Lifelong Hangover-In My Heart
(Sorry if this is to long for the board-I don't post often and I felt like I am not a good enough writer to post in a diary compared to whats on the board these days)
Yesterday one of my best friends called me to talk a bit about Michigan football as we always do every other week or so. During the conversation you could hear the frustration and disappointment in both our voices. It was just total disgust from the entire ordeal. Even after everything thats happened since OSU 2006 & App State I have never heard that "I am damn tired and almost beat" voice from either one of us. But it was there today.
If there is one thing that I am sure of if they fire Rich, its that the feeling of sadness will never ever leave me. I fucking love this guy. I'll be a lifelong fan and whatever school he goes to is going to become my 2nd favorite team and I don't have a 2nd favorite team. Its Michigan. And I am not grandstanding but damn if Rich isn't the gold standard of what we consider a Michigan man to be. It shows in the kids and anyone who can't see that is a blind fool. Has he made some mistakes since he got here? Yes and who hasn't? But none of them would have ever been blown so far out of proportion if it wasn't for the bad luck, more bad luck, timing and microscopic eye he has been under.
This has been beat like a dead horse but the simple fact is its true-Rodriguez has never had anything but grief since he walked in the door. Yet he just keeps on smiling, trying to be polite and doing what is best for the program. I'd say that is pretty commendable considering I have never in my life seen a person take as much intentional sabotaging as this coach has. Sure there have been some actual shitty coaches get publicly dogged here and there but its just kisses of sunshine compared to this.
Violations? We all know he didn't commit any goddamn violations. He was picked apart by some classless and completely worthless so called journalists in one of the biggest hatchet jobs in college sports history. I wish we lived in a simpler world where Dave Brandon says we want a flat out apology or anyone on your payroll is never allowed near the program again. IMO their smear job alone may have cost this team and Rich a couple of wins progress just due to it affect on recruiting. And ultimately that is just one more missile in my arsenal of reasoning for keeping this man one more year.
Nobody on here or anywhere can truly give good reasoning for his firing without leaving out even more reasoning for keeping him. But the Jim Harbaugh thing has made so many people lose sight, even more so than the losses. And they don't even know if the guy really wants the job or if Michigan even wants him. Everybody is in a rush as if this is it, we need to seize the day and get this guy now before he bolts etc., that the true reasoning as to why we need to wait has left out the door for even some of the biggest Rich Rodriguez supporters.
Is this the only coach out there? Maybe. Maybe not. But if we are trying to make a change immediately he might be the only correct choice if a change has to happen right now. But if Rich is shown the door and Harbaugh is the guy to replace him, what happens if he fails? That is when looking at the very long term future right now becomes essential. Because if anyone here thinks we are going to be able to hand select a great coach after they see what just happened with Rich, let alone followed by an exit by one of Michigans own its a wrap and we really could tailspin for a long time just like so many fans are paranoid about. IMO Nobody worth their weight is going to want to touch the job. Why would they? With the local media slander job and the hateful part of the fanbase looming in background, if you aren't showing the college football world that you will give someone time to succeed under these conditions the lineup won't be long. Hell it wasn't in 2007 either.
On the flip side, if we fire Rich Rodriguez and replace him with Jim Harbaugh and he becomes successful I will be happy to have a good coach and see Michigan win. But deep down in my heart I will also be hurt and broken hearted for what could have been as well as a bit ashamed. I'll always think "What if?" for years. What if he had one more damn year. One more year without all the bad luck, less speculation drama(because it will be what it will be-a make or brake year-no extra questions asked because they have all been asked and answered except one) and with a team that actually wasn't a bunch of babies compared to the rest of the Big 10. And if that never comes, and in the coming weeks I end up seeing Rich get shown the door I will shed more than a few tears and thats no bullshit. Because this story would truly have a sad ending. In epic media fashion to boot.
Im sure Harbaugh if hired would give the fans a lot of hype fuel with words about wipping our rivals asses, and I have heard a lot of people saying they want that because they feel Rich doesn't show any fire or seem to care about our rivals. But I say hogwash, nobody wants those wins more than he does. But I don't see rich as the guy to go out spewing Dantonio like moronic comments with or without the product to back it up. But I think when we are ready to roll these teams and he knows it, there will definitely be some jabs, yet professional because thats who he is.
People say hiring Harbaugh will unite the fanbase. Maybe in a way, but the damn fans should have already been there.
November 30th, 2010 at 5:01 AM ^
You speak for many of us.
November 30th, 2010 at 7:27 AM ^
had the opportunity to see his first full year of recruits become upper classmen yet!
November 30th, 2010 at 9:53 AM ^
Why, you're not a communist at all! The Politburo will hear of this!
/s
/history & poli sci major
November 30th, 2010 at 1:08 PM ^
*****THIS IS AN IMPORTANT POST TO READ BECAUSE IT'S 'THE' TRUTH*****
#1) Michigan is NOT Jim Harbaugh's 'dream job.' He wants an NFL job, because him and his brother are so competitive. SD, SF, Oak and Car (and maybe even Dal and Min) are all going to be fighting over him this off-season.
#2) Dave Brandon is going to be doing absolutely everything he can to convince him to come to Michigan over the next month.
#3) In all likelihood, Rich Rod will be brought back (signing a two year extension after the bowl game), and Greg Robinson will be replaced (along with the 3-3-5). Ron English is supposedly an early DC candidate.
November 30th, 2010 at 6:32 AM ^
I understand what your saying. If rich is let go and JH becomes the guy who comes in and supposedly saves the program. RR will be forgotten and JH will be on a Bo level of coach.
November 30th, 2010 at 7:16 AM ^
November 30th, 2010 at 8:27 AM ^
caveat: I agree with the original post, and believe that Rodriguez should have a minimum of one more year.
On the other hand, a "Bo level coach" would not be a negative, assuming that Harbaugh could ever reach that level. My recollection of growing up during the Bo years, especially the 1970s, was of a supremely high level of performance, excluding the bowl games. I went back to consider his record, and would propose that, under the current BCS muddle, he could well have won a couple or few national championships during his tenure.
The big IF is contained in Harbaugh's potential, which is still rather unproven; his interest, which is entirely speculative; and Brandon's plan for coaching, which is as well-guarded as "American Idol" results.
November 30th, 2010 at 10:07 AM ^
"My recollection of growing up during the Bo years, especially the 1970s, was of a supremely high level of performance, excluding the bowl games. I went back to consider his record, and would propose that, under the current BCS muddle, he could well have won a couple or few national championships during his tenure."
No disrespect intended, but that part of your post is in conflict with reality.
I've posted this a few other times, but it's worth repeating: The Big Ten went 1-9 in the Rose Bowl during the '70s. To put it bluntly, Bo and Woody were the kings of a (relative) football dung pile. Their level of performance was very high ... in the upper Midwest.
I think it's fair to say that the Rose Bowl was a BCS-level game back then. The Big Ten (and Bo) failed in it several times.
Now, if they had at least been allowed to *get* to a bowl game (back in the dark ages when only one team could go), yeah, that would have been different. But they would have already lost to OSU, so how could a championship have happened?
November 30th, 2010 at 6:52 PM ^
Just curious what about the chances of the 80s. If the BCS had been around back then I think maybe a year or 2 Michigan might have made it (particularly the 1985 Feista Bowl team that finished the year 2nd overall).
November 30th, 2010 at 6:38 AM ^
With Rodriguez we get one. With Harbaugh we return to the Carr-era Big Ten competitiveness but we never get over that hump. That's what I see, and that's the reason I want him to stay.
I just don't get this Harbaugh stuff. People want a savior so they cling to him? What has he ever done? It's so frustrating.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
November 30th, 2010 at 8:46 AM ^
I'm all about the National Championship With Rodriguez we get one. With Harbaugh we return to the Carr-era Big Ten competitiveness but we never get over that hump. That's what I see, and that's the reason I want him to stay.
There is absolutely no proof to back this up. Harbaugh, in his 4th year at Stanford, is essentially 1 half of a football game away from playing for a national championship. This is the most insane notion I've ever heard that Harbaugh could never get an NC and RR could. Harbaugh is as close this year to a NC as RR ever was at WVU. There is just no logic behind that notion.
Furthermore, Carr actually did win a National Championship. Was one not enough for you? And you're assuming that RR will win one automatically when you say "with RR we get one". Have you not watched the last 3 years? Sure, there were hurdles and I didn't expect a championship, but its been a circus and our defense has regressed. That isn't going to win any national championships unless there are philosophical changes. Come back to reality for a second here, RR is further from an NC right now than Carr was when he left.
November 30th, 2010 at 6:57 PM ^
away from contending this year (Stanford was never the same after Oregon knocked out that Stanford player on the helmet to helmet hit, that was the game changer).
Rodriquez, though I like him a great deal more than most of his critics, has never shown to be close to that. And he's made *major* mistakes in talent evaluation (Gibbons, the failed scholarship kicker option, was his choice to recruit even though he had offers from *NO* major programs nor even any interest at all) that have seriously hurt this team.
I'm trying to see this "We can get a National Championship with Rodriquez" talk, which appears to be based on nothing more than hope, and the failed belief that the Spread intrinisically dominates a football game (it doesn't, no scheme is superior to any other, though Oregon runs its version so well that it out executes the opposition).
November 30th, 2010 at 6:57 AM ^
We made it to a bowl game is that not an improvement? We did it with 4 frosh in the d-backfield, we did it with a first year qb, we did it amid all the bad press, give RR another year, if we lose to our rivals again and show no improvement, then dump him. JH is not coming, quit dreamin.
November 30th, 2010 at 6:59 PM ^
...if my friends and I managed to get a pick-up team together we'd stand a 50-50 chance against some of these teams (UMass, BG, maybe Indiana).
We got *embarassed* against anyone remotely decent that wasn't from the Big East, unless you count this year's Illinois team.
November 30th, 2010 at 7:13 AM ^
f the next hot thing. I really don't see Jimmy Hairball coming here his baggage is way worse than the last coach to be fired by Michigan. We already have a coach,
November 30th, 2010 at 7:33 AM ^
People say hiring Harbaugh will unite the fanbase. Maybe in a way, but the damn fans should have already been there.
nice.
November 30th, 2010 at 11:09 AM ^
your I hate diary. I needed it.
November 30th, 2010 at 7:35 AM ^
... for your post. In many respects, I feel the same way. I will be sad. I probably will cry. I know he's not perfect and he could have done certain things better but the loss of what could have been will be hard to deal with. I, too, will ALWAYS wonder. And, just like you, whatever football program he lands at will become my second favorite football program. If he is shown the door, there is no doubt in my mind he WILL have success at the next stop because he's a good coach and a good man who does things the right way. I just hope none of this ever comes to pass ...
I hope he remains our coach
November 30th, 2010 at 8:36 AM ^
Well said, this really moved my perspective as a fan, and as a person.
Rich Rod will stay, I'm 99% sure of it, and he'll stay as long as DB is AD, and my name isn't kaykay.
Our team's show significant improvement, +2 wins every year, and i see no reason why we can't be a national championship team next season (we return 19 starters :D )
go blue, die hard, those who stay (pointedly stare at RR) will be champions!
November 30th, 2010 at 8:40 AM ^
This definitely has been a frustrating era in Michigan football. I remember going over the history of the program and looking at those times where we had losing seasons and thinking to myself, how could that happen? No way did I think this string of misery would ever occur like it has recently.
Coach Rod certainly has been snake bitten, but it would not be accurate to say none of what has transpired is his fault. Some of the coaches he brought with him from WVU, especially on the defensive side, have not graded out "A". Still, these men are coach's men and he keeps them. This has caused our DC's to struggle, having to coordinate what Coach Rod wants, the coaches who know Coach Rod's expectations, with how the DC has been tending to business. It's hard to be successful when you are doing things someone else's way and not yours. '08 was not entirely Schaffer's fault; the coaches under him were not as 'under' him as they should of been. Gerg has had to deal with the same conditions of operation. Coach Rod HAS to see that the best team is one where both the offense and the defense are top notch. And that means having top notch coaches to see that it gets done. Furthermore, Coach Rod genuinely planned on winning here in the Big Ten by outscoring the opponent and having a competent defense to hold the other side to less than what we score. Unfortunately, in the Big Ten, to have a competent defense, you need to strive to have a superior defense that happens to fall short of that goal and SETTLE for competent. To strive for competent is a losing proposition: This is the Big Ten, a premier conference, and you have to bring it on both sides of the ball to successfully compete here.
So that's the crux of the issue for me, is Coach Rod willing to mete out authority to a competent DC and a staff handpicked by the DC? Is he willing to compromise the relationships of the coaches he brought with him for the good of the program or will he continue fighting this battle of shining up the offense more than the defense?
Coach Rod has had success, but in the Big East which talentwise has less than the Big Ten. That includes coaches as well as players. If he is going to have similar success in the Big Ten as he did in the Big East, he is going to have to be better than he was there, and that means he is going to have to make changes. Hopefully he does.
November 30th, 2010 at 8:44 AM ^
I felt like I am not a good enough writer to post in a diary compared to whats on the board these days
Nonsense! This has been one of the best pieces I've read in a while. Well done!
Whatever happens, Go Blue!!!
November 30th, 2010 at 8:59 AM ^
Absolutely. If you're writing stuff like this, and you feel like it should be a diary, do it. (Though I can see what you mean, most of the diaries are very high quality.)
November 30th, 2010 at 8:49 AM ^
Best thing I've read on here in a long time
November 30th, 2010 at 8:58 AM ^
but first and foremost, I want Michigan to win. Micigan > whoever the coach is.
RR has gotten a raw deal at Michigan, but much of it is due to the people he hired. His lawyer (contract buyout, failed real estate deals), his PR person/ firm, Shaffer, GERG, some of his DC staff from WVU, firing all M assistants (except Fred Jackson).
I feel like he's one of those really solid, trusting, hard working smart guys... who surrounds himself with fools.
November 30th, 2010 at 10:38 AM ^
He is paid to get RR the most favorable deal, not necessarily the deal with the best PR. Sure, we would like the latter, but that's not how it always words out.
November 30th, 2010 at 9:15 AM ^
I usually don't post and just read others thoughts (you can probably tell by my MGoPoints), but I wanted to log in and say this is a fantastic post. You have definitely summed up what I think a lot of fans are thinking and I commend you on posting this especially at this time. Thanks.
November 30th, 2010 at 9:47 AM ^
so I gave you one.
November 30th, 2010 at 11:16 AM ^
You're the best
November 30th, 2010 at 11:46 AM ^
here is another!
November 30th, 2010 at 11:25 PM ^
ignore. Go Blue!
November 30th, 2010 at 9:15 AM ^
I have felt that way since realizing that right now we are not competitive with the top teams in the Big Ten. The one point I would disagree on is that I don't think Rich will survive. I want him to, he's gotten a bad wrap since he arrived and I don't think he's been given a fair shot. I just don't think he can recover from everything that's happened. Much like Tubby Smith at Kentucky; the guy won a National Championship and still didn't win over the majority of the fans. Will the same happen to Rich?
November 30th, 2010 at 9:50 AM ^
don't you see every game as being touted as a must-win-for-RichRod-to-save-his-job? God bless him if he wants to live in that pressure cooker.
November 30th, 2010 at 10:29 AM ^
The fans really don't know how much pressure Rich is under every game. Fans overreact and fans usually put coaches on a shorter timeframe for rebuilding projects. Fans want success yesterday and have little patience in most instances.
Dave Brandon could be very happy with the direction of the football program right now. The reason people don't see that as possible is that the most outspoken segments of the media and fanbase are always the people who see the negative. Right or wrong the media attracts more attention when they can discuss drama and negative stories. If Brandon is truly as rational as most think he is then I am sure he will see that this teams best days are ahead of them since we are one of the youngest teams in college football.
I hope in the press conference after he has Rich Rod back he reminds the fanbase and media that it was not him that had Rich Rod on the hot seat but instead it was the fans and media creating this topic. That way the fans and media can speculate all that they want during his 4th year and it will mean nothing.
November 30th, 2010 at 9:56 AM ^
...factions of the fanbase that weren't on board when he was announced as the next head coach, but the whole deal really started going south with the buyout fiasco.
You remember the feeling just like I do; it was almosed surreal. All of the momentum with the Bowl win and saying goodbye to Carr was euphoric and full of energy, then it was just bad news central.
Even though I was excited about the new direction, the buyout/lawsuit/investigation cast a heavy shadow. That shadow quickly sapped the energy and created a haven for the disgruntled "fans" to plot against RR and to create an atmosphere of distrust and anxiety towards the future of the program. The errors in the DC hire(s) have only helped to compound the problem and make RR's job that much more difficult.
All agruments compiled and I'm left with a feeling of dissapointment; because I love the kids we have on this team, and the culture that RR has helped to foster.
Admire him, his character and how he fits the mold of a Michigan Man, but don't lose sight of why you bacame a fan in the first place. Because after all, the most important culture at Michigan is the culture of winning.
November 30th, 2010 at 10:14 AM ^
One thing that has always bothered me is the handling of the buyout. My non-U-M friends bring that up all the time, how he tried to weasel out of paying it.
However, I feel like it's pretty common knowledge - at least here in the MGoCommunity (correct me if I'm wrong) - that it was U-M that was advising Coach Rod to fight the buyout. It had succeeded in getting Beilein's reduced and incorrectly assumed it could do the same with Coach Rod. When WVU made it apparent this was not going to happen, U-M gave in. I've always felt U-M REALLY let Coach Rod unfairly look like the "bad guy" in that situation, which then just became ANOTHER strike against him.
November 30th, 2010 at 10:08 AM ^
I agree with all of it. This is a refreshing change from reading the posts and comments from the disgruntled side of the "fanbase." This team is set up to win double digits next year; I would hate to see someone come in, try to change things back to what they were, and win six games. On the other hand, if they changed coaches but got another spread coach, it would really suck for RR to have done all the rebuilding and another coach to get the credit for having a big year next year.
All it will take is one big year to change the minds of most of the professional malcontents among the "fanbase." If RR is allowed to stay, next year could very well be that year.
November 30th, 2010 at 10:27 AM ^
Since the post last night was deleted, I will explain again. I will put up the following everytime I see a RR/JH, Magee, or anything else applicable thread. It is representative of our current situation and will be much more fun to watch than the back and forth we will see from now until...????
November 30th, 2010 at 10:29 AM ^
I will be sad no matter what happens. If he stays, the scrutiny will linger through a long offseason and the angst will grow among the restless.
The pressure to win next year will be so great. We have the potential for big things in 2011, but strange shit happens in college football. Look at our injuries this year, as well as the injuries to other Big 10 teams that saw their starting rosters decimated.
I want RR to succeed, and, if I ever met him, I would thank him for enduring in the face of constant criticism and developing these fine young men we have on the team.
At this point, I'm not even looking forward to the bowl game. I hate to say that, but this whole coaching thing has taken its toll, and I'm afraid what might happen after we play our last game of this season.
It's just a shitty situation.
November 30th, 2010 at 10:40 AM ^
November 30th, 2010 at 11:02 AM ^
I think you're right about DB waiting to see what JH is thinking. If that's true, it's really crappy.
I still find it amazing that if we win our bowl game, this DAMN YOUNG football team will finish the season 8-5. And we're talking about firing this man? Gimme a frickin break.
November 30th, 2010 at 11:41 AM ^
what RR thinks. Don't they have a conversation every week? I wonder if it is awkward or supportive. Anyone have a copy of that transcript?
November 30th, 2010 at 10:48 AM ^
I'm right there with you, Rich goes... so goes a part of me. I feel like we went through these dark days together.... I want to finish together...this coach, these players, these fans.
November 30th, 2010 at 11:29 AM ^
Wow, an amazing amount of fail in the OP. Possibly more fail than RichRod's tenure in Ann Arbor (which is obviously saying a lot). Would the OP also cry if Kim Jong Ill is replaced in North Korea?
November 30th, 2010 at 11:44 AM ^
Me laugh out loud. Ha ha . . .
November 30th, 2010 at 11:48 AM ^
For all the great comments. Much appreciated.
November 30th, 2010 at 12:20 PM ^
Like a lot of alums, I admittedly have been too harsh in the judgement of Rich Rodriguez. He is an inspiration leader of men and he introduced much needed 21st century concepts to our program. We will be in debt to him for bringing Barwis to our S&C program; for maintaining a zero-tolerance policy for player conduct; and for introducing us to Denard Robinson. The Illinois game and Wisconsin game showed that we will hustle, and we will fight, til the clock stops, and that's all Rich Rodriguez.
I blame Bill Martin for not being a good mentor to RR. Michigan was, and still is, a very provincial place with rigid traditions. As a fanbase, we had always been change-adverse by nature, and spoiled by years of winning. RR, not having been in this environment, needed guidance to navigate through the landmines. Instead, Bill threw him to the wolves.
Martin needed to tell RR that keeping some of the assistants is good for the transition, both in recruiting and in managing the relationship with the inherited players. Martin needed to take control of the press while RR develops the relationships. Martin needed to set guidelines regarding when to recruit a borderline athlete and when to backoff. Martin needed to help RR set a coherent marketing strategy of the entire 5-year plan (Offense first, then Defense, then Special Teams, and Recruiting scatter throughout). Most importantly, Martin needed to help RR manage the relationships with the alums, boosters, and ex-players; unlike West Virginia, our past has as much stake to our program as our present.
If Dave Brandon had been the AD since RR's day 1, we will not be having this discussion. Instead, we will be looking forward to Denard as a heisman candidate, and the excitement of having the entire defense back for next year.
I was one of the doubters, and Jim Harbaugh was and is my all time favorite Michigan player. However, seeing the disintegration of the RR regime has been painful, and I can't help but wonder if we could have done more to help him succeed.
With that said, I still think we are a 9-win team next year with RR as the head coach, pending some staff changes; and I will support him 100% if Brandon commits to RR long term.
November 30th, 2010 at 1:26 PM ^
Your heart is on ther verge of suffering from a "lifelong hangover" (which is some pretty heavy hanging-over) and yet this potentially spiritually terminal condition will be completely cured by giving the guy that you "fucking love" just ONE "make or brake year-no extra questions asked." If I fucking loved a guy, I think that would earn the ol' chap at least another decade to either spread his wings or shit the bed. How about if we stop acting like our millionaire coach is getting some life-diminishing raw deal just because some fans have the nerve to wonder whether going 1-13 against MSU, OSU, Wiscy, PSU and Iowa in 3 years has something, just something to do with coaching. Gees, man, talk about drama!
November 30th, 2010 at 3:05 PM ^
Try to have some perspective and compassion. Enjoy MGOBLOG. Now stop with the douchebaggery and go learn something.
November 30th, 2010 at 6:40 PM ^
get off the ledge. That's all I'm saying.