CC: A thread for people who still support RR
Comrades,
We may be in the extreme minority now, but I think there should be at least one thread on this board for people who believe in the spread offense and believe in what RR is building here. Let Harbaugh go to the NFL, and have DB force RR to fire the entire defensive staff, including his cherished colleagues from the WVU days. Our offense is still improving, and our defense can only get better.
If Harbaugh does indeed go to the NFL -- which is at least a possibility at this point -- the likely outcome is that DB keeps RR. Let's make sure that RR knows that we're behind him and are rooting for his success.
January 3rd, 2011 at 1:05 PM ^
Yeah, I'm still an RR supporter, one blowout against a very good SEC team isn't going to change my opinion on him or the team for that matter. We all knew that the defense could be exploited and it was. We missed a fg and Auburn only put up 17 against MSU and we have brought our win total up every year under him so far. He has a strong head coaching resume with a history of turning teams around. Stronger that Harbaughs imo. I can definitely see why a change should be made though too. My biggest reason for a change would just be to bring Michigan fans back together as a united front but if we can't find a very good replacement we are better off sticking with what we have for at least another year.
January 3rd, 2011 at 12:29 PM ^
Rich Rodriguez is my coach. That is all.
January 3rd, 2011 at 12:32 PM ^
Oh save rr? thats what are set out to do??????
January 3rd, 2011 at 12:37 PM ^
cupboard was empty
January 3rd, 2011 at 12:35 PM ^
whhere will this leave denard...somebody think of the children
January 3rd, 2011 at 12:34 PM ^
4 years!
January 3rd, 2011 at 12:35 PM ^
...... how touching would it be if all the players walked into DB's office to show their support for RR?
January 3rd, 2011 at 12:43 PM ^
Coach Rod. Coach Rod. Coach Rod.
January 3rd, 2011 at 12:37 PM ^
And I believe that an overhaul of defensive staff would go a long way toward helping the team fulfill its potential. The one thing that I find most difficult to assess and apply is how much the anti-Rodriguez crowd has affected the atmosphere, process, progress, team play etc. The constant refrain is that the environment has become "toxic"; to what extent is that simply a self-fulfilling prophecy and part of a vicious cycle?
It seems that Rodriguez has been treated rather shamefully at times, and not simply by media types. That's something that might not go away for a while, regardless of future wins. I hope, perhaps without reason, that Brandon will be strong enough to base his judgment on something more than such background static.
January 3rd, 2011 at 12:37 PM ^
Rich needs a minimum of one more year.
January 3rd, 2011 at 12:39 PM ^
His losses have increased the doubts I have as to how successful he can be leading our program, but I still think he deserves a 4th year for AT LEAST the following reasons:
1) He has NOT yet had an upperclassman starting QB.
2) His players seem to support him with MUCH enthusiasm and loyalty.
3) His record continues to improve (if he doesn't continue to improve in his fourth year, then let him go).
4) SEC recruits from the same areas as Michigan does. Our players have that same potential with enough development.
5) (This is not a reason) SOME change must be made--preferably on the defensive side of the ball. Scheme? coordinator? position coaches? I don't care, but RR should evaluate thoroughly and make the correct change.
I support Rich Rodriguez b/c I see him working hard and improving (overall, not on defense) and having the full support of his recruits.
Good luck, DB. Go Blue!
January 3rd, 2011 at 2:44 PM ^
January 3rd, 2011 at 12:48 PM ^
I am completely torn. I've sat here for the last couple minutes, typing out responses, hitting the delete key, rewriting my response, trying to find the sound logical base that one would need to pose an argument for or against a coaching change.
The issue is, what we have here is ineffable. Is it unprecedented? No. But there are so many variables on each side of this equation that a clear-cut "right choice" is completely implausible. There is no good, here. There's just what there is.
It's pretty unfair to include 2008 at all. As far as I'm concerned, it's not a data point for RichRod's tenure at Michigan. That still leaves us with 5-7 and 7-6. This is documentable improvement - for some people. Others forget about the process. They only see results. Then there are those who believe that there shouldn't have to be a process - coaching football is coaching football, and coaches should be able to adapt their schemes to their available personnel.
I don't claim to know enough about coaching the game of football or building a quality program to know what details should be considered and what details should be ignored. I think I'd probably be able to pick maybe one poster on this entire message board out of a lineup (as well as Stephen R. Kass's wife...), so I can't assign amount of football knowledge to any of you.
All I know is this: if any one of us on this message board actually knew how to handle this kind of situation, we'd be doing it professionally somewhere. Sure, we're passionately invested, but that's part of our problem. We can't look at this with objectivity. I admit that I have absolutely no idea what should happen. Hell, I don't even know what I want to happen, but I can say I'm anxious to find out.
I'll shut up now.
January 3rd, 2011 at 1:29 PM ^
Yet another thoughtful, well-expressed opinion in this thread. Kudos, sir.
I cannot help think of Rodriguez's family and what they must be thinking. If any of you out there have ever been laid off with a family to support, you must know how stressful and scary at time it is for the family. The kids do not know about the economic stress, but they know what is being said about their father. There's more than just football involved here and I think people often forget this fact.
January 3rd, 2011 at 1:56 PM ^
economic stress
Um, economic stress for someone making millions of dollars, with a 2 and a half million dollar buyout?
Really?
January 3rd, 2011 at 4:06 PM ^
Its not about how much you make. Being fired/laid off is stressful regardless. If you've never been through it, you don't know. I hope that is the case for you. I've never been laid off but I weathered the stress of it and know it well.
January 3rd, 2011 at 8:33 PM ^
Emotionally stressful? Sure.
Economically stressful? If RR isn't set for life by now at those wages, something's wrong.
January 3rd, 2011 at 11:47 PM ^
Can't speak to RR's economic situation, but his assistants are certainly less able to cope with last-minute change. That, to me, is the true indictment of Brandon's timing if he does indeed fire the entire staff.
January 3rd, 2011 at 2:24 PM ^
The kids do not know about the economic stress, but they know what is being said about their father. There's more than just football involved here and I think people often forget this fact.
I am not saying I am unsympathetic to his family, but aren't these some of the inherent risks when taking a highly visible and public job? With a public job come public eyes.
Also, as stated above by another poster, the economic stress argument is farfetched. RR is a have, albeit through his hard work and dedication, whereas there are many not so fortunate to be in his economic position. Also, if fired, he will land a new job soon enough.
January 3rd, 2011 at 4:08 PM ^
Well-put. I agree with both of your comments for sure. I just thought it was important to point out that families are adversely affected by all of this CC stuff. Maybe not our comments per se, but the general mood itself and its not cool. People need to at least keep that in mind. Don't you think?
January 3rd, 2011 at 12:51 PM ^
This guys still got 4 years at Michigan!!
January 3rd, 2011 at 1:57 PM ^
Unless RR is fired, he decides to transfer and not seek a medical redshirt, then some other program has him for 3 years.
January 3rd, 2011 at 2:55 PM ^
is more a pro-style passer than he is a Denard style runner. He is pass first with the ability to scramble, same vein as T. Pryor and Vince Young. Rich Rod being fired would not give him motivation to transfer anymore than Rich Rod staying would. And don't count on many transfers out of M at all if JH comes to town, take that to the bank.
January 3rd, 2011 at 12:53 PM ^
burned and crispy. I hope he is a great father and husband as alleged below. But if his stint here and the garbage that I watched on Saturday is any indicator, the man cannot coach his way out of a bathtub and has not earned or in any way proven that another year is going to make any bit of difference. Support for Rich Rod to coach Michigan another game is misguided.
January 3rd, 2011 at 12:56 PM ^
and it's pretty lumpy. I believe he got the short end of the stick here at Michigan, several bad breaks, but no one said life was fair. This needs to be a learning lesson for him, that you don't win at a big time program without a solid defense. Was it arrogance that led him to focus on the offense while the defense was left to wither? That which does not kill you only makes one stronger. He needs to get up off the mat.
The team was young last year. If he still finds himself head coach here the squad will be better with one year more experience. If he can get a good DC in the mix, things could be much better; unfortunately, Coach has put himself in a position where his future depends upon the actions of another and in his business, that ain't good.
January 3rd, 2011 at 1:46 PM ^
you must remember he had a lot of DTs simply decommit before setting foot on campus and this was even more true w/DBs. Add to that the fact that we've had busts like 5* WC, who he had to re-recruit, if you will, BooBoo, Lalotta and many others and it should become a little more clear that he didn't neglect the defense.
Without a doubt, we don't have one, but if you're building a team, and that's exactly what he had to do, better to go w/your strength(s) first, and that was getting a qb. Took him two years to turn that young man into one of nation's most productive. Results on D are GR has to go simply, and I think this is where RR made his worst mistake. Even w/his super bowl rings, you have to look at his collegiate record and it was just ok at TX. That won't get it done here w/kids. Arrogance? Possibly. Think it had more to do w/hope though and it didn't happen. Simply can't disagree w/your take on their performance and pray whomever gets them, they'll continue to grow.
January 3rd, 2011 at 12:57 PM ^
There's more support for the guy than I thought!
January 3rd, 2011 at 12:58 PM ^
But Brandon would have to go off on a pimpin' rant to get the fanbase on board, and I don't think that's gonna happen.
I hope Rich finds a job somewhere and comes back into the Big House and routs Michigan.
January 3rd, 2011 at 1:07 PM ^
That's funny...hasn't it always been the RR loyalists who accused "those who would question" of not being "real fans", yet here we have a RR loyalist actually rooting for the coach over the team! Wow...He was only here 3 years, but he already means more to you than Michigan. At least you're being honest.
January 3rd, 2011 at 1:42 PM ^
Its funny, because I consider myself to be as big a Michigan fan as any. (I could give you my resume but I'll spare you the boring details.) Yet, I find myself hoping that a new coach, if he comes, experiences just as much growing pains as Rodriguez and struggles, if only to prove to all the anti-Rodriguez "fans" that they were wrong. That is how the polarizing "CC" discussion has affected me - the negativity aimed at Rodriguez made me side with him rather than with Michigan and its so-called "fans." I'd rather have a losing team with good people supporting it than a team that wins with classless fans.
January 3rd, 2011 at 1:50 PM ^
That's really a shame. All along it seemed as if some of the RR loyalists were placing the coach above the team. The "all in" nonsense was always about RR and never about The Team. At least now we're seeing people come clean.
January 3rd, 2011 at 2:01 PM ^
the point is that people are so sick of the ridiculous shit that people like yourself have put the coach through (whether directly or on the board for all of us to get irritated by) that the only sort of satisfaction others can get is to see the same problems befall the next coach in order to spite people like yourself.
sure it's cutting the nose off to spite the face but it's truly where rhetoric like yours have left a lot of people.
very few people are RR fan club members. they've just been forced to tie themselves to the coach's wagon bc of how overly harsh people have been to him.
January 3rd, 2011 at 2:19 PM ^
The "ridiculous shit that people like [me] have put the coach through"??? Do you mean like expecting that the coach of the winningest program in history could field a competitive team in his third year? Oh the HORROR!!! How dare I! That poor, poor millionaire...I can't believe anyone expected that he'd field a good team, or an offense that could score against good team, or a defense that wasn't the worst in the history of the program. Wait...those are all things RR did. Not me. I just donate my money and hope for the best.
You're going to root against the next coach? Good for you. My "ugly rhetoric" isn't rhetoric...it's just a recitation of fact. The swearing rants are reserved (primarily...I have indeed responded on occassion when called things like "asshole") for you and your RR fan club.
I suggest you take a breath. Reality is always welcoming even to those who scream at it for a time.
January 3rd, 2011 at 2:44 PM ^
anyone who doesn't agree with your opinion doesn't "live in reality." it's just stupid.
i also never said i'd root against the new coach. i just noted that people like yourself who say "You support RR? you're an idiot. Harbaugh will be 30x better moron!" face a backlash where people kind of hope Harbaugh doesn't succeed so that you look like an over-confident idiot.
you're proving my exact point: bombing the shit out of a coach and anyone who dares support him only promotes backlash on the next guy due to people disliking his supporters. example: LSU fans can be godawful. i kinda want LSU to lose even though i like the team just to know all of those awful fans look like idiots/(aggressive adjective). you've gone so far out of your way to rip on RR and his supporters, people want your guy, whomever it is, to fail so that you stfu.
January 3rd, 2011 at 2:50 PM ^
C'mon...Now you're plainly making things up and claiming I said them. That's wrong. Feel free to pull the quote where I say "You support RR? You're an idiot" or "Harbaugh will be 30x better moron". Oh yeah, I didn't say those things. You lied in making them up and claiming I did. That is the definition of not living in reality. That's the MGoBubble.
January 3rd, 2011 at 3:38 PM ^
i didn't sign your name to it and have actually only used you as a broader example. for the record, people have also not been typing lulz on the reg as, apparently, i have to clarify since you take the things i say quite literally
January 3rd, 2011 at 4:08 PM ^
Quotation marks tend to indicate...a quotation. When you quote me and say I said that thing...yeah, I take that literally.
January 3rd, 2011 at 4:10 PM ^
Geaux_Blue continues to state much more clearly that which I believe. It has been the sheer negativity and polarization of the fan base that has pushed me to such an extreme that I almost want the next coach to struggle so that my "support" is somehow vidicated. Granted, that would insult to injury, but the negativity spewed these past 5 weeks has tained my maize and blue blood.
January 3rd, 2011 at 4:35 PM ^
As much as I talk about the MGoBubble, it really amazes me to hear folks think that the negativity/polarization comes from the RR-didn't-get-it-done crowd. The past "5 weeks" have tainted your blood? Seriously now...take off the blinders and realize the hatred spewed by the pro-RR crowd the last couple of years. RR-fans screaming "STFU", "ASSHOLE", "DOUCHEBAG", etc. All of the "YOU'RE NOT A REAL FAN!" rants...it's been an ugly scene, but maybe you just never took notice since you agreed with the screaming mob.
January 3rd, 2011 at 4:57 PM ^
I was never part of that "mob" and did not read/participate as much as I do now so I cannot speak to that period of pro-Rodriguez rhetoric that you reference. I always had the feeling that Rodriguez was battling against a lack of support coming in to the job but that was a gut feeling only. I never noticed a ton of pro-Rodriguez sentiment but I do not live in Michigan and sometimes distance is a good thing.
P.S. As my wife tells me so I tell you - you should be careful of your tone. Far be it from me to critique but, personally, the tone in your posts immediate ignite my adversarial stance and it takes away from your content. I am probably guilty of the same thing but my wife is working on that, for whatever its worth.
January 3rd, 2011 at 5:08 PM ^
Just because you don't step outside doesn't mean it isn't cold out. And then, when you finally do step outside, it'd be good to note that it was cold before you did so.
January 3rd, 2011 at 5:13 PM ^
I don't like the cold. That's why I live down South.
January 3rd, 2011 at 7:43 PM ^
Smarter than I.
January 3rd, 2011 at 2:04 PM ^
this is the same stupid logic as "we shouldn't bomb countries we don't know harbor terrorists" = un-American. i'm not trying to delve into politics, i'm just pointing out it's a god-awful strawman argument to declare that anyone who hopes RR gets to prove the noisy "he's worse than a high school coach" that he's capable suddenly isn't a Michigan fan.
January 3rd, 2011 at 2:13 PM ^
What you wrote doesn't come close to making any sense. Maybe it's just a typo (or grammar typo). I don't even know what you're trying to say.
January 3rd, 2011 at 2:40 PM ^
have said RR is a terrible amateur coach in ridiculous fashion that a growing group have become annoyed enough to hope RR gets to beat UM down the road just to show aforementioned noisy group how stupid they are
January 3rd, 2011 at 4:35 PM ^
there are posters on this very thread who secretly hoped RR (not Michigan, of course) got beaten badly in the Gator Bowl to (a) prove they are smarter than the RR supporters, and (b) help seal RR's fate?
January 3rd, 2011 at 4:53 PM ^
bc it "proved how smart they were" when they said he should be fired after the MSU loss, etc.
January 4th, 2011 at 1:29 AM ^
But now that I see you're on the other side, I feel very comfortable.
January 3rd, 2011 at 1:09 PM ^
Sorry