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StumbleuponBIG TEN PRESEASON
Michigan coach marquee attraction at Big Ten meetings
After all the turmoil and barbs tossed Rich Rodriguez's way in the offseason, he's now numb to criticism.
Friday, July 25, 2008
CHICAGO — Rich Rodriguez described his last seven months as having had "a little bit of drama."
You don't say.
"If I paid a whole lot of attention to a lot of the stuff that was written, it probably would have been a little bit tougher," the embattled new Michigan football coach said yesterday at the Big Ten preseason meetings. "But after awhile, it was like, 'Just stand in line and throw some darts our way.'"
Rodriguez has had plenty of reasons to duck.
West Virginia sued Rodriguez for breaking his contract. He finally reached a settlement July 9 and has agreed to pay his former school $4 million, most of which came out of Michigan's pocket.
Rodriguez drew the wrath of Purdue coach Joe Tiller on signing day when a coveted recruit reneged on an oral commitment and signed with Michigan. A furious Tiller described Rodriguez as a "guy in a wizard hat selling snake oil."
Later, prized recruit Terrelle Pryor picked Ohio State over Michigan, even though Rodriguez's spread offense was considered an ideal fit for the quarterback.
Perhaps the crowning blow came when starting guard Justin Boren of Pickerington left the Wolverines for the Buckeyes, saying "family values had eroded" under the new coach.
Rodriguez tried to make light of some of the turmoil.
"I've been working all summer on my snake-oil concoction that I've been trying to give to Joe," he joked, saying that the two have been friends for a long time.
The Boren family-values comment clearly stung Rodriguez, though.
"That was the one that really upset me the most because that's the one we take the most pride in," Rodriguez said. "Any player who's ever played for us in my 15 years as a head coach will tell you it's just the opposite, not only on our team but also amongst our staff or anyone who's touched our program.
"We feel that there's nobody that's going to have a family-type unit more than our football program."
Rodriguez was the last coach to speak and clearly the marquee attraction.
When two of the first four questions directed toward Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema were about the Wolverines, he ended his answer by saying, "It's good to be at a Michigan press conference."
But for the most part, his new league brethren had no interest in tossing more darts at Rodriguez. Tiller chastised a reporter for mentioning the snake-oil comment, saying he did not specifically mention Michigan or Rodriguez.
"I've talked to Rich and said I never said 'Rich Rodriguez,'" Tiller said. "We've known each other for a long time and had good discussions this spring, so to me it's a moot point."
Asked whether he thinks he needs to rebuild his image, Rodriguez said he wasn't the best person to ask.
"I've not changed who I am, but I never have," he said. "It just seems that what was portrayed was changed. That was probably the most disappointing part about it.
"I mean, what have I done wrong, imagewise? Did I cause anybody to leave? Just ask the players. Everybody wants to talk about a guy who leaves, not about the 99 who stayed.
"I still have my health. I still have my family. I'm at a great place. If the reputation has been damaged, that is upsetting because I've just changed jobs and done things the way I've done them everywhere else."
