Rich Rod To Fans: "Get a Life"

This weekend is the big rivalry game between Michigan and Ohio State. Apparently, Rich

Rod doesn't understand the significance of this game. Apparently, Rich Rod doesn't understand the passion of these fans.

And apparently, judging from his team's pathetic play, Rich Rodriguez doesn't understand coaching.

3-8, probably 3-9? Nicely done, Rich.

Look, every college football fan wants his team to be in a bowl. Not any bowl, but the best bowl.

We aren't unreasonable. Just hopeful.

We donate money to the schools, join booster clubs, contribute to fundraisers, and buy endless amounts of kitschy merchandise to support our team.

We live and breathe football. We exchange smack and banter for the fun of it.

We pull great pranks on the other team, and post blogs making fun of their players or state, as seen in the two pictures.

Conferences now have their own cable channels, and some teams even have their own network. The college football fan is supporting this economy right now.

The school gets the net proceeds from all of our spending. The school, depending on how strong the alumni groups are, can use that money to buy themselves a great coach.

And what a coach Michigan has:

"It's amazing some of the things that people would say (on a message board) or yell at you of a personal nature," Rodriguez said Monday. "You almost want to tell them, 'Get a life.' "There's a whole lot bigger problems. Look at the economy."

"Get a life"? Are you serious Rich?

Where the hell have you been for the last year? Let's spill this out so you can understand.

Your salary is being paid for by Michigan fans. In fact, your buy-out from West Virginia is also being paid by them. Yes, you owe your former school personally, but since you are paying them out of your own pocketbook, and Michigan is feeding your pocketbook, the fans are paying for it. Capiche?

Michigan is home to some huge corporations, among them, auto manufacturers. Have you taken a look at the recent outlook for these companies? G-R-I-M. Yes, you pointed out the economy is bad, but don't freaking remind us. We know that. Quit deflecting the criticism.

Everybody in the U.S. is suffering from a horrible economy. They are losing their homes. Their jobs. Their nest eggs. Yet they show up in Ann Arbor to support their team and its insensitive coach via season tickets they have had for decades.

While you are guaranteed a home (it's highly doubtful Michigan would let a coach foreclose on his home), a paycheck and the good life, others don't have it so lucky. But they still show up and spend money at the games. Why? To escape the reality of their situations. To have a reason to feel good about themselves.

So you calling out the fans and then pointing out the status of the economy while you're raking in big bucks for ensuring Michigan's worst season ever is really just about as low as it gets.

Are they a little ticked at you? Yep, and you deserve it.

They expected a lackluster year, but not ineptitude.

They expected to a team to be competitive, not fold like lawn chairs.

They expected to beat Toledo. Did they set the bar too high for you? Beating Toledo?

So here they are, the last game of the year, and they know there is no post season play. This is it. After the big game, it's back to reality. This game means everything to them. They live for this game.

They may have posted some nasty stuff about you, but you're a coach, you should expect this. You are either a hero or a goat, it comes with the territory. It's your job to maintain class. Not theirs. They aren't getting paid over 2 mil a year to tank games and embarrass the school. You are.

They're the ones who are paying your salary, and like any good employer, they want to see some return on their investment. Three wins is not exactly a nice return. Six would have been acceptable.

But for you to tell them to get a life is biting the hand that feeds you. You are minimizing their emotional investment with their school. Their team. Their baby. THE RIVALRY. This what they look forward to 364 days from this coming Sunday. It's a constant thing, it never dies, and they are sick of losing to Ohio State four straight years.

Maybe it's because you are not a Michigan Man that you don't grasp how important this game is? Blame the school if they didn't make clear what your priorities were- beat Ohio State. The fans know though. And while they may be just a little too graphic in their message, nod your head and smile. Don't add fuel to the fire.

If a coach doesn't understand how important football is to Michigan fans, and obviously he doesn't when he tells fans to "Get a life," then maybe he really doesn't understand football at all.

Does he?