As of Wednesday morning, Michigan coach Rich Rodriquez’s head is still on the chopping block.
The word on his fate is supposedly coming down later today in Ann Arbor.
Media reports yesterday said he was fired. Michigan denied the rumors.
So this is developing into a soap opera. What is Michigan actually doing? Are they working out the severance package with Rodriquez’s lawyer? Are they waiting for Jim Harbaugh to say yes to a coaching offer? Do they have someone else in mind to take the job immediately after the Rodriquez clearance?
A national sports guy said that Michigan would do Rodriquez a favor by firing him because of the constant speculation.
Rodriquez and Michigan were a terrible marriage. According to rumors, he was Michigan’s third or fourth choice. It played like a third or fourth choice.
Michigan is Michigan. It doesn’t do the spread offense. The Wolverines run the football and mix in the pass. They play solid defense. They play old style Big Ten football.
Rodriquez will be fine. He will find another coaching job and resume his success.
On the other hand, Michigan is a troubled place. The Wolverines need some counseling and probably a Michigan guy. At least then, we will recognize the style of football in Ann Arbor.
Showing posts with label Wolverines. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wolverines. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Friday, October 15, 2010
Iowa and Michigan Really Need This Game
When Iowa and Michigan tangle in the Big House tomorrow (Saturday), the stakes are high.
Can Iowa defeat a quality opponent on the road? It’s only the Hawks second road game of the season and they failed miserably against Arizona earlier. Iowa should become a Big Ten title contender this season but a slipup at Michigan will greatly hinder that quest.
With its running game under siege due to injury, look for the Hawks to throw the ball more and put the game in the hands of senior quarterback Ricky Stanzi. Their strong defense must contain an athletic and potent Michigan offense.
But a Michigan question is a big one. What Wolverine team shows up this week? Will it be the club that Michigan State humbled in Ann Arbor last Saturday? Or will it be the team that exploded on offense in their previous victories.
Despite the winning start this season, Michigan fans are not in love with coach Rich Rodriquez yet? It’s been a rocky marriage and would get worse with a loss to Iowa.
Iowa wants a good old fashioned grind it out Big Ten game. Michigan wants lots of offense and a high score. It’s essentially the old vs the new in the Big Ten this week.
It sounds like a great match up.
Can Iowa defeat a quality opponent on the road? It’s only the Hawks second road game of the season and they failed miserably against Arizona earlier. Iowa should become a Big Ten title contender this season but a slipup at Michigan will greatly hinder that quest.
With its running game under siege due to injury, look for the Hawks to throw the ball more and put the game in the hands of senior quarterback Ricky Stanzi. Their strong defense must contain an athletic and potent Michigan offense.
But a Michigan question is a big one. What Wolverine team shows up this week? Will it be the club that Michigan State humbled in Ann Arbor last Saturday? Or will it be the team that exploded on offense in their previous victories.
Despite the winning start this season, Michigan fans are not in love with coach Rich Rodriquez yet? It’s been a rocky marriage and would get worse with a loss to Iowa.
Iowa wants a good old fashioned grind it out Big Ten game. Michigan wants lots of offense and a high score. It’s essentially the old vs the new in the Big Ten this week.
It sounds like a great match up.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Big Game in the Big Ten
Any year the Michigan-Michigan State football game is a big one especially in the motor state. But Saturday’s game is a big, big one.
Michigan State travels to Ann Arbor and puts its 5-0 mark up against Michigan’s 5-0 record. Both teams have had hiccups, but have moved beyond them. Now, we will see what team has real chops.
The Spartan’s main story has been the heart health of coach Mark Dantonio. He plans to be in the press box on Saturday. Michigan’s main story is quarterback Denard Robinson. This guy is lighting up college football. The question is can this youngster keep it up. This game should provide a stern test.
Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez’s job is probably safe with the Wolverine’s undefeated start. His offensive style of play with the multiple-style quarterback is finally clicking. Just don’t tell the old Michigan traditionalists.
My Michigan relatives are huge Wolverine fans, but I’m cheering for the visitors in this one. It’s hard not to like Michigan State with the Dantonio story and a class act quarterback in Kirk Cousins.
Who is your favorite?
Michigan State travels to Ann Arbor and puts its 5-0 mark up against Michigan’s 5-0 record. Both teams have had hiccups, but have moved beyond them. Now, we will see what team has real chops.
The Spartan’s main story has been the heart health of coach Mark Dantonio. He plans to be in the press box on Saturday. Michigan’s main story is quarterback Denard Robinson. This guy is lighting up college football. The question is can this youngster keep it up. This game should provide a stern test.
Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez’s job is probably safe with the Wolverine’s undefeated start. His offensive style of play with the multiple-style quarterback is finally clicking. Just don’t tell the old Michigan traditionalists.
My Michigan relatives are huge Wolverine fans, but I’m cheering for the visitors in this one. It’s hard not to like Michigan State with the Dantonio story and a class act quarterback in Kirk Cousins.
Who is your favorite?
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Hanging with Johnny Orr
I had the privilege to ride with former Iowa State basketball coach Johnny Orr in a parade last Saturday. Orr and I go back to the mid 80s when I work in the Iowa State sports information office.
Orr still looks good at 83. He lives on a golf course in West Des Moines, Iowa (one of his homes) and plays lots of golf anyway. He quipped that he went to coaching so he could play golf.
These days, Orr is a pitchman for Iowa Network Services. He attends about 25 events for the telecommunications company.
Fans still adore Orr and they told him so during the parade. They cheered and yelled, "Hey Johnny." Orr made his signature coaching gesture a few times too: the raised arms and clinched fists. I smiled inside and outside.
Orr loves to tell stories and he told me several.
One was how he recruited Barry Stevens a talented player out of Flint, Michigan. Stevens grades weren't good, but then Orr found out the school counselor attended Iowa State. A story with a happy ending as Orr said Stevens graduated from Iowa State.
Another one was about a Detroit sportswriter who tangled with Orr when he coached Michigan. Orr said he continued to badger him when Iowa State played Michigan in the NCAA tournament in Minneapolis. Well, when the Cyclones upset the Wolverines, Orr was looking for that writer at the post game press conference. He was obviously going to ask him what he thought of Orr's Iowa State team after the victory. The writer never showed up.
I asked Orr if he ever met John Wooden. He said his Michigan teams played UCLA three times all in Los Angeles. Michigan went 0-3. He confirmed that Wooden was a great guy.
But for all Orr's success at Michigan and Iowa State, you can tell his first love is for the Cyclones. He said once that other than marrying his wife, the best decision he ever made was coming to Iowa.
I think he made a great decision. And thousands of Iowa State fans still feel the same way too. I experienced a sampling Saturday.
Orr still looks good at 83. He lives on a golf course in West Des Moines, Iowa (one of his homes) and plays lots of golf anyway. He quipped that he went to coaching so he could play golf.
These days, Orr is a pitchman for Iowa Network Services. He attends about 25 events for the telecommunications company.
Fans still adore Orr and they told him so during the parade. They cheered and yelled, "Hey Johnny." Orr made his signature coaching gesture a few times too: the raised arms and clinched fists. I smiled inside and outside.
Orr loves to tell stories and he told me several.
One was how he recruited Barry Stevens a talented player out of Flint, Michigan. Stevens grades weren't good, but then Orr found out the school counselor attended Iowa State. A story with a happy ending as Orr said Stevens graduated from Iowa State.
Another one was about a Detroit sportswriter who tangled with Orr when he coached Michigan. Orr said he continued to badger him when Iowa State played Michigan in the NCAA tournament in Minneapolis. Well, when the Cyclones upset the Wolverines, Orr was looking for that writer at the post game press conference. He was obviously going to ask him what he thought of Orr's Iowa State team after the victory. The writer never showed up.
I asked Orr if he ever met John Wooden. He said his Michigan teams played UCLA three times all in Los Angeles. Michigan went 0-3. He confirmed that Wooden was a great guy.
But for all Orr's success at Michigan and Iowa State, you can tell his first love is for the Cyclones. He said once that other than marrying his wife, the best decision he ever made was coming to Iowa.
I think he made a great decision. And thousands of Iowa State fans still feel the same way too. I experienced a sampling Saturday.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
The Michigan Mess
Media reports out of Michigan stated today that the University of Michigan is placing self-imposed penalties on its football program. It apparently stems from too much training and practice time.
Well, the Rich Rodriquez era at Michigan hasn't lacked for controversy has it?
Michigan is now acting like a kid caught in the act of stealing cookies. Michigan knows something is definitely wrong, the NCAA knows something is definitely wrong and Michigan is throwing itself at the mercy of the NCAA. The old line, we'll discipline ourselves before Dad can do it when he gets home.
Rodriquez doesn't act like he is pleading for much mercy. If you listening closely, he hasn't said much. Is he just trying to save his neck or what? I know the NCAA rules manual is thick, but shouldn't a coach understand too much practice time? Isn't this like simple addition? Any calculator could handle this one.
Because Michigan has a history-rich football program, I wonder what the NCAA will do. Will that body come down hard on the Wolverines or give them grace based on Michigan's tradition? Supposedly in August, the NCAA will decide/announce its ruling.
If I was Rodriquez I would keep my eyes on the job openings and real estate listings. They might come in handy down the road.
What do you think about the Michigan situation? Who is to blame? What will happen?
Well, the Rich Rodriquez era at Michigan hasn't lacked for controversy has it?
Michigan is now acting like a kid caught in the act of stealing cookies. Michigan knows something is definitely wrong, the NCAA knows something is definitely wrong and Michigan is throwing itself at the mercy of the NCAA. The old line, we'll discipline ourselves before Dad can do it when he gets home.
Rodriquez doesn't act like he is pleading for much mercy. If you listening closely, he hasn't said much. Is he just trying to save his neck or what? I know the NCAA rules manual is thick, but shouldn't a coach understand too much practice time? Isn't this like simple addition? Any calculator could handle this one.
Because Michigan has a history-rich football program, I wonder what the NCAA will do. Will that body come down hard on the Wolverines or give them grace based on Michigan's tradition? Supposedly in August, the NCAA will decide/announce its ruling.
If I was Rodriquez I would keep my eyes on the job openings and real estate listings. They might come in handy down the road.
What do you think about the Michigan situation? Who is to blame? What will happen?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)