No, Rich Rodriguez Didn't Make $6.6 Million Last Year

This statement on how much Rich Rodriguez was paid last year, while technically true, is a vast misrepresentation:

In the 1970s, Col. Steve Austin became a household name as the lead character in the dramatic television series "The Six Million Dollar Man."

Last year, the University of Michigan had its own $6 million man: Football coach Rich Rodriguez.

Actually, $4.1 million of the $6.6 million the article cites as Rich Rodriguez's overall compensation went to West Virginia to pay a large portion of Rodriguez's buyout. Rodriguez was paid $2.5 million, which is in line with coaching salaries at comparable schools.

The article is grossly misleading. This, of course, didn't stop credulous ex-newspaper people from picking up the story designed for maximum sensationalism and running it without the slightest hint of critique. There's your journalistic integrity for you: misrepresentation of something that's not even news -- both the buyout and Rodriguez's salary were public knowledge in August.

This, in a nutshell, is a major reason newspapers are failing: stupid crap like this violates your trustworthiness. The Ann Arbor News, no stranger to hyping negative Michigan non-stories to the moon, should enjoy the opportunity while it can. It won't last much longer.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

1-22-2009 @ 7:02PM

kathyjwv said...

Maybe they didn't pay it to him directly, but he cost UM that amount. So, technically he is a $6 Million Dollar Man.

1-22-2009 @ 9:19PM

Matt said...

You have missed the point. Technically.

1-22-2009 @ 10:41PM

hafttwo said...

he wasnt worth the money.

1-23-2009 @ 5:38AM

dawizofodds said...

Brian, you're the one who is misleading readers with your incorrect use of the language. Let me explain:

The word used by the Ann Arbor News and The Wiz of Odds.com was "compensation." The headline associated with your post uses the word "makes", which implies all of the $6.6 million went directly into Rodriguez's pocket. It didn't, which is why the newspaper and blogger used "compensation." There's a big difference.

You reinforced this inaccuracy in your lead by writing "The statement how much Rich Rodriguez was paid last year ... " Rodriguez wasn't paid the $4.1 million, which is the basis of your argument against the newspaper and blogger.

Rodriguez was the one who owed the money to West Virginia. He signed the contract, not Michigan. But Michigan decided to "compensate" Rodriguez to help pay damages he owed West Virginia. Get it?

For self-preservation, get grasp of the nuances of the language. Otherwise you'll continue to embarrass yourself and none of us want to see that happen.

Signed,
Credulous ex-newspaper person

1-23-2009 @ 12:11PM

monk766 said...

Explain why it's a story now. Why the timing? Everybody knew about this months ago. Your only justification would be that the Ann Arbor News thought this would be a great time to run it, which would mean your editorial skill and discretion is wholly mediocre.

And your language was that the university "paid to compensate" in 2008. Everyone intelligent seems to understand it was part of a buyout, but can YOU see why your language was misleading? And wholly pointless in THE MIDDLE OF JANUARY?

Maybe you should be a little more concerned about embarrassing yourself.

Signed,
Incredulous observer of your pathetic website

1-23-2009 @ 12:52PM

Jerry Hinnen said...

Wiz, yes, technically, there is a difference between "compensation" and "payment." But how much of the general public is going to follow that "nuance"? For the overwhelming majority of the A2 News's readers, "compensation" and "payment" are going to be perfectly synonymous. Pair the headline--which could have easily been "Michigan spends $6.6 million on Rodriguez hire" or something similar--with those opening paragraphs, and is there any way you can blame readers for believing the article states that RichRod pocketed the $6 million? What the facts are in this story and the understanding readers are _intentionally_ being led to take away from it are two very, very different things. It's the very definition of misleading.

I suspect you know that. But admitting it means admitting that your own post on this story is an attempt to mislead, so instead you attack Brian's understanding of the article--which has no bearing whatsoever on whether the original story (or your post) is deceptive. As red herrings go it's not bad, but I don't think Brian is the one embarrassing himself.

1-23-2009 @ 10:56AM

Ron said...

Yeah, I think Brian's being a little paranoid here. The article is not misleading, but Brian's reading of it betrays his hypersensitivity towards Rodriguez.

The point of the article was that UM had to pay over $6 million last year for the pleasure of having Rich Rodriguez on the payroll. Not sure what about that was "grossly misleading."

1-23-2009 @ 11:17AM

3rd said...

Um

Were you not the one who went apesh*t over the Nick Saban snake oil non news last year?

1-23-2009 @ 11:30AM

Irish_Wertzy said...

Sooooooo, Brian. Stay with me here:

If Michigan had not agreed to pay $4.1 million, Rodriguez would have had to come up with that money himself. So, in agreement with the other posters, UM did effectively pay RR 4.1 million which RR paid to WVU. UM just eliminated the middle man, and helped RR avoid paying taxes on an additional 4.1 mil of income.

Were you an accounting major at UM? Work for Lehman Brothers or Washington Mutual in your spare time?

1-23-2009 @ 11:52AM

nmbeck20 said...

I agree with Brian, when I read this I had the exact same thought. How many uneducated readers are going to assume we gave him $6 million in salary last year.

1-23-2009 @ 12:30PM

Onas said...

Brian (and many Michigan fans) are just sick of the unwarranted, unprovoked attacks. This isn't news and it's no different than what goes on at other schools.

1-23-2009 @ 3:32PM

tallboy711 said...

Wah wah wah. Typical Brian Cook whinning about how the media rips RR. It's ok for Brian to say whatever he wants about any other program he knows nothing about, but the holy meechigan and it's oh so innocent Rich Rod are off limits. What a joke.

1-23-2009 @ 4:00PM

westcot111 said...

In 7 months if RR leads big blue on a winning streak and goes 10-2 AND beats OSU, the AA news will say he is underpaid at 6.6 mil.

1-23-2009 @ 6:47PM

socalpam said...

Brian,
You should make a videotape of yourself in front of a sheet crying and screaming, "Leave Richard Rodriguez alone!!!" Nice watchdog work, bro. Your obsession with the Wiz is entertaining and fun to follow, keep it up.
JoeFannII

1-24-2009 @ 9:30AM

JOHN LECZNAR said...

I simply don't understand negativism and criticism within the state. Beating a dog while is down is not an intelligent approach to improvement. And coming form a paper in Ann Arbor! Give me a break.

1-25-2009 @ 12:49PM

msjo9 said...

Wow, and I thought we had it bad when "Hall of Fame" coach John Cooper was at Ohio State. Maybe the people at the U of M who paid off the $4 million plus for Rodriguez, also voted (over and over) for Coop to be elected into the college football HOF?