Michigan fans grow impatient with losses

It’s a sign of the times that even before Michigan was beaten by Toledo, there was already a Web site calling for the firing of first-year coach Rich Rodriguez.

Yes, someone wanted him gone before he coached in his sixth game.

Still, an embarrassing 13-10 loss to the Rockets was particularly galling for Wolverines fans. It was the first time Michigan has lost in 25 games against a Mid-American Conference school, and it came in the first time the two teams met.

Toledo, which was paid $500,000 to make the 43-mile trip to Ann Arbor, came into the game with a 1-4 record, a week after a 31-0 homecoming loss to Ball State.

Michigan (2-4, 1-1 Big Ten) has its worst record through six games since 1967 —- the school’s last losing season. And the next two games are against No. 3 Penn State and No. 20 Michigan State.

The Web site www.firerrod.com makes it handy for RichRod haters. It has a clock counting down the four years left on the contract of LSU coach Les Miles, a former Michigan assistant.

For now, it’s up to Rodriguez to turn things around.

“It’s easy to waver,” he said this week. “I know there’s a lot of people disappointed, a lot of fans disappointed. … We’ve got to stay the course.”

No state money, student fees

Clemson president Jim Barker sent an e-mail to the school’s faculty ensuring them the money to buy out football coach Tommy Bowden’s contract won’t come from state money or student fees, according to a report.

The Greenville News obtained the e-mail Barker sent earlier this week.

In the e-mail, Barker tells the faculty the $3.5 million paid to Bowden over six years will come from athletic department funds the school had in reserve when Bowden was signed to a contract extension last season.

Etc.

Notre Dame tight end Will Yeatman was suspended from the team for the rest of the season after being arrested on a charge of underage drinking. … Southeastern Louisiana football coach Mike Lucas will miss the rest of the season because of a heart condition. … Memphis’ Bengal tiger mascot died. He was recently diagnosed with cancer during an annual exam.