Why Michigan Will Not Win A Championship Under RichRod

I should have titled this post "Be Careful What You Wish For". I've listened to Michigan football fans whine for years about the need to change the offense. They pointed at Florida, Texas, LSU, and of course West Virginia and said "let's try that!" Well Michigan fans, how's that working out? Sure, we won a few early games but only one in the Big Ten and that was a squeaker against lowly Indiana. And we're seeing what happens to QBs who like to run in this league, they get hurt...often. This is not a knock on Rodriguez as much as his style of offense and his unwillingness to adjust it when needed. Fans always seem to think they know more than the coach, especially when their team is struggling. But the truth is the Big Ten is what it is for a reason. That reason? How about weather? The Big Ten is the only BCS conference where all of the teams have the potential for cold, wet, nasty weather for over half the season. The weather turned bad a few weeks ago around here, and Michigan's offense started to struggle and their starting QB is hurt. And what do the SEC, Big 12, ACC, and Pac 10 all have in common? Their dominant teams all play in good weather for most of the season. It's a lot easier to spread out the offense and throw the ball 50 times per game when it's sunny and 70 degrees. You can build your offense for speed rather than power when you play most of your games in those conditions. But an inch of snow turns a fast, undersized player into just an undersized player. That's why Big Ten teams are built more for power than speed. It isn't always as exciting to watch, and it can be a disadvantage in Bowl games when we face smaller but much faster opponents...as our record indicates. But when it's 3rd and 4 at the Big House in November, I would much rather have a 230 lb. tailback carrying the ball behind a huge offensive line than a 185 lb. QB trying to roll outside for the first down. Especially if the weather's bad. And it usually is.

I would love to be wrong about all this. Nothing would make me happier than to see Michigan win another National Championship. Let's hope Al Gore is right about global warming, or we might be waiting a long time.