RR haters show yourselves!
No seriously, where are you? RR hating seems to be greatly exaggerated by a lot of posters on message boards who undertake to defend him and the program. I haven't seen a whole lot of RR hating on this site or others outside of a few trolls and misguided Michigan fans who are dismissed with extreme prejudice by the majority, which is as it should be. I think just about everyone is willing to give RR the benefit of the doubt* this year and expects significant improvement next year.
*Admittedly, I don't see the comments rejected from the Live Blog, which I understand include a lot of negativity.
Looking forward, though, I have no idea how good or bad Michigan will be. If this year has taught me anything its that preseason expectations are meaningless (a lesson I should have learned in 1997). 6-6 wouldn't surprise me too much but neither would 10-2. I'm skeptical and hopeful at the same time and I don't see that as a contradiction in this instance.
I think it would be a mistake to turn expectation of future success into an article of faith (see ND fans circa one year ago). All that 3-9 means is that we weren't a very good team this year. It doesn't mean we'll be bad next year but 8-10 wins is far from guaranteed.
For the time being, I'm content to chalk this season up to an unfortunate confluence of attrition, growing pains under a new coach and bad luck. RR has a track record of success and a history of making big leaps between the his first and second years with other programs. His recruiting has been acceptable by Michigan standards, which are extremely high. These factors, combined with the flashes of competitiveness that this year's team showed with so many young players playing significant roles are irrefutable evidence that we could be in store for great things under RR. Unless, of course, we aren't, which would be unfortunate but well within the parameters of possible.
November 23rd, 2008 at 11:28 AM ^
DC Dave,
As someone who has moderated a large number of live blogs, I can assure you, they are there. As someone who just swung by the Rivals message board, I can assure you they are there. Look at MLive. This board is largely kept mostly clean for 2 reasons. If someone posts an unhinged "Fire him!" opinion:
a) he is mocked and scorned until he never comes back
b) his post is deleted before option a) has the opportunity to occur.
November 23rd, 2008 at 12:24 PM ^
exactly, you guys live in your own fantasy world here. people dont love rich as much as you guys claim. just go walk around anywhere in ann arbor. the vast majority of people (other than this blog) do not thing the cupboard was bare or that rich is the answer.
and if you didnt erase all the negative posts maybe there can be a real conversation about the state of mich. football other than living in denail about it.
November 23rd, 2008 at 12:49 PM ^
in Ann Arbor" can't agree on a damn thing. A few, some, or many, perhaps, but not the vast majority.
November 23rd, 2008 at 12:58 PM ^
If you want to pay homage to that Asshole Drew Sharp...
That just shows that you obviously know nothing about football...
November 23rd, 2008 at 12:58 PM ^
Yeah we're really living in "denail" about RichRod, and being on campus I can tell you that there are a lot more people in "denail" about RichRod. I mean probably 90-95% of the student body ACTUALLY THINKS that he will be a good coach. Talk about living in "denail".
November 23rd, 2008 at 4:44 PM ^
Is this possible this is really Drew Sharp?
If it is ... know this, I won't even read your shit . Anyone in a position
to influence the opinions of others and chooses to engage in
purposeful negative reporting in an attempt to sensationalize their
writing is beyond contempt .
Why not be proud of your alma mater .
November 23rd, 2008 at 8:27 PM ^
do you REALLY think the real drew sharp wouldnt have better things to do than post on mgoblog.com??
November 23rd, 2008 at 4:58 PM ^
Because he allegedly fired all the administrative staff at Schembechler Hall. I'm not sure whether this is true or not, but that's her story and she's sticking to it.
Actually, I'm moderately sure it's untrue, because I know I've read a feel-good piece about the woman who was Bo's secretary who is still working there, but people are looking to hate him no matter what.
Said woman is a vocal Notre Dame fan, though, so consider the source.
November 23rd, 2008 at 5:11 PM ^
plenty of things to criticize. an experienced staff & HC made some questionable decisions this year, starting w/ Minor being absent from the gameplan (was he injured? i don't recall) and the purdue debacle. maybe the captain thing was a mistake.... but no one can know for sure and how was RR supposed to know who a good captain would have been? sone one could put together an argument against RR, but it wouldn't be much longer than this.
November 24th, 2008 at 9:46 AM ^
Minor was reported, by the coaches, as injured for the first few weeks. He was "healthy enough to play" but not to practice extensively. Rodriguez, clearly, is a believer in needing to practice in order to play.
Add in the fact that he fumbled within touching the ball two times in his first 4 or 5 games, and I feel like this has been gone over about 900 kabazillion times.
November 23rd, 2008 at 6:56 PM ^
Minor deal been gone over about 500000 times already?
November 24th, 2008 at 10:48 AM ^
the minor injury stuff.
also, i take the statement, "Even Fred Jackson hates RR." to be the absolute gospel truth, BTW.
November 25th, 2008 at 12:01 AM ^
I write a thoughtful response about why RR is hated (as asked by the original poster) only to find it removed because it doesn't fit with the kool-aid drinking fans.
You know it is OK to be critical, but I guess when someone thinks way too much of himself and his website, he tends to rule it like Stalin.
RR is hated because he is THE WRONG CHOICE! I have said this from day one. He is in way over his head, and is only the tip of the iceburg, when it comes to the problems at Michigan. Bill Martin, Mary Sue Coleman and Lloyd are the rest of the story.
Brian I challenge you to prove you are a man and keep this reply up. If it is gone, then we will all know what kind of "man" you are.
As I stated before, Fred Jackson hates RR.
November 25th, 2008 at 10:10 AM ^
You're right, Rodriguez is the wrong choice. Just like Pete Carroll was the wrong choice at USC after his tough first year, and Tressell at OSU after their dismal first season.
Why don't you take this shit over to MLive or Rivals or something? Give the guy a chance to get his system going.
November 25th, 2008 at 10:22 AM ^
First, I deleted your post, not Brian.
Here is why I deleted your post:
1. It included ad hominem attacks that weren't based in reality.
2. It contained accusations that have been repeatedly disproven.
3. When someone posts a long, meandering, hate-filled screed on the day of registration it screams "Troll". The fact that you have returned to challenge someone's manhood merely confirms this fact.
If you want to come here and challenge the manhood of others, I would ask you what sort of "man", appears online under a pseudonym purely for the sake of levelling unsupported innuendo ("Fred Jackson hates RR") backed by nothing other than their weak imagination.
If you're under the impression that providing a forum online makes the provider obligated to grant you unrestricted freedom of speech, you should disabuse yourself of this notion. It has been made clear, by Brian, that this is not a place where he wants to see people surface from the ether to peddle charges that are either products of the writer's imagination, or patently false. That would make this MLive - which is something neither Brian nor the loyal readers he's acquired wants to see happen.
Criticism of Rodriguez is fair. Talk about your disagreement with playing time distribution, play-calling, or defensive schemes. Do not come here and level personal attacks, as it's not welcome.
November 25th, 2008 at 4:45 PM ^
A. Fred's son told me Fred hates RR.
B. I have talked to long time friends of Lloyd, who say Lloyd has changed a lot in the last 5 years, and that it is hard to be friends with him. He has gone off the deep end.
C. You have no idea what you are talking about, so go back to your little hole in Chicago and be quiet.
November 25th, 2008 at 4:50 PM ^
A. That's amazing that he would commit to a coach his Dad hates.
B. I have talked to Lloyd himself, and he hates those guys.
C. You don't know what YOU'RE talking about. See what I did there?
November 25th, 2008 at 10:16 AM ^
Where is the proof that Fred Jackson hates RR?
Why would he stay on the staff? (It could be argued that he is staying on the staff until his son graduates high school so the family doesn't need to move. But college coaches are a nomadic breed, moving is to be expected.
More importantly, why would he allow his son to play for RR? There is no way to explain this fact away.
Where is the data to substantiate that comment?
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