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Posted on Tue, Oct 27, 2009 : 12:27 p.m.

Rich Rodriguez on NCAA investigation: 'We'll see where it takes us'

By Dave Birkett

Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez said Tuesday he's not surprised the NCAA has decided to continue a formal investigation into whether his football program committed major violations.

"It's not surprising," Rodriguez said on the Big Ten coaches teleconference. "Just following up and continuing their questions and their investigations. As mentioned (in the university's official statement), everybody at the university and the football program have been and will always be totally cooperative."

RichRodriguez.jpg

Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com 

The NCAA sent an official "Notice of Inquiry" to Michigan president Mary Sue Coleman last Friday, indicating it had "reasonable cause to believe" violations may have occurred.

In August, the university began an internal look into allegations Michigan abused NCAA rules concerning practice time.

The letter said "the possible violations primarily involve the matters" already under review, and the NCAA intends to complete its investigation by Dec. 31. NCAA investigators have been on campus periodically throughout the fall, and Michigan hired an outside firm in September to assist its own compliance department investigation.

"They’re doing their job and like I said everybody at the school has been totally cooperative whether it’s coaches or staff members or players or administration," Rodriguez said. "As a coach, the only thing I would say, you’d love for this to be over as soon as possible, but they have to go through the due process and we’ll see where it takes us."

Dave Birkett covers University of Michigan football for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at 734-623-2552 or by e-mail at davidbirkett@annarbor.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.

Comments

Ann Arbor Andy

Wed, Oct 28, 2009 : 2:55 p.m.

so if Coach Rod wins such transgressions will be viewed by many fans as just getting the job done - but if losses continue then the possible NCAA sanctions will be a reason to jettison him. Winning makes all the difference and i'm amazed at how otherwise perfectly proper folk can wink at misdoings as long as the wins keep coming.

rockybound

Wed, Oct 28, 2009 : 9:29 a.m.

I agree with InsideTheWall. R-Rod is not the issue. But those that trash him without waiting for the facts may be.

InsideTheHall

Wed, Oct 28, 2009 : 8:03 a.m.

Practice? We're talkin about practice? Practice? This is an NCAA witch hunt created by some malcontents who couldn't cut it under RR. This is not a major issue BUT the NCAA is looking to make a point about this because everyone is skirting the rules.Notice what the other coaches have said about this.

kerch65

Wed, Oct 28, 2009 : 4:40 a.m.

this whole investigation is garbage how come theyre willing to investigate something as minor as this but when usc and ohio state didnt get this kind of attn. on regie busch or the marrice clarett deal there is deffinitely some hatred out there for a team that does everything right as far as the ncaa theyre joke all this is brought on by the rr bashers like the garbage paper det.free press and maybe alittle jealous L.Carr because he wanted his assistant coaches who suck

kerch65

Wed, Oct 28, 2009 : 4:39 a.m.

this whole investigation is garbage how come theyre willing to investigate something as minor as this but when usc and ohio state didnt get this kind of attn. on regie busch or the marrice clarett deal there is deffinitely some hatred out there for a team that does everything right as far as the ncaa theyre joke all this is brought on by the rr bashers like the garbage paper det.free press and maybe alittle jealous L.Carr because he wanted his assistant coaches who suck

Engineer

Tue, Oct 27, 2009 : 9:34 p.m.

I can not see this going anywhere. There is no way they practiced all that much. Just send the NCAA a copy of last Saturdays game!

azwolverine

Tue, Oct 27, 2009 : 8:44 p.m.

If RR were fired "for cause" due to major violations, that would mean that Michigan would also probably be on probation and no other coaches would want to take over a team on probation. Not a good scenario all the way around. As for UM having it in for him, I truly believe that winning will cure all ills. These allegations virtually went away when Michigan was 4-0, now they are back in force after a 1-3 stretch. I believe that unless major violations are uncovered, RR will keep his job and will then sink or swim based on his record on the field. I agree with aarox, though, that $300,000 is a small bonus for winning a national title...although I wish my job gave out similar sized bonuses!

aarox

Tue, Oct 27, 2009 : 4:55 p.m.

Rich will be gone after this I'm afraid. There are too many breadcrumbs on this one. The UM brass is getting nervous over the obvious lack of production, and is getting muss on their uniforms. RR is not getting the support that our coach warrants, and won't. There is whispering in the halls. My takeaway is that this is getting political inside UM, not just inside the AD office but much, much higher. If the whistle-blowing was not an inside job, then somebody at least stood by and watched. UM politicos do not want to terminate RR's contract 'for convenience. ' Too much negative press - which will be exacerbated by a $10M buyout (4 years left on a 6 year contract at $2.5M a year) which means paying big bucks on both ends of a bad trial balloon. This is an ESPN field day and a nightmare for Mary Sue and Bill. I haven't read the contract but suspect that a major NCAA violation is grounds for dismissal 'for cause' which should alleviate us from responsibility and let the NCAA do our dirty work for us. I give ourselves fault for offering a $2.5M contract with a $300K bonus for winning a national championship. A paltry 12% for winning it all? Isn't this backwards? Where's the incentive??? Ok, so everyone else does it - does that make it right?

Thick Candy Shell

Tue, Oct 27, 2009 : 4:18 p.m.

If people really believe the Big East is that bad, then the Big Ten must be even worse. At least WVU won against there Bowl opponents. What about O.S.U.? And no, Minnesota could never compete! I don't think anyone in the Big Ten could beat Cincinnati!

rightmind250

Tue, Oct 27, 2009 : 3:59 p.m.

This guys a hoot.......Once the NCAA gets done and the recruits decommit...so long richrod......we barely knew ya.

ShadowManager

Tue, Oct 27, 2009 : 3:24 p.m.

"We'll see where it takes us..." All the way back to West Virginia, most likely. What's the unemployment rate in W.V., btw?

jeremy

Tue, Oct 27, 2009 : 3:16 p.m.

winning in the big Least wasnt hard to do. we could send minnesota out there and theyd be contenders every year. sparty would probably be league champ. this year there are some good teams there but historically since the acc raid there havent been many teams worth noting outside of west virginia.

michboy40

Tue, Oct 27, 2009 : 2:57 p.m.

Rich Rodriguez has no clue how to handle the spotlight that shines on the Michigan football program. If he does not figure it out quickly he will be gone, good coach or not. And when that happens, U of M will have nowhere to turn. Really...who will want to come here? Nobody. We are looking at the dark age of Michigan football here, so dig in, cause it's going to be a while. I, for one, support the coach and the team, and I hope they win every game. Even if they don't, I will still be here. Lets face it though, this is just one blow after another and it doesn't appear to have an end in sight. RR has one chance. Get past this investigation with minimal damage, and beat Ohio State now! That is the recipe for keeping your job and continuing to build this program.

Salinegoblue

Tue, Oct 27, 2009 : 2:55 p.m.

If we can squeeze out one or two more win, Saturday will probably be out last win of the year, we will receive one of the lower bowls in the B10 bowl agreement which will result in minimal revenue for the U of M and will probably result is us losing money by going to a bowl, consider the expenses. If MSC learns, and she will know before the bowls are awarded since she has hired an independent firm to conduct an investigation, that we have committed a violation, she should impose a ban on a bowl appearance for this year in hopes of minimizing penalites for the next year or two.

TrueMaizeNBlue

Tue, Oct 27, 2009 : 2:52 p.m.

No this wouldn't have happen under the Carr regime, but does anyone really know for sure if it happen under the Rod regime? Would we be 7-5 or 8-4 for another 10 years under the Carr regime? Being as WVU won 10+ games and 3 major bowl games during Rod's last 3 years there, I would say given a fair opportunity we will be a top 5 team consistently year after year. Lets face it; the program was going no where near another national title under Carr and honestly it was getting boring watching his conservative style of coaching. This young team has been more exciting to watch then most of Carr's teams over the past 10 years. I can't imagine how good we will be when DG shows up and is the full time QB with weapons around him. Not to mention Greg Robinson needs a couple of years to get the right players to run the 3-4 defense at a pro level. Everyone needs to take a step back and let this investigation play out before you find Rich and his staff guilty of anything. Innocent until proven guilty, right?

Ann Arbor Andy

Tue, Oct 27, 2009 : 2:22 p.m.

Would have this happened under the Lloyd Carr regime?

Fresh121

Tue, Oct 27, 2009 : 2:22 p.m.

RR needs his chance this whole anti-RR crap between people in the inside some of the fans..give the man a chance we all know what team he got.Leadership starts at the top, if people at the top doubt him that trickles down to the coaches the players and then the recruits..let the man have are support and see what happens in a few years if we blow get him outta here(but that wont be the case), maybe Les might want us then cuz remember RR was man enough to try to make us better no one is for sured sucess at any level of sports hes way better then Charlie Weise i only say that cuz im about 40 mins from IN. So always hearing about crappy ND, that coach has had like 5 years and still cant win give RR time like that and if he underachieves then fire him. But for now can we stop actting like fair weather fans and show some pride for a team that soon will be a power house again if given the chance...Go Blue

Staks21

Tue, Oct 27, 2009 : 1:43 p.m.

As a Buckeye I wish this thing would go away and Rich Rod could just focus on winning. Listen, the Rivalry (I'm talking about "The Game" sorry little bro) needs Michigan to be good again. Last year's game at the shoe was a wash and it should never be like that. It should always be for the Big ten title or even have National title implicatinos. I hope this is cleared up quickly because I think Rich Rod is a good coach and he will win at Michigan. The Big Ten needs Michigan to be great again! See you on Rivalry Weekend! Go Bucks!

MiamiBlue

Tue, Oct 27, 2009 : 1:19 p.m.

Let the investigation complete the process. Then, if there is indisputable proof that impropriety occurred and that major violations did happen under Coach Rodriguez, then it is written in his contract that it warrants immediate dismissal. That will end it! However, if it is found that NO violations occurred, then can we leave the Man alone and let him go back and build this team? I have a feeling that is too much to ask though, because it is obvious that there are many (powers that be in Ann Arbor) who have had it out for Coach Rodriguez since he arrived. He has not been given a fair chance, and the vultures that are out for him will just keep throwing other things at the wall until something sticks. Finally, for those who are under the illusion that getting rid of Coach Rod and bringing in someone else will spell immediate success, are just kidding themselves. Whoever coaches this team, will need some time to build it. And should it happen that Coach Rod is dismissed, and then lets hope for the sake of UM that the new coach is given a fair chance to build something. Cause coach Rod has certainly not been extended that courtesy! Lets GO BLUE

vi4mi4

Tue, Oct 27, 2009 : 12:43 p.m.

'We'll see where it takes us'...maybe it will take r.r. and his red wristband out of the state of Michigan... Ban the Wristband! Go Blue! v

jeremy

Tue, Oct 27, 2009 : 12:26 p.m.

heres an answer for rich....when questioned always reply with how's reggie bush