Any Empathy Left?
I know everyone is angry, but I want you to think about how angry you are then ask yourself from what you have seen of RR and everything he has endured here, how angry this guy must be? How much bottled venom is in his gut that he is not allowed to say because of his position? I hope he doesn't have a dog
Now think about removing him as coach without giving him a chance to exact revenge on the thousands that have done him wrong. I get sick thinking about this, it would be like in the movie Gladiator the guys family gets slaughtered and they just put him in prison never to be heard from again. RR has made some mistakes, but he is a good coach with a huge chip on his shoulder. I can't guarantee he'll have wild success next year even though I think he will, but what I think I can promise is no sympathy for our enemies from RR. I can promise the victories will be sweeter for those of us that have supported him if he wins big next year.
November 3rd, 2010 at 9:56 AM ^
Still hoping for big things though.
GO BLUE!
November 3rd, 2010 at 10:00 AM ^
without a defense, we will not win. Offense wins games. Defense Wins Championships. Kicking wins big games. We are 1/3.
November 3rd, 2010 at 10:02 AM ^
Half agree.
Our D definitely needs to step up, but we dont' have to be lockdown. Oregon gave up over 30 points to both USC and Stanford... but it doesn't matter when you're scoring 50 in both games and never scoring below 42 for the entire season...
November 3rd, 2010 at 10:06 AM ^
Last I checked, we are not Oregon. We may be a simulacrum, but we are nowhere near Oregon as to be able to wave off having a very strong defense.
November 3rd, 2010 at 10:09 AM ^
What is up with MM getting all negative on here?
/s
November 3rd, 2010 at 10:54 AM ^
Have you seen me on the field? That is just an extension of my normal everyday persona. The blue heron will testify to this.
November 3rd, 2010 at 11:34 AM ^
1 / 3 of a team x 1 / 2 of an agreement.....
mean we are 1 / 6 of the way there? Damn, these fractions are killing are chances for improvement....
November 3rd, 2010 at 10:10 AM ^
...and RR has made a crucial mistake of not giving enough priority to the defense. I empathize. I have made mistakes in my professional life. Some bigger than others. It stinks when I do. In RR's case, it means he is not the man for this job, since the Michigan job demands a quality defense.
He must be angry at people that have not welcomed him properly. He must also be angry at himself for simply not giving enough priority to the defense.
November 3rd, 2010 at 11:12 AM ^
Could someone define and or quantify "not enough Priority" to the defense? It looks like He made it a huge priority for the past two years to me. Has it worked out? Not really. Some of it is his fault some, the efforts of others to disrupt what he was doing... Just don't see a lack of "priority"??
November 3rd, 2010 at 10:02 AM ^
I lose a little every time Vincent Smith runs out of I form on 3rd and short while Hopkins hangs out on the sideline.
I lose a little bit every time a linebacker loses contain on a simple run play.
I lose a little bit every time we rush three on defense when we know our secondary will eventually be exposed.
I have some empathy left, especially with the JT Floyd rumors, but how much will be left at the end of the season is anyone's guess.
November 3rd, 2010 at 10:13 AM ^
I wish I could give MGoPoints. You penned my feelings perfectly. That I-Form stuff on 3rd down is really the only weakness on offense outside of turnovers.
The rest of your points mention defensive basics that seems to be addressed positively by other coaching staffs around the country every year.
November 3rd, 2010 at 10:02 AM ^
Wow Ziff72, how that rings true. Especially your last sentence. I have spoke my support for RR since day one, to family and friends. I really hope DB sees what RR is building here, especially on offense, and keeps him for at least next year. I think that RR needs a defensive coordinator that is able to do his own thing but is able to make it work. Now that doesn't necessarily mean that we should get rid of GERG but something needs to happen. Once it does, our TEAM will be unstoppable and we will be riding high again.
November 3rd, 2010 at 10:21 AM ^
I have supported RR as well. But I find it hard to right now. Help me! I would appreciate it! He seems to be a wizard on offense. Great! But is there any reason to believe that he WILL turn the defense around? A defense he has let get into this predicament? Is there any evidence from her previous years of coaching that he can turn out an aggressive, fundamental, physical defense we need for our schedule every year? I have not found this evidence even though I want it to exist. Help! Find some for me! I need anything positive!
November 3rd, 2010 at 10:47 AM ^
I think that RR needs a defensive coordinator that is able to do his own thing but is able to make it work. Now that doesn't necessarily mean that we should get rid of GERG but something needs to happen.
It seems that the only other "something" that could happen (if GERG isn't let go) is to broom most or all of the defensive position coaches. Simply shaking them up isn't going to accomplish anything. I hear Gibson is a great recruiter, but his coaching skills are in serious doubt.
November 3rd, 2010 at 10:07 AM ^
If Maximus had gotten his ass kicked his first two fights, and then was run through with a trident in his third fight.
Because I am not entertained.
November 3rd, 2010 at 10:36 AM ^
While it may currently look this way, check back on the Offensive vs Defensive recruits that were taken, it's pretty equal, but as we all know, issues with defensive players have taken place the past three years. He made a change with the DC, that seems like taking action to me. Still, being a realist with all of this, don't you think it just may take some time to develop freshman players? Unfortunately, our D development is behind our O by a couple years IMO. Doesn't help the frustration, but it's factual and if our D turns out to be as good as our O is currently, I will continue to have patience. This is a five year process and I have taken it to be that way from the day of the hire.
November 3rd, 2010 at 11:08 AM ^
If RR is fired after this season, he has every right to be mad. Especially if some other coach comes in and takes over his work and wins. If we have a new coach next year, that man may look real good without doing the hard RR has. Whoever the coach is next year will have upperclassman to work with and even a junior qb. Luxuries RR hasn't had yet. Even a new average coach could come in next year and look elite. Which means that RR had better look very elite next year if given the chance.
November 3rd, 2010 at 11:19 AM ^
ask yourself from what you have seen of RR and everything he has endured here, how angry this guy must be?
I actually don't completely buy into this logic. To you and I and most people on this board, the average person doesn't like to lose or be unsuccessful. I'll concede that point without question. But we've seen too many examples in corporate America of CEOs who make millions of dollars driving companies into the ground. Former K-Mart CEO Charles Conaway would be a fine example, and there are many others.
I can easily extend this analogy to sports, for players, coaches, and owners. This has always been my biggest reason for enjoying college sports more than pro. When a pro athlete loses -- either on a woeful team like the Lions or in a critical game -- they get to go home with their salary. When a college team loses -- like U-M did in heartbreaking fashion against Miami in last year's NCAA hockey tourney -- that's all they have. Winning or losing. I'll concede that it's not that simple (student athletes get financial benefits, and sometimes even get "paid"), but they don't have million-dollar contracts that help them cope with losing.
A fine example of money making a coach indifferent to losing could be former Lions coach Darryl Rogers, who was once quoted as saying, "what does a coach have to do around here to get fired?" Obviously, the losing didn't keep him awake at night and drive him to the point where he could no longer live with himself. He simply kept taking Mr. Ford's money, to the point where even he was surprised that he still had a job.
And no better example of being content with losing than Mr. Ford himself. I could write a thesis on this man's indifference to losing, but any Lions fan here knows that I'd be preaching to the choir.
My point is, I suspect that one's reactions to winning and losing change a bit when you make millions of dollars. I'm sure RR doesn't enjoy losing, but that salary takes some of the sting out of it. And if he gets fired, I'm sure he won't worry all that much. He could take a year off to rejuvenate, and he'd have another job by 2012 if he was so inclined.
Now think about removing him as coach without giving him a chance to exact revenge on the thousands that have done him wrong.
I think there are a few folks on this site who would find this argument difficult to support. While it may be true that RR never had the support of 100% of the fanbase because he was an outsider, it's also apparent that he hasn't done himself many favors with his poor decisions (buyout fiasco, practice violations, DC revolving door, etc.). Note that I stop short of laying the defensive attrition and lack of talent/depth at his feet, although it would be silly to absolve him of responsibility in these areas.
November 3rd, 2010 at 11:20 AM ^
I do until I find myself hoping we can pull it out agaist freaking Purdue. So much like last year, I have little hope for 2011. Beatig a down Penn State team would have done so much for me, instead I feel like anyone not Indiana will be a loss. He's making big boy bucks and really, year 3 I'm hoping tobeat freaking Purdue to get to the Copper Bowl or Insite, whatever, to play Iowa State. Ugh.
November 3rd, 2010 at 12:11 PM ^
I'm not sure they can say the same about me.
November 3rd, 2010 at 12:33 PM ^
Lets give him next year...BUT, he has to bring a new defensive staff. Friends or no friends, they have to understand that his job is on the line and he has to do what is necessary for the football team. "I love you guys, but see ya!" needs to be RR's last words to THIS defensive staff.
November 3rd, 2010 at 12:34 PM ^
I will continue to support Michigan football because the team symbolizes everything Michigan has contributed to my life, my career, and my general well-being.
However, at this point, I can hardly muster any passion. Our players play so hard, and they want to win so badly, but it seems like, at least on defense, they are alternately confused or undisciplined, or both. Our team is like a huge blockbuster movie with no plot; all the offensive fireworks are great, but they are hollow without wins.
While I don't want to see anyone losing their jobs, and have our tradition sullied by a revolving door of mediocrity a la Notre Dame; I can't help but wonder, will this fanbase ever feel the passion again under the current regime.
November 3rd, 2010 at 12:53 PM ^
Empathy is the wrong word here, unless you've been something analogous to a football coach in the past. For most college students, that's not really true. The word you're looking for is sympathy.
As for avenging losses, RR had this year to avenge the past two years, and has mostly failed at that so far. Whether or not he will be okay in the future is up in the air.
November 3rd, 2010 at 3:52 PM ^
Now think about removing him as coach without giving him a chance to exact revenge on the thousands that have done him wrong.
Without getting into the "thousands" that have done him wrong, he has had a chance to exact revenge of a couple of handfuls but has failed so far. He had two chances to exact revenge on MSU. He's had one chance to do so against OSU. He'll have another chance against OSU pretty soon. He's a man. He's coaching at one of the most prominent positions in the nation. He gets paid plenty of money. There's no need to shed a tear for the guy. Let's just hope he can exact some revenge on the football field...this year.