Rich Rodriguez languished through a program-worst 3-9 season in his first year at Michigan.
He was implementing a spread-option offense, while working mostly with players recruited for a pro-style scheme, and said he just needed time. That was understandable.
But at Arizona, he didn't need time. Rodriguez took over a program that won four games in 2011, and guided it to an eight-win regular season and beat Nevada in the New Mexico Bowl -- just the second postseason victory in 14 seasons for the Wildcats.
What was the difference?
Robinson now says some Michigan players weren't buying into his system, and some felt "entitled."
?We got total buy-in from the get-go here,? Rodriguez said in a Sporting News story published Tuesday. ?From the players to the support staff to everybody that was touching the program.
"We had some guys committed at Michigan, but we had others that weren?t. Some guys felt a sense of entitlement. The name on the chest, and 'I?ve already arrived.
?The Chad Hennes and the Jake Longs put the work in and succeeded before us, and guys behind them thought they were entitled to the same status but hadn?t proved anything.?
Rodriguez took over at Michigan when Lloyd Carr retired following the 2007 season. He was a hot commodity then, having nearly led West Virginia to the national title game.
But he went just 15-22 in thee seasons in Ann Arbor, and was fired following a blow out loss to Mississippi State in the Gator Bowl after the 2010 season -- the only bowl he ever made with Michigan.
?I obviously wasn?t in a good place,? Rodriguez told Sporting News.
Now, Rodriguez not only has a bowl game under his belt at Arizona, but a bowl win, and has his sights set on a Rose Bowl appearance. If that happens, of course, there's a chance he could face the Wolverines, which have rebounded since the hiring of Brady Hoke.
How good would it feel to beat Michigan in Pasadena?
"Let?s just get there first,? Rodriguez said.