Michigan Football: What Rich Rodriguez Has Learned after Two Seasons.

When Rich Rodriguez left the University of West Virginia in 2007 to become the head coach at the University of Michigan, he embarked on a journey which has been tumultuous to say the least.

Since taking over as the head coach of the Wolverines, Rodriguez has experienced two losing seasons, players leaving the program, potential NCAA penalties this August and a mountain of criticism.

Meanwhile, year three is about to begin and their is a tremendous amount of pressure on Rodriguez.

There was little doubt that most Michigan fans were ready for the retirement of Coach Carr, however, the hiring of Rich Rodriguez brought a great deal of change that most Michigan fans were not ready for.

It would be safe to say that the last two years have been a vast learning experience for both Michigan supporters and Coach Rodriguez.

One if the first items that Rodriguez has had to learn is that the college football environment in Ann Arbor is much different than the safe haven he left in Morgantown.

Even though West Virginia is a respectable football program, it is not a storied program like Michigan and the expectations for success are greater in Ann Arbor.

Now the folks in Morgantown expect to win as well, however, Michigan is the winningest program of all time.

Rodriguez also came to Ann Arbor at a time in which Michigan fans were getting tired of mediocrity. They wanted a program headed for modernity instead of three yards and a cloud of dust.

Thus, only instant success would suffice for anyone coming in after Loyd Carr.

He left Morgantown in a cloud of controversy and a team that was preparing for a bowl game.

Hopefully, he learned that no matter how fat the check may be, leaving your team before their bowl game was not the greatest public relations move at the time.

Rodriguez seemed to be the guy that would instantly transform a slumbering giant into a national contender in the blink of an eye.

He quickly learned that Michigan's roster wasn't stocked with the athletes he thought it would be.

He had to recruit his type of athletes to run his offense.

More importantly, he had to quickly replenish the talent on the defensive side of the ball.  

He has asked for patience and he has learned that the patience of Michigan supporters is running out. 

He also learned that the University of Michigan will not admit everyone he recruits.

In Morgantown, he seemed to be able to bring in any recruit he wanted to.

He has also learned that the new Athletic Director, David Brandon is a man that accepts responsibility and he expects others to do so as well.

Rodriguez also knows that Brandon supports his efforts at this point.

Finally, Coach Rodriguez learned most of all in his two years at the helm that no matter how good he does both on and off the field, The Detroit Free Press is going to criticize him and his efforts.