Rich Rodriguez Fired: Why Rich Rod Got a Raw Deal at Michigan

To almost no one's surprise, Michigan athletic director David Brandon relieved head football coach Rich Rodriguez of his duties today after the Wolverines suffered a 52-14 defeat to Mississippi State in the Gator Bowl, marking the worst bowl loss in school history.

The loss also dropped the Maize and Blue to 7-6 on the season, and a dismal 15-22 on Rich Rod's watch.

By no means can Rodriguez's three-year tenure in Ann Arbor be considered successful, unless, of course, you consider his implementation of a spread offense at a school known for smash-mouth football a step forward.

There are certainly plenty of fans all over the country who have berated Rodriguez for the job he did at UM, sullying the name of the university both on the field and off, with minor NCAA infractions and the protracted legal fiasco in which he was embroiled with his prior employer, West Virginia.

Those same fans are waiting anxiously for Michigan AD David Brandon to reach out to Stanford head coach Jim Harbaugh, who played quarterback under legendary coach Bo Schembechler and led the Stanford Cardinals to the first 12 win season in school history by defeating Virginia Tech convincingly in the Orange Bowl.

Additionally, now that there is a vacancy in the top position at arguably the most revered program in college football, there will be no shortage of those with fingers just itching to be pointed.

Just don't point them at Rich Rod.

It may seem strange to come to Rodriguez's aide in this situation when he clearly wasn't the man for the job, but hear me out and berate me below if you disagree.

First of all, Rodriguez should never have been offered the job in the first place.

Rodriguez was essentially the poorly thought out choice of former Michigan AD and current president of the U.S. Sailing Foundation William C. Martin, known widely as "Sailboat Willie."

Martin had originally sought LSU coach Les Miles, a "Michigan man," to replace the "retiring" Lloyd Carr but mishandled the negotiations, was ultimately rebuffed and acted hastily by turning to Rich Rod, who was a hot name on the coaching market back in the day.

At the time, Rodriguez had just led West Virginia, his alma mater, to its fourth conference title in five years and its second BCS bowl berth in three years. Few expected him to leave Morgantown, considering he was a native of the state and played defensive back for the football team in the early 1980s.

That all went out the window when Sailboat Willie came calling, offering him a chance to lead the winningest program in the history of college football back to the pinnacle of the game.

Now, really, how many coaches in America, especially at schools of lesser prestige like West Virginia, could resist such an enticing offer?

More money and more cachet, not to mention a chance to dig out a niche among the immortals of the game should he turn out to be a success.

Never mind the fact that Rodriguez had no prior history with the region, much less the school, and preferred a style of offense that fans and boosters at Michigan cringed at the thought of watching their team playing.

It was Bill Callahan to Nebraska all over again.

And, like Callahan, Rich Rod risked his reputation as a high-caliber football coach to take on a challenge chock full of rewarding potential.

It turns out, the risks outweighed the reward, but can you really blame the guy for taking the offer?

Before, Rodriguez was a hot name, a veritable football genius who transformed West Virginia into a perennial football powerhouse with an innovative offense.

Now, he's just the Grinch who stole Michigan, a man to whom only boo birds flock where once adoring fans and athletic directors sought his signature.

In essence, whatever shot he had at all-time greatness he sacrificed by taking the Michigan job, and what has he gotten in return?

A boot out the door.

So where does Rich Rod go from here?

Would he dare take the head job at Pittsburgh, West Virginia's arch rival?

Might he go the route of current Ohio head man Frank Solich and rehabilitate his image at a smaller school?

Perhaps a gig as an offensive coordinator at a big-name program?

Or, is Rich Rod due for some time off to rest his weary soul after three trying years in Ann Arbor?

Whatever happens, let it be know that Rodriguez, though perhaps at fault for greeting Sailboat Willie's extended hand with a shake of his own, does not deserve to be reviled as he certainly will be.

If anything, he was a victim of circumstance, a man who just didn't look good in Maize and Blue, but who should not be faulted for wanting to belong.