The Game. The Big House. The desperation.
It may not be do-or-die time for Rich Rodriguez, but it is for some.
The Michigan coach is just 8-15 in his first two seasons at the helm of one of the country's most decorated football programs. That just won't do.
With the Wolverines at 5-6, an upset win over No. 9 Ohio State would make the team bowl-eligible and take the heat off Rodriguez at least for awhile.
While The Game hardly seems to be one on paper, Rodriguez needs a win to avoid a second straight bowl-less season. A win not only gives Michigan a bowl game, but takes the spotlight off Rodriguez and the program's struggles, both on and off the field.
The first step in that equation is shoring up the Wolverines' porous defense, which is among the worst in the Big Ten, giving up 28.1 points and over 400 yards of total offense a game.
If Rodriguez survives this off-season, his defensive coaches will take the fall.
With Rodriguez' spread offense, the Wolverines are scoring over 30 points a game with an extremely balanced attack that averages 195 yards rushing and 195 passing.
RichRod's status in Ann Arbor seems to be safe for the moment, but an embarrassment at home to the Buckeyes could change that.
