“I am proud of how our coach has handled all of this, as well as his players.”
— University of Michigan President Mary Sue Coleman, on the NCAA’s verdict that the UM football program committed five major rules violations
By Joel Thurtell
What is Mary Sue Coleman proud of?
Hiring a head coach who flouted NCAA training rules?
Those NCAA sanctions against UM’s football program are something to brag about?
Rich Rodriguez dodged the charge that he promoted an “atmosphere” of disobeying rules.
That’s what the did, though, and the NCAA just minced words, caving to pressure from UM firebrands but still branding him as an A Number One screw-up.
Thanks to Rod, the program got nailed.
No more UM goody-two-shoes.
Another nail in the coffin of UM football tradition.
Why won’t the UM honchos fire this man?
Not only does he get their program pilloried for rules violations.
But he just can’t win football games.
In three years, he’s managed to beat three Big Ten teams, albeit one of them — Indiana — twice.
What hammer does this man hold over UM administrators?
It’s hard to figure: He gets in a jam with his former employer in West Virginia for what amounts to deceit, and UM covers his ass. Antes up millions.
Right then, we had major embarrassment writ large.
That was just for starters.
Give him a chance?
We’re into Year Three, and on the football field, Coach Rod has proven his teams are good at beating only third-rate teams. Put them up against a moderately good Big Ten squad, and the Wolverines wilt.
Rod sure is good at making excuses. From the beginning, he’s been great at pointing his finger at former coach Lloyd Carr, who in contrast to Rod was a miracle-worker. Rod blames players when the buck stops with him. He’s also blamed the assistant coaches he hired and supposedly supervises.
Although from the NCAA investigation it appears that Rod was turning a blind eye — wink-wink — to his assistants’ misbehavior.
The University of Michigan needs to take control of its own football program.
There’s only one way to do that when your head coach flouts the rules.
Fire Rod and his half-baked staff.
Now.
Forget the rest of the season.
The rest of the season is a goner with or without Rod.
With Rod gone, the University of Michigan could start rebuilding its football program.
It could rebuild starting now, if…
If it could somehow pump wisdom and judgment into top administrators like President Coleman.
The first thing she needs to learn from this is that you don’t proclaim pride in someone whose main off-the-field life strategy is based on the fake punt.
Drop me a line at joelthurtell(at)gmail.com
