Keeping the faith

Submitted by MGOARMY on

 We all knew the hiring of Rich Rod was a huge risk/reward move. I knew the transition wasn't going to be the smoothest, still I thought the first 3 years would go, 7-5,11-2 then national title. Even after the missery that was last season, I expected 7-5 with pipe dreams of 11-2 this year. After the 4-0 start and attending the western game I thought Michigan was a dark horse Big Ten championship contender. Now I'm praying to make the whatever they call the motor city bowl now, 2 year ago I felt they should get rid of half the bowls, now I hope we make one of the worst ones. 
    Alot of people are throwing Rich Rod under the bus. I never thought a losing season this year was a posibility, and I'm not saying there isn't alot of reasons for major concern right now. I have been a big Rich Rod supporter all along, even after what happend last year. The fact is back to back loosing seasons and the possibility of a 3 and 13 confrence record over a 2 year span is a very legit possibility. This would be 100 times worse then the worst case scenerio anyone could have imagined when he was hired. The last 2 games have made me really wonder if this will work out.
What we have to remember is what a huge change we set in place when RR was hired. When we hired RR we accepted a blueprint for a complete 180 for everything in the program. The practices, philosophies, players and mentality of this program were gonna be completley overhauled. This being Michigan we expected a quick and dominant transition, didn't happen.
Maybe its all the maize and blue kool aid I drink but I don't think its time to give up on RR yet. We lost to state in ot, against Iowa we had a chance to win on the last drive, if roundtree falls another couple inches forward on the deep pass I think we destory Illinois, we don't miss a extra point and a fg  we win today. I know this is all close but no cigar, but excluding Penn State we have been in every game right down to the wire. 
When I'v rewatched all those games I felt like we could have won all of them other then Penn State. If we won those 4 close games we are in the driver seat for the rose bowl. I know we didn't win those games and we are scrapping for a non loosing season. But is it really that far of a stretch that this very young team could improve enough next season by a few less mistakes and be a Big Ten contender? 
 I really don't understand how our defense is this bad, but they have to semi competent next year right? Even if somehow we didn't get more athletic on D next season, a year in the system has to generate some improvment. Tate and the offense look brillint at times, and dismal at others. That will happen with a freshman qb and a offense where the most experinced players have been in the system less then 2 years. But again I imagine next season they will become more consistant and explosive. If the Offense can take another step and the defense could hold teams to 28 a game next season, I think we could be Big Ten contenders. 
My point is this, yea shit sucks right now. RR deserves to be on the hot seat, back to back loosing seasons at Michigan is not acceptable. But the season isn't over, I know there is overwhelming evedince that we should loose our next 2 games. But is it that unthinkable that maybe wisconsion turns it over a few times and we sneek out a win. I know its been awhile but is there really no possibility that Michigan gets fired up and leaves everything they have on the field and pulls one out in the biggest rivalary in all of sports. Mighty osu lost to that same purdue team a few weeks ago.
Maybe we get our ass kicked the next 2 games, RR gets fired and were back to square one, maybe we rally and finish 7-5 with two strong performances. I dont know whats gonna happen. RR might be the perfect coach for us and have us in the national title in 2 years, or maybe he will be coaching elsewhere by then.  
I know it looks bleek right now, but in 2005 we went 7-5, then in 2006 we were a game away from the national title. I don't think its to far reached for us to go from 5-7/6-6/7-5 this season to 9-3/10-2/11-1 next season. 
I just don't think it's time to throw in the towel on RR yet, he needs more time before we bring out the guilliten. I know thats gonna piss some people off, but lets really look at what we asked him to do, change the whole face of this program. Can you really say 2 years is long enough to get that acomplished? I know this is Michigan and we expect greatness, but lets give RR a chance to finish what hes started, not give up on him for not doing it overnight. 

MGOARMY

November 7th, 2009 at 10:12 PM ^

Fair enough, all I was trying to get across is the ship hasn't sunk yet. It may be taking water on quick, but its still floating. Im sick to my stomach with the way things have gone so far, but it's always darkest before dawn.

MadtownMaize

November 7th, 2009 at 10:16 PM ^

I am not advocating dong punches or Rich Rod firings, but DEFENSE wins championships period. We will win no championships next year, nor probably the year after. You do not outscore your way to the top. Look at how sorry OSU's offense is this year, yet they will win the Big 10 because they play D.
UM's 1997 team had an above average offense, but an unbelievable defense. I would say that our offense in 2006, 2001 and 1999 were all better than 97 (and every year we had Wheatley). We won because we could cover, we could rush four and get to the QB and because we could stuff the run. That is how you win football games.

wolverine061592

November 7th, 2009 at 10:24 PM ^

I am not saying Rich Rod should be fired for sure. But, if the team looks as bad as it has in the past 3 weeks for the rest of the season, I might say it is time for Rod to go. I believe there are several coaches who could take this exact roster and make them a top 15 team. I really hope Michigan improves but everytime I get my hopes up they seem to get crushed every Saturday.

sammy

November 7th, 2009 at 11:24 PM ^

Patience is a virtue. Let's stop letting anger and frustration get the best of us. Coach Rodriguez is a winner. Look at WVU. Do you think Stewart has anything to do with their success? No. The only reason they're still so good is because of how well RR built that program. It takes time to unbuild a program as good as that. With all the resources he has here, there's no way he won't get us on the right track.

He will get Michigan back to national dominance. That is, unless we the fans don't allow him the opportunity. How much can you blame the coaches for our futility? There is A LOT wrong with this team that is not Rodriguez's fault.

Like I've said before, if we aren't back to M standards by the time Gardner is a junior, then I'll start talking about a coaching change.

sammy

November 8th, 2009 at 9:29 AM ^

I just want to be 100% sure Rodriguez will not do Michigan well before firing him and starting from square 1 again. Right now I'm 100% sure I can't tell yet. The potential damage of firing Rodriguez far outweighs the consequences of keeping him another 3 years, IME. Make no mistake, if we fire RR he'll find work at another elite program. And he'll probably do well there, as long as it's a good fit. Right now Michigan is NOT a good fit for Rodriguez because the fans are calling for his head!

ghakala31

November 7th, 2009 at 11:39 PM ^

I'm from GA, so I could be a GA Tech or UGA fan, but considering the fact that I had the privilege of going to UM, I'll take whatever the Wolverines have to offer. Tech may be #10 right now, but I also watched my friends watch the Yellow Jackets lose to UGA seven years in a row. I also got to witness the Jim Donnan era at UGA (Georgia was irrelevant). Also, for some perspective, could you imagine losing 18 out of you last 20 to your #2 rival (UGA fans live that reality with the Gators)? I guess in my drunken rant, I just want to convey that no matter where you go, things will suck at some point and look like DEATH. The difference between the periods of suck at UM and other place is that we have Yost, Schembechler, Desmond, and pick your piece of epic tradition. So I'll be a UM fan until the day I die and I'll get hammered for future UM games. Go Blue and God bless Brandon Graham.