Rich Rod

Even his name is funny.

At Michigan he represented optimism, at least for a while.  If he can do that, just think what he can do with the athletes in Ann Arbor!

He is a good coach and a smart man.  You don't get to that level unless you are a good coach, manager, and someone who can succeed in the spotlight.  Rich Rodriguez is all those things.  Almost certainly he is not that person at the uppermost levels of coaching, but he has been a winning coach for over twenty years with a multi-million dollar salary for most of it.

Over that time it is pretty clear who he is.  He left his home of West Virginia for more.  He was hot and reveled in a seller's market.  The lame duck athletic director and president at Michigan signed him up.

His Arizona contract was big and progressive.  He won games and toyed with championships, and his style provided excitement.  This year the achievements of quarterback Khalil Tate once again provided optimism and energy.

At Michigan the phrase was "snake oil salesman."  There's no question that lawsuits, shady behavior, and near failure on the football field have followed him.  During his days at Michigan the recruiting classes featured players who would never, ever be admitted or survive academically; it was smoke and mirrors.  The school was hit with NCAA sanctions.  Denard Robinson alone made the whole thing survive for three years.

It was so bad that it resulted in Brady Hoke.

During the bowl loss to the embarrassment that is Purdue the announcers mentioned that it had been a "challenging" year for the Arizona defense.  That is always going to be the case with Rich Rod and in more ways than just half the football team.  There is never a lot of depth or equity to build on.

Rodriguez's Big Ten record at Michigan was dismal and at Arizona (Pac 12) it was under .500 after six years.  Still, it wasn't a bad gig.  He provided excitement and potential for an upset.  That is something that is still hard to find in coaching.

At Michigan it seems like he spent most of his time apologizing and not really providing evidence of anything better to come; whining.  He was good at it and even likeable in the role.   What was it, 63-61 over Illinois in overtime?  Lloyd Carr never did that.

Maybe I'm missing something.  It is pretty clear who Rich Rod is.  It is a men's locker room and a coach from West Virginia.  He was, more or less, much of the time, fairly well-behaved.  And there were probably some good times standing on the sideline of games too (sequestering Rita notwithstanding).

And I confess, I don't think the letter I read is the whole thing (it could be some mobile or abridged version).  I guess it is a required pre-suit extortion letter.  I don't know what the marine, ex-DEA, husband has to do with it and I could go on...

Issues sure.  And will she probably get some $$$?  Very likely.  But it looks like fairly tame stuff and I wouldn't be surprised to see Rich Rod slide into coaching again.

Lawsuits, Rita, pay agent fees, and Title IX training first.