Rich Rodriguez

Now, after hearing of the recent allegations thrust at head coach Rich Rodriguez, I feel the need to come up with another crazy reference for what is hopefully not becoming a circus. Millions nationwide are fans of Michigan football, which stands for excellence, class, tradition, scholastic achievement and winning. Anyone that even pays a little attention to NCAA football knows that the three wins the U of M football team posted last year do not rank highly in any of those categories; as a matter of fact, the 2008 Wolverines season probably ranks last in all. Wait! Not so fast. RR's squad last year did achieve the highest team grade point average in 20 years and according to Athletic Director Bill Martin, is close to being the highest ever at Michigan. As the pages of the 2009 chapter of RichRod's UM adventure turn, it seems as though things were starting to make an about face and begin to show all sorts of positive signs before his second season begins. That of course was until recently when the Detroit Free Press published a story stating that some current and former players have come forward to say that Coach Rod and his staff are not in compliance with NCAA rules that govern off-season workouts, in-season practice time and summer scrimmages. Oh say it ain't so, another controversy during the RichRod era! The opponents of his hiring and Michigan haters begin to buzz again about the tumultuous time Rodriguez has had since beginning the hiring process at UM and leaving West Virginia. The player bail outs, the awful 2008 win-loss record, the court battles and now this are starting to take their toll on RR. In a press conference he showed signs that maybe the pressure of being the " Main Man " at Michigan is getting to him.

Continue reading "A League Of His Own !"

orcier is the man? He just arrives on the job and the ship has been righted? Not so fast! Rich Rodriguez knows that hope is no strategy and that he must go to work on finding another quality quarterback. No doubt  Forcier ( who deems his own play to resemble that of Colt McCoy )  has the skills to develop into a star but putting all the eggs in one basket is risky business. After the 2008 season RichRod knows that the pressure is mounting by the minute to produce better numbers in the win column. With both Beaver and Forcier who were scheduled to enroll in class early ( January )  to get a jump start on the playbook and getting stronger, RR thought he was well on his way. Now with the decommitments of Newsome and Beaver, he ( Rodriguez ) may have a blessing in disguise. Yes, it changes the immediate quarterback landscape but it might turn out to be a good thing. Both Beaver and Forcier are four star recruits, Forcier the number six ranked dual threat QB, Beaver number eight. Newsome who is about to leave the conversation is ranked number four. With the three of them committed to schools that leaves the door open for Rodriguez to persue the number two and three ranked dual threat quarterbacks, Tyrik Rollison(2) and Tajh Boyd(3). Neither Boyd nor Rollison have Michigan on the radar due to solid commitments by four start recruits at the same position. Now, however, one of those positions is vacant. Is it possible that Michigan could wind up with two of the top six dual threat quarterback recruits for the 2009 season?  The quarterback position in the spread offense requires the quarterback to absorb a lot of hits and having more than one highly capable quarterback could be just the missing link Richrod needs to get his version of the program off the ground. With the bowl season almost over, thus ending the lame duck session, the Michigan faithful will no longer have to wait to see what the future holds because it will be upon them.

Continue reading "Michigan's Recruiting River Dammed By Beaver !"