[LuckE2Bhere]

If I recall correctly, they got "ornery" in the sense that they asked him to satisfy his legally-binding contract, by either coaching the team or paying his buyout.  When he apparently chose the "sue me" approach instead, they really got ornery (particularly after investing millions of dollars in expanding their facilities, at his demand, when he previously threatened to leave if they didn't)! 

Best part of the story is that he somehow got both the AD and President at Michigan to lie on his behalf, in somehow justifying his walk-away defense (I forget the details as to how they thought they could get him out of it)... up until the day before they were both going to be deposed under oath, at which point Michigan agreed to pay the entire buyout on his behalf (using taxpayer money, of course! Whoops -- sorry, I forgot that money isn't fungible to some folks  ;) ).

[LuckE2Bhere]

If I recall correctly, they got "ornery" in the sense that they asked him to satisfy his legally-binding contract, by either coaching the team or paying his buyout.  When he apparently chose the "sue me" approach instead, they really got ornery (particularly after investing millions of dollars in expanding their facilities, at his demand, when he previously threatened to leave if they didn't)! 

Best part of the story is that he somehow got both the AD and President at Michigan to lie on his behalf, in somehow justifying his walk-away defense (I forget the details as to how they thought they could get him out of it)... up until the day before they were both going to be deposed under oath, at which point Michigan agreed to pay the entire buyout on his behalf (using taxpayer money, of course! Whoops -- sorry, I forgot that money isn't fungible to some folks  ;) ).