January 1st, 2011 at 7:47 PM ^
Went to the game today as a RR supporter, left the game hoping for change. That was the worst coached game of the year.
January 1st, 2011 at 7:58 PM ^
The whole year my brain has been saying Rod will succeed given enough time but there's no longer any way to reconcile that with what I saw today.
January 1st, 2011 at 8:44 PM ^
This was the worst, most depressing loss I have ever seen and what's worse is that it came in a game that we had over a month to prepare for. I think this was seriously worse than the App State or Toledo games. The only UM games I've seen that were close to this uncompetitive were Syracuse 1998 and Oregon 2007, and those two had legitimately scary offenses. Miss State is a garden variety minor bowl team.
That said, I think we still could potentially be better off in the long run with RR if and only if he gives the new DC total control over assistants, scheme, everything. The offense has improved, and it would return almost intact.
January 1st, 2011 at 8:10 PM ^
January 1st, 2011 at 7:49 PM ^
The defense was so bad today that even Mike Martin was invisible.
RR's had a month to prepare for his final exam and he, ugh, failed.
January 1st, 2011 at 8:09 PM ^
Does anyone think the playcalling had to do with our apparent backup being Kennedy? It seemed like denard never kept it after those first few drives and never had direct runs which allowed for Msu to gear towards the rbs. In his
<br>Defense denard made some great throws at times but the difference in degree of difficulty from the td pass (when he was running) to the deep balls (when he wasnt running) was huge. It seemed like some of it predicated on keeping him healthy first and foremost so that we didn't have to find out how well jk could take a snap against an sec team.
January 1st, 2011 at 8:15 PM ^
January 1st, 2011 at 8:34 PM ^
Wonton soup and dim sum, (pot stickers and pork buns). Even made a side of Chinese broccoli.
January 1st, 2011 at 8:39 PM ^
Gardner's (potential) redshirt didn't have to be burned! Hooray!
That's all the good I can find from today. Damn.
January 2nd, 2011 at 11:44 AM ^
Even after that game i still love Denard. That's not an easy feat when the team loses by a million. But every day, even when our team sucks, I'm still impressed by the kid. It's not his fault those WRs kept dropping sure-thing TD passes that were right to them.
January 1st, 2011 at 8:40 PM ^
That's enough. Time to move on. Sorry it didn't work out. <shake hands>
January 1st, 2011 at 8:43 PM ^
It'll be interesting to see what happens with RR in the next couple days. I don't have a dog in the hunt of course, but I do think he's a winner and I'm pretty sure you guys don't want to get into a coaching carousel. All that said...and I'm trying to be cordial here: Will someone please admit that not only was Mississippi State better than most of you gave them credit for but they were firing on all cylinders today.
January 1st, 2011 at 10:54 PM ^
I will definitely admit that MSU looked very solid and I was a bit surprised at the quickness of the defense. MSU looked very well prepared and played great. Hats off to you.
January 2nd, 2011 at 9:56 AM ^
MSU (the good MSU) played awesome.
Get your QB some more passing reps (sorry, success against Michigan's secondary is not true yardstick), and you guys will be competing for the top of the SEC West.
January 1st, 2011 at 8:44 PM ^
How about defensive players who can tackle and running backs at least 6'0" and 220 lbs and a defense that has never heard of the 3-3-5. First Can we get coaches who coach fundamentals like block, tackling and catching.
January 2nd, 2011 at 9:33 AM ^
One bit of good news is that we DO have a 6' tall, 220 lb RB: Stephen Hopkins. I suspect that Mike Cox might get a more serious look by the next staff as well.
On the offensive side of the ball, UM should be OK next season regardless of the offensive style. Defensively...we are screwed.
January 1st, 2011 at 9:11 PM ^
I think RR got a raw deal here in some of his treatment and what defensive recruits he was left with. However, he has made some poor decisions on his defensive staff, and for whatever reason, his offense has stalled in some of the more crucial games. At this point, I still want one more year to see the true potential of this offense, and am worried about another mass attrition with a coaching change. But at this point, I have to admit, that my arguments for another year are paper thin, and will support the new coach fully if we go that way.
Sorry I posted this in a general discussion rather than giving it its own thread.
January 1st, 2011 at 10:53 PM ^
Not sure I could have stated that any better.
January 1st, 2011 at 11:24 PM ^
but if someone comes up and tells me to give them a good reason why i think i might be stumped
January 2nd, 2011 at 9:51 AM ^
But at this point I would not give it to him if Jim Harbaugh is available.
JH still has some unknowns, but his teams play tough and smart and in-sync. We need us some of that.
January 1st, 2011 at 10:18 PM ^
How many points do you have to have to be a "trusted" user?
January 1st, 2011 at 10:27 PM ^
500. But that's ok, you don't want any business of starting a thread tonight. It will only bring you headaches.
January 1st, 2011 at 10:31 PM ^
The prospect of one of our very own, a literally born-and-raised maize-and-blue hero, becoming our coach... looms as a very real possibility. Gonna be an interesting week.
January 2nd, 2011 at 1:07 PM ^
thing is now, no matter what happens, i'll have reservations.
bring in harbaugh, i'm gonna wonder 'what if'.
keep rrod, i'm gonna wonder 'what if'.
January 1st, 2011 at 10:54 PM ^
We could only manage 14 pts today? And only 7 against OSU?
We give up 42 unanswered points and 52 total? Is it scheme, coaching or talent? I can't believe that our players are that bad, even with their youth and lack of experience.
January 2nd, 2011 at 9:45 AM ^
NOBODY is a "freshman" anymore. At some point it goes beyond just inexperience.
January 2nd, 2011 at 12:32 AM ^
what were they working on for 4 weeks? Do we really only have 4 or 5 plays in our playbook? Every team we played since ND seemed to know what was coming without fail...I was in the RR camp and am just hoping for the sadness to end. Someone, please restore the glory of the block M.
January 2nd, 2011 at 9:41 AM ^
the Ohio State game. Nothing changed at all.
We still had all of the same issues: no Defense, inept Kicking, and a missing Red Zone Offense.
Why does it feel like we will still have all of these same issues next year unless there is a change?
January 2nd, 2011 at 4:46 PM ^
is that we will still have all of these same issues EVEN WITH A CHANGE! @#$%
January 2nd, 2011 at 10:18 AM ^
January 2nd, 2011 at 2:45 AM ^
First off - traif
Secondly... glad I missed this, sounds like I wouldn't have been able to sleep on the flight as I did.
Let's remember that this was 1 football game. sure, an awful one, but a lot of people's live and work and struggle and everything else for Michigan. I know Rich got torched. The D Got Torched. Apparently once I had to board Denard became human (when I got on the plane it was 14-10, he was 7/7 for 99yds 2 tds... it is my fault we lost. I had to stop watching and get on a plane...)
But with all the ANGAR and rage and RR-Hate, Slot-ninja-hate, Obi-hate, etc. lets remember that these are either men or 18-23 year old men-and-boys who represent the university we love.
Sleep it off, watch some more football over the next couple of days, and wait for what DB has to say.
January 2nd, 2011 at 9:48 AM ^
just a game, and meaning it are two different things. This one hurt bad. I found myself in a "past the point of yelling" stage where unbridled rage turns into quiet sadness. I guess when you are pushed beyond the point of reasonable pain, you kind of shut down and stare with glossy eyes. I love this team, this school, and these players. These coaches can suck it. That is all. Bring on Jimmah.
January 2nd, 2011 at 11:39 AM ^
...this expected dejection. I didn't think we'd win this game...no matter how hard I tried to tell myself otherwise. But I certainly didn't expect the big, collapsing mess that was our team on Saturday. It's not the sadness that gets to me (because I feel like we've all had our share of sadness this season)...it's the fact that I'm getting used to it.
That being said, the commentators (Well, some of them) actually had it right: no way you can judge a coach based on one game. That being said, 100% chance they are, right now.
January 2nd, 2011 at 12:16 PM ^
i used to be crushed for a couple of days after a loss. now, shortly after the game is over, I'm more like, "well, that sucked", and i'm on with the rest of my day. have gotten used to the disappointment of losing......kinda like sparties do.......and that really sucks.
January 2nd, 2011 at 4:39 PM ^
Usually a loss fills me with anger, disappointment, sadness....SOME emotion. Yesterday, it was more "this again? Oh well, it's a done deal...wonder what they're saying on MGoBlog...". And that's the real disease that Brandon has to worry about as a businessman, and cut out - apathy. I cared about the team, the program, and still have as much interest. But every outing is so hopeless, with no sign of change in sight, and it happens time and time again...you just have to shrug your shoulders. And if people stop caring so much, Dave's got a problem. I felt kinda sad for Rich the last month, that it probably wasn't going to work out. We failed. And it's sad to admit. In that regard, the game gave DB a break...because the people who are going to feel bad about a change at this point are such a small minority, that they don't matter.
January 2nd, 2011 at 10:39 AM ^
1) at least I had good seats and it was perfect weather...
2) Defense wins. All the time. Don't care if you have pro-style, option, spread: a large, fast, aggressive defense wins everytime. Michigan State was taught this lesson again too. The pundits and bloggers that were poo-pooed on this blog when they wrote that "wait until DR faces a real defense" - were absolutely right. tOSU wins year in and out because they have a defense and a bland "Tressel-ball" offense that just tries not to make mistakes. Michigan used to have defenses like this.
3) Alumni and fans at the bowl all around me were pissed. No support left for RR.
4) The players IMO have lost respect for the staff. They will say the right things to the press, but I see a lot of bad body language and disrespect. None of the players seem to talk to GERG -ever. Players should be standing up on the line by the coach getting into the game and ready to play.
5) You can't have an offense with one player. Past Michigan teams and successful teams always have a great receiver or two and a workhorse back. If Denard is not on - who do you go to? Who is the 200yd+ back to take over? Where is the A-train, Wheatley, Hart, Woolfolk or Morris to take over a game when the QB is having an off day?
6) I kept looking at the group of kids South of the Michigan bench and hoping these were not recruits and if they were - that someone would mind-wipe them after the game.
January 2nd, 2011 at 12:39 PM ^
Through blind faith, a lot of my fellow Michigan fans believed that this team was going to magically get better over the last 5 weeks. Well, this team somehow got worse! I hope all of the remaining Rich Rod supporters finally had their rude awakening yesterday and will use common sense to realize that this brand of football will never work at Michigan. Horrible defense, horrible special teams, and a cute offense that turns the ball over and is only good between the 20's will never be a recipe to win football games. The program hit rock bottom yesterday and I hope the right man will be hired to take Michigan Football back to the mountain top. I firmly believe that Dave Brandon will get his man and will not be on a sailboat in the Florida keys during the most important week of his career like the previous AD!
January 2nd, 2011 at 1:00 PM ^
It doesn't matter if I'm part of the "remaining Rich Rod supporters" or not, but this type of post is so pointless, but I'm sure you going to reply and make it person about my opinion of the football program. Thanks for telling us facts we already knew (having a horrible defense), making things up (hitting rock bottom yesterday), and tossing around stereotypes (this type of offense will never work at Michigan). And to top it off, you bag on Bill Martin who was a great AD. This post added nothing new to the topic. Thanks.
January 2nd, 2011 at 2:24 PM ^
First of all, I don't think that there is anything wrong with venting my frustrations on the current state of Michigan football and stating the obvious (horrible defense). Secondly, I do think Bill Martin was a great AD from the business end. However, he screwed up the football coaching search three years ago and may have hired 2 below average men's basketball coaches (the jury is still out on Beilein). Ultimately, his legacy as AD will be devided into two categories:
1. Hiring Rodriguez, Amaker, and Beilein.
2. Rennovating Michigan Stadium and pulling the Athletic department out of the red.
Finally, accusing me of stereotyping the Michiagn offense is a little dramatic. I think it is healthy for people to have a variety of opinons and not to be so sensative.
January 2nd, 2011 at 2:42 PM ^
You say "certain" UM fans believed RichRod would succeed through "Blind Faith" and "magic."
But saying you're stereotyping is dramatic? I'm not sure the word "dramatic" means what you think it means.
January 2nd, 2011 at 3:07 PM ^
I don't think the words "Blind Faith" and "magic" are dramatic at all relative to the opinion that Michigan was going to suddenly play well in the bowl game after the dismal performances against Wisconsin and OSU. I don't care how much time there was between games. Besides Mike Martin, the 2010 defense lacked blue chip future NFL talent across the board. To improve the defense, Michigan is gonna have to recruit high level talent once again on that side of the ball to establish quality depth. That must be the number 1 priortiy of the next head coach. Therefore, the words "blind faith" and "magic" were accurate descriptions of fans that believed they were gonna play better due to the awarded extra practices.
January 2nd, 2011 at 3:14 PM ^
Really? Really? This is where we are at as far as intellectual, honest exchanges on this board?
You really want to take the position that many Michigan fans believed Michigan's team would perform better based on magic - BY BUTT FUCKING MAGIC!?!? - and you don't think that your comment is a pinch on the dramatic side? You call that "accurate"??
I've always found that the best way to have reasonable, intelligent discussions on virtually any topic is by - shocking - taking reasonable, intelligent positions with people.
Big point or small point, that is an ignorant thing to say. Yes, the myriad of fans that understand the Xs and Os in a way I can't even fathom and thought with 6 weeks prep the team could perform were basing their opinions... on... fucking ... magic.
Glad you decided to not move off your position here. Really reasonable.
January 2nd, 2011 at 3:34 PM ^
"Butt F..ing magic" is the act that you do with your buddies when you guys are sitting around listening to Josh Groban and has nothing to with anything I wrote. You are mad, calm down sir! The sun is gonna come up in the morning.
January 2nd, 2011 at 4:24 PM ^
Fact is, I've been hoping Harbaugh will come to UM for awhile now. Fact that I'm not justifying RichRod staying doesn't mean I don't find your posts inane and unreasonable.
January 2nd, 2011 at 5:33 PM ^
I was simply trying to point out that there are still a small minority of Michigan fans out there that still want to see Coach Rodriguez lead the team out of the tunnel in 2011. I believe that small minority of fans are failing to look at the big picture and are in denial. We all know fan is short for fanatic. Therefore, I think every fan in any sport for any team has an element of blind faith when it comes to who they root for. Following the Wisconsin game, I finally reached my breaking point as a Michigan fan and was able to look at the current state of Michigan football objectively. Those fans that have not reached their breaking point with this regime are looking at the situation with their beer goggles on. That is all I was trying to point out and I just can't figure out how that is insane or unreasonable?
January 2nd, 2011 at 2:32 PM ^
Look, you're obviously right about the end result.
But I am so tired of anti-RR and pro-RR guys painting the other in such a black and white way.
Those who thought RR would succeed did not do so on "blind faith" (at least any more than those that expect success from previously successful head coaches are doing so on blind faith). They likely thought so based on his building WVU into a kick ass program (Anti-RR: "Big East sucks though!" Pro-RR: "BCS wins over UGA and Oklahoma though!" and round and round).
The animosity is tired and played out. Seriously. Those that didn't expect him to succeed have been proved right - to a degree. Those that expected him to succeed have been proved wrong - to a degree.
Those that pretend that there aren't a myriad of variables that have played a role - good or bad - are intellectually dishonest.
And those that gloat one way or the other are dicks of the highest order.
January 2nd, 2011 at 2:14 PM ^
what I feel...mostly because I don't know what I feel. At least the Steelers and Lions are winning.
January 2nd, 2011 at 3:39 PM ^
Pains me to say it, but it's better for M to let RR go. I think it's better for RR to get gone, too. I used to think that a change is only warranted if we can land Jim Harbaugh; no longer. RR might be able to go, realistically, 4-4 or 5-3 in the B1G next year but he'll get skewered for that; a different coach, any coach, will get lightly applauded.
Meanwhile, RR will continue to get raked over the coals by media, rivals, skeptical fans, and anti-fans... that's not good for Michigan. There's just no way he can recover enough good will soon enough. In many cases he never really had it, good will, to begin with.
One thing's for sure, I'll never look at the Michigan community as naively as I had ever again.
On to the next one, let the chips fall, and godspeed to all.
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