DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Tailgate Forum RichRod gone

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Sources tell Fox 2 that Rich Rodriguez was fired as head coach of the University of Michigan football team Tuesday.

The decision came just three days after his team suffered the worst bowl loss in school history, a 52-14 trouncing at the hands of Mississippi State in the Gator Bowl.

Rodriguez was 15-22 during three seasons in Ann Arbor. He lost a school-record nine games in his debut with the Wolverines two years ago, was 5-7 after starting 4-0 last season and turned a 5-0 start into a 7-5 finish this fall.

The Wolverines were also 1-10 against ranked teams and were 0-3 against rivals Michigan State, Ohio State and Wisconsin during Rodriguezs tenure.

Athletic Director David Brandon would not immediately name a replacement.

Rumors have swirled that Stanford's Jim Harbaugh, a former Wolverine quarterback, and San Diego States Brady Hoke, a former U-M coach, are on the list of possible candidates.

Reports Tuesday said Harbaughs return to Michigan, however, is highly unlikely. He is reportedly deciding on staying at Stanford or pursuing a heading coaching position in the NFL.

Great more bad news for Ohio State!

I have a buddy who is a huge Michigan fan, and I know he has got to be dancing around his living room right now.

Man.....when the season started with Denard Robinson it looked like they were finally getting something built. Oh well. He'll find another gig. His system works, just not there.

so, the Michigan AD watched the Orange Bowl

(what could have been them with Mallet/Harbaugh/Fangio had they hired properly last time)

So if Harbaugh goes to the NFL they are pretty much screwed, right?

Staying at Stanford probably has a lot to do with what ALuck decides, I would think. He also could stay regardless, and (1) not have to move his family; (2) money is not an issue when you make that much already (my opinion); and (3) there's a BIG difference in the control and gratification issues of watching young men mature in college, where this is not a byproduct of coaching in the NFL.

Unlike Tressel, Harbaugh seemingly has the desire, and does have the skill-set to achieve at the next level, if he ends up there. It's just not as automatic a function as we might believe.

There is also no guarantee whatsoever that going to Carolina just to take Luck with him by default of that first pick would be the barnburner we all think it should be either.

Hats off to him for the show last nite. I wish him happy trails. He seems like a straight shooter.

I doubt he ends up in Michigan.

It's a shame he could never get the players he needed in order to dominate the conference.

the spread option would not be successful with a team like ohio state in the conference. ohio state has nfl caliber linebackers. same reason spread option wouldnt work in the nfl. too much sideline to sideline speed

Tell that to the rest of the country,...

One big bad day, and you're the armpit of college football.

No one is saying that if Arkansas and Auburn lose these two games, the SEC and the Big Ten will both finish 3-5 this bowl season, with the PAC-10 possibly going home with the # 1 & 3 spots.

Regardless of their record, the SEC is a better conference. Not many dispute that. What does get ignored are the how and why factors.

I know I would not have wanted to play Stanford last night, given any choice of any team this year.

I heard some yahoos on the radio talking about him ending up at Pitt. Can you imagine him being back in the Big East coaching West Virginia's bitter rival?

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with the PAC-10 possibly going home with the # 1 & 3 spots.

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I guess it's possible but only if the NC game is so lopsided in favor of Oregon that TCU moves to #2 and Stanford to #3 and Auburn to 4 or worse...

The Coaches poll will have them (either winner) at 1 and 2, but the AP always has a tendency to move folks around,...

I was actually thinking about this because of the bias in the polls,...if Auburn wins at all, I see Oregon dropping a ton.

Three years and a cloud of dust!

Glad to see him gone. I hate the spread option. I'd rather have a challenging game every year with the team up north than having to endure that stupid highschool style O being run by one of the Big 10s elite programs.

Perhaps, but it won't better prepare them for the NFL.

Let's hope that Michigan's next hire carries on the fine tradition of Lloyd Carr and Rich Rod.


I rermember when Michigan fans said that Rich Rod was the guy to turn them around ... and that he was going to beat Tressel like a drum, year after year, and that we better get used to it.

That's too bad.

Dang I was just starting to like the guy......Go Bucks.....

His offense overall looked pretty impressive this year.... his defense was just not designed for the Big Ten

of course UM is denying reports that he's been fired... so he's not officially gone yet.

Or not... lol

Michigan is so lame. They run to the media to announce they haven't made a decision last night to save face.....like, it has to come from their mouths only. Then they come out early this morning and announce it.

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I respect Michigan as an historic tradition of college football. It is not good for college football for programs like it (and Notre Dame for example ) to "not-be-good.

But I would be a bold faced liar to state that I WANT them to be any good. There are many reasons that this (these, speaking of ND) program(s) has(have) become what it is (they are), why the SEC is really, really good, and why other programs in the country have roller coaster up and downs.

Everything has a cycle.

Chris Balas
TheWolverine.com Senior Editor

Talk about it in The Fort
Michigan athletic director David Brandon called his search for a new coach "intense" and "time consuming" in a blog written for the school's athletic department today. LSU head coach Les Miles, considered one of the top candidates for the job by some, issued his own statement on reports he would be meeting with Michigan soon.

U-M and Miles were to meet Tuesday, sources confirmed Monday, but Miles confirmed neither he nor his representatives had had "anything but very distant conversation with representatives of the school."

"I'm told that we will speak, but the time and place has not been identified. It's hard for me to speculate to the substance of that meeting," Miles said in a brief press conference.

"The only thing I can tell you is I spent my day today with a number of underclassmen I want to return right here [at LSU]. I am extremely happy here. There's a real comfort with my family in Baton Rouge. I think it's best left that way. I don't know that there's anything more to say. Certainly there's no more information than what I have just shared with you."

Brandon has made it known through associate athletic director/sports information director David Ablauf that he would not conduct any media interviews until he hires a new coach. He did take time Monday to respond to what he called "wild stories" being reported on his intentions and whereabouts.


Eric Bronson/BronsonPhoto.com

Michigan athletic director David Brandon
"I am sure all of the news reports are interesting for our fans, but I am too busy to follow the majority of the news except to hear some pretty wild stories about 'where I am and who I am talking to,'" he said. "The last week should be a reminder to everyone not to believe everything you read or hear. Some of the so-called "news reports" over the past week have been simply ridiculous.

?"Sometimes, fans who provide more level-headed suggestions do not realize that some of the people they mention are not viable candidates for Michigan for a variety of reasons. This is some of what we learn as we go through this process."

Michigan head coach Rich Rodriguez was fired Jan. 5 after compiling a 15-22 record over three years. Former Stanford head coach and Michigan quarterback Jim Harbaugh was thought to be one of the leading candidates, but he recently signed a five-year deal to coach the San Francisco 49ers.

How Brandon's search compares to other high profile coaching searches:

- Pete Carroll left USC on Jan. 9, 2010. Lane Kiffin was hired Jan. 12, 2010? quick, but not the norm .

- Ron Zook was fired by Florida on Oct. 24, 2004, but stayed to finish the season (the regular season ended Nov. 20). Urban Meyer was hired Dec. 3, 2004.

- Ty Willingham was fired by Notre Dame on Nov. 30, 2004. After unsuccessfully pursuing Meyer, Notre Dame hired Charlie Weis on Dec. 12, 2004.

- Weis was fired by Notre Dame on Nov. 30, 2009. Brian Kelly was hired on Dec. 10, 2009.

- Lloyd Carr announced his retirement on Nov. 19, 2007, although U-M knew of it (or should have known) well in advance. Rodriguez was hired on Dec. 16, 2007.

- Mike Shula was fired by Alabama on Nov. 26, 2006. After unsuccessfully pursuing Rodriguez, Alabama hired Nick Saban on Jan. 3, 2007.

- John Cooper was fired by Ohio State on Jan. 2, 2001. Jim Tressel, not their top choice, was hired on Jan. 17, 2001.

It's only been five days since Rodriguez was fired, though it probably seems like five weeks to the fan base with signing day for recruits only weeks away. But Brandon said getting it right, and as quickly as possible, remains one of his top priorities, along with unifying a fractured fan base.

"There will always be a certain number of people who enjoy criticizing others, and there is nothing any of us can do about them," Brandon wrote. "However, for those of you who want to help bring Michigan football back to where we all want it to be, you can help by getting behind our new coach and ignoring those who enjoy creating controversy and resentment. Much of our past success was largely a result of our large number of passionate, united fans around the country supporting our coaches and players in every way.

"The most important thing everyone can do at this point to help Michigan football is to prepare to greet our new coach with all of the support, encouragement and positive energy that we can muster. Getting our football program turned around quickly is our goal, and having our fans and supporters jump on board early with our new coach will help him be successful - which is what we all want."

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Ohio State better bulk up the Special Teams and get ready for the fake FG's!

BATON ROUGE - LSU head football coach Les Miles notified LSU Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Joe Alleva on Tuesday morning that he will remain at LSU.

"I am pleased to announce that Les Miles will remain the head coach at LSU," said Alleva. "Les has led this program to many great successes on the field and his players represent LSU well off the field. We look forward to many great years of LSU football under his leadership."

Miles will have a press conference upon his return from Dallas where he is speaking at the convention of the American Football Coaches Association.

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Is there a "Michigan Man" still left?