If i were you, I would stop being a douche.
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Does RR remind you of Bo or what?
Well if I were you then you would be me and I would use your body to get to the top.
What?
Didn't think I'd have to explain, but I guess so!
If I say: "Hackney cue up the nuke please?"
I am sorry I missed this full of win thread. According to the rules of the CC Detente Act of 2010, I cannot nuke this thread. Nor would I want to. The poster has conveyed anger over the negativity coming from all areas of the country (Today, Dallas). While it may not be great for a thread but as a post, he did not once mention JH or DB. As an ardent supporter of current coaches, this is in no way a nuclear offense, I actually agree with him. Unless you know the man personally like his players and family, then no one has the right to judge his character.
I don't think the board's mood has moved one degree. In fact it still stays very fractured and I will nuke the shit out of any non-CC prefixed threads or threads that denegrate any of the circus participants in this big tent controversy. I will weigh in with my coaching thoughts after Jan 3rd. Kinda sounds like someone huh? I, nor anyone else knows what is going on besides the people involved right now. I think you just jumped the shark. It happens to the best of us.
Keep a open eye and a closed heart. That way you don't get hurt.
P.S. I have been watching MNF, writing Fear and Loathing in Ann Arbor Volume II, doing my laundry, and eating M & Ms
Im gonna have to say people were just going off emotion and giving it some time Im sure most have gotten over it
Where is Hackney anyway? I cant believe he's gonna miss this thread.
We all read the lyrics to "You raise me up" and have taken a more passive tone on the board.
Dude, h bomb explosions and WW II air raid sirens are soooooo last week.
That's a good way to end a rant
made me laugh aloud...+1
I ate five meatballs with my pasta tonight because a sixth would make me fart a lot.
interest you in some Beano?
I don't know. Will my favorite QB win two Heismans after I start cooking with Beano?
I offered the Beano so you wouldn't shit yourself after eating that coveted sixth meatball.
BeanO don't work on meat dawg. I'm jus sayin.
Never used the product myself, just figured it was for univeral use to reduce the passage of gas.
I'm with you man.
Go ahead and eat that meatball!!!!
Totally... except for that whole "winning games" thing, but that's really overrated IMO
I remember Bo always got choked up at Banquets and things, and now RR does too. But when he does it he's "begging for his job". Shit pisses me off.
First of all, Bo didn't go 15-21 in his first three seasons and was never on the hot seat. Second of all, what do you think people are going to write when your tearful coach on the hot seat says, "I want to be a Michigan Man." We, as a fanbase, have developed a persecution complex. We really need to get over it.
Nah, a significant part of our fanbase has developed a deeply held entitlement complex, and we really need to get over that...
"History is a nightmare from which I am trying to awake."
Shit pisses me off too.
I'm not old enough to remember too much about Bo. But when I was coaching high school kids, I got choked up saying goodbye to the Seniors... I'm all in for this team, and its coach.
Yeah... I remember how Bo got blown out by Ohio State his first three seasons too.
Also Penn State. Come to think of it, Bo was really bad in the b10.
Bo could NEVER beat Penn State.
(but then, he was undefeated vs. them too...)
Hey, he wasn't blown out in 2010!
37-7 isn't a blowout?
2009
He was talking about Penn State. Correct me if i am wrong
Edit: I thought he was commenting on the Penn State. Mea Culpa
No I was talking about the osu game in 2009 actually but true they didn't get blown out by Penn St this year either
Yo man i liked the post and Im all in for Rich Rod too...i mean how can a true Michigan fan not realize what has happen this year with injuries and even though Denard and roundtree and tate and just about the whole team had great numbers they are all Sophmores and Freshman these are kids and they made alot of mistakes with drop passes and fumbles...cant put all the blame on Rich..Hes a good coach and we will be on top soon enough
ya he had a real tough transistion to a completely new style of offense too huh?
how your point total got blown out by the board.
No offense, but dude, how do you remember when Bo got choked up at banquets when you're a junior in high school? Anyway, there are similarities between Rich and Bo but let's not pretend that Bo and Rich are the same guy or even in the same situation after their first few years at Michigan.
Ok you're right I should rephrase that. I've read in his books and heard from people that attended. That's probly better.
Besides the winning part, and the defense part, , and as I type this, Mesko just wrapped up a Jets player better than any defender from Michigan has all year.
wasn't RR his coach?
But that part came from Lloyd, donchaknow?
No. Bo only spoke about The Team.
I +1'd ya just cause you sound like you're on to something. Preach on brotha you're feelin it! In the zone! He's hot! COWBELL!
Is it just me or is it really annoying when people try to bring Bo into this? I certainly don't remember Bo crying at banquets. Nobody knows what Bo would think about the current situation at Michigan (although I'm pretty sure that he wouldn't like 37-7 against OSU).
Please, just leave the man out of it when it comes to RR discussions.
Some RR die hards try to grasp at anything positive to hold onto. Just looking for similarities between the two doesn't make them similar. And to answer your question, no, RR does not remind me of Bo.
f'in tired of hearing Bo brought up every seven seconds. "What would Bo have thought?" "Bo must be rolling in his grave."
Bo is dead. What he would have thought about Rich Rodriguez is not one tiny bit relevant to whether Rich Rodriguez should remain the head coach. Whether Rich Rodriguez is like Bo is not one tiny bit relevant to whether Rich Rodriguez should remain the head coach.
If These Walls Could Talk?
That's an excellent read.
In 1984 Ronald Reagan tried to link himself to Bruce Springsteen during a campaign stop in New Jersey. Springsteen was riding high on "Born In The USA" at the time. He also tended to lean to the left and didn't exactly embrace Reagen's politics. He had to come out publicly to disassociate himself from Reagen.
My intention isn't to be political, it's just saying that Bo is dead and he can't speak for himself. It bothers me when people try to link him to RR just to support the coaches' cause. He will survive (or not) based on the merits of his performance. Bo has nothing to do with it.
I'd suggest that 90+% of players at all schools love their coaches. That's not unique to Bo or RR or Lloyd Carr or Jim Harbaugh or Urban Meyer or Nick Saban. For the most part, it's the nature of the game. That's why players keep coming back year after year.
This has got nothing to do with my perception of the football banquet (or your perception of my perception). I simply think that it's disrespect to try to link Bo to something to further a personal agenda. The man is dead and cannot speak for himself.
Dude, whatever you say I'm listening. I can't help but imagine your avatar is saying it to me,and it sounds cool. Very cool.
I'm not talking about Falk. The OP tried to link RR to Bo. "Does RR Remind You Of Bo Or What". The whole premise was that RR's players like him and Bo's players like him. That was the common thread.
That's like saying RR liked bacon with his scrambled eggs and so did Bo. Two peas in a pod.
My preference is to let RR's record speak for itself and to leave Bo out of the discussion. It's pretty simple.
How is a guy on mgoblog posting that he feels there are similarities between Bo and RR someone trying to push their personal agenda? This guy posting....he isn't RR and that is the agenda you say is trying to be pushed. Am I missing something here or is this poster actually RR trying to convince everyone here is very similar to Bo?
Also, he made more comparisons between the two than "the players like them". If you don't agree that's fine, we don't always have to agree on this here blog. However, just because you don't see similarities, doesn't mean someone else isn't allowed to.
Lastly, as I stated firstly, a person on mgoblog mentioning they feel there are similarities between RR and Bo doesn't equate someone pushing a person agenda unless that poster is RR himself, which I am pretty sure this isn't.
somewhere on here is the exact quote from Falk's book comparing RR to Bo.
Given time, Falk is convinced that Rodriguez will bring Michigan back to its proper place of prominence.
But progress has become apparent.
Having been a player under Bo, new athletic director Dave Brandon is the perfect leader of the department at this time.
"Rich is intense about his job," Falk said. "Very intense. He's got a vision for what he wants his program to be. It's all about the team. It's not about individuals. The intensity of practices is just like Bo's..."
"The beautiful part about him, though, is that he has the ability to laugh at himself. He's got a great sense of humor. I can jab him and he jabs right back. That's a very important quality for anyone in a job as intense as his..."
Sounds like Jon Falk, has a lot of faith in RR. He also compares Michigan's transition to those at USC, OSU, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Alabama... all went through significant changes and suffered through some down times over the last few decades.
ssshhhhh
no one wants to hear good, relevant information.
Jon Falk works for UM. Do you really think he will say anything negative about Rich Rodriguez?
That said, I have to assume that Falk is being honest. It's good to hear.
Just because he works for UM doesn't mean he HAS to say positive things about the coach. He could simply say nothing at all which isn't saying anything negative. Your line of reasoning here is absurd.
I can confidently say that Bo would remind everyone in and out of the athletic department that it's about the team, the team, the team. "We're not gonna criticize each other, we're not gonna talk about each other. We're gonna encourage each other." He would tell every last one who isn't on board with giving Michigan student-athletes the best possible chance to succeed, regardless of what people think of the head coach, they ought to STFU or GTFO.
The media in the Detroit area has been over the top obnoxious and childish about every thing RR says . They really are disgusting and mostly a bunch of losers.
And too many RR supporters here are childish and obnoxious in their blind support of RR.
I agree the guy hasn't really gotten a fair shake, and its been a tough 3 years. With that said, I'll never understand the undying loyalty some of you have for a coach that has underacheived and doesn't even have a single upset in 3 seasons.
one could say that you're just as blind
Wisconsin 2008?
Ah yes, Wisconsin went 3-5 in the Big Ten that year.
And lost to Toledo. Pretty sure they would call it an upset. Minnesota was a bowl team that year that we beat handily on the road. Another upset.
We were an underdog against Notre Dame the last two years as well (and they would go on to have as good or better overall records both seasons).
Let me guess though, you are still pissed because you are really just mad because we lost games and not because we failed arrange our few wins so that they all came against awesome teams.
Your post makes little sense. Who were you responding too?
I don't think it's undying loyalty. I just think that some of us are able to see some of the problems that he has had are not his fault. He has caused some of his own problems but most of them were not his fault.
People support this team and its coach. When lloyd was getting smoked by OSU, Oregon, Ap. St., I supported him as well and went down to the bowl game in Florida to support him in his last game. Its not about being childish at all.. it is about complete support for this university. Whether you like him or not, he is our coach and I will support him. Are you calling his players childish and obnoxious? because seems like they support him too..
that RR "hasn't really gotten a fair shake." THAT'S the understatement of the year. Coach Rodriguez hasn't merely "not gotten a fair shake"; he's been under attack. An active, malicious campaign. To hurt and undermine the head coach, irrespective of the cost to the team and the University.
Apart from that, you can't understand "loyalty" to the team and the head coach?
"Coach Rodriguez hasn't merely "not gotten a fair shake"; he's been under attack. An active, malicious campaign."
Now I get it! Thats why his defense can't tackle and his kickers can't kick!
Bo said about termites too.
Now John, you see that foundation? There's termites living there.
And they live there every day. And you don't see em' until you start losing a little bit.
And when you lose, they'll start crawling out. Now what we'll do is, when they crawl out,
we'll get their names, and remember their faces. And when we start winning again
we'll know who we can trust.-Bo Schembechler
If this is your line of reason..."a coach that has underacheived and doesn't even have a single upset in 3 seasons."...I guess we also have to believe Lloyd Carr was the worst coach ever because he was the coach during the biggest upset in Michigan's history???
Hmmmmm.....
I'm as upset about the losing and the NCAA violations as the next person, but you're correct. The criticism of RR has gotten to the point where he can't do anything right.
People are actually using Groban-gate to question RR's integrity. Seriously. Maybe they should ask the Mealer family about RR's character.
Wow man, you're right. If they had just thought of this earlier they would have been trying all season. I'm sure they were just kinda half-assing it until now.
I guess they were never really trying all this time, then? Brilliant.
This post makes me sad for humanity.
For humanity's sake I hope you're drunk.
he reminds me of Bo with less defensive talent and no support from too many people that THINK they know whats right for Michigan.
im all in for RR. just gotta bring in more defensive talent, and compete with OSU
The problem is not the players, but the coaching. Three years of terrible defense with and without experience attests to the awful coaching that Michigan has gotton over the past three years.
Oh, and a scheme change would not hurt either.
Wow, when can we hire you to the staff? What schemes will you be implementing to fix the problems?
Weis came in with the mindset that his scheme would just dominate his opponents that he underestimated. Rich's devotion to the spread and especially his devotion to the 3-3-5 reminds me of Charlie. Weis also very rarely took the blame when things went wrong and I'm sure you could find players who were devoted to him at the end of his tenure.
Another thing that is frighteningly similar to Weis and Rich is that when they were on the hot seat they both had some really bad losses and close wins, but made a bowl that their supporters pointed to as progress enough to keep him around one more year.
RR's teams are getting better each year. Weis's got worse each year
Rodriguez has had tons of success as a D-1 head coach. Weis had zero experience as a head coach at any level. Weis had immediate success because he walked into a good situation, then made it worse. Rodriguez walked into a crap situation (yes, 3-9 is a crap situation no matter who you want to blame for the state of the roster at that time) and has made it better and no one seems to doubt it will continue to get better next year (and any and every Rodriguez supporter would be fine with his ouster if the trend doesn't continue). Weis made the Hawaii bowl in year 4 and beat (of all crappy teams) Hawaii. Rodriguez is playing a top-25 SEC team on New Year's Day in year 3.
Comparing the two is intellectually dishonest.
If one was looking for a negative comparison, they should look at a Dan Hawkins. He too had much success as a D1 coach before he took over CU. He, not Peterson, was the architect of the Boise State success. Yet, he flopped spectacularly at CU.
I would not make comparison just yet, but Hawkins is a much better comparison than Weis.
First off, Dan Hawkins was not the architect of BSU's success. He inherited a strong program form Dirk Koetter (back to back 10 win seasons right before Hawkins took over), lost 4 games in year one, then hired Petersen to run the offense. Hawkins had never even been a coordinator at the D-1 level and had been nothing but an administrator and rah-rah guy under Koetter (as CU fans found out all too late).
The trajectory also doesn't match at all. I don't think anyone honestly thinks Rodriguez will win fewer than 7 games next year, much less 3 like Hawkins did in year four (after 2-6-5 wins his first three seasons).
.John L. might be a more appropriate analogy as he succeeded at a Big East school(Louisville) before moving on to MSU. In fact, he did well at Idaho as well.But his record got worse, so that is not a perfect analogy.
The thing is it is hard to find a positive analogy for most coaches have flourished within two years at elite level. Tressel, Stoops, Saban, Carroll, Meyer, Chizik..all elite within two years.
Maybe Mack Brown is a good one.
I think we're all looking at the same glass, which is limited to publicly available information like wins and losses and hard statistics. You perceive it to be at least "half full". Many are justified to pereceive it as half empty.
My issue is that the guys with more information than us, and that are responsible for maintaining the Michigan brand, are projecting anything but confidence in the future. Dave Brandon certainly isn't confident enough to hitch his wagon to Rodriguez, which is why we're in this unsettled situation. I'm mindful that he is at practice, watches film, talks to current and former players (which he is one himself) and gets input from other key stakeholders. Stuff that you and I are not privy to. If he ain't confident about the future, then why should we be?
Regarding the maintenance and enhancement of the Michigan brand (something that Brandon puts at the center of his mission), I think RR showed a collosal lack of judgment with his little stunt at the Bust. Do you really think he helped the stature of the Michigan brand that night?
Especially compared to Bo. We're getting our bowl selection because we're in the Big Ten and we travel well, not because we're considered better than Iowa, or even NW with Persa.
Both Weis and Rodriguez both believed that their scheme would automatically win games and therefore rigidly stayed with them when there was evidence it wasn't working (I'm talking about Rod's D). Both very rarely stood up and took the blame for the losses. I understand that there are obvious differences between the two, but the thing that is similar is that Weis' 4th year (after going to two BCS bowls and having a disaster season) is similar to Rich Rod's 3rd year (following two disaster seasons). Both started the season with people saying they needed to get to a bowl and both won 7 games without actually beating anyone of note. It saved Weis' job and very well might save Rich Rod's.
A lot of people think the defense has gotten worse each year under RR. Why else would Brandon be checking out other coach(es)? Your argument died with the Wisconsin and Ohio St. beat downs.
Can you please post the link about DB checking out other coaches. Other than speculation from the media and fans I have not read where he has met with or been checking out other coaches.
RR's teams are getting better each year. Weis's got worse each year
Throughout the season? Or are we talking on a linear year-by-year basis?
One big difference is that Charlie came in and did ok with someone else's players. The team went downhill from there even though they were getting top recruiting classes. And it wasn't a totally different scheme.
I second that emotion!
I would argue that Weis had an older and more "talented" roster during his years. To me, he had less of an excuse to do poorly.
agree.. Weis had boatloads of talent. RR had some good talent too, but it doesn't help the year he comes in that 6-8 kids leave for the NFL..
He has had a tough go since the start, and it really sucks.
It will really suck if he doesn't get enough time to even see his first small 08 class graduate. Would be really disappointing to see the program take that direction
Common dude there is like zero similarities between Weis and RR. I mean Rich has got to weigh at least 100 pounds less than Charlie on a bad day.
and had intentionally avoided listening to it, but I just gave in...
Wow. That sucks. It is worse that I had imagined.
I'm there with you. That is pretty bad. I had never heard the song or of him.
comrade. The Warsaw Pact keeping the peace.
I still hope he can be as good as Bo. But does a man who plays Josh Groban in public remind me of Bo?
No. If that's your basis almost every college football coach not named Nick Saban remind me of Bo. And particularly Mike Gundy.
Thank you for this post. Coach Rodriguez definitely reminds me of Bo. He has a plan, he's implementing it, and we are showing progress. I grew up with Bo. I watched Mike Lantry miss field goals in 1973 and 74. Bump Elliot left a lot more talent in the cupboard than Accidental-coach Carr. . Coach Rodriguez knows what he's doing - he's proven that every where he's coached. What I don't understand is why some Michigan fans do not support Coach Rodriguez. He became coach AFTER Accidental-coach Carr lost to Appy State and was blown out at home 38-9 by Oregon. Obviously, to me as a long time fan, our program was in a shambles because of Carr. Thankfully, we have a coach now who knows what he's doing.
Well said. People are so blind.
To say that Carr left the program in shambles is a utter lie.Yes, it had lost its edge, but that it was not in "shambles". Shambles is what Millen did to the Lions. Carr left talent--anyone who follows UM recruiting knows that. It wasn't experienced talent or talent that fit RR's scheme, but he left talent.
Lloyd Carr won a NT, 5 Big Ten titles, and over 100 games at UM.He ran the program with class and integrity. Yet, you are tearing him down to build RichRod up. That is no way to win people over to Rich Rodriguez' side.
i'm not going to bash carr. i was never a big fan of his but he did win a NC under his watch. i was there in pasadena and it was something i will always treasure.
however, he did not leave much underclassmen talent when he left; despite the "rankings". true, we lost mallett and boren, but offense hasn't been the problem the past two years.
where is all of the upper class talent on D right now? that's where we are hurting big time. and that's almost exclusively the carr regime's fault.
The secondary is. Martin, Banks, Mouton, Obi all upperclassmen, and the secondary should have Troy and Warren in it. The fact that our safety development has somehow gotten even worse than under Carr is where we're really hurting (and that our system creates two hybrid safety guys to fill). Our turnover and recruiting failures on D have been worse the last couple of years. And for every Graham who the staff is given all the credit for developing, there's an Obi who's gotten worse (always credit for talented players for looking talented, but the guys who regress? Lloyd recruited them).
but talent. sure there are several upperclassmen in the front seven and perhaps you could argue that they should be "coached up" to play better. but why is it that frosh/sophs (and walkons) are getting significant playing time over these guys? it's silly to think the younger guys are getting "coached up" more than the older guys. i'm guessing the talent level isn't there. actually it's not really a guess. it's not there.
The defensive staff has shown no ability to coach a decent defense in three years, yet you want us to believe that everything is talent relate.
Sorry, but I do not buy that. The rankings-- the only measure we have-simply do
not. support your hypothesis.
but I agree with you here. It isn't that we don't have talent on this defense, we don't have good defensive coaching. Whether it is because the coordinator doesn't get the scheme or the assistants and coordinator don't know how to develop talent, I don't know. There is definitely a problem with the defensive coaching staff though, that is certain. We have talent on D, but they need to be developed and this D staff is not able to do that (at least they haven't been able to up to this point).
I'm sure you gave no credit to Rich or Barwis, because it's all in the talent that Lloyd recruited for him.
Patterson: 4 star, Jonas Mouton, 4 star, Van Bergen 4 star, Mike Martin 4 star, Ezeh under Carr was a Freshman All American. He also left Warren who left early along with a bunch of three star guys. The entire front 7 was highly recruited. Carr also left Brandon Graham. Could it have been better? Sure, I guess he could have retired when he wanted to and left the 06 defense. But it's hardly like there was 0 talent left by Carr.
in theory, you should recruit 2-deep at every position every year. your list contains what 7 guys total? and a couple of those flamed out.
I was just showing that it's not as has been asserted that he left no talent. I also didn't include guys from the 08 class that I couldn't remember whether they were a Carr or Rodriguez recruit. Guys flame out on every team, that's why you have 4 classes not 2. There was plenty there for Rodriguez to build on.
Was it an outstanding D? No. But it was hardly like there was nothing there. Our starting front 7 and strength of the defense are all Carr guys. Them not getting better isn't Carr's fault. They were highly recruited.
So you should have recruiting classes of 44 guys every year? Saban, is that you?
Got us an accidental national championship, 6 accidental double digit win seasons, and 5 accidental Big Ten titles.
Despiration is a stinky cologne. The lengths people go to defend a coach that can't go .500 in conference. Lloyd Carr was one of the great coaches in Michigan history on and off the field, but somehow hes at blame for all of this. "Left the program in shambles". This is getting out of control.
Just no. Improvement is more than wins and losses.
So you agree with the premise that lloyd was an "accidental coach", and "left the program in shambles"?
yes. for sure.
leave the program in shambles. no. but significantly worse than its peak in the early 2000s. and left the worst talent i've ever seen here on D; outside of a select few upperclassmen.
Created by Carr?
And the defense wasn't talentless in 2008. The coaching on that side of the ball blew that year (and pretty much every year since...or we wouldn't be calling for D coaches heads....again).
So that pretty much makes you an enormous idiot.
Yesssssssssir
And people will get on here and hate, but I pay them no mind. Love that man, media is the devil. I speak from personal experience. It's tragic really that people try to talk shit about people to get money and the public buys it. Pathetic really.
RR does remind me of Bo.. If Bo cried like a girl and sang Josh Groban.
Your disfunctional football team and coach have enough of their own problems. Just go back to ND Nation and vent your spleen there.
But I love you guys too much. Plus you are glorious entertainment for me.
But kinda funny.
Better than your average trolling.
I can't hate RR because I LOVE this team. I pretty much plan out how much I need to drink in order to watch the defense, but its that one play they make out of 20 that makes me so proud of them. Its that couple offensive possesions in the game where I think if we stop killing ourselves we can beat anyone. Its Lewan hate riding donkeys. Its the Mike Martin Hulk smash. Its EVERYTIME Denard smiles. It just feels to me, if I'm against RR I'm against everything that is good right now. I feel like if I bail on RR, I'm bailing on this team that I love to death.
I don't really care if RR and Bo are anything alike. I don't care if RR and Lloyd are anything alike. I do know RR has put most of this team together, and yes they drop easy passes, and they make stupid personal fouls, and they turn the ball over way too much, and they cant tackle, and they cant cover receivers, and they cant kick field goals, and probably a million other things. I love this team.
I can already hear "How far we have fallen" so be it, I couldn't care less, I love this team. Whatever keeps this team together fighting for each other, I'm all for.
I know its year 3 and we got OMG ran over by osu, and our defense seems to be getting worse, and our offense isnt scoring on nearly every drive even though we put up a buzzilion yards. I still do not care.
I also dont care about grammer obviously (don't) I wasnt a smart enof for UM, so I gots to go to Iraq for two years instead. lol. Again, sorry had to vent.
What branch of the service do you belong to?
Anyone who mocks your grammer deserves to get negged to oblivion. Veterans represent the rock upon which our society rests.
There is probably nothing worse than having a slumping football team while in the Military. Everybody talks crap about your team. Too many people from too many states. Best part was my roommate was a huge florida fan, and was suckin off tebow before the cap 1 bowl. 2nd best part was I missed watching the Appy state game because I had duty.
No one on App St was shooting at us. I salute you.
Distik opined:
I pretty much plan out how much I need to drink in order to watch the defense
This is exactly how I felt watching the defense as well. Obviously, that's not the football I want to see going forward. But what to do about it?
The offense will be fine, perhaps even amazing. The defense, however, is a stinking pile, and if things remain the same, it will stay that way. Forget about what was done previously; what we have now is a defense that's playing in a mentally and physically deficient way as a unit. Positioning, including contain issues and gap responsibilties, making proper reads, tackling, and coverage skills are all lacking. With isolated exceptions, the players have not improved measurably throughout the season, and there is little evidence that much, if any, coaching is going on. With this being a reality, it's clear that Greg Robinson and most of the position coaches on defense must go and be replaced with better personnel. Assuming this happens, then I'm okay with Rich staying.
I say I'm only okay with that because something has happened with the Michigan brand during Rich's tenure here. So many decommits and problems with eligibility are not the norm as far as I know. Good reasons for each departure have been offered up, but when taken together, they indicate something systemic. We may never know what that is, but I perceive it to be present. Also, Rich's stubbornness with regard to defensive scheme and his apparent disinterent in building a quality defense with skilled coaches are worrisome qualities. Michigan needs a quality defense to rise above mid-pack in the Big Ten. Thus, Brandon's dilemma is deciding whether the defense can be fixed with Rich at the helm.
Personally, I don't care what happens with the coaching situation as long as Michigan returns to be a top-tier team nationally.
I'm reminded of the 1976 World Series (OK...I'm dating myself now) when someone tried to compare Thurman Munson (1976 AL MVP), a mighty fine player himself, to the greatest catcher in my lifetime, Johnny Bench.
The late, great Captain Hook (Sparky Anderson, love ya for the 1984 World Championship) said,
"Don't you ever compare ANYONE to Johnny Bench!"
It's not fair to RichRod, Jim Harbaugh, or anyone to be compared to Bo.
Bo is BO --- no one can be BO but BO.
But, I will say, no matter who is our Michigan Coach is a MICHIGAN MAN to me!
There are a lot of similarities between RR and many aspects of the history of Michigan football from Yost to Crisler to many others. However, he is not any of them. It seems like people keep trying to link RR with the history of Michigan football because so many of us keep trying to seperate him and make him an outcast. Support the Program, support the coaching staff, support the administration. Being loyal is one of the virtues of being a Michigan man. And remember that right now until something changes JH is a Stanford man not a Michigan man.
"And remember that right now until something changes JH is a Stanford man not a Michigan man."
I was in school when Jimmy led us to victory with a brilliant 18-for-21 performance vs. tOSU, but you are DAMN RIGHT. My last game as an engineering senior. He is a Stanford coach. Love the guy but profess loyalty to MICHIGAN, and its coaches.
...comments are better than the board posts - + 1 for eloquently summarizing everything a lot of us want to say, and not starting a redundant thread to do it
I won't diss Lloyd one bit. Yes, I think he "tired" in his later years, whether due to stress or a personal health condiiton, but being at the 1995 and 1997 wins over OSU means a lot to me. Plus, who could not have loved the Florida win???
My only "criticism" of Lloyd is that I think his assts assumed that they had a job for life and didn't prepare the team properly for games. How else does Gary Russell run for 50+ yds on 3rd and 9 when Glen Mason is running out the clock????? Plus, the HORROR.
The talent dropped off, certainly (look at our draft picks), but assts have to make sales pitches for UM as well.
Think Rod Smith doesn't have some sway on guys like Dee Hart???
He doesn't remind me of Bo. Seems like a good guy to have a beer with, though.
Do burritos remind you of tacos, or what? I mean, I get upset when people hate tacos because they're crunchy, and say burritos were never crunchy ever. But look at tacos: they can be crunchy at times, but they can also be made with tortillas, which make them soft, like burritos!
Also, I don't like it when people say that the onions in tacos make my eyes sting when I eat them, but burritos can burn people's mouths if the heat inside pressurizes the beans within and it blows up in your face. What's up with that?!
Also, I remember when burritos were made with beef more, but now people put more beans in them, and tacos seem to have more beef than ever, which I'm fine with. It just goes to show you that tacos and burritos are more similar than you think. Shit pisses me off!
not really
He doesn't remind me of Lloyd. He doesn't remind me of Weiss. He doesn't remind me of John L. He doesn't remind me of Harbaugh. He doesn't even remind me of Rich at W. Virginia. He's his own unique animal, the likes of which I've never seen around here before. And we're still seeing if that's a good thing or not.
If Rich is not retained, can we just state that he is a Michigan Man? He can come back eventually, and stand on the sidelines as a former coach, and not in shame. I admit that he is not my favorite coach, but he is one of us now.
I'll go with "what."
Yeah. Final answer.
Strange, Don Nehlen thought Rodriguez was pretty similar to Bo.
As an older Buckeye fan I have to say this thread of RR reminding people of Bo is pretty sick....and by that I mean not good.
And the recent posts about Carr are crazy...UM clown stomped FLA with almighty Tebow...something SEC'ers quickly sweep under the rug. The score was closer than it should have been.
Do us all favor and beat Miss St.
players really like RICH ROD that's very telling as you people always say.
To answer the question, no, RR does NOT remind me of Bo. Not at all.
RR is no Bo.
a comparison to Gerry Faust? Terrifically successful where he was before arriving at Notre Dame, incredibly enthusiastic about having arrived at Notre Dame, and perhaps the most gentlemanly major college football coach ever to live. Take a look at Under the Tarnished Dome. Once, after someone, I don't recall who, unmercifully ran up the score on an outmanned Notre Dame team, he headed across the field to shake hands with that other coach. When asked why he would do that, his reply was something like, "that's the time you most need to do it." Gerry is quoted as having said, "I had only 26 miserable days at Notre Dame; that's when we lost. Other than that, I was the happiest guy in the world. I loved walking on the campus, loved being there, loved being a part of Notre Dame." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerry_Faust . He was replaced by Lou Holtz, a very different sort.
My point is that however wonderful Coach Rodriguez is as far as wanting to be a "Michigan Man" or visiting the sick and comforting the afflicted, it is separate from his technical ability to help football players succeed during games. And I have yet to see any negative comment, even from the likes of Sharp and Valenti, about his support of the Mealer family or visting hospitalized children.
As far as Bo insisting on being supportive of the program when troubles happened, his actions showed he wasn't stubbornly insistent on a single style of play or staying the same no matter what. The man won with QBs as disparate as Tom Slade, Denny Franklin, John Wangler, and Michael Taylor. When he arrived at Michigan he said there would be changes made, true. Many of those were to facilities like nails instead of lockers for the coaches. And in his first three years, his overall record was 28-5, 20-2 in the conference, and a defense which gave up 321 points in three years.
So, does RR remind me of Bo, or what? What.
I felt so compelled to respond to this thread that I registered an account.
Fair comparisons to Bo or Carr are impossible to make. Both those coaches coached in different eras. Bo coached at a time when most other teams were horrible and there was nothing close to the parity among teams that we have now. Now, every team can compete for a BCS berth.
Carr was a competent coach but, in my opinion, was losing a step to his competitors (Tressell, Saban, Meyer, etc.). He, too, coached mainly in an era where only the big-time teams were a threat.
Michigan was spoiled by years of dominance during times when most other teams were not good. Those days are over. Now teams go from losing numerous games one season to winning a BCS game the next.
If we are talking about character, and not performance, I agree with the original poster. I think, given time, RR would cement his status as a Michigan Man, just like Bo.
I read a book where Bo was talking about going to a conference to listen to some coach teaching his new fangled offense. Someone asked this coach why his team allowed so many points against them the previous year and he replied by saying basically "We didnt tackle well" Bo's head nearly blows off at this point as he says to his assistant attending the meeting with him "God Damnit!! how can you do all this fancy stuff and then not TACKLE!!"
This is my observation of RRod, he's got all kinds of fancy stuff in his holster but forgets that football is all about execution of the simple things.
Remember you go to war with the army you have, not the army you wish you had. Rich sewed the seeds of his own demise by scrapping the army he had before he had built the army he dreamed of. This is an important lesson for him going forward and I'm sure being a smart guy he has learned it well. Problem is it might be too late for him to survive here to see his grand vision through.
Not even "mini-Bo" Les Miles is like Bo.
Bo was more about perfect execution than employing unique X's and O's to outsmart the other coach. "This is what we're going to do, try and stop it."
But both coaches are high character, eat, sleep, breathe football guys that I would proudly let my boys play for.
Sometimes on the sidelines, though, Rodriguez does seem possessed by the spirit of Bo. Not great for his health, but it fires me up seeing it.