Coach Rodriguez

Alright folks, let’s get the painful topic out of the way quickly.  Reasons why Rich Rodriguez deserves time to prove himself (beyond this season).  I’ll admit, I was a bit leery when he was hired, and while his tenure in our storied history has to date been less than stellar; I firmly believe that he can turn this program into a national powerhouse.  Here’s why:

• He has a system that works (stipulation:  with the right people).  Rich Rodriguez was 60 and 26 at West Virginia with less than excellent recruiting abilities.  Let’s face it, knocking on a recruits door saying you’re from the WVU Mountaineers isn’t nearly as impressive as saying you represent the block M.
• Rich Rod is starting to recognize the recruiting fact.  He mentioned it in his introduction press conference, but hadn’t really used it in his first two recruiting classes.
• His players are starting to be deeper involved in the system.  Let’s be fair, the 2010 recruiting class is really only his second class.  2008 wasn’t really Rich Rod’s crew; he was distracted by the WVU buy-out mess, he was interviewing assistants and trying to sell the locals on his system (not to mention that drama queen Terrelle Pryor recruitment debacle).
• He has a tandem of talented quarterbacks that can run his system.  Tate Forcier, Denard Robinson and Devon Gardner are all talented players that fit the Rich Rod system well.  So well, in fact, that I would like to see Gardner red-shirted so that he can have time to get a better grasp of the college game.
• Rich Rodriguez went 5 and 7 with basically a freshman offense.  In addition, he was a play or two in 3 of his losses (Michigan State, Iowa and Purdue), and despite the final score, the Ohio State game last year was a much closer game than people thought it would be.  Take away the freshmen mistakes, and Michigan’s looking at an 8 and 4 (or 9 and 3 if the OSU game gets played with more confidence) and a bowl game.

All right, enough of that, I’m getting tired of looking at bullet points.

Now, for all that I’ve just said about Coach Rod, if he pulls off another pitiful bowl-less season, I’ll be in the line of people intensely against giving the man a new contract.  He needs to produce and he needs to produce now.  He has players and he has a decent schedule, so he really is out of excuses.  So let’s give Rich Rodriguez his third year with a sunnier outlook than last.  Either way the season goes, Wolverine fans will be happy.  Either Michigan will be back in the limelight or Rich Rod will be on his way out of town.  Go Blue!

By Justin Lado

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Tagged as: Coach