How Much Pressure on RR?

Submitted by rbgoblue on

How much pressure does the Martin announcement put on Rich Rodriguez to win this season? I really hope that due diligence is put into the search to find an AD that fits with the vision that RR has for the football program and that MSC has for the university. What we can't do is make a hire of someone who wants to put their own stamp on the Michigan football program in selecting their own coach for the future. We need a hire that is ALL IN for Michigan.

BiSB

October 21st, 2009 at 12:12 PM ^

I don't think this adds to the pressure on RichRod.

At 3-9, he needed a cheerleader in the AD's office. But with the program heading in the right direction (of that there is very little debate), that need is greatly diminished. A new AD would have to have a damn good reason to fire a proven coach who is currently making positive strides.

Moreover, he was already under a lot of pressure to win. Fans, alums, students, the media (cough cough FREEP cough) all expected to see either (a) improvement or (b) pink slips. Look at the general consensus about the program today, and compare it to what was being said before the Western game; I think he's shown he can handle the pressure.

DesHow21

October 21st, 2009 at 12:18 PM ^

the board-room, but that's not real life.

IF the AD even wanted to fire RR, he would have to convince AT LEAST:

1. MSC
2. Regents
3. Big Donors who no doubt ponied up the millions and would have to pony up some more to pay RR off and get a new coach.

Therefore NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

Aequitas

October 21st, 2009 at 12:52 PM ^

the way you make it sound, the relationship between AD and coach is a pretty trivial matter.

I'd be willing to bet that Rodriguez disagrees with you. He's here in large part because of WVU's AD.

The AD at Michigan, or any school, may not have "You're fired!" powers, but he can sure make his football coach's life miserable.

oakapple

October 21st, 2009 at 12:14 PM ^

There is always a lot of pressure to win at a major program. But Martin's retirement doesn't create any more pressure. Nobody wants to fire their football coach unless they have to. If Rodriguez wins, he'll be fine. If he doesn't win...well, he was never going to be fine.

At this point, RR will be the coach in 2010 even if Michigan doesn't win another game this year. He'll be the coach in 2011 unless the team next year regresses considerably. Given the number of starters coming back, that is most unlikely.

After 2011, if the team hasn't returned to Big Ten prominence, there could be a moment of reckoning, but there would have been anyway, Martin or no Martin.

DesHow21

October 21st, 2009 at 12:15 PM ^

Anything that popped into your head in the five minutes after you heard this news has probably been discussed and dissected in the AD in the months leading up to this announcement (this wasn't exactly a closely guarded secret).

I am not saying you shouldn't post your thoughts but wouldn't it better off as a comment in the original thread?

http://mgoblog.com/mgoboard/bill-martin-retire-2010

Do we really need the inevitable 20+ threads (mostly ) stating the obvious on this?

BiSB

October 21st, 2009 at 12:21 PM ^

We SHOULD have 20 threads. That way, we can create themed threads for various groups:

"Those happy Martin is leaving"
"Those upset Martin is leaving"
"Those who want Lloyd as AD"
"Those freaking out about Lloyd as AD"
"I'M ON A BOAT jokes"

The possibilities are endless

The Tater

October 21st, 2009 at 12:18 PM ^

I think people are overplaying the "pressure on RR" angle of Martin's retirement. Martin is going to retire just before the 2010 football season, which means RR will certainly have next season before any decision would even be considered.

I'm pretty confident, given the direction the team is currently headed, that at that point we'll be back into contention for the Big Ten, and I cannot imagine a new AD firing RR after only three years if we're competitive. Secondly, the risk/reward to immediately firing RR doesn't make any sense for a new AD. Let's say the new AD fires RR after next season. We'd almost certainly have to go through a few more years of rebuilding, opening the new AD up to tons of criticism. Alternatively, the AD doesn't face any risk allowing RR more time, because he can always play the "RR was never my guy" card after a few more seasons.

Brady2Terrell

October 21st, 2009 at 12:21 PM ^

One vote for Lloyd Carr for AD right here.

I don't think the pressure increases on RichRod because of this - the new AD won't want to prematurely pull the plug and turn us into Notre Dame.

PurpleStuff

October 21st, 2009 at 2:28 PM ^

Coach Carr is actually a pretty personable guy with a good sense of humor (I'm sure most who've met him would agree). I think any issues he had with the media stemmed from the job he had (coaching the football team) putting him on the defensive, rather than any lack of ability or natural curmudgeonliness on his part. Even when dealing with friendly media like Brandstatter on Michigan Replay you saw a more laid back, easy going guy. His role with the media as AD would be very different and I think he could quickly turn his anti-media image around with a few self effacing comments.

That being said, I'm not sure he has the business and organizational savvy to run the athletic department (as others have mentioned) since that is a very different job from running a football team (not saying he couldn't do it, just saying he's totally unproven in that kind of role).

BlackEvanDown

October 21st, 2009 at 12:29 PM ^

The real questions I have regarding a new AD are as follows:

1: Will he or she be amenable to pushing Lacrosse into Varsity status?
2: Will he or she continue the support that the baseball and softball teams have seen in recent years?
3: Will he or she continue to benefit from the exposure the swimming team has received from the Phelps connection?
4: Will he or she continue the belated support that Martin has shown the basketball team?

I think football will be fine. It is Michigan, so it will always have top dog standing. A true AD candidate will really have to be measured how they reconcile the might of the football with the rest of the program.

antoo

October 21st, 2009 at 1:09 PM ^

Your avatar is the most amazing thing I have ever seen. I caught myself staring at it for a couple minutes before I realized that I was in fact staring at an avatar. I then proceeded to stare and I believe it has helped me disassemble the complexities of the universe as we know it.

Tater

October 21st, 2009 at 1:11 PM ^

What if the next AD turns out to be someone who has crossed paths with RR before and percieves him to have odorless feces? We really have no way of knowing how it will affect the program until we know who the new AD is.

Why are many assuming that a new AD would automatically be a negative for RR? For example, what if they hire the AD at a school whose coach learned the spread option either directly from or by copying RR? That certainly wouldn't be a negative for RR.

Anyway, a lot can happen in a year, but I don't think reviving the "RR hot seat" angle is going to be particularly relevant.

jml969

October 21st, 2009 at 2:28 PM ^

The best hire is one who supports RR- of course someone with exp, good with money, prev exp, etc are important. But according to writer Johnathan Chait for Rivals, the best criteria is a AD that would support RR. He also recommends a fast hire so that the ant- RR faction doesn't buil any momentum and plot against RR

ajscipione

October 21st, 2009 at 4:33 PM ^

Whoever is hired as the new AD, I would want them to be a full supporter of RR and to let him do the job he was hired to do. I would think that this has already been discussed and resolved within the UM administration.