Michigan’s Rich Rodriguez Joins Flags’ Warhawks as Head of Offensive Football Operations

The following alternate timeline blends factual and fictional nodes:

Unveiling a new formation with QBs Tate Forcier and All-American Denard Robinson in the same backfield, Rich Rodriguez wins his first bowl game as the head coach of the University of Michigan Wolverines when K Brendan Gibbons kicks a 41-yard field goal with time expiring; beating the Mississippi State University Bulldogs in the 2011 Progressive Gator Bowl 55-52. Four days later, Michigan Athletic Director, David Brandon announces that Rodriguez will be retained for the remaining three years of his contract and Greg Robinson has resigned as defensive coordinator. Two weeks later, Rodriguez officially announces that Jeff Casteel, his former defensive coordinator at West Virginia University, will reunite with him in Ann Arbor to lead Michigan’s beleaguered defense in the 2011 season…

January 16, 2013

By G.3 Meta Staff

ANN ARBOR, Mich. and CHICAGO, Ill.—Fresh off his first BCS Championship with the University of Michigan, his second straight National Athletic Association National Bowl Championship as the head coach of the Michigan Wolverines and a new five year contract extension with the University of Michigan in hand, Rich Rodriguez today accepted an offer to become the Head of Offensive Football Operations for the Flags’ elite Warhawks Wing Division for the upcoming 2014 G1 Premier League season. Terms of Rodriguez’s contract were not officially disclosed, but sources have indicated that it is a four year deal valued at approximately $5 million.

“This was an amazing opportunity I wasn’t seeking or expecting,” said Rodriguez. “But, Mr. [Michigan Wolverines owner Stephen] Ross and [University of Michigan Athletic Director] Dave Brandon encouraged me to consider the Flags’ offer; and when [Rodriguez’s wife] Rita and the kids were on board, there really wasn’t much more to think about.”

Former great Flags quarterback and now the Flags’ Chief Executive Coach of G1 Sports & Recreation, Eric Falese remarked that imagining Rodriguez’s innovative and explosive style of offense blended with the existing talent on the Warhawks roster was the deciding factor.

“Rich’s style of play is widely known as a fast and physical style and all of his teams have a certain toughness that I felt we lacked at times; particularly on the wings,” Falese said. “I’ve always felt that we had the physical talent on the wings, but not necessarily the mental toughness needed to overcome the adversity that every team encounters during the course of a season.”

When asked about the potential for a tumultuous transition—mirroring the University of Michigan’s transition period when Rodriguez first arrived there—transforming the Flags’ power wing team to one that is more of a spread option wing team, Falese admitted, “I am certainly not expecting an overnight improvement. When I asked Rich to join us, I told him that we wanted to build a foundation for sustained future success. We are certainly comfortable with the overall state of our offense, but the wings have become such an integral part of any G1 team, we felt that a long-term fix was in order for our sustained future success.”

“We are a power team on the wings and we will remain so,” Falese said. “Look at what Rich has done with his teams. He has adapted his fast style of play to the physical defenses that he faces every year in the Big Ten. His teams may not be power teams in a basic sense, but if you watch Rich’s teams carefully, you appreciate how fast and physical they are.”

Rodriguez agreed with Falese’s assessment, “When I first arrived at the University of Michigan, the spread that we ran had a different look and identity than my NAA teams or my recent NCAA teams. Maybe it’s the physicality in the pro game and the Big Ten, but we had to add a more physical dimension to our spread option attack. We got a little bigger and we added some more power elements in our formations and packages. We’ve clearly had great success with the changes, so I definitely feel like we can combine the [speed and power elements].”

Rodriguez replaces Bill Connelly, who after three seasons could not successfully retool the Warhawks—the Flags’ elite G1 wing attack teams. Largely due to injuries, financial constraints and inconsistent play from the Warhawks, the Flags failed to earn a spot in the G1 Premier League postseason for the third straight year and the fifth time in the past twenty years.

Despite missing the postseason for the past three years, the Flags continued to show a knack for developing reserve talent for the Premier League level. However, due to financial constraints brought on by the Flags’ recent efforts to solidify other parts of their G1 empire, opposing teams—armed with roster space and ample cash reserves—have recently poached the Flags’ key young sports and recreation talent via the offseason transfer, free agent and recruiting markets.

Last month, dynamic free agent SC Eric Justice was signed by the Texas Bananas after he clashed with Connelly over his poorly defined role on the team. The Warhawks also lost key contributors B Corey Lemon and B Jarvis Best last offseason and W Demetrius Camey and wing center Geno Jeremiah the offseason before that. All went on to be major contributors for their new teams.

Now armed with surplus cash from recent transfer market transactions, Flags’ Director of G1 Sports & Recreation, Shane McMahon, fully expects to be buyers this offseason.

“Organizationally, from top to bottom, and financially, we are in a much healthier position than we were two years ago,“ McMahon said. “With Rich coming on board and combining that with our proven track record of developing talent over the decades, we feel that if we intelligently add some key pieces on the field of play we can get back to winning G1 titles in the very near future.”

When he was asked to comment on McMahon’s expectations for the very near future, Rodriguez laughed, “I am no stranger to high expectations. You get into this profession because the challenges are what drive you. I have high expections for my players, my staff and myself. Probably more so than anyone else in this room. We’re in a results business and ultimately it comes down to winning titles. I understand that.”