A Little Positive Tidbit for RR
I found this quote in an Insider story on ESPN from Bruce Feldman. It's the story of former 5 star RB Jason Gwaltney who originally signed with Rich at WVU. The story follows the usual downfall of a 5 star.....came in cocky, got hurt, lost his job, got down, got in trouble, got kicked out(not sure if he got kicked out or left). This isn't a revelation or anything, but this would be the perfect kinda guy to take a jab at his former coach and blame him for some of his problems instead he said this..
If he could do it all over again, he said he should've redshirted, so he could've matured. But he can't change that or any of the other decisions he's made. He says he did learn how to practice full-speed from his days at WVU. "They chiseled that into my brain," he said. "Coach (Rich) Rodriguez instilled something in me. I still owe that man a lot."
Like I said not earth shattering, but it is nice to hear somebody say something nice about Michigan or it's coaches after the last couple of years.
December 15th, 2010 at 2:04 PM ^
This has to be a dream, because compliments are never leveled at Rich Rodriguez anymore.
It's kind of a law around these parts.
December 15th, 2010 at 3:57 PM ^
I was about to write an angry sarcastic reply, since every thread on the board seems to have several commenters definding RR, but then I realized you might be sarcastic. Damn you internet.
December 15th, 2010 at 2:12 PM ^
Interesting, that this in from Feldman in an insider article. To me Feldman is pretty fair, up there with Rittenberg.
Why doesn't this suprise me that the local Detroit papers don't have this quote in any of their analysis of the coaching situation. I hope DB sees this article.
December 15th, 2010 at 2:13 PM ^
It seems like a lot of the players (that stayed) really do like Coach Rod from some of the comments I have heard that aren't from Detroit papers.
December 15th, 2010 at 2:14 PM ^
Obviously a pay for play. Run with it Freep! /s
Anyway, nice find. One of my biggest keep RR arguments, is that the players that stuck around or "held the rope" really seem to love the guy, and appear to want to work as hard as they can for him. I think this was brought up in another article where the WVU reporter (blogger?) tried to get his old players to say something bad about him. Instead, they all spoke glowingly about how he helped prepare them for the future. Sounds like Michigan Man material to me.
December 15th, 2010 at 2:16 PM ^
that was a blogger's article. I can't remember which blog - it wasn't We Must Ignite this Couch - but it was a WVU blog and he was definitely trying to get negative quotes from the players.
It sounds like a lot of these guys would run through a wall for Coach Rodriguez if he asked them to do so.
December 15th, 2010 at 2:48 PM ^
they won't run through MS, PS, Iowa, Wisc and OS for him.
December 15th, 2010 at 4:15 PM ^
I don't usually respond like this, but I'm at work and don't have time to give you the attention you don't deserve.
>implying a wall can actually be run through
>implying they didn't try
okay.
December 15th, 2010 at 9:33 PM ^
derp derp
December 15th, 2010 at 6:05 PM ^
were the same and pointed the finger squarely at the WVU AD/administration in causing him to leave.
The reviling of RR started when the AD/President of WVU and the Governor of WV all whipped up a media storm for the illiterate fanbase to cast him as the devil for leaving. If only they had come through with the bonus pay for his staff that they promised and a few other small things, he might still be in WV.
December 15th, 2010 at 2:15 PM ^
Something to remember is that RR was the big time well thought of up and coming future stud of a coach back in 2006 and 2007 that both Alabama and others had interest in at various times. He has been successful at many places and levels, and therefore must have any number of strengths that brought him that success before he ever got to Michigan.
He has his weaknesses as well, and those are always more apparent when someone has losing seasons or does not meet expectations just as his strengths were more readily apparent when his teams were kicking rear ends at WVU and elsewhere.
Seeing the whole picture rather than a love him or hate him because of whatever is rational thinking, but that does not lend itself to something like sports fanatics......
December 15th, 2010 at 2:17 PM ^
RR has been strongly praised by most of those he recruited to WVa, and most of those he recruited to UM. Of those who left, they were either leftovers from a previous admin (i.e., Boren, Mallet, etc.) or they couldn't cut it (Turner, Gwaltney.) I'm amazed that even those who couldn't cut it don't diss him. And you can't expect uniform praise from everyone.
Point is, the guys on the team love him, and just want a chance to succeed under him. A great example of this is the Tater. He of all people could be disgruntled, but he really seems to be all in. That is in part a tribute to RR.
December 15th, 2010 at 2:15 PM ^
Besides the awesome man who started the rumor "we practice to much" and the giant doughnut who said "lack of family values" has there been any player who has said anything negative about RR? Ive heard almost all positive from players who have played under him.
December 15th, 2010 at 2:20 PM ^
Yeah, I just can't tell you their names or what they said
--Mike Rosenberg
December 15th, 2010 at 5:05 PM ^
I fell and hit my head on the toilet and when I came to the quotes were just there in my head. ~Doc
December 15th, 2010 at 2:24 PM ^
Toney Clemons and Morgan Trent. They're entitled to be bitter, I guess, but considered the mostly positive responses from the other players, it just seems like weren't "all in."
December 15th, 2010 at 2:16 PM ^
Man, has the past year jaded me.. All I thought when I read that was a smart ass "yeah, just like what Carr instilled in Mitchell, Boren et. al."
I fear that this whole mess will leave me permanently scarred. Not a good thing when you are trying to pass along your love of the "greatest football program ever" to your two young sons. I find myself lying to them more and more.
**cough, cough** "Michigan has always been and will always be the best" **cough, cough**
Really dad?
shuffles feet, talks in to the ground.. "um... yeah..."
Back to the topic at hand, I will be able to tell them (honestly) of the stand up coach that was almost given enough time to right the ship, and start molding the boys into men again, old school style.
December 15th, 2010 at 2:31 PM ^
... so all this job status stuff didn't exist. I'm rooting for the guy, because I like him, but we need to perform and quick -- if it's not too late already.
December 15th, 2010 at 2:55 PM ^
That kid was from Long Island where football isnt/wasnt that good. I used to watch that kid run for liek 500 yards and 5 tds every game
December 15th, 2010 at 3:01 PM ^
Don't you know there's a strict ban on positive Rich Rod press?
Oh damn. This isn't Freep.
Carry on.
December 15th, 2010 at 3:24 PM ^
Hoping for:
Gator Bowl win.
Denard sets 3 Gator Bowl records.
RR gets a 5 year extension.
Defense comes alive and holds MSU to 10 pts.
All is well again on mgoblog.
December 15th, 2010 at 3:56 PM ^
The other 3 are Marlon Lucky, Jonathan Stewart and....Kevin Grady. Stewart is really the only one that ever established himself.
December 15th, 2010 at 7:42 PM ^
overrated backs in '05 class. Michigan wasn't alone when highly touted backs were a big recruiting bust.
December 15th, 2010 at 4:28 PM ^
Another positive tidbit for RR is that Devin Gardner only turned 19 this week. He will probably win the Heisman on or around his 23rd birthday.