Coaching
I don't want to get into team unity argument so understand this comes from a different angle. The team missed out on a bowl, and the practices, and extra time that entails, but also the type of team building experience that brings as well. It has been a very difficult period to be a member of this team and there have been many transfers. Many individuals can also look at a few plays here and there that might have put them into a bowl. I don't how it can be done with out it being a NCAA violation, but I think the team needs to have a good positive experience together while the seniors are still around. Sadly I think a team retreat would be a blatant rules Violation.
On another note: Watching MNF made it seem very apparent that Jon Gruden will be back coaching. The way he breaks down plays the enthusiasm he brings to the broadcast shows his love for teaching football. He started very young in the NFL, has his SuperBowl ( or Tony D's ) but I think he'll return as a Pete Carroll type once he gets tired of making RonJo sound like some plunky eccentric. If he were ND's next coach I would be more concerned then with Brian Kelly. Gruden has a better network of schemers and handled a lot more pressure. How long he takes to decide that may be another story, but he has too much passion to stay in the both with so many big time programs turning over.
November 24th, 2009 at 11:00 AM ^
“I just think there’s a faction creating a negative type of environment that wants to create drama and wants to see people pointing fingers,” Rodriguez said. “There’s nobody in that locker room that’s going to point any fingers. Everybody in that locker room is all in.”
Senior punter and team captain Zoltan Mesko was not as diplomatic. “There are people out there who don’t want us to succeed or the coaching staff to succeed,” Mesko said. “I could write a book about it. There are a lot of guys that don’t see what goes on inside the program of how much love there is for the players. It’s a shame they don’t see how close we are to being one of the best programs in the nation.”
Seems to me this team has come together, and if they have an US against the world mentality, who can blame them given the past 2 years?
November 24th, 2009 at 12:23 PM ^
I just got done reading an article on RR written by Gregg Doyle...he pretty much says that RR has blamed the past two seasons on the Media and on Carr for not recruiting.
First of all, the Media has been down right horrible to UofM. All they want is a story, and this article by Gregg Doyle proves that. Nothing he says is relevant...it is just pure speculation. If I asked RR how he felt about the team next year and he coughs before answering, then does that mean he is lying about whatever he says? These reporters would think so...I just can't believe it!
Next, I think what RR said was the past 3 or 4 February's have been a problem. That has been 2 under his watch (at least 1 full one). So how is that solely placing the blame on Carr? Just don't get it.
November 24th, 2009 at 11:10 AM ^
I would love to see Gruden in the college game, I think he would be great. IF (I still think he will succeed here) RichRod doesn't last past next year, Gruden should get some consideration, provided he isn't already taken.
I would imagine that Superbowl Ring would play pretty good in living rooms, during recruiting trips.
November 24th, 2009 at 11:30 AM ^
We already have 2 superbowl rings flashing recruits with GERG.
November 24th, 2009 at 11:18 AM ^
Very informative thread title. I like your style.
If the team needs a retreat then we are in deeper troubles than we all realize right now. They seemed pretty together in that OSU game sans the loss. They played together and put out one of their better all around performances of the year. I think they will be just fine and if anything all the turmoil those remaining have been through will only make them a tighter team.
November 24th, 2009 at 11:14 AM ^
Let's send them all to camp wynnachokababyy as featured on Disney Channel's hit show "Bug Juice". There they can climb ropes, make fires, sing camping songs and participate in many team building exercises!
November 24th, 2009 at 11:19 AM ^
Seriously, can we please make this into a Big Ten Network reality show?
November 24th, 2009 at 11:19 AM ^
To the OP - you can't just create a thread around here about whatever you are thinking about. And you cannot just throw in another topic because you feel like talking about that also.
So you think the team needs a positive experience, but a retreat is not possible. What is your suggestion? Do you want other suggestions? What are you looking for here?
And thanks for sharing your thoughts on Gruden. What do you want from us?
November 24th, 2009 at 11:55 AM ^
I'm going to have to argue that he can do it. I will win that argument, because he did do it. I agree with you though, it shouldn't be done. This post was poorly executed.
November 24th, 2009 at 12:14 PM ^
Cant argue with that! And "this post was poorly executed" is a nice way to put it.
November 24th, 2009 at 12:36 PM ^
Oh sorry, I was going to post about how RR should put Tate Denard, Devin and Conelius on the field next game. The schematics of the Quintuple option and what makes me sad.
Welcome to the offseason.
November 24th, 2009 at 11:20 AM ^
I dislike Gruden's style. Every week, he discussed how he coached a certain player, or knows a certain coach, and then descends into cursory analysis of how "this player loves playing football," or, "this is just a great player," or, "this is one of the top five players," or, "look at this play!"
He really does not contribute that much to the game. I much prefer the radio broadcasts of Monday Night Football when Dan Reeves or Jim Fassel would do analyst work. They provide information about the plays, much like Matt Millen used to do.
As for the team, they'll be fine.
November 24th, 2009 at 12:17 PM ^
It is a pleasure to listen to those types - Dick Vermeil and Hank Stram were also great in their day.
However when I hear a coach doing that style of bland, non-controversial, non-critical analysis, I usually take it as a sign that he will be looking to get back to coaching and wants to ruffle as few feathers as possible.
November 24th, 2009 at 12:39 PM ^
E-gree. The rub on any NFL broadcast is that the NFL probably wants to control what these guys say, so they are very loathe for the broadcasters to be critical at all during the broadcast.
In turn, the broadcasters want to continue broadcasting, so they neuter their thoughts and are overly complimentary.
That leaves the ESPN studio analysts (Trent Dilfer, in particular) to criticize the players and coaches.
November 24th, 2009 at 4:20 PM ^
To each his own I suppose. I thought Reeves was rather poor and think Gruden has some infectious enthusiasm for the game. Though I do agree he often digresses into the comments you mention.
November 24th, 2009 at 11:23 AM ^
I actually heard Mt. Wannahockaloogie or the isle of mookalockaheekycomeonyawannalayme are better for team-building retreats.
November 24th, 2009 at 12:27 PM ^
The camps you name almost sound like other phrases if you say them slowly.
November 24th, 2009 at 11:32 AM ^
I'm a huge fan of camp comeoncchristianpleasecommittoday. Once you get there the sun starts to peek out and everybody is a little happier from the loooooong drive it took to get there.
November 24th, 2009 at 12:03 PM ^
Tim Brown was on the radio in LA yesterday and got asked about the ND job. He said he wanted a pro guy with high stature to take over because in his mind the ND job is on a "whole other level" than schools like Cincinnati, Boise State, and (wait for it, wait for it) the University of Florida.
Then he mentioned talking to Gruden (one of his best friends, in his words) about the gig. Apparently Gruden's reaction was along the lines of, "Are you kidding me?" Brown said he definitely didn't want the headache and immediately signed an extension with ESPN to quell the rumors.
So no, I don't think Gruden is getting back into coaching any time soon. If he does it most likely won't be in college and it almost certainly won't be at Notre Dame.
November 24th, 2009 at 12:17 PM ^
...for the college level. As was pointed out in an article at smartfootball.com, to run a multiple-formation, pro-style offense doesn't work at the college or HS level b/c it takes too much study time that these players don't have. NFL players are professionals and can spend as many hours as they want or are able to in order to learn the playbook. As we here know all too well, there are limits to the time that NCAA or HS athletes have to spend learning the playbook.
Regardless, I think Gruden's an NFL guy anyway.
And all the ND faithful need to put their pipes down and realize their best bet is to get an up-and-comer like Patterson, Pederson, Kelly, or Harbaugh.
November 24th, 2009 at 1:18 PM ^
Steve, do you have a link to that article? I just looked for it over at smart football and could not find it.
If you can, thanks.
EDIT: Well done, cb.
November 24th, 2009 at 2:42 PM ^
What about Lovie Smith? I always wondered how he would fit in the college game. What are your thoughts on that Steve S?
November 24th, 2009 at 12:29 PM ^
I'd be fine with Gruden coming to the college game. Gruden's a bit of a different breed, but "pro coaches" don't always translate well to the college game, and vice versa.
He could probably recruit the pants off of most coaches, but that doesn't mean he could take his Super Bowl ring and win a national championship...
...wait a minute, that sounds familiar...
November 24th, 2009 at 1:09 PM ^
trust me, being tortured together by barwis and his assistants in the weight room is bonding experience enough.
gruden would probably be similar to lane kiffin as college head coach...he'd hire a lot of ex-nfl assistants and build a sound program.
November 24th, 2009 at 4:27 PM ^
Have you been tortured by Barwis and his assistants in the weight room?
November 24th, 2009 at 1:28 PM ^
This title is supremely uninformative.
November 24th, 2009 at 1:44 PM ^
OMG NEGBANG HOW DARE YOU.
/sarcasm.
November 24th, 2009 at 1:43 PM ^
He took Tony Dungy's players and got to the Super Bowl, where he was able to dismantle Oakland because they were still running the same schemes they were when he was there.
After that, he pretty much helped dismantle not only the vaunted Tampa Bay defense, but the rest of the team, too. His handling of players, especially QB's, is terrible. Notice how there were absolutely no complaints or players standing up for him when he was fired. I guarantee you that there are some future hall of fame players who wouldn't think of hitting the brake if Gruden walked in front of them on the road.
The bright side of this is that players only stay four or five years, so many could tolerate him. The downside is that he is socially like Bobby Knight behind the scenes, but without nearly Knight's talent for coaching.
Gruden is in his perfect place now. Everyone suddenly percieves his feces as odorless. He should stay in the booth forever, ala Dick Vitale. If he ever came to UM, it would be even worse than Charlie Weis' tenure at ND.
I still hope he ends up at ND if he decides to coach again. The five year circus would be a lot more entertaining if it happened at a rival school.
November 24th, 2009 at 2:15 PM ^
it is called COLLEGE