Commentary: Rodriguez can't go 3-9 again
detnews.com
By Bob Wojnowski
Columnist
The Detroit News
Saturday, November 22, 2008
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- This is what happens when you walk into the biggest rivalry unarmed and ill-equipped. This is what happened to Michigan again and again this year, and when the misery finally was over Saturday, Rich Rodriguez was asked how the season would be remembered.
Before he gives his answer, oh, let us count the horrific ways. It was the end of Michigan's 33-year bowl streak. It was a 3-9 record, the most defeats in the program's history. It was an unprecedented fifth straight loss to Ohio State, this one a 42-7 humbling, the Buckeyes' biggest margin since Woody Hayes' infamous 50-14 pasting in 1968.
This was as brutal as expected, although Michigan scrapped decently for a while, trailing 14-7 at halftime. And then it collapsed mostly because the Wolverines couldn't move the ball and the defense gave up huge rushing plays to Beanie Wells and huge passing plays to Terrelle Pryor and, well, you've heard it all before.
In a season of monumental change, there was a horrible sameness right to the end, when the Buckeyes were merciless and Jim Tressel raised his record to 7-1 against Michigan.
So, how will this hideous first season under Rodriguez be remembered?
He didn't pause.
"Hopefully, it'll be remembered as a blip on the screen, a one-time happening," he said. "That's the hope."
No, Rich, that's the mandate, starting right now. This cannot happen again, not 3-9, not a five-touchdown loss to the Buckeyes, not next season, not ever. I don't think it will because Michigan's young offense automatically should be better, especially with two touted freshman quarterbacks -- Tate Forcier and Shavodrick Beaver -- expected to come in early. But if Rodriguez had any notion he'd ease his program in, that's over, squandered by this year's mess, a poor coaching job all the way around.
He said he'll do intense evaluation and it had better start with his staff, with defensive coordinator Scott Shafer and others. Changes need to be made. Michigan had talent on defense, which you saw when it stuffed Pryor for long stretches. But all season, there was confusion in the secondary and breakdowns on big plays, and that's where change has to begin.
The Buckeyes have great offensive skill, but they win with defense. They're still Michigan's No. 1 rival, recent lopsided results notwithstanding, and they're still the obstacle the Wolverines must overcome.
"I'll evaluate everything and see how we can improve," Rodriguez said. "You do that any way, even after a successful year, but there's certainly more of a sense of urgency now."
There's a ton more urgency now. There's no bowl game, so Rodriguez and his staff will have more time to recruit. But first, I hope he took a long look at his seniors Saturday, and I hope he saw the dismissiveness of the Buckeyes and their fans, who could barely muster the anger to heckle the Wolverines.
A small group of Michigan fans actually made the trip and huddled in the far reaches of the upper deck. Plenty was missing from this game, including the old tension and vitriol, although some Ohio State fans gave it the old Buckeye try. As Michigan players trudged toward their bus, fans yelled, "Enjoy your bowl!" and, "Just like Toledo!" and, "Where's Desmond's Heisman pose now?!"
Of all the things Michigan surrendered this season, this should be the most painful -- loss of competitiveness in a great rivalry.
Of the many things the Wolverines must get back, that's one of the biggest.
"This is Michigan, this is way bigger than me," senior nose tackle Terrance Taylor said. "I don't feel bad, and I'm not calling out anybody. They're going to get guys that can come in and play, and coach Rod's gonna get it right. I'm sure this is gonna turn around pretty quickly. I'm positive."
Taylor and his teammates played hard in this one, no matter what the scoreboard showed. The breakdowns were just unrelenting, and that speaks to talent and coaching and a difficult cultural transition.
There were issues. Some players didn't fit, and more likely will leave.
"As far as next season, it's going to be totally different, I promise you that," tailback Brandon Minor said. "I can't really blame Rich Rod because everybody on the team didn't buy in like they're supposed to. But we'll correct that. It's not gonna happen on my watch as a senior next year."
I think Rodriguez will get his beloved spread-option going, but if he thought he'd just unleash it and trot merrily to Big Ten titles, he better be wiser now. It won't be easy next season, when one of the freshmen likely replaces Nick Sheridan at quarterback. Sheridan was a good guy who was outmatched playing for the injured Steven Threet, and his deficiencies (8-for-24 Saturday) made it tough to evaluate the offense.
If Rodriguez is smart, and I think he is, he should learn enough to make this a blip. The Big Ten is more physical than he probably figured, as battered freshman Sam McGuffie discovered, although Rodriguez said he found nothing about the conference overly surprising. He also didn't want to hear about the five-game losing streak to the Buckeyes, saying he has been here for only one.
True enough. But he can't embrace the tradition when it serves him and push away from it when convenient. This 3-9 season is Michigan's stain, but it's his, too.
"It's hard right now, it's hard on all our guys," said Rodriguez, who was especially complimentary about his 15 seniors. "But we are laying a foundation. We surely gotta get more explosive and faster, and our recruiting's gonna help. The silver lining is, I'm excited about the players we have coming back."
As for those Buckeyes and his first taste of Scarlet bitterness? It should be enlightening. And also inspiring.
"They've done an outstanding job, and we've got to do all we can to close the gap," Rodriguez said. "We've got to stick to our plan. I can't give you a time frame -- everybody wants to know what year. I think we can close the gap quicker, but we've got a lot of work to do. That's pretty obvious."
It was pretty obvious on this day, and in many games. This season won't be remembered for much, but one thing is certain: All those nasty numbers, including 42-7 on the final cold afternoon, should never be forgotten.
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