U of M Fans: Don't Give Up On Football Coach Rich Rodriguez Yet

Look for an Upset vs. Ohio State Next Saturday; You Heard it Here First!

November 15, 2009
By: Dave Rogers

He's already won two more games than the Wolverines won last year.

Yet, University of Michigan fans are screaming for his head.

Rich Rodriguez had a fabulous record at West Virginia and everybody knows he can coach.

He just needs to get by a few small problems, like NCAA violations and players with attitudes, and get settled in at Ann Arbor.

Just like Charlie Weis at Notre Dame, the elite programs are finding there is more and more parity in Division I college football.

Any given day, almost any team can beat another. There is so much talent that coaching is not always the key element. Nor is the program the answer. Alumni, schlumni. Eleven inspired kids can crank it up and be world beaters when you least expect it.

Biggie Munn, Woody Hayes and Bo Schembechler could be on top year after year because the best players just signed up at their schools.

Well, guess what, folks? The whole world no longer revolves around the Big Ten and Notre Dame.

Pete Carroll at USC is finding out there are plenty of teams that can flat out play, especially Stanford that laid a whupping on them, as the sportscasters say, on Saturday.

South Dakota State took Minnesota to the wall, finally bowing 16-13, last Saturday. The "Jackrabbits?" Who ever heard of them before?

And who can forget Central Michigan's bouncing short kickoff that helped the Chips knock off Michigan State early in the season?

And, how about that little school from nowhere, the Appalachian State Mountaineers, who beat the mighty Wolverines on their own turf?

Lloyd Carr went out of the Big House smarting after the App State loss, 34-32, in 2007. After the shock wore off, surely he wondered why he scheduled the Boone, North Carolina team in the first place. A softy in mid-season? No such luck.

So, as we have known for some time, the MAC has teams that can play with anybody. That proves that parity is out there big time, all through college football.

Don't be surprised if Michigan gives Ohio State all it can handle next Saturday in the Big House.

My guess is the Wolverines were looking ahead to the Buckeyes when they tripped over their winged helmets up in Wisconsin on Saturday.

Remember, Tate Forcier is just a freshman and the Michigan recruiting machine is in full gear. Just give Rod a little time and he'll get it done, just like he did at WVU.

You can say you read it here, but look for an upset on Saturday.

If anybody's got motivation, it's Michigan.

OSU has nothing to prove: They're already in the Rose Bowl.

If I'm wrong, then its time to talk to Rich Rodriguez because he'll be on the bubble.

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