ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez concedes he is nervous about this weekend's hearing with the NCAA. The problems started nearly a year ago when the Detroit Free Press reported that the Rodriguez-led program was exceeding NCAA limits on practice and training time, leading to school and NCAA investigations. The school admitted in May it was guilty of four violations. It reprimanded Rodriguez and six other people and announced self-imposed sanctions, including two years of probation. Michigan also said it would cut back practice and training time by 130 hours over two years, double the amount of time it exceeded NCAA rules. Rich Rodriguez, Michigan set to contest NCAA allegations - ESPN
It just gets better and better watching the Michigan fiasco unfold.... Here is a video of their running backs coach serving lunch in his home for the players he coaches.... check out what's on the bar at the 46-47 second mark.... .... just don't be the one who starts the food fight.... YouTube - Countdown to Kickoff - Day 14: Fred Jackson
Well that one way to motivate your players. Hawk, whats the word? Any talk about what might happen? Rich Rod seams to dig holes everywhere he goes.
We have some folks on our forum who read the Michigan forum seemingly everyday, I don't... My take is this will be it for RichRod if he doesn't get this team to at least a New Year's Bowl. Michigan has truly been an anomaly the past two years.... 3-13 in conference play... yet they boast 40 some four star and 5 five star recruits on their roster according to Rivals. Now that Mallet is making big news at Arkansas, transferring after Carr got the ax, there seems to be a lot of Maize fans that can't let that go.... plus the fact that Michigan State is pulling in some of the better local recruits... Personally, I think they are not far away from being really good. The problem this year is the conference will have some very good teams... more than we have had in past years... and going 5-3 in the conference will be a challenge for them. Michigan's got way too much pride... and even more money... to let this go on much longer. Interestingly, there seems to be little support for bringing Les Miles up there... much more interest in Harbaugh, even Ferentz's name pops up more than Miles... My guess is RichRod will find a way to get to, say, 7-5, but it won't be enough... all said and done, he doesn't fit their image of who they think they are.
That brings up the much debated topic of whether there is a flaw in the "star" system or whether its poor coaching / underdevelopment of good talent. I can imagine some in Michigan aren't comfortable with the image portrayed by RichRod, wouldn't want him here. The way he left W Va and handled things in Michigan has left a sour taste for many.
Thats going to take some real fence mending there. Harbaugh pretty much shat all over Michigan a couple years ago. Not sure how many in the administration are ready to forgive him.
Is he the defensive coordinator? If so Michigan's defense is to be feared by all. Do they call it the 40 caliber defense?
