Rich Rodriguez Will Be Home for Christmas; Michigan's Bowl Streak Ends After 33 Years

Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later, right? Michigan had the nation's longest streak of consecutive bowl games at 33. Now, though, it's come to an end. Bizarro Purdue vanished today, as the Boilermakers returned to form by scoring 48 points and still needing a last-minute touchdown to win. The victory is just Purdue's third of the season, though their bowl hopes are still theoretically alive.

Michigan's, though, are dead. The loss was their seventh of the season, thus guaranteeing there's no bowl for the Wolverines this season. It'll be their first year home for the holidays since 1975.

I mean, think about that. 1975. The Ford administration. Leisure suits. Plaid golf pants. The first year of Saturday Night Live. Cars about the size of battleships.

Rich Rodriguez was twelve years old in 1975. Joe Paterno had only been coaching Penn State for nine years in 1975.

There's always a certain amount of schadenfreude when one of the traditional powers finally gets their comeuppance, but please, a moment of silence for one of the more impressive accomplishments in college football history.

While I'm sure there are plenty of maize-and-blue clad partisans who want to park a U-Haul outside RichRod's house, they shouldn't miss the signs of hope.

The Wolverines got in a point-scoring contest with Purdue and nearly pulled it off. They were able to match the Boilermakers touchdown for touchdown and might have gotten the job done if only they'd had more than 25 seconds to work with. It may be dark days right now but soon ... oh, who am I trying to kid? It's about time the Wolverines found themselves longing to go to the Motor City Bowl. 33 straight bowl games may be impressive, but it's totally unrealistic to think that such a streak should continue forever. And it's all the more galling for Michigan because Sparty will be going bowling for the holidays.

So, now that Michigan's streak is done, who has the longest bowl streak? Florida State, recipients of 26 consecutive post-season tickets. The Seminoles are already bowl-eligible and have the best record in the ACC, so don't count on two amazing bowl streaks to be broken this season.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

11-01-2008 @ 4:55PM

Noah said...

Yeah, it's sad, but we hung 42 points on a team that held Penn State to 20 (on only 300 yards, no less), and our return game is getting better every game. We knew this was going to be a rebuilding year, and I at least am fine with it. Next year could be a lot of fun, if we have a more competent quarterback.

And I wish I could blame the defense for some of this, but it's tough when they're out there for 37+ minutes. That's just ridiculous.

11-01-2008 @ 5:06PM

Bob said...

I agree. And my God, how empty the cupboards were when Lloyd left.

11-01-2008 @ 5:09PM

Robert said...

Don't forget that the Big Ten only allowed one team to go to a bowl game before 1975....otherwise, Michigan would have had a 40 game streak

11-01-2008 @ 9:19PM

Pete said...

Can't say I'm sad for Rich Rodriguez... I'm neither a Michigan fan nor a West Virginia fan but the way some of these coaches leave teams/schools for other programs is pathetic... Sorry's go out to Michigan fans... you have a proud tradition but a loser for a head coach.

11-01-2008 @ 5:51PM

EMS911BRAT said...

RODRIGUEZ needs to go now! He is not Big 10 Caliber and has no business coaching . Enough he has proved his incompetence and his so called rebuilding is a disaster. I would like to tell him EXACTLY where he can go for Christmas, and sure as hell hope he never returns to The Big House!

Loss to Toledo, Christ even Central Michigan beat Toledo! Any normal Michigan team could send in a 3rd string team with one arm behind their backs and beat Toledo. Get rid of this clown!

11-01-2008 @ 7:44PM

mr guy said...

michigan can either go home and act like men or they can go hug there blankie because the public does not wanna hear about michigan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! go ou............

hal said...

michigan ewwwwwwwwwwwwww

11-01-2008 @ 10:44PM

tim dolan said...

Well "big blue" go little m whatever you wanted him you got him and now the fraud is yours if you can do anything this year maybe you can beat the luckeyes and put to rest if the "big 10" used to be big 3 little 8 now the big 1 little 10 is a bad conf. hopefully you get what you desevre in the long run bcs tie in taken away and given to lets say the mac sincew they constantly beat the big 1 little 10 and have a nice day

11-01-2008 @ 11:06PM

Brandon said...

by constantly beating, you mean the 2 worst big ten teams each losing 1 game to a mac team. also, in case you live under a rock, PSU is #3

11-01-2008 @ 8:32PM

Rick Johnson said...

I think Rich Rodriguez was a great selection by " The School Up North". Your fantastic team there is looking at one more loss for sure, if not two. You're lucky really you have two wins. Wisconsin handed you a victory on a silver platter. Go Buckeyes!

11-01-2008 @ 9:51PM

slutnuts said...

@tim dolan

???????wtf was that supposed to say? ok our team may be garbage but you my friend appear to be chromozonial challenged.

11-02-2008 @ 12:39AM

dg1959 said...

RR wow and they extended his contract. Michigan fans that were after Carr's head last season are you happy now?
If they didn't spend so damned much money on this I could care a less but since it is a sate school and tax dollars are spent there...
I don't know maybe the money is better spent on something stupid like education...

11-03-2008 @ 2:41AM

homer2931 said...

The Michigan Athletic Department makes a huge profit. Its not drawing from tax money, its drawing from ticket sales, TV revenue, donations, etc.

11-02-2008 @ 1:36AM

Yohncc said...

I agree that it's sad that this has happened after all of these years. The Wolverines having a losing season makes it even sadder. Given enough time I believe the Wolverines will be stronger than ever and able to not only compete but win and win consistently against the Buckeyes. That was the idea of hiring Rich Rodriguez. Anyone who saw his offense with the Mountaineers knows what I'm talking about. Go Blue!!

11-02-2008 @ 4:18AM

Carlo Penna said...

My family was personal friends with Mr. Carr and he was probably the most inspirational men I have ever met. The day the Michigan fans turned on him because he lost to App. St was a sad day for me. This guy had one of the best winning records in college football and a National Championship. OMG, he had technically one bad season. I know others will argue 2 bad seasons.Every single college coach has bad seasons. Yes, I know we struggled with Tressel, but come on Rich Rod. Joe Paterno is a perfect example of how some coaches have a few bad seasons, but come back strong. We deserved to give Mr. Carr more than we gave him. I hope that all you RR fans are happy now. APP St. looks like a birthday party compared to Toledo and RR has just ruined a 33 year record of straight bowl game appearances. Well, the reason why Michgan has been so good over the years: had the most wins in college football history(842, I think but that is not progressing anymore) forty some big ten appearances and the 33 straight bowl games is because they continually were able to have winning seasons and good recruiting. Say good bye to that. Prior knew it, mallot knew it and now all 4 star prospects have left the Michigan column. I hope Rich Rod fans let that marinate for a little while. Even tho I think Michigan still needed a change from Mr. Carr this guy was the wrong choice and the scandels will now start. Seems someone can't win without them.

11-02-2008 @ 6:05AM

Spartan85 said...

Being from the "little brother" school up the road, all I have to say is aw..."shucky darns", my heart bleeds for them" -- bleeds green, but it still bleeds.

11-02-2008 @ 8:08PM

Paul York said...

Het Sparty and the Adolph Sweatervest lovers- Gp F&@K yourselves!
Sparty- print a t-shirt when you have accomplished something- Big Ten Championship, BCS Bowl win, ect. P.S.- Who have you beaten exactly? I am hoping you play USC in the Rose Bowl- I''l give any Sparty 40 points and laugh all the way to the bank. Hey red-hooded sweatshirts- You looked awsome against USC, LSU, Florida.... BEAT SOMEONE DECENT before you talk trash-Woody would slug you if he heard you talking like that after getting your butt whupped by PSU.
GO BLUE!

11-03-2008 @ 9:22AM

BJ said...

Please don't be to hard on Coach Fraud, he might want to come back to WV and we sure as hell don't want him. Granted, Coach Stew is not a coach, but at least he has morals & is honest.

11-03-2008 @ 1:00AM

Shaffer Fox said...

Imagine an ancient and almost always victorious army unit; an army unit that has exemplified the greatest of dignity and ethics; but it is one that recently lost its commanding general. A new general has been put in charge, and he must quickly prepare his troops for the next year’s series of battles. The new general wants his troops to fight with a new weapon, though – slings and stones. However, the soldiers have fought their previous battles and wars with only clubs, and the soldiers have no experience using slings and stones. The general insists that neither the soldiers nor the citizenry have anything to worry about, because he will train the soldiers to become expert in the use of slings and stones.

Month-after-month goes by, but no matter what the general does, his troops can’t figure out how to properly use the slings and stones.

Eventually, there is no more time left, and the general and his troops are facing the first battle of the year. But instead of allowing his troops to fight with clubs until they become proficient in the use of the slings and stones, the general insists that his troops fight using only slings and stones. The results are disastrous. His soldiers are slaughtered on the battlefield by a historically inferior force.

Everyone begs the general to please switch his troops back to the use of clubs until they perfect the use of slings and stones, but the general stubbornly refuses. During the next few months, his troops, that make up the winningest fighting force in history, are massacred in eight out of ten battles. They are destroyed by force-after-force. For the first time in thirty-three years they aren’t invited to join an elite group of other forces to compete in a series of battles at the end of the year. Accomplishments of the past are being nullified with every loss the general’s forces suffer. Suddenly great young soldiers turn down offers to play for the general and, instead, join enemy military units. The enthusiastic support and loyalty of the citizenry begins to dry up, because the once great military unit is no longer so great. Money from at home and even afar that supports the once great military unit’s homeland begins to dry up, because the once great military unit is no longer so great. A critical mass of worsening chaos and doom with long-term implications is occurring, but the general doesn’t see it and doesn’t understand its profundity – for he is not from the great homeland, or even the general area where the once great military unit arose; he does not fully understand or respect its heritage; he does not understand or fully respect its decorum; he does not understand or fully respect its victories; he does not understand the ways of its traditional enemies; his abilities and methods appear to be limited; and he appears to be purblind in his philosophy

It is now nearing decision time. If you were king of the great land that produced this once great military force, what would you do?