Coach Rodriguez' upcoming metamorphosis into a Michigan Man
I guess my tipping point was reached after reading the 2010 football prediction from the Detroit News' Lynn Henning's shitpiece..... "it's difficult to make a case for more than 6-6.", hence this forum topic.
If a professional sportswriter who has access to far more information than the average college football fan thinks this, then it could imply many us think the same or worse of our upcoming prospects.
How he comes up with 6-6, to me, is ridiculous. Do people forget that we almost started 6-0 with two true freshmen QBs ? The fact that we even won five games was a minor miracle, or even three the season prior with a QB in Threet who cannot run the spread. A very rare situation indeed, in having an uber-recruit like Mallett on roster, when after he left, there was no decent QB prospect on the roster behind him (knowing they'd never play), not to mention a QB able to properly play Rodriguez' unique spread. And do people not realize the light years difference between true freshmen QBs in a spread like ours and their second year in it? WHAT-THE-FUCK The team is light years...yes...light years ahead of last season.
Winning at least six games will be easily achieved, and it will be evident by halftime of the UConn game, when we've already put up 28+ points.
It is at this critical juncture, when Coach Rodriguez is considered for the first time, a true Michigan Man by the M faithful, traditionalists and modernists alike. This halftime will be the pause and the reflection, on all the pain and sweat it took to get the team back to the upper tier of college teams. It will be the relief to many, for all the anxiety up until now will cease to exist. It will be Coach Rodriguez' true baptism into our storied history, and most of all, it will be self-evident.
GO BLUE
I dont think they have much access anymore. And most that do dont care to take advantage of it. I believe that is how the whole Rosenberg smear job started, because Rich Rod cut the medias access and since Rosenberg went to UofM he felt he should be given more.
They have more access now then they ever had under Lloyd or Bo. Rosenberg didn't like that RR wasn't a Bo disciple. Roseberg spent his career trying to get in the Fort and didn't appreciate it being opened up to any and all once RR was hired. Thusly, Jihad.
Of course Rosenberg didn't like Rodriguez, when he is pitching his book about the Bo/Woody wars.
Thank you!
I am sick of this "Michigan Man" BS. I just want our coach to win football games. I do not give a fuck if he's a Michigan Man, which frickin meaningless anyway.
On the surface the "Michigan Man" thing meaningless, but symbolically it speaks volumes of the status of our program. In many ways he has not been accepted by a large berth of M faithful, and symbolically if he is accepted en masse, it can only mean that he has brought our program to prominence with his style of play so different than the predecessor.
RR and his wife Rita have raised tons of money for Mott Children's Hospital, gone out of their way to help Brock Mealer and his family, posted the highest GPA for the football team in recent history, and generally has been an asset to the University of Michigan. Why isn't he a Michigan Man?
Oh right because he hasn't won football games. Success is part of what makes a Michigan Man, but it is not all that matters.
I agree that success on the field is part of what makes a good football coach, but not all that matters. I just get tired of this "Michigan Man" stuff and hearing a zillion versions of what makes a man a "Michigan Man".
don't call BS to something you have no frickin' clue about. honestly "Michigan Men" like me know. and it's more than just sports.
I like your idea that the time is coming when the majority of the M fan base accepts RR. I agree that will come with sustained winning, and people seeing what his offense can do with high levels of talent.
I hope you're right that it will come this year. I doubt it will occur on September 4th, though. First, that's a tough matchup. Second, even if we do well, the majority of M fans will discount the success as "it's just UCONN," probably without a lot of understanding that UCONN is a good team.
I think that moment will only come with 9 or more wins, probably only with a Big10 championship, and truly hit home only after a win over Tosu (think Bo 1969). That will happen in the not too distant future. Unlikely this year, but possible next.
Just let the haters and non believers do what they do. No point in arguing with them. Ignorance is a powerful thing. All we can do is win. That will shut everyone up and they will instantly jump on the RR bandwagon. Mich has had a couple painful years but improvement have clearly been made. Now we just sit here and wait. GO BLUE!!!!!
I can't wait for Drew Sharp's article titled "Rich Rodriguez wins hearts of entire fan base, finally becoming the coach everyone thought he would be from the start."
...
...
He'll write that if we win lots of games, right?
Of course, because before Rich Rodriguez showed up in Ann Arbor, Drew Sharp never had the slightest criticism of the University of Michigan fooftball program.
...but with an addendum.
The way I see it, there are three kinds of people in the media who are writing negative pieces against Michigan: those with anti-RR agendas, those who would write anything to generate clicks, and those who actually believe what they write.
Sharp may appear stupid, but I think he is more of a click-whore than an idiot, and I would expect him to be one of the first to ignore everything he has written and say "I knew it all along" when RR starts winning big. Rosenpuke and Shyster, on the other hand, will probably write about how Michigan has "officially sold its soul to the devil" or some other such nonsense.
As for those who actually believe what they are writing, they will turn around when the winning starts and turn Michigan into a "feel-good" story. I can't wait.
IIRC it wasn't taken to well by the masses earlier, not so much the Rosenpuke (which I still think do away with) but particularly the second name...
Edit: I don't disagree with a lot of what you said, and I'm not going to neg, and now you can't edit, so I guess I didn't really help you, my bad...
Yeah Rosenpuke is just hilarious.
It is at this critical juncture, when Coach Rodriguez is considered for the first time, a true Michigan Man by the M faithful, traditionalists and modernists alike.
You can bet your last Loony that this is what he spends his waking hours trying to achieve...
The team is light years...yes...light years ahead of last season.
It would be just one light year ahead of last season though, right? I mean if a team could theoretically travel at the speed of light...
Best. User Gen-Content. Evrrrr.
lol... well done.
Your hyperbole is simply too hyperbolic, sir! SIR!
The Enterprise could go Warp 9. RR is our Captain Kirk!
I believe he was probably accepted by all the faithful with a team light years ahead of his previous one come halftime vs. Western Michigan in 2009. So it's possible.
I thought RR opened up The Fort compared to the Carr days. Good thread though, the improvement of our QB's reads and ball security will mean moderate improvement. Then add in continuity of the team and coaches by having another year together......whala! (sp?)
Voila... it is french...
...not to be confused with Viola...which is a stringed instrument.
BTW, in French voila roughly translates to "there it is" (yeesh, am i bored today or what)
Great post my friend! I'm in the same boat when talking about UCONN. We have never had a chip on our shoulder like we do today. UCONN has no clue what they are coming into, let alone the Reinauguration of the Big House. RR will have this team focused like we've ever seen.
Redemption is going to taste sweet!!!
I think we came with a chip on our shoulder last year, but that chip faded and we started to struggle. UM needs to play with a chip on thier shoulder EVERY DOWN of EVERY GAME! thats the way and the only way I see our team not struggle. they need to play with heart. the good thing is they should've learned how to do this by playing with BG.
...but to lose your best player (B. Graham), your best corner (Warren), your best LB (S. Brown), your top two RBs, and your most experienced/reliable WR (Mathews) -- not to mention your last six games against arguably beatable FBS competition -- and still assert that this team is "light years" ahead of last year?
Not sure I can jump on that wagon just yet.
Having said that, I remain cautiously optimistic (or perhaps just hopeful) that we'll finally see the RR "second-year bump" in the third year. Unfortunately, prior comparisons on this blog and elsewhere have demonstrated a lack of similarity between U-M's returning personnel and those of the programs that RR previously inherited.
And having said that, I expect our QB play to be improved and more consistent this year, which will definitely help. When your D can't stop anybody, a good O is probably your best D.
to have some stability in defense with the same DC, GERG. That will be the biggest difference maker in how the defense perform. Roh should progress into a pass rush terror at quick LB position. Big Will is getting better with technique and should be a force to be reckoned with after a year of seasoning under his belt. We will see improvement in our defense IMO even with the loss of our three best defensive players.
Well it always has seemed to me the Rodriguez' modus operandi is to have a dominant unstoppable offense whereby the other team cannot keep up with the scoring, and have an adequate defense that plays against teams that are always playing catchup.
This is the rare rare case I think that offense is more important than defense, given the nature of it.
"Rodriguez' modus operandi is to have a dominant unstoppable offense whereby the other team cannot keep up with the scoring, and have an adequate defense"
This may be more reflective of recruiting limitations at WVU vs. Michigan. At WVU he was able to get a group of talented, somewhat undersized and thereby somewhat under the radar recruits to drive the offense, but not the size and athletic depth to man a great defense. At Michigan he will be able to recruit that depth on defense.
No one goes in with an MO of having only an adequate defense.
Just for some context, WVU's total defense, 2005-2009
- 2004: 37
- 2005: 15
- 2006: 62 (wtf?)
- 2007: 7 (aaaah...)
So it isn't as though their defense was never a fairly big part of the equation.
because WVU's offense is so explosive and scores a lot of points. The defense is bound to have a lot of possession to defend. In that regard, some of the rankings looks a whole lot better. RR does know how to recruit defense.
uconn want know what to do when it's 21-0 in the first quater, like gucci mane says it's over!!! man this guy is insane, we will win at least 9 games this year
Honestly, it isn't impossible that we go 6-6 this year. I think the phrase "it's hard to see Michigan doing BETTER than that" is complete BS, but I am wary to get excited these days. There's no point in calling stupid columnists wrong until we actually win 7 games.
I'm sorry, but this is not a diary. If you want to post about this on a board topic, sure whatever, people will react, probably still get a laugh, life will go on. This however, doesn't tell us anything new, it doesn't provide us great insite, it doesn't give statistical knowledge that could validate our thinking. This isn't a reimagining of Donte's Inferno, which I don't even know belongs as a Diary, but FA is a mod so at least he has some validation and what he's writing is at least creative. This is a prediction, and a not that well informed of one at that. The critics won't change their mind at half time against U-Conn, the critics won't change their mind after this season, the critics are going to continue to be critics until winning becomes the norm for years. Sure, a few people will say "see, told you so," but they said that after Western and ND last year. I support RR, but this is just not a good diary and I'm tired of some of these poorly made "diaries" that are just predictions and rah-rah speeches. Some how, some way, something needs to be defined to stop this from happening as much as it already does, and I think that means that people need to stay around these parts longer to understand the qualitiy of the real diaries is "light-years" beyond this, and that this doesn't belong.
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\End Anger
\End Fist_wagging_in_air
\End Get_off_my_lawn
As I am tired of illiterates who post here... How is THAT for "insite"
Sorry for the spelling mistake during my rant, and thanks for the insight.
\End replies_to_Gino
No apology needed. I didn't realize I even posted to a Diary, considering it is my first one. but I won't apologize, of course.
While serious and reasoned critics would likely not sway 30 minutes in to the season, the critics who actually have a platform upon which to make their criticisms known will most likely follow the popular (and ratings/controversy/revenue generating) meme that "Michigan is back (for real this time)," because I believe most of those people genuinely forget any sense of perspective when they comment.
I claimed that Michigan fans should be able to gauge just how improved, or not, Greg Robinson's defense is by the end of the 1st quarter vs. UConn. I believe this because the Huskies lost their best receivers last fall, and are going to be run-centric football team in 2010 with a good QB, a proven tailback, and a punishing, NFLesque offensive line. UConn also has a very good DL and LB corps. Their defensive secondary, much like Michigan's, has really stunk in the past.
UConn 2010 is your prototypical "Wisconsin Lite". They deserve a lot of respect after all the shit they went through last year as a football team.
If Michigan shuts down UConn's run effectively (and then scores 28 points as you say) then yeah, Michigan should be able to hold their own in the Big Ten against the run and gain bowl eligibility with ease. Effective run defense (and scoring defense) are the key 20% of the Pareto principle for Big Ten football success that Michigan has to get right. PSU and OSU have mastered this 20% the last 5 years and it's why they've been winning most of the B10 titles. You don't need a great offense nor Charles Woodson and a great secondary to get to a bowl game. Just see Northwestern and MSU.
If Michigan can just slow down the run then they'd at least be better positioned than last year to upset a few teams including Iowa, MSU, PSU and maybe some others.
Sadly 6-6 is a definite possibility given what little we know about Michigan's fortune with injuries on offense, the poor team depth on defense, a completely inexperienced and unknown kicking game for 2010 and poor run/scoring defense up to this point.
Personally I think fans should be "satisfied" this year with 7-5 plus a bowl win. I know no one will be because "We're Michigan dammit!". Seems to me most are closing their eyes to Michigan's schedule: 7 of Michigan's 12 opponents this year won their bowl games. Last year Michigan also faced 7 bowl teams, but only 2 won their bowl games (ND and Iowa).
Last year Michigan also faced 7 bowl teams, but only 2 won their bowl games (ND and Iowa).
...OSU?
ND didn't play in a bowl, and Wisconsin won.
I assume he was referring to the 2008 season with that particular quote. Confusing, as that would actually be "year before last" at this point.
I said 28+ points by halftime markus. As you were...
the defense. i don't doubt UM will put up 30+ pts per game in 2010 (barring serious QB injuries). i just hope the D gives up less. that's my biggest concern.
I don't consider 5-7 last year a miracle in any way. I was saying 6-6, but most people on MGoBlog were saying 7-8 wins. 5 wins was a disappointment, even if we hadn't started out 4-0. We should have beaten 2 out of MSU, Illinois, and Purdue.
I wish someone would finally write a "Captain's Log" including dramatic James T. Kirk pauses and inflections about the discovery of Denard Robinson and Craig "Death" Roh.
I hope the team does well and RR finally proves himself as a top notch coach. But this team is still awfully young without a proven defense. I would not be surprised if we only make it to 6-6 but as long as the team improves throughout the season , then I will be pleased that we are starting to rebuild back to UM standards. Injuries are a factor nobody can predict, so I'm hopeful the team stays relatively healthy. As always, no matter the record, I will always enjoy another UM football season. Here's hoping the team can win 9 or 10 games!!! It makes me think of that old Sammy Hagar song "High Hopes", hopefully they're not wasted!
Things I learned from this diary:
- We were almost 6-0 to start last season, which makes any prediction of less than six wins for this season preposterous.
- Somehow Ryan Mallett was not properly accounted for in Lynn Henning's prediction of 6-6 this season.
- We are light-years better than last year. YES - light-years!
- Winning six games is easy!
- We will be ahead 28-0 on UConn at halftime. WOOOOO!!! GO BLUE!!!
- This single half of football will, by itself, turn around Michigan's season - nay - the entire program.
- At halftime the ghost of Fritz Crisler will rise and enter the Michigan locker room and bestow "Michigan Man" on RR.
- The Pope himself will lead Michigan onto the field for the second half and all in the Big House will rise and unite.
- Finally: Michigan will have returned to form after just this one half of football. The next 23 halves of football be damned!
I would also like to point out that in last year's season opener we led at halftime 31-0.
...is "Wisconsin-lite". If true, they will be very unsatisfying as lite cheese is waxy and tasteless.