Being Dave Brandon Comment Count

Brian

From this point on I don't care about the following opinions on what Rich Rodriguez deserves after three years:

  • Mine
  • Yours, unless you are Dave Brandon (call me)

I also don't have anything that's definitive. We know that there is no McMahon-style "you're firrrrrrrred" press conference today, and given the way things work that means Rodriguez will be the coach through the bowl game. We know that the rumors were heavy enough for Dave Brandon to personally debunk them on the twitters. We can read the withering sarcasm between the lines of this from Brandon…

image

…and if it's not withering sarcasm* I don't want to know.

I've got some stuff in the inbox and from elsewhere. A bit of it says Rodriguez is getting fired, period, citing "impeccable sources." Another from before the OSU game reports second hand that Harbaugh "has an offer" while expressing skepticism at the nature of the information given its timing—what if Michigan had won Saturday? Some other stuff has filtered to me via talkative former players all saying "canned," as well.

The part I trust—the one that called Brandon as the likely new AD and tipped me off about the Alabama game—is far from certain except about one thing: anyone who says anything with certainty is full of it. Brandon keeps his own counsel and makes his own decisions. Since Brandon has a direct line to the obvious head coaching candidate there will be no search committee or consultants tapped or planning, cutting off virtually all of the usual leak sources. It's unlikely anyone has anything until hours before it breaks, at which point it will be everywhere.

I'm not inclined to put much in the widespread chatter that had RR out the door after the OSU game and seems to be continuing since its sourcing seems to be pissed-off-you-guys folk clearly unhappy with the state of the program taking small interactions and interpreting them as they desire. However, the vibe I'm getting from other people who seem to be on the fence about what to do—or at least close to it—also makes it seem unlikely Rodriguez is back. Emphasis on all the qualifying words in the previous sentence, please. I've got nothing solid because no one does.

In the event that happens, Harbaugh is the obvious #1 guy, with the main sticking point being Harbaugh's willingness to accept the imposition of a silly, off-putting buyout in case any NFL teams get ideas. It sounds like if the decision is made to pursue Harbaugh, something will be worked out and he will be introduced essentially immediately. They won't get rid of Rodriguez unless they know they have the next coach lined up.

So… that's what I've got. I'm uncertain about everything. I guess that's good from a program standpoint, but it's frustrating when the next month will see Michigan's future hang in the balance with nothing trustworthy to put a foot on.

*(Not specifically about Desmond, who tweeted a couple things about how he had faith in Brandon to make the decision. More the "Appreciate the passion & interest," random talk-radio raver.)

Comments

Ed Shuttlesworth

November 29th, 2010 at 6:14 PM ^

The "We Can't Lose Denard" bandwagoners are missing a key point:  Denard isn't even assured of being the starter if Rod stays.  Like EVERY SINGLE OTHER YEAR he's been coach, there's no reason not to think that there will be QB competition that goes all the way to Opening Day (and beyond).

onceandfutureb…

November 29th, 2010 at 6:18 PM ^

Negbombed for stating the obvious months and years before others were prepared to accept the obvious, I can't post, cant write a diary, can't even comment until the approved 48 hr waiting period is over.

So I'm on my third user name.

And guess what. I'm still here, still true blue and still right about RR. He's gone after the 2010 season. He's been an embarrassment who has turned Michigan into Minnesota in 3 years. No, I'm not owned any apology, but having the mods restore my original name at least to zero would be a show of good faith.

markusr2007

November 29th, 2010 at 6:25 PM ^

Rodriguez will be alright no matter what.

He has no long-term endorsement from UM. At some stage he has to be saying to himself  "fuck this noise" and put out feelers for longer term opportunities like Miami (FL), Clemson, Tulane. I would not blame him at all for doing so.  He'll likely land well on both feet and ever so softly. 

As I re-watched the game footage of Stanford's proctology exam against Oregon, against that New Hampshire-spread option offense (giving up 31 first downs, 52 points and 626 yards total offense), well I just hope Michigan's future teams never face off against Rich Rodriguez in a bowl or non-conference game.  I hate thinking about all of those kharmic examples of "former Michigan coaches" getting their revenge on the Wolverines years later (Alex Agase, Don James, Bill McCartney).

NateVolk

November 29th, 2010 at 6:25 PM ^

Miami is another power program that is swimming around at .500. They are in a worse position than Michigan in some ways. At least we have a current coach that has a winning track record as a head coach somewhere.

 I just saw on ESPN Joe Schad saying  that they feel no need to rush either. I don't know if that makes anyone feel better about the delay or not?

What Brian is saying is probably very close to the reality. It just makes sense when you remove emotions and think about it.

nybluefan

November 29th, 2010 at 6:26 PM ^

I don't understand why anyone would be for announcing the firing of Rich right now.  If we want JH, won't he be reluctant to commit to UM right now since he is going to a BCS game?

I thought we were really hurt last time around when Carr announced he was leaving prior to the bowl season.  Martin had to scramble and try to find guys willing to jump ship on their programs that were going to bowls.  Isn't it easier to let the bowl season play out and then try to go after the best guys?

What am I missing?

FrankMurphy

November 30th, 2010 at 12:21 AM ^

It's never a good idea for an AD to wait until after the bowl game to fire a coach (or for a retiring coach to wait until after the bowl game to announce his departure). You don't learn anything from the bowl game that you don't already know, and you give yourself very little time to find a successor and mitigate the damage to your recruiting class. That's why it's hard for me to believe that Brandon is serious about waiting until after the Bowl to make a decision and isn't already working behind the scenes to bring in Harbaugh.

snoopblue

November 29th, 2010 at 6:36 PM ^

Wonder of the head coach's office at Schembechler Hall has it's own bathroom with a shower. If not, they should probably start building one. It could be a cryptic message sent by David Brandon to Jim Harbaugh. And, hey, even if he isn't interested, at least Rich Rod won't have to shred papers when he is let go, he can just flush them down the toilet, along with GERG's hair, defensive schemes, and his stuffed animal. =)

BTW: Lloyd announcing he was leaving before the bowl game was a terrible decision for us. It probably hurt recruiting and made it that much harder to find a coach, I agree with the previous post. A small part of me hold's some angst against Coach Carr. He knew people wanted him out after App state, Oregon, 7-5, etc. Sometimes I think he timed it so that a coaching search would have been a fiasco and we'd find ourselves at the point we are now, looking back at how good we had it. I know he had class and was a great coach, but EVERYONE has an ego, can't deny that. At least now we have a competent AD who knows Kirk Herbstreit would like nothing more than to ruin our search, AGAIN. Hopefully when Jim Harbaugh is hired, Herbstreit poops his pants and then shows Terrelle Pryor his pants and says, "See? I'm not a fake buckeye, I am scared of this!"

Roy Hobbs

November 29th, 2010 at 9:38 PM ^

Isn't that a huge stretch? When is Carr supposed to announce? By the way, a lot of stuff I have read the last few years by the more reliable posters seems to suggest that Carr wanted out a year earlier, but was talked into staying by Bill Martin. If that is even close to the truth, then Martin had a long time to do his searching. And doesn't any Athletic Director worth his salt have a list of potential replacements, for all his coaches, in the event of drastic circumstances? Blaming Carr for the timing of his retirement is not new, but to me it sure seems like grasping at straws. On the long list of how things went down that negatively impacted the program, wouldn't there be about 497 other things that come first?

Soulfire21

November 29th, 2010 at 6:34 PM ^

... either way.

He'll get picked up by another school (Miami?) and he'll get the time he needs.  He won't have the arrogance and constant bashing of "fans".  He won't be hearing the "You're not doing it the [insert school here] way!"

People will be mum, let him do his job, and watch the BCS appearances roll in.

Yes, he'll end up laughing at Ann Arbor for letting him go down the road.  And when Michigan's pro-style offense meets Rodriguez in a bowl game or non-conference game, chalk up Rodriguez with the 'W'.  Stanford had no chance against Oregon's spread attack, and Michigan will be in the same boat.

Rodriguez was hired to do something drastically different.  I agree, it has been a shit ride with not many results, but my god the fan base reminds me of teenage women getting pissed at their diets or something because they haven't become non-obese in 2 and a half days.

The spread is enjoying considerable success, as most ranked teams use a spread of some variation, including No. 1 Oregon, No. 2 Auburn, and No. 3 TCU.

OR,

If he stays in Ann Arbor, and delivers on his promise to make this the best football program in America (a promise I believe he can achieve), then he gets to laugh at all his critics.

If I'm Rodriguez, I kind of want out of Ann Arbor anyways, there's no respect.  Hell, the guy was already blacklisted by the "Michigan faithful" before he announced to WVU that he would be leaving.  It's been a constant barrage of bullshit from every whichway before he even moved into his office in Schembechler Hall.

john22

November 29th, 2010 at 6:59 PM ^

my friend are right,the top teams in the nation run the spread,please Michigan fans you just need to relax.The first 2 seasons shouldn't even count on rich rods record.Why?,because he didn't have any players that fit his style when he got here.Last year we played 2 true freshmen at the most important postion on the field QB.

LatinForLiar

November 29th, 2010 at 7:11 PM ^

I agree that RR will wind up at another top program and we will regret the decision to can him after three years based on the incoherent whining of Michigan's win-now fanbase.

On a side note, I think that some of RR's supporters on this blog share some of the blame for the current negative sentiment about keeping him. Before the OSU game many talked endlessly about how we had a shot to pull the upset given our high-powered offense. Unfortunately, this was a double-edged sword. When people started thinking we had an outside chance at a W, the clubbing we received looked even worse. RR's supporters should have been honest in their assesment from the beginning: we had NO chance to beat OSU this year (or any other top 10-15 team). But that does not not mean we won't have a chance next year...unless we start rebuilding again. Give RR a chance, if he fails next year fine, but at least any coach offered the job will know he will get a fair shake. 

08mms

November 29th, 2010 at 8:20 PM ^

I like RRod, I would keep him and the spread option attack (if for no other reason than it makes me giddy using it in NCAA 10), but can you honestly chalk up Stanford losing to Oregon to the formations?  Stanford is a heck of a team this year, but Chip Kelly has far better recruits that he's had the chance to mold since they were recruited.  Our old offense and the current Wisconsin offense aren't likely innovative enough to be repeat dynasty players in the modern world, but there are plenty of ways you can innovate off the pro set to be competitive.  I have no doubt if he leaves here RRod can be a wildly successful coach elsewhere, he would just need to find the right DCoordinator to work with him and inheret a team with talent that initially matched his needs more closely.  If we do fire him, i'll be sad that so many people made such a nice guys life hell for three years.

Tim Waymen

November 29th, 2010 at 8:53 PM ^

Sometimes I wonder if RR has struggled just so that the football gods with a twisted sense of humor can have UM hire a high-profile coach only to strike out in humiliating fashion.  And then RR succeeds at the next place because he's a good coach and it makes us look like idiots for firing him.

mackbru

November 29th, 2010 at 9:04 PM ^

You obviously haven't spent time around other major fan-bases. SEC. Big 12. Those fans are rabid dogs. Les Miles had death threats while going underrated. Coaches are picked apart for the slightest dip in production. Talk-radio is relentless. A large chunk of the OSU base rages about The Vest. Our base is demure by comparison to many or most.

Black Kerouac

November 29th, 2010 at 10:33 PM ^

The only "Michigan Way" that matters at the end of the day is winning. Even with the NCAA infractions, if we go 10-2 this season we aren't having this conversation. It's very convenient for people to talk like they're so opposed to he way Rich Rod coaches this team, but in reality what they're opposed to is going 15-21 over three seasons.

raleighwood

November 29th, 2010 at 10:50 PM ^

"Rodriguez was hired to do something drastically different."

I just think that statement is absolutely false.  RR was not hired to do things differently.  He was hired to win games.  If he chose to do that in a different fashion, that would be totally acceptable.  However, he's failed to do the very basic thing he was hired to do....compete at a high level in the Big Ten.

I'm not saying that he needs to stay or go....I'm just saying that he has not successfully performed his job up to this point.

rgmartin2003

November 29th, 2010 at 6:35 PM ^

As far as I'm concerned, I fully believe in my heart that RR is gone as soon as January 1st 2011 rolls around, mainly because Michigan's buyout on RR's contract will go from 4 mil to 2.5 mil as soon as January get's here.  Wait a month and save 1.5 mil (it's going to Harbaugh anyways, but you know what I mean) or waste 1.5 mil and fire RR now!?  Makes sense doesn't it? 

Ed Shuttlesworth

November 29th, 2010 at 6:46 PM ^

Re the contract, these are two (entirely) different concepts:

1.  "The violations aren't enough for me to fire Rod over them."

2.  "The violations aren't enough for us to fire Rod without paying the buyout."

Frankly, Brandon shouldn't have even said (1) publicly, and the lawyers shouldn't have let him say (1), but (1) isn't (2).

yoopergoblue

November 29th, 2010 at 7:37 PM ^

....but the people on this board who are defending RR more so than their University and its fans aren't real fans in my book.  "He won't have the arrogance and constant bashing by fans" etc.; this is bullshit.  Why don't you guys go follow RR over to whatever school he ends up at if he is fired! (I am in no way a Rich Rod hater. I believe whatever coach is here next year needs to compete for the Big Ten Title next year considering that we have so many returning contributors.)

Youper94

November 30th, 2010 at 1:02 PM ^

Here is my problem with bringing in Harbaugh now, he could easily start with 2 losing seasons. Than the whole fire the coach thing starts up again. Maybe since he is a good ole boy "Michigan Man" he can skate through. My fear is that we end up playing musical coaches and spend the next 15 years being Notre Dame going 7-5 all the time.

So for all the Harbough fans, what is the expectation? How many years until a B10 title? When can we fire him if he "fails"?

I support RR is long is he is our coach, I suported Carr, and I would support Harbaugh or anyone else that is the coach.

Unfortuantly there is a group of 1997 Michigan fans that expect a NC every few years and would rather fire coaches all the time.

smwilliams

November 29th, 2010 at 8:32 PM ^

I'll begin this by saying I'm in the pro-RR camp. I've given my reasons why previously, and I feel a lot of the more recent negative buildup is because of the massacre in Columbus. That said, it's not surprising...

QB-Sophomore/Junior

RB-Sophomore/Senior

TE-Junior/Sophomore, Sophomore

WR-Junior, Sophomore, Junior/Junior, Senior

OL-Freshman, Senior, Junior, Sophomore, Senior/Junior, Junior, Senior, Senior, Junior

DL-Junior, Junior, Sophomore/Senior, Junior, Sophomore, Senior

LB-Junior, Sophomore, Senior/Junior, Senior, Senior

DB-Senior, Freshman, Freshman, Freshman, Sophomore/Senior, Senior, Sophomore, Senior

Freshman: 4/0

Sophomore: 7/4

Junior: 7/7

Senior: 4/11

And for comparison's sake, the number of starting underclassmen (freshmen) for the Top 10 teams in the countries.

1.Auburn-4(2 Freshmen)

2.Oregon-4(0)

3.TCU-3(1)

4.Stanford-6(0)

5.Wisconsin-4(1)

6.Ohio State-4(0)

7.Arkansas-6(3)

8.Michigan State-6(0)

9.Oklahoma-9(2)

10.LSU-6(2)

The only team that comes remotely close to being our situation is Oklahoma. I don't think any other program in FBS ended the season starting 3 Freshmen in the secondary especially two 3-star true freshmen. And before everybody goes "That shows RR can't recruit"...I'll rehash some of the "Never Forget" highlights.

Woolfolk (season-ending injury), Floyd (season-ending injury), Turner (D2 school), BooBoo (jail), Dorsey (God only knows), Vlad (injured in HS, transferred when began behind a walk-on), M. Williams (didn't pan out), etc.

So I say give RR one more year at least.

Black Kerouac

November 29th, 2010 at 10:27 PM ^

Besides the injuries, that list doesn't exactly scream out "Rich Rod is a great recruiter." One guy in jail, a washout in Turner, a guy who was injured in college, a guy who "didn't pan out," and two guys (you forgot Witty) who couldn't qualify. Add in the fact that Floyd wasn't very good even before he got hurt, and the fact that, contrary to revisionist history, Woolfolk wasn't exactly a lockdown corner before he got hurt, and I'd say that's pretty damning. And yeah, I know he didn't recruit all those guys; not sure on the numbers but I think he recruited all but Woolfolk? Anyway, I think that's all counter-productive to your argument. And finally, I'm about 51/49 in favor of Rich Rod staying, so I'm not trying to make a point about hiring Harbaufh or firing Rodriguez.

smwilliams

November 29th, 2010 at 11:07 PM ^

Cissoko was a Carr recruit. As was Woolfolk. Witty was a middling 2-star recruit most felt was offered to make sure we landed Denard. Turner was recruited by virtually every major program in the Midwest. He seems to have maybe not wanted it. And perhaps his DB recruiting hasn't been the greatest, but let's also remember...

Omameh was a 2-star DE prospect. Odoms was a 3-star. He stole Roundtree from Purdue and that was his first half-class. His first full class netted Tate, Roh, Stokes, Cam, Lewan, DENARD, and Schofield as 4 stars and possibly contributors in Campbell and Q-Wash if the position switches work out.

I think his first full class was eliminating the '08 Offense disaster (which I think we can agree he accomplished), and according to Rivals rankings, 8 of Michigan's Top 10 rated recruits were on defense last year. Christian didn't play well, Ash redshirted, Dorsey BOOO, Marvin Robinson should be a player, Wilkins redshirted, Jibreel Black got better as the year progressed, Furman redshirted, and Carvin played as well as can be expected for a Freshman. He also landed Beyer and Crawford so far in this class. I think he really needs to land 2-3 really good prospects on both the DLine and Secondary to consider this a successful class.

jamiemac

November 30th, 2010 at 12:13 PM ^

Harbaugh can coach my team any time

But, he didnt develop the program into a monster until he first threw freshmen and position switchers into his secondary in 2009, when they predcitably sturggled, hired an entire new defensive staff heading into this season and all the first year starters in the DB in 2009 devleoped into a decent unit in 2010 during their second years as starters. Last year, it looked like JH had no idea how to coach a D. This year? He looks like he can coach a D

I dont think its fair to say RR cant devleop his own recruits. The players the above poster listed are at the very beginning of their college careers

bronxblue

November 29th, 2010 at 8:34 PM ^

Can anyone celebrate the fact that for the first time in 3 years, this team will be playing after November?  I know everyone loves to get worked up about the next head coach, but in a couple of weeks we are all going to be able to see a constantly-improving team, healthier now than they've been in months, likely blitzing some poor SEC or B12 team by 10-20 points.  I am from the camp that RR should be given another year, but no matter how that plays out, I'm very excited to watch this team play another game. 

jamiemac

November 30th, 2010 at 12:20 PM ^

I am totally stoked this team is bowling. And, frankly, I am happy about it.

I offer a big middle finger to anybody who tells me I should not be happy about it. This stop at 7-5, 3-5 is a necessary stop while climbing out of the Big 10 basement. The eyes are on a bigger prize down the line, but at this point in time, this was a good accomplishment for the team.

tubauberalles

December 1st, 2010 at 12:03 AM ^

Thank you - I'm so happy to be able to enjoy December again thinking about bowl games and Michigan as a participant in the best part of the holiday season.  This blog is getting to be an enormous downer with all the hand wringing and dreaming of Harbaugh as the 2010 version of 2007's Les Miles (we get it - everyone here has an enormous fetish for The Michigan Man). 

The team is on its way and they believe that they're getting better together.  That's what I like to see.  I would hope that they could enjoy this well-deserved month of bowl prep without their fans being so incredibly distracted by a sideshow fanned into flames by Lynn Effing Henning (and friends).

Loid

November 29th, 2010 at 8:44 PM ^

Jim Harbaugh could potentially be a great Michigan coach.  But he should have to wait his turn, and maybe never get his chance.  There is a right way to go about things, and wrong way, and if RR is run out on a rail like some of you would like, then the Michgian tradition and class will forever be cheapened in my mind.  Yes, the team is struggling, but look where this period started.  I mean really..........Nick freaking Sheridan?  Playing QB at Michigan?  So we have gone from losing to Appy State and barely nudging Ball State at home, to glimpses of greatness with one of most likeable, talented, yet not-quite-a -finished product-yet athlete in Denard.  We have the table set where upper classmen and returning starters actually are on the grid for next year.  And you guys want to shit can RR, casting your lot with Rosenberg and his ilk?  Yeah, I know the D sucks out loud, not to mention special teams.  So DB forces some changes by making RR get rid of Gerg, and goiing out and getting the best D coordinator money can buy, along with the staff the D coord wants to bring in.  Can you imagine the possibilities of what this offense could do with another year of experience, with defense that actually generates 3 and outs and puts our offense in good field position?  With a field goal kicker you have confidence in from 48 yds out?  We will kick ass and take names if you allow it to happen.  If it doesn't, at least you lived up to your end of the bargain by allowing the stated contract term.

If you don't wait, and get rid of RR now, you may get the result you desire, but it comes at a cost.  The cost is that you enable every limp dick out there like Rosenburg and Sharp to say "I TOLD you so!".  You also don't honor the contract you offerred, and by everything that is right and holy, a coach deserves 4 yrs to see what he can do, particularly when it involves the overhaul that UM has needed.  And for those of you who doubt an overhaul was needed, let me remind you that we have lost to tOSU for 7 years in a row, and RR has only been there for 3. 

Michigan is at a crossroad here, with no certainty as to which way to go.  When in doubt, you do the right thing, and that is honoring the committment you made, giving the guy the fair shot of his four full years.  If it doesn't work out after that point, then it doesn't work out, but everyone can hold their head high and say they gave it their best shot.  Staying the course could work out as I hope, with the start of a new(er) tradition, with RR leading the way.  I look foward to it.

But I swear, if you whining gutless weenies have your way and he is done now, then not only do we face an uncertain future, but we go forward being just that much less special, which is something I have never had to consider in being a fan for the last 45 years.

Thus endeth the sermon.

whiteboy

November 29th, 2010 at 9:10 PM ^

Interpreting your 45-year-fandom as something near your age, I wish I could get you to have a conversation with my dad.  He's been riding the Harbaugh bandwagon for weeks now, and I get an earful every week about it.  In a fit of anger during the Wisconsin game, I ended up betting him $100 that RichRod will be our head coach next season.

For all the reasons you outline above, I am looking forward to my $100, and to all the future success that is coming to this team and this coach.

BigBlue4Life

November 29th, 2010 at 10:50 PM ^

i agree with most everything you stated in your sermon =D.  the "it " element RR just doesnt have is the sideline gameday confidence in his gameplan execution and the way he deals with players live on the field is a joke.  he has no idea how to play from behind and motivate the players to do so.  Or motivate and encourage a player when they make a mistake..he just walks around with that look on his face that there is a noose hangin in mid air next to his head after every mishap. 

the attrition and lack of qualifying players in recruiting is unacceptable.  he needs to tailor his recruiting to intelligent players that can qualify.  0 DBs are juniors.  thats pathetic.  no kicker.  thats pathetic.  as a head coach you need to control all things which appearantly is too much for him at a program this size. 

1 more year. with new Defensive staff.  if they they keep greg robnison on next year i will not watch any games.  but if this is the only year harbaugh will be available you have to go for it.  it will breed confidence throughout the entire Wolverine community and unite are cause instead of the clear division we have now.   we need to be United.

justingoblue

November 30th, 2010 at 8:40 AM ^

Have you watched any of the games or followed any news? I mean there are good reasons to say RR should go, but you don't come close to any of them.

First, have you seen him interact with Denard after a turnover, or the defense during the Penn State game? If you want to fire him over Dorsey, Witherspoon and possibly Adrian Witty then say it, but personally I think it's pretty stupid to let a coach go after three recruits in three years don't qualify for admission at Michigan. Zero CB/S that are juniors; he wasn't capible of bringing DB's to Michigan in the two months he had to recruit in 2008, so he should be fired? Broekhuizen was a monster in high school and can't play at a college level, so we should fire him?

At least hit on the good reasons if you're going to call for a multi-million dollar and perminant coaching change.

TBG

November 29th, 2010 at 9:28 PM ^

Right way is your opinion.  As they say, "Opportunity Knocks".  Is it Harbaugh's fault that he's a former star quarterback from Michigan who also has proven his coaching skills by crafting the #6 team in the country - while RR has pulled Michigan slowly out of a tailspin into a 7-5 team? Timing.

I have been a strong supporter of Rich for 2 2/3 seasons.  But it became clear to me in year 3 that he has some serious flaws as a head coach.  He has done a great job crafting the offense.  This is exactly what I was hoping for when he was hired!  But what about Defense?  What about Special Teams?   We are totally killing it on one and only one aspect of the game.  

Rich is the best Offensive Coordinator in the business.  But we need more.

Leading into the Wisconsin game, I was hoping that Rich would be forced at the end of the season(by Brandon)  to fire not only our Defensive Coordinator, but most of the Defensive staff and implement a 4:3 that would work in the Big Ten (oh, and how about some focus on special teams while you're at it?).  But with the recent events and potential opportunity to bring Harbaugh in, well, I am totally on board with that!  Yeah, he's a "Bo Guy" but way more than that.  He's a modern day, progressive coach who will want nothing more than to kick the hell out of MSU and tOSU.  And he will do that and with a really bad attitude.  I totally love that.  Wait for his time?  Are you kidding?

TennBlue

November 29th, 2010 at 9:32 PM ^

He's a modern day, progressive coach who will want nothing more than to kick the hell out of MSU and tOSU.  And he will do that and with a really bad attitude.  I totally love that. 

that those were exactly the things being said about Rich Rodriguez three years ago.  The wanting is always better than the having.

TBG

November 29th, 2010 at 9:51 PM ^

Don't think he really had any concept of who our rivals are or were. I am happy if we keep Rich (and require major coaching changes on Defense and Special Teams) or go with Harbaugh.  But I really think Harbaugh is the way to go.

jrt336

November 29th, 2010 at 11:17 PM ^

Good post. Our offense is good, but we can still improve. We need to be able to put up more than 7 points on OSU, but I'm happy with the way things are working there. But the D and ST has been beyond atrocious. And I don't see us being a whole lot better. Will we find someone who can hold onto the damn ball? Can we find someone to kick FGs? Will we find a way to get more pressure on the QB without getting burned? Will our LBs be worse off with Mouton gone? Will our secondary be much better with Woolfolk back, even though we will still be young? 

Feat of Clay

November 30th, 2010 at 9:54 AM ^

I dislike those wankers at State and OSU as much as the next guy.  But one of the reasons they are wankers (IMO) is that they're freaking obsessed with us.  Petty, narrowminded, whining, panting obsessives.  I think that makes them a lesser program; I think U-M is bigger than that. 

Those games will always be important (and it's deeply satisfying when we win) but I don't want to pick a coach or craft a program around some fixation on one or two opponents.