CC: Adam Schefter on Countdown: Harbaugh to Michigan

...the treatment of Rich Rodriguez offends me.

As an alum, as a fan, as a fair-minded person, and as a discerning and critical reader of the news; it all offends me.

The great tradition of our University, as one of football-team excellence on and off the field, has been injured.  Not because Rich Rodriguez did anything terribly wrong, but rather because one reporter, Michael Rosenberg, had a personal vendetta.

And it further offends me that while Rodriguez, who was substantially and personally cleared of the worst of what Rosenberg alleged, continues to suffer attacks and subversion in the press, Rosenberg, who was shown to have been wrong, has drawn almost no criticism from his colleagues in the press.  Not that it is difficult to find reasons and ways to criticize Rosenberg.  Just look at what Jon Chait, a real hero to Michigan football now, has done.

Michigan football is a very big enterprise, and the Michigan alumni base is a big, diverse crowd.  There are lots of niche areas for people to be interested in, and you see it on this Board:  How does a 2-deep zone really work?  What does zone blocking look like in practice?  What's the history of Yost Fieldhouse?  Who is on the recruiting list?  Who are all of our Assistant and Associate Athletic Directors?  What will next year's basketball uniforms look like?  Who was the composer of the music that the MMB played at halftime? 

One of those sub-categories is, "What is the nature of the reporting that led to the NCAA football investigation?  And was it fair?  Is current reporting fair to the program, and to Rich Rodriguez?"  Among a lot of other niche topics, some of which might interest you, and some of which might not, it is a perfectly valid, and, I'd submit, important topic.

I will give you my viewpoint on Section 1.  Take it what it is worth.  You ask why he cares so much.  Imagine your profession, people saying things about it from a public perception view that may not be correct.  And you are a passionate person who wants to make sure people know the truth from being in the field for a long time.  That's how section 1 comes across to me.  Maybe I am totally off base, but this is my view.

Section 1 has contributed alot to this board.  I know that when I first came on here and asked questions about the Freep and the MSM bias, he was kind enough to take the time and explain it.  There were others that were helpful as well, but Section 1 always took the time to respond and his response was very well thought out and not a one word answer.  I was a person that thought RR was close to the worse human being around because I was misinformed.  I thank the people on this board as well as Section 1 for always having the time.

If you don't agree with him, please feel free to refute him.  But if you think he is going overboard, then skip it.  Don't respond.  Simple enough.