Tressel remains obedient on moving ‘The Game’

It has been assured that Ohio State and Michigan will continue to play annually, but a debate rages over whether to slot Ohio State and Michigan in opposite divisions and run the risk of the Buckeyes and Wolverines playing on back-to-back weekends. In that instance, ”The Game” might be moved to earlier in the season, a change that has been panned by former players even as OSU director of athletics Gene Smith, president E. Gordon Gee and Michigan AD Dave Brandon have said recently they’re open-minded to moving. The Ohio State-Michigan game has been the two teams’ finale since 1935. On Monday, speaking at his first weekly luncheon in preparation for the season opener Thursday night against Marshall, Tressel tried to bob and weave. ”I guess my stance on all of this stuff is what I am going to be in favor of is what the group needs and what the group decides,” Tressel said. ”I’m going to focus on [OSU's] 25 seniors and the 2010 football team and not allow myself to get distracted [by] all of the discussion.’ – Beacon Journal

Rodriguez Feeling Heat at Michigan

Some Wolverines fans can put up with the losing, if they think it will lead to greater things. But couple that with a pending NCAA investigation and the seemingly regular defection of players, and the U-M faithful appear to be counting the days until the Rodriguez era ends. The record has been bad for Rodriguez since he arrived from West Virginia — 3-9 in 2008 and 5-7 in 2009 — and some wonder whether it can be turned around. He certainly hasn’t been given the strongest vote of confidence from new athletic director Dave Brandon, who hasn’t committed to Rodriguez beyond this season. In defense of Rodriguez, he has tried to revamp the Wolverines’ offense from a traditional style to a spread, requiring different types of players. The question remains, however, will Rodriguez be given the time to get his system to work? Barring at least seven wins and a decent bowl bid, I’d bet on a new coach in Ann Arbor for 2011. – Detroit News

Delany: OSU-UM process nearly complete

Walking uphill and going nowhere at the same time, Jim Delany addressed how close the world was to a midseason Michigan-Ohio State game. [Big Ten] honchos appear poised to place the teams in opposite divisions. That would allow the schools to meet in the Big Ten title game but likely would move their rivalry game to October to avoid the threat for a late-season rematch. Delany cautioned that no final decision has been made, saying the process is “80 percent” complete after university presidents and athletic directors have analyzed a dozen models. … “If Duke and North Carolina were historically the two strongest programs and only one could play for the right to be in the NCAA tournament, would you want them playing in the season-ending game so one is in and one is out?” he asked. – Chicago Tribune

Rodriguez, Zook, Lynch on Big Ten hot seat

It’s a tough call when discussing the job security of football coaches Rich Rodriguez of Michigan, Ron Zook of Illinois and Indiana’s Bill Lynch. All have losing records, and they are a combined 20-60 in Big Ten Conference play. Reservations for three, please, on the hot seat… At stake is Rodriguez’ job, though he won’t admit it. But a two-year record of 8-17 and 3-13 against the league makes it tough to ask for a raise. The former West Virginia coach made his Michigan debut Aug. 30, 2008, a shocking 25-23 upset loss to Utah. The Wolverines finished 3-9 that season, their worst record in school history. They also failed to earn a bowl bid for the first time in 33 years. And following the 2009 season came NCAA violations regarding unofficial scrimmages and longer team workouts than what are allowed — all leading to two years of probation… Zook enters his sixth season with the Illini at 21-39 and may have put added pressure on himself by adding six new assistants. “That’s the thing about this profession. Everyone understands it. That’s why no one gets too uptight about it because everyone here has to win,” he  said, “whether it’s Jim Tressel or Ron Zook. Even Joe Paterno has to win. “Obviously, some of us have more (pressure) than others.” Zook said “tweaking” his staff doesn’t mean he’s coaching scared or desperate for a quick fix. “I don’t think there’s any question I have something to prove,” Zook added. “That’s why you’re in this profession. It’s about winning.”… Indiana dropped eight of its 12 games last season, losing four by 11 points or less. Third-down conversions were a killer, said Lynch, who hopes eight returning starters on offense will correct that. – nwi.com

Michigan AD Dave Brandon says Rich Rodriguez’s job safe

Wherever he is, and whoever he bumps into, new Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon fields the same questions about Rich Rodriguez and the NCAA probe of his football program. Brandon, who took over the job in early March, has repeatedly said he backs Rodriguez, who after two seasons is 8-16 and been the focus of an NCAA investigation. But he continues to have to respond to questions about his support for Rodriguez. Michigan is facing five potential major violations under Rodriguez’s watch. “I understand it, but it’s amazing to me that people keep asking the question wondering if they will get a different answer, and they’re not,” Brandon said Monday at the Pizza House following a radio appearance. “So they can keep asking it over and over and over again, and they’re not going to get a different answer.” – Detroit News

New Michigan AD: Football success is critical

(Dave) Brandon had a lot on his calendar Monday, his first day as Michigan’s athletic director, but acknowledged nothing on his list of things to do was more important than his plan for Rich Rodriguez and college football’s winningest program. “It’s critical,” Brandon said. “If you look at the annual revenues that drive this department, football is three-quarters of who we are. It’s essential for that program be successful if our entire athletic department is going to be successful. “I will continue to spend a lot of time with Rich and all of the people associated with the football program to understand it really well and to hopefully make an impact in terms of how we precede going further.” Michigan’s once-proud team has been embarrassed on and off the field lately. The NCAA notified Rodriguez and school officials two weeks ago that the football program is facing five potentially major rules violations in part because its report said Rodriguez “failed to promote an atmosphere of compliance within the football program” in regards to time spent on practice and football-related activities. Brandon backed his coach then and on Monday reiterated his support for Rodriguez. “He’s our coach for this season,” Brandon said. “There’s nothing within the framework of the NCAA allegations that led me to believe that it should change his status as our coach.” – Record- Eagle

Rich Rodriguez won’t be judged on just wins, losses at Michigan

Incoming Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon said he’s seen improvements in the football program under Rich Rodriguez and won’t mandate a number of wins Rodriguez needs to keep his job. So how will Brandon evaluate Rodriguez’s performance after the season? “Much like your boss, there’s a lot of different things you look at,” he told AnnArbor.com last month. “Certainly you need to see progress and some of that’s measured by wins and losses, but it’s also measured a lot of other ways. And when I’m in a position where I can evaluate as closely as I need to and I want to, all those metrics and all those measures will be clear between the coach and me.” Michigan is 8-16 in two seasons under Rodriguez and coming off a year in which it tied for last place in the Big Ten. – AnnArbor.com

After NCAA ruling, pressure is on Michigan’s Rich Rodriguez to win now

This was not a good day for Michigan and Rich Rodriguez, that’s for sure. There were dour expressions and serious tones, although tinged with the slightest wisp of relief that nothing crushing or unexpected was delivered. Michigan broke rules, according to the NCAA, and however it’s spun in either direction, that’s a stain. The NCAA didn’t accuse Rodriguez’s program of breaking the biggest rules, and Michigan officials said they don’t believe it was done maliciously. And no, Rodriguez won’t lose his job over this, not now. But for Michigan football, previously untainted by the NCAA, any allegation is embarrassing. For Rodriguez, it doesn’t help his cause, but it doesn’t really change much either. The truth is, Rodriguez is under the same amount of heat today as he was before the report. He’s 8-16 in two seasons and there’s a new, aggressive, impressive athletic director, David Brandon, taking over. Rodriguez had to show progress this season whether the NCAA found nothing, or all sorts of nasty stuff. – Detroit News

Tyrone Wheatley fills opening on Syracuse staff

Doug Marrone wasted little time in filling an unexpected opening on his staff, hiring former Michigan All-America tailback Tyrone Wheatley to coach running backs at Syracuse University. The hiring was announced earlier this evening, a day after Roger Harriott resigned following a change of heart. Wheatley, who spent last season coaching running backs at Eastern Michigan, had relationships with two members of Marrone’s staff. – Post-Standard

Jay Hopson headed to Memphis as DC

Michigan linebacker coach Jay Hopson is leaving to become defensive coordinator at Memphis… Hopson, who spent the last 2 years coaching linebackers for the Wolverines, previously served 3 seasons as defensive coordinator at Southern Mississippi, Memphis’ Conference USA rival. Michigan’s linebackers, like the defense as a whole, were an overall disappointment this year. Middle linebacker Obi Ezeh lost his starting job after eight games, and weak-side linebacker Jonas Mouton was benched late in the season. Strong-side linebacker Stevie Brown led the Wolverines in tackles in his first year playing the position after moving from safety. – AnnArbor.com

Next Page »