I Am Scared
Like all of you, I am a die hard Michigan fan. I grew up watching and cheering for the team, I graduated from the University and live and die with my school. Michigan Football is a very important part of my life. I am a mature contributing member of society, but I must admit, Michigan football's ups and downs DO affect my life, albeit mildly.
I love this school and program.
I have always supported Rodriguez and have always had faith in his abilities to lead us to the promised land and back to elite status. I have never doubted this and was never a bandwagon "fire RichRod" fan. I know a little something about football, so that helps.
But......
Tonight I am nervous. I am nervous because I thought the turmoil was over. I thought the calls for RichRod's head had at least subsided until the verdict came in on the field, which in my opinion is next year.
The NCAA launching an investigation is not good. While I think most of us thought that this was gonna happen anyway, the front page story nature of this, especially bc it is Michigan football, is just another blow to the Rodriguez program. This, coupled with the egg that was laid on the field at Michigan stadium on Saturday, is causing me a great deal of stress.
My biggest fear has always been that the establishment runs RichRod out of town before he gets a fair shake, long enough to install his program and culture.
This is the only fear I have, and for some reason, tonight I am nervous.
Someone please assuage my fears and tell me that these NCAA investigations are merely a formality based on what happened a few months ago, not something that was sparked on new information.
I'm gonna start losing sleep on this until we lay a whopping on Illinois.
EDIT UPDATE**I just read the comments on Brian's post on this matter, and it appears that the notice is merely a formality. It was going to happen anyway, not because of new information***
********Is this Illinois game as important as the WMU opener???? State your case**************
October 26th, 2009 at 9:54 PM ^
Hang in there, man. I'm trying not to dwell on it too much. Truth be told, I'm more nervous about this week's game against Illinois. I just get a feeling they will be up big time for us, and it could go back and forth all night.
October 26th, 2009 at 10:13 PM ^
Illinois's entire 2009 football season suggests otherwise. Illinois is BAD in every aspect, from coaching to talent to execution to turnovers to leadership.
BAD.
October 26th, 2009 at 10:16 PM ^
I agree they look terrible this season in every aspect, but I have a bad feeling about it.
October 26th, 2009 at 10:19 PM ^
Illinois's entire 2009 football season suggests otherwise. Illinois is BAD in every aspect, from coaching to talent to execution to turnovers to leadership. BAD.I'm Ron Zook
October 26th, 2009 at 10:21 PM ^
Anyone else think Purdue's coach Hope looks like Zook with a mustache? Everytime I see that BTN commercial where Paterno yells "Come to Penn State!" they have Hope and Zook after one other, and sometimes I do a double take.
October 26th, 2009 at 10:31 PM ^
THIS TRAIN CANNOT BE STOPPED
October 26th, 2009 at 10:42 PM ^
This train
cannot be stopped (except by Northern Illinois).
Does this look like the face of a guy
who knows what the hell he's doing?
cannot be stopped (except by Northern Illinois).
Does this look like the face of a guy
who knows what the hell he's doing?October 26th, 2009 at 10:43 PM ^
I still think they look a like in the commercial. +1 to you for posting the photo. Love the quote.
October 27th, 2009 at 1:09 AM ^
They both have the same nose, that's for sure.
October 26th, 2009 at 11:14 PM ^
Judging from the photo, we shouldn't have any problem with Illinois this wekend.
October 26th, 2009 at 9:57 PM ^
Illinois must win level = 10/10
October 26th, 2009 at 10:00 PM ^
bowl eligibility could very well depend on next week's outcome
October 26th, 2009 at 10:20 PM ^
go to 11?
October 26th, 2009 at 10:29 PM ^
This Illini team has seemingly phoned it in during every game against 1A competition. Their closest loss is 10 points, they can't score, they can't run, they can't throw, gotta beat a bad team like this.
October 26th, 2009 at 10:33 PM ^
tell you the truth our must win level better be 10 out of 10 also if we lose to them, purdue at home looks scarier now that they knocked off OSU. While Wisconsin on the road and Ohio St. at home sure don't look to winnable right now. Which means we better be ready
October 26th, 2009 at 10:00 PM ^
We always knew the NCAA was going to look into this Rosenberg bullshit to begin with, remember? They more or less have to, or else lose face. I suppose it's theoretically possible that the NCAA could turn up some previously unknown bad news, but remember how thoroughly Brian was able to trash the Rosenberg allegations and rest easy. The Freep never ran any kind of follow-up and never answered any of the myriad rebuttals to their hit job except to say "we know we're right because we're a Serious Newspaper so fuck off."
October 26th, 2009 at 10:01 PM ^
Both these schools went under investigation in recent years for, in my opinion, more serious allegations. And don't forget alabama's troubles. Point being, these investigations take forever and rarely result in any major violations (except Florida St.).
October 26th, 2009 at 11:53 PM ^
currently on probation.
They can still play in bowl game, win the SEC, national championship etc. But they are one more screw up from really being slapped on the wrist next time.
..and they mean it.
October 27th, 2009 at 7:06 AM ^
Alabama didn't exactly get off easy earlier this decade.
October 26th, 2009 at 10:01 PM ^
If we don't win on Saturday, that loud banging you will hear will be the wheels crashing off of this season. I fear that if we drop this one we're looking 5-7 squarely in the face.
October 26th, 2009 at 10:07 PM ^
Am I concerned? Sure. It's human nature in a situation like this.
Scared? Absolutely not.
October 26th, 2009 at 10:10 PM ^
quit being a pussy
October 26th, 2009 at 10:13 PM ^
Anonymous tough talk!
October 26th, 2009 at 10:11 PM ^
Have a shot of Courvoisier and read a magazine. There is no reason to worry about it, because you can do nothing about the situation. Worry about it when there is actually a reaction from the Free Press story that is tangible.
As for now, just concern yourself with the games. There's no need to go crazy over things you cannot control (sound advice for the games as well, BTW.)
October 26th, 2009 at 10:18 PM ^
+1 to you sir on the Courvoisier. Good form, my man, good form.
October 26th, 2009 at 10:13 PM ^
Yes, this game is a must-win. We lose, and that target on Rodriguez gets much bigger. We need a dominate performance, like the first week against WMU. A win is a win, but it needs to be convincing to some degree. The sloppiness of late needs to stop to calm some nerves. Me? I'll be happy with a W no matter what, although I would like to enjoy my Halloween Saturday and not sit through a three-hour horror film.
October 26th, 2009 at 10:19 PM ^
Bad news can easily inspire expectations of more and more bad new. So I understand your feeling of doom. But look at things in perspective.
You're right -- this investigation was coming anyway. Somebody told the Free Press there was a violation, and the same person or people probably told the NCAA the same thing. From what I understand, that's enough to get an investigation going. But the fact of an investigation is not necessarily proof that the investigation is going to reveal a violation. Chances are that there will be no serious violations, if there will be any at all.
You're also probably right to think that many Old Blues or similar folks are eager to find a reason to get Rodriguez out of town. But don't overlook the significance of last week's lunch meeting with Martin, Carr, and Rodriguez, which was followed shortly by a statement of support for Rodriguez by Carr. These things are not coincidences, nor is their juxtaposition to the announcement of Martin's resignation. Somebody is trying to send a message that it's important to really be all in for Michigan, including its football coach. It will take a while for that message to sink in (and it probably should have been sent before), but I think that there is a concerted effort to bring people in the Athletic Department and the University generally in line.
I hope Rodriguez succeeds and really does revolutionize Michigan football. (Let a Thousand Flowers Bloom! Long live the zone read revolution!) I don't know if he will. But if he does end up being run out of town, I think he will get something like a fair chance first.
October 26th, 2009 at 10:31 PM ^
I just hope Juice doesn't touch the field much this Saturday. He hasn't been getting it done lately, but the man has an affinity for Juicin' the shit out of Michigan.
I also hope Tate throws for 300+ yds.
October 26th, 2009 at 10:32 PM ^
Illinois is absolutely awful. But Juice torched us last year. I'd be surprised if we lost, but I wouldn't be shocked. We need to win. RR will get 3-4 years at least. If someone else came in (like Miles) it would take 2-3 years getting the right players to run the system. I think RR will be successful. We won't go to a great bowl this year, or next year for that matter. If we are not in the top 3 in the B10 by 2011, though, there will be a ton of pressure on the next AD to fire RR. We'll have to wait and see who the next AD is and how pro-RR he will be.
October 26th, 2009 at 10:37 PM ^
Is this game important? Yes, I think it is important for us to get back to bowl game respectability. But frankly, there will be calls for RR's head no matter what happens, short of winning a National Championship and even then I wouldn't doubt that some people would still grumble about how things are being run. We still are the team we thought we were at the beginning of the year showing flashes of brilliance and failure as was expected. We are still on course for a middling season of 6-6 or 7-5 which I will consider an improvement over last year and a stepping stone on our way back to success.
Yes, it sucked last year breaking our bowl streak. But the flip side of that was, we were the only team for 30+ years not to miss a bowl. This period of unparalleled success has left many of us complacent and jaded about the history of our program. Last year will not be the low point in Michigan history.
Jerry Hanlon, an assistant coach from 1969-1993 (who apparently also has more Big 10 championships (17!) than anyone else), came and talked to my class with John U. Bacon today. He talked about coming up to Michigan with Bo as a part of the "Miami Mafia," and turning around the program from the mediocrity of the 1960s. The biggest impression he left on me was when he asked us, "Why do we play football at the University of Michigan?" The class gave answers of economics, prestige and winning. He agreed with all of them but he stressed the main purpose was that it was good for the players.
I know it sounds altruistic and trite, but just take a step back and look at the program. I know the results haven't been the best for the past two years, but you can't deny that we have a first rate university, a first rate program and a first rate coach. It was obvious Hanlon bled maize and blue and the fact that he is still sticking around and intensely proud of the team gives me a whole lot of pride, hope and belief in the team. Be proud of the Michigan tradition and have some faith in the program.
Michigan football has changed immensely from 1879-today, but the main fact is it has risen from the doldrums many times before and it will again. From 1958-1963 we were 20-29-3. In 1964 after a 2-7 season we made the Rose Bowl the next year. We have had years of mediocrity and years of great success.
Just sit back and enjoy the ride, it may not be this year or next year, but Michigan will be a championship contender again. Victory feels so much better after you have tasted defeat.
October 26th, 2009 at 10:40 PM ^
Truly an inspirational comment.
October 26th, 2009 at 10:38 PM ^
relax pansy, i love mich football as much as anyone but save yourself the time and anxiety and remember that it's just a game.
October 26th, 2009 at 10:42 PM ^
This Illinois game does have me nervous, all games this year sans DSU has had me nervous. after last year I do not know what to expect. In a couple years games like this won't get me nervous but until Tate is a healthy sophomore and junior I'll just have to worry.
October 26th, 2009 at 11:18 PM ^
tjj;dr
The extra j is for extra jittery.
October 26th, 2009 at 11:26 PM ^
I think sheep have a lot more to be nervous about from the Zooker than UM does.
October 26th, 2009 at 11:57 PM ^
We always knew the NCAA was going to look into this Rosenberg bullshit to begin with, remember? They more or less have to, or else lose face.
I agree man I agree. The NCAA takes this stuff to the inth degree and beyond but it's so obvious that everybody in college football does this. I hate the fact that Rich Rodriguez with last year's record and all the pressure on him with his job has to put up with shit like this. It's just so stupid how rumors like these threaten someone's career when they aren't true. It's sick in my opinion and I still say and believe somebody's trying to throw him under the bus in the organization. As for the Illinois game I know Michigan can kill the Illini this year. Illinois is aweful and Juice hasn't been awesome as he normally is. We will have to watch Saturday and see for ourselves. Football is game thats won on the field not on paper.
October 27th, 2009 at 1:35 AM ^
It has been a rougher than usual transition, but I would rather have a rough transition than slowly fade into mediocrity for a decade. If you think Coach Rod is a good coach, and I think most here do, then take solace in the knowledge that we will be relevant nationally soon. In a matter of a couple years the Freep headlines will read "Evil Coach Rodriguez runs up score on good natured catholic boys" or "Selfish Rodriguez refuses our request to pawn off crystal football in order to stay afloat".
October 27th, 2009 at 9:08 AM ^
Transitions are bound to be rough when you have a large faction of your fanbase actively trying to sabotage the new guy leading the transition.
October 27th, 2009 at 10:06 AM ^
Michigan was a whisker away from beating the #4 team in the BCS on the road. Quite possibly could have beaten MSU on the road. UM is very close to being 7-1 and having PSU be their first loss. I dont think this team is as bad as some people think and I think the perception of the team is worse than it should be IMO. That being said, we do need to get some confidence back and get on the 'W' side of things.
October 28th, 2009 at 12:39 AM ^
Okay... I think everyones ideas about this season changed with the Notre dame win and I think after the PSU game it finally sunk in that this team is young... there up and down... they go as a freshmen quarterback goes... Tate is going thru his lows right now but this is a great learning tool for him for the future. In order to get back to where Michigan wants to be they have to endure this and learn and become the team that they have showed at times they can be. And we still haven't seen the stock of RR recruits yet especially Offensive lineman that he recruited and will def be better than carr OL that we're recruited for a different system. And some of the players he's redshirting like Jeremy Gallon and JT Turner... Fiztgerald Toussaint.... Those are guys I want to see next year guys that he recruited for his system... not the Carr recruits... I think you'll see a different team next year. One that is more explosive on offense... but an okay defense... depending on if warren comes back...