Don't expect Wolverines to be that much better

Published Aug. 28, 2009 5:03 p.m. ET

foxsports

It appears Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez is asleep at the switch these days.

If so, that might be good news for the Wolverines.

Any shut-eye Rodriguez is getting in advance of a Sept. 5 home opener against Western Michigan would represent a dramatic departure from this time last season, when his much-anticipated first season resulted in a 3-9 record that summarily snapped Michigan's national-best 33-year bowl appearance streak.

"It wasn't fun," Rodriguez said. "I certainly didn't sleep very well and my family didn't sleep well because I wasn't sleeping well. It was tough. I know our fans were disappointed, because they weren't used to that, but neither was I."

Everything was supposed to be different this year, given the signing of freshman quarterback Tate Forcier and his early enrollment in time for spring practice.

Rodriguez, the thinking went, had a quarterback capable of operating his spread offense and the Wolverines would thus spend 2009 exacting revenge in the Big Ten.

But just over a week out from Michigan's 2009 debut, Forcier isn't a lock to start the opener, even though he had almost every first-team rep the second half of spring ball after incumbent Nick Sheridan suffered a leg injury.

Sheridan, since recovered, and true freshman Denard Robinson are so close to Forcier that Rodriguez says it's is "looking likely" all three will play in the opener because "we won't be sure how it's going to shake out until they each get their turn."