Behind The Box Score

There used to be a time where Michigan Football was prominent among the nation and the Wolverines actually won games. The Maize and Blue used to beat Ohio State, win bowl games, and compete for the Big Ten title. Nowadays, under the direction of Rich Rodriguez, the program that holds the title as the winningest program in college football history, is under scrutiny for multiple accusations of wrongdoing and NCAA violations. Even after going 3-9, it seemed Rodriguez couldn’t get in much more trouble, but now the list just got longer. For the past year, many Michigan fans, including several friends of mine, have called for Rich Rod’s head, a move that would make sense. Rodriguez has changed the culture of Michigan football and has done it in the wrong way. Switching to Adidas uniforms, the Maize and Blue sported one of the nation’s worst offenses and losses to Toledo, Notre Dame, Northwestern and Ohio State, for the fifth consecutive season. For a team that has never had an infraction in their history, it seemed nothing could make the situation at the school worse. Well, the accusations from ten former players has added fuel to the fire.

Tony Clemens, a former Wolverine who graduated last fall, admitted to ESPN that coach Rodriguez and his staff practiced the players well beyond the NCAA’s limit for a week and thought nothing of it. Clemens was quoted as saying, “Nothing is fabricated or exaggerated in that story. I was there on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. or 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. depending on if guys needed treatment. You were there daylight to nighttime.” The Detroit Free-Press has also reported that five of ten past and present players linked to the allegations have admitted wrong doing and have stories similar to Clemens’. Another piece of evidence that could further support the claim is the transfer of former Wolverine lineman Justin Boren, who opted to attend The Ohio State University. Boren, who was a heralded recruit out of Pickerington North High School, left the Wolverines citing a removal of family values for his dismissal.

Transfers have been very common during Rodriguez short tenure including RB Sam McGuffie, QB Steven Threet, QB Ryan Mallet and the aforementioned Boren. After leaving West Virginia on harsh terms, Rodriguez hasn’t run a stellar program for the Wolverines. The latest evidence is the dismissal of QB Justin Feagin, a versatile running quarterback who was let go after an arrest stemming from cocaine possession with the intent to sell. As the city of Detroit and the entire state spirals downward in these economic times, it seems that the only pride left in the hearts of Michigan fans everywhere is dwindling as Rich Rodriguez has tarnished the Wolverines and improvement is long away.