Neal Rubin of Detroit News bashes RR
December 27th, 2010 at 1:04 PM ^
I think a MAJOR issue in the discussion of RR, in general, is the almost complete void of good media sources. Sharp and Foster seem like they don't even follow sports anymore, but still seem to throw out some garbage article every couple of days. Rosenberg and Snyder have some sort of jilted ex girlfriend thing going, and Rubin and Henning are way out of their element on the subject. That being said, though, the internet doesn't offer a much more balanced voice. Even on this site articles against RR are immediately slammed as garbage and for RR are considered "good articles" regardless of content. Many valid points for and against him are drowned out by the nonsense cliches and rumors shouted louder.
December 26th, 2010 at 7:36 PM ^
This article is useless. I read it the other day thinking "what's your point?" He really doesnt say much except he thinks If RR stays Mich could be winners. The offense is great, the defense sucks bla bla bla.
Overall dont waste your time reading. I dont even know why I follow Det News on twitter.
December 26th, 2010 at 8:44 PM ^
No, not the "entire" fan-base. I didn't say that. The fan-base, generally, is against him. Last I checked, in the MLive poll, about 70 percent were anti-Richrod. The number was consistent with the results of most other polls. But this was the main one:
PUBLIC POLICY POLLING
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 9, 2010
CONTACT: TOM JENSEN 919-744-6312
Only 32% of Michigan fans want Rodriguez to continue
– Michigan fans evidently needed to see a little bit more from Rich Rodriguez this year than a 7-5 season and a trip to the Gator Bowl. Just 32% want him to return as the team’s coach in 2011 with 35% explicitly wanting him to be replaced and 33% unsure on the issue.
Those numbers represent a decline of support for Rodriguez. A May PPP poll found that 51% of Michigan fans wanted to see Rodriguez continue as coach while only 20% hoped to see him removed. Since that time support for him continuing has declined by 19 points while support for him leaving has increased by 15 points.
Michigan fans generally just don’t like Rodriguez. Only 20% have a favorable opinion of him to 38% who view him in a negative light. The 20% who view him favorably is identical to what it was in May but the unfavorable rating is up 12 points from 26% in that earlier poll. A fair number of fans who were on the fence about Rodriguez have now moved into the negative column.
To put Rodriguez’s numbers into perspective, North Carolina Coach Butch Davis sported a positive 41/20 approval spread on an October poll and 57% of the school’s fans wanted him to continue compared to only 14% who wanted him fired. Obviously the expectations are higher at Michigan, but Davis’ far superior numbers came despite his team posting the same record as the Wolverines this year and during the middle of an NCAA investigation that could land the program on probation.
While Michigan fans are pretty divided on whether Rodriguez should stay or if he should go, there’s a pretty broad consensus on who the school should target to replace him if he is indeed fired. 64% would like Jim Harbaugh to be the next coach compared to 23% who pick Les Miles and only 3% who want Brady Hoke.
“Rich Rodriguez is unpopular with the Michigan fan base and has little support to remain as football coach,” said Tom Jensen, Director of Public Policy Polling. “Meanwhile any concern Michigan fans might have had about Harbaugh’s comments about the school’s academic standards a few years ago have been assuaged by Stanford’s winning ways on the football field.”
December 26th, 2010 at 9:01 PM ^
You shouldn't have added the "not sure" to the "want him replaced."
Essentially, the polled fan base is 1/3 for, 1/3 against and 1/3 undecided.
December 26th, 2010 at 9:45 PM ^
of Americans who wanted to separate the colonies from mother England want to retain/hire Rodriguez.
<br>
<br>Americans are indecisive.
December 26th, 2010 at 9:03 PM ^
With Rubin, Rosenberg, and Albom? Why do they keep on kvetching about RR? I can't understand it . . . are they getting together to coordinate hit pieces? Is someone from the holler in WVa not good enough for them?
December 26th, 2010 at 9:06 PM ^
I'm just going to rant about one. Rubin talks about the Michigan fan base comparing the program to FSU, Alabama, and Tenessee. I haven't heard/read a single comparison to any one of these schools. But really, what schools should the program be compared to? USC (major sanctions)? Ohio State (ugh)? Florida (tons of arrests)? Texas (5-7)? Auburn (Newton scandal)? Oregon (Phil Knight)? I'm just not sure where he was going. The only school Michigan should compare itself to is Michigan. Worry about your own business, and the rest will take care of itself.
/end rant
December 26th, 2010 at 9:07 PM ^
Way to "interpret" the facts. This is the conclusion of the pollsters, who are widely known for their integrity and impartiality:
<br>
<br>Michigan fans generally just don’t like Rodriguez. Only 20% have a favorable opinion of him to 38% who view him in a negative light. The 20% who view him favorably is identical to what it was in May but the unfavorable rating is up 12 points from 26% in that earlier poll. A fair number of fans who were on the fence about Rodriguez have now moved into the negative column.
December 26th, 2010 at 9:11 PM ^
couldn't get 70% anti-RR. I don't know how you did it.
December 27th, 2010 at 1:36 AM ^
I'll give you my answer after the 2012 season when his first true recruiting class are seniors. I'm sure it will be extremely favorable and most by then will be glad he is our coach! I'm really starting to feel sorry for RR with all this outside of mgoblog negativity. I'm ignoring most of this and am excited to see our team play in gator bowl!!!
December 27th, 2010 at 2:05 AM ^
December 26th, 2010 at 9:14 PM ^
The MLive poll:
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<br>Does Rich Rodriguez deserve more time as University of Michigan football coach?
<br>Yes
<br> 35%
<br>No
<br> 58%
<br>Unsure
<br> 7%
<br>Closed
<br>Total Votes: 8,283
<br> embed | email
<br>Comments (0):
<br>[refresh]
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December 26th, 2010 at 9:20 PM ^
and you will convince me.
December 26th, 2010 at 9:23 PM ^
Never been on Mlive. Is it a site dedicated to U of Michigan sports? Is it representative of UM fans?
December 27th, 2010 at 10:52 AM ^
Nope, it caters to morons, trolls, and mouth-breathers of every fanbase.
December 26th, 2010 at 11:49 PM ^
That's the poll of all the current Michigan athletic directors..........All the other polls are worth what this dog is cleaning up.....
December 27th, 2010 at 1:32 AM ^
To be fair, MLive has a selection bias towards idiots.
December 27th, 2010 at 11:00 AM ^
http://mgoblog.com/diaries/mgoboard-should-we-keep-rodriguez-yes
This is MGoBlog's opinion:
Yes - 55%
No - 32%
I'm not sure - 12%
| Response: | % of responses |
|---|---|
| Yes | 55 |
| No | 32 |
| I'm not sure |
13 |
This is (almost) entirely Michigan's fanbase, and it's (almost) people who are well-informed. This isn't on some site where fans of other teams vote, and people who still think Mike Hart is on the team vote.
But most clearly, 67% support Rodriguez, because the "unsure" or "I'm not sure" portions of the voting population most obviously fit to confirm my preexisting opinion.
55% say we should keep him.
December 27th, 2010 at 1:44 PM ^
This actually shows an interesting disparity between the respondents to your poll on MGoBlog and the respondents to a poll of randomly selected, self-identified fans of Michigan: http://mgoblog.com/diaries/cc-survey-data-about-rr
The December poll was taken only 1 week after yours, and shows a much lower percentage of respondents who want RR to continue (32% v. 55%), and a much higher percentage of respondents who are unsure (33% v. 12%). That suggests MGoBlog consists of fans who have strong opinions, and those strong opinions are skewed in favor of RR compared to the general population of Michigan fans.
December 27th, 2010 at 2:21 PM ^
True. I don't think I was intending to accurately find out the opinions of the fanbase as a whole, but your piece definitely did. Yours is probably more indicative of how everyone feels, and mine has been influenced a lot by the demographics of the site. I was just trying to disprove MackBru's statement of a disapproving 70%.
December 26th, 2010 at 9:14 PM ^
He(RRod) continues to just make it too damn easy for reporters & people in general to "hack" on him.
My most recent personal information. Talked to a local friend who coaches a varsity high school team and he'd just gotten back from kalamazoo where they have a high school coaches conference/symposium every year.
Dantonio was there, spoke for an hour, took questions at the mic and then spent the next 3-4 hours just walking around networking with the coaches there. Several other big 10 coaches, MAC coaches and a couple misc. assistants from other conferences also attended and there M.O. was about the same, alot of networking, chit chat, etc.
What about RichRod?? What did he do?? Well, in the words of this coach(Top notch program, OK Red conference) He(Rod) blew in, made a 30 minute "profanity laden" speech and didnt even shake a hand on his way out. No networking, no time for any of the Michigan high school coaches at all. Why?? just F-ing WHY??
Thats our coach?? And some wonder where the 'bashing" originates from? Where all the "bad feelings" about him come from??
December 26th, 2010 at 9:26 PM ^
Wow, really. He should know better. I wonder why no one wrote about this. This was be like wood for the fire for the Detroit media.
December 26th, 2010 at 9:35 PM ^
My dad, a former president of the MHSAA football coaches association, was taking tickets/checking credentials for the speech you refer to. Before the speech, my dad asked Coach Rod for an autograph as he "blew in" and he gladly signed one and talked to my dad for 5ish minutes. He said Coach Rod was there for roughly an hour before the event, mingling and talking with the coaches. Rich even went as far as to apologize that he would be leaving right after his speech due to some prior obligations (I believe he was watching his son in a sporting event). I drove in late and only got in 5 minutes or so before the speeches started. So yes, he did leave quickly after.
As for the speech, Coach Rod is a really funny guy. He did tell a few jokes that could be considered "off color", but nothing at all worse than what you'd hear from most other coaches at a conference. If you've ever been to one of these, you'll know what I'm talking about. So no, Coach Rod didn't stay and mingle and network. He did it before the speech. The coaches I've talked to through the MHSAA have said a lot of positive things about Rich (as a person), so yes I do wonder where all these "bad feelings" and "bashing" come from.
December 26th, 2010 at 9:49 PM ^
is more detailed, I'd have to go with your version.I also doubt that RR would be so
<br>obnoxious to people who are so important to his program.
December 26th, 2010 at 9:58 PM ^
I have a few theories about why the OP heard that version of the story, but I don't want to get in to personal attacks or MHSFCA gossip/politics. It's not the time or the place.
December 26th, 2010 at 10:14 PM ^
Is it Dantonio-related?
December 26th, 2010 at 10:26 PM ^
That's part of it, but it's also pretty common knowledge that a certain group of highly successful high school coaches from that conference/part of the state hang together quite a bit and aren't fond of different opinions than their own. That's all I'm going to say, it's as PC as I can be.
December 26th, 2010 at 10:28 PM ^
Politics permeates all levels.
December 26th, 2010 at 11:21 PM ^
From the little I understand of the politics/egos that is being generous.
December 26th, 2010 at 11:25 PM ^
Is telling something different than he heard. High School Football is highly political (probably everywhere). I've heard coaches say both sides...that he doesn't connect with high school coaches; and others that he's the most personable open guy out there. Both posters are probably right...they're just hearing it from different people with different agendas.
December 27th, 2010 at 1:11 PM ^
Not surprising that we only have one (Nate Allspach) player from an OK-Red school...
However, Desmond Morgan will change that trend. He seems like a guy who will rally prospects from that part of the state to give RR a shot. We will own that part of the state once we win again.
December 27th, 2010 at 2:18 PM ^
To be fair, I'd rather be owning the Orlando or Miami parts of Florida.
December 27th, 2010 at 3:40 PM ^
December 27th, 2010 at 10:16 PM ^
I got my version directly from the coaches mouth who was there. Is he anti UM or pro MSU? I cannot awnser that. I know that from his "perception" coach Rod just didnt seem to give the time and energy to networking with the HS coaches present. Next time I see 'coach" I"ll ask him if he arrived late and missed the chance to talk to him before the speech or if he's just spreading sh*t about our coach to throw fuel on a fire.
The other poster, with better or more "firsthand" info, spells out the story differently and I dont doubt it a bit. He's closer to the thing than myself, and I'm glad that he was able to shed some more light on the subject for me(us). I've been walking around for days with the version as I heard it bouncing around in my head and causing me to just ask WTF??
December 27th, 2010 at 9:58 AM ^
From a distance this would seem to be symbolic of the divide you guys are struggling with:
What about RichRod?? What did he do?? Well, in the words of this coach(Top notch program, OK Red conference) He(Rod) blew in, made a 30 minute "profanity laden" speech and didnt even shake a hand on his way out. No networking, no time for any of the Michigan high school coaches at all
vs
He said Coach Rod was there for roughly an hour before the event, mingling and talking with the coaches. Rich even went as far as to apologize that he would be leaving right after his speech due to some prior obligations (I believe he was watching his son in a sporting event
Clearly no one who coaches at this level would be so stupid as to intentionally alienate their prime source of talent. If both posters perceptions are correct this is simply an example of a man trying to balance his work life and family life. (I have missed many hockey games and many business dinners myself)
The problem coach Rodriguez faces is a stunningly hostile percentage of the fan base. Some of this is rational, much of it is irrational. Much of it would be solved by winning, some of it will NEVER go away.
Presuming that Rodriguez is retained he needs to be cognizant of this divide, and act accordingly. As an example in a case like the one above he should close his speech by mentioning he was choosing to leave early to attend his son's sporting event.
December 26th, 2010 at 9:41 PM ^
Is that you? Rosey?
December 26th, 2010 at 9:43 PM ^
Gosh. This post doesn't reek of an agenda or anything.
December 26th, 2010 at 11:23 PM ^
sorry dude...this just ain't computing...despite your most recent personal information.
also, one person's color is another's profanity, so let's stick with specifics
December 26th, 2010 at 11:35 PM ^
Ironically I've heard the exact opposite (in general about networking, etc) about him from one or two local coahes, and have read other's comments which echo the same.
There is no denying that Dantonio has had some success in-state, with the obvious Southeastern and Renaissance commits, but he's also relying on his Ohio contacts. He recruits Ohio and specifically the Cincinatti area pretty hard. That area is Buckeye first, but MSU is quickly becoming a #2 destination.
December 27th, 2010 at 12:26 PM ^
Another poster had a more detailed and different take, so is your friend an imbecile or a liar????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
December 27th, 2010 at 10:22 PM ^
See above post, I'm betting he arrived late and only saw what he saw and walked away with a bad taste. Its really too bad because thats the kind of situation that fuels the negativity.
December 26th, 2010 at 9:39 PM ^
Fine. Parse all you want. Rather than say, 70 percent are against him, I should have said only 30 percent are for him.
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<br>Regardless, the point is the same: The dude is not popular. Would you care to show me a single poll that says otherwise?
December 26th, 2010 at 10:00 PM ^
You're basing your opinion that he's not popular on a poll on MLive with 8000 votes. I fail to see how you can draw any meaningful interpretation from something like that. Far more people visit Mgoblog everyday; a poll of visitors to this site would produce far better results. MLive tends to be a cesspool for the disaffected. I would not be surprised to find that 70% of MLive readers believe that moon is made of cheddar cheese.
December 26th, 2010 at 10:21 PM ^
There is no doubt that he does not have a great deal of support in the fan base. We agree on that. However, he does seem to have strong support among his players and recruits. I can only explain that by how well they know him compared to us, the fan base. He has managed to keep his team together through all of the negativity. That has to stand for something. I think the media has ignored this because iit does not fit the bias.
December 27th, 2010 at 10:26 AM ^
I agree that the team (in general) is behind him, but doesn't that apply to most coaches, even those who might deserve to lose their job? It's a fairly rare thing when a team publicly rejects their coach. It likely speaks to RR being a solid guy who really does care about the kids.
In any event, where I'd disagree is the "keeping the team together". One of my biggest concerns is his problem keeping commits to stay and play defense for Michigan. Losing 1/3 of commits is a problem. That's not strong support.
December 27th, 2010 at 10:28 PM ^
But..but...exactly NONE of those(lost recruits) were his fault right?? Yet another thing to add to the list of "things that are not the fault of the head coach". Eventually though, it will land on his ass if he's not a proven and documented big ten winner and soon. If that happens I'll be looking for the apoligist's to admits that it indeed does land at the coaches door and he is in fact accountable. Wont hold my breath though.
December 26th, 2010 at 11:52 PM ^
That will be the poll taken sometime after the Gator Bowl of all current Michigan athletic directors.......All the rest does not matter, and those who are polled have significantly less information and data and stake in what will happen than the only poll that counts!
December 26th, 2010 at 9:57 PM ^
"Neal Rubin is a racist who dislikes hispanic coaches who play black quarterbacks."
<br>Given this is an opinion piece, and further is backed by unidentified sources, I've now met the journalistic benchmarks set by today's American media
December 26th, 2010 at 10:52 PM ^
Not sure why anybody would weigh the opinion of MLive readers so heavily. The comments I have read on MLive before (definatly regretted it), seem to suggest that the intelligence of your average MLive reader is pretty low. Most of those are not what I would consider informed fans.