Leak Says It's Over Comment Count

Seth

rich-rodriguez-p1_display_image 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.

Comments

JeepinBen

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.

Phoenix86

January 4th, 2011 at 3:05 PM ^

*sigh* This is going to screw us in recruiting. P.S. It's not to have the post a new comment function back. Somehow that was left off my view of the web page the past week or so.

Firstbase

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."