Michigan Football: Could Gator Bowl Be Coach Rodriguez's Last Hurrah?

(Note: This article has been edited to include Michigan's recently announced Gator Bowl opponent, Mississippi State).

You might see them chatting along the streets of downtown Jacksonville while Michigan prepares for its Gator Bowl meeting with Mississippi State. One wonders if these two men are walking together, or heading in opposite directions.

Dave Brandon has been athletic director for barely a year. He’s eagerly awaiting  the Wolverines’ first bowl game after a two-year absence.

Rich Rodriguez is anticipating his first bowl game as Michigan’s head football coach. Many believe it will be his last.

The former West Virginia coach has just completed his third straight tumultuous season at Michigan. Despite a 7-5 overall record, Michigan was barely competitive against the teams that matter—Ohio State and Michigan State.

If it wasn’t for the magic of super soph Denard Robinson, who knows how bad the season could have been.

Brandon, on the other hand, is right on track with the job of resurrecting Michigan’s tattered athletic brand. Thanks to predecessor Bill Martin, Brandon has unveiled new and exciting venues all over campus. The chief addition is the $226 million renovation to the Big House.

Next week more than 110,000 will see Michigan and Michigan State face off in an outdoor hockey game. The Big Chill in the Big House will set a world ice hockey attendance record, surpassing the 77,803 set at the IIHF World championships in Germany last summer.

The game will showcase the new permanent lighting system that will be in effect at next fall’s gridiron matchup with Notre Dame. It will be the first of many night games at Michigan Stadium.

Many believe that Brandon played a huge roll in Michigan landing in the Jan. 1 Gator Bowl instead of traveling to Arizona for the Insight Bowl. 

Wolverine fans have always favored bowl games in Florida over contests in Arizona or Texas. Although Jacksonville is nearly 1,000 miles from Ann Arbor, the game with Mississippi State will undoubtedly be a sellout. Michigan has a large alumni presence in Florida, and many fans will definitely make the drive south.

Michigan has also recruited heavily in Florida. There are 10 players on the current roster from the sunshine state, including Denard Robinson, Jeremy Gallon, Ricky Barnum and Martavious Odoms.  Ticket and travel packages will be available at mgoblue.com beginning Monday morning at 8:30.

Like Michigan, the Bulldogs (8-4, 4-4) haven't been to a bowl game the last two seasons.  

While Michigan’s overall athletic future looks bright, Rodriguez has come under constant scrutiny since his arrival three years ago. The loss of key players, an NCAA investigation and this season’s horrible defense has created a divided atmosphere at best.

The roles of both Rodriguez and Brandon in the NCAA probe were keys in the university only getting a slap on the wrist. But what may have been a positive in the coach’s struggle, poor special-teams play and an embarrassing loss to Ohio State put Rodriguez back on the hot seat.

Brandon promises to have a coaching decision after the bowl games. In fact, it may come down to Brandon’s ability to pry Jim Harbaugh away from Stanford. After all, the last thing Michigan needs is another search like the last one.