Rich Rodriguez and Michigan Wolverines Football: Is 7-5 Good Enough?

This is sort of a part two of an article I wrote a couple weeks back about what would happen to Rich Rodriguez if Michigan were to lose it's last two regular season games and finish 7-5. In that article, I indicated that it would be a very tough decision either way. The team certainly has improved, but is it enough?

Now that 7-5 is a reality, I must reiterate that this will not be an easy decision. To me there are really four factors involved. Two of them would be an argument to keep him and the other two would be an argument to go in a different direction.

The first factor is that the team has steadily improved in Rodriguez's three years. They went from 3-9 to 5-7 to 7-5. Not only the records but also the team just looks better. That is especially true on the offensive side of the ball. If Denard Robinson is around for two more years, a lot of positive memories can be created.

The second factor is that if Michigan were to go in a different direction and bring in, let's say Jim Harbaugh, Michigan would once again have to reinvent itself. That could lead to even more mediocrity in the short term. That may actually set Michigan even further back in terms of recruiting.

In spite of those factors that are very solid reasons for Rodriguez to be retained, there are a couple of other factors that just cannot be ignored.

First, although they have improved, they still had a losing record in the Big Ten this year. On top of that, the Wolverines weren't even competitive with Michigan State, Iowa, Wisconsin and Ohio State.

Michigan's lack of success against the best of the Big Ten is due primarily to a very poor defense. That is on Rodriguez. It is his third year and he has had time to bring in his guys. I remember West Virginia having high octane offenses but don't ever really remember them being great on defense. Perhaps you can get away with that in the Big East, you can't in the Big Ten.

The final factor is one that not a lot of media have discussed, but to me is huge. Rodriguez's 7-5 record in his third year is exactly the same as Brian Kelly's in his first year at Notre Dame. Kelly was left with players who were recruited by Charlie Weis. Kelly also runs the spread, and he was able to at least lead his team to a bowl game in their first year.

As before, I am not advocating one way or the other for him to stay or go. I think it is a tough decision. I do think they need to make it now and not wait for the bowl game.

The reason being that I don't think beating up another MAC team in the Little Caesar's Bowl really gives them any information that they don't already know. Also, it is recruiting season and recruits won't choose a school whose head coaching situation is unresolved.