With a 7-5 mark in 2010, Rich Rodriguez finally secured his first winning season at Michigan after taking over in 2008, but three straight losses to Ohio State, NCAA violations and just 15 wins overall in his three seasons in Ann Arbor has rumors swirling that the Wolverines are looking to make a change.
Rich Rodriguez And Michigan: Head Coach Delivers Passionate, Josh Groban-Filled Plea To Keep His Job
And apparently Rodriguez is hearing this talk, too, because Thursday night he delivered a passionate, heartfelt, uncomfortable, awkward, tear-saturated speech to close out the team’s banquet. A speech that began with some jokes, but quickly transitioned to Rodriguez making a plea to stay at Michigan and then ended with a playing of Josh Groban’s “You Raise Me Up.” Really. (Our Michigan blog, Maize N Brew, has the appropriate reaction.)
The team’s end-of-the year banquet was a chance to recognize the 25th anniversary of the 1985 team that finished No. 2 in the AP Poll, the highest ranking of a Bo Schembechler squad. But Rodriguez also used it to make his desperate plea (complete audio here. You must go listen to it now -- words do not do it justice).
He cited Hebrews, talking about the faith he had in program’s direction, and talked about how Groban’s “You Raise Me Up,” inspires him before having it played. Rodriguez, his wife, Rita, Brandon and players stood on risers with their hands held above their heads as the song blared in the ballroom.
Rodriguez, who has three years remaining on his deal, will coach the Wolverines in their bowl game (likely either the Insight or Gator Bowl), and athletic director Dave Brandon has repeated he will not evaluate the coaching situation until after that.
Rodriguez took over the football program in 2008 and promptly went 3-9, with losses to Toledo and Northwestern. The 2009 campaign started better, with four straight wins, but Michigan dropped seven of their last eight, including five straight losses to end the season at 5-7. This year finally brought Rodriguez’s first winning season at Michigan (7-5). It’s already been widely speculated that should the school opt to fire him, they would then try to hire Stanford’s Jim Harbaugh -- the quarterback of the 1985 Michigan team (Harbaugh had planned to attend the banquet but super levels of awkwardness were avoided when he scheduled a practice instead).
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