gpsimms not to be confused with gsimms of gsimmons fame

I've pretty much already posted this once, but not nearly enough people responded to it, so here goes again. Also, this was going to be forum, but as usual, it got long, so go diary!

It seems to always come up, and I just don't know why:

"RR is no Lloyd Carr when it comes to integrity."

Listen, I sometimes miss Carr and his literature-referencing ways, but RR really has not done anything to indicate he is some sort of two timing backstabber.

This article has already been posted, but everyone really needs to read what they are writing about RR in Columbus.

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/sports/stories/2008/11/19/michfb19....

Lloyd Carr always seemed to be a nice guy who represented Michigan with dignity, HOWEVA

>> LC used to love ot punish players by taking away their status as a starter if it was a non-MAC game (he might bench 'em for a MAC game). You'd see MM/AA on the field literally a few plays into the first drive after their various run ins with the law.

>> RR benched Stonum, Butler, and Grady for major minutes due to various problems.

>> I keep reading that Babb got kicked off, for violating rules, more than quit.

>> Remember Carty's article about MM's lack of responsibility when he got drafted? It was a little high horsin' for me, but I think the point that MM is still a kid who knows nothing about responsibility is semi-valid.

>> RR kept ADAM FRICKIN PACMAN FRICKIN JONES in line for his entire college career!

>> Brandon Harrison seems to think RR did the dignified thing, and even the Columbus dispatch described their bond as the kind "only Michigan men can feel" for one another.

Every time I get upset (each Saturday, that is) I feel like RR comes out and directly addresses every worry of mine in his PC. Sure, he speaks like a West Virginian. But man, he speaks like a West Virginian, you know? On some level, don't you appreciate the way he speaks to us? I guess I can't pretend to know him as a man from his press conferences, but let's look at some evidence:

>> Desmond Howard and many other alumni have mentioned how personable he is, and to me that seems apparent in his PCs.

>> His program is run as tight as a ship can be run. Curfews, strict punishments, etc. The men might hate him, but they will love him when they look back (most not all, of course). I really believe the way he seems to be running his program is the best way to prepare these kids for post college responsibilities.

>> The buyout/lawsuit business appears to be as much a financial decision of th University as anything. I highly doubt RR had any input, since it was largely not his money anyway.

>> RR is like any other competitor. He wants to win, and wants the resources to put him in a position to win. Michigan offered unlimited opportnity, West Virginia offered him nothing, and had plenty of chanes to keep him in the fold.

>> The Carson Butler case study is interesting as well. He was in and out of Lloyd's doghouse his whole career. He gets in trouble by RR, gets benched, and now has fought his way back to playing time through the defense. Carson Butler had nothing to play for. His starting spot had been given to some freshman, yet "Mr. Bad Attitude" decides to suck it up, try harder, and learn something new. RR seems to be able to motivate someone who we previously thought "unmotivate-able" to claw his way into the lineup through a position change. I believe this is the sign of a great teacher/motivator/coach.

Anyway, give the guy some slack, I believe he will be a tremendous (that was for you, Lloyd) winner at UM, but I also believe he will just as likely go down as a "typical, classy, Michigan man" in the end.

Sorry, I put the over/under on "tl;dr" comments at 5.

I started writing this in response to Brian's post, and then decided it was getting long enough to justify a diary entry:

Re: Insane Sherid'oh faction

Sheridan has a good head on his shoulders and is not physically talented enough to play against high-major teams. IMO, he was pretty good against Toledo (both of his int's are just as much on Clemons as they are him), and pretty good against Minnesota; bad against ND and Utah; and !!!!ZOMG=death!!!! against PSU. Therefore, I am confident he will be fine this week. If Threet's not 100% for OSU, though, run for the hills (!!!)

My only worry is that RR seems to have some sort of weird unjustified mancrush on Sheridan (see sticking with him so long against Utah, yanking Threet in arguably his best game, ND), so I hope to goodness RR doesn't take two decent starts (I'm assuming N'western does go decent) from Sheridan as some sort of mandate from the Heavens that the kid should play.

Re: The insane woooo SheriQBcontroversy crowd

How about the performance of one hit wonder J. Siller from Purdue? Anybody notice the beating MSU gave him the next week? Sometimes, when I play basketball with middle school girls, I feel like I'm pretty damn good at basketball.

Re: I hate them both, rawr, rawr, rawr; Forcier = the answer

The only game Threet looked mentally incapable was against MSU. Brian posted about this, but I am starting to think they are the only team that actually planned for us. Threet never seemed "locked in" to receivers in any game except against MSU. Then I thought about it: when is the last time ANYONE who is not MSU covered any of our receivers? The wheel was always open. The seam was always open. Odoms was always open. The pump and go always worked.

The suddenly we run bubble, bubble, and MSU is jumping them all, so pump and go = td, right? Nope, cb from different receiver makes ridiculous jump on perfect pass and nails Clemons (I think?) as he's catching it. Amazing play, touchdown against any other team this year, I think.

As for Threet's accuracy issues, Brian wrote long ago for one of his "worry if" bullets for a game about mid-season 'worry if Threet's accuracy does not improve.' I remember at the time thinking that it was unlikely we see any improvement this year. I don't coach football, but I do coach sports; and I know you don't change a pitcher's delivery mid-season. I think Threet takes a big step forward in mechanics over the off season and resolves those issues (not to mention hopefully being healthy). Mentally, he's been solid in every game (sans State, who might actually just be good, discussed above).

I am excited to see what this kid does with this offense next year.