Richrod update
Story today about Richrod in the NYT (link below), discussing his time at Michigan and his impending move to (the state of) Florida. Money quote:
“To imply that we didn’t understand a tradition or you had to be there to understand all the things that are at Michigan, I kind of laugh at that,” he said. “We tried to embody that since the day we got there.”
http://thequad.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/02/rodriguez-reflects-on-his-d…
February 6th, 2011 at 1:19 PM ^
According to this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/College_football_national_championships_in…
Michigan has either the third, fourth or fifth most national titles, whether you go by championship selections by major selectors, championships claimed by each school or the College Football Data Warehouse compilation. I do not get your"so few national championships" comment.
As for James Hall's balls, I don't get that one either.
February 6th, 2011 at 3:02 PM ^
I see nothing wrong with "leaders and best", but I do see somthing wrong with hubris and a false sense of entitlement.
February 6th, 2011 at 12:04 PM ^
"The Michigan man thing is a classic red herring."
Hey, Nate, please read comment #4 in the article. Let me know if you still think the expression is a red herring.
February 6th, 2011 at 12:09 PM ^
nice circular logic there.
February 6th, 2011 at 12:27 PM ^
We have had only one coach to compare RR to in the last 100 years of Michigan football to test your theory because only one had a significant streak of losing seasons (and in RR's case, 2 years constituted a significant streak).
In 10 seasons, Bump Elliott had 5 losing seasons, and one season with only 2 wins. The 2-win season was his 4th year as head coach, and he followed it with a 3-win season. Elliott first turned the program around -- albeit only temporarily -- in his 6TH season. That also happened to be his first winning season in the conference. In his last year, Michigan's average home attendance was 67,991 (half of our home games had more than 40,000 empty seats). The program was in far worse shape at the time than in RR's 3rd year (except, Elliott's last team was full of talent as Bo proved the next season). Do you think being a Michigan Man might have played a part in Elliott keeping the job for so long despite a terrible tenure?
Elliott was not "winning when it matters," so that isn't why he was a Michigan Man. But he did get to run the program into the ground because he was.
So, you can call the Michigan Man theme a classic red herring and me and others here RR's bitter supporters, but your theory and argument are both unsound. RR did not get the opportunity to turn the program around, and Bump Elliott did. But it wasn't because Elliott earned the right by "winning when it matters." I think he got the opportunity because he was a Michigan Man, and I think Rodriguez did not, because he was not accepted as one.
February 6th, 2011 at 1:29 PM ^
Even Bo, risen from the dead, would not be given anywhere near that long. It's a different world entirely. Bo, having achieved RR's record, would maybe a get a 4th year. But that's it. Different era. Different standards.
February 6th, 2011 at 1:13 PM ^
Tell it to P. M. Falkenstein of Ann Arbor. (See comments in the NYTimes story.) You tell the people still attacking Coach Rodriguez that "Today is the focus." Tell it to Drew Sharp and the Free Press, as he falsely declared this week that, "The Spartans definitely benefitted from Rodriguez blatantly ignoring his recruiting backyard."
As long as people in and around Ann Arbor attack Rich Rodriguez, I'll defend him. If anybody wants "unity" in this program, they can start by stop attacking Coach Rodriguez. And if people still do want to attack Coach Rodriguez, then I don't give a damn what happens to this program.
February 6th, 2011 at 1:36 PM ^
"...if people still do want to attack Coach Rodriguez, then I don't give a damn what happens to this program."
If this isn't the epitome of the bitter RR supporter, I don't what is.
February 6th, 2011 at 1:39 PM ^
I'm starting to think Section 1 isn't even a real person; he's just a bot that automatically responds to key words with a variety of long winded sentences regarding either the freep or RR.
February 6th, 2011 at 4:22 PM ^
Although he's just a message board poster with no real cout, Section1 spins words and situations every bit as bad as his enemies at the Free Press do.
Not to defend that assbag Sharp, but he makes it out like his words "ignored the recruiting backyard" were out of thin air. In context, it was written immediately after recounting the quote from Lawrence Thomas that Dantonio visited his school several times while Rich Rod just sent an assistant.
February 6th, 2011 at 8:28 PM ^
We had no chance with Lawrence Thomas. Or any other Detroit Renaissance kid. They are still whining, at Renaissance, about Carson Butler! I'm glad our staff didn't waste any time on him, although I would never believe the one-sided account of Thomas, or Sharp, in any event.
Sharp did the unthinkable; the unjustifiable. He branched off from the one story of Lawrence Thomas and proceeded to use it to libel Rich Rodriguez. Rich Rodriguez didn't ignore his recruiting backyard. That's a Drew Sharp lie. I guess that if you want to ignore Will Campbell, Devin Gardner, Cam Gordon, Kenny Demens, Delonte Hollowell, Brennan Beyer, Justice Hayes, Desmond Morgan, Austin White, Teric Jones, Thomas Gordon or Mike Martin, well then, yeah.
February 6th, 2011 at 1:55 PM ^
Might be time for you to start looking at purchasing tickets in section 1 of another football stadium, then.
Bet their seat license will be lower, too.
February 6th, 2011 at 2:25 PM ^
Not to late to get in the on the good seats, early, and save the Michigan Blogs for Michigan fans....
February 6th, 2011 at 2:52 PM ^
To RichRodgoblog.com. All Rich Rod all the time. Forget Michigan.
February 6th, 2011 at 4:18 PM ^
Still think either Tulsa (#107 in NCAA in 2010) or Rice (#109) would make the easiest transition for someone who enjoys, strike that, thrives on watching horrible defensive football.
February 7th, 2011 at 12:24 PM ^
Oh did Tulsa and Rice also start a ton of freshman on defense too? Yeah maybe RR can jump on that train then so he can actually see a finished product on the field. Imagine that! RR coaching a team that actually has time to develop depth and experience on both sides of the ball.
Anyone else going to laugh when RR wins big at his next school and exposes these dumb fans for their lack of football acumen?
February 11th, 2011 at 9:39 PM ^
Why were there a ton of freshmen starting on defense? At the very worst, there should have been a ton of sophomores starting on defense but no, RR's 2009 signing day class had no impact. Even if you buy the bare cupboard bit, RR had a chance to restock the cupboard and failed at that, too.
February 6th, 2011 at 2:02 PM ^
"As long as people in and around Ann Arbor attack Rich Rodriguez, I'll defend him. If anybody wants "unity" in this program, they can start by stop attacking Coach Rodriguez. And if people still do want to attack Coach Rodriguez, then I don't give a damn what happens to this program." - Section 1
Someone's grapes are so sour that they've fermented straight to port wine, possibly cognac.....yikes!
February 6th, 2011 at 2:41 PM ^
And just watching to see what unfolds on the field. My arms are likely to be folded, save for reaching for a little cognac now and then.
Remember, I didn't start attacking Coach Hoke. I didn't say anything bad about him. All I said was that if people want to continue to gratuitously beat up on Coach Rodriguez, I'll respond. I didn't plead for "unity." I just pointed out that it is a remarkable hypocrisy that people would berate Coach Rodriguez and turn around and plead for "unity and support for the team."
February 6th, 2011 at 3:28 PM ^
Maybe if RR would decline to discuss his Michigan tenure and move on, instead of using the opportunity to feed the media bullshit that he was fired for not understanding the traditions, people wouldn't feel the need to throw his record in his face. But he did it twice this week.
February 6th, 2011 at 3:45 PM ^
Why on earth would he want to answer questions in an interview?
What a dick. He had a losing record.
February 6th, 2011 at 2:34 PM ^
The F'in twilight zone with the Michigan Man meme? Give the 48 laws of power a rest will ya! Jebus.
February 6th, 2011 at 4:06 PM ^
You scoff at the notion that RR already had one strike against him because he wasn't a Michigan Man, yet you say some dumb shit like "We got our program back" ? Where the fuck did it go? And you've got to be deaf, dumb, and blind if you think Hoke's 47-50 record is what got him the job. Let's call a spade a spade; If Coach Hoke hadn't been a coach here before he would NOT be in Ann Arbor. That's not a knock on him. I like him and I hope he wins here, but let's keep it real son.
February 6th, 2011 at 3:06 PM ^
Nate Volk,
You are, and will continue to be, the biggest assclown posting on this board.
February 6th, 2011 at 3:47 PM ^
"Michigan Man" is not even worthy of "red herring" status. Remember "Clue"? "Communism is just a red herring..." It doesn't mean anything. The man who is arguably the most beloved of Michigan coaches was himself NOT from this state and had no prior affiliation with the University other than perhaps having heard of it and knowing where it was. I imagine you know who I am talking about...
February 6th, 2011 at 4:16 PM ^
"We got our program back. At least that's the hope."
Which program, asshole? I'll gladly take it if it's 1969-2000. If it's 2001-2007, then NO FUCKING THANK YOU.
February 6th, 2011 at 4:39 PM ^
about getting the program back, my first thought was that Adobe was cracking down on pirated instances of Photoshop again......
February 6th, 2011 at 11:39 AM ^
RichRod clearly didn't understand one tradition, the necessity of beating someone other than baby seal university.
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<br>He can pout all he wants, the reason he was fired is because the team showed regression on defense, 6 losses against our rivals, and being made into a laughing stock off the country for our performance against Mississippi State.
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<br>Now, if you don't think those are reasons to be fired, it is irrelevant. Had he beat MSU, or OSU and kept the bowl game close he would still be employed.
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February 6th, 2011 at 11:44 AM ^
he is pouting? He has been asked questions by the media and has given very respectful answers. If he was pouting do you really think he would have participated in the Hoke interview??
February 6th, 2011 at 11:57 AM ^
He could tell the reporter that he doesn't want to talk about Michigan. Like he did whenever anyone asked about virtually any other player that left.
February 6th, 2011 at 12:23 PM ^
"Like he did whenever anyone asked about virtually any other player that left."
The fact that he didn't talk about them was almost always to the former player's benefit.
February 6th, 2011 at 3:46 PM ^
No question about it. Just as it would be to his benefit as he's the one departing.
February 6th, 2011 at 5:25 PM ^
pretty terrible analogy
February 6th, 2011 at 12:39 PM ^
He is blaming some vast Michigan conspiracy rather than the fact he was not able in 3 years to put together any sort of serviceable team.
February 6th, 2011 at 2:36 PM ^
I love how everyone used to think of MSU as little brother, NFL players laughing at them, people thinking it was funny Dantonio put up a clock, and no one cared about them because Notre Dame was a bigger rival. Then RichRod came in, beat ND 2 of 3 years and lost to MSU 3 years, and all of the sudden it is a horrible thing because MSU is a bigger rival, they are instate so it is bigger, RichRod didn't understand rivalries because he lost to MSU, and everyone conveniently forgets the fact that he had a winning record against ND. The funny part in all of this is.....after this past year, everyone thinks we will beat MSU and possibly lose to ND. Oh the irony.
February 6th, 2011 at 7:26 PM ^
Bo Schembechler has been quoted in numerous books on how he didn't realize the importance of U-M beating the Spartans and keeping them down until he lost to them in his first season. After hearing the resulting backlash from fans and alums, he made MSU one of his "red-letter" games from that point forward. The MSU game has always been a huge game for U-M. If Bo were here right now, I think it's safe to say he would tell you beating MSU is far more important to U-M than beating Notre Dame. If it seems that the MSU game has taken on an increased importance, it's only because RichRod's lost to them three times in a row for the first time since '65-'67.
February 7th, 2011 at 2:03 AM ^
So rivalries are only important when you lose them with regularity? So who should Ohio State start caring about now that they have beaten us 8 years in a row?
That bullshit just sounds like a reason to downplay a rivalry....you know, like saying RichRod got canned because he didn't understand our rivalries and went 0-6 against our rivals while conveniently forgetting about ND.
February 7th, 2011 at 12:09 PM ^
You're talking about downplaying a rivalry, and yet that is exactly what you are doing with the Michigan State game. FACT: Since the days of Schembechler, there are (or at least there used to be) four "red-letter" games on Michigan's schedule every year and Michigan State was one of them.
I agree with you, by the way. The ND game should be added in when discussing his record vs. rivals, so let's add it in. FACT: He went 2-7 in rivalry games. 2-8 when you add the bowl game. Simply put, that's bad.
Bottom line, no Michigan coach is going to last for long if they're not beating ND, MSU, OSU, or getting to bowl games -- let alone winning them -- on at least a semi-regular basis. That's got nothing to do with liking or hating RichRod ... that's just the way it is.
Now if you want to debate whether RichRod actually understood the rivalries that's a completely different topic....
February 7th, 2011 at 12:41 PM ^
Add a little depth into your thinking GWU. The win-loss record was a result of the terrible depth that RR was given when taking over. It takes time to rebuild an ENTIRE football team.
RR isn't pouting and doesn't need to pout because he knows the truth about the situation. Your reasons for RR being fired are laughable when you aren't even taking into consideration the depth chart he was given. Most coaches who take over a team actually have decent juniors and seniors by their 3rd season.
RR was given a roster devoid of depth and talent and had to rebuild both sides of the ball. Name a coach who would have succeeded with the talent that RR was given. Name a coach who wins with a team full of sophomores and freshman starting throughout the roster. Good luck on that because you won't find one. Keep on believing that the record is all that matters, it makes you look completely asinine.
February 6th, 2011 at 11:52 AM ^
being a bull in a china shop is typically not a good situation. From my MBA classes, a new leader must come in and "win" the hearts and minds of those that are left. He could fire everyone around him but awfully difficult in a college setting, compared to a boardroom setting.
Traditions are larger than an erz, or coach, or players, or AD's and Presidents. Traditions are bigger than individual people. There is one situation that I was upset with. Awarding the #1 jersey has a tradition of excellence. RR did not realize what the significance was. He did not care to sit down and ask what the traditions were. How can a HC fuck up that tradition? It wasnt until Jon Falk stepped up and told RR "NO" a defensive player cannot have the #1 jersey.
I am the biggest RR fan on the planet. However, he did make some mistakes here that he may not acknowledged. He did not respect our traditions, plain and simple.
RR will be a successful coach again. I hope he wins the NC and thumbs his nose at us. Good for him. I hope Hoke wins a NC for us too. Its a win-win.
February 6th, 2011 at 2:10 PM ^
Tallking about Number assignments? There is one simple way for that story to have been avoided; it would have been for Braylon Edwards to call an Associate Athletic Director and ask him to inform Coach Rodriguez, who probably didn't know, that there was an endowed scholarship associated with the Number 1. (It is a bit of a concession to Braylon's massive ego; that his scholarship is the only one of several endowed athletic shcolarships which are associated with any interference with what would otherwise be a routine coaching prerogative.)
Braylon didn't do that, because, well, let's face it; Braylon can be an asshole. So Braylon, being Braylon, blew up the story in the press. And the press ate it up, as some sort of evidence that Rich Rodriguez lacked any knowledge or respect for Michigan football traditions.
In precisely the same way that a credulous, lazy, hostile press ran with the malevolent and dishonest Boren family press release that Michigan had lost its "famliy values" when they were denied a hoped-for scholarship for Zach Boren.
I agree with you on one thing -- I join you in hoping that Rich Rodriguez and Jeff Casteel are soon the winners of a National Championship at a new school. I doubt that he will thumb his nose at us in any event, but Michigan would have deserved it.
I'm actually not sure what I'd prefer; Rodriguez leading Clemson to a National Championship, or Rodriguez writing a book about his time at Michigan. I think I'd take the National Championship, and then the book.
February 6th, 2011 at 2:16 PM ^
preach on dude.
February 6th, 2011 at 2:17 PM ^
Wishing another school to win a National Championship?
Just go ahead and hand over that Victors Club membership card on your way out the door.
February 6th, 2011 at 2:26 PM ^
He hit it out of the park! Fudge, I had another nightmare about Urban going to the buckeyes. Dammit Jim.
February 6th, 2011 at 4:31 PM ^
I thought they gave up on cards after they decided to close our football game-time access to Crisler. (Back in the 1970's, they actually did give out Victors' Club Cards that were brass-colored metal. I suppose they were non-burnable. A LOT of things were different back then.)
February 6th, 2011 at 2:29 PM ^
You want other teams to succeed, and want Michigan to do badly...how are you any different than an RCMB Sparty Troll coming over here anymore? The fact that you hate everything Michigan now...no one cares. Move on, follow Rich where ever he goes....not that he'll care, but it might make you feel better. I know it would make the rest of us feel better.
February 6th, 2011 at 2:39 PM ^
Who died and made you the judge, jury, and executioner of Michigan fandom?
February 6th, 2011 at 2:47 PM ^
It's a fandom suicide. I'm not taking anything away from anybody. He's giving it up, seemingly willingly. I just wish he didn't have to give us all the suicide note over and over again.
February 6th, 2011 at 2:58 PM ^
ok that was funny....+1
February 6th, 2011 at 3:06 PM ^
Have the last word anywhere else in the thread. We were better off not going at each other, and ignoring mostly. I broke the detente. That's my bad.