The school is allowing Rodriguez to contest allegations that he did not promote an atmosphere of compliance and failed to adequately monitor the team.
If Michigan, Rodriguez and his lawyer fail to adequately defend themselves this weekend, especially in the context of recent, similar allegations from his previous tenure as head football coach at West Virginia University, the NCAA could impose sanctions that affect his ability to coach in Ann Arbor, including potential restrictions on his time with the team and possibly recruiting.
Most observers expect the allegations against Rodriguez to be the most-reviewed, most-contested portions of what is expected to be a day-long hearing. Michigan officials declined to comment on any aspect of this report. Michigan and Rodriguez are likely to argue that the rules about practice time are so vague that the NCAA officials have suggested making them much clearer, as part of efforts at reform.
"The failure to monitor allegation is going to be disputed," said Michael Buckner, a Florida lawyer who represents institutions before the Committee on Violations. "And with the West Virginia case and the notice of allegations coming out there, Michigan and Rich Rodriguez are really going to be on board and trying to get rid of it."
If the committee decides the Rodriguez did not foster compliance with NCAA rules and failed to adequately monitor the operation of the team at Michigan, and then the dominos fall similarly at West Virginia, he is a repeat offender. The NCAA would likely enhance any punishment of him.
"It could affect the team," Buckner said, of the Wolverines. "You could see a limited number of days that he can coach on the field, or the time he can recruit can be limited. There's a lot of limitations that the committee could impose on Coach Rodriguez that would limit his ability to coach and recruit."
But even the way Coleman and the new athletic director, David Brandon, have stood by Rodriguez, leaves Michigan well-positioned. If Coleman and Brandon ever decided that Rodriguez is done coaching the Maize and Blue, he will be much easier to fire.
If Rodriguez were to claim in a subsequent lawsuit that his dismissal in Ann Arbor resulted after he received no support, Michigan officials can simply point to all of the support they have offered him -- even to the point of contesting allegations against him before the NCAA.
"Overall, I believe Michigan has done a very good job of handling these allegations, conducting the investigation and handling even the legal aspects of it," Buckner said. "They are giving themselves enough room, legally and tactically, to deal with Coach Rodriguez's situation in the future."
As part of its sanctions, Michigan dismissed a graduate assistant, Alex Herron, whom the NCAA accused of lying. And, Brad Labadie, the director of football operations, who, documents in the case reveal, repeatedly failed to provide reports that might have revealed that he violations were occurring -- which they were occurring -- resigned. That both Herron and Labadie are no longer associated with the university benefits Michigan in the hearing.