Can Rich Rodriguez Bring the Bite Back to Michigan Football?

Appalachian State???

Yup, THAT Appalachian State...

Yeah, the old 'Maize &Blue' have definitely seen better seasons than this one. Venerable (but maligned) coach Lloyd Carr finally succumbed to the immense pressure cooker that is the Michigan job and resigned...Now what? Enter former West Virginia coach and Spread Option guru Rich Rodruigez. Anybody with half a pulse as a college football fan has seen the offensive onslaught wrought by his offensive schemes in his time as Mountaineer head man. Pat White and Steve Slaton went from unknown commodities to household names before the nation's eyes on the most prominent of stages starring as the main feature in the spread option offense. He's won and won convincingly wherever he's been. The question that's been on the brain of college fans is whether he can experience the same success at a program that's historically been tied to traditional, smash-mouth, Big Ten Football.

Can Rodruigez duplicate the success he experienced at WVU in the Daddy of all college football conferences?

The potential for success is definitely there; Great Facilities, a rabid and supportive fan base, and name brand tradition are all extremely desirable traits for a head coach to walk into on a new job. The big key will be recruiting. The talent that was normally attracted to UM may be a bit apprehensive about the offense that Rodruigez is known for. In particular, the traditional stand-up pocket passing QB that's become synonymous with wolverine football will go the way of the dinosaur with the arrival of the Spread Option. Dual threat QB's in the same mold as a Pat White, or a Rasheed Marshall are essential for Coach Rod's schemes to work well. Same goes for the linemen that run it. The mobility and athleticism that's been a bit deficient in past Michigan squads will require a significant change, as the zone blocking schemes that make the spread option go require as such. Even with all of the offensive innovation Rodruigez brings to the table, it still may take a bit of time for the Michigan program to fully become acclimated to the changes coming down the road.