Mark Wright’s Blog

Michigan head football coach Rich Rodriquez doesn’t seem to get it.  After taking over as head coach at the University of Michigan, he has lead them to a 3-8 record and it will probably drop to 3-9 after they play Ohio State. 

He is complaining that people are saying hateful things about him on message boards and feels that some of these people should just “get a life.”  He points out that there are a lot bigger problems in the world such as the economy. 

Rodriguez is right.  There are a lot of bigger problems out there than how Michigan’s football team does.  However, like a lot of the CEOs that have driven large corporations into the ground, Rodriguez has done the same to the Michigan football team.  The program, which had won more games than any other college in history, has lost a school record eight games, with five of them coming at home.  The thought of Michigan losing five games at home would have been unfathomable until this year. 

Michigan pretty much ran their previous coach, Lloyd Carr off last season.  This was a coach who won a national championship for them.  While Carr’s record at Michigan was somewhat mediocre for Michigan, they always won more than they lost and always ended up playing in a bowl game.

I will be the first to admit that some people take things too far in regards to being fans.  However, when there are tough economic times and things aren’t going so well, people need diversions to forget what is going on in their lives.  Considering Rodriguez is in the heart of the automobile industry, I would think he would understand the frustration of people in that area.

College football is a business.  Rodriquez is the CEO.  He is not getting the job done, at least not yet.  He replaced a coach that fans didn’t feel was getting the job done.  He was paid a lot of money to turn things around.  He hasn’t done that.  I’m not saying that he should be fired.  His system is radically different from what Michigan is used to.  He’s already had a quarterback leave the program because he knew he wouldn’t fit into the system.  It is probably going to take some time if he becomes successful.  However, I would highly suggest you not alienate your fans anymore than you already have. 

I’m sure that Rodriguez has to yell at his players from time to time.  He expects them to be able to take criticism, even if it is harsh.  He should have the ability to take some every once in a while as well.  You are the coach of Michigan.  You will always be second guessed, criticized and wanted fired.  That is the difference from coaching there and West Virginia.