be 1*idigan 0aiIlj Ann Arbor, Michigan Tuesday, September 7, 2010 michigandaily.com RICH RODRIGUEZ PROFILE Rodriguez, despite past woes, keeps sights ahead Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson celebrates with the student section at the Big House after the Wolverines bested UConn 30-10. In his first start Saturday, Robinson electrified the crowd, posting 383 yards and scoring two touchdowns. It's OK to get excited @00 for now On Saturday, sophomore quar- terback Denard Robinson was unbelievable. Michigan coach Rich Rodri- guez said afterward that the game has finally slowed down for Robinson. But that's not quite right. It's more like the rest of NICOLE the Wolver- AUERBACH ines and their opponents were playing at normal speed. Press fast-forward, and that's when you see Robinson. Robinson posted 383 total yards - more than Connecti- cut's entire team - and scored two touchdowns at the Huskies' expense in his first career start. He proved a few things: - The quarterback competition is over. (Maybe it was over after Robinson's first pass this spring?) - He's no longer one-dimen- sional. His 19 completed passes eclipsed his total from last season (14). - Rodriguez finally found his guy to fit his system. Let the Pat White at West Virginia compari- sons begin - they certainly did during postgame interviews. Saturday's game was a must- win for Michigan, rare to find in a week-one matchup. For the first time in the Rodriguez Era, the Wolverines not only got the 'W,' they did it in a completely domi- nating fashion against a talented team. Perhaps more important, they did it with a quarterback who, despite making his first start, already exhibits the poise and patience of a veteran. It's just one game, and Notre Dame awaits this week, but it's OK to get excited about a quar- terback who doesn't tie his shoe- laces. The most terrifying moment of the game came late in the third quarter. Robinson, naturally, had taken off for a 15-yard burst up the middle of the field. The play ended with Connecticut crunch- ing his hip. He stayed down for a few moments before walking off > In SportsTuesday For more coverage of Michigan's season-opening win, see Page 18. the field under his own power. Of course, he'd get up. Of course, he would come back to start the fourth quarter. "He's such a resilient player," sophomore linebacker Craig Roh said after the game. "He's always going to get back up." But will he always? Should Michigan fans worry? Robinson had 29 (!!!) rush attempts against Connecticut. Michigan's top two running backs, Michael Shaw and Vincent Smith, had exactly 29 combined See AUERBACH, Page 5A In exclusive interview, coach bluntly talks NCAA probe, his troubled tenure and off-field distractions By JACOB SMILOVITZ Editor in Chief "Everyday I get up, everyday I go to bed thinking about what I can do to make this the best pro- gram in America," a visibly emo- tional Rich Rodriguez said in his Schembechler Hall office during a 30-minute interview with The Michigan Daily last week, hands striking the table for emphasis. The coach became slightly agi- tated when the conversation turned to his job security. This is his third year, the critics have said, if he doesn't win this year, he should be gone. Before he was leaning back, relaxed, free-wielding. Now he sits upright, chooses his words with a pause, hands driving his points home. He cuts himself off here, pauses there. "That's all I think about," he cor- rects himself, "that's all we think about. So the rest of it is drama - I don't need to deal with it." Since he arrived at Michigan more than two years ago, there's been a lot of talk about Rodri- guez: He's not Ann Arbor enough. He doesn't fit in here. His offense doesn't belong in the Big Ten. The criticism has come from all angles and in all shades of displeasure. And there's no denying that some of that criticism has been well-founded : as Rodriguez has been stuck in a swirl of troubles from an NCAA investigation into his program to winning just three Big Ten games in his first two years at Michigan. But after two turbulent years as Michigan's head football coach and an offseason full of speculation and "make-or-break season" dic- tums, Rodriguez is eager to move forward. He got his first chance to do that on Saturday, abating some of the most immediate calls for his firing with the team's impressive 30-10 rout of Connecticut at the Big House. As the season approached last See RODRIGUEZ, Page 5A THE TURNAROUND MICHIGAN NEEDS For Daily Sports Editor Ryan Kartje's take on the interview, see SportsTuesday, Page 2B. THE PORCH COUCH DEBATE City Council plans to vote on porch furniture ban tonight A brief look at construction around campus M ASS B OI *opi Th cil is ordina ban u porch The ichigan Student is being formally opposed by the Michigan Student Assembly embly Executive Executive Board, was re-hashed in response to a deadly house 3oard formally fire near campus last April that authorities believe started with poses ordinance an outdoor porch sofa catching fire. The fire - which occurred By DYLAN CINTI at a rental house on South State Daily StaffReporter St. - killed one tenant, an Eastern Michigan University student, and e Ann Arbor City Coun sent two others to the hospital. set to vote tonight on an City Council approved a first ance that if passed, would reading of the ordinance at its pholstered furniture from Aug. 6 meeting. es across the city. According to Council member e proposed ordinance, which Christopher Taylor (D-Ward 3), who backed the ordinance, the council decided to vote on the resolution tonight so that students wouldgetthechancetovoicetheir concerns. Taylor said the council normally votes on resolutions at the council meeting immediately following the first reading. "The (postponement) allows students to have a say," Taylor said in an interview yesterday. But despite City Council's deci- sion to postpone voting, MSA vice president Jason Raymond said council members haven't done enough to get student input on the See COUCH BAN, Page 5A BURTON MEMORIAL KRESGE COMPLEX TOWER Thefacility, which University officials sayi Repairs are beingmadeto ed, is being demolished and replacedby the tower's deteriorating area with sidewalks. The project reported stone work and the steel impact on parking and willbe finished in N structure that supports the carillon, as well as replacement and water- NORTH UNIVERSITY AVE. proofing of the bell cham- ber floor. Work on the project, which is expected to be finished by fall 2011, DIAG, is being scheduled around , the migratory habits of W Peregrine Falcons. - is outdat- a grassy dly has no November. UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN MEDICAL t CENTER COUZENS HALL As part of the residential life and learn- ing initiative, the hall is being extensively renovated to include more living and learning spaces, air conditioning and Wi-Fi throughout the building. The hall is expected to be reopened for the fall 2011 semester. ALUMNI IN THE NEWS Westin leaving top post at ABC News Ann Arbor native will step down after a 13-year time here, there are some other reign in the top position - a job things I want to do professional- and 'U' alum took he managed to earn with almost ly - things that I cannot explore no television while fulfilling my responsibili- unlikely route to background. ties here," Westin wrote in the Stating that e-mail as posted online by The lead network he felt it was New York Times. "I'm announc- time to move ing my decision now so that I can By CAROLYN KLARECKI on, Westin pursue those possibilities, some- DailyArts Editor will remain thing I couldn't do in fairness to as president all of you until Id told you of my University alum David Westin of ABC News plans to step down." anounced his intent to resign until the end Westin has a deep-rooted his- As president of ABC News in an of the year, tory in Ann Arbor. He graduated e-mail sent to his staff Monday leaving the next few months from Pioneer High School in 1970 night. Westin, who grew up in to continue the search for his and enrolled in the University Ann Arbor and earned multiple replacement. where he studied the oboe. He V degrees from the University, "As rewarding as I've found my See WESTIN, Page 5A LAW SCHOOL ACADEMIC BUILDING AND COMMONS The new academic build- ing will add about 100,000 square feet of academic and support space, while the commons will provide 1600 square feet of stu- dent interaction spaces. Work on the two projects began in spring 2009 and is expected to be completed in spring 2012. S SOUTH UNIVERSITY AVE. CRISLER ARENA AND PLAYER DEVELOPMENT CENTER A 57,000-square-foot addition will be add- ed to house basketball practice facilities and support spaces. Major updates to the arena infrastructure and upgrades to seat- ing and aisles will also be made. Construc- tion on the Player Development Center is scheduled to be finished in fall 2011. -Ama$ C.S. MOTT CHILDREN'S AND VON VOIGTLANDER WOMEN'S HOSPITAL A new facility is being built to better accommodate the growing needs of the Childrens and Womens Hospital. Construction began on the project in October 2006 and is expected to be finished in spring 2011. oY KYLE SWANSON GRAPHIC BY SARAHQUIRE Clockiehrovoplet: FIcErPOTO/ Daily; JAKt FROMM/Daily; Courtesv ofiuniversity office of Architecture, Engineering and Construction WEATHER Hi: 71 TOMORROW C L48 GOT A NEWS TIP? Call 734-763-2459 or e-mail news@michigandaily.com and let us know. NEW ON MICHIGANDAILY.COM Photo slideshow of Michigan's win on Saturday. MICHIGANDAILY.COM/BLOGS/THE GAME INDEX NEW5................2A.....2A Vol. cXXI, No.1 AP NEW S ........................... 3A u20xrThe Michigan Daily OPINION..............4A michigandoily~com"""""' 4A A RTS .................. ..............7A SPORTSTUESDAY................1B NEW STUDENT EDITION......1C .