Michigan Wolverines Links: Was Michigan too formal for Rich Rodriguez to succeed?

• According to Sports Illustrated writer Stewart Mandel, RichRod will succeed at Arizona because it's less formal. "There will be no collective freak-out if he dares utters the word "ain't" at a press conference." If my memory serves me correct, nobody was ever freaked out over RichRod using the word "ain't," but his insistence that we "throw in a dip" of Wintergreen Skoal while he discussed his favorite episodes of "Momma's Family" was a little awkward (at times). [SI]

•  Green Destiny. Like it or not, Michigan's bowl destination will be be determined by games featuring Michigan State. "Only two Big Ten teams can finish with two losses: the champion and U-M. If MSU doesn't win the title, its shot at a BCS bowl with three or four losses would be nonexistent. U-M, though, could be attractive as second Big Ten BCS pick at 10-2." [FREEP]

• Rhinestone Cowboy. Brady Hoke has informed the University of Ohio that they should besimply known by their Bobcat mascot in order to avoid confusion when he refers to Ohio State as "Ohio." Hoke has also informed country western singer Glen Campbell that he should simply be known as "a national treasure." [FREEP]

• When Ohio State attempts at smack talk go horribly wrong. One Ohio State fan posted this "joke" on Twitter: "A Michigan football player was almost killed today in a tragic horseback riding accident. He fell from the horse and was nearly trampled to death. Luckily, the manager of the Wal-Mart came out and unplugged the horse." You have shamed the legacy of the greatest comedians to ever come out of the state of Ohio: Tim Conway and Jamie Farr.