Getty ImagesWas the chance at revenge part of Rich Rodriguez‘s decision to take the job at Arizona?
Not entirely — that would be downright dumb — but it appears that a chance to play, and defeat, Michigan was at least the cherry on top of Rodriguez’s move to Tuscon.
The Detroit Free Press cites a speech given by J.T. Curtis, head coach of John Curtis High School in River Ridge, La., to Tulane boosters Monday.
”My understanding is, in talking to coach Rich Rodriguez, and I was involved in that just a little bit, is that it was a much closer decision than people realize between Tulane and Arizona,” Curtis said. “I know that might not sound right to you but I think Tulane did all they could do to give him an opportunity to come there and a chance to coach, and I think his expression to me was that he felt like he had a better chance to win the national championship at Arizona if he recruited properly.
”And they promised him they’d put Michigan on the schedule in three years,” Curtis said. “I’m telling you, it was a big deal.”
In his introductory press conference, Rodriguez continued to take what sounded like subtle shots at Michigan, indicating he thought “five years meant five years.” Rodriguez has stated numerous times he felt the Wolverines were on the cusp of turning the corner after a rough first three years, but was never given the chance to finish the job.
He may never admit it publicly, but it wouldn’t be surprising at all for Rodriguez to want a shot at his former employer.
If Arizona brings the same Rich Rod defense to a game with Michigan, Denard Robinson will have about 1,500 total yards.
Oh god, as a U-M fan, I’m just terrified of the prospect of playing Rich Rod’s new team.
/sarcasm
He’s complaining about opting out of a contract early? Wow now i’ve heard everything. Oh and richrod bring it on we can always use an easy win.
I know this guy alittle, my brother played for him. We r from the same county. My uncle and him r friends. My brother coaches and still talks to him. He is an arrogant s.o.b. But his offense is sick. But that defense is not good. But there is no chance he gets rid of it. And yes Michigan would beat them.
But
As a Michigan fan I think we should all be able to punch this guy in the face if he returns to the big house. He owes us at least that for ruining our football program while he was here. The guy is a joke
…and the but of that joke lies squarely on YOUR AD and the administration at the time. Rich Rod may be an idiot and bad coach, but he did not hijack the UM job, he was courted and hired with bells on by the UM brass.
And that AD is long gone. The one that hired him was not the one who fired him.
Rich Rod is a glorified Offensive Coordinator. He only knows his system and is stubborn to it. If he was running the offense this year at Michigan, they’d be a powerhouse – but the defense, who knows, probably still very bad.
I more want to see Rich Rod take his Arizona team back to West Virginia. Now if THAT happens, get your popcor—err i mean riot gear ready.
Please say it’s so. Please bring them to the Big House.
Ben- you promised NEVER to use that picture of him in Michigan gear again… it’s pure sacrilege.
The 3-3-5 base defense can actually work. You really need a GREAT tackling secondary and a huge DT. Of course, you have to recruit for it, and you need defensive coaches to preach fundamentals. Joe Kines ran it at Bama for a few years, with Prince Hall, a 280 lb middle linebacker.
Most high profile coaches are arrogant, Urban Meyer included. RichRod is a great coach that brings excitement with his offense, he delegates the defense accordingly. His only mistake with Michigan was not bringing with him a tried and true defensive coordinator. If he was so darn bad then why did the illustrious UM hiring him in the first freaking place ??!!! His WV offense was a “Beast” and they wanted him to replicate the offense @ UM. He had to bring in his personnel which took time, if not the star qb wouldn’t have taken off to Arkansas ! Don’t tell me UM thought he was bringing in a pro-style offense, give me a break !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jaggedmark… Will denard have any eligibility left in three years?
The Big 10 let’s them play for 8 to 10 years Ha
I think RichRod will have success at Arizona. Richrod & Greg Mattison would’ve been the perfect combination at Michigan, but oh well, he didn’t know any good deffensive coordinators. Don’t get me wrong, I think Brady Hoke is great for Michigan, and Ariz. vs Mich. in the future should be a good game.
Now it would be interesting to see if Richrod learns from his mistakes and decides to immediately run his offense without having a running QB over there right now, or if he tries to adapt at least until he gets a dual-threat QB.
Hmmm… Arizona vs. Oregon should make for some crazy basketball scores over there.
What is “Big House?” (and in capital letters?)
Is it a mental ward and the joke is that Rodriguez is crazy?
Did I promise that, polegojim?
That face is… pure 24k gold.
@philly – its the Michigan 10 year plan!
@pole – perhaps the one of him bawling his eyes out would be better?
Much of Michigan’s current success is due in large part to the recruiting of Rich Rod and his grooming of players. It’s almost hilarious how stupid the average Michigan fan is when assessing the entire Rodriguez situation. The guy was crapped on from the time he walked in the door, and was undermined by his AD, the University, the Detroit Free Press, and Lloyd Car.
The cupboard was bare when the guy took over. He had very few seniors his first two years, and his Michigan teams suffered copious amounts of injuries over that three year period (especially in year two). He warned everyone coming in that it would take at least three seasons for his system to be successful in Ann Arbor, but the dimwits there couldn’t deal with that.
Brady Hoke is an excellent coach, and will do well at Michigan (he has the support of everyone at least), but Rich Rod didn’t leave the cupboard bare, and the continued piling on is juvenile at best, and absolute ignorance at its worst.
And even with Hoke, U of M are still the “little sisters” in the state of Michigan (go State).
I distinctly remember hoping for it….
It’s his classic clueless, stupid-mad look… “I don’t know what just happened, but I don’t think I should be happy about it!” Thanks for POURING lemon juice my painfully ripped open wound… AHHHHH. I had almost forgotten.
Gotta find a way to tag a North Texas Eagles logo on that hat…
@dk – I’d prefer seeing the pic of his rear license plate just as it passes the Michigan border and the sign that says… Welcome To Indiana.
@glestonsimmons…. you’re kidding right? What is Big House? Well… it will be a mental ward if he ever plays there again.
Give me break you must be a state fan, that’s why you like richrod at Michigan. Richrod came here and ran everyone off, he couldn’t adapt his system to the talent he had. He doomed himself from day 1. As far as recruiting went he just couldn’t pull in big time recruits. And we had more players leave the program then ever during his 3 years here. Were going beat state next year the order of the universe will be restored.
GO BLUE!!!!!!
@sportsinhd – now that’s FUNNY.
Are you kidding – ok… RR didn’t leave the cupboard bare, he wrecked it, tore it off the wall and burned it.
RR Legacy: No Running game, No Defense. No Kicking game.
His claim to fame is ‘Watch Denard Run!’
Only EVERYBODY else in the country knows Hoke’s Michigan team is winning in SPITE of RR’s recruiting. Mattison has vastly improved a horrible Defense… but one that is no where near where it needs to be.
Go BLUE!
He wasn’t givin a Fair shoot, but he wasn’t a Michigan Man. And this is from a USC Trojans fans.
@pole -HA – I’ve seen that picture, there are about 100 or so Michigan fans with pitch forks and torches running behind him!
Along with the pitchforks and torches, we also had a stake…. but he was too fast for us.
So now Rich Rod can finally watch a Michigan team win for once, hope that finally gives him closure?
Arizona will never play in the rose bowl so richrod will never play Michigan. I heard a statement from richrod the other day and I quote “its frustrating to watch michigan”. Then the 2nd quote he made was “i know if I was still coaching Michigan I know we could be a good 7-5 team”. I was appalled to here him say that. Now he’s your problem zona.