Birk's Eye View: Did Rich Rodriguez endear himself to players with how he handled the Mouton situation?
Here’s something to think about as you get ready for today’s Eastern Michigan game and fans and media continue to debate the merits of Jonas Mouton’s one-game suspension for punching Notre Dame’s Eric Olsen: Maybe Rich Rodriguez wanted this to happen.
Not the punch per say, and surely not Mouton’s suspension. But by denying anything took place as he did earlier this week despite clear video evidence to the contrary, Rodriguez, at his own expense, told his players in no uncertain terms, “I’ve got your back.”
Since he came to town two years ago, Rodriguez has demanded Michigan get tougher as a football team. He’s never condoned punching an opponent and I can’t imagine he ever will, but by saying Mouton did nothing wrong he rubber-stamped the style of play he wants - tough, physical and take no guff from anyone.
That the incident came in a rivalry game, a game Rodriguez curiously insisted was no more chippy than any other, is no surprise. The biggest win of his signature second season at West Virginia was a feisty 21-18 victory over Virginia Tech that vaulted the Mountaineers into the rankings.
West Virginia won the Black Diamond Trophy again the next year to snap out of an early-season tailspin, and after Virginia Tech earned it back in 2004-05, the rivalry was postponed until further notice.
Already this year, Michigan has rallied around allegations of NCAA violations and probes into Rodriguez’s personal life. Don’t think, behind closed doors, Rodriguez isn’t using this to churn the emotions just the same.
Nothing justifies what Mouton did, though by playing the denial card Rodriguez didn't justify anything. What he did was act like the manager in baseball who argues balls and strikes or every NBA coach in the playoffs and publicly stand up for his guy no matter the circumstance.
Don't think that doesn't further endear him to everyone in the locker room.
Comments
BroncoJoe
Sun, Sep 20, 2009 : 9:46 a.m.
More to the point, RR called out the NCAA for succumbing to Weiss' whining. Saying he would be watching every game and sending questionable hits for review means the NCAA now has to pay for their appeasement and start dishing out suspensions left and right. Otherwise, they are obviously selectively targeting certain programs. The type of hit RR referred to at the end of a Big Ten game (can't remember which one it was, but the player actually got called for the penalty as the teams were walking off the field) either has to be dealt with on the field or left alone, unless it is so obvious and flagrant as the Oregon player. Instant replay isn't needed to identify those situations and shouldn't be used for this type of thing...
Goblue
Sat, Sep 19, 2009 : 9:18 p.m.
Dave, I don't expect every article on Michigan football to be positive or reflect on the coaches or players in a positive light all the time. But I have to agree with you on this one. I don't see how most of the people posting on here could've seen that play and not agreed that it was a punch. Possibly the Michigan fan's were doing exactly what you describe Rich Rod to have done. I do want to ask you and I don't know if you will be able to answer this question due to the circumstances. Being that you wrote this article..How do you feel about your colleagues article on this subject? Yes it's in the past but I am so irritated by the sarcasm in "his" opinion piece. Just wondered what your thoughts were? Being that you cover Michigan football together. Email me if you like. I'm interested in what you think.
Kubrick66
Sat, Sep 19, 2009 : 4:10 p.m.
"Did Rich Rodriguez endear himself to players with how he handled the Mouton situation?" I sure hope so. He needs to protect his players and program from the witch hunt being led by the media.