The Brady Hoke era is still in its infancy for the University of Michigan but there is enough information to start making early comparisons with the previous regime under former coach Rich Rodriguez. There are still some Rich Rodriquez supporters in Wolverine Nation who believe Rodriquez should have been allowed another year as head coach. This notion needs to be buried for good. We need to review the tragic consequences of hiring coach Rodriquez as he drove Michigan football from national prominence to national embarrassment.
First of all, Rich Rodriquez could not even make the transition from West Virginia to Michigan without creating waves. When Rodriquez was offered the Michigan position, he bailed on his former players at West Virginia after indicating he would be with them in the Fiesta Bowl. Four months earlier, Coach Rodriquez had signed an extension, complete with a four million dollar buyout clause, and publically stated a long term commitment to West Virginia. After being hired by Michigan, Rodriquez foolishly challenged the buyout clause of the new contract and promptly lost the decision in court costing the University of Michigan an unexpected $2.5 million when the University helped pay the court settlement. Before the first game even started, Michigan players were lining up to transfer for one reason or another. As the old adage goes, when the sailors are abandoning ship, it usually means the ship is sinking.
Over the first season, it was obvious Rodriquez thought he could instantly change the style of football and the players to fit his incoming football philosophy. Before Rodriquez, Michigan ran a pro style offense complete with drop back quarterbacks. Upon arriving to Michigan, he quickly declared the “cupboard was empty” regarding offensive talent. Remember, the two years previous to Rich Rod, the Wolverines were 11-2 and 9-4. Even if he did not have personnel tailored to run a spread option offense, he could have adjusted and maximized the talent available. Instead, Rodriquez force fed his spread offense to personnel who were recruited for a pro style offense. No one should have been surprised when drop back passers had trouble executing the option properly.
On the other side of the ball, Michigan recorded the worst defenses in school history in back to back years. Coach Rodriquez made the same error on defense as he forced his defensive scheme on players not recruited for his smaller 3-3-5 defensive scheme. Inside the Big Ten, a conference respected for massive offensive lines, it is widely understood that defenses need exceptional size and speed to compete in this conference. Power running offenses like Wisconsin, Ohio State and Iowa must have thought they were dreaming when looking at the undersized defensive unit of the Wolverines. Even after Michigan defenses were worn down season after season, Rodriquez refused to recognize the need to adjust to the Big Ten environment.
Of course, football always boils to one thing, wins and losses. Coach Coke has jumped out to a 10-2 start at Michigan. Rodriquez record at Michigan was 15-22 including back to back losing seasons. Before Rich Rod, no Michigan team had seen a losing season in over 60 years. The departure of Rodriquez and the arrival of Coach Coke represent a transition from a horrible era in Michigan football history to a future with promise. Hail to the Victors Valiant!