Ready to see Rich Rodriguez and Arizona take on the Michigan football team?
How's this for entertainment value? Imagine the Michigan football team playing Arizona and Rich Rodriguez.
Associated Press
Maybe you've never heard of J.T. Curtis.
He's the football coach at John Curtis Christian High School in River Ridge, La., and he's won 500 games. He's made plenty of contacts in his 43 seasons. Among them: Former Michigan football coach Rich Rodriguez.
So when Curtis spoke to the Greater New Orleans Quarterback Club earlier this week, he spoke about Rodriguez's decision to turn down the offer to coach at Tulane and accept the head coaching job at Arizona.
"My understanding is, in talking with coach Rich Rodriguez, and I was involved in that just a little bit, that it was a much closer decision than people realize, between Tulane and Arizona," Curtis said.
Curtis said Rodriguez felt he'd have a better chance at recruiting top talent and chasing a national title at Arizona. And one more thing helped sway Rodriguez.
"And they promised him they’d put Michigan on the schedule in three years," Curtis said.
Some in the audience laughed, but Curtis wasn't smiling.
"I'm telling you, it was a big deal."
J.T. CURTIS' ADDRESS TO THE NEW ORLEANS QUARTERBACK CLUB
Comments
missionbrazil
Thu, Dec 1, 2011 : 1:17 p.m.
Bring it on ! It would be fun to have a chance to shred an RR defense for a change. We would win 56-24.
missionbrazil
Thu, Dec 1, 2011 : 1:16 p.m.
Bring it on ! It would be fun to have a chance to shred an RR defense for a change. We would win 56-24.
TheWay
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 11:48 p.m.
I think maybe Rich Rodriguez was speaking plainly to a colleague and that colleague took some liberties when recounting the story.
Txmaizenblue
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 11:10 p.m.
I guarantee you that game does not happen. Especially when the guy "guarantees" a game in the next 3 years and Dave Brandon was not even consulted. Brandon strikes me as a guy that will not be told what to do.
TheWay
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 11:47 p.m.
There's no way the AD of Arizona would "guarantee" he'd put Michigan on the schedule. There's just no way to do that. If you ask me, this story suffers from a case of third-party privilege.
TheWay
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 7:07 p.m.
So, has anyone considered that maybe Rich Rodriguez wants to put Michigan on the schedule because A: he still has some ties to Michigan, and B: he knows putting a huge school like Michigan on the schedule well both help with recruiting (Hey, our helmet doesn't have wings, but we get to play a school who's helmet does!) and be a great gauge as to where his program is in the building process? Why does everyone just assume he's out for some sort of revenge or redemption?
7718
Thu, Dec 1, 2011 : 12:01 a.m.
TerryStar, aren't we giving Hoke another year to win the Big10? If he doesn't do it next year how many times does he get? Both coaches want another year to improve, I don't see what's wrong with that. Regarding the "those are my players" comment, don't you think he means that those are kids he has gotten to know well over the last 3 years? I think any coach would consider players his if he had a chance to work closely with them for any amount of time.
TheWay
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 8:34 p.m.
Cynicism will kill you.
Terry Star21
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 7:26 p.m.
Are you serious ? He has tried to tell everyone over and over he needed one more year. Then taken credit for our success, even saying after our ninth win 'it's painful to watch, those are my players out there'. Come on, please....seriously ?
81wolverine
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 6:57 p.m.
No. Brandon knows that a matchup with RR would create a sideshow that would detract too much from the game on the field. There's just nothing to be gained from it from Michigan's perspective. Rodriguez may feel he has something to gain - possibly vindication if he can beat us, I don't know But, I wish him success at Arizona. It won't be easy, as it's probably a bit of a re-building process.
The OSU
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 6:49 p.m.
Q: What's the difference between RR/AZ returning to play Michigan and when LeBron/Heat first returned to play the Cavs? A: Michigan Stadium can hold a larger number of hateful fans. Seriously, not a smart move for Brandon. (1) Risk of a loss to RR. (2) Sercurity, security, security. (3) This game would NOT gain the national attention Blue fans think that it would. While RR continues to be a hot topic for Blue, the rest of the country doesn't care about your personal hatred of the man. Once again, Blue elitism prevails falsely believing they are more important than they really are.
Terry Star21
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 7:23 p.m.
You forgot to add the horseshoe - with 85,000 drunken truck drivers.
Terry Star21
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 6:44 p.m.
Will this person still be a coach....still be at that university in 3 years ? These stories remind me of a hemorrhoid that refuses to go away - you can try to ignore it for just so long, then........
Rufus
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 5:58 p.m.
I like the idea. If we can't beat a spread team "in the make" in three years than we've regressed back to the Lloyd Carr years. I don't believe for a second that Hoke and Mattison don't know how to beat small quick teams, So why be afraid of RR's Arizona? Besides, the games should stand as a constant reminder not to get big and slow and dumb on defense. Even smart guys need reminders. It's easy to get arrogant. And Braxton Miller nearly beat Michigan with his legs- he'll only get better. RR's years were less painful to me than getting beat up by Appalachia State, Oregon Syracuse, and Utah in the Carr years. Apart from Appalachia State- you just knew we would lose ten out of ten if we played those teams. I'm a believer in speed. You can bulk up a fast guy but you can never make a slow guy faster.
Macabre Sunset
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 6:20 p.m.
We had that philosophy for three years, and it resulted in disaster. I'm a believer in coaching and great athletes. Why not bring it on? There's no way RR can compete in an elite conference.
riverraisin
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 5:56 p.m.
One thing that I have noticed about collegiate football in the state of Arizona is that, outside of the student body, there is not a whole lot of interest in attending games or following the teams. Where as a B1G stadium is packed and has a waiting list for season tickets, stadiums in AZ are usually partially empty on any given saturday. The weather is too nice out here for most people to spend indoors or in a stadium seat. The exception being transplants from the midwest who generally follow their own B1G schools and aren't interested in the PAC 12. The best recruits from AZ usually head out of state, where football is bigger. I really don't see that changing just because the WCIUAFH (getting a little ahead of myself) is now at the helm of UA. At this point, I think this may have been a bad move on his part. He'll wallow around in mediocrity until he gets fired and moves on to a school that fits his system better. Playing a RR run UA team serves no purpose. If UM pounds them on the gridiron, what does that tell us that we don't already know?
knotch
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 5:11 p.m.
Rich....if you put together the same kind of defense as you didn't here.....I hope the score board can hold three digits. In my personal opinion, Hoke has seen a bright light with Denard Robinson. Big Blue will be seeking a big "mobile" quarter back. The era of the statue is over. Defensive coordinators this year have had to practice against Mr. Robinson, you don't think they've learned something from this... Big Blue showed that knowledge against Nebraska.....Hmmmmm
treetowncartel
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 5:05 p.m.
I think we should play WVU before we schedule Arizona. WVU would make a great night game.
Tru2Blu76
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 4:43 p.m.
Well, it may seem like a joke but this is RR's second chance to prove his offensive scheme. What he always said (before arriving @ Michigan) was that it takes until the fourth year for his system to work. So - maybe- that "play Michigan in three years" idea could be a little premature. One of the things most observers noticed (including John U. Bacon in "Three and Out") was that RR has some blind spots as a coach and overall strategist. He fails, in critical areas, to even see the need for a change in approach. This gives the appearance of rigidity, but it's really a lack of smarts. He's "unsophisticated" in a bad way, while Brady Hoke is "unsophisticated" in a good way. From that, we can expect the match up between Michigan and Arizona to be: the Simple Coach vs the Simple Minded Coach. Besides: by 2014, Michigan will be in the top tier nationally: the chances of Arizona being anything better than another 2011 Notre Dame team by that time are slim to none.
Rufus
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 5:40 p.m.
"Brady Hoke is unsophisticated in a good way". I love that. It's exactly who he is.
A2D2
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 4:24 p.m.
I think it's a great idea! Now all RichRod has to do is get the Fighting Wlidcats into the 2015 Rose Bowl!
Mick
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 4:18 p.m.
I'm trying to contain myself from the laughter I'm experiencing regarding this subject, in fact my ribs and gut are hurting from said laughter. So, please, please schedule the WCIMFH. With his lack of focus on Defense and his Offenses being a 1 trick pony, it would further vindicate the decision by Mr. Brandon to bring Hoke to AA. How many other people out there are also elated about that move now that the season has ended and we all saw the product on the field? Another funny thing I noticed, it seems that the MCC contingent is all worried about this possibility because we don't do good against Pac 12 teams or won't be able to handle AZ's Offense, blah. blah, blah. Bring it, I'm anxious to see it. This is not the conservative teams of Bo or the waning years of Carr or the era of the WCIMFH. This is Hoke with a great and progressive staff that is simply out-coaching people with not an ideal talent base for them, wait till they have their desired skill set, it's gonna be really fun. Go Blue!!!
7718
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 11:51 p.m.
"will not schedule any games".....I hate auto correction.
7718
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 11:49 p.m.
Mick, I would love to see Michigan match up against Oregon, Stanford, And USC. But it will never happen because the AD will not s hedge any games like that. I am, however, grateful that Alabama is an opponent next year.
TheWay
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 7:04 p.m.
You've obviously not seen Rich Rodriguez's offense. It's a far cry from a "one trick pony" when he has his players and it's running the way it's supposed to. It's hardly his fault Fitz was hurt most of last year.
Stephen Landes
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 3:43 p.m.
There is no upside to a series between Michigan and Arizona. Why would we want to continue to involve the Rodriguez "legacy" in the renewed Michigan program? If he Rich Rod can win the PAC 12 and wind up in the rose Bowl then he will have his shot at Michigan. I would not go out of our way to make it easy for him to make some sort of claim to fame by creating an artificial relationship where none exists.
7718
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 3:27 p.m.
No way will Dave Brandon schedule those games. He won't want to take the risk and possibly lose both. It's all about the Michigan Brand, and he will schedule MAC schools and FBS schools to be sure he gets a few Wins. Hoke is his hire and he will do whatever is necessary to make sure his hires look good.
Terrin Bell
Fri, Dec 2, 2011 : 3:53 a.m.
Boy, I hope that is not true. I thought "Champions" weren't afraid to play anybody. If RR wants a match, Michigan should allow it. This is like all those people who said we shouldn't play Notre Dame anymore because it kept beating us. Further, people shouldn't blame RR. Michigan brought him here; Michigan knew what it was getting; and he seemed like a likable enough person. I am glad he is gone, but I wish him best. His recruits also seem to be doing pretty well this year. Who knows how well they would have done this year with him.
Matt Patercsak
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 3:07 p.m.
Rich Rod's finished offensive product will not be able to dance around Michigan's finished defensive product. and our offense will be too strong for a goofy pac-12 defense.
Macabre Sunset
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 7:20 p.m.
That game, I felt, was the worst game of the entire Carr tenure. It was the week after the Appalachian State mess and the team was flat from the beginning. It's the only time I've ever seen a Michigan football team give up (as opposed to helpless, which we saw a lot under Carr's successor). I don't think it had much to do with the Pac Ten or the style of play. Michigan simply wasn't prepared to play anyone that day.
TheWay
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 7:02 p.m.
I seem to remember a certain "offensive product" from the Pac-10 completely embarrass Michigan's "defensive product" in 2007. And our offense, as I recall, was chock-full of NFL talent... and scored 7 points on their "goofy pac-1(0) defense."
Macabre Sunset
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 6:17 p.m.
You may have been around a long time, but perhaps your memory is failing. Michigan is 50-24-1 against Pac Twelve teams (46-22-1 versus the Pac Ten teams, 44-21-1 versus the old Pac Eight).
bigblue
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 3:41 p.m.
as much as I love MICHIGAN FOOTBALL, i've been around long enough to see many a pac 10(12) teams beat up on BIGBLUE!
MRunner73
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 2:57 p.m.
No doubt Dave Brandon has the same idea. He'll want another night game in September, and do a home-and-home deal. This is my own opinion. The schedule has some gaps in 2014 to fill and surely would be viable in 2015. This is a slow Michigan Football new period so get ready for more "stuff" the think about.
Bill
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 2:51 p.m.
Who will be the coach in 3 years? RR won't last that long!
bigblue
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 2:50 p.m.
uh-oh I have a feeling that within three years another spread QB is gonna be running all over MICHIGAN! I live in new orleans and know all about J.T. CURTIS.......high school football powerhouse. GO BLUE BEAT houston!
Anders
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 2:48 p.m.
Bring it on!