Lemansblue

Wed, Dec 8, 2010 : 5 p.m.

Pu, I do not agree if you give him another year he will still have sophmores and freshman on defense. Sorry you cannot have three bad years and keep your program going. If it was a bad hire then it is still a bad hire now. Time to move on.

wvtroll

Wed, Dec 8, 2010 : 2:08 p.m.

MrSkip..., The year RR left WVU: if he had won the Pitt game, he would have been coaching a team that would have been playing in the BCS Championship game. If that's bottom-feeding, where does that put UM?

P U MSU

Wed, Dec 8, 2010 : 1:20 p.m.

Leman, If you have read more than one of my posts you would know that I agree that it was a bad hire. Michigan asked him to come here whether it was their first choice or last choice. By doing that you have asked him to coach what he knows how to coach - the spread. I am inferring that he was brought here to change the system by the mere fact that he was hired. He packed up his family and left a place he felt comferable to come to the great university of michigan. Who wouldn't want that job. I think it would be terribly sad to not let him coach at least a junior class of his own. I'm not saying that RR is King like others. I am saying that he deserves another year to show Michigan fans what he can do with an upperclass.

wvtroll

Wed, Dec 8, 2010 : 7:52 a.m.

@ Skipit3 The point of my post was mostly to explain how you expect RR to be a Michigan Man, but how he shows he's not really capable of ever being one. I'm not in any way attached to UM. But my impression of what a Michigan Man should be includes complete loyalty to UM. If he can't be loyal to his alma mater, why would you think he can be loyal to some other school? Yes, college level coaching is all business, and coaches change jobs to better themselves financially. No where in the equation does that mean you have to be loyal to your employer. That's just a bonus for the employer if the employee is loyal. So by your definition, RR is just an employee with no real ties to UM other than a paycheck. By my definition of what I thought a MM is, he can not be a MM because he places financial gain over loyalty, has shown he doesn't have any loyalty traits even to his alma mater, and has no reason, other than a paycheck, to simulate loyalty to UM. I'll admit I could be wrong about what the real definition of a Michigan Man is, but I don't think I'm wrong about RR's definition of what loyalty might be.

azwolverine

Tue, Dec 7, 2010 : 8:02 p.m.

By the way, I need to rephrase my comments that I think Michigan WILL win the bowl game and change it to they have a GOOD SHOT to win. The reason I think that is that UM will have had 5 weeks off, and will have had time to heal from the beatings administered by the B10 slate. When RR's teams are fresh at the beginning of the season, they play their best. When Barwis' great conditioning kicks in throughout B10 play, they wear out. With 5 weeks off, I think they will be recovered which will increase their shot of winning.

Lemansblue

Tue, Dec 7, 2010 : 8:02 p.m.

PU, Here is the question: If RR was brought in to change Mi's system then why was he at least the third choice to be coach? I think the Rutgers coach was the second choice and he runs a pro style offense. I think Martin panicked and just hired a big name coach without thinking about the system and what it would do. I said at the time it was a bad hire it just takes a little vision.

azwolverine

Tue, Dec 7, 2010 : 7:41 p.m.

PUMSU, You fail to mention that ALL of those coaches you mentioned had those poor records in their FIRST year (all better than RR's 3-9 debacle, by the way) and had those great seasons in YEAR 2! RR is in YEAR 3 and is just now gettting to where those coaches were in YEAR 1!!! Get it? RR is not in those guys league and never will be, no matter how long he stays here. Period. Your little chart demonstrates that quite clearly. If he stays, Michigan will go 7-5/8-4 next year because RR can't beat the power teams in the B10, which now include Nebraska. By the way, our 'great' offense constantly puts our D in bad situations with turnovers and short possessions, and has for 3 years. We will never consistently beat the big boys with RR. Yeah, I actually expect us to win the bowl game (I do), but it doesn't translate against the B10. Obviously.

RudeJude

Tue, Dec 7, 2010 : 5:15 p.m.

@ PU MSU "I assumed Michigan would get worse because of the struggles of changing from a pro-style to spread. History tells me that we would struggle. No transition of this kind has had immediate succes." I'm curious, the history you discuss of teams switching from pro style to the spread, is this from your memory or from a book or website? I've spend a little time attempting to research teams that have made the jump but haven't found anything. The best I've found is an ESPN list from 2009 of teams that currently run the spread at least 75% of the time(linked below). http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=4327427 I think we should be more specific in that it is teams switching from the pro style to the spread option, which is what Michigan, Florida, Oregon, West Virginia and Georgia Tech use. The rest of the team that use the Spread Option are Sun Belt teams. Where did you find your history of teams switching from pro style to the spread, or specifically the spread option, you mentioned? I would love to see a list of teams switching from the pro style to the spread option, what year they made the switch and their W-L records several years before and after the switch.

3 And Out

Tue, Dec 7, 2010 : 5:06 p.m.

Skipit3....my user name initally had nothing to do with Rich Rodriguez' status. It was a name that was chosen because it was a common football theme and in hopes of a Michigan defense that would also do the same. It is only RR's failings that attached himself to this user name, not the other way around. BTW, If Harbs come in he gets this team turned around within 2 years, like Tressel, Meyer, Saban etc. did when they came in and won NCs' in their second years. RR took our program the other way of course. There is no need to 'fear' a 3 or 4 year rebuilding era, unless you are conceeding that RR's recruiting has been so bad that there just utterly is no talent at Michigan? Well I dont live in fear, or make judgements in it either. I doubt that Dave Brandon does either.

P U MSU

Tue, Dec 7, 2010 : 3:50 p.m.

RudeJude, I assumed Michigan would get worse because of the struggles of changing from a pro-style to spread. History tells me that we would struggle. No transition of this kind has had immediate succes. Again, another reason why I thought bringing RR hes a misstake. My thought then became a reality after Ryan Mallet left. Freshman quarterback that does not fit the system and a new systems doesn't really make for a good combination. I can say it until I'm blue in the face, but no one seems to listen. This was a bad hire. But nevertheless the guy was hired. Losses were expected from any objective viewer the day RR was hired. Even more so after the transfers. With the transfers and graduates and lack of depth, RR came in to a MAC team who wore the glorious maze n blue. Look at the roster tell me that I am wrong. I beg you to look at the roster in RR's first year and match it up to the other great college football teams. I have never once said what has happened is Llyod Carr's fault. But the lack of depth on this team has played a factor in how Michigan has faired. It is just one of many factors but it is still a factor. All I have seen from people who want RR gone is Records or other coaches at other school or records of old Michigan coaches. But not one of them has been a coach who has put a spread offense in at a pro-style school. Bad idea to bring him here. Worse idea to get rid of him now. Has not even been able to coach a true junior class.

RudeJude

Tue, Dec 7, 2010 : 3:13 p.m.

@ PU MSU Who cares? Apparently Dave Brandon does, or else he wouldn't be waiting until the New Year to decide whether he will allow Rodriguez to finish the remainder of his contract. A lot of fans (I would assume ALL Michigan fans) cared, including myself when Michigan's consecutive bowl game-record was broken or when Toldedo beat Michigan in the Big House. "There is no point in wasting time in implementing the system for a couple more wins per season." What are you talking about? So, if Michigan used a hybrid offense and won an additional two or three games a season, going something like 6-6, 9-3 and 11-1, it wouldn't have been worth it? A couple more wins in his first season means Michigan preserves its bowl streak. Why do you work under the assumption that to get better, Michigan must first struggle for a couple of seasons? You are deadset on this belief and act like this is a matter of fact. It's not.

WWBD?

Tue, Dec 7, 2010 : 3:12 p.m.

The indecison stems from the importance of the bowl game performance against the bulldogs. The big Ten conference is supposed to be getting better and here it is a bowl presentation of Big Ten against SEC straight up and really just as important of a game conference-wise as another: MSU vs Alabama. Another manhandling and blow out like the last two showings repeated in the post-season I think would precipitate a change as arguments made against a 9 win season next year become more valid. The game's outcome should weigh heavily in DB's evaluation. It couldn't be clearer to me, "Win or else".

P U MSU

Tue, Dec 7, 2010 : 2:44 p.m.

Who cares that the Team won 3 games 2 years ago and 5 games last year. It's in the past. Sure RR was apart of those losses and I don't believe anyone is denying it. Just because you beleive that a slower transition to the spread was the right decision does't not believe that everyone does. There is no point in wasting time in implementing the system for a couple more wins per season. Maybe. As far as major transfers such as Mallet, Who could blame him for transferring. I certainly wouldnt. i also can't blame RR for taking the Michigan job. Much like Dee Hart only coming to Michigan if RR stays so that he can play in the spread, Mallet does not fit the system. I suggest to look to the future and all of the returning players.

RudeJude

Tue, Dec 7, 2010 : 2:11 p.m.

@ missionbrazil I'm glad there are a few people not living in denial! A good coach could turn things around quickly, and if not, at least run the program with integrity and not run its name through the mud like Rodriguez has done. Here's hoping for a win against Mississippi State and a new coach soon after! Go Blue

edjasbord

Tue, Dec 7, 2010 : 2:05 p.m.

@UM PSU That article is based on the same narrow-minded perspective from which Pete B. drafted his 'give RR more time' article. There is nothing new there. Nonetheless, it states: "The problem is, Rodriguez came to town hoping to get behind the wheels of a Corvette, but after all the losses to graduation and transfers, he was greeted with a Chevette instead. Honestly, the Michigan team Rodriguez put on the field his first year would have had a tough time winning more than a handful of games under any coach, let alone a coach who asked those players to do a complete 180, going from a pro-style power running team to a fast, finesse squad." The issue: RR cannot be separated from the team he fielded in 2008. For one, he played a role in the transfers. Good leaders convince people to follow. Sure he could not convince all to stay, but his infamous "either you are with us or you are against us" attitude ran off more than necessary. Also, this author assumes the trite perspective that a "complete 180" was necessary. I do not agree at all. Put in a partial system change year 1, increase the change years 2 and 3, and by year 4 you make the complete change. You have retained more players than with the abrupt change, not caused the clash in cultures, and you are more likely to get your 10 or more wins. You show us nothing exceptional in this article - it is the same old banal, short-sighted approach that is based on separating RR from the situation he helped create. Which is a fantasy.

P U MSU

Tue, Dec 7, 2010 : 1:48 p.m.

www.grandhaventribune.com/paid/298854992485478.bsp Read this and point out what is wrong with this article.

P U MSU

Tue, Dec 7, 2010 : 1:30 p.m.

Edja, I understand your point but you are comparing a multibillion dollar business to football. In business you cannot had a huge dropoff or you lose millions of dollars. In football I'll take a few more losses in the rebuiling years to have sucess sooner. Using you reasoning you would have accepted 5 wins then 6 then 7 then 8. I'll take the 3 5 7 9 path that we are headed on now. Rip the band-aid off. Never take it off slowly.

The OSU

Tue, Dec 7, 2010 : 1:13 p.m.

Dear Reese: I received your Christmas wish list. Don't you know that Santa always wears RED? My gifts for this year will be a big Wisconsin win in the Rose Bowl over "the little sisters of the poor," aka TCU. I also plan to give out a really "sweet" victory the tOSU Buckeyes over Arkansas in the Sugar Bowl. (Please don't write me that the Razorback wear red. Their colors are a funny, off-color, crimson red. Not a beautiful, bright scarlet like the Bucks wear. Oops... I let it slip. Santa, has favorites. Ho, Ho, Ho!) Anyway... that's all Santa has. Nothing for the elite UM BLUE-bloods. Maybe next year. Love, SANTA

missionbrazil

Tue, Dec 7, 2010 : 12:53 p.m.

RudeJude - great examples of good coaches who made improvements in their program in a short period of time. (Bob Stoops, Jim Tressel, Pete Carrol, Urban Meyer, Nick Saban, Gene Chizik) And there are more examples like that too, like Bo Pelini - Nebraska, Chip Kelly - Oregon (natl. championship game in his 2nd season), Mark Dantonio/ MSU (followed John L. Smith),... The good coaches don't seem to end up in the situation in their 3rd year that RR is in (too many young players starting, terrible D, terrible special teams, no FG kicker, recruiting doing down, less $ from boosters, NCAA violations,...), and they certainly do not have a 15-21 overall record and a 6-18 record in their conference after 3 years.

RudeJude

Tue, Dec 7, 2010 : 12:24 p.m.

@ PU MSU And it's never a mistake getting rid of a cheater as a head coach.

edjasbord

Tue, Dec 7, 2010 : 12:23 p.m.

@UM PSU - I dont mean to keep picking on you, but you do keep espousing the company line for RR supporters. On the rate of change for installing a new system, you said "It is a very complex scheme and important to not waste time trying to adjust the system to the players. The players needed to adjust to the system." The reason you give for RR installing his system in an abrupt manner is the same reason RR needed to install his system incrementally. Good managers will tell you that it is precisely due to the complexity of the system that it needs to be implemented incrementally. It's like the Detroit automakers trying to abruptly changing to electronic vehicles rather than taking a more incremental approach. Such system-wide changes cannot be done overnight. A good manager, a non-egotistical manager, knows this. RR shot himself in the foot by not being more adaptive himself - he needed to adapt rather than requiring everyone else to adapt to him. If he had, he would likely have had a few more wins in 2008, and we likely would not be having this conversation.

RudeJude

Tue, Dec 7, 2010 : 12:22 p.m.

@ PU MSU Comparing Rodriguez's offensive and defensive problems does not work. The difference: Rodriguez inherited his first-season offensive players, while today's defense, on the other hand, resulted from poor recruiting. Remember, in Rodriguez's first year, he had a good defense, which, year by year, evaporated and never was replenished as Rodriguez effectively ignored it. If Rodriguez inherited in his first season defensive players that fit the 3-3-5 better than any other scheme, how could I fault him for using it? Do you make lasagna when all you have are eggs and toast? I'd like to see you try! But that's what Rodriguez effectively attempted his first year with the offense. A better coach would have used what he had and would go "shopping" after the season for better ingredients. Rodriguez had a 4-3 defense and never bothered to replenish his ingredients. He basically allowed a situation where the 3-3-5 became the best option because he ignored a defense that has has two different coordinators in three years. It's his fault, defensively, offensively, on special teams, both on and off the field, 100% He was a bad hire because he was never a great coach. The buck stops with Rodriguez.

P U MSU

Tue, Dec 7, 2010 : 11:57 a.m.

Rude, I respectfully disagree with you on the change. RR was hired for his system. There is no fault in him bringing the system in right away. It is a very complex scheme and important to not waste time trying to adjust the system to the players. The players needed to adjust to the system. To ask him to do otherwise is as bad as RR asking Robinson to run the 3-3-5. Everyone here hammers RR for the 3-3-5, including myself, but using your reasoning it is ok for RR to make Robinson run the 3-3-5. Coaches know and coach a system. In the NFL, head coaches who want a 3-4 defense hire a 3-4 d coord. It's that simple. RR runs the zone read spread offense. To ask him to run a different offense would be wrong. Bad hire to begin with in terms of immediate success. It was doomed from the start. However it would be a greater mistake to cut bait now. Returning all but 4 relevant starters - now is not the time to quit on the coach.

sky possum

Tue, Dec 7, 2010 : 11:54 a.m.

Mr.Skipit3,WV was hardly a "bottom feeder" as you so described before RR got there.Ever hear of Don Nehlan? (A Michigan man by the way)16 bowl appearances in 20 seasons.I would hardly consider that bottom feeding.

I love Michigan Football

Tue, Dec 7, 2010 : 11:49 a.m.

what does makes sense is.... You have to have a coach that has a true hard edge instead of just hanging up sign that says so. The Big 10 coaching demands are very hard to live up to. I personally don't think a lot of coaches(recently Rich Rod, Tim Brewster, Bill Lynch) can handle that here. Some cry when faced with adversity and some man up and get the job done. Can you ever picture Harbs making his team and staff sing that ridiculous song and joining hands ever? ALL of the Big 10 coaches(including Bo Pelini now) are probably laughing and wondering when this guy is shown the door. Jim would come back to Ann Arbor and make a statement like sweatervest did against us 9 years ago. "I am here to do a job, and that is to beat Ohio State each and every year and win Big 10 Championships." Jimmy went into the PAC-10 looking for the biggest bully(Pete Carrol) and sought out what he needed to do. He went straight into the lunch room, found the biggest bully, and punched him square in the face. Harbs didn't just beat Carrol, but he made a statement when he did so.

XTR

Tue, Dec 7, 2010 : 11:37 a.m.

RR is no Tressel, Chizik, Meyer, Stoops, Bo or even Carr. Those coaches won and won quickly. They conducted themselves with class with no ncaa violations. RR did all, he lost, he blamed players, coaches, fans, press and even the AD his loses, he violated NCAA rules and he turned a football bust into his own concert lol! RR is a loser and that is why he should be gone.

Reese

Tue, Dec 7, 2010 : 11:35 a.m.

Dear Santa Claus. I've been a good boy this year. Please bring Michigan a good defensive coach, keep Rich Rod and our highly talented recruits from wavering thus returning at Gods Speed for a spectacular comeback season. Thank you Santa Claus....Homemade Nestle chocolate chip cookies and milk out for you. :)

RudeJude

Tue, Dec 7, 2010 : 11:23 a.m.

@ Skipit3 Winning and losing have little to do with my feelings of Rodriguez. Like I said, before he cheated, he deserved five seasons. However, a Michigan coach that cheats does not get a second chance, at least if I'm AD. Unfortunately, I'm not, so he may likely get the second chance you are looking for. He had his chance and he cheated. I do not believe it was a case of misunderstanding, not after the former-WVU president warned Rodriguez of potential rule violations and not after he attended several NCAA rules meetings where the rules be broke were discussed. To believe that, you're either naive or are willing to look past it for winning's sake. I cannot do that. I'll root for the team win or lose until I die, but I'll never cheer for Rodriguez again. There is no need to quit the blogs if you're wrong. I have my views and you're welcome to have yours, no matter how wrong I think you are. Ultimately, Dave Brandon gets to make the decision. But just so you know, if Rodriguez is dismissed, I understand it could be several years before Michigan rebounds, or maybe much quicker...who knows? Either way, it is worth the risk to get rid of this cheat. Michigan is better than that. Either way, here's hoping Michigan whoops Mississippi State! Go Blue

Skipit3

Tue, Dec 7, 2010 : 11:19 a.m.

@wvtroll, I hate to single you out, but your points are so banal. The legendary Bo was not a Michigander nor was he a Michigan alum. Coaching football is just business. If the parties cannot work together, then they just part ways. If it was wrong for RR to leave WV, then it was wrong for Miami to fire Randy Shannon. Does that make any sense? I don't think so.

RudeJude

Tue, Dec 7, 2010 : 11:11 a.m.

@ PU MSU, edjasbord While I'm not an expert on the differences in offensive schemes OU used pre-Stoops compared to the Stoops era as well the similar differences with the other programs I listed, You may have a great point. I have not done the research, but I'm betting that teams that undergo drastic systemic changes in short periods of time, like Michigan did with Rodriguez, most likely perform poorly. It would be like a car without various gears to shift through to increase speed. You pinpoint a giant fault in Rodriguez's coaching prowess, his inability to gradually shift into his system using his current talent accordingly, but rather to "throw away the baby with the bath water" and start anew. The problem with your thinking any many other Rodriguez-supporters, is that you assume breaking from Michigan's old system completely was the only option. It wasn't. It was, however, a coaching decision made by Rodriguez and a poor decision at that. A better decision that a good coach would have made would be to have transitioned Michigan into his system over several seasons. Please, go ahead and tell me this is impossible. I'm sure if Rodriguez attempted a hybrid offense that they would have done much worse than 3-9 and 5-7 the first two seasons. Please. We wanted a great coach, but we got a cheating, one-trick pony.

Skipit3

Tue, Dec 7, 2010 : 11:09 a.m.

@RudeJude, I'm glad that you brought up Gene Chizik because I actually wanted to make a case with him to show you how wrong "Fans" can get. If the Auburn fans could be wrong about Chizik, what makes you think you guys are so right about RR? If the "Fans" could be so wrong about Jim Tressel (yes, many of them were complaining about hiring a division II coach), what makes you think you guys are so right about RR? The argument about RR being able to only coach at an inferior conference is ridiculous as proven by Tressel. The argument that JH has made a winner out of a 1-11 Stanford is also ridiculous since WV was also a bottom-feeder before RR got there. Yes, RR has made quite a few mistakes on his approach when he took over at Michigan. Those mistakes have backfired and he has paid a dear price for them. Given one more chance (a fair chance), I believe that RR can and will regroup. By next year, he will get the ball rolling. Once a Winner, always a Winner! If I happen to be wrong about this, I promise that I will disappear from this blog come this time next year.

edjasbord

Tue, Dec 7, 2010 : 10:35 a.m.

@ PU MSU You use the word "systematically", but I do not think you are using it correctly. I think you mean "systemically". The issue is with a full scale system-wide change (systemic) in the first year or two of a program. None of the coaches you listed did that. They have, however, implemented a more systematic change, which means they are changing their programs in more incremental fashion. RR should have taken a note out of their playbook rather than implementing full-scale systemic change in his first year.

P U MSU

Tue, Dec 7, 2010 : 9:58 a.m.

- Bob Stoops '99(7-5), '00(13-0) - Jim Tressel '01(7-5), '02(14-0) - Pete Carrol '01(6-6), '02(11-2), '03(12-1) - Urban Meyer '05(9-3), '06(13-1) - Nick Saban '07(7-6), '08(12-2), '09(14-0) - Gene Chizik '09(8-5), '10(13-0) The number of coaches about that systematically change the program - 0. Why is it so hard for people to understand the difficulties surrounding the situation. RR runs the spread. He was hired to run the spread at Michigan. This change cannot happen in 3 years. It is simply unfair to RR to fire him without letting him play with at least a junior class that he recruited.

edjasbord

Tue, Dec 7, 2010 : 9:29 a.m.

Ann Arbor.com really needs to check this biased approach now. They do not want to get branded a partisan paper on this issue just as the Freep has been. Please get someone other than Pete to write articles on this topic for a while. Or lose readers. One or the other.

RudeJude

Tue, Dec 7, 2010 : 8:10 a.m.

@ Skipit3 Instant Miracle = Hiring a coach whose actions have not led the team into NCAA probation. Should any coach be hired to replace Rodriguez in the upcoming days or weeks, he should be afforded five seasons to right the ship, just as Rodriguez deserved before he "misunderstood" the rules. But let's not be foolish. While a coach deserves his five years, the good ones can get it done in as few as two or three. In the last decade the following coaches have won a National Title, or put his team in the Title Game in Gene Chizik's case, in his second or third season season: - Bob Stoops '99(7-5), '00(13-0) - Jim Tressel '01(7-5), '02(14-0) - Pete Carrol '01(6-6), '02(11-2), '03(12-1) - Urban Meyer '05(9-3), '06(13-1) - Nick Saban '07(7-6), '08(12-2), '09(14-0) - Gene Chizik '09(8-5), '10(13-0) If they weren't winning the Title in their second year, they were vying for their conference championship. That is six coaches in 10 years. The majority of the championships of the last decade have been won by coaches in their second or third season. This is normal. You, Jim Nazium and others can complain about the instant gratification expectations of some Michigan fans until your faces are red, the truth of the matter is winning quickly is normal in college football nowadays. The great coaches can turn a team around with just one down season. Complain about the quality of some of the Michigan fans all you want, you should be critical of Rich Rodriguez. Michigan's problems on and off the field are 100% his fault. The on the field issues are forgivable, the NCAA violations are not. Stop making excuses for him. And as critical as the fans have been, they say the best way to silence your critics is to win. Perhaps Rodriguez was not taken in with open arms by the entire Michigan fanbase on day one, but the majority of the fans were excited, including myself. Gene Chizik, on the other hand, never received the same treatment. From his first literal steps at Auburn, the fans brazenly chastised Coach Chizik. Watch the link below if you need your memory refreshed. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7TxIMAwc1k Well, it looks like Coach Chizik has shut them up. If winning a championship could erase the NCAA violations and 3-year probation, I would suggest Rodriguez do the same thing, but he could win five championships and he'd still be a cheat in my eyes. It's time for a change. Go Blue

wvtroll

Tue, Dec 7, 2010 : 8:06 a.m.

If RR is such a great coach, why wouldn't he stay at WVU and transform that school into the formidable power he's trying to make Michigan? After all, he's from the state of WV, he's a graduate of WVU, a former player..... I think if I were in his shoes, the challenge of making my alma mater a national powerhouse would be the ultimate achievement. No disrespect to UM intended, but where's the loyalty? Coming to a school that was already in the national limelight seems like the easy way out. I'm sure there's pride in being the head coach of UM, but in my eyes, bringing my own school to that limelight would have been much more gratifying. Think about that when you're considering your Michigan Man up there. Is he really all in for Michigan or all in for RR? Do you really want an out-of-state coach to be the one that revives your team, or would you prefer one of your own to be the one that maintained that famed history? What's that saying about what UM is producing for future coaching positions. If it takes a WV guy to lead your basketball and football team, isn't that saying WV is doing a better job of training your players?

NoBowl4Blue

Tue, Dec 7, 2010 : 7:32 a.m.

J. Dean you could tell how much they lovc him not only by how they played but the look on their faces when he started crying and how enthusically they jumped up to hold hands while listening to Josh Groghan. LOL. Fact is most the players would welcome a better coach than cry baby so the team could return to being Michigan.

J. Dean

Tue, Dec 7, 2010 : 7:17 a.m.

It's interesting to note that the support RR gets from his team is overlooked. They really love him.

Skipit3

Tue, Dec 7, 2010 : 3:51 a.m.

@XTR, You are missing my point! One thing any wise person knows is not to make irrational decisions too quickly, especially when feelings and emotions are in the driver seat.

XTR

Tue, Dec 7, 2010 : 3:28 a.m.

Any coach in a high profile program is ok with one 7-5 or 8-4 sandwiched in a pair of 10 or 11 win seasons like what Florida or Texas had. Maybe a 2 season 7-5 or maybe even 3 7-5 seasons will be okay like UCLA, 4 seasons of 7-5's will place that coach in hot water. There could be seasons where a 7-5 will be okay if the 5 were really close hard fought loses or when the wins were signature ones like Bo's 69' team who beat OSU or Stanford's teams who beat USC. Maybe when the program came from a decade of 1-11's a 3 year 7-5's will even be okay. But in RR's case, he abused those chances in just 3 years. First he came in and bullied everything away, then his legendary 3-9 season which is the record least wins in a season for all time. Then followed it up with another losing season of 5-7 then came the average 7-5. But the conference wins were 6-18 in three years. Add loses to rivals MSU and OSU. Those were not enough for RR, he even added 5 major NCAA violations to top all of those losing records. RR was not finished yet, he added his "lift me up" concert at the football bust! lol! If Bo, Meyer, Saban, Stoops, Tressel, Miles or any div 1 coach who pulls those stunts in 3 years, all of them will be fired at once.

Sean T.

Tue, Dec 7, 2010 : 3:23 a.m.

Barnz378, Gradutating from another school and being a Michigan fan doesn't make you a Wal-mart Wolverine.....it makes you an educated Michigan fan. Bighouse22, I might agree if RR made $15 bucks an hour and was struggling with this economy like many of us. But he makes millions for coaching a sport, so I won't feel bad about kicking his butt to the curb. I'm sure his family will be comfy no matter of their destination. 3and Out and AZWolverine, Right on, as usual. Don, Great post.

Skipit3

Tue, Dec 7, 2010 : 3:10 a.m.

@3&Out, I believe that you're going to keep your screen name for a long time because whoever replaces RR if RR does indeed get fired, will not work out an instant miracle as some of you have been so unreasonably expecting of RR. It will take that coach three to four years before we will start to see some positive results on the field; we are at this juncture now. Just because coaches like Urban Meyer, Jim Tressel, and Nick Saban have won in a short time does not guarantee that our next coach will. Could it be that the right players were already in place for those three coaches? Why is it that Alabama, Florida, and Texas are not so hot this year? Could it be by any chance because certain key players have graduated from these three teams? Well, what if things don't turn out as hoped or expected with the new guy? What will you do then? Call for the next guy to get fired too a la 3&Out style? The fact of the matter is, we just don't know for sure! That is why DB is taking his time analyzing every aspect of the impact of that important or even crucial decision; your vain speculations are all inaccurate. The one thing I do not want for my beloved Michigan football team is for it to turn into another Notre Dame. Remember that Charlie Weis was a very successful "Notre Dame man" in the NFL! Just like JH, he was acclaimed by the Notre Dame nation to come save their program from "disaster".

3 And Out

Tue, Dec 7, 2010 : 2:25 a.m.

michman54....ALL of the chaos was brought on by your boy RR. 6-18 in the Big Ten. Tore down a program that had 40 straight non losing seasons. 15-21 overall (thanks to two FCS wins)... blowouts all over the place, 0-3 vs Sparty, OSU and PSU among others. It is amazing, simply AMAZING how the RR koolaid crowd blames the media and others for the simple FACT that Rich A. Rodriguez has failed as HC at Michigan. Lift me up! mr. narcissist himself.

3 And Out

Tue, Dec 7, 2010 : 2:20 a.m.

wpm... thanks for the personal attack... spin any way you want...but the fact is, your boy RR stinks. To speculate that myself or anyone else would ridicule JH in the future if he is the coach at Michigan, and try to spin some analogy to RR is fallacious through and through. Your argument is moot and makes no sense. RR stinks as coach and made his own bed to lay in. Go Blue! btw AA this is in response to him attacking me.... not an unprovoked personal attack.

michman54

Tue, Dec 7, 2010 : 2:02 a.m.

Most this chaos was brought on by our media, the same media that said if Mich wins 7-8 games and makes a bowl RR stays. Then they change the standard after we get bowl elgible and 7 wins, now we must beat Wis or OSU, which realisticaly everybody knew this young team was not ready to do. Never once did DB say he was looking to get rid of RR, never once did RR say I don't know if I can do this. NO, only the media has relentlessly put RR through the ringers to the point he has broke down some. I don't blame him, I know he is well paid an all that, but that is relative to his job and at the end of the day he is still human, it takes a real man to cry but most of you don't get that and never will. This is only year 3, it doesn't matter that we scraped out some W's and got whipped in a few, it's not like that hasn't happened before through the years the record still says 7-5. The microscope needs to be taken off RR and let him do his job and Mich will be among the nations best again, soon. The defense will improve with another year of conditioning and spring camp, and just what is the celing for Robinson and this offense, I can't wait.

Jim Nazium

Mon, Dec 6, 2010 : 10:50 p.m.

Many of you would die without a microwave. Instant gratification, gimme gimme now now. Silly, just plain silly. Lack of patience is a weakness, so is assuming JH would have more success here than RR. If that's your "Guess" than fine, I can't fault you cats for having an opinion. But when someone wants to "Guess" that RR will continue to improve into next year with another 2 wins giving us a 9 win team, you unsuccessfully prove how that isn't possible and seem to want change just for the sake of change. Who here would have believed Denard would have set an NCAA record This season? I am glad the Student Athletes support their coach and I hope they learn how not to act in the real world like some of the haters here. If DB changes coaches fine, let it be but dang quit being so impatient about everything, your lack of cool would make Fonzie sad and say, "Sit on it Potsie."

bighouse22

Mon, Dec 6, 2010 : 10:36 p.m.

I still consider Les Miles as a competent option. He would be somewhere in the middle between Lloyd's pro style and RR spread option. He seems like the type of coach that can use what is in AA right now and make it work. Also, LSU has had some pretty good defenses while he has been coach and they get the Big Ten and Michigan. If we can't get Harbaugh, they should still consider Les if he is interested.

XTR

Mon, Dec 6, 2010 : 9:42 p.m.

Van Bergen relies more on DB than RR while Mike Martin pretends not to know why people poke fun at RR. MM was there when RR made the banquet his solo concert lol! The news about Stanford is nothing. It just says that the AD offered a new deal and nothing more. Just like last year, JH will not sign that until after he entertains the other openings. Sad to say for Bowlby, the program that will talk to JH this year will be too much to ignore. lol!

3 And Out

Mon, Dec 6, 2010 : 9:31 p.m.

Don, well said... Like you, I know what i am good at...and what i am not good at... Rich Rod...well we know that he points fingers at others to "explain" why things dont go his way. He doesnt seem to think that he is noI good at something. We all have our limitations.

DonAZ

Mon, Dec 6, 2010 : 9:08 p.m.

Rodriguez is (or should be) a grown man and understand this is the big leagues where winning and quality of play matter. He'll get another head coaching job. His family won't starve. He'll do fine in a lower-calibre setting. We all have our limits, and RR has tested his and found where he falls. I'm no different. I know I'm not top-tier in a lot of things, even the things I think I do really well.

Joe

Mon, Dec 6, 2010 : 8:26 p.m.

Sorry, but that headline is just so far off! Once you read the story you find out that one Wolverine (not WolverineS) supports Rich Rodriguez as a person (not Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez)! Did I misread that?

3 And Out

Mon, Dec 6, 2010 : 7:56 p.m.

azwolv....and others, until Harbaugh signs the new deal at Stanford and makes a public statement that he is going to stay there, then he is still a very strong candidate to come to Michigan. Nothing really has changed, except the Stanford AD made an offer to Harbaugh and announced it in the press. That is pretty standard in these types of situations.

azwolverine

Mon, Dec 6, 2010 : 7:53 p.m.

This whole situation is strange. With Stanford's AD announcing that Harbaugh appears ready to accept a new deal, this whole thing looks like it could be going the Les Miles route of bungling while looking for a coach (if that's what Brandon is doing). Speaking of Miles, has he been given up for dead in A2? No one mentions his name at all anymore. As great as Harbaugh would be, there are other outstanding coaches out there, many with Michigan connections. Anyway, who knows what Brandon is thinking. He may actually be waiting to see how the team does in the bowl game, which is a strange thing to hinge RR's career on, especially when we're playing the 7th place team in the SEC. Does beating them prove that we're ready to compete in the rigorous Big Ten and beat the likes of OSU, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Nebraska? Does it mitigate three straight losses to MSU and three straight blowout losses to OSU? I don't think so, but maybe it does to Brandon. We'll just have to wait and see.

3 And Out

Mon, Dec 6, 2010 : 7:53 p.m.

oh no another pro RR article from Pete... well people poke fun at RR because a) his teams have been losers here and have not represented the program well on the field and sometimes off and b) RR continues to make a spectactle of himself off the field... he embarrasses himself and the players, even though some may like him have to realize that those are bigger issues...

saginaw

Mon, Dec 6, 2010 : 7:44 p.m.

Tressel wants RR gone -- he needs the OSU vs UM game to be important, and the tradition to remain in a great game. I think that Dantonio would prefer to keep RR in Ann Arbor.

D21

Mon, Dec 6, 2010 : 7:28 p.m.

Brandon & UM prefers $2.5 million buyout>$4 million buyout (if fired before Jan. 1st). Something about RR really rubbed UM the wrong way big time IMO. Only 25 more days to go! Happy days are just around the corner. RR and the coaching staff: Thank you and hope you will find other jobs soon. Tressel & Dantonio are getting more nervous than RR these days. GO MAIZE & BLUE.

bighouse22

Mon, Dec 6, 2010 : 7:16 p.m.

I meant truely wish them well!

bighouse22

Mon, Dec 6, 2010 : 7:10 p.m.

I truely with RR and his family well whether he stays or goes. If he stays, he will have my support.

bighouse22

Mon, Dec 6, 2010 : 7:07 p.m.

I take to heart the comments that Mike Martin said regarding RR and I believe he is a good person. People need to let up on RR and let this play out, without the ridicule. It is a bottom line business and he will be judged based on the teams performance, but I don't think he deserves the horrible treatment he is getting. There simply is no justification for kicking him and his family while they are down. I can see this is wearing on him terribly in recent interviews and quite frankly feel bad for him. He simply changed jobs. It may not be a perfect fit, but he didn't personally harm anyone here.

BlueGator

Mon, Dec 6, 2010 : 6:58 p.m.

I am always amazed by how the team seems to rally around Denard. Who would have thought that a year ago? Shows what all that hard work in the offseason accomplished for Shoelace. I hope he has a good bowl game down here in Florida. I also hope his family and friends can get up to the game.

Papabear151

Mon, Dec 6, 2010 : 6:51 p.m.

my $$$ says the coach is already picked and ready to go (either RR or someone new). No way is brandon dumb enough to keep this charade up otherwise. Everyone already knows its a good idea to move on (for all the reasons we've been talking about, recruiting etc.) After the martin debacle with RR and Les Miles you can't possibly expect me to believe that DB is gonna make the same exact mistake in waiting. Most likely things are all being done very hush hush in order to facilitate someones buyout clause better or make another university happy or something like that.