Michigan AD Bill Martin supports Rich Rodriguez

The man who hired Rich Rodriguez as Michigan’s football coach said Rodriguez’s job is secure. Rodriguez, in his second season with the Wolverines, has watched his team nosedive since a 4-0 start. They have lost five straight Big Ten games, are 5-5 and remain one game from bowl eligibility with games at Wisconsin and home with Ohio State left. Michigan athletic director Bill Martin, who announced last month he will officially retire from that job on Sept 4, 2010, vociferously defended Rodriguez during an interview Monday. “He’s not going anyplace,” Martin said of Rodriguez, who replaced Lloyd Carr, who retired after the 2007 season following 13 years as head coach. “Rich is an outstanding coach. There is no question he’s got my total support. I think the world of that guy. Is he perfect in every respect? Nobody is. But he works hard. He’ll get it right.” – Detroit News