Michigan Coach Rich
Rodriguez Comments on Rivarly
Jim Tressel made the Michigan
game a priority when he arrived in Columbus
back in 2001. But Michigan Head Coach Rich Rodriguez is focused on his team’s
transition and doesn’t see one rivalry game being more important than the other
two.
By Steve Patterson
Three Rivals for Michigan
Ohio State
Head Coach Jim Tressel came to Ohio State with the intent of making the Michigan game a game to prepare for all
season and to count down the days until the Game each year. Rich Rodriguez is
of a different opinion. “Obviously you don't coach or live in Michigan
without understanding the rivalry games, and we're a little unique from the
standpoint that Big Ten rivalries to our fans obviously are Ohio State, Michigan
State and Notre Dame. You hear about them all the time. I still have on my desk
from the first day I got the job a "Beat Ohio State" button, so not like I needed
to be reminded about that.”
All Games Count
Comparing the Ohio
State game to Michigan
State and Notre Dame might seem odd to
Ohio State fans by Coach Rodriguez doesn’t
believe in treating the games any different. “But I do think it's fun. I'm not
a coach that has a countdown to a particular game other than the game that's
next, but there's nothing wrong with that. I think some folks think it's a
great motivator.”
The Carr to Rodriguez
Transition
He did acknowledge that Michigan is in a transition period moving from a more Pro
formation system to the West Virginia
wide open offensive plan. “I've been focused on what's the next day and what's
the day after that so I try not to get too far ahead, especially now I think
everybody understands we have so much work to do and change in the systems, and
the transition, if you look too far ahead, you'll stumble your way early
getting the right stuff. It's a process we're in.”
Wolverine Fans want
to Beat Ohio State
Some fans of Michigan understand the rivalry, Coach
Rodriguez discusses. “I want to enjoy the process and our players understand
the process. Do I understand the rivalry? You have to be deaf not to hear about
it every day, and our players hear about it every day. I think it's funny. It's
obvious we've got some work to do, Ohio
State has had tremendous
success in the last several years, and Jim has done and the staff have done a
great job and they're a top five team. They've been in the top five for several
years now, but those are easy games as coaches when you're getting ready to
play that week that's an easy game to it use for a team motivator because they
hear about it all the time. I hear fans say well, Coach, if you just win one
game, it's the Ohio
State game, we'll be
happy.”
But he feels the game is not a do
or die situation for his new team. “I don't believe that; I'm not going to be
happy. I'll be happy with that one but not the other ones, so we talk about it,
but nothing in particular significant for just one team all the time. Our guys
hear about it.”