Michigan unlikely to fire Rodriguez yet
November 23, 2009
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP)—It seems unlikely Michigan will fire Rich Rodriguezafter two awful seasons with an NCAA investigation looming, a search for a newathletic director under way and luxury boxes to fill at the Big House.
One of the school’s richest graduates, though, said Rodriguez better winmore football games in 2010.
“If he has a bad year next year, he’ll have a lot more pressure,” MiamiDolphins owner Stephen Ross told The Associated Press, standing near midfieldbefore the Wolverines lost to Ohio State on Saturday to finish 5-7. “I don’tthink he has anything to worry about right now in my mind.”
One person can end the speculation about Rodriguez’s future and she hasdeclined to do it.
An e-mail asking school president Mary Sue Coleman if Rodriguez will beMichigan’s coach next season was sent Sunday, and the response didn’t quiteanswer the question.
“The president remains supportive of the coach,” associated vice presidentKallie Bila Michels responded.
Coleman has turned down interview requests since strongly supportingRodriguez in an interview with The Wall Street Journal, making a comparison tothe patience former basketball coach Tommy Amaker was afforded before beingfired.
“I don’t think it’s fair to coaches to bring them in and say, `We’re goingto give you three years,”’ Coleman told The Journal early this month. “WhenTommy Amaker came in, we stuck with him for six years. It just wasn’t going towork; it wasn’t the right fit. But it wasn’t a rushed decision.”
Rodriguez has bristled at the notion that he doesn’t fit in at Michiganafter turning West Virginia into a Big East power.
He has suggested more time is needed to recruit student-athletes who cansucceed on and off the field in Ann Arbor.
“There’s not a magic formula to winning championships,” he said Saturdayafter losing to the Buckeyes. “I have been humbled, but I do have a pretty goodidea of what it takes to win in this league and every other league. … becausewe’re Michigan and have a great brand name doesn’t exclude us from having thatsame formula.”
Rodriguez has had 12 straight weekly news conferences on Mondays to lookahead to the next game.
For the first time since August, Rodriguez didn’t have a matchup to preview.
Michigan hasn’t said when he’ll hold a news conference to wrap up a seasonthat started 4-0 and ended 5-7, but it might not happen this week.
Until then, others will do plenty of guessing about his status with collegefootball’s winningest program.
It won’t be Ross’ call to retain or fire Rodriguez, but he has given enoughmoney to the school that he clearly has clout. The billionaire real estatedeveloper donated $100 million to the school in 2004 and it renamed the businessschool in his honor.
Ross also gave $5 million toward the Michigan Stadium expansion project thathe expects Rodriguez to see finished next season.
“People take shots at him for whatever reason,” Ross said. “Some peoplelike to beat people when they’re down. I think he’s a great man and he’s been awinner wherever he’s been.
“It’s just that a lot of people don’t like change. I think it will all workout.”
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