Michigan Wolverines Coach Rich Rodriguez Has a Chance to Be Coach of the Year in 2009

The 2009 college football season is underway and several coaches are making a name for themselves early on, especially Michigan's Rich Rodriguez. See why he will have a legitimate chance of being named Coach of the Year.

Drastic Improvement on the Field

The 2009 Michigan Wolverines have started the season 3 - 0 and have matched their win total from 2008. Rodriguez has more of the players he needs in the lineup, like true freshman quarterback Tate Forcier. Forcier was the main reason for the Wolverines upset over Notre Dame and looks to be Michigan's version of Pat White.

The remaining schedule favors the Wolverines, who will have two tough tests when they meet rival Michigan State and Wisconsin on the road. This year the team will benefit from having to play Ohio State and Penn State on their home field and at the Big House in Ann Arbor, anything can happen with over 105,000 screaming fans. Looking at their schedule, it is possible for the Michigan Wolverines to end the regular season with an 8-4 or 9-3 record.

Being Involved With the Community

Though Rodriguez does not fully comprehend the culture of Michigan football, he has spent some down time in the community and working with various charities. Over the summer, Rodriguez, along with other Michigan football alumni, help raise over $650,000 for the C.S. Mott Children's hospital and Women's hospital.

Not Backing Down From the Accusations

Prior to the start of the 2009 season, the newspapers were filled with reports about how the University of Michigan football program continually violated NCAA rules by forcing them to practice more than the allotted hours and taking part in too many scrimmages.

Rodriguez held a press conference where he started to break down and show his true emotions as he talked about the Michigan football program and the kids that play for him. When it was done, Rodriguez vehemently denied the violations and has not waiver from this stance since.

In the end, these violations are probably true, but for someone to think this does not happen anywhere else is ludicrous. The other major football programs, like USC, Ohio State, or Florida, are more than likely practicing longer than they should.

This report garnered media attention because there are select Michigan alumni and media who feel Rich Rodriguez is not Michigan material and are eager to remove him from his position.

Rich Rodriguez is showing why the Michigan administration went after him. He is in the process of turning this team around and back into winners. When the season is over, they will have at least 8 wins and a trip to a decent bowl game he should receive serious consideration for the 2009 Coach of the Year.

Resources

http://www.coachoftheyear.com/

http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-footbl/mich-m-footbl-body.html