okay, I'll take the negbang: Rodriguez to Tennessee?

You can't totally rule this out as coaches leave programs all the time for various reason.

The fatal flaw in the story was at the end. It was a nice story until they said Rita misses the warm weather. Yeah Morgantown is a freakin beach in the winter. Fail.

Sports Columnist John Adams in today's Knoxville Sentinel on possible replacement HC:

The names that come to mind for me are the same ones that popped up when I thought Urban Meyer might be resigning as Florida's coach. I like Rich Rodriguez at Michigan, Bobby Petrino at Arkansas and maybe even Dan Mullen at Mississippi State.

Forget what Rodriguez has done at Michigan, where he clearly doesn't fit in.

Remember what he did at West Virginia.

You can't totally rule it out, but I like most of you (i think) believe that RRod is on the cusp of turning a major CF program back into a powerhouse. I think RR is competitive enough that he won't leave Michigan willingly unless he is forced out. He wants to win, he wants to have a national powerhouse (which i'm sure is one of the reasons he left WVU, just like Kelly leaving for ND), he wants to prove himself.

Even with the external pressure on him, I believe he wishes to continue building *this* program.

I seen that TN is looking at Will muschamp as they're first choice.

just seen that he's not interested.

can't establish the accuracy of this, however I've heard that RR has been less than pleased with the infighting, agendas, and sniping that have occurred. Then again, who wouldn't be.

But yeah, I would't be surprised in the least if he left.

From WLA Uniscorn thread:

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. They're buying it....

And MJV just texted me to ask if it was real. Awesome.

http://mgoblog.com/mgoboard/brown-coach-tenn#comment-347246

Ninja Football | 01.13.10 - 12:02:32 a.m. EST | #

Tennessee is after the HC at Air Force or Jon Gruden. It will be one or the other.

Mike Leach hasn't been brought up at all.

would be that it would undoubtedly be portrayed in the local media that the Freep is totally vindicated in its jihad, that RR left because he knew the hammer was coming down on his malfeasance, and worst of all, Rosenberg was "right" about RR. The thought of the smug, self-satisfied smile on that insufferable little prick's face is too much to bear.

flight tracker has Rr's agent in and around the Knoxville area reacently.

Just sayin.

Rich Rod hasn't exactly had a smooth ride so far at UM. Hey left Morgantown and was berated by the WV fan for being a traitor. Arrives in MI and has to deal with the old school UM fans who favor things not changing and seem to only remember 1997. Then gets stuck playing two under-prepared qbs (one could argue one of the two would never be prepared) and having a poor record in his first season. Then the practice time fallout, another disappointing season, and I'm sure there's more I've missed.

I'm no expert, but just watching Rod on the sidelines for those last few games we lost, I could tell he just looked drained. I'm not saying I wouldn't be stunned if he leaves, but if he does, he can count on the following:
1. UT fans will go crazy for him, especially having left UM to come there.
2. Because of their distaste for Kiffin, Rich Rod have deity status for a while.
3. UM fans will be sad (at least those who still supported him), but will not react like those at WV when he left, or the UT fans reacting to Kiffin.

Basically, it would shock me, but I can see Rod considering it.

I think the board's reaction is telling of a couple things (whether the rumor has legs or not)...

1) Deep down, we fear that RR is not a true fit at UM, as evidenced by the fact that you can agree that RR is a "better" fit at Tennessee, and thus, the idea of him leaving for the Vols makes a lot of sense

2) Deep down, we fear that RR is capable of leaving at the drop of a hat for better pastures, even more so considering the rough and brutal time he's had in Ann Arbor.

3) We all know that independent of RR's interest in leaving in general, or leaving for Tennessee specifically... Tennessee has most definately reached out to him because it would be a perfect fit on their end.

4) And, lastly, the inherent concern/panic that I felt (and maybe this board too) because of this baseless rumor really really really highlights how frail our program is.

7 years of fandom down the drain. Might as well join the fuckin Peace Corps.

He's from Tennessee...

DANTONIO!!!

/sarcasm

A.)Tennessee is high in all-time wins, size of stadium, etc., all the vectors involved in being a marquee program, albeit in a scholastically sort of meh conference (Special Education Conference);

but, B.) About 60%-90% of the shit that RR has had to eat for the last two years has been because OMG HE LEFT HIS SCHOOL AND HIS PLAYERS OUT TO DRY IN ORDER TO IMPROVE HIS OWN PROSPECTS WHAT A MERCENARY SCUM and so on. Even before this year's merry-go-round got started it is obvious that he was being afflicted by a double standard applied by a MSM that respects no standards other than sheer obnoxiousness. Question: Were he to go to UT, would he suffer a Round 2 of the above noise in continued defiance of any logic or justice, or would it quietly go away now that he is only exhibit #106 of coaches-who-ditch-their-programs-on-the-turn-of-a-dime-when-opportunity-knocks? Do you think that "factionalism" at UM had anything to do with making this false double standard for RR so prominant in the national perception? Would caution bred from shitstorm #1 be a deterrent to ever changing schools again for RR?

My own opinion is that RR has quietly stepped in and been more the Michigan Man than any detractors could ever have wished for, and that this includes never leaving the Blue short of dismissal (if I'm wrong I'm wrong). He might just entertain a conversation, say, at UT, just to give the torch-and-pitchfork crowd a reminder of who they're fucking with. I suspect that leaving WV tore him up more than we suspect, and that there was stuff going on behind the scenes, and that he truly came to UM to stay. Maybe he extracts a two- or-three-year guarantee out of this mess.

Anybody heard anything or have any thoughts on the matter?

Yes. It's total bullshit.

Just, no. I firmly believe that he's our guy; I believe that he is a fit for Michigan just as Michigan is a fit for him.

I see the AD giving him the time he needs, and I believe that deep down he knows he's got a good thing going here, and is right on the cusp of pulling it off.

That's just how I feel though.

This post deserves a pinkslip.

Well, first of all, I'm not the only person to bring this up. It has been brought up in other forums, newspapers, etc.

Secondly, I didn't say I believed it. I asked if it had any validity.

Third, it was being discussed elsewhere. I figured this post would focus the discussion rather than have bits and pieces all over the place.

I apologize for starting a discussion on a discussion board. Mea culpa.

I'm not sure who you were talking to. First you say it was a bad thread (which sounds like it's geared toward me) and then you say you hope Ninja was wrong (which sounds like you're lending some credibility to his original statement).

So if the rumor was/is believable, then why is the fact that I started a thread about it a bad thing?

So...somebody else started a rumor (that admittedly might not be valid), I asked if anyone had any thoughts on the matter, and then I gave the reasons for starting the thread...

...and I'm more bitter than I used to be? I just don't really follow your logic.

I don't care about any negbanging. It doesn't bother me if people don't like the thread. But I don't understand the "bitter" comment.

someday people will realize the "wla" is not some monolithic evil empire that approves or concocts every thing that someone who happens to post at our site does. you'd think the relative absence of the mean commie douches would have quelled the ridiculous animosity around these parts, but here it is again. save your anger for GBMW and their irrational fear of "Star War" offenses or something.