Leak Says It's Over
Fox2News has tweeted:
Fox2 has learned that #RichRodriguez has been fired from the U of M. No replacement announced yet. Much more on #fox2news at 5.
And this has been repeated, first on 97.1, and then ESPN, SB Nation, et al., all running with the Fox lead with various amounts of filler. As of 3:30 p.m. Angelique is still mum and Rivals has this:
"TheWolverine.com has confirmed with impeccable sources that the firing (as of 3:30 p.m.) has not happened yet. Yet probably being the key word here. It is expected to happen in the next half hour, next hour, next few hours, but it has not happened yet. However, at this moment, Rodriguez has not returned to Schembechler Hall and has not informed his staff of a decision."
Is it official? No. And as of 6:12 p.m. it looks pretty certain to stay that way until tomorrow:
Michigan officials denied the reports, saying in a statement, "This is media speculation at this point. The definitive voice on this matter is Dave Brandon and he has not and will not speak publicly until a final decision has been made."
Does it still look pretty bad? Yes. Various outlets are backtracking their surety from earlier this afternoon, but most, including Doc Saturday, seem to be posting the articles prepared three days or three weeks or three years ago when this appeared imminent, and then updating the relevant newsy paragraphs as we await news from the gallows. I now know what Scotland felt like when William Wallace went to his meeting.
The team has a pre-scheduled meeting at 7 p.m. this evening that has been rescheduled to 4 p.m. tomorrow. Until then, you have exactly one rumor from an unnamed source saying he's out, and one David Brandon apparently keeping his own schedule.
January 4th, 2011 at 2:53 PM ^
[Insert gratuitous photo of Melanie Collins here]
I know Fox is slightly more of a real source... but I wont trust it until Brian (or DB) says it's so.
January 4th, 2011 at 3:05 PM ^
RT @jillarielle RT @espn: Rich Rodriguez fired by Michigan Wolverines, report says - http://es.pn/gBmCoP---- wait really
From Stonum on Twitter...
January 4th, 2011 at 3:15 PM ^
Stonum doesn't know what's going on either...
January 4th, 2011 at 2:54 PM ^
January 4th, 2011 at 3:01 PM ^
Rich Rodriguez fired, report says
They're not reporting it, theyre just saying that "someone said this"
January 4th, 2011 at 3:01 PM ^
That link just sources it to Fox 2. So does the Yahoo! sports splash.
I mean, it could very well be true. I wish Fox 2 would say who actually got the information. If its Doug Karsch, it's all over...
January 4th, 2011 at 3:07 PM ^
Been scrolling on the bottom line on ESPN for about half an hour now
January 4th, 2011 at 2:55 PM ^
Fox Detroit also reports that RR is 0-3 against Wisconsin.
January 4th, 2011 at 2:57 PM ^
It looks bad, but there's absolutely no way of telling if it's legit or not. I haven't heard anything else.
January 4th, 2011 at 3:02 PM ^
Wheeeee. Or not.
January 4th, 2011 at 3:03 PM ^
Remember when ESPN reported Les Miles was replacing Lloyd Car?
January 4th, 2011 at 3:03 PM ^
So RRod is being fired, yet the latest reports also say Harbaugh to Michigan is 'unlikely'
This sounds like a worst possible scenario.
January 4th, 2011 at 3:09 PM ^
In my mind this is the absolute worst case. God help us all.
January 4th, 2011 at 3:05 PM ^
January 4th, 2011 at 3:05 PM ^
(although firing a coach is never good for a program)
January 4th, 2011 at 3:05 PM ^
January 4th, 2011 at 3:06 PM ^
comment avalanche!
January 4th, 2011 at 3:07 PM ^
...no coach! We ain't got no replacement! Our pet's heads are falling off!
January 4th, 2011 at 3:07 PM ^
See you all on the other side.
January 4th, 2011 at 3:15 PM ^
I can't believe DB would fire RR with no suitable replacement waiting in the wings.
And with Harbaugh turning us down, it makes TBL's comment really sting:
"Harbaugh – a former Michigan quarterback and Ann Arbor resident – turning down Michigan to stay at Stanford would be a singeing indictment of the program’s present state. Michigan’s athletic director could be facing the cold reality that “it’s Michigan” is nothing but empty nostalgia."
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