Rich Rodriguez: Will the Michigan Wolverines Fire Him After This Season?

As the college football season is coming to a close and we quickly approach bowl season, there are a multitude of people asking what the fate of Michigan head coach Rich Rodriguez will be.

If Rodriguez was fired, it would just be one of the handful of coaching changes that have occurred this season.

Here are a few reasons why they should, and shouldn't keep Rich Rodriguez, and ultimately my decision on what Michigan should do.

James Evens is a Purdue student and Basketball/Football Featured Columnist for the Boilermakers, along with being a Writing Intern at Bleacher Report.   Follow him on Twitter or like him on Facebook.

Keep: This Season

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COLUMBUS, OH - NOVEMBER 27: Quarterback Denard Robinson #16 of the Michigan Wolverines drops back to pass against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium on November 27, 2010 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

This season the Wolverines have looked pretty decent.  They were expected to make some serious noise in the Big Ten after the huge start by quarterback Denard Robinson, but failed to meet these expectations.

Once the quarterback faced some real defense, he was quickly deterred and Michigan went back to being a normal team in a great conference

Although they didn't finish like they wanted to, Michigan finished with a 7-5 record and will be going to its first bowl game under their Rodriguez.

Fire: Record Against Top 25 This Year

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COLUMBUS, OH - NOVEMBER 27: Jordan Hall #7 of the Ohio State Buckeyes returns a kickoff against the Michigan Wolverines at Ohio Stadium on November 27, 2010 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

Although the Wolverines were very highly touted earlier this season, they were just not able to get it done in the big games against opponents who really could bring their A game as well.

They went 0-4 this season against Top 25 teams, which is just not acceptable for Michigan, or its fans.

Keep: Starting To Get It Turned Around

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COLUMBUS, OH - NOVEMBER 27: David Molk #50 of the Michigan Wolverines blocks against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium on November 27, 2010 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

Rodriguez is starting to get his own players in the system, and is really starting to get things turned around.

With his great recruiting ability, he should have a Top 25 program built up in the next few years. It takes time to build a great college program, and that's exactly what he needs to build up Michigan.

Fire: Defense

Jamie Sabau/Getty Images

COLUMBUS, OH - NOVEMBER 27: Quarterback Terrelle Pryor #2 of the Ohio State Buckeyes runs with the ball against the Michigan Wolverines at Ohio Stadium on November 27, 2010 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

Michigan's offense is what kept the Wolverines in games this season.  Looking at their stats, they are ranked 34th in passing and 11th in rushing this season.  With these kinds of stats, they should be Top 25 in the country. Yet they are not. Why?

Their defense is why.

Their opponents averaged a total of 33.8 points per game on the Wolverines this season.  This enough should put Rich Rodriguez in danger of suffering the same fate as recently fired Indiana head coach Bill Lynch.

Keep: Denard Robinson

Jamie Sabau/Getty Images

COLUMBUS, OH - NOVEMBER 27: Quarterback Denard Robinson #16 of the Michigan Wolverines runs with the ball against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium on November 27, 2010 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

If there is one bright spot to Rich Rodriguez's career at Michigan, it has been this kid.  One of the greatest dual threat quarterbacks in the nation, Robinson should definitely be a quarterback of a winning team.

Without a defense behind him though, one can't expect him to win many games.

Fire: Record Against Rivals

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

SOUTH BEND, IN - SEPTEMBER 11: Armando Allen, Jr. #5 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish runs as Jonas Mouton #8 of the Michigan Wolverines closes in at Notre Dame Stadium on September 11, 2010 in South Bend, Indiana. Michigan defeated Notre Dame 28-24. (Pho

In Rich Rodriguez's tenure as the Michigan head coach, he has gone 2-7 against Michigan State, Ohio State and Notre Dame.  These two wins came against two struggling Notre Dame teams.

His inability to even win a game against Michigan State or Ohio State will probably put him on the chopping block.

The Verdict: Keep Him

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ANN ARBOR, MI - NOVEMBER 20: Head coach Rich Rodriguez of the Michigan Wolverines reacts while playing the Wisconson Badgers at Michigan Stadium on November 20, 2010 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Wisconsin won the game 48-28. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Ima

Rich Rodriguez is starting to get this program turned around once more.  Give him one more year to prove that he belongs at the University of Michigan.

There will be a lot of people calling for his head, but giving him another year would definitely be an advantage to the program's future.