Michigan denies reports that Rich Rodriguez has been fired...as of now
Updated at 6:40 p.m.
The University of Michigan has denied reports that Rich Rodriguez has been fired...as of this moment. The school released a statement that said:
"This is media speculation at this point the definitive voice on this matter is [Athletic Director] Dave Brandon and he has not and will not speak publicly until a final decision has been made."
Brandon and Rodriguez are expected to meet again today.
Filed at 3:19 p.m.
The University of Michigan has fired Rich Rodriguez, according to the Detroit Fox affiliate and the Detroit Free Press.
The firing of Rodriguez, who was 15-22 in three seasons at the school, comes three days after Michigan lost to Mississippi State in the Gator Bowl. Under Rodriguez, the Wolverines went 1-10 against ranked teams and failed to beat Michigan State and Ohio State.
Reports that Jim Harbaugh, the Stanford coach and Michigan alum, was in line to succeed Rodriguez were shot down. Candidates reportedly could include two former Michigan assistants: San Diego State Coach Brady Hoke and LSU Coach Les Miles.
By
Cindy Boren
| January 4, 2011; 3:19 PM ET
Categories:
College football
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Rich- what comes around, goes around. The way he lefy West Virginia was bad karma...
and it got him.
Posted by: poppysue85 | January 4, 2011 4:14 PM | Report abuse
Thanks, Awesome Cindy. Who in their right mind would leave Palo Alto for Ann Arbor? And does Rodriguez go to Pitt? He recruits well, knows the area, and would require an squadron of armed soldiers to protect him if he set foot in W. Va.
Posted by: flynnie321 | January 4, 2011 4:18 PM | Report abuse
Karma's got nothing to do with anything. If it did, Nick Saban wouldn't be enjoying himself at Bama. RichRod got fired because he tried to turn a team built for cold weather power into a team built for warm weather versatility. Callahan tried to do the same thing at Nebraska, and got the same result. It's not complicated. Coaches have to work with what they have, particularly if they've inherited some down recruiting classes. If they're not willing to adapt, they'd better hope the school, the fans, and the boosters will be patient for at least the 4 recruiting years it tends to take to do a serious talent turnover in a program. No major school these days will take that position. They can't afford to. Coaches who don't realize this don't understand what they're walking into. RichRod clearly didn't.
Posted by: mbcnewspaper | January 4, 2011 4:24 PM | Report abuse
RR has no problem leaving UM. He will now go to Clemson and win again. He was not a good fit for Mich.
Posted by: ariver31112 | January 4, 2011 4:32 PM | Report abuse
When Fraudriguez was interviewing for the Maryland job last week, today's events were clearly a foregone conclusion.
As a relative of a number of Ohio State Alums, I feel their sorrow in his untimely departure from Michigan
Posted by: CapsNut | January 4, 2011 4:33 PM | Report abuse
Bye Bye Richie. All the WVU fans are definitely feeling you got what you deserved and I'm among them. You'll probably land on your feet somewhere, but it sure is nice to think your struggling a little like they did when you left them in the lurch.
Posted by: publicservice2 | January 4, 2011 4:39 PM | Report abuse
sorry, make that "you're struggling"
Posted by: publicservice2 | January 4, 2011 4:40 PM | Report abuse
As a PSU alumni I'm sad to see Rich Rod leave Michigan. My brother in law went to WVU and the animosity is amazing but not undeserved. He's a great coach who made the miscalculation of trying to turn Michigan into a spread team in one sweeping motion.
For such a good coach he really should have known better than to do that. He'll land on his feet and hopefully in the Big East.
Posted by: theobserver4 | January 4, 2011 4:56 PM | Report abuse
Oops! The grass was not greener in Michigan.
Posted by: jackp1 | January 4, 2011 4:58 PM | Report abuse
It is called poetic justice. Rodriguez leaves WVA in a less than classy way and is now getting the bum's rush at Michigan. Esta bien amigo!
Posted by: chopin224 | January 4, 2011 5:20 PM | Report abuse
Rich Rod may not be as good a coach as folks think because he had a gem of a QB in Mallet, the classic Michigan pocket passer. Mallet was ready to take over when RichRod got there. But Rich Rod was all about HIS system and wasted talent.
Michigan folks were not comfortable losing and watching the style of play more than anything. They were used to seeing a modified pro style offense with the prototypical 6-4 QBs passing to decent WRs and handing off to strong running backs. Not to mention, Mich always had a stout defense with 2-3 pro prospects within the d-line and LBs alone. A running QB was one thing, the porous defense was another.
Lastly, Michigan lost to Michigan St and others in the big house. That was not an acceptable standard for them. i don't think the guy had any chance to save his job.
Posted by: oknow1 | January 4, 2011 5:27 PM | Report abuse
The App. State butt kicking still lingers on, 3 years and 2 coaches later. It's amazing how one loss crippled a program. I'm just waiting for ESPN to do a 3 in 30 story about it.
Posted by: clark202 | January 4, 2011 6:03 PM | Report abuse
YAWN
Thanks for stating the obvious. RR has been a nightmare, from Day 1. RR is like OWEbama, except you don't have 14,000 more IRS agents.
Posted by: russpoter | January 4, 2011 6:25 PM | Report abuse
Do we have a new Connecticut coach here? Or Pasco Community College?
Posted by: llrllr | January 4, 2011 6:32 PM | Report abuse
Live from Los Angeles! From the demonizing of President Obama, the firing of Coach Randy Shannon down at the University of Miami Hurricanes and now the possible dismissal of Coach Rich Rodriguez of the Michigan Wolverines, the underlying theme of these people's weakness as stated by Michael Moore on last night's CNN with Anderson Cooper is the racism of the American mindset of having minorities in high profile position within the United States! This is not coincidence because of the negativity that is constantly harped on these people! My favorite quote of Michael Moore was the take on Darrell Issa when HE said the Obama administration is the most corrupt in history. What Moore said was Issa and people in DENIAL don't want to accept the reality of what is going on in America TODAY and they need to OWN UP because these people's actions and behavior is setting a bad example for America to the rest of the world. One example of THIS is Amani Toomer who came on ESPN First Take and bashed Coach Rich Rodriguez who felt HE was not a Michigan man. To ME, Amani Toomer is an Uncle Tom because someone was forcing HIM to say that!! This is not a Republican or Democrat thing because Coach Randy Shannon of the Miami Hurricanes who is black was let go by the school which is run by President Donna Shalala who is a Democrat! Even Michael Steele of the Republican National Committee is having a hard time because people say HE is corrupt! Wheater YOU are a conservative or liberal, Racism is alive and well in America where high-profile minorities are scrutinized!!!
Posted by: big_bors | January 4, 2011 7:23 PM | Report abuse
Go Spartans.
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Posted by: strade65 | January 4, 2011 8:56 PM | Report abuse
"The University of Michigan has denied reports that Rich Rodriguez has been fired." YET.
Posted by: nan_lynn | January 5, 2011 12:18 AM | Report abuse












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