They promised patience; some have even followed through. They promised support; a recent off-season pep rally in Ann Arbor serves as the latest evidence. Through two of the worst years in Michigan football history, supporters of head football coach Rich Rodriguez have waited, hoped, and remained as positive as possible. But they’re getting restless.
Now, as Rodriguez gets set to enter his third season as the Wolverines coach, one of the more popular questions to pose to sports fans throughout the state is this: How good must the Wolverines be this year in order for Rodriguez to retain his job? How many wins will to keep Wolverine alums from demanding a coaching change, to perhaps one of the coaching names like Jim Harbaugh and Les Miles?
What will it Take for Wolverine Fans to Embrace Rodriguez?
Opinions range. Some say the Wolverines must simply be better than last year and continue to show signs of improvement. Others say double-digit victories are in order, including wins against Ohio State and in whatever high-profile bowl the Wolverines play. Popular opinion falls somewhere in the middle, calling for the Wolverines to go 8-4 and play in a bowl game. A bowl game win would almost assure Rodriguez a fourth season.
Interestingly, that’s exactly what Rodriguez needs to happen to erase his current last-place standing among all-time Michigan football coaches. In terms of winning percentage, Rodriguez’s .333 (8-16 over two years) ranks him dead last among the 17 coaches who’ve led Michigan since the 1890s. In 1891, Mike Murphy and Frank Crawford teamed to lead the Wolverines to a 4-5 record in their only season, leaving them with a second-worst .444 winning percentage. They and Rodriguez are the only Michigan coaches with sub-.500 percentages.
Were the Wolverines to go 8-4 this season, Rodriguez’s percentage would jump to .444. A bowl win to follow would take him to .459 out of last place, and almost certainly, it would seem, into a fourth season at Michigan. A bowl loss would leave Rodriguez at .432, still trailing the Michigan coaching pack but, in many minds, good enough to stay on board at Michigan.
Michigan Football Coaches, Ranked by Winning Percentage
William Ward: 1896 9-1/.900
William McCauley: 1894-1895 17-2-1/.875
Gustave Ferbert: 1897-1899 24-3-1/.875
Fielding Yost: 1901-1923, 1925-1926 165-29-10/.833
Fritz Crisler: 1938-1947 71-16-3/.805
Bo Schembechler: 1969-1989 194-48-5/.796
Gary Moeller: 1990-1994 44-13-3/.758
Lloyd Carr: 1995-2007 122-40/.753
Langdon Lea: 1900 7-2-1/.750
George Little: 1924 6-2/.750
Bennie Oosterbaan: 1948-1958 63-33-4/.650
Frank Barbour: 1892-1893 14-8/.636
Harry G. Kipke: 1929-1937 46-26-4/.631
Elton Wieman: 1927-1928 9-6-1/.593
Bump Elliott: 1959-1968 51-42-2/.547
Mike Murphy & Frank Crawford: 1891 4-5/.444
Rich Rodriguez: 2008-present 8-16/.333
Rodriguez Now Working with his Own Recruits
When the man they call Rich-Rod first took over in Ann Arbor two seasons ago, many were willing to give him time, largely because he was working with players who'd been recruited to perform in a different system. These Wolverines are his now, players he felt could effectively run his spread offense.
Having experience over center in returning sophomores Tate Forcier and Denard Robinson will help, but it wasn't on offense where the Wolverines struggled greatest last season. After another dismal season defensively, the Wolverines will likely need immediate help from an incoming class that - aside from freshman quarterback Devin Gardner - was highlighted by its defensive players. Click here to read about the 2010 Michigan recruiting class.
