Fred Roh's Post (Some good side notes)

class act. Thanks for the note.

Thanks for sharing this with us. I've always wondered if players and/or their parents read the site.

This was by far the most interesting and informative post of the last month. I am a better fan as a result of this post and this will actually influence my behavior in the future. Thank you Mr. Roh for allowing your son to eat the souls of opposing players.

No wonder everyone says the kid's so smart - his father can actually write! Great points and well-said, Mr. Roh.

Wow nice. With all their athletic children, maybe they'll take us to the Roh's Bowl.

Good eh?

First, thanks to Mr. Roh for his efforts here. Thanks especially to his son for all his hardwork to help get Michigan back to where it belongs.

I agree that the toxic atmosphere being created by the RichRod haters can only cause problems for the program. The losses are bad enough on their own; the internet storm being whipped up by the haters is ridiculous.

Still, I would hope that recruits and others understand that a lot of the comments are by trolls just trying to stir things up. No doubt a lot are also by unhappy M "fans" but you'll get that crowd at every program.

I'm getting to the point where I think it's almost time to declare a civil war underway at MGoBlog. Let us all declare which side we're on, then put a note or icon next to our avatars to make it clear. When RichRod has turned this program around and we're a consistent top 10 team again, I'll want all the haters to have to acknowledge they were on the wrong side.

NOW is the time for true Michigan fans to MAN-UP! When the going gets tough .... Sure, if coaching mistakes are made, let's discuss them, no problem. But support the damn program now when the program needs a strong fanbase.

I also wouldn't have a problem with even stricter posting rules here ... make people wait a few weeks after signing up before they can comment on anything!

His third paragraph sums it up perfectly.

I don't think any high school senior, nor any head coach or assistant, has dreams of coming on to the winningest college football squad playing in front of the largest crowd watching a football game in America, thinking "man, I can't wait to screw this whole thing up and go 3-9."

I do however, think that they come in saying "this is going to be a tough transition with a few tough years."

However, I'm willing to bear a few tough seasons to have guys (players and coaches) who really want to be here!

I agree to an extent but you also need to realize that the only reason people complain and want to fire people is because they care. Maybe their anger is misdirected or not phrased perfectly but the reason they are PO'd is because they want Michigan to win year in and year out. I don't think anyone can honestly fault them for that. More moderate view points prevail on this site, as they should, but I'm, personally, fine with the anger because that means we still have a very passionate fan base. I'd take the anger over complacency any day.

With all that said I completely understand what he's saying and that it might alter the views of the recruits but, honestly, that's life at virtually every school that didn't win the National Championship last year. There is complaining about Joe Pa, there's complaining about Tressel, there's complaining about Carroll, the only coaches that aren't being b!tched about right now are, not surprisingly, Meyer, Saban, Brown, Patterson and Kelly (BSU fans are pissed they didn't play more than 1 BCS school).

In short, yeah, maybe the anger should be better phrased and less viral but, as Thomas Edison said, "We shall have no better conditions in the future if we are satisfied with all those which we have at present."

EDIT: I'm not talking about the trolls - not the ones that sign up for no other reason than to start a flame war - they suck.

I like the part about leaving emotionally driven comments out.

" It is great for intelligent posters to give insights that talk about strategy, what is working and what is not. However, emotional reactions calling for the heads of coaches and players will do nothing but destroy this program."

From what I can tell, our fanbase is in four strata:
1) 100% Rodriguez no matter what happens
2) Optimistic, enjoys the bright spots, but looking for result and willing to provide CONSTRUCTIVE criticism
3) FIRE RICH ROD HOLY CRAP DO IT NOW AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH
4)Drunk in the stands wearing a black northface jacket, texting their friend in a different section asking them what the score is.

I feel we need more of the number 2.

to continue pROHcreating...

How do I give Fred some points? THIS IS IMPORTANT.

I would love to see a Roh family picture. Can you imagine an entire family with AWESOME eyebrows like Craig has? Those things are absolutely hypnotic and perfect for an intimidating football player.

Note: While this post is somewhat irreverant and "joke-y". There is a great deal of sincerity in the post as well. Those eyebrows ARE hypnotic, man. I can't take my eyes off of them whenever Craig gets interviewed. So, please don't be mad at me, if you read this Mr. Roh. :-)

Actually, I think compared to other sites, Mgoblog posters have been pretty levelheaded.

Most fanbases of elite teams freak out when things don't go well, that's why when we lose you should wait 24 (well, maybe 48 after seeing the Illinois aftermath) hours before posting anything.

That said, discussion like "player X should move to Y position because the defense is more effective that way and he'd be better at Y because he hasn't been a very good tackler this season" should be fine, really... facts are facts.

I, for one, welcome our new Rohverlords.

How many good safeties can the Roh's churn out?

Can we refer to Mr. Roh as Death Sr.?

They were reading this note on WTKA this morning. It looks like Mr. Roh is trying to reach out to the local community to make sure they are representing M football in a positive light to recruits. He definitely has a good perspective on the process.

I'll remember that the next time I think about posting negatively.

100% correct. There's no doubt that many of those posting long diatribes here and elsewhere about why RR deserves to get fired at the end of this season if not sooner secretly harbor a conviction that if only the right people (MSC, BM, Bo Schembechler's ghost, etc etc) read THEIR diatribe, they would see the light, follow their recommendations, and fire RR on the spot. MSC would then announce in the press conference "I want to acknowledge that it was the King of Belch who finally got me to recognize what an awful choice Rich Rodriguez was. Why it took me so long, I don't know, but it was the magic prose and deadly yet caressing logic of Belch that finally enlightened me. Accordingly, I am immediately placing KOB at the head of the new search committee. Belch will report only to me, and, organizationally, is above Bill Martin and his eventual replacement. Belch and I are also going to take a two-week cruise together, because I need his advice on other pressing matters concerning the University, and because I'm so lonely in this job."

Since he emailed TomVH to post it, I started thinking if we needed to extend Mr. Roh an invitation to join MGoBlog. That way he could post here directly, and maybe we could ask some questions on how he sees certain things etc. But then I realized that is probably not a good idea. Not only because being somewhat of an insider would make it complicated to express his opinions, but I also know I'd feel embarrased everytime The King Of Belch would try to start an argument with him.

...that'd be 4 in a roh.

His point is a valid one, obviously, and I think most of us knew that even before this post. The flip side, of course, is that we fans want a place where we can have our internet version of "free speech."

It seems like we need a pay-wall or something that recruits can't access, combined with an "official fan support site."

I don't think I spew a lot of negativity, but even a little criticism could be harmful to recruiting.

And I agree about Craig's dad being cool. It's great to be able to interact (even in a limited way) with someone who has insight to the program, and put his money where his mouth is by sending his kid to play there.

Your son has made us proud this year despite the adversity... kid's been fun to watch.

not bad advice, Mr. Roh. Thank you.

Like all of us, this family enjoys a rousing chorus of The Victors, but the men and boys in particular take great delight in singing the line "Hail to the conqu'ring he-Rohs."

...but what some men consider loss, i consider roh-gain.