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Posted on Tue, Feb 23, 2010 : 2:47 p.m.

Michigan football coach Rich Rodriguez addresses NCAA statement

By Jeff Arnold

Comments

Sean T.

Thu, Feb 25, 2010 : 1:08 p.m.

I hate to agree with a Buckeye but you are exactly right! I'm sure the rest of the Big Ten loves RR being the coach of Michigan. Sad, Sad, Sad day!

OSUbeBetter

Wed, Feb 24, 2010 : 10:09 a.m.

I think this explains so many peoples views of Rodriguez. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzUhsngrONA

goblue52

Tue, Feb 23, 2010 : 10:17 p.m.

Ladies and gentlemen... Gone are the days of which you speak! Do you want character or VICTORIES? You CAN'T have both. I believe I heard the other day that Urban Meyer has had 27 arrests made on his recruits/players since he has been at Florida. You don't hear the people in Gainsville up in arms!? Why... because they WIN! Do I want us to comb the prison system looking for players, NO! But let's face it kids are not the same anymore. God rest Bo's soul, but I'm not sure he could put up with the type of kids we have these days. The good ones are few and far between! We need someone like Rich Rod to motivate and get these players playing and more importantly... WINNING! Are you seriously going to crucify this guy for working too hard? When THE TEAM starts to win, this will all go away and you will have to change your screen name so we can scoot over and let you on the bandwagon! GO BLUE! GO RICH ROD! ALL IN or GO AWAY!

Clemmer

Tue, Feb 23, 2010 : 9:42 p.m.

heartbreakM, in this society, wins do matter. I agree with you, he is a man that should not lead our team, with violating NCAA rules. He doesn't represent Michigan. The fact of the matter is that AD Brandon is staying loyal to him, and how he performs next season will ultimately decide if he stays or leaves. When Michigan meets with the NCAA committee in August, it will be interesting to hear what sanctions are handed down on Michigan. It's hard to believe that since the days of Bo Schembechler, Michigan football was tradition, moral standards, and THE TEAM!! Now, look at where we are. We need to keep supporting the MAIZE and BLUE, but Rich Rodriguez, Bill Martin, and the rest of the football staff have really disappointed a lot of Michigan alumni and fans.

rightmind250

Tue, Feb 23, 2010 : 8:45 p.m.

Sean, how can you say UM is "just as bad" as purdue, illinois, indiana & msu? Take a look at the B10 standings. UM is worse. They tied indiana for last place. Congratulations, Rich rod at least you got the ncaa's attention.

heartbreakM

Tue, Feb 23, 2010 : 8:13 p.m.

No, I don't think I will ever be singing RR's praises. My point about the call to Pryor is that it contrasts with how one should behave when leaving one place to the next. He owed it to his alma mater, to his players, to his administration and fans--he should not have called someone who he was trying to woo (and ended up not wooing--interestingly, Pryor already won one more Rose bowl than Rodriguez will sniff for years). It's called character. I personally expect more out of my coach than simply w-l. For all of his coaching errors and loyalty issues (too loyal to his assistants rather than bringing in outsiders with fresh views), LC had character and then some. Same with Bo. Same with Bennie Oosterbahn. Same with Fritz Crisler. Same with Carol Hutchins. Same with Red Berenson, Dick Kimball, and on and on. But no, not RR. Rather, you and the others would have me believe that the losing is not his fault, that his leaving WVU was done with class, that he only needs 2-3 more years until his players are here (despite having many classes of michigan men already here), that he is being unfairly picked on.... No, I will not be singing his praises anytime soon. Even with 13-0 for 5 years.

goblue52

Tue, Feb 23, 2010 : 6:26 p.m.

Give me a "break" heart! IF he goes 13-0 over the next 5 seasons he will be the KING and YOU will sing his praises. You really have a problem with him calling Pryor first. Tyring to get a top recruit to come to Michigan... really? I think its proof that he wanted Michigan to win immediately and he was ALL IN before he even left the coaches office at West Virginia.

heartbreakM

Tue, Feb 23, 2010 : 5:15 p.m.

Clemmer--why does the number of wins matter? Even if he goes 13-0 over the next 5 years, fact of the matter is that he is the first coach at Michigan in football to have any NCAA violations, no matter how minor. It's the whole picture to me--I have never felt that he fits with what I want as a coach. From the moment he left WVU and called Terrell Pryor before telling his OWN TEAM--that to me was telling. Wins or not, question we should be asking--is this a man we want representing UM? Is he a leader of young men?

bluesteel

Tue, Feb 23, 2010 : 5:02 p.m.

minor infractions. go blue!

Clemmer

Tue, Feb 23, 2010 : 5 p.m.

This is a sad day for Michigan football. I will continue to support the Michigan football program through thick and thin, but after being a fan for over 30 years, I am disappointed and somewhat angry. 5 NCAA VIOLATIONS!! If I am Rich Rodriguez, I am embarassed. How can you stand at the podium, and not feel embarassed? Here are some questions for each of you to ponder: How many NCAA violations did Bo Schembechler have in his tenure? Answer: NONE! How many NCAA violations did Gary Moeller have in his short tenure? Answer: NONE! How many NCAA violations did Lloyd Carr have in his tenure? Answer: NONE! Before Bo Schembechler? Answer: NONE!! We all know why Bill Martin resigned, because he knew it. He wanted to get out of dodge before the violations came up. Also, it was his hire, his vote of confidence in Rodriguez. His mistake. He failed in overseeing the football program effectively. So, here comes Brandon, to clean up the mess. Will Brandon fire Rodriguez immediately? No, it's all about timing. Why would you make a coaching change the month before Spring practice, and recruits have committed to Michigan. He is not going to do that now. Would he win over a lot of alumni if he did this and Michigan fans? Yes he would. As most of you know, it's in Rich Rodriguez's contract that he could be fired if he violated NCAA rules. Now that these NCAA violations occurred, if Rich Rodriguez does not get at least 8 wins in his 3rd year, then fire him Brandon. We need a man with integrity, and will show that Michigan spirit, and make decisions within the program that will not violate NCAA rules. We need a winner. Right now, Rich Rodriguez has not proven he is a winner. Today, Rich Rodriguez is a lucky man, that he is not preparing his resume.

heartbreakM

Tue, Feb 23, 2010 : 4:18 p.m.

You know, we all gave Joe Tiller hell for his "snake oil" comment, but maybe just maybe, he knew what he was talking about. After his press conference denying any wrong doing last fall, and the report refuting those statements, can you believe anything RR says? Wasn't the idea in hiring an experienced head coach at a mid to large school was to avoid first time coaching administrative mistakes? While these mistakes may not constitute the gravest of errors (i.e. pay to play, ineligible players, etc), ANY muddying of the waters at our school is unprecedented in 130 years and not acceptable. Perhaps that storm that just hit Michigan is Bo crying from his grave. I think David Brandon gave typical AD-speak in his first public appearance, and I would not think that any sullying of the michigan brand or history will be tolerated. I would hope not, at least.

Sean T.

Tue, Feb 23, 2010 : 3:56 p.m.

I hope this dude means what he says. I know he has alot of pressure on him to produce but if he doesn't get 8 wins or 4 Big Ten wins he should be let go, so we can start "The rebuilding Process". Uh, yes I said rebuilding process because we're just as bad as Purdue, Illinois, Indiana and crappy MSU.

ScottyBoy

Tue, Feb 23, 2010 : 3:49 p.m.

He should have been working with the compliance office from the very beginning. Typical football coach B.S.