Michigan Fires Rodriguez as Coach

[somone]

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/06/sports/ncaafootball/06michigan.html

Michigan Fires Rodriguez as Coach
By LYNN ZINSER and JOANNE C. GERSTNER

Michigan fired its football coach, Rich Rodriguez, on Wednesday after two days of meetings between Rodriguez and Athletic Director David Brandon. The decision, confirmed by the university on Wednesday, ends a tumultuous three-year run for Rodriguez that ended with its trip to the Gator Bowl, where the Wolverines lost by their largest margin in a bowl, a 38-point drubbing by Mississippi State. That spelled the end for Rodriguez, who was so sought after by Michigan in 2007 that the university paid a hefty fee to buy him out of his contract at West Virginia.

Rodriguez’s three seasons brought Michigan little but turmoil. He arrived after a successful run at West Virginia — having missed the national championship game by one victory before he departed — but brought none of that success with him. His 15-22 overall record included a 6-18 mark in the Big Ten. He never beat rivals Ohio State or Michigan State.

On Rodriguez’s watch, Michigan ended its 32-year run of playing in a bowl game every season and landed on N.C.A.A. probation for three years for exceeding practice and training time limits. Despite the extra work, the Wolverines were 3-9 in his first season, the school’s first losing record since 1967. He finally led Michigan to the Gator Bowl this season, only to lose to Mississippi State, 52-14.

The N.C.A.A. probation announced in November gave Michigan cause to fire Rodriguez without owing him a buyout of his six-year, $15 million contract...

[caraher]

1. no surprise, of course

I wonder where Denard Robinson will play next year?

[1gobluedem]

2. If he leaves, nowhere

He'll have to sit out for a year. But I think he'll stay.

[Bozita]

I found this to be interesting...

http://gregghenson.typepad.com/gregg_hensoncom/2011/01/nobody-knows-anything-about-harbaugh-and-his-next-move.html

January 05, 2011
Is Lloyd Carr is Behind The Disaster at Michigan


The disaster that has going on at Michigan over the last 3 years has largly been orchestrated by former Head Coach Lloyd Carr and his minions.

First Les Miles and now Jim Harbaugh have been overlooked to Coach the Michigan Football team because Lloyd Carr doesn't want them in Ann Arbor.

Lloyd Carr believes that he should be on the Mount Rushmore of Michigan Football alongside Fielding H. Yost, Fritz Crisler and Bo Schembechler because of his 1997 National Championship. Lloyd has spent his years in retirement building a coalition that we will call "Lloyd's boys." He has spent a lot of time creating a division between Bo Schembechler's players (the Schembechlers) and his own. In short, he is more concerned about his own legacy than the well-being of Michigan football.

Moles in Ann Arbor tried to lay the story out for me and I will do my best to relay what I was told.

more...

[Condem]

4. I say...

...more Carr with Les Miles.

[LisaM]

5. I don't think your information about Lloyd Carr is correct

First, there is no way he would back Ron English as head coach. Secondly, I've heard from two completely unrelated sources that the reason Carr didn't want Les Miles was for a personal reason, that Miles had an affair with then-coach's Gary Moeller's wife, which led to a very public meltdown by Gary Moeller and may have cost him his job. At the time, Lloyd was coach, and then an assistant AD, so his opinion would have been important. He is now retired. It's laughable to think that he was forced out.

The idea of Lloyd Carr acting behind the scenes to undermine anything at Michigan that doesn't bolster his reputation is a complete joke. He and Bo were best friends. I think the heart went out of Coach Carr when Bo died.

If Harbaugh is going to be the guy, people will have to overlook some of the remarks he made about Bo's program - which he didn't go on record with until after Bo died.

[madinmaryland]

6. This keeps getting funnier! Gotta love it!

[Bozita]

3. oops, dupe