Feb 25, 2010 
This past Sunday, Michigan head coach Rich Rodriguez gave a very passionate speech during “The Victors Rally: A Celebration of Michigan Football”. Over 600 fans and alumni packed the Michigan Theater. Rodriguez came to the stage and was met with lots of cheers but also some boos from crowd. “We’ve got a chip on our shoulder… We should have a chip on our shoulder because we got a lot to prove. I’ve got a lot to prove” stated Rodriguez. He went on to say that he is ‘all in for Michigan’ and so are his players. Some of the other speakers were former U-M coach Gary Moeller and former Wolverines Larry Foote and Brandon Graham.
That’s great, but here’s where I have a problem – I’m sick and tired of the whining that has come out of Ann Arbor recently. In the last two years since Rodriguez has taken over as head coach, the Wolverines have gone an unprecedented 8-16. They’ve also been held out bowl games both of those seasons, ending a 33-year streak of post-season play. Enough is enough.
Some so called Michigan “fans” are calling for Rodriguez’ head on a silver platter. Yes, the last two seasons have been pretty bad… Nope, scratch that… Really bad. However, what did you expect with a new coach, new system, and new players? Most schools and their fans understand that things are not going to be the same as before and a complete overhaul takes a little time. Not Michigan. They think that nothing should be hard and they should just walk right into a bowl game and they should do that because they are Michigan. Let me let you guys in on a little secret….nobody cares. It’s just not the way it works. You might actually be bad for a while and have to deal with having to earning a spot. I know that some of you “Michigan Men” don’t like the sound of that and it might make you think twice before laying down thousands of dollars on the new suites at the Big House but, it’s how everybody else does business. You earn it.
I know this is a lot to process, but you can’t just be ready to fire your head coach when his system has not even had time to fully play out yet. As much as you don’t want to hear it, the old ways were not going to work much longer and you know it. It was time to shake things up and do something new. I believe that Rich Rodriguez is the right man for the job and in the next two years you could legitimately be playing for a national title. However, it’s not going to get handed to you – You’re going to have to deal with some losses on the way.
Stop trying to lynch RichRod and try getting behind your team for a change… Instead of making these young players feel like they don’t belong, try supporting them. After all, you guy’s are suppose to be true “Michigan Men” not a Wal-Mart Wolverine.
Check out these related posts:
- Michigan to Host Primetime Game
- 2010 Spring Game Review: Michigan Wolverines
- Rodriguez Happy with Spring Practice
About This Author
As a Michigan fan, I agree with the fact that RichRod is getting the program on track and it will take a little time. I’m all in for Michigan too, but what the heck is a Wal-Mart Wolverine?
Wal-Mart Wolverine you know the types. The people you see at Wal-Mart everyday and they always have a Michigan shirt on that they just bought from the store the day before. Does not know anybody who went to the school or has even been to a game but sees the big “M” and say’s ” Golly, thats a Michigan shirt. I am a fan of that team”