CC: ESPN's Rittenberg comments on Michigan coaching uncertainty
ESPN's Adam Rittenberg has a new article up at espn.com on the coaching situation at Michigan.
There isn't much new news in the article. However, there were a handful of interesting comments. Among others,
Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon says he is very comfortable waiting until after the bowl season to evaluate his coaches. Rich Rodriguez is not.
And also,
On Monday, Rodriguez and his boss walked by each other at least twice without making eye contact. Brandon insisted he's not worried about Rodriguez feeling unsettled about his future with college football's winningest program.
Lastly, from RR on recruiting,
The Rodriguez-led coaching staff is trying to persuade high school seniors to commit, or stick with their commitment, to Michigan even though there's uncertainty about who will be coaching at the school next season. Rodriguez said his status at the school has created an obstacle in recruiting, but he has an answer for recruits and their parents when they ask a question he can't really answer. "I tell them we're planning on being here and being their coach," he said.
As I said, while not much is new, this seems to allude to some level of current discomfort or strain in the relationship between DB & RR.
December 6th, 2010 at 6:03 PM ^
That's an AP article, it just has a link to Rittenberg's blog as a sidebar.
December 6th, 2010 at 6:04 PM ^
The second quote you have there is the most telling.
December 6th, 2010 at 6:37 PM ^
It tolls for the Bulldog defense.
Prefer Metallica's version myself...
December 6th, 2010 at 7:00 PM ^
John Donne
December 7th, 2010 at 12:36 AM ^
I walk past that cute chick in math without making eye contact.
Doesn't mean i don't like her...
December 6th, 2010 at 6:06 PM ^
Wow, wth?
December 6th, 2010 at 6:08 PM ^
On Monday, Rodriguez and his boss walked by each other at least twice without making eye contact. Brandon insisted he's not worried about Rodriguez feeling unsettled about his future with college football's winningest program.
Awkward!
December 6th, 2010 at 6:15 PM ^
DB and RR likely see eachother dozens of times each week. they don't need to look at eachother each time they walk by. they are like business folk in an office who see eachother every day. paying attention to their eye contact with each pass is... excessive pondering. imo...
December 6th, 2010 at 8:31 PM ^
Perhaps perception might play a role in the accuracy of the statement but definately if this played out as reported it is awkward. In order to walk by your boss or employee in a hallway and not make eye contact takes effort.
December 7th, 2010 at 12:22 AM ^
walked by each other and locked eyes and then patted each other on the rump, now that would be awkward.
December 7th, 2010 at 9:17 AM ^
it took me all night, but I have from a inside source that it is in fact not awkward...
December 6th, 2010 at 6:21 PM ^
Kind of curious to know who gave the AP this info. Was it DB, was it Coach Rod? Do they have a camera inside the building.
I guess if they don't hug every time they walk by each other, that says alot.
December 6th, 2010 at 6:50 PM ^
That's a Larry Lage story -- he's the regular AP writer for southeast Michigan, so he was probably there to do some sort of story on the bowl game and/or RichRod's current situation.
Since he states it is fact, I presume that he was around Schembechler Hall doing various interviews and witnessed these "interactions," although I'm not sure they're newsworthy.
December 6th, 2010 at 6:58 PM ^
Rodriguez and Brandon were both at today's press conference, which I'm sure Lage attended, so Lage was reporting on their interaction at the press conference.
December 6th, 2010 at 7:06 PM ^
It wasn't clear from the story if the quotes were from the presser or individual interviews. Thanks, Raoul.
December 6th, 2010 at 7:09 PM ^
Wiki-Leaks...
/joking
December 6th, 2010 at 7:25 PM ^
That would be so funny. They should hug it out.
December 6th, 2010 at 6:09 PM ^
wow...awkward turtle in Schembechler hall
December 6th, 2010 at 6:12 PM ^
for our next trick, we will manufacture information out of absolutely nothing.
ta-da!
December 6th, 2010 at 6:11 PM ^
So the situation is still a mess. No matter what the outcome I will never understand the time frame given for making the decision. Good thing for everyone I am not an AD nor have I ever been. So basically just like everybody else who has an opinion on the matter.
December 6th, 2010 at 7:11 PM ^
You really can't think of a situation where waiting right now is necessary? What if DB wants JH to be the coach. Now, let's say JH says something like "I'm not quite sure yet, but I'll know after my BCS bowl game" or "yes, I'd love to coach UM, but in fairness to my current team I'd like to finish out the season with them before it's announced."
Or maybe DB really is evaluating RR still. Maybe he's discussing with other available coaches, maybe he's consulting with past coaches, alumni, or anyone else who would have some insight on what to do.
I don't know what the answer is. But I'm pretty sure the answer is NOT: "I just wanted to fuck up our recruiting or I knew the whole time I was just too lazy to tell anyone or I was too busy playing brick breaker on my blackberry that I didn't realize it was already a week into December."
December 6th, 2010 at 8:10 PM ^
I don't think he is waiting just for shits and gigs. Consulting with past coaches which I assume would be Lloyd Carr or alumni would probably not be the reason either. I am drawing this conclusion from his reply to Desmond Howard.
As far as waiting on JH I would think that option just got a little closer to being out of reach. That is assuming he did or is going to sign another contract extension. More the same with Hoke.
Much like RR himself time will tell if DB handled it the right way. If RR stays and we lose out on some recruits not sure it was the best decision to wait. The desire for a quick decision may also be me being a bit selfish and just wanting to know what direction we are heading in.
December 6th, 2010 at 11:18 PM ^
Brickbreaker can be addictive.
December 6th, 2010 at 6:16 PM ^
Brandon is keeping them in the dark and they have no news so the come up with stuff like this. Unless they have someone following DB and RR around all day, they have no way to know how many times the two have passed each other or whether they made eye contact. This is just MSM "filler" until some real news happens.
December 6th, 2010 at 6:22 PM ^
Sounds like he's keeping RR in the dark, too.
December 6th, 2010 at 6:27 PM ^
... Brandon has been upfront and honest with RR (and the public) about the process from the get go. Some are just unhappy with the process. And you should not assume that RR does not know much more than the MSM (and we) do.
December 6th, 2010 at 6:32 PM ^
Someone who knows for certain he's coming back to his job next fall doesn't give the speech he gave at the Bust (pre-Groban), nor does he tell recruits "we plan on being here."
Either you know, or you don't. And when you know, what you say is a lot different than what you say when you're not sure.
December 6th, 2010 at 6:39 PM ^
You have just added yourself to the long list of persons who claim to be able to analyze everything RR says and does and read his mind.
December 6th, 2010 at 6:44 PM ^
Has he said outright "I will be coaching the team next year?" Nope. If he knew that information, you'd have heard it by now.
Look at what the players said in the presser this morning. If RR knew he was coming back, would they have said what they did? If you're a coach who knows you're coming back, don't the players find out?
Fact of the matter is DB knows what he's going to do, but hasn't said a word to anyone. That's keeping RR in the dark.
December 6th, 2010 at 6:55 PM ^
If he knew that information, you'd have heard it by now.
You are making the same mistake the MSM is making -- assuming that Dave Brandon and Coach Rod are going to rush out and make public each decision as it is made. Just because RR has not said publicly that he has been told he is not being terminated, does not mean he doesn't. And just because Brandon has not said publicly that he is working with RR to identify and hire a new DC does not mean that they aren't. Don't jump to conclusions just to fill the information void. It might make you feel better, but it does not make you correct.
December 6th, 2010 at 7:02 PM ^
Players are giving quotes like this:
"Whatever pans out, we're worried about the game."
Obviously means there's some collusion between RR and DB, which expands down to players AND recruits, to protect the valuable trade secret that is RR's job security for next year?
If anyone other than Dave Brandon knew the answer to where Rich Rodriguez's office will be in February, we'd know by now. Period. Has nothing with jumping to conclusions or an "information void" and everything to do with the fact that if RR knew he was coming back, it's in his best interest to make that known rather than embargo the whole thing.
December 6th, 2010 at 7:05 PM ^
You are assuming because the players have not been told that nothing has been communicated to RR. Good luck on that.
December 6th, 2010 at 7:30 PM ^
I played with your heart....got lost in the game...oo baby, baby oops you think I'm in love, that im sent from abooooooooooooooove.
December 6th, 2010 at 11:14 PM ^
You could try and make your point without trying to sound like a punk.
December 6th, 2010 at 11:37 PM ^
December 7th, 2010 at 12:11 AM ^
RR knows he's being retained, but has decided to let his players and recruits think he might not be because... he and David Brandon want to teach the local media lesson?
So, you read the back and forth and this is what you came away with?
December 6th, 2010 at 10:47 PM ^
If anyone other than Dave Brandon knew the answer to where Rich Rodriguez's office will be in February, we'd know by now.
This is exactly right. Whether DB has made a decision or not, he at least is smart enough not to tell anyone else because human nature being what it is, that information would have leaked faster than my shower.
December 6th, 2010 at 11:25 PM ^
The silence is deafening. If nothing else, DB is doing a good job managing the process, whatever that process is.
As a complete aside, it's a little like the best argument (to me) that Oswald acted alone. If there had been as big a conspiracy as some suggest, someone would have talked, eventually. End of ridiculous tangent.
December 6th, 2010 at 8:43 PM ^
He is not claiming to read his mind. Based on the things that have been said and the circumstances he made a thought-out assessment of what makes the most sense. Its what all successful businessmen, lawyers, health care providers, police officers etc., do in their professional lives. Does it really make sense that RR knows he is going to keep his job and just decided to keep it a secret? You are just trying to be a jerk in order to be annoying. Mission accomplished.
December 7th, 2010 at 12:42 AM ^
Does it really make sense that RR knows he is going to keep his job and just decided to keep it a secret?
No, and that is not what I said, but maybe he is not at liberty to disclose everything he knows right now. Believe it or not ... and you might want to tighten your thinking cap for this one ... some things are best handled out of the public eye. Maybe you should allow Dave Brandon and Coach Rod a bit more latitude rather than immediately assuming they are either totally brain dead or out to "punk" the MSM simply because they have not publicly disclosed everything that is going on behind the scenes. IMO.
December 6th, 2010 at 6:52 PM ^
did you make eye contact today?
and how many reporters were around to see it?
It's a load of crap just like everything else fabricated and spun out of context.
December 6th, 2010 at 6:17 PM ^
Like we've all said, we don't know what's going to happen until next month. But, seeing this and RR not having any assurances from DB makes me think it doesn't look good for him.
Can you imagine the tension that is in that building!?!? Awwwwwkward
December 6th, 2010 at 6:32 PM ^
Rich has never had it easy here. The guy is definitely a trooper. Whatever happens, it is hard to argue he can't handle turmoil.
December 6th, 2010 at 7:06 PM ^
I completely agree, this guy has been put through hell since the day he came into town. I never thought I would say this, but he might actually be relieved to be canned from Michigan (assuming that happens of course).
December 6th, 2010 at 7:33 PM ^
Even if he is fired, he walks away with more $ than most of will sniff in our 40+ years of the daily grind. No doubt that coaching a major college team is big time stress and responsibility, buy I won't shed a tear for RR or any other multi-millionaire associated with big time college or pro sports.
December 6th, 2010 at 6:21 PM ^
Do we even have DB on record that he making some kind of a decision when they sit down sometime after the season is over? I don't think so. But if he has said something along those lines, I have not seen it either referenced here or elsewhere. Tons of speculation and supposed inside knowledge, but no real facts.
December 6th, 2010 at 6:23 PM ^
How does he know they didn't already pass each other 5 times and say hello? That would be fairly common for people who work in the same building. You don't overtly acknowledge a person each time you pass them if you pass them frequently throughout the day.
He must have something better to write about than this, or maybe not.
December 6th, 2010 at 6:32 PM ^
Brandon has never publicly said he is not making any decisions until after the bowl game. That has simply been assumed by the MSM based on the few, very limited statements he has made.
December 6th, 2010 at 6:26 PM ^
"Aw no, she didn't look at me today. I wonder if she's mad at me!? What did I do wrong? Oh God kill me now!"
What a effing joke the MSM has become.