Rodriguez donates U-M garb to Salvation Army store
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Fired Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez has turned out to be a Michigan man after all, donating 12 bags of Wolverines apparel to a Detroit-area Salvation Army store aimed at helping people in need.
Maj. John Aren says Rodriguez gave 432 items to the store in Wayne, about 15 miles west-southwest of Detroit, less than one week after his ouster. Rodriguez is hardly the first area coach to lose his job, but Aren said a donation like this is unusual.
"This is absolutely a unique experience for me," Aren said. "This is the first I've ever seen of this."
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Aren said the collection includes caps, shirts and jackets, along with some accessories like gloves and a hand towel. Sizes range from small to 2XL.
A Coach's Closet tent sale is planned for noon to 2 p.m. Saturday with prices starting at around $6, although Aren says most items may be auctioned to people who show up.
"We just got a call from a person in Tennessee who wanted to make an offer over the phone," Aren said. "We're not going to honor that."
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Aren said he thanked Rodriguez on Tuesday at his home near Ann Arbor.
"They were very gracious," Aren said. "They had great spirits."