An Outsider's View of Michigan Football This Year

Up front, let me say I'm an Alabama fan. At one time, I pushed for the hiring of Rich Rodriguez. I was disappointed when he said no. I am of course elated today.

But that is not necessarily because I now think coach Rod is a bad coach, but because my Crimson Tide were able to get Nick Saban instead, and I'm sure you can see the difference in where the two programs are now.

I've always watched and admired Michigan. In many ways, the Wolverines are the "Bama" up North. A long and storied tradition with lots of records. Like Bama, you've had some recent problems. Ours was the NCAA and the coaching carousel, yours was Ohio State and now changing coaches.

The problem at least as I see it, is coach Rod's ego. His "I know best" attitude has cost you at least one season. Despite warnings from his own assistants that Michigan's roster was in no way set up to run his "spread" offense, Rodriguez thought he knew better.

He has spent a whole season trying to pound that square peg into a round hole and neither his sheer will or stubbornness is going to make it fit. Not this season, probably not next year either, but it may at some point.

His reluctance to it any other way that "his way" may show undaunted faith in own coaching style, but to us outside, it just makes him look stupid. Good coaches modify their styles for the players they have, not the ones they wish they had.

He couldn't look much dumber unless he started a reserve nose tackle at quarterback for the final game and insisted he throw on every down. And we're scratching our heads and saying, "And they got rid of Lloyd Carr for this?"

Coach Rod can and will eventually turn things around. He can and will recruit athletes suited for his style and system. The question all of us are wondering is whether you'll keep him around long enough to do it? What say you?