ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) -It’s been more than nine months since Michigan wrapped up its worst season in nearly 40 years, a nine-loss nightmare that put new coach Rich Rodriguez on the hot seat headed into his second season.
Rodriguez would have liked nothing better than to focus on Saturday’s season opener against Western Michigan, but no such luck. This past week has been spent answering questions about whether his players are logging too much practice time and a federal lawsuit over his involvement in a soured real estate investment.
He can’t wait to kick things off Saturday. And he insisted that he and his players have not been distracted by the string of stories that have cast a shadow on the storied program.
“I think our guys’ focus will be tremendous,” Rodriguez said.
big boys.
“If they win, they bonded together,” Western Michigan coach Bill Cubit said. “If teams lose, it was a distraction.”
The Wolverines got knocked down several pegs last season during Rodriguez’s debut season with college football’s winningest team when they lost a school-record nine games. Michigan had its worst losing season since 1967 and ended a three-decades plus streak of earning bowl bids.
“Our guys are hungry, and they’ve been hungry for seven, eight months,” Rodriguez said during an emotional news conference this week as he addressed allegations that his players were practicing in excess of NCAA limits. “It’s game week, and they’re excited it’s game week, and they’ve earned the right to be excited.”
Michigan offensive tackle Mark Ortmann said he and his teammates have done nothing wrong.
“They’re saying that we’re working too much,” Ortmann said. “And personally, I don’t think we’re working hard enough.”
Western Michigan is certainly good enough to push the Wolverines, who lost their first game to a MAC team last year when Toledo beat a listless program that hasn’t won an opener since 2006.
The Broncos have beaten a team from a major conference in each of last three years: Illinois, Iowa and Virginia.
ton’s conference record.
Hiller will face Michigan’s new-look defense, designed this year by former Syracuse coach Greg Robinson, that will count heavily on defensive end Brandon Graham, linebacker Obi Ezeh and cornerback Donovan Warren.
Michigan quarterback Nick Sheridan played in eight games last year as a sophomore, but it will be freshman Tate Forcier who gets the start. Another freshman, Denard Robinson, is also expected to get time.
“If they’re going to play three of them, we think we have a fairly good handle on that,” Cubit said.
It might be tough, though, to get a hand on Robinson. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.32 in high school and starred at the 2008 Florida 4A track and field championships. Robinson says he’s never bothered to tie his laces in a football game or practice.
Rodriguez will allow “Shoelace” to keep the unconventional look unless he ends up running in his socks.
Forcier, who plays like a young Jeff Garcia on the field, seems like he has unique feel for the game probably because he enrolled last winter and his father groomed him to be a QB.
“He’s been eat, sleep, breathe football ever since he’s been young,” Michigan quarterbacks coach Rod Smith said. “I’m not saying the kid didn’t have a life, but his dad pushed him.”
Rodriguez is eager for some wins to help some fans forget about last season and the off-the-field issues.
ses said they would investigate the excessive practice allegations, Rodriguez’s reputation took another hit with news of a Virginia real estate deal that has led to a lawsuit seeking $3.9 million from Rodriguez – a deal with ties to a banned booster at Clemson, where Rodriguez once coached.
“I don’t say there’s obstacles,” Rodriguez said. “But there’s probably unnecessary drama.”
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