Radio Riot and Rival Coaches you Respect
I listened to part of the Huge Radio Show Monday (8/3) and he was having a Spartan Special with many great Spartans past and present on the show. George Perles, Tom Izzo, and a bunch of other names - most of which I didn't recognize. I was constantly annoyed by the petty insults and pathetic propaganda thrown out against Rodriquez and UofM by Spartys. Everything from:
1) A coach cannot succeed at Michigan unless he has a Bo connection and Rodriquez does not have that.
2) UofM Football will improve in a few years when they do have a coach with a Bo connection (Read: Rodriquez is about to get fired).
3) Rodriquez has no High School Coaching Connections in the state of Michigan.
4) You must recruit well in your state to win and Dantonio is and Rodriquez is not.
5) Spartans should help Rodriquez have charity fund raisers for his WVU buyout (a real funny joke).
I was really blown away by the absurdity of some of these statements, it is as if East Lansing has gotten drunk after 7-6 and 9-4 seasons (with how many wins over teams that finished in the Top-25?). Then Tom Izzo got on the air. As classy as ever, no digs at Michigan. In fact he even praises Beilein's efforts.
Izzo always seems to do a good job coaching and keep his dignity. He gets the job done the right way and I can respect him even though he coaches a rival team. Sure he has moments with his temper, but he is as effective as any college basketball coach in America. Maybe I am a bit biased since he owns a summer home in my hometown, but I actually like Izzo and wish that there were more coaches like him.
Are there any rival coaches that you all respect and for what reason?
P.S. I honestly do not remember ever hearing any UofM employee past or present take petty shots like I heard on Monday at any rival.
August 7th, 2009 at 10:22 AM ^
I have nothing but respect for Tom Izzo. On the other hand, Dantonio has an inferiority complex, and I cannot stand him.
August 7th, 2009 at 10:28 AM ^
I can't listen to Simonson. He is the worst.
Also: To the OP, are you from the Grand Haven/Spring Lake area? I thought someone told me that Izzo had a house there.
August 7th, 2009 at 10:31 AM ^
Yeah I am from there.
I also do not like Simonson, he uses weak logic and makes absurd predictions that he changes a few times. However, I felt like listening to Sports Radio while in my car Monday so I had to put up with a monsoon of petty Spartan insults.
August 7th, 2009 at 11:16 AM ^
Simonson is the worst. However i did hear an interview he had with Brandon Graham and how confident they are all as a team this year that they will be much improved. He also said that he's dropped to 260 and feels much lighter on his feet and feels quicker and stronger. +1 to Mr. Barwis.
August 7th, 2009 at 10:32 AM ^
When I was a jr at UM (2004) Izzo said he wanted to "bash our brains in."
August 7th, 2009 at 10:30 AM ^
Who's Rodriquez and what's his connection to Michigan?
August 7th, 2009 at 10:33 AM ^
Nice catch with the Q and not the G, my bad.
August 7th, 2009 at 10:31 AM ^
Well RR has a Bo connection. Don Nehlen was an assisitant with Bo and at UM, went WVU to be the head coach, and hired RR as an assistant. Also, Bo said RR was one of the best young coaches around.
August 7th, 2009 at 12:20 PM ^
don nehlen and Bo both coached @ BGSU
August 7th, 2009 at 10:37 AM ^
great Spartans?
August 7th, 2009 at 11:11 AM ^
Jumbo Shrimp?
Instant replay?
August 7th, 2009 at 11:03 AM ^
Right before the start of the 2007 season Simonson made a huge deal out of his "all-access" show with Michigan. It was two or three hours of Simonson eagerly jock-sniffing every Wolverine within ten yards of him, and you could tell he was sporting a major woody during his interview with Carr, talking him up as one of the very best coaches in America whose '07 team was a solid favorite to get into the NC game.
Fast forward just a couple of weeks after the Appy State game, and all of a sudden Simonson is declaring that Carr has lost the fire to coach Michigan and should step down after the season.
August 7th, 2009 at 11:40 AM ^
1) Nehlen, as an above poster mentioned
2) Again Nehlen is that connection
3) Cass Tech??? Inkster???
4) West Virginia dominated in-state recruiting? Oh wait, is there even in-state recruiting there?
5) The WVU buyout that Michigan fought for?
August 7th, 2009 at 11:47 AM ^
I take by your comments you're looking for coaches who are generally good at what at what they do, and are generally classy on and off the field.
Off the top of my head (football only):
Mark Richt
Mike Belotti
Butch Davis
Bobby Johnson (has made Vandy respectable and seems like a class act)
Jo-Pa (to some extent)
Mack Brown (to a lesser extent)
Honorable Mentions:
Ferentz
Carroll (generally like him but he's a little too snarky at times)
Coach Sweater Vest (as much as it kills me)
Pat Fitzgerald
Les Miles (says too many embarassing things; otherwise I'd probably put him in 1st category)
Mike Leach (Don't really know that much about him, but I like how quotable he is)
Not under consideration (too much jack-assery)
Saban
Stoops
Mike Gundy
Herr Meyer
The ol' ball coach (though he says priceless things)
August 7th, 2009 at 11:51 AM ^
Fat Weis belongs in that first category, right? Not only a class act, but the best coach in the biz.
August 7th, 2009 at 12:14 PM ^
He's 40! He's a Man!
I might consider Bellotti on that list...if he hadn't asked to have a picture taken with the scoreboard in the background after the '07 game. Kind of a dick move.
Forgot about that photo op. In my Rivals "re-rank" I'll have to drop him.
August 7th, 2009 at 11:59 AM ^
Respected:
Joe Pa (grew on me like a fungus)
Paul Johnson (Navy to Ga Tech)
Urban Meyer
Pat Fitzgerald
Boise St's coach
June Jones
Mack Brown
Troy Calhoun (Air Force)
Bordering on Douchebaggery:
Jim O'Brien
Kirk Ferentz
Sweater Vest One
Jim Harbaugh
Full On Massengill:
Ol' Blubber Butt (Weis)
Lane Kiffin (amazing he hasn't even coached a game yet)
Dantonio
Fulmer-- God Rest His Soul
Bobby Bowden
Tim GO FIGHT BrewWINGOPHERster
Ron Zook (how did you not vote for your conference and for the school that fired you!!!!???!?!)
how can you respect Urban Meyer after he cried his way into the national championship game in 2006?
August 7th, 2009 at 12:05 PM ^
your feelings were hurt by those other coaches.
Drink a cup of hot cocoa. You will feel better.
Personally, i love that junk.
I brought up some pretty irrational trash talk by current and past MSU employees. That doesn't mean I am crying or losing sleep.
August 7th, 2009 at 12:14 PM ^
I do not like Tom Crean, he reminds me to much of Doug Collins as a coach. Others of the top of my head I do not like would include: Jim Harrick, John Chaney, Dantonio, Steve Spurrier, Lane Kiffin.
August 7th, 2009 at 12:28 PM ^
Jim Tressel
I know that it is sacrilegious to say something positive about him and I'm probably going to get point-bombed but I would be glad to have him as our coach.
Johnson because his teams consistently play beautiful football. The precision and elegance of the flexbone can be a joy to behold.
Beamer because I love good special teams play. Although I know nothing of Beamer aside from his amazing special teams. If he's a dick in real life then I'll take it back.
Coach I really can't stand:
Bret Bielema. That dude has found all kinds of new and interesting ways to piss me off.