UM: Football

The New York Times weighs in on the speculation that University of Michigan football coach Rich Rodriguez will be fired, following a meeting on Tuesday afternoon with athletic director Dave Brandon: “If university officials had fired Rodriguez in late November, they could have named a successor and salvaged this recruiting class. By waiting, they sabotaged the current class and shackled a new coach to the point where he would have trouble getting a decent class together by February. … By keeping Rodriguez as the coach until after Jan. 1, the move saved $1.5 million in a potential buyout if Brandon does decide to fire him, but that money equates to popcorn sales at a football power like Michigan.” [Source]