West Virginia was just too tough, so I decided to coach Michigan
“Rodriguez complained about criticism that followed the Mountaineers’ Dec. 1 loss to Pittsburgh, which kept West Virginia out of the national championship game.”
In the deposition that is part of the messy divorce between Rich Rod and West Virginia U, it was revealed that Rich Rod simply could not take the pressure after losing a shot at the national championship when he was upset at home by the underdog Pittsburgh Panthers.
“Rich Rodriguez was “very distraught” in a private meeting the night before he resigned and accepted the top job at Michigan, complaining about harsh public reaction to a lost shot at a national championship.”
So how does he respond to the harsh public reaction to a school not used to even competing for the big stage? He decides to become the coach of the tradition laden Michigan Wolverines. But hey, if he continues to coach like he did in the Big East, constantly being upset by the Bulls of South Florida, or losing to Louisville or Pittsburgh, then he sure won’t be having that problem at Michigan.
But it just wasn’t the pressure, Rich Rod didn’t feel needed.
“He did indicate his frustration that he was not supported or valued at the university,” Garrison (West Virginia University’s president) said. “And I simply did not agree with that.”
Awww. Maybe West Virginia should have sent him flowers daily and instructed the assistant coaches to give him a hug every time they passed. Common man, this is just getting pathetic.
If he couldn’t handle the pressure and criticism at a program like West Virginia where a national championship is a privilege and not considered a birthright like Wolverine fans believe, then he sure picked the right place to coach.
I can’t wait for the Rich Rod era to start in the Big Ten, he couldn’t succeed in the Big East, what makes you think he will be able to in Ann Arbor? Oh yeah, the mythical humongous talent gap between the Wolverines and Mountaineers must propel Rich Rod to instant success.
This is a coach that could not coach his heavily favored team over a scrappy underdog Pittsburgh team at home no less. There were multiple talented teams in the past few years Rich Rod just could not motivate game in and game out, losing to teams like South Florida and Louisville mid season making them the team that just couldn’t get over the hump. Its not a talent level problem. Its a coaching ability problem that Big Ten fans should enjoy watching in the years to come.
And now, next to liar and snake, Rich Rod can now add girly man to his resume.
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Am avid UM fan. Hate it when you haters make a cogent, logical arguement against my beloved Wolverines. You are supposed to be rabid haters and just spew stuff like, you guys suck or bite me. Emotion over brains sort of stuff. (Know what a ‘brank’ is?) So, cut that shiatz out now. It’s not fair! Besides, you guys suck. So there.
Go Blue!
Well, if you believe every word that Garrison says as gospel, then yes, it is pathetic. But I think Garrison has proven himself to be a worthless pile of monkey spunk, so I may have to give the benefit of the doubt to Rodriguez.
All of the allegations that Rodriguez was borderline suicidal prior to his escape to Ann Arbor sounds pretty ridiculous to me.
This post draws a lot of conclusions from the mouth of a corrupt university president who is being “dismissed” in September. I’d check the facts before running too far with this.
Even if he wasn’t as ‘distraught’ as Garrison claims he was, you have to admit losing that last final game to Pittsburgh aided his decision to leave West Virginia. My point being if he couldn’t hack it in West Virginia, how does he expect to in Michigan? We’re not talking about Nick Saban here, but we are talking about a man who just doesn’t realize the hornets nest he is walking into.
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How couldn’t he hack it? He had THE most talented team in the Big East for the last 3 years and yet still managed to lose to unranked South Florida (at home in 2006 and away in 2007), unranked Pittsburgh (at home) and a lower ranked (#7) Louisville. All of which came when West Virginia were ranked in the top 10.
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Let’s also not forget his inaugural season at Salem (1988) posted a 2-8 season, his first season at Glenville State in 1990 posted a 1-7-1 season, and at West Virginia in 2001, Rich Rod posted a 3-8 season. Let’s just put it this way, its going to be enjoyable watching the Wolverines this year if you’re not sporting Maize and Blue.
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Now in this “he said, she said” situation, I would much rather side with the man who did not pack up his things and family and scuttled out in the middle of the night.
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But hey, if your best offensive lineman (Justin Boren) decides to transfer and not just to any school, but to your hated rivals, I think that’s a bit telling too.
“you have to admit losing that last final game to Pittsburgh aided his decision to leave West Virginia”
No, as a Michigan fan, I’ll admit that the Michigan job being open aided his decision to leave WVU. They’re just not a powerhouse like Michigan. And given what sounds to be like a crappy situation with the administration at WVU, who can blame him.
Salem and Glenville State are not Michigan. I don’t have my figures in front of me, but I would argue that many big time college coaches throughout history have had struggling seasons with small schools in their early careers.
“I would much rather side with the man who did not pack up his things and family and scuttled out in the middle of the night.”
I’d rather side with the guy who will still have a job this fall.
“But hey, if your best offensive lineman (Justin Boren) decides to transfer and not just to any school, but to your hated rivals, I think that’s a bit telling too.”
Wow.