"We" not "Them"

Thu, Nov 25, 2010 : 8:16 a.m.

@Beanie Another great post. I agree with some points and disagree with others. I strongly agree the the "blame" for the massive overhaul lays largely at RR's feet. I would also agree the resulting dip was very foreseeable given the circumstances. Where I would differ is in perception. The most heralded coach in modern UM history performed a similar overhaul. I don't know how it was perceived at the time, but 20/20 hindsight has celebrated that overhaul. It was seen as noble and a necessary step to become a championship program again. We all know the phrase "Those who stay will be champions." So, when people criticize the overhaul, I think it makes sense to be critical of the outcome (big 10 title in Bo's case, worst season ever for RR), but it seems a bit hypocritical to demonize the approach you simultaneously idolize. I agree with you on both points that the violations were BS but that they can't be ignored. What I disagree with is the conclusion that the expectation of excellence doesn't "permeate throughout his staff." This is the exact charge that was dismissed by the NCAA's investigation. Again, I believe the person in charge is always ultimately responsible, but the character assassination that RR has suffered as a result of this clerical error seems to pale in comparison to the Reggie Bush money grab or the Maurice Clarette fake grade scandal. I know some will go ballistic at my characterization of the violations as "clerical", and maybe I could have chosen a better word, but my understanding was always the system that led to the failure to comply was in place even before RR got here (not a shot at LC) and was something that head coaches often delegate to clerical/support staff to oversee. Finally, while I certainly agree that there is plenty of blame to go around for the current struggles, it's difficult to sort through to appropriate criticisms when people don't ever acknowledge invalid criticisms. If the public debate (at least the discussion on Annarbor.com) was more balanced and fair I think it'd be easier to say, "yeah, that was my fault." But when people say things like, "Denard is not a good QB (despite setting NCAA records and being considered for the Heisman)", that RR should have won 8 games his first year with Sheridan as his QB simply because "we're Michigan (even when LC only won 9 with an all-American lineup the year before), or chose any of the other wild accusations that have been bandied about, and it make's those who are neutral sound like RR supporters simply because they try to balance out to discussion. I don't think RR does great press conferences, but when people blame you for everything from global warming to the Kennedy assassination, it makes it hard to come out and say, "yeah, that was my fault." Bottom line, there are some valid criticisms out there, but I think this site in particular has been guilty of piling on in an excessive and unfair manner. This weekend, I'll be right there hugging RR (as will most every other poster on this sight) when or if RR can deny the Bucks a big 10 title a la 69. Either way, I think we're headed in the right direction, and the days of Buckeye dominance are numbered. The writing is on the wall. Love your posts Beanie. Go Blue.

beanie wells

Thu, Nov 25, 2010 : 12:10 a.m.

@wenotthem: thank you for actually being reasonable! that's so refreshing to see in these threads. the 3-9 season was certainly a fall from grace for the program. in my opinion, that type of season was inevitable by the way richrod stormed (too sensational a word choice? perhaps) in. by every public account i read (since i'm not privy to david brandon's 95%), he seemed to take rather lock step, "i'm going to bend this program to my will" approach to the job. that is certainly one way to do it. come in like a tornado, and you are going to lay waste to a lot of mobile homes (in this metaphor, the mobile homes are... shoot, i forgot). anyway, point being... those first two seasons were unavoidable given richrod's choices from the beginning. so, yes, i believe he should get a huge heaping dose of blame for how they went. but, blowing up the program was his chosen method of molding it his image. and i will say, there was a good deal of talk from richrod and others that this process would take awhile. so to all my fellow richrod detractors, please never act too surprised at the current state of affairs. the big question is whether or not richrod has made significant progress after such an overhaul... worst defense in the history of michigan football. one of the worst defenses in the country. sure they're all coming back, but as chris spielman asks, is that something to really get excited about? the offense has gotten better. certainly, the QB position has a LOT to do with that. let's not pretend that this is one of the best offenses in the country. it certainly has put up some points and has racked up some yardage. but, a large majority of that came against a VERY weak first part of the schedule. this won't be one of the best offenses until they can eliminate the turnovers. it does, however, have a TON of potential. we'll call it one of the most explosive offenses in the country. so, the offense is getting better, the defense is getting worse... probably at a more drastic rate than the offense has improved. oh, and the special teams is well... sub-optimal. the biggest improvement of all, has been the character of the team. the 08 and 09 teams would have quit already this year. this 2010 team doesn't do that. that alone, is a huge win for richrod. but wait, you say. you've labeled yourself a detractor... and i still am. don't worry. first, let's talk ncaa violations. i know they were bascially BS, but they can't be ignored. the head football coach at the university of michigan should expect excellence from all aspects of his program. can he police everything, no. but he can try to instill a attitude that should permeate throughout his staff. richrod doesn't seem up to that task. i have to imagine Bo's staff was towing the line. second, recruiting. the talent drain cannot be denied and cannot be explained by merely blaming lloyd carr. i look at the defense and wonder where the bright spot is on the horizon, but i'm not seeing it. third, the offense is certainly playing well, but it's still rather one dimensional. without denard, it's not as dynamic. and lastly (because my brain is shutting down), i've never seen a coach this side of barry switzer put so much blame on his players (whether intentional or unintentional). richrod seems to be armed with a lot of excuses and offers up very little accountability. yes "we not them", assigning blame is a complex issue. but, i don't really see richrod shouldering much of it. anyway, once again i say, bring on harbaugh! the only wolverine i despise more than tim biakabatuka.

"We" not "Them"

Wed, Nov 24, 2010 : 11:09 p.m.

I know I'm late to the party on this thread, but I'm always encouraged when someone uses facts AND presents a logical argument. @Beanie, I think good points are being made on both sides of the argument about the secondary. None of us are in the locker rooms or practice to know why kids left, so it's difficult for anyone to make any absolute claim that the defensive backfield situation was caused by the coach or just players who didn't work out. I'm the first one to acknowledge there may be some (and probably were) some coaching mistakes made concerning the backfield, but I think people on the other side of the argument need to concede that some of the situation (at the very least the injury parts) are not due to any coaching negligence and can be chalked up to a very unfortunate situation. I'd feel better about the criticisms of the defense if they focused more on what created the situation as opposed to criticizing a coaching staff for not being productive with vastly inferior talent. As was already pointed out, 12 months ago (and certainly 18 months ago) Michigan seemed well poised for backfield talent. On a similar line of thought, I know Rich Rod detractors like to point to the 3-9 season as the "fall from grace", but the talent deficiency at quarterback can't be ignored. Again, if people want to fault RR for not getting a suitable QB (and Pryor came down to UM and OSU even though RR started recruiting in Jan) or for not retaining Mallet (which I would argue was scheme and not a failure of coaching ability) that's one thing. But, when you start a redshirt freshman QB who barely has Div II talent (I know Threet is at ASU now, as a Senior, but he should have never seen the field 3 years ago) it seems a bit disingenuous to not at least acknowledge the difficulty ANY coach would have had to be successful. We don't criticize MAC coaches for losing to B10 teams because we are quick to acknowledge the talent gap will, in most cases, render scheme a moot point. I think arguments attacking RR's ability to acquire talent are fair debates, but to be overly critical of a coach who is fielding vastly inferior talent and expecting them to compete isn't the same standard we have for most every other coach in similar circumstances. I know I'm late and will have to continue this in another thread, but I wanted to at echo your sentiments that valid points and criticisms need to be acknowledged, on both sides of the argument. I like what you had to say about the secondary, but I think the blame is a more complex issue than others are willing to admit.

beanie wells

Wed, Nov 24, 2010 : 11:33 a.m.

@truebluefan: so why insist on running a 3-3-5 defense? woolfolk was injured before the season started. heck, even with him, a lot of freshman would see the field in the secondary. or did lloyd carr force them to run the 3-3-5?

I love Michigan Football

Wed, Nov 24, 2010 : 10:02 a.m.

This isn't the Big East where it has predominantly spread teams. It is the Big 10, where power football is what wins Big 10 Championships here. Rich is recruiting as if it is still the Big East. fact. Here is the conference records as of today. All of the power teams are on top, and the spread times rest below on the bottom. Their is a reason for that, because this conference is based on power, not finesse. That is why we see so many injuries with these teams, not because they are young, it because they are getting pounded each and every week. Michigan St. 6-1 10-1 Ohio St. 6-1 10-1 Wisconsin 6-1 10-1 Iowa 4-3 7-4 Penn St. 4-3 7-4 ----------------------------- Illinois 4-4 6-5 Michigan 3-4 7-4 Northwestern 3-4 7-4 Purdue 2-5 4-7 Minnesota 1-6 2-9 Indiana 0-7 4-7

truebluefan

Tue, Nov 23, 2010 : 8:07 p.m.

Beanie - as far as recruiting goes, RR is to blame for going after two guys that couldn't qualify - Witty and Dorsey. It's a big stretch to pin any other back 7 depth woes on RR. Woolfolk - bad luck. Warren - got bad advice from NFL scouts and RR tried to talk him out of it. JT Turner - his transfer and aftermath was wacky (hopefully you know the story so I won't go into it here). Emilien - RR honored his offer even though the kid tore his ACL in high school; unfortunately Emilien never recovered fully. Cissoko - good kid in high school but turned into a bad seed in college (FYI, Carr went after him first). All of these guys would've been upperclassmen and contributing this season. The freshmen you see on the field now would've all been redshirting.

GoblueinNE_PA

Tue, Nov 23, 2010 : 5:22 p.m.

Tressel wasn't under contract at Youngstown State?

The OSU

Tue, Nov 23, 2010 : 4:54 p.m.

In what uniiverse does RR live where he believes UM is on the right track. Trainwreck is more applicable. With regard to Harbaugh going to the NFL, why would he? He's a fool if he does. Being a good COLLEGE coach is an entirely different set of skill than being a PRO coach. College: recruiting, teaching skills, motivating. NFL coach: dealing with prima donas, motivating players whose income far exceeds you own. Major college head coaches make as much as their NFL peers when you factor in endorsements. But back to the question at hand: Why is everyone talking about "stealing" another coach who is under contract? Harbaugh and Miles are both locked into their respective programs. But I guess being a "Michigan Man" means dumping your integrity. The Buckeyes had the right idea with Tressel. Find a quality person.

beanie wells

Tue, Nov 23, 2010 : 3:05 p.m.

@truebluefan: i will not argue against your point. the secondary was not given the proper recruiting attention under lloyd carr. we can agree upon that, yes? so, that would imply that richrod would have made it a priority (since he's trying to fix what carr broke). we'll concede the 2008 class because richrod was late to the party. that means that the 2009 class should have been chock full of talent in the secondary, yes? flash forward to 2010 (that's this year)... that means that the secondary (at the very least) should be chock full of sophomores... NOT freshmen. yes? maybe? maybe it went something like this... richrod looked at the defensive backfield and didn't think it was too terribly bad. he had woolfolk, stevie brown, warren, james rogers, had cissoko coming in (not too bad, actually). the next year, he brought in vlad emilien, justin turner, and mike jones. so, how did they get to starting 6 freshmen? injuries, sure. defections, absolutely. recruiting guys with little chance of qualifying academically at michigan. richrod obviously gets a pass as far as the injuries are concerned, but isn't he to blame at least a little bit for defections and poor recruiting choices? again, i'm not saying he's in a tough spot right now... i'm just saying he's not some innocent victim here.

Ron Granger

Tue, Nov 23, 2010 : 2:58 p.m.

Just fire him and be done with it.

Gaboo

Tue, Nov 23, 2010 : 2:33 p.m.

Confident that he's on the right track? He's happy that his team has no defense?

truebluefan

Tue, Nov 23, 2010 : 2:21 p.m.

Oh, BTW, the 2005 class consisted of a grand total of THREE guys recruited for safety, DB or LB. They were Johnny Sears, Brandon Logan and Brandon Harrison. Lloyd was a good coach but he did Michigan no favors with the way he recruited defense in 2005 through 2007. Based on the FACTS presented in my last two posts, you cannot POSSIBLY argue that Michigan's back 7 was not severely depleted on bodies and talent when RR arrived. RR is now trying to build the depth that Lloyd did not provide.

truebluefan

Tue, Nov 23, 2010 : 2:13 p.m.

ThoseWhoStay -- great post. Michigan lost about 90% of its offensive firepower and main contributors when the 2007 guys left. This plus conversion to the spread was why the 2008 offense was yakety sax. The defensive recruiting in 2006 consisted of ZERO true safeties, TWO defensive backs (Stevie Brown and Jonas Mouton...yeah, seriously) and THREE linebackers (Cobrani Mixon...yikes, Quinton Patilla...double yikes and Brandon Graham praised be his name but last I checked he was a DE). The 2007 defensive class provided (again) ZERO true safeties, four DB's (Warren, Woolfolk, Artis Chambers...yikes, and Mike Williams...who now plays safety if he's not injured, because there were none), and THREE LB's (Austin Panter...yikes, Marell Evans...double yikes, and Brandon Herron who now contributes during the odd days when he's not injured). After reading this post, if you still believe that the defensive back seven was loaded with typical Michigan talent when Lloyd left, all I have to say is you are severely misguided.

beanie wells

Tue, Nov 23, 2010 : 1:54 p.m.

@i love michigan football: wow, that means by 2014 michigan will have 17 wins!!! the richrod supporters are right. forget everything i said... just give richrod more time!!! @mr murrow: good point. i forgot, "never let facts get in the way of a good story".

I love Michigan Football

Tue, Nov 23, 2010 : 1:46 p.m.

People, you all need to break out of your fantasy worlds and delusions you have manifested in your little heads. Just use your head. Next year is a 9 win season. The next year is an 11 win season and so on... who is delusional?

truebluefan

Tue, Nov 23, 2010 : 1:45 p.m.

David Brandon said: "We got spoiled for 40 years. And let me tell you, our fans aren't very good at handling losing." Wow, ain't that the truth?

beanie wells

Tue, Nov 23, 2010 : 1:07 p.m.

@ThoseWhoStayUofM: certainly the 2007 wolverines had key starters who were seniors and others who left for the NFL... as do a lot of successful teams. 2008 was shaping up to be a transitional year, no doubt. BUT, tell me a coach who wouldn't mind a transitional year with Mallett replacing Henne, Minor replacing Hart, a line with Schilling, Mossman, Molk, and Boren. Oh, and returning receivers Hemingway and Matthews. Sure, not all of those players had lived up to their potential yet, but, in hindsight, that's not exactly stepping off the cliff. please stop saying the program was in shambles. that's just ludicrous. sure the 2007 team did not play up to its potential, isn't that why everybody was screaming for Lloyd Carr's head? richrod DID have good players to work with his first year. to mention kids that transferred BECAUSE of richrod or his scheme and NOT place at least some of the blame on richrod is silly and skewing the data to make a point. richrod did not inherit an ideal situation (at least from his perspective), i'll concede that point. but to claim that he inherited a team of rejects is just wrong. i guess what i'm really railing against is the complete absolution of richrod for any ills that exist for michigan football right now. there's a strong contingency of pro richrod folks who refuse to attribute any blame to richrod. "just give him time". let me tell you a little story about giving a guy a little more time. not too terribly long ago, there was a tenneseean named john cooper who was hired to coach the tradition rich football program at ohio state. he took over a program in shambles, and stumbled out of the gate. went 4-6-1 his first season and lost/tied at least 4 games a year for his first 5 years. called the osu/michigan game "just another game". how did that work out? do i need to rehash it? sure, he produced a lot of NFL talent, one heisman winner and a lot of winning seasons. but heartbreak defined his tenure. not even the tressel years have washed away all those scars. to this day, i still go into every game EXPECTING to lose. for god sakes, michigan folk... you guys are good at that learning stuff. learn from us.

InsideTheHall

Tue, Nov 23, 2010 : 12:45 p.m.

Jim Harbuagh's first four moves as Michigan head coach: 1. Retain Fred Jackson 2. Fire the balance of the staff. 3. Hire Mike Trgovac as D Coordinator 4. Hire Scott Loeffler as O Coordinator

RayA2

Tue, Nov 23, 2010 : 12:41 p.m.

For those of you who want to bring up Loyd's last couple of seasons to cast RR in a more positive light, remember who Loyd's defensive coordinator was in his last years; the current almost winless in 2 years coach of EMU, Ron English. RR was not left with much on defense. Loyd's early teams had incredibly dominant defenses. I assume that was because Loyd himself developed the personnel and the schemes to go along with them. As time went by it seemed as if the defenses withered, increasingly giving up big plays and fundamentally deteriorating. Jim Herman was not much better than Ron English as defensive coordinator. My point in mentioning this history is that UofM made a bad mistake in bringing in a coach known only for his offenses, no matter how modern and hyped his scheme was. Charlie Weis is another example of just such a head coaching mistake. Truly good coaches develop players on all sides of the ball, including special teams. Offensive and defensive schemes should to a large extent be a function of the talent and readiness of the players, not the other way around. I had the fortunate opportunity to play for such a coach and it left a lasting impression. The man could get the most of whatever players he was dealt and his teams very seldom lost as a result. If RR had been such a coach there wouldn't have been the exodus of talent before and after his arrival.

ThoseWhoStayUofM

Tue, Nov 23, 2010 : 11:46 a.m.

I think some of you are forgetting that during the 2007 season, Michigan's quarterback was a SENIOR and future NFL player. Michigan's running back was a SENIOR and future NFL player. Michigan had two future NFL wide receivers. Michigan's defense had multiple NFL quality players. I haven't even mentioned Jake Long so yet. They were 8-4. With those players, they should have been undefeated. Instead they lost to App St, got ran off the field against Oregon, and were held to 3 points against OSU. All that talent LEFT when Rich Rod became head coach. Our backup quarterback (one of the best in the NCAA) left to Arkansas because he didn't want to play a spread scheme. Warren graduated early. After taking into account all the transfers and graduating seniors and juniors, Rich Rod did not have good players to work with his first year. He necessarily had to blow this team up and start from scratch. People, you all need to break out of your fantasy worlds and delusions you have manifested in your little heads. This team was in disarray when Rich Rod got here. The players were underperforming worse than I have ever seen. At least this team with the current talent and experience is performing to their potential. As they mature and gain more experience and skill, there is every indication that they will continue to perform at their potential, which would be a much higher level respectively. Just use your head. Next year is a 9 win season. The next year is an 11 win season and so on...

I love Michigan Football

Tue, Nov 23, 2010 : 11:10 a.m.

David Brandon needs to strike while the iron is hot. Do not give this guy more time to screw up this program up. When we get rolled by O-State, he needs to do it by Monday. And I agree Beanie, I would rather have Harbaugh(Michigan Man), then a feel sorry for me, throw my players under the bus Rodriguez any day.

Blueman Rick

Tue, Nov 23, 2010 : 10:50 a.m.

J.Dean. Some good points but the fact of the matter is that RR is a lousy coach and leader. He lacks principle and integrity. I agree w/ 3 and out: "Why bother wasting one more year?"

burgansbar

Tue, Nov 23, 2010 : 10:44 a.m.

Given the enormous problems coach Rodriguez inherited once Lloyd stepped down, it's amazing the team is performing at this high a level. Gie the coach time to build up what was riped apart by prior coaches. he's got the offense palying well, now it's time to focus on the defense.

Blueman Rick

Tue, Nov 23, 2010 : 10:43 a.m.

tzgoblue. I stand corrected on Roundtree. You're knit picking. The rest of the stats are dead on. My point is clear.

beanie wells

Tue, Nov 23, 2010 : 10:34 a.m.

the cupboards were not BARE. i'm tired of that argument. granted, some recruits passed on michigan because of the fact that lloyd carr was retiring and were unsure of who would be his successor (exacerbated by all the "lloyd carr must go" talk for 2 years maybe?). so, the cupboards may not have been as full as they could have been, but they certainly were not BARE. of course, richrod cleaned them a bit after getting on campus (see justin boren, ryan mallett, etc). @Tru2Blu76: not buying the scholarship limit being a hindrance to "rebuilding" a program. especially with all the player "defections"... those are available scholarships. let's go with your number of 27. last i checked, a football team has 22 starters (not counting special teams). so in theory, you could recruit one player at each position. now, granted this isn't necessarily realistic, just making that point to put that number into perspective. the available scholarships were NOT a hindrance. my real point is that richrod CHOSE to ignore the defense at the start and CHOSE to focus on recruiting offense. of course, richrod also CHOSE to not adjust his offense to the talent he inherited - possibly causing more defections than he could have experienced - and therefore requiring more offensive recruits. granted, the woolfolk injury was devastating and losing warren to the draft was not helpful. BUT, let's stop the wailing that poor richrod has been beset by all these problems out of his control. the choices he made led to the lack of depth/experience on defense. he also compounded that by going with a 3-3-5 with a secondary full of freshmen. will it get better? possibly. but, please let us not pity poor richrod's lot. this silly buckeye fan would prefer an arrogant, grating harbaugh back in the maize and blue than an "oh poor me" richrod any day.

a2miguy

Tue, Nov 23, 2010 : 10:12 a.m.

The caption on the photo is not accurate. That photo was clearly taken at Michigan Stadium. The UM/Notre Dame game was played in South Bend this year.

wvtroll

Tue, Nov 23, 2010 : 10:06 a.m.

"I dont want to give you an exact time frame because then youll hold me to it" I think a good coach would know how his team is doing. Appears this guy is hoping to just luck into something good. We certainly don't want to have to hold him to anything, that'd be too much of a challenge for him.

Jonny Spirit

Tue, Nov 23, 2010 : 9:54 a.m.

Now, now, relax people, give him time, Richie Rod will turn it around. The cupboards were empty when he got there. All he needs is 4 more offensive players and then it will be perfect. "Spread defense", that's a good one. Rich Rod for Prez. OSU 38 Mich 26 (2 missed extra pt) and Tressel will only pass the ball 3 times the whole second half. He will fall back into Tressel ball. Michigan will score 2 TD's 4 minutes left in the 4th quarter when OSU gave up 10 minutes ago.

glimmertwin

Tue, Nov 23, 2010 : 8:57 a.m.

I'm waiting for his "spread defense". After all, that can be the only reason why the defense looks like nothing more than an "elite high school team's defense". He must be rebuilding it. There can be no other explanation as to why they are one of the worst in the nation.

heartbreakM

Tue, Nov 23, 2010 : 8:55 a.m.

Everybody: go to Tress's press conference and read his quotes about the game vs. RR's quotes. It is night and day. Please get somebody in there to get our guys pumped about THE GAME. Somebody who can talk intelligently about it. With passion. Anyone but our coach who still has not shown a single ounce of understanding of THE GAME. Same thing each year.

I love Michigan Football

Tue, Nov 23, 2010 : 8:48 a.m.

Why are people still making excuses for Rich at the end of year 3? 7-4 really? we beat UConn(6-4), ND(6-5) lost their starting QB for most the game, UMass barely (FCS school 6-5), BG( MAC school 2-9), whoever had the last possesion in Indiana(4-7 overall 0-7 Big 10) and at Purdue(4-7 overall 2-5 Big 10) that had no QB or offense whatsoever. Big Ten record: 2-6 in year one 1-7 in year two 3-5 (assuming we get murdered by O-State) in year three 6-18 overall Big 10 record? Who gets away with having a losing record in their conference and people are not calling for his head yet? I just don't get it.

missionbrazil

Tue, Nov 23, 2010 : 8:37 a.m.

Blueman Rick posted LC's record for his 1st 3 years: 9-4 (5-3 BT) 8-4 (5-3 BT) 12-0 (8-0 BT) Even if you look at his last 3 years they are much better than RR's: 7-5 (5-3 BT) 11-2 (7-1 BT) 9-4 (6-2 BT) Plus, most OSU fans will say their worst years were when John Cooper was the coach... look at his record and it is FAR better than RR's: 111434 overall and 70304 in 13 seasons. RR would have to go 64-13 in the Big Ten just to match JC's record... not likely. RR has to go so we can get back to being a proud & elite program again.

heartbreakM

Tue, Nov 23, 2010 : 8:35 a.m.

Dean: WE came back against MSU in the last 5 minutes of the game last year. Otherwise, we were creamed. Yes, it does not matter when you score, as long as you do it in regulation, but it continues a trend of always needing to come back. OSU also creamed us last year and took it easy because The Vest respects M too much (and besides that, he killed us the previous year). You call TP overrated? Well, he is on the verge of winning his third straight B10 championship and has a Rose Bowl championship, so I'll take that overrated over 6-17 B10 record. We blew a huge lead at Illinois last year and got crushed--for Illinois' first B10 win. And BTW, Illinois also lost to Minnehaha this year which puts us in great company. Beating Purdue? Uh, hello. Look at their record. And though the weather was awful, we did not exactly dominate. We have had one certain B10 victory from start to finish in 3 years. I don't call that progress. I call that awful record. I expect Michigan to be competitive in every game. I love if we win all games, but that is not possible. But competitive? Absolutely. And in RR's third year, that is still not happening, despite whatever gaudy offensive stats people throw out.

J. Dean

Tue, Nov 23, 2010 : 8:16 a.m.

I maintain my stance: 7-5 is an improvement from 3-9. Rich Rod's not a perfect coach by any means, but to imply that he's had no improvment is simply asinine. Let's look at the whole picture here. In 08 we lost to the Toledo Rockets-the Toledo ROCKETS! We had no offense, and I think a lot of our defensive woes were due to the offense constantly going three and out. Bad year: no argument there. 2009: 5-7, But... no losses to any MAC level teams, and three of those Big Ten losses (Michigan State, Purdue, and Ohio State.. yes, THE Ohio State) were awfully close. So this could have been an 8-4 season easily (which makes me wonder how many of you would still be nitpicking Rich Rod if that season had been a winning one). And we played with freshman quarterbacks. BTW, look up Tate Forcier's stats in the Ohio State game. If I recall correctly, he actually played better than Terrelle "overrated" Pryor did. Ohio State's weapon is their defense, which I fear much more than Pryor. Bottom line in 09: was it a winning season? No-that can't be denied. But did the team look better overall? Absolutely! Fast forward to 10: 7-4. Beating the lower class schools, AND also beating Illinois (who has a decent defense) and Purdue, both of which beat us last year. In addition, note the offensive record against Iowa: yes, we lost the game, but Iowa's defense permitted an average of ten points against them; we scored 28. We also tripled the number of yards that they've allowed on average (offhand I don't remember if that was total yards or running yards, but that's not the point). Essentially, we swiss-cheesed a good defense. We also did the same with Illinois, cutting through their defense. This is the same defense that kept Michigan State scoreless in the first half, and kept the game close with Ohio State. We also showed an improvment on our defense-Penn State got 41 points on 9 possessions. It took Illinois 17 possessions to get nearly the same amount of points. Against Purdue, we kept them from getting an offensive touchdown, and held them to three field goals. The Michigan teams of last year and the year before can't say things like that. Yes, I realize that Purdue isn't a great team, but again this is a team that beat us last year. We've also improved by winning on the road three times-twice against B10 opponents, and the third against Notre Dame. The Michigan teams of 08 and 09 can't say that. I'm not looking through Rich Rod colored glasses: we need to work on things. The defense needs to improve, and I think it will (the problem is NOT the 3-3-5 scheme: other teams like Boise and TCU have used it with great success. The problem is young guys who hit instead of tackle and wrap, and who need to get the stop on 3rd down). Special teams needs a LOT of work. And, as I've said before, if Rich Rod goes out next year and earns a losing season with all the talent he has, then fine, fire him. But to say that there has been no improvement at all is to simply be obtuse and permit your disdain for Rich Rod to color your vision. In the end, the stat that ultimately matters is wins and losses, and Michigan has earned two more wins with each passing year. We've beaten two B10 teams we lost to last year-how is that not improvement? We're going to a bowl-not a BCS bowl, granted, but a bowl nevertheless; something we didn't get to do two years ago. And yet, here we have people clamoring for Rich Rod's head as if we're still churning out 3-9 seasons! Come on, folks! Don't let dislike for Rich Rod blind you to what the kids have accomplished on the field, particularly on the offensive side of the ball. And again, for those of you whining about Harbaugh coming back: He's not. Period. Barring a miraculous change of heart, he's made it clear that he's happy with Stanford. And I for one am tired of having a smashmouth team that can't hold its own against spread teams in bowl games, like Carr had for the most part (anyone remember Oregon in 07?). Put it this way: suppose for a minute that this was Jim Harbaugh instead of Rich Rod, in the same situation. Would you be so quickly calling for his head? Rich Rod's not perfect. He doesn't have a perfect team. But don't throw this bravo sierra around about the team not being improved at all. More wins and better offense is an improvement. To say otherwise is to simply ignore the facts. Go blue!

tzgoblue

Tue, Nov 23, 2010 : 7:49 a.m.

Blueman Rick Roy Roundtree committed to MI on signing day after RR was coach. LC was not even recruiting him. I'm not an RR fan, but you need to get your facts in order before you start posting these things

I love Michigan Football

Tue, Nov 23, 2010 : 7:40 a.m.

I just don't get any energy from Rich anymore. This is the Monday presser before the biggest game in college football history and he looks scared and has no enthusiasm. Where is the fire? the passion? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUKndTwi51Q&feature=player_embedded I just cannot get over the fact that we want him to be our coach for 1 more year of this turmoil, god help us.

ChelseaBob

Tue, Nov 23, 2010 : 7:38 a.m.

RR was never the right man for this job. Even if he were a competent coach, his lack of integrity would disqualify him. Martin made a big mistake, and it's time for Brandon to fix it. He'll take a lot of flack, but it's time to bite the bullet and get the right guy.

heartbreakM

Tue, Nov 23, 2010 : 7:09 a.m.

Ben, that is one of the most silly arguments I have seen yet. a "Michigan man" is not necessarily someone who coached or played here (though it sure helps). It's a character and success thing. I do think to be successful at Michigan, you must have coached at some point in the Big House, if even as a visiting coach or asst. You have to understand rivalries, how football fits into Michigan, etc. We are not clamoring for Debord or English. Nor are we clamoring to bring back Andy Moeller (a true Michigan man--a former captain and asst coach who could not be head coach there).

The Ben

Tue, Nov 23, 2010 : 6:53 a.m.

We need to bring in a Michigan Man like Ron English. I've spent most of my Saturdays in Ypsilanti, just so that I can get a brief glimpse of the style of football that we once had. I-formation. Handoff deep in the backfield. Everyone in the stadium knows who is going to take the handoff and where he will run. 3.3 yards per carry? No one will notice that stat if we run it 60 times! That's 200 yards! Look how good our running game is! That offense is at its best when you have way more size and talent than the the teams you are facing. The talent avantage makes up for the lack of creativity and misdirection. Oh, wait... unless you are facing equal or better talent, like OSU, USC, etc. Then you go nowhere. OR if you are Eastern Michigan in any game you play. That's why "Michigan Men" like Mike DeBord and Ron English are utter failures at places like CMU and EMU. They were used to winning with superior talent and a sub-par scheme. If all the the shortsighted whining leaves us with a return to "Michigan Men", I am going to be one sad Wolverine fan. I am praying that David Brandon is wise enough not to listen to any of you clowns.

3 And Out

Tue, Nov 23, 2010 : 6:08 a.m.

racerx...why bother than wasting one more year?

racerx

Tue, Nov 23, 2010 : 4:59 a.m.

Did you see his press conference? Rich is blaming the players! What about Greg Robinson and his lack of coaching ability? One more year and that should be it. Rich is over his head. Big Ten football is about strength, power and mite. The finesse of the spread isn't happening here, at least not quick enough. UM's small backs can't hardly get 4yds per carry, thus Denard having to carry the load. Bring in Harbaugh.

Yelmonian

Tue, Nov 23, 2010 : 12:05 a.m.

D21, My credentials are impeccable. I guarded the stadium and stopped wolverines from vandalizing it at 2am. I guarded sparty... and turned in the license plate number of attempted drive by paint ballooners from Walmart land. By the way... the kids dad wasn't happy... as the kid had the dads company car... and the company got the call from the police. No couches burned. Many parties. And much better looking women than those found wearing corn and blue. But that's neither here nor there. MSU is the leader in the state. UM will be second as long as RR is coach... and that doesn't hurt my feelings one bit.

D21

Mon, Nov 22, 2010 : 10:59 p.m.

Yelly, gotta check your Sparty credentials and the famed couch burning test first. Thanks for saving the day for Sparties everywhere. Would it have been something if MSU had played against OSU this season, too bad.

treetowncartel

Mon, Nov 22, 2010 : 10:45 p.m.

If anyone has the opportunity, go watch Saturday's broadcast and listen to Spielman's commentary througout the game.

I love Michigan Football

Mon, Nov 22, 2010 : 10:43 p.m.

Thank you 3 and out. These are the only stats that David Brandon will be looking at.... 2-6 in year one 1-7 in year two 3-5 in year three

Yelmonian

Mon, Nov 22, 2010 : 10:13 p.m.

D21, I gave up trying to say get rid of RR. too many UM fans said I was afraid of him. Now I just agree RR should stay forever... much easier not to argue. If you were here throughout the summer, you would know I have said that RR needs to go and UM needs to be better for the big ten brand. Sincerely Little brother

Blueman Rick

Mon, Nov 22, 2010 : 10:10 p.m.

Kubrick66. Nice stats. That certainly sums it up.

Yelmonian

Mon, Nov 22, 2010 : 10:06 p.m.

D21, I gave up trying to say get rid of RR. too many UM fans said I was afraid of him. Now I just agree RR should stay forever... much easier not to argue. If you were here throughout the summer, you would know I have said that RR needs to go and UM needs to be better for the big ten brand. Sincerely Little brother

Blueman Rick

Mon, Nov 22, 2010 : 10:05 p.m.

Otto, my friend, despite the silly hyperbole, you well know, Carr did not leave the program a shambles when he retired. Let's look at a few of the players he recruited just before RR took the helm: Ryan Mallet, Roy Roundtree, Troy Woolfolk, Jonas Mouton, JT Floyd, and Steven Threet. Of course Mallet and Threet, wisely, got the heck out of Dodge as soon as RR rode into town. Now stroll with me down memory lane and revisit some of the hacks Lloyd recruited: Jake Long, Chad Henne, Mario Manningham, Braylon Edwards, Tom Brady, LaMarr Woodley Charles Woodson, Steve Breaston, Adrian Arrington and Jason Avant. FYI: They're all currently playing in the NFL.

H.

Mon, Nov 22, 2010 : 9:57 p.m.

To all you RR lovers out there: keep drinking the Kool Aid. While you're at it, give him that 10-year contract extension. MSU & OSU will thank you.

NatX

Mon, Nov 22, 2010 : 9:19 p.m.

If he gets the boot, it would most likely be after the new year. His contract buyout goes from $4M to $2.5M on Jan 1. Dont expect much before then.

mun

Mon, Nov 22, 2010 : 9:03 p.m.

Rich Rod: "WAIT'LL NEXT YEAR!"

loco123

Mon, Nov 22, 2010 : 9 p.m.

Did anyone notice RR has the smallest recruting class in the Top 30 according to Rivals? Only two 4-star recruits. Nobody will commit to this program. Also, Brando will watch out that MSU is ahead is UM in recruiting. Just like in basketball. He's too good of a businessman to let MSU also take all the best football players from Michigan. This will end next Sunday.

loco123

Mon, Nov 22, 2010 : 8:54 p.m.

Trivia: How many points did UM score in the first half against Iowa, MSU and Wisonsin COMBINED? Answer: 17. Trivia #2: Did Bo's boring "3 yards and a cloud of dust" ever average over 6 yards in the first half??? Trivia #3: How many will we score in the first half in Columbus??? This offense is really fun to watch in the 4th quarter when the games are completely over.

Kubrick66

Mon, Nov 22, 2010 : 8:47 p.m.

Reality Bites... Games lost by more than 2 TD's- 1969 - 2007, 39 seasons, 469 games - 12 2008- Present, 35 games - 8 Games lost by three or more TD's- 1969 - 2007, 39 seasons, 469 games - 5 2008-Present, 35 games - 7 "Cryin' won't help you, prayin' won't do you no good, Now, cryin' won't help you, prayin' won't do you no good, When the levee breaks, mama, you got to move. "

Macabre Sunset

Mon, Nov 22, 2010 : 8:37 p.m.

Rodriguez would have to average more than 100 points per game against OSU and maybe Baylor in the bowl game to come close to the Michigan record for point scored. He has, however, re-broken the record for points allowed he set two years ago. I never thought I'd live to see Michigan a 17-point underdog to anyone. Thanks Rich. Five more days until you're fired.

Otto Mobeal

Mon, Nov 22, 2010 : 8:33 p.m.

I don't know what all the crying is about! When Carr was humiliated in his last season, it was pretty obvious he had not recruited enough talent. He left UofM in a shambles. Now Michigan has one of the most exciting offenses in college football. Michigan Record for Points and for Offensive Yards! Pretty good considering Carr's quarterbacks set a Michigan record almost every year. This is not father's Michigan offense. Defense is, of course, another story. Terrible is an understatement. The good news is that they can only improve (can't get much worse). Since there will be a bowl game this year it will placate the donors, so expect Rich to get at least another 2 years.

st.julian

Mon, Nov 22, 2010 : 8:31 p.m.

The right track would be the one where he boards Amtrack with a one way ticket out of here.

blek

Mon, Nov 22, 2010 : 8:29 p.m.

It really does not matter what RR thinks...David Brandon will decide if our program is heading in the right direction.

dtones520

Mon, Nov 22, 2010 : 8:20 p.m.

HeartbreakM, their opponents have actually had the most opportunities in the Red Zone in the Big 10 this year. So, it's actually a telling stat of one of their defenses stronger points. They do play better in the red zone.

InsideTheHall

Mon, Nov 22, 2010 : 8:20 p.m.

J.Dean - Ohio State beat Oregon in the Rose Bowl and Wisconsin beat Miami FL into submission. I reject your premise about smash mouth teams not beating spread teams.

AA

Mon, Nov 22, 2010 : 8:13 p.m.

Our coach and his program need the support of the public and the University of Michigan Athletic Department for one more season

johnnya2

Mon, Nov 22, 2010 : 8:10 p.m.

"As far as 3rd down meaning that first and second down D is good" Shhh, he thinks this is the CFL. Hopefully Rich Rod will be coaching there next year. Saskatchewon needs a spread offense

Teebob

Mon, Nov 22, 2010 : 8:03 p.m.

I can understand where richrod would say anything to get people comfortable with where Michigan football is. Nice words, but it doesn't appear that way to me. tater said it all. Michigan replaces two formidable foes with two in the lower half of the conference so, they will have an opportunity to have two more wins against lesser teams. And tater likes this. Hey tater, if Michigan would've won more games the previous two years, they wouldn't have gotten a lower seeded set of teams to play. And tater playing lesser competition will not make any sec team more nervous to play Michigan in a bowl game. Winning against the top competition would do that, and that is something richrod has failed at miserably. Go Blue!!!! Beat osu!!!! Right where you want them, eh? Yep, right at the bottom of the conference with msu. Nice job fella.

heartbreakM

Mon, Nov 22, 2010 : 7:52 p.m.

I did not know we were middle of the road Red Zone offense. That must be because the other teams don't get into the red zone very much. They are scoring longer TDs on us. As far as 3rd down meaning that first and second down D is good: Huh? That's like saying, well, except for the 15 INTs and the 80 fumbles, we take care of the ball pretty well (numbers not actual, drummed up on a driving course, don't try that at home).

Jaxon5

Mon, Nov 22, 2010 : 7:52 p.m.

Coach said he can see something at the end of the tunnel. It's the OSU freight train that's going to run us over again!

3 And Out

Mon, Nov 22, 2010 : 7:44 p.m.

saginaw...agree with you for the most part, however our RR teams have gotten blow out or beaten by 10+ points many many times.... 2 out of 3 vs. sparty, 3 out of 3 vs. PSU, 2 out of 3 vs. Illinois, soon to be 3 out of three vs. OSU, Illinois, Wisky etc. the point is that in 3 seasons we've been beaten handily in many BT games, certainly WAY more than has ever happened in any era at Michigan. We stink, plain and simple. D Rob is just a mirage keeping RRs head for now.

GoblueinNE_PA

Mon, Nov 22, 2010 : 7:39 p.m.

RichRod sounds like Kevin Bacon in Animal House (ergo my current avatar). While all around him is in chaos, he's shouting all is well. It has the stench of desperation. It's laughable to think there has been any progress. It's progress only if you're memory is as short as a fruit fly's (or your are just a RichRod fan and not a Michigan fan). For any one who actually paid attention to the program, you'd know that this pathetic display is so far below our standards it's not even funny.

D21

Mon, Nov 22, 2010 : 7:29 p.m.

I respect some Buckeye fans, if not all of em, for speaking the truth about how RR has singlehandedly destroyed the UM-OSU rivalry with a brief assist from Carr in his latter years and Bill Martin & Sue Coleman. However, it is different when it comes to mooSU fans as all of em wants RR to sign a lifetime extension with UM. Typical little brother 'tude. Brandon, just imagine how disgusted the late and great Bo would be with you if you choose to keep RR around.

Chris

Mon, Nov 22, 2010 : 7:28 p.m.

Don't get me wrong i like Rich Rod,He's in intense coach.But were Michigan a college football iconic school,The last three years have been nothing short of an embarrassment.Where pushed around and embarrassed by our big ten little sisters.(were Michigan what the hell).Whats he talk in about we got the right coaches and recruits coming in.Greg Robinson sucks look how bad he was in Syracuse,now how good Syracuse is without him.And are recurts are nowhere near as good as what were use too were not recruting good anymore.

dtones520

Mon, Nov 22, 2010 : 7:26 p.m.

Edward Murrow, just a correction on your statement about only beating one top 25 team when we played them. Notre Dame was ranked 18th last year when we beat them. So, two wins...lol

saginaw

Mon, Nov 22, 2010 : 7:26 p.m.

Our non-Big Ten schedule has been a joke for two straight years. Last time I checked we have the biggest stadium in the Big Ten. So focus on our conference. 2008: we are 2 - 6 (miracle win over Wisconsin, and a good win at Minnesota) 2009: we are 1 - 7 (very close win against Indiana) 2010: we are 3 - 5 (very close win against Indiana, 3 OT win against ILL at home, and a sloppy win at Purdue) If we don't win the 3 OT game vs ILL, there is NO improvement in 3 years..... I, however, do admit that there have been many close losses.

Blueman Rick

Mon, Nov 22, 2010 : 7:25 p.m.

J.Dean: Lloyd Carr's first three years as HC at U of M: 1995 9-4 1996 8-4 1997 12-0 National Champs. Won the Rose Bowl Now, think about that for a minute. I don't see any similarities. Do you?

XTR

Mon, Nov 22, 2010 : 7:24 p.m.

Please don't compare RR with Lloyd Carr. Lloyd was a class act in and out of the field, yes, he lost to Jim Tressel's OSU most of the time but that was after he dominated Cooper. Carr never lost back to back to the Sparties and dominated Wisconsin most of the time. Carr's 7-5 and 8-4's were his lowest records and not the peak. Carr also knows when to step down when he cannot give the desired results back to Michigan. Carr lost to OSU and USC the year before, and he was willing to step down and give another guy a chance to make UM greater. What did RR do? He just broke many negative win loss records of UM, violated the NCAA rules, lost big time to rivals MSU, IOWA, PSU and OSU. RR just destroyed everything that could be destroyed in the history of the program.

TripleVSix

Mon, Nov 22, 2010 : 7:24 p.m.

As long as we're dealing in railroad analogies, ("right track"), it's time for RR to get on the next train out of town.

dtones520

Mon, Nov 22, 2010 : 7:06 p.m.

People seem to be blind about a lot of stuff with the defense as well. The defense is giving up big plays, they are bad on 3rd down, this is all true. But let's look at it logically. They have forced the opposition to third downs more than any other team in the Big 10. So they are making stops on 1st and 2nd downs. They just aren't getting the key stops, a sign of a young defense. The big plays are also a sign of a young defense. They are doing pretty well with their red-zone defense, percentage-wise. They are middle of the pack in the big 10 in that, tied with Wisconsin for 6th. I'm not saying their defense deserves any credit, because they don't. But they are doing well in some areas. And let's not forget how young they are.

D21

Mon, Nov 22, 2010 : 7:06 p.m.

The rest of the story, Just tell Tressel to order your Buckeyes to destroy RR by at least 60 points and have Tressel announce at the post game presser that he is totally dismayed at how laughable UM has become thus ruining the once great OSU-UM rivalry. About Harbaugh, he is entitled to his opinion and look at what a laughingstock UM has become nowadays while Harbaugh has led Stanford to a greater level of success.

IoniaDawg

Mon, Nov 22, 2010 : 7:04 p.m.

David Brandon will get this sucker turned around and then look out. In the words of Yammamoto...."I am afraid all we have done is awoke a giant and filled it with a terrible resolve".....whether it is RR, Harbaugh, Hoke, Miles, or Peterson, Meechigan; The winningest football program in college history will be back on top of the mountain! The rest of you doormats, enjoy your brief moment in the sun.....big brother will be back!

The OSU

Mon, Nov 22, 2010 : 7:02 p.m.

Couple of points: 1) To be on the "right track," one needs to be moving forward. If this article is correct that RR believes his program has consistantly improved the state of affairs, it implies UM football would have been in worse shape than 3-9 in his 1st season. How on earth did he sell your athletic admin into believing things were that bad? 2) If the article is correct that RR believes UM is "close to BECOMING one of the nation's premier programs," it means UM was NOT one of the nation's premier at the time of his hiring. How did he sell that bill of goods at his interview?

J. Dean

Mon, Nov 22, 2010 : 6:55 p.m.

2007, 8-4 2008, 3-9 2009, 5-7 2010, 7-5 (pending) It's not great, but it's better. Rich Rod has stopped the bleeding, but he hasn't cured the wound. I say give him one more year. Let the defense get more mature and let the injuries heal. If the record stays stagnant or falls, THEN fire him. You who are calling for Jim Harbaugh to come back need to remember that Harbaugh's pretty happy with Stanford. If I recall correctly, he made it clear in some comments that he's done with Michigan. Also, have you noticed that the smashmouth teams (like Harbaugh's Stanford, which is admittedly doing pretty well this year) tend to get killed by spread teams in bowl games? Frustration is understandable in times like this, but those who try to deny any improvement in Michigan are ignoring the obvious 2 game increase in every season. I have a feeling that some here would still be calling for Rich Rod's head if we had a 12-0 season next year. If you ditch the spread system, be prepared for ANOTHER three mediocre years, as well as losses to elite spread teams in National Championships and Rose Bowls. Oh, one other thing: Lloyd Carr's last year with Michigan was 8-4, just one better than Rich Rod has, assuming he loses Saturday. Think about that for a bit.

Kubrick66

Mon, Nov 22, 2010 : 6:49 p.m.

RR is a desperate man, desperately trying to hold onto a job that has chewed him up from day one and is now on the brink of spitting him out.

The rest of the story

Mon, Nov 22, 2010 : 6:46 p.m.

Its not the stories and comments that hurt your recruiting Rich Rod, its the miserable play of your team against every team with a winning record. Wisconsin ran the ball 26 times straight and you could not stop them. Your on the right track if that track is heading out of town. Your program, however, is off track and has been since they made the mistake of hiring you. And, to think, you burned so many bridges back in West Virginia when you left, you will have to sneak back under cover of darkness and a good disguise. Personally, being a Buckeye fan, I wish the game had a chance at being competitive. But, that will not happen in the Rich Rod era. I will try to get the word out that its the negativity that hurts recruiting and not all your records at Michigan.

Blueman Rick

Mon, Nov 22, 2010 : 6:46 p.m.

Tater. It must be nice to live in your dream world. I, for one, never thought I would live to see the day that U of M's football program would be on par w/ Indiana's. As ecMichman points out: "Did he inherit a program with a 'multitude' of issues? Uhhhh... no. So these issues have been of his own making." Yes indeed. RR has dragged us to the bottom. Time to cut the life line.

heartbreakM

Mon, Nov 22, 2010 : 6:39 p.m.

Yel: Don't waste your time being baited by words. I have enjoyed our chats on these boards, which deal with the real world. This article is a puzzler. All coaches worry about their teams shortcomings. They all move from year to year as players cycle in and out of the program. What has been consistent under RR has been poor defensive play (getting worse by the year, but good news--they have no place to go but up), and pretty poor play against good teams. That has not changed. I think fans and UM admins would give him the benefit of the doubt if we actually saw concrete improvement, but really, I see little. Yes, the offensive stats are gaudy, but they are still losing to all top tier teams and not even close. Their offense stats are misleading. M has been unable to sustain drives for the most part, and many of the yards are big plays. (Though conversely, so have their D stats). I just think when RR talks, it is like listening to some of the posters here. Nothing but hot air.

Blueman Rick

Mon, Nov 22, 2010 : 6:37 p.m.

Belly laughs. RR is on track to break even more dubious records if stays around for another year. And I'm "more confident than ever" in stating it. His strategy to destroy the program completely before rebuilding is unfathomable. Pride and tradition have been so heavily been trodden on by this regime that it is going to take a hell of an effort to return the program to glory. RR is not the man for the job. What's Lloyd been up to?

XTR

Mon, Nov 22, 2010 : 6:32 p.m.

This team is a mess. No offense (when it matters), no defense, no special teams. We are zero wins against the big boys in year three and our losses were big and obvious. We cannot compete with anyone with a winning record. Add the major NCAA violations and what you have is a real mess! RR should be accountable for all this!

3 And Out

Mon, Nov 22, 2010 : 6:32 p.m.

2-6 in year one 1-7 in year two 3-5 in year three That is terrible and not an improvement of 2 games each year. You are counting the non Big Ten games when you say that + BTW...2 of those wins were vs. Div. II schools. Stats can be twisted any way...but the proof in the Thanksgiving pudding is in his terrible 3 year Big Ten record in which our team has not finished higher than 7-8th place under him. What a joke.

3 And Out

Mon, Nov 22, 2010 : 6:30 p.m.

Rich Rod says that he doesnt listen to what fans and media think about his program... OK coach... If that is true, then why did you say 1 week ago that you wished that people wouldnt be so negative because it affects your recruiting? Keep talkin out of both sides of your mouth coach...keep making excuses and keep crying like a baby. ugh. Go Blue. 3 And Out.

InsideTheHall

Mon, Nov 22, 2010 : 6:24 p.m.

Bump Rod is winding down and sounding more and more like Bobby Bowden Jr. It is time to call Jim Harbaugh home and get back to playing Michigan football.

Yelmonian

Mon, Nov 22, 2010 : 6:13 p.m.

Tater, Again, how was UM's schedule harder than MSU's? Please enlighten me. I thought I would gleefully point out... Dantonio in year 4, has his team playing in the final game for a chance at a Big Ten title... for the second time. I know 2 years ago, he didn't get it... but he was competing for it. How's that RR thing working out for you?

D21

Mon, Nov 22, 2010 : 6:11 p.m.

Hey Tater, Theo212, RR and you have one thing in common: Sheer hilarity...nyuk, nyuk. Tater, go now to hibernate in the cryoocooler and we will thaw ya out when UM gets the right coach.

razzberry

Mon, Nov 22, 2010 : 6:07 p.m.

How are they on the right track???? Who have they beat this year???? Or in the past 3 years!! This guy is a complete moron!!! They get pounded by every quality team they play. Their offense is inconsistent. Their defense is absolutely TERRIBLE!!! And there is very little hope for next year. They will get smoked by OSU and probably lose their bowl game. ON THE RIGHT TRACK???? They were on the right track before nim-rod got hired. The only way to get back on the right track is to fire this idiot.

D21

Mon, Nov 22, 2010 : 6:02 p.m.

RR couldn't even fool those beloved 5 star prospective recruits,Three Stooges, who promptly declined RR's recruiting advances with a triple pie slingshot to RR's face including Moe's patented two fingered eye salute thrown i for good measure. Earlier, RR was hoping to recruit Larry to be the placeholder, Moe to be the PK and Curly to be the jack of all trades with his blazing speed as seen in YouTube (even faster than Forrest Gump). Somewhere Theo212 is growing more and more despondent over his over the top RR love.

clarklaker

Mon, Nov 22, 2010 : 5:51 p.m.

The proof is in the pudding and all i see is a mess.Between ncaa violations and poor recruiting.Players that dont look well coached on the field or way too small.A 3-3-5 prevent defense that does not work and not adjusting the defense to try and compete. This is just bad coaching and it all starts at the top.Time for a change in leadership.

DonAZ

Mon, Nov 22, 2010 : 5:41 p.m.

Well, of course he's going to say that. The natural question is not "When?" but rather "What?" What specific events are going to take place that will turn around a team with one of the worst defenses in the country and an explosive but unpredictable offense? The simple truth is Rodriguez has to achieve his stated result with the talent he currently has. Not with "more recruiting." He's had three years of recruiting to put in place a pipeline for success. So the time is now to step up and show where that success is going to come from. I don't see it.

ecmichman

Mon, Nov 22, 2010 : 5:40 p.m.

Why does everything seem like such a cluster-fest with this guy? Did he inherit a program with a 'multitude' of issues? Uhhhh... no. So these issues have been of his own making. Why is such a large group of freshmen staring in his THIRD year at the helm? Also, why don't some of them know where to line up, how to tackle or what angle to take? I could understand if it was year one and he was trying to build a doormat program from the gound up, but that is not the case here. Getting manhandled by any Big Ten team that sports a winning record is unacceptable. Big East style football does not win games in Ann Arbor. Watch what the Buckeyes do to the vaunted 3-3-5.