ohio Statement 42 Michican't 7"

"Michigan Starting off 2009 With A Hot 4-0 Record, Could Rich Rod be Turning it Around?"

"Second Straight Loss to Michigan State Leaves Wolverines Woozy"

"Rich Rodriguez and the Wolverines Thank God For Delaware State"

"Penn State Stomping Proves Michigan Not on Comeback Road"

"Illinois Makes it Two in a Row Over Michigan"

"Another Tough Purdue Loss Leaves Michigan in Mayhem"

"Michigan Had No Chance or Clues Against Wisconsin"

"Ohio State Mercifully Ends Rodriguez's Second Year"

"Two Years Into the Rodriguez Era With Nothing to Show For It"

Then you have the headlines that make it even worse, like:

"Michigan Player Arrested for Sexual Assault"

"Michigan Running Back Arrested After Attacking Michigan Hockey Player"

"Michigan Recruit Dorsey Reportedly Charged with Two Felonies in 2008, Rodriguez Defends Recruitment"

"Michigan player suspended one game for punching Notre Dame player"

"Big Ten Suspends Player Because Rodriguez Wouldn't Discipline Him"

Lastly, you have what may be the final blow:

"Michigan Football Accused of Major NCAA Violations"

"Rodriguez Unaware He Was Breaking Any NCAA Rules"

"Michigan Violations May Lead to Severe Penalties"

"NCAA Penalties Won't Help Michigan's Turnaround or Recruiting"

"One of the Most Winning NCAA Programs Now One of the Worst"

"Michigan: Rodriguez is Still Our Coach and He Will Be Next Year"