Michigan football coach Rich Rodriguez prefers to defer when coin is tossed
Michigan football coach Rich Rodriguez’s interminable search for answers included something last week he’s rarely done as head coach - win the coin toss and elect to receive.
“It was a situation where we wanted to go ahead and see if we could establish some rhythm offensively,” Rodriguez said. “The weather was nice at the time, I didn’t know how the weather was going to turn. And also it wasn’t as loud because their students hadn’t woke up yet.”
Rich Rodriguez
Wisconsin scored on its opening drive of the second half, too. Michigan answered, but never stopped the Badgers again in a 45-24 loss.
In the first 10 games of the season, the Wolverines won the coin toss seven times and elected to defer each time.
Rodriguez, who said he's chosen to receive just a handful of times in 17 years as a coach, explained his philosophy Wednesday in a short press conference as Michigan prepares to play Ohio State on Saturday (noon, ABC-TV).
“Normally because your defense is fired up, particularly if you’re at home your crowd’s into the game,” he said. “You want to get out there and try to get a quick stop. Plus, at halftime, normally offensively you got to make a few adjustments because you don’t know how teams are going to defend you.
“I don’t know if there’s a stat that shows one way or another which is best in the end.”
Dave Birkett covers University of Michigan football for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at 734-623-2552 or by e-mail at davidbirkett@annarbor.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.
Comments
Michiganiac
Thu, Nov 19, 2009 : 9:56 p.m.
carr went 11-2 9-4 and then he and almost all the starts on those two teams left. leaving? apsolutly nothing behind.i know the arguement is he chased away players but boren is a punk what self respecting michigan player would transfer to ohio state and as far as mallet is consearnd the jurry is still really out on him if you ask me. one so so year at arkansas doesn't mean he would of been great at michigan. i mean cause patreno run a qb friendly system he is going to have way better numbers then he ever would at michigan.
Lemansblue
Thu, Nov 19, 2009 : 8:20 p.m.
That trainwreck beat Fla in coach Carr's last game. Yeah Carr could not recruit did not have any talent either then how do you explain 11-2 and 9-4 his last 2 seasons? With RR it is not hail to the victors it is hail to the excuses. Giving RR more time will change nothing his system is not fooling anyone that is why he is getting out coached in the second half of games...and running a hurry up offense when your defense is gassed is brilliant. Fire RR after the season and go after coach Harbaugh.
Michiganiac
Thu, Nov 19, 2009 : 3:24 p.m.
Coaching mistake? taking the ball first is a coaching mistake? It has that much inpact on the game? wow here i've been watching the whole game and now i find out the outcome is desided before the kick offf. this is going to save me alot of time on saterdays!
Canabian
Thu, Nov 19, 2009 : 12:49 p.m.
Thank god that got cleared up.....now I can sleep at night. Dave, for your next story I have something that might interest you.......................................................................................sliced bread.
heartbreakM
Thu, Nov 19, 2009 : 12:30 p.m.
Typo above--almost anyone will tell you do not choose to receive--choose rather to defer to second half so you can start with the ball. (Brain spasm.)
heartbreakM
Thu, Nov 19, 2009 : 12:18 p.m.
amaizen--I am just saying, I thought it is a coaching mistake (no matter who does it) in not deferring to the second half. And the fact is, we did bad to start both halves--first half 3/out and second half allowed a TD. Nearly anyone who observes college FB will tell you--do not choose to defer. Now, there was a game under LC where the team messed up the second half choice against ND--the team captain (what's that you ask? A captain? ) got confused and chose to kick which is what they did the first half. That was a coaching mistake, and LC admitted as much. We ended up losing that game, too. I have been critical of RR, yes, but I don't think unreasonable. And this was an actual coaching mistake in my opinion. His reasoning makes sense, but I think it is wrong, that's all.
amaizenman
Thu, Nov 19, 2009 : 12:04 p.m.
Right on maddogterry - You make good points - We must keep the faith and weather the storm, better days are coming soon.
Lorain Steelmen
Thu, Nov 19, 2009 : 12:01 p.m.
Maddogterry. You are right on target! I would only add, that this team HAS played hard, and we DO have several players on both sides of the ball, that are giving it everthing they have! To denigrate these players, is obnoxious! Coach Rodriguez IS making progress, and IS the right guy, for the job. If given another year or two, we will all be very glad we kept him here in Ann Arbor! There will be negative critcs out there, because it is soooooo easy to find fault. Let's let Coach Rod's recruiitng, and coaching continue! As Bo said, 'Those who stay, WILL be Champions!'
amaizenman
Thu, Nov 19, 2009 : 12:01 p.m.
HeartbreakM RR made sense with his explanation of why he took the ball first. Leave it at that
maddogterry
Thu, Nov 19, 2009 : 11:47 a.m.
For you blow-hard nay-sayers: Get real. Carr left this program in a train wreck. RR has really only had one recruiting year and is trying to plug the massive holes in talent with walk-ons and a team that consists of over 70% sophomores and juniors. Our linebackers are slow and of average talent. The DBs are also average at best and the Dline is puny. On top of that the Defense has had less than 6 months with Robinson. On the other side, we are playing with 2 small inexperienced freshman QBs, Our leading runner has been out most of the season and the top WR has been injured. On top of that you have a rag of a Newspaper (FREEP)coming out with garbage days before the season starts. I don't care who the coach is, he is not going to have a winning season with the inexperienced and in some cases, players with limited talent. RR deserves and must have at least 3 years if not 4 to turn this team around. At the start of the season, some experts had UM finishing 5 - 7 with MSU as high as 12 - 0. For the fair weather fans and trolls, drop dead!
rainking
Thu, Nov 19, 2009 : 10:42 a.m.
djuninho, no, the fact that articles are being written about this doesn't "show you how low UM football has sunk under RR." it also doesn't show that "This man is in over his head." what it DOES show, however, is how low the MEDIA has sunk and what a witch hunt this has turned in to. If UM fires RRod now, and I hope they're not that stupid, no coach in his right mind would take the job -- not the way this school treats its people. I've also never seen a worse fan base than i have in these putrid comments
djuninho
Thu, Nov 19, 2009 : 9:35 a.m.
The fact that articles are being written about RR's coin toss decisions shows you how low UM football has sunk under RR... This man is in over his head beyond any reasonable doubt... Please cut the cord Saturday night!
heartbreakM
Thu, Nov 19, 2009 : 9:30 a.m.
You know, I was thinking about this when watching that game--thinking that was a boneheaded coaching mistake. The way it turned out--with the second half control completely in Wisconsin's hands--I don't know if it would have made a difference. But you always want to come out in the second half with offensive momentum if you can. And with the grades that the AA.com writer gave the coaches last Sunday (B's for the coaches)--I think this decision automatically lowers their grades (which the results do too).