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Posted on Sun, Aug 22, 2010 : 5:01 p.m.

Michigan football fan day attendees expect season of success for Rich Rodriguez, Wolverines

By Andrew Reid

FAN-DAY-FUN.jpg

From left, Michigan football players Zac Ciullo, Will Heininger and John Ferrara have fun posing for a photo on media day and fan day at the practice field at Schembechler Hall on Sunday.

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

Hundreds of maize-and-blue-clad Michigan football supporters spilled into Michigan Stadium early Sunday afternoon for the annual fan day, which offers a chance to meet and get autographs from coaches and players.

Walking down the line that formed at the table Michigan football coach Rich Rodriguez would eventually occupy, one fan — nay, superfan — stuck out like Shaq in a middle-school basketball game.

A giant shock of curly maize-and-blue wig, a blue gladiator mask, maize-and-blue forearm shivers and enormous maize-and-blue striped suspenders. This is Fro Dough, no real name given, a superfan who has been a staple at football and basketball games in recent years.

“I’m just a big fan, and I go to all the football and hockey games,” Fro Dough said.

Fro Dough doesn’t let his passion get in the way of realism — with the apparent question marks on defense, he thinks the team will win eight games this season. That's enough, in his mind, for Rodriguez to keep his job.

“I think he’s a good guy,” Fro Dough said of Rodriguez. “You know, a change like this takes time.”

A like-minded, albeit less outwardly outrageous, fan, Brent Hall of Trenton, came with his family to meet coaches and see the finished Michigan Stadium renovations.

He’s thinks the team can win seven or eight games this year, and he’s backing Rodriguez — for now.

“I like the guy, and I think he’s a good coach and recruiter,” Hall said. “But I’m going to be ready for a new guy if he doesn’t win this year.”

Hall thinks the best chance to win immediately is “scoring a lot of points,” because of the problems on defense and, if his accuracy has continued to progress, Denard Robinson at quarterback.

These are, without a doubt, mild fan expectations for a Michigan team that’s less than two weeks from its season opener.

But not everyone in the Big House yesterday was as modest about the 2010 season. Tim Szatanski of Oscoda, who has been a life-long Michigan fan and whose daughter recently graduated from the school, thinks this is the year.

“I can’t see us losing to anyone; We’ll definitely beat Iowa and Ohio State,” Szatanzki said, later admitting that “Wisconsin has had our number recently, for some doggone reason.”

Furthermore, Szatanski is fully behind Rodriguez.

“I love him as a coach,” he said “I love that he spread it around, and I like that he’s not afraid to jump on a kid if he’s doing something wrong. .. I liked when he took (Tate) Forcier’s wings away, gives him a little humility.”

Behind Rodriguez, Szatanski sees the Wolverines achieving big things in the very near future.

“Maybe not this year, but we’ll definitely be competing or a National Championship next season,” he said. “All these naysayers, I say they can go back to their blogging.”

Andy Reid covers sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at andrewreid@annarbor.com.

Comments

Jaxon5

Mon, Aug 23, 2010 : 6:47 p.m.

Why are so many people concerned about winning football games each season? We gave up on that two years ago. Now, it's all about winning games next season, or maybe the season after that, or two seasons later. It's really okay to win every few years or so and rebuild during the years in between. UM fans really need to adjust their expectations. Mediocrity and even poor play is quite acceptable.

theskipper

Mon, Aug 23, 2010 : 6:34 p.m.

after looking at the photo of coach Rich all decked out in his blue and maise Michigan gear while making a statement the players had tp wear plain blue helmets and jerseys until he felt they earned the right to wear the winged helmets and game jerseys. i feel the same should apply to him. Until he proves to us that he can coach he should have to wear a plain blue hat and jersey!!!!!!!!

theskipper

Mon, Aug 23, 2010 : 6:33 p.m.

after looking at the photo of coach Rich all decked out in his blue and maise Michigan gear while making a statement the players had tp wear plain blue helmets and jerseys until he felt they earned the right to wear the winged helmets and game jerseys. i feel the same should apply to him. Until he proves to us that he can coach he should have to wear a plain blue hat and jersey!!!!!!!!

Debbie

Mon, Aug 23, 2010 : 2:40 p.m.

It would be great to see a winning season again and all teams go through some difficult times. However, I do not think the Coach has the capacity or interest to win football games or a vested interest in the UofM. It seems it is not about football and more about money and ego. I truly do hope this season is a good one.I will watch and support as I always have but feel there will be changes at the end of the season.

A2lover

Mon, Aug 23, 2010 : 1:30 p.m.

This talk about "If we are successful this year RR will stay, if not he'll be gone" seems pointless. Rich Rod should have been fired, not for running a failing football program, but because he's deceitful, an equivocator, has minimal leadership skills, lacks diplomacy and a charlatan. Poor kids on the team who work their *sses off, but really, deep down, who'd want to play for such a fraud.

Jaxon Boyfriend

Mon, Aug 23, 2010 : 1:18 p.m.

I am thinking hopefully 3 and out means that commenter is done after this year. Jaxon had a great time at Media Fan Day...was shooting a picture of new suites from the field and cheerleaders thought I was photographing them and went into a pose.....WOW!

xmo

Mon, Aug 23, 2010 : 11:18 a.m.

I hope the fans at a good time on Sunday. Now it's time to nut up or shut up! Maybe the 1950-60's are back.

bruceae

Mon, Aug 23, 2010 : 9:07 a.m.

About the best U of M can hope for this year is that they sell enough of those $4.00 bottles of water to help pay off the remodeling

braggslaw

Sun, Aug 22, 2010 : 10:48 p.m.

sheesh, It's over and we all know it is over... Why are we going through this charade? RRod will not win this year and he will not be the coach next year.

Mike

Sun, Aug 22, 2010 : 8:21 p.m.

azwolverine, By no means was I trying to say he was useless...he has not yet played a single college football game. I was simply trying to point out that he is an 18 year old kid and putting stock in a ratings systems is "at best an educated guess". I do have a fear that RR is losing too many in state recruits to either MSU or out of state schools. In the past, Michigan got the best from the state and then looked elsewhere. If Michigan wins this year, RR will be back. If Michigan loses this year, their will be a new coach on the sidelines for the 2011 season. More than anything else, I want Michigan to beat the hell out of OSU...seriously, losing to that team is getting very old.

azwolverine

Sun, Aug 22, 2010 : 7:57 p.m.

Mike, Please don't get into the "he was useless anyway" garbage that everyone throws around when a player leaves. We heard it (100% incorrectly) about Mallet and Boren, too. It's true that he's gone, he's not a part of the program anymore so it's no use worrying about how he may have helped the team, but to deride his talents is to deride RR's recruiting. If the guy was useless, he shouldn't have been recruited and wasted space for others.

Mike

Sun, Aug 22, 2010 : 6:18 p.m.

JadedBlackDepth; a little fact check; Scout was the only service which rated him as a 4 star...the others were 3 starts. Either way, it is a 17-18 year old kid. Do not put too much stock into what ratings these kids get. Mike Hart was a 3 star...on the other hand Kelly Baraka and Kevin Grady were both 5 star kids. It is easy to say this is RR fault, but as far as I know, nobody has written to explain what the situation was and why he is no longer part of the Michigan Football team. Stuff happens and perhaps we will never know the real reason he is gone. Football season is almost here and I for one am very excited to see what type of team Michigan puts on the field. GO BLUE!

spartyisyourlilsister

Sun, Aug 22, 2010 : 5:55 p.m.

Come on Annarbor.com, you are not supposed to show positive photos with a Michigan football article! That goes against the article template! Nobowl, 3 and out, macabre sunset and their other buddies only want pics of Dantes Inferno to go with these articles, it furthers their agenda!

JadedBlackDepth

Sun, Aug 22, 2010 : 5:31 p.m.

3 and out has a point, white is gone. and if you want to pass him off as not good, you go against what i heard many UM fans say after the B10 network program on the preseason report when they showed White. You also go against the high 4 stars given to him by Rivals, Scout, and ESPN. And he was recruited by RR.

Valtski

Sun, Aug 22, 2010 : 5:26 p.m.

I like this Szantaski fellow. 3 and out, again you have impressed us all with your wisdom. Keep it up guy!

3 And Out

Sun, Aug 22, 2010 : 5:18 p.m.

And a big Pitcher of Kool-Aid goes to the guy from Oscoda! Hey are those beer goggles on the linemen in the pitcher...hopefully not. Go Blue. Nothing changes for the positive until a new sheriff comes to AA...go Harbaugh.