Roller-coaster ride for Wolverine faithful

The last time Iowa played Michigan it was 2006, the final days of Lloyd Carr and sluggo football in Ann Arbor.

In the end, it was staid at best; stale at worst.

Since you were gone, Hawkeye fans, Rich Rodriguez happened.

It's been a white-knuckle ride, off the field and under the headphones.

The Buyout

When Rodriguez put on the block “M” hat and smiled at the introductory press conference December 2007, he had the giant $4 million buyout hanging over his head.

It hung and hung and hung and eventually got ugly.

Rodriguez left West Virginia fans feeling jilted. A West Virginia native, he brought the Mountaineers to national prominence, narrowly missing a shot at the 2007 national title game. When the party was over and the private jet was Ann Arbor-bound, West Virginia fans went the death threat route.

In a January 2008 press conference, Rodriguez said he was the target of a “smear campaign.” He was accused of taking “secret files” out of his office. Not true, an investigation later discovered.

There were death threats. According to Rodriguez's mother, Arleen, Rodgriguez's son received a death threat and other disturbing notes at his school. The Rodriguez's Morgantown, W.V., home also was vandalized.

The ties to West Virginia were finally severed when the buyout was settled seven months after he was hired. Rodriguez agreed to pay $1.5 million with Michigan agreeing to pay the rest. Rodriguez gave a 331-page deposition.

“This situation is now resolved, and we are ready to move onward to a new era of Michigan football. Go Blue!” UM athletics director Bill Martin said in a statement.

The 2008 season

Rodriguez's first season at Michigan ended in a body bag. The Wolverines finished 3-9, the worst record in school history.

Here's the list of baubles Michigan left in the recycle bin last season - a seven-game winning streak against Michigan State, a nine-game winning streak against Penn State and a 24-game winning streak against the Mid-American Conference (Big House loss to Toledo).

The Wolverines also said buh-bye to a 33-year bowl streak, which was the longest in college football. Also, Rodriguez's Wolverines lost for a record five times at Michigan Stadium.

The death threats were replaced by the www's, as in www.firerichrodriguez.com (actually, check fireRRod.com).

In a news conference leading up to last season's Ohio State game, Rodriguez tried to put disgruntled fans in their place.

“It's amazing some of the things that people would say (on a message board) or yell at you of a personal nature,” Rodriguez said. “You almost want to tell them, ‘Get a life.'

“There's a whole lot bigger problems. Look at the economy. You almost want to tell them that. Then, you do and maybe you shouldn't.”

The Practice Scandal

Maybe it was something, maybe it was nothing.

Just before this season started, the Detroit Free Press reported, using quotes from players from the 2008 and 2009 teams, that Michigan practiced far beyond the 20 hours allowed by the NCAA. Strength and conditioning coach Mike Barwis was at the center of the allegations.

Rodriguez has vehemently denied the accusations. During an early September news conference, he nearly came to tears.

“I guess the thing that bothers me the most about the things that were recently written or said, or maybe some things in the last 18 months, is the perception that's out there that we did not care as much for our players' welfare, and that is disheartening,” Rodriguez said.

Thirteen-second pause.

“... to say that, is misleading and inaccurate (pause) ... and goes against everything that I ever believed in coaching ...”

Twenty-second pause.

“... I love working with our staff. I love my players like I love my own family.”

This clearly stung Rodriguez. It came from his players, current and freshly former. The University of Michigan is investigating the matter.

This summer, Rodriguez was sued for defaulting on a Virginia real estate deal. Former Wolverine Justin Boren left UM for Ohio State because, he claimed, “family values had eroded” under Rodriguez.

After being jilted by receiver Roy Roundtree close to signing day in 2008, Purdue Coach Joe Tiller said, “If we had an early signing date, you wouldn't have another outfit with a guy in a wizard hat selling snake oil get a guy at the last minute, but that's what happened.”

Snakes. Wizards. Depositions. Drama.

Rodriguez's Michigan has been one nutty ride. And it's only year two.