SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Rich Rodriguez and Brian Kelly started their head coaching careers at small schools, worked their way up the ladder and had major success at Big East schools before landing at two of the nation’s marquee programs.
Rodriguez will lead Michigan onto the field at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday against Kelly and the Irish. It’s a game that has plenty of meaning this season, with Rodriguez trying to shed the stigma of two disappointing years and Kelly trying to rebuild the program in his first year.
But it’s bigger for other reasons. A win can help recruiting. It can also appease the nationwide following and alumni that both programs have.
