ShareThisANN ARBOR, Mich. - The last time Michigan played in a bowl game, its coach knew ahead of time it would be his final time leading the team.
The situation will be a bit different this time around when the Wolverines take on Mississippi State in the Gator Bowl, an appearance that snaps a two-year program absence from the bowl scene. Soon after the Jan. 1 game in Jacksonville, Fla., UM athletic director Dave Brandon is expected to announce a decision regarding the future of coach Rich Rodriguez. Rodriguez Monday wouldn't say whether he believes his team must win for him to keep his job.
"I think all coaches probably feel every game is a must-win," Rodriguez said.
Brandon reiterated Monday he intends to evaluate Rodriguez and the football program after the bowl game.
Rodriguez made a plea for his job at Thursday's team banquet, stressing his desire to be embraced by those who've been skeptical of him during his tenure and expressing his feelings through the Josh Groban song "You Raise Me Up," which Rodriguez ordered to be played during a portion of the ceremony where he, his family, and members of the team held hands. Rodriguez defended the spectacle, which has been criticized by some as being bizarre.
"Every coach has their own personality, and I always get emotional at our senior banquets," Rodriguez said. "You feel so close to a team, particularly this senior class and the way they've hung in there."
UM junior defensive lineman Ryan Van Bergen said his bowl preparation will not be affected by talk of Rodriguez's job security but that he is against a coaching change.
"Personally, I'm all in support of coach Rodriguez and everything he does," Van Bergen said. "I would like to say that I want to be with coach Rodriguez for the rest of my career."
UM won its most recent bowl game, topping Florida 41-35 in coach Lloyd Carr's farewell in the Capital One Bowl on Jan. 1, 2008. Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen at the time served as offensive coordinator under Florida coach Urban Meyer. Mullen is 13-11 in his two seasons with the Bulldogs, including an 8-4 (4-4 Southeastern Conference) mark this year. All four of MSU's losses have come against teams ranked in the top 15 of the most recent Associated Press poll. The Bulldogs are ranked 21st.
"Any bowl in January is pretty good," receiver Darryl Stonum said. "We're all happy with the Gator Bowl."
(Contact Ryan Autullo at: rautullo(at)theblade.com.)
(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)
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