mGrowOld

December 13th, 2010 at 8:16 PM ^

You're pretty clearly implying that to fire RR would display a lack of integrity. 

Um...no and not even close.  What i said was that firing him NOW would be a lack of integrity if he gave the man his word he'd wait until the season ends to evaluate his body of work.  I can understand (if not agree with) his decision to smoke RR if we stink it up in the Gator Bowl.  I know actually following through with one's word is for the most part a novel part of humanity's acient past but there's a segment of us who actually place a high value on honoring a committment. 

Even if it makes things difficult.  Actually especially if it makes things difficult.

Joined: 10/04/2010

MGoPoints: 214092

Bluerock

December 13th, 2010 at 8:18 PM ^

Brian Ellerbe, I wonder if Martin would have fired him if Ellerbe  was only in his 3rd year.

What did Ellerbe have ? wasn't like 6 years or something?

Clearly I think Martin had a more accurate picture with Ellerbe than Brandon has with RRod because there is nobody that knows if RRod can win with these players when they are not freshmen.

Joined: 07/01/2009

MGoPoints: 1148

jmblue

December 13th, 2010 at 8:26 PM ^

Ellerbe was our interim coach for one season (1997-98).  He was named our permanent coach after the season, and held the position for three years (1998-01), just like RR.  In that interim year he didn't land any recruits (two guys committed before Fisher was fired), so his first real recruiting class finished its sophomore year when he was fired - just like RR (if he's let go).

Joined: 11/07/2008

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raleighwood

December 13th, 2010 at 9:42 PM ^

That State team beat Michigan in the coach's second year (and again in his third and fourth).  That Buckeye team is coached by a guy who beat Michigan in his first season and then proceeded to do it nine out of ten times.

Neither of those coaches asked for four years to win a meaningful game.

Joined: 11/26/2008

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myrtlebeachmai…

December 13th, 2010 at 7:46 PM ^

by implying "he has to", you're inferring that it's due to a hire that should be kept quiet until after the bowls.  That would likely mean a hire that was put in place/finalized within the past month or so.  DB has been standing by this statement for longer than that.  IMO there is no way he had a hire lined up/even possibly considered that far back.

Joined: 09/02/2008

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jmblue

December 13th, 2010 at 7:53 PM ^

Whether or not he had a guy lined up is not really the point.  Brandon may well have decided in advance that if the season didn't go the way he hoped, he'd make a change - but not announce it until he had the new coach lined up. 

Also, until very recently, Brandon never specified that he'd wait until after the bowl.  It was always "after the season," which is more ambiguous.  Only after the OSU game (three weeks after we'd gained bowl eligibility) did he state that it would be after the bowl.

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Go Blue Eyes

December 13th, 2010 at 8:04 PM ^

I agree.  By waiting Brandon is influencing things (negatively in my opinion) not just on RR but beyond that.  Firing RR after the Gator Bowl not only means that he is gone but presumably most of the assistant coaches (and perhaps other football personnel beyond that?) are canned as well.  They will certainly be choosing from the less desirable jobs of those that remain.

Also affected are the current players, many of whom who will be starting next year. They have gone through two losing seasons and finally, one winning season and a bowl game.  Beyond that, this board has discussed at length the adverse effects on recruiting.  How many recruits will decommit? 

Firing one sets off a chain reaction that negatively impacts dozens of others so my hope is that #1 above is the scenario and Michigan destroys Mississippi State.

 

Joined: 12/04/2010

MGoPoints: 12730

mackbru

December 13th, 2010 at 7:04 PM ^

What DB is doing may well turn it to have been a smart and responsible move. But I suspect integrity is kind of beside the point. I really doubt he's waiting on principle. I think he's waiting because waiting serves a larger strategy, whatever that may be. Otherwise, this whole thing would be kind of pollyanna-ish. And I don't think he's a Pollyanna.

Joined: 09/01/2009

MGoPoints: 34197

pullin4blue

December 13th, 2010 at 7:35 PM ^

This is nothing less than the start of the (Michigan) Civil War. David Brandon is the new AD, much like Abraham Lincoln was the new president of the United States. He is faced with a seemingly no win situation at Ft. Sumpter (Schembechler). If he fires RR after OSU, he basically declares war on the RR supporters which he badly needs to fill the seats and suites of the Big House.

Instead, he tells everyone that the coach and players have earned their bowl bid and he wants to see what they can do. Much like Lincoln saying that he wants to send humanitarian supplies to the garrison at Ft. Sumpter, but if the South Carolina militia interferes, he has his forces sittting in Charleston Harbor.

Now, the move is up to the South (RR). If the bowl game is a bust, Brandon has now won the support of the southern unionists as well as some confederates. If RR comes out and slaughters the competition at the bowl game, Brandon is forced to legitimize the RR regime. 

I'm on pins and needles waiting to see how it ends.

Joined: 08/14/2009

MGoPoints: 1597

Indiana Blue

December 13th, 2010 at 7:59 PM ^

"If he fires RR after OSU, he basically declares war on the RR supporters which he badly needs to fill the seats and suites of the Big House."

So you believe that people are going to give up their season tickets &/or suites if DB actually fires RR ?   Not sure, but there is quite a lengthy waiting list for season tickets who will be buying up those tickets that people, you say will stop buying.   I'm not sayin .... just sayin ... 

Go Blue !

Joined: 09/19/2010

MGoPoints: 5677

M-Wolverine

December 13th, 2010 at 8:03 PM ^

He's worried about losing the Rich supporters, who are vastly outnumbered outside the confines of this blog, but isn't afraid to lose ticket sales to those that want him gone (who are hardly going to be swayed by a victory over Miss St)?

Joined: 10/04/2009

MGoPoints: 42190

mark5750

December 13th, 2010 at 7:58 PM ^

It is really getting sickening that almost every article or blog or post that I read has "Bo would be proud of this" or "Bo would have done it this way" Bo must be rolling over in his grave to have so many schmucks out there using his name in trying to advance their agenda with him not being around to have his say in it.

Joined: 07/29/2010

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Go Blue Eyes

December 13th, 2010 at 8:24 PM ^

Stonewall Jackson was the master of taking whatever troops he had and defeating far superior (at least in numbers) opponents almost every time.  Had he not been killed at Chancellorsville, by his own troops in a classic case of mistaken identity, the battle of Gettysburg that followed a short time later might have been a confederate victory. 

Joined: 12/04/2010

MGoPoints: 12730

Ann Arbor Cardinal

December 13th, 2010 at 9:20 PM ^

My favorite line from the article:

"Asking Rodriguez or a new man-in-charge to fill nine to 12 spots with a little less than a month is an impossible challenge, though it could be done."

Joined: 07/28/2008

MGoPoints: 217

raleighwood

December 13th, 2010 at 9:51 PM ^

"For all the anxiety over the recruiting impact and the U-M's image nationally, however, there is something positive emanating from Brandon's decision - integrity, and one has to believe that legendary coach Bo Schembechler would have been proud with the decision to wait."

No!  One does not have to believe that Bo would be proud over this situation.  Why do people continually feel the need to bring Bo into the equation.  Even worse....to put words in his mouth.

Bo was very loyal to coaches (and most likely wouldn't hang them out on a limb).  He was also very decisive (see Bill Frieder situation).  There's absolutely no reason to believe that Bo would like what is going on right now. 



 

Joined: 11/26/2008

MGoPoints: 4711

J.Swift

December 13th, 2010 at 10:29 PM ^

In all honesty, there is more heat than light in this long thread.  Until Dave Brandon does something, there's little additional light to shed on the situation.  Personally, reading about what is happening or might happen just makes the waiting worse.  I'm not going to read any more of these discussions until there's something to discuss.

Joined: 10/31/2009

MGoPoints: 629

kscurrie2

December 13th, 2010 at 10:54 PM ^

Either thus guy worked for DB or he is trying to be employed by him. Anyway, I think there is an element that is being missed and I believe is important in this argument. DB has always said it is not just about the record. We are still talking about students, not just football players. Hopefully he will determine how the players are doing academically. This is something that I feel is equally if not more important. The record matters mostly to alumni and fans. Brandon has to also be concerned with the academic side that seems to be forgotten about. I do not agree with the way this is being handled, I will give DB the benefiitnof the doubt that he is looking at all factors. Bi really don't think it is as black and white as most of the mainstream media are making it.

Joined: 11/22/2010

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uminks

December 14th, 2010 at 12:18 AM ^

At this time RR would enjoy a vote of confidence, yes Rich you're making progress and we plan to keep you  through your contract. Hopefully, you will continue to improve next season and will be able to win the b10 legends division in 2012. 

Joined: 11/10/2009

MGoPoints: 32207

Wolfman

December 14th, 2010 at 2:39 AM ^

This was not, imo, newsworthy, even for a football board. He's actually being somewhat hypocritical in his endorsement of DB's action, stating if things play  out the way they could, we'd again be known as "Leaders and Best."

This is pure bullshit. As leaders and best, it would be better proven to  allow a coach - w/o pointing fingers at anyone relative to insufficient roster numbers- to go ahead and finish his contract.  I can't think  of a precedent where UM has hired a football coach to so drastically change its style of play, then saying 1/2 way through the contract, "Our Bad."  This is nothing less, nothing more than a space eater.

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