• Vote: How big a deal you consider exceeding limits on practice hours?
• Rank 'Em: Where will Michigan finish in the Big Ten this season?
• More from ESPN.com: Big Ten blogger Adam Rittenberg's take on Michigan.

Michigan lost at home to Appalachian State the year before Rich Rodriguez showed up, so it's not like he interrupted a golden era in Ann Arbor. Then again, the Wolverines also won nine games that season, including a New Year's Day bowl win against Florida. That's more wins than the program has managed during the first two seasons under Rodriguez combined.

So in the wake of Michigan's self-imposed penalties for exceeding NCAA practice limits and other violations, perhaps the real crime is how little the Wolverines seemingly got done with their extra time.

One SportsNation blogger suggests high powers may be at work.

• "Has anybody else realized that we have not been "Michigan" ever since Bo Schembechler died? Immediately upon his death, we went from 11-0 and right on the doorstep to another modern-era national title to yet another Ohio State loss, an embarrassing Rose Bowl defeat to USC when we were favored to win ... and then, of course, the horrific season-opening Appalachian State/Oregon losses that no one will ever let us forget when we were expected to play for the national title that season. Frankly, I wonder if the "Michigan" we all believe we are and are supposed to be died with Bo. After all, he is really the one who made us that Michigan." -- Go to nunyabiz81's blog.

Chad (Las Vegas)

What are the odds that Rich Rod is gone in Michigan with less than a 9 win season and Les Miles is gone from Baton Rouge with less than a 10 win season? And Les Miles becoming the next UM coach?

Mark Schlabach

I'd say both Rich Rod and Miles need to win, Rich Rod more than Miles. Miles won an SEC title and BCS championship at LSU. Can't imagine how he'd get fired. Does he leave on his own if Rich Rod is fired? Possibly. Full transcript

“

UM is trying to grease the skids for Rich Rod's exit without doing further harm to the football program. If he doesn't win eight games this year, look for UM to use this as one of their excuses to fire him.

” -- andyakeko

“

As an OSU fan I find these sanctions ridiculous. This seems to me like the bully (NCAA) kicking a guy when he's down. Right now no one is more down than Michigan, but they will bounce back. Where is the "sanctions", self imposed or not, for USC or do you not want to handcuff a team that competes for a BCS game every year?

” -- louie0119