Ego Bowl? Huh?
I saw this on the ESPN Insider and wasn't sure if this is some national info we never heard of or the guy is pulling a Mark May and has no idea what he is talking about. All coaches have some ego, but this guy seems to be suggesting something. Any thoughts on what he is thinking.
Why you should watch: This one is turning out to be the Ego Bowl. Everyone was already aware of Rich Rodriguez's -- ahem -- reputation. But last week a Miami trustee revealed that Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen didn't get the job at The U because of his big ego, telling the Miami Herald's Barry Jackson that Mullen "acts like he invented the game". By the way, either reload the "favorites" button on your remote or get the laptop ready to crank out some ESPN3.com, because New Year's Day is going to require some multitasking ...
December 17th, 2010 at 7:31 PM ^
Outrageous. Rodriguez may be a bit stubborn, but he's as down-to-earth and humble as any coach in the business.
December 18th, 2010 at 12:05 AM ^
Stubbornness =/= Egotistical or Arrogant
December 17th, 2010 at 7:34 PM ^
There are a lot of reasons for people to dislike Rodriguez looking from the outside (sketchy real estate, program violations, swearing at players (THINK OF THE CHILDREN!!) ) but his ego is not one of them.
December 17th, 2010 at 10:45 PM ^
This is simply not true, Rodriguez has one of the biggest football egos in the game.
Evidence: I'm going to come into a program that has none of my players and stubbornly run a system they are not built for, even though it will mean at least two, possibly bad seasons.
Evidence: No matter how much people tell me I need to recruit defense, I will still have no defensive players in my third year.
Evidence: No matter how many times people tell me the Big Ten is a big, brutal division, I will continue to recruit tiny "diamond in the rough" type defensive players. Who needs to stop the run anyway? I'll just score more points.
It should be clear by now that Rich Rod has quite the football reputation for stubbornness.
December 17th, 2010 at 11:04 PM ^
On the one hand, I agree that all FBS coaches have big egos, so just about any bowl could be called the "ego bowl."
On the other hand.
Evidence: I'm going to come into a program that has none of my players and stubbornly run a system they are not built for, even though it will mean at least two, possibly bad seasons.
Oh Emm Gee. Are we still rehashing this? I'll break it down for you, charitably. You can have it one of two ways: (1) Rodriguez was a bad hire because he coaches the spread and the spread doesn't work in the B16. This is a fair but flawed thought have you watched Oregon or Auburn you know the two best teams in college football this year you colossal dumbfuck; (2) Rodriguez was hired to do his thing, and do his thing he has done.
You cannot, repeat, cannot think that it would have been a good move for Rodriguez to arrive in A2 and magically transform himself into a pro style coach. This is dumbfuckery of the highest order.
Evidence: No matter how much people tell me I need to recruit defense, I will still have no defensive players in my third year.
Here is a list of people who disagree with you: J.B. Fitzgerald, J.T. Floyd, Mike Martin, Ike Bell, Cam Gordon, Thomas Gordon, Brandin Hawthorne, Mike Jones, Teric Jones, Craig Roh, Quinton Washington, Richard Ash, Courtney Avery, Jibreel Black, Cullen Christian, Josh Furman, Carvin Johnson, Jordan Paskorz, Marvin Robinson, Jake Ryan, Terrence Talbott, Terry Talbott, Ray Vinopal, and Ken Wilkins, not to mention Brennan Beyer, Greg Brown, Blake Countess, Dallas Crawford, Delonte Hollowell, Kellen Jones, Jack Miller, Desmond Morgan, and Chris Rock.
You colossal dumbfuck.
December 18th, 2010 at 10:12 AM ^
I think you know what I'm sayin'.
December 18th, 2010 at 10:16 AM ^
I love yelling at idiots; good job fighting the good fight.
December 18th, 2010 at 5:44 PM ^
So adjusting a scheme to fit one's personnel is completely out of the question?
What a fucking idiot.
December 17th, 2010 at 11:08 PM ^
First, your "evidence" might suggest that he is stubborn, but that's not the same as having a reputation for stubbornness. Second, your "evidence" is crap:
As to wanting to run his own offense, that's what coaches do. If you hire Rich Rodriguez, you're hiring a guy who is going to run the spread.
Re: the defensive recruiting, I'm sure he'll take all the Lamar Woodley types he can. It's not as if he's not getting those guys on purpose or by oversite. It may be a valid criticism to say that he doesn't recruit enough high-end defensive players, but that has nothing to do with being stubborn.
December 18th, 2010 at 7:54 AM ^
defensive players toward the end which is obvious by the lack of hardly any starting upperclassman on the D. We were all excited about BooBoo (LC) and JT (RR) when they were recruited, but despite their high rankings they didn't pan out. I also remember a high level of excitement when RR pulled Vlad away from from the bad guys. We just didn't forsee him not regaining his speed after his injuring. Big Will was a huge recruit at the time and he didn't pan out on the D side, but I'm still holding out hope for him as an O lineman. Losing Graves and Jones on signing day still had to be the hardest as it has led to our current lack of DTs.
On the bright side we had true freshman (Ash, Talbott, Furman, Ryan, Wilkins, and Paskorz) slated for D redshirted this year. We get TWoolf back which will be an upgrade from Rogers and we only have to replace Mouton on that side of the ball. Cam moved closer to the LOS which he seems better suited for, Roh is back where he belongs and a lot of players got valuable playing time. Throw in some good recruits and that side of the ball should improve.
December 18th, 2010 at 9:51 AM ^
Don't call your "claims" evidence unless you actually have evidence. The word evidence implies that you have done research and have experts to back up your opinion. If you were one of my students you would not get a very good grade on your persuasive essay.
December 17th, 2010 at 7:38 PM ^
Maybe it's a typo. Maybe he intended to write about a bowl of Eggos. 
Makes about as much sense.
December 17th, 2010 at 7:42 PM ^
Uhhh, those aren't eggos. They are the infinitely more delicious Dutch stroopwafels.
Every year I pray for a pack in my stocking on Christmas, and every year I am satisfied. (Along with a box of Wilhelmina peppermints.)
December 17th, 2010 at 7:45 PM ^
may be the only two people in the world that pray for a waffle filled stocking come Christmas morning. And for that you should be applauded.
December 17th, 2010 at 7:45 PM ^
December 17th, 2010 at 7:47 PM ^
Although I missed out on the black licorice gene. That stuff is terrible.
December 17th, 2010 at 8:39 PM ^
Tastes like it sounds.
(Any questions?)
December 17th, 2010 at 9:25 PM ^
My grandmother used to keep a bowl of maroon colored "anise candies" on her coffee table. When we would arive I would excitedly peel one open and minutes later drop it from my mouth into the plastic wastebasket.
Good anise = Ouzo
Bad anise = any other use of anise
December 17th, 2010 at 9:16 PM ^
because that stuff is really offensive. i used to bring boxes of it back to the states to give to people as a gag gift.
December 17th, 2010 at 10:48 PM ^
Yeah. My mom loves that junk. Somehow she convinced my sisters it was candy and they like it now too. I can't even smell it without it triggering my gag reflex.
December 17th, 2010 at 7:53 PM ^
On the left hand side.
December 17th, 2010 at 9:07 PM ^
Teach me how to Dutchie...teach me teach me how to Dutchie...
December 17th, 2010 at 9:31 PM ^
If history has taught us anything at all, it's that you DO NOT fuck with the Dutch. That's no Eggo! It's a Dutch thing that's like an Eggo but homemade and better -- and with more butter in it!
December 17th, 2010 at 7:53 PM ^
AHH man grew up on Eggos. Fav way to make them was toasted with peanut butter on top.
December 17th, 2010 at 8:27 PM ^
like that this morning... but then I pop'em in the microwave for 11 seconds (individually) to get a nice melt on the PB while retaining most of the toasted properties of the waffle.
December 17th, 2010 at 8:40 PM ^
Wow you sir have outdone yourself. I may or may not stop and buy some tonight to try out this new taste explosion you have opened my eyes to.
thank you and +1 to u
December 17th, 2010 at 9:24 PM ^
But they need a little bit of whipped cream on top.
December 17th, 2010 at 8:04 PM ^
Now I want coffee and a big stack of stroopwafels!
December 17th, 2010 at 8:34 PM ^
you included a picture to illustrate.
December 17th, 2010 at 7:38 PM ^
Actually coach's need to have somewhat of an ego. They need to know they have the best system, best coach's, the best work ethic etc.
This is what drives alot of these guy's. Some may call it ego other's call it confidence.
December 17th, 2010 at 7:47 PM ^
December 17th, 2010 at 8:12 PM ^
What do you know about either man other that what has been told to you from others?
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<br>I don't have much use for these type of articles. These journalists know these men only by the interaction they have with them at events and press conferences.
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<br>It is funny odd how we assume the worst about other coaches, but get enraged when people return the favor of our guy.
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<br>The truth is that none of us know any of these men.
December 17th, 2010 at 8:53 PM ^
December 17th, 2010 at 7:44 PM ^
How can the media roast a guy for playing Josh Groban music at the banquet, and then turn around and claim he has a big ego?
December 17th, 2010 at 7:45 PM ^
He cried and practically begged for us to let him stay. WHAT A NARCISSISTIC PIG!
December 17th, 2010 at 8:10 PM ^
December 17th, 2010 at 7:44 PM ^
To a certain extent, every good leader has a big ego. The line between arrogance and ambition is a very very thin one.
December 17th, 2010 at 7:44 PM ^
...writer talking out of his ass about Michigan and RichRod.
Shocking.
December 17th, 2010 at 7:46 PM ^
I hate people that "write" for "news" organizations.
December 17th, 2010 at 7:51 PM ^
Is there any reason to like ESPN besides the fact they show Michigan sports once in a while?
December 17th, 2010 at 8:05 PM ^
December 17th, 2010 at 8:23 PM ^
That's at least two reasons.
December 18th, 2010 at 2:46 AM ^
I'm afraid that we as Michigan fans are simply going to need to come to terms with the fact that everyone thinks for no good reason that our coach is an egotistical bastard.
December 17th, 2010 at 9:49 PM ^
the pleasure of speaking with Coach Rod briefly on two separate occasions. Could not have been more gracious and outgoing. Didn't see huge ego coming from him at all.
December 17th, 2010 at 10:25 PM ^
It's scary to think that if it wasn't for this wonderful blog and the people in it (Brian, Tim, and everyone else), that the people from ESPN would be influencing my opinions of RichRod and Michigan Football in general. So I would just like to Thank you.
December 18th, 2010 at 3:40 AM ^
Also:
-Didn't employ any of Lloyd's offense or defense in 2008, despite upperclassmen knowing it. Instead he tried impliment his offense and defense.
-Showed a disregard for Michigan traditions like the #1 jersey, and still lacks knowledge of our program's history
-Admitted in his deposition that he's never read NCAA Rules
-Disrespected our rivalries, saying that they were no different from anything else he'd been a part of
-Told passionate Michigan fans to "get a life"
I can't believe anyone would even try to argue that he's not stubborn and egotistical.
December 18th, 2010 at 9:53 AM ^
Do you know what the word "ego" means? I want to punch you in the dick.
December 18th, 2010 at 4:29 AM ^
Does anyone think a coach could rise to the level of a top-tier FBS head coaching job without thinking that he is a pretty good coach? Does anyone want a coach that DOESN'T think he's one of the best out there? Yeah, he thinks he knows what he is doing. And he's right. 20 years of past success taught him that. ESPN knows how to bring teh stupid.
December 18th, 2010 at 10:27 AM ^
And ow, that would hurt.
I've taken 3 psych courses, it's Sigmond Freud's term for individual identity. What we're talking about is excessive ego. I suppose it's possible that all these mistakes that Rich has made are just a byproduct of carelessness, but I like to think that the University of Michigan Head Football Coach has an idea of what he's doing.
Don't be so angry, we've made it through the roughest parts of Rich Rod's time here. I honestly believe that through his experience here, he's become a much more humble man.