Posted on Mon, Nov 8, 2010 : 7:04 a.m.
Michigan's Rich Rodriguez might be saved by his offense; U-M's triple-OT finish one for the ages and more
By Kaleb Roedel
A beaming Rich Rodriguez makes his way over to the Michigan student section to celebrate with his players after they beat Illinois in triple overtime 67-65 on Saturday at Michigan Stadium.
Lon Horwedel | AnnArbor.com
Writes Rittenberg, "Rip on Michigan's defense all you want, but the Wolverines' offense deserves a lot of credit this season."
He later opines of the Wolverines, "They're now bowl eligible and can breathe a little easier before a very winnable game at Purdue. Seven wins should ensure Rodriguez is back in 2011."
MORE COLLEGE FOOTBALL
- AnnArbor.com: Bowl projections scattered for Michigan
- AnnArbor.com: Video: Rich Rodriguez, players discussing their triple-OT win over Illinois
- AnnArbor.com: A comprehensive guide of U-M's 67-65 triple-OT win over Illinois
- Big Ten Network: Video: Highlights of the Wolverines' win over the Fighting Illini
- Detroit News: Who'd have thunk it? Michigan's defense gets last laugh
- Detroit News: Michigan WR Roy Roundtree 'hungry' and it shows
- Detroit Free Press: With NCAA cloud gone, Michigan can see brighter days
- Detroit Free Press: Michigan's wild OT finish a game for the ages
- Grand Rapids Press: In the end, Michigan's much-maligned defense saves the day
- Grand Rapids Press: Edwin Baker helps MSU get back to basics with 4-TD day
- Grand Rapids Press: After 10 games, Spartans eager for bye week
- SI.com: Joe Paterno hits 400 wins, Cam Newton speaks and more
- Yahoo! Sports: No. 6 Wisconsin poised for run at titles
- Star-Telegram: After this, TCU deserves a chance at national title
- Register-Guard: If BCS title is goal, Oregon must play closer to perfect
Comments
GoblueinNE_PA
Tue, Nov 9, 2010 : 11:28 a.m.
CamaroDan The King of Fools stumbles into a win and now you're back w/your trash talk. Funny. Where were you the last 3 weeks when we got dominated in ToP and lost all 3 games,... badly. The Hack is a horrendous head coach. He's selling false hope right now and alot of fans lapping it up like it's mothers milk. RichRod right now is the equivalent of a 3rd Base Coach taking over a failing team mid-way through a baseball season. He's won a meaningless game after the season is over and fooling people into thinking the team has turned around. MLB teams get snookered into thinking those 3rd base coaches are the answer and end up hiring them on full time as the manager. Invariably those guys fail in their role because they are not up to the task of taking care of all the responsibilities that are entailed in running the team. That's RichRod right now. He's not up to the task of running an entire team, but he's fooling a portion of the fan base. I don't think he's fooling the alumni, who actually have some ownership of the program and the University, but he is fooling the fans. I hope that MSC and Brandon remember to look at the season in total, not the the opening 5 games against garbage opponents nor wins against bottom feeders in the big 10. The team is not headed in the right direction.
B1
Mon, Nov 8, 2010 : 8:01 p.m.
Right on JNZ. I think some of our fans are too impatient. If fans have given up hope on this team, then they should root for another team. How about Indiana, Purdue, Minnesota....they all play good old fashioned Big Ten football.
JNZ
Mon, Nov 8, 2010 : 4:01 p.m.
Bo was a Michigan man TXteacher????. That makes all the difference around here. So what if Lloyd Carr left the cupboards empty. It's all RRs fault, all of it. He has to go so we can go back to scoring 17 pts. a game and everybody knows what play we will be calling next, as it has been for the last 40 yrs. or so. Feel free to step into the next century folks.
CamaroDan
Mon, Nov 8, 2010 : 3:41 p.m.
Go Blue Did you see the time of possession? We were at about 25 or 26 minutes and still won the game, great game. I think RR will be here next year, so it probably isn't a farewell tour. Go Blue!!
ChelseaBob
Mon, Nov 8, 2010 : 3:34 p.m.
I don't care if they win out, RR should be gone. After the NCAA gets done digging around in WVA, they'll hit him again, and it won't be pretty. No point keeping him around. Harbaugh will move Denard to all purpose back, and Tate will be QB. We will average 65 points a game, and the new D (with same personnel) will hold opponents to single digits. Jim Tressel will tremble and retire and the natural order will be restored.
devildog
Mon, Nov 8, 2010 : 1:43 p.m.
Boy oh boy IF this games saves this coach - we are in a bigger mess than I imagined. Think back - to when no one would score like that on UM. This should not be his saving grace - we need to return to class and tradition and it starts with a new coach -and possibly new administration. If the current administration gives this coaching staff a pass - oh my, they need to go also. Jim Harbaugh is your answer - do not delay
GoblueinNE_PA
Mon, Nov 8, 2010 : 12:57 p.m.
I can only hope Rittenberg is wrong. RichRod is a hack and needs to go. I don't think it will matter though, because I'm still not convince this team will another game this season. RichRod farewell tour makes its stop in West Lafayette this Saturday. All Aboard!
Hawaiian Neal
Mon, Nov 8, 2010 : 12:41 p.m.
That's Rich! Pun intended. The last place criticism should be coming is from the home of UT and Dallas Cowboys. :) Anyway, at the beginning of the season we knew the defense was really weak. Why.....why do people think that after 8 or so starters go on the injured list, the D would be better. Why are so many people so mad at the program that we all predicted would be 7-5 or 8-4 being 7-5 or 8-4???? It is what it is and we are where we thought we'd be and all things considered...a little better now playing with a 5th year high school defense for all intents and purposes. The coach is a lightening rod for the weak minded. It's actually pretty funny, I'm old enough to remember the same percentage of people whining complaining (in the press and water cooler at that time) about Bo's selection. There will always be whiners and malcontents, I suppose. :) From the stats I'm looking at (mostly O), I'm pretty satisfied with the progress time line. Sure, I'd like to have seen the new system installed and Michigan get a national title in it's first three years, but I think that's a little too much. Even the D with all the freshman and second string players is showing improvement over the same freshman and second string players from last year.
TXteacher
Mon, Nov 8, 2010 : 12:07 p.m.
Gave up 65 points in ONE GAME?? Bo's teams's gave up 65 in one season. He would be incredulous! Have standards dropped or what?
clarklaker
Mon, Nov 8, 2010 : 11:51 a.m.
I was at the game and about lost my voice.
81wolverine
Mon, Nov 8, 2010 : 9:06 a.m.
@Richard: I don't agree the "stadium was dead quiet". I was there, and it was pretty loud - granted not all the time. But, I yelled so much I was hoarse after the game and so did many around us (not a student section). I think the cold probably made it quieter than say a game in Sept. or October - that's to be expected. But, in the OT's, it was darn loud I'd say. I agree with Wittenberg that another win should certainly ensure RR comes back. I think that would be best for the Michigan football program. His offense is getting more impressive with every game. Next year, they should probably lead the nation. The defense is however, another story. I think the D coaching staff needs a shakeup after the season. Greg Robinson needs to go. They need to bring in someone with a proven track record of building great defenses - not someone that's just been around a long time.
Richard
Mon, Nov 8, 2010 : 8:33 a.m.
I watched the game on Saturday and I am so happy the Wolverines will be going to a bowl game. I can only hope they can win at least one more game or 2 more. I also feel the crowd at the game should share the blame. The stadium was dead quiet, what if the game has been at penn State or Iowa, Michigan State, would the crowd be so quiet. The band was playing every chance they got. That has to help the team. The band is one of the tops in the country and when they play the fight song, it has to get that team booming. GoBlue and let's show them that this team has some fight.