Post by elp525 on Sept 3, 2009 3:12:44 GMT -5
Wednesday September 2, 2009
by Bill Smith
For the Daily Mail
I admit it. I am not a Rich Rodriguez fan. However, I don't wish that the former West Virginia University football coach and his coaching staff should be punished if they are innocent of wrongdoing.
In case you just got off the space shuttle from the moon, a little more than 18 months ago Rodriguez abandoned his WVU team after it had suffered a devastating defeat to Pitt that cost the Mountaineers a chance to play for a national championship.
He just walked out on his players, ones that he said he loved, and headed for the big money as coach of the Michigan Wolverines, one of the most storied programs in the country.
This is a man who talked about building character in his players. Yeah, character. Well, his definition of character apparently isn't the same as mine.
He wasn't even man enough to face his WVU bosses and tell them he was leaving. He sent them a note by a graduate assistant.
I still find that incredulous.
As his second season at Michigan begins, after a disastrous first one in which he lost a school record nine games, a few players have accused Rich Rod of breaking NCAA rules by making them practice much longer than the rules allow.
Does it sound like a few disgruntled players? Maybe.
Of course, Rich Rod claims he "cares about" these players, too.
Sound familiar?
Rodriguez, in an emotional appearance at a news conference, denied any wrongdoing. He said, "We go by the rules."
The few players who made the charges say they want to remain anonymous for fear of reprisal.
I find that interesting. Why would they say that?
They are accusing Rodriguez, his staff and strength coach of working them for many more hours than the NCAA allows.
After all, the players are supposed to be students first and football players second. And the NCAA is very specific about how many hours the players can spend a week in meetings, on the practice field and in the weight room.
I'm sure Rodriguez, especially after that horrendous and embarrassing (for the Michigan faithful) 3-9 first year, is desperate to get the Wolverines back on track. But I don't know how you would prove those charges, unless the players had to punch a time clock.
Michigan says it will investigate. Somehow, I feel that's akin to having Congress investigate itself.
A long time ago when Bobby Bowden had a coaching friend get in trouble for NCAA violations, I asked Bobby, "Could your program withstand an investigation?"
He replied, "Oh, man, yeah. We're clean."
Then he added, "But we're not lily-white."
I'm sure that could be said about any program in the nation.
At his press conference, Rodriguez did not look like a happy man. I feel for him, I guess, although I find it difficult to feel sorry for a man with millions who cannot find happiness.
I'd like to try it sometime.
The thing I find ironic about this is that since leaving WVU, Rich Rod has seemed to have a dark cloud of trouble following him. It reminds me of a verse in the bible, something about reaping what you sow.
I know it sounds like I'm kicking Rodriguez when he's down. I'm not. I'm just commenting. First of all, I don't think he's down. He is a good football coach. He is a very ambitious football coach. I do believe sometimes very ambitious people are also greedy and have a habit of using people and sometimes bending rules. I'm not saying Rich Rod broke the rules, but there is smoke and it may look like a duck.
My final statements on this subject are these:
Some of his players say he did.
He says he didn't.
Someone is lying.
by Bill Smith
For the Daily Mail
I admit it. I am not a Rich Rodriguez fan. However, I don't wish that the former West Virginia University football coach and his coaching staff should be punished if they are innocent of wrongdoing.
In case you just got off the space shuttle from the moon, a little more than 18 months ago Rodriguez abandoned his WVU team after it had suffered a devastating defeat to Pitt that cost the Mountaineers a chance to play for a national championship.
He just walked out on his players, ones that he said he loved, and headed for the big money as coach of the Michigan Wolverines, one of the most storied programs in the country.
This is a man who talked about building character in his players. Yeah, character. Well, his definition of character apparently isn't the same as mine.
He wasn't even man enough to face his WVU bosses and tell them he was leaving. He sent them a note by a graduate assistant.
I still find that incredulous.
As his second season at Michigan begins, after a disastrous first one in which he lost a school record nine games, a few players have accused Rich Rod of breaking NCAA rules by making them practice much longer than the rules allow.
Does it sound like a few disgruntled players? Maybe.
Of course, Rich Rod claims he "cares about" these players, too.
Sound familiar?
Rodriguez, in an emotional appearance at a news conference, denied any wrongdoing. He said, "We go by the rules."
The few players who made the charges say they want to remain anonymous for fear of reprisal.
I find that interesting. Why would they say that?
They are accusing Rodriguez, his staff and strength coach of working them for many more hours than the NCAA allows.
After all, the players are supposed to be students first and football players second. And the NCAA is very specific about how many hours the players can spend a week in meetings, on the practice field and in the weight room.
I'm sure Rodriguez, especially after that horrendous and embarrassing (for the Michigan faithful) 3-9 first year, is desperate to get the Wolverines back on track. But I don't know how you would prove those charges, unless the players had to punch a time clock.
Michigan says it will investigate. Somehow, I feel that's akin to having Congress investigate itself.
A long time ago when Bobby Bowden had a coaching friend get in trouble for NCAA violations, I asked Bobby, "Could your program withstand an investigation?"
He replied, "Oh, man, yeah. We're clean."
Then he added, "But we're not lily-white."
I'm sure that could be said about any program in the nation.
At his press conference, Rodriguez did not look like a happy man. I feel for him, I guess, although I find it difficult to feel sorry for a man with millions who cannot find happiness.
I'd like to try it sometime.
The thing I find ironic about this is that since leaving WVU, Rich Rod has seemed to have a dark cloud of trouble following him. It reminds me of a verse in the bible, something about reaping what you sow.
I know it sounds like I'm kicking Rodriguez when he's down. I'm not. I'm just commenting. First of all, I don't think he's down. He is a good football coach. He is a very ambitious football coach. I do believe sometimes very ambitious people are also greedy and have a habit of using people and sometimes bending rules. I'm not saying Rich Rod broke the rules, but there is smoke and it may look like a duck.
My final statements on this subject are these:
Some of his players say he did.
He says he didn't.
Someone is lying.
