"Fire this coach!": A Michigan Basketball tradition
Michigan Daily
February 21, 1973-
According to Michigan Athletic Director Don Canham those South End Crisler Arena vocalists who have filled the air with shouts of "Orr must go" and variations on that theme, have done so in vain. Canham indicated to the Daily that Coach John Orr, much maligned for his cage squad's off again-on again performance will be on the bench leading the Wolverines next season.
"Orr will be back next season," Canham intoned. "I could not envision the season without him back."
***
In the past few weeks Orr has been under a good deal of criticism. His squad was expected by many to capture the Big Ten crown. However, the Wolverines have faltered at points during the Big Ten season and presently hold a 6-4 record.
During the defeat filled weeks many students and fans expressed more than mild displeasure with Orr's performance as coach.
The remainder of Johnny Orr's career-
| Season | Record | B1G | Place | Postseason |
| 1973-74 | 22-5 | 12-2 | T-1st | NCAA Elite Eight |
| 1974-75 | 19-8 | 12-6 | 2nd | NCAA Round of 32 |
| 1975-76 | 25-7 | 14-4 | 2nd | NCAA National Runner-Up |
| 1976-77 | 26-4 | 16-2 | 1st | NCAA Sweet Sixteen |
| 1977-78 | 16-11 | 11-7 | T-4th | |
| 1978-79 | 15-12 | 8-12 | 6th | |
| 1979-80 | 17-13 | 8-10 | T-6th | NIT Quarterfinals |
Michigan Daily
January 27, 1989-
Fans fired up to see Frieder flee
Crisler Arena crowds have been telling Bill Frieder to throw his trademark towel in some other town.
These fans, who proudly carry "Fire Frieder" and "We hate Bobby Knight, but at least he can coach" signs, have expanded their vocal chords recently, booing Frieder at every occasion. Monday, the crowd jeered Frieder louder than archnemesis Bob Knight.
Some campus-area apartments now have "Fire Frieder" signs hanging in the windows.
People were losing their minds over a coach having these results recently-
| Season | Record | B1G | Place | Postseason |
| 1984-85 | 26-4 | 16-2 | 1st | NCAA Round of 32 |
| 1985-86 | 28-5 | 14-4 | 1st | NCAA Round of 32 |
| 1986-87 | 20-12 | 10-8 | 5th | NCAA Round of 32 |
| 1987-88 | 26-8 | 13-5 | 2nd | NCAA Sweet Sixteen |
100-29 record the previous 4 years.
I know I wasn't around back then, and sure, the NCAA flameouts stand out. But fans back then didn't have to wait THAT much longer for a few long runs...
When people wanted Orr and Frieder gone, neither of them had any long run in the NCAA Tournament.
John Beilein already has a Final Four and two Elite Eights. And some people want him gone two years after them when the entire starting five on that Final Four team is playing in the NBA.
This is a case of two things.
1) People having the same expectations the Football program has and placing them on the shoulders of the Basketball program.
The Basketball program has a good history.
The Football program is arguably the top program in the sport all-time.
2) Know who you are. What good coach would want to come here if we fired one of the most respected men in the game 2-3 years after runs to the Elite Eight and Final Four? There were a lot of people flapping their gums in that 500+ comment threads, and none of them had realistic replacement suggestions.
This isn't Duke, Kansas or Kentucky.
February 8th, 2016 at 10:30 PM ^
Logic does not compute.
February 9th, 2016 at 6:29 AM ^
Okay, somebody has to just say it.
Beilien runs a very good, clean program. The problem is we're living in the shadow of an elite program. If Sparty's program were just average we'd be fine with this. If it had been Kentucky embarassing us Saturday, we'd be disappointed but there wouldn't be calls for his scalp - we'd simply say we lost to an outstanding program and were in a bit of a down cycle. Our major issue isn't the general state of the program, it's the fact it lags behind Sparty and probably will as long as Izzo and Beilien are in place.
February 9th, 2016 at 9:15 AM ^
February 9th, 2016 at 9:35 AM ^
Having attended UM from '02-'06, anyone who is not Tommy Amaker is fine by me.
I also wouldn't lend much credence to the "Fire Beilein" crowd. They may be vocal but they are a small minority.
February 9th, 2016 at 10:29 AM ^
That most would be pleased if Harbaugh led us to two Big Ten Titles (one outright) and took us to the Championship game in his first 8 years at the helm. Perhaps you expect more from him than this but that would still be a nice accomplishment.
It is still comical to see comments that we need to recruit more athletic big men as if there is there is a surplus to go around. And the very few who are big and athletic are almost invariably one and done.
We got whipped by MSU because they beat us at our own game. They shot the three ball out of their minds. I doubt Forbes can make 80 percent in practice let alone another game. We actually had as many 2 point baskets as did MSU. We did get outrebounded, but when your opponent shoots 67 percent there are not many rebounds to be had.
The last two games have been awful. There is no doubt about it. But, for the second year in a row we are playing most of the season without our next first round draft pick and the kid who has been a sparkplug and general pain in the ass to opponents.
Beilein is a class act, has won at every level and at every stop, is respected by his peers, and treats eveyone (media included) with respect. I can not imagine a better representative of the University of Michigan and the basketball program. Yes, those things matter as do wins and losses.
Who would be a proper replacement? Brad Stevens?- not gonna happen. Shaka Smart? - Beilein owns him. The former coach at Ohio who beat us in the NCAA tournament? - How's that working out for Illinois?
February 9th, 2016 at 11:41 AM ^
February 9th, 2016 at 10:36 AM ^
Bo Ryan's record at UW-Madison:
- Overall: 364-130; 0.737 Big 10: 172-68; 0.718
John Beilein's record at UofM (including this year):
- Overall: 183-116; 0.612 Big 10: 85-69; 0.552
February 9th, 2016 at 10:39 AM ^
You are a great poster and I respect what you say most of the time. But this is horrible to not have ANY demands on the basketball team just because they don't have a storied past.
"This isn't Duke, Kansas or Kentucky. "
Why can't they be?? Why can't they be a consistent winner in college basketball?? Does the University of Michigan not have enough resources to bring in top-flight talent? I like John Beilein, he's a very solid coach. But I think we have to face facts, he caught lightning in a bottle with Burke, McGary, Stauskas, and GR3. Now that those guys have cleared out, what are you left with? Does the future recruiting give you ANY hope for the future, watching what MSU is doing with their class? Are you guys getting pumped up for Jon Teske?
The attendance is shameful. I don't know what else the students are doing, but that place is NEVER full. Even at home against Maryland, there were seats empty EVERYWHERE.
The fact that Beilein said, "I don't know" about the future and when they are going to start winning again is damming. I just don't understand why Michigan fans have to just say, "Ah, we aren't Kentucky, and the students don't care, so it's no problem. Let's just be happy with making the tournament."
February 9th, 2016 at 10:40 AM ^
I enjoyed the history. I was in school during Frieder's last year and don't remember the calls for his head but don't doubt it. A coworker remembers a student government political party called "Fire Johnny Orr" back in the 1970s.
Regarding Beilein, this has been said below but I think that people ignore how difficult it is to recruit against more heralded program in the same state. While the analogy isn't exact, Nick Saban said, when leaving MSU, that the Spartans would never be the leading football program in Michigan, and that made impossible to succeed consistently from a recruiting standpoint (yes, I realize that recent years have called that into question but Michigan has continued to recruit well in football despite struggles under RichRod and Hoke).
MSU's basketball profile is not a complete excuse. Michigan is a national university, and I'm concerned that no one in the huge class a year ago (Donnal, Wilson, Chatman, Dawkins, Rahk) has broken out though we had high hopes for Donnal earlier in the B10 season and perhaps he'll get back on track.
February 9th, 2016 at 11:04 AM ^
People having the same expectations the Football program has and placing them on the shoulders of the Basketball program.
Given Michigans resources -
Should be a Top 20 team 8/10 years.
Should make the tournament 9/10 years.
Should make a Sweet 16 every 3-4 years.
We shouldn't expect to be Duke/Kentucky... but we shouldn't be behind Wisconsin and Ohio State.
February 9th, 2016 at 11:13 AM ^
Damn the low expectations. Expect more. This program has more than enough to be a consistently good/great program.
February 9th, 2016 at 12:20 PM ^
JB's recruiting has been consistently average with the exception of the Stauskas, McGary class. It is always going to be hit or miss when you can't land the one and done types. I know some Kentucky fans that are tired of that whole show too.
February 9th, 2016 at 1:16 PM ^
We will have to see how the rest of this season plays out, but Beilein could be heading down Orr's path. Orr went to NC game in 1976, he followed that up with a run to the Elite Eight in 1977. He missed the tournament the following three seasons and left for Iowa State after the 1980 season. Obviously, Beilein went to to the NC game in 2013, followed it up with a trip to the Elite Eight in 2014, and missed the tournament last year.