by P.H. Sampson

Created on: January 28, 2009   Last Updated: January 29, 2009

The University of Michigan boasts the winningest football program in the history of college football, both in terms of winning percentage and total victories. Michigan squads have won 42 conference championships and 11 national titles. 150 All-Americans and 3 Heisman Trophy winners have donned the legendary Maize & Blue winged helmet.

In 2008, the Wolverines and their fans suffered through the worst season in the program's storied history. The team posted a losing record for the first time since 1967, only the 15th losing campaign in 129 seasons of play. At season's end, the team missed out on participating in a bowl game for the first time since 1974 (that '74 team went 10-1 and only missed the postseason because the Big10 conference's rules at the time allowed only one team to participate in a bowl game). This dramatic drop-off occurred after a season in which Michigan, despite numerous injuries to key personnel, still managed to go 9-4, capping the season with a victory over a Florida Gators team led by Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow (you may remember them winning the national championship this past season).

So, in Rich Rodriguez's first season at the helm of the Michigan football program he reversed four decades of dominance, oversaw the worst Wolverine season in memory (unless you were around to follow the 1962 team), and was at the center of a number of off-field controversies that tarnished the program's image (more discussion of these events will follow).

After all that, should Rich Rodriguez be fired? No way in hell!

In order to fairly evaluate Coach Rodriguez, one must first know something about the job he inherited. Prior to the 2008 season the Wolverines lost a four year starter and the school's all time leading passer at quarterback, Chad Henne, to graduation and the NFL Draft (he was taken in the second round by the Miami Dolphins). Another four year starter, the school's all-time leading rusher, Mike Hart, also graduated and was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts. The teams top two receivers from 2007, Mario Manningham and Adrian Arrington, left school a year early and both were selected in the NFL Draft. Jake Long, the monstrous offensive lineman who made it possible for the aforementioned players to succeed, was taken with the very first pick in the NFL Draft and was recently named to the Pro Bowl squad after a successful rookie season in the league. Even with this bevy of NFL talent on the roster, Rodriguez's predecessor Lloyd Carr only managed

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