RR has put together a nucleus of players who would be able to make all of us proud, as players and as human beings. So far, he has really only had 2 recruiting classes, and those classes - this year's freshmen and sophomores - look like they will stand our team in good stead for the next 2 or 3 years. It should tell you something that there were virtually no juniors or seniors starting this year and that even those few that did start in September were, in many instances, beaten out by freshmen and sophomores before the season ended. In addition, he has acted with class throughout.
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No coffee for Brandon
January 5th, 2011 at 8:52 PM
#1202
RR Has
January 5th, 2011 at 8:50 PM
#1203
OK, this has been said
But I think it needs to be said about every 10 posts to chill everyone out. Let's give this a little time before we bury DB, k? He's been doing something for the past month, presumably related to M football. He had an idea he would fire RR, or at least knew it would be a possibility. He did not starting thinking about this or doing his due dilligence this morning. The guy didn't get to where he is by being lazy, that much I know.
There are a dozen coaches out there we'd love to have. Some or most of them won't come, but one will. We have more money, more history, a better school and more $$$ than all but a few schools and they have coaches right now. Maybe it's not Patterson, but it wouldn't be too crazy for him to say "You know, I just went undefeated and didn't get a shot at a national title, and I'm moving to the Big East where the last team to go undefeated there (Cincinnati) also didn't get a shot. I'd like to coach a team where if I put together the best team in the country, I get rewarded for it. I'd like to coach in a huge stadium where my team is on national TV every year and I can attract numerous future NFLers. Oh yeah, doubling my salary is nice too."
Or Dan Mullen, who knows no matter what, he'll never be able to out recruit Alabama, Auburn, LSU and Florida, therefore will probably never even win his own conference. Oh yeah, a million and a half to two million dollar raise wouldn't be bad. And for a guy not from the south, a chance to get out of the south.
These are only two examples, and there are many. We only need one. I know Notre Dame has tried its hardest to disprove this, but the big programs are never down long. USC, Alabama, Nebraska, they all had down periods lately. We have the name, we have the stadium, we'll get the coach.
January 5th, 2011 at 9:07 PM
#1204
Well stated
Thank you sir. I'm backing away from the edge - slightly.
January 5th, 2011 at 9:20 PM
#1205
Keep repeating please
People forget Alabama was a joke not long ago. Oklahoma drifted for years. Nebraska is the most recent example of a power coming back to power.
Great way to phrase the potential coaches. But about Mullen... I know it probably doesn't mean much, and it was in the heat of the moment, but if you could hear his post-game speech to the crowd after the Gator Bowl... doesn't sound like he's going anywhere. The MSU folks LOVE him, and he promised to return championships to Mississippi. Add in the contract extension and I think he stays.
And Doran Grant just chose OSU during the UA game
January 5th, 2011 at 8:54 PM
#1206
We seem to have done it again
The last CC had the same pattern, our sites lock on one candidate and profess that any other is failure. Why not let Brandon do his job there will be plenty of time to comment when we actually know what we are commenting about. It just seems we look as dumb as the talking heads when we try to beat the press. Good luck to all in this unsettling time, drive carefully if you are self medicating as I am.
January 5th, 2011 at 9:13 PM
#1207
posted from iPhone
The only thing is we should of had someone in waiting, so our recruits have some idea who the hell our coach is gonna be. To me that is what screws us!
January 5th, 2011 at 9:01 PM
#1208
Based on the presser
does anyone see ANY way that DB can get JH here? I think not but I'm perfectly happy to grasp at straws right now.
January 5th, 2011 at 11:13 PM
#1209
Read between the lines
Harbaugh: I'm meeting with San Fran (Brandon, I want $5.5M per year for seven years).
Brandon: But I will tell you again, my personal belief is that Jim Harbaugh is going to end up with a really, really challenging opportunity in the NFL. (Jim, I can do $4.5M for five years, plus a golden toilet.)
January 5th, 2011 at 9:41 PM
#1210
I'll panic when
Hoke is hired. This is not a good start, I will say that. What if really assuming to me is that all M fans are up in arms and Sparty/nuetral fans I've talked to are very impressed with Brandon and loved the presser.
January 5th, 2011 at 9:50 PM
#1211
I may have to eat my words on this..
I and i will if I am wrong, but this is the worst thing that could have happened. If he did not have a coach lined up, why in hell did he wait to fire RR? This make absolutely no sense now. How do you fire a coach that you have invested 3 years in, increased wins by 2 every year and not have a coach in waiting. Just because he is a CEO of Dominos does not make him a genius. We all know it is not what you know, but who you know.We all gave him the benefit of the doubt because he ran dominos and he did handle the NCAA investigation well, but that is all he has done. He is slowly selling the University to the highest bidder. Frankly I am pissed off. I am a RR supporter and was able to accept JH being our new coach just to find out he is not coming. I am sure Brandon has no clue what he is doing. Does he have any experiece in the athletic department? Please let me know.
Another thing.. if someone else says that we need a MIchigan Man I think I will smack them. Last time I checked, we are 0-2 on getting a "Michigan Man" to coach this "storied" program. The BCS changed college football, we were about 10 years late in adapting and now we are behind the curve trying to play catch-up. Kids now do not care about tradition, they don't care that we have more wins then any other program. Most of these kids were in preschool when we won our national championship. They want to win now.. period. They are growing up in a society that requires instant gratification. Don't believe me? How many of you wanted RR fired only after 3 years.
January 5th, 2011 at 9:56 PM
#1212
Who says...
He didn't have anyone lined up already? What he says publicly/officially is not the same as what has happened privately and off the record. He may have someone lined up but has to go through a "process" in order to cross his t's and dot his i's.
Who knows? This may not be the case but don't assume that everything we hear is the only truth. I grew with you that he should have plans A B and C but he can't share those with us the day he fires RR.
January 6th, 2011 at 12:20 AM
#1213
That's my feelings
That's my feelings exactly.
Did people really expect DB to have a presser today announcing the firing of RR and then have JH walk out from behind the curtain?
Harbaugh is currently under contract with Stanford so if he emerged as our new coach today, it would have looked pretty sleezy.
Perhaps all parties concerned are going through the motions to throw the dogs off his scent. DB can say he's conducting a search, JH can say he's finished his season and exploring his options. After a couple days, voila, Harbs realizes this is his dream job and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and becomes our coach.
January 6th, 2011 at 1:35 AM
#1214
At least we can stop
At least we can stop pretending that the football team is some shining beacon of inspiration and values to the student body/the B1G/AMUUUUUURICA. It's a big business operation that's all about wins and losses. The SEC figured this out a long time ago, which is why they win in the post-season while the B1G doesn't. It's not a question of right and wrong to me, it simply is the way the game is played in this day and age. Not to mention the Gang of 5 at ytOSU inexplicably being cleared to play in the Sugar Bowl.
The rules are a joke. The game is rigged. I don't care if we hire Lane freaking Kiffin to be our next coach as long as he can get us winning games again. DB needs a big name in a week or his tenure will go down in flames.
January 5th, 2011 at 9:50 PM
#1215
OT - Pitt to Name Bradley New Football Coach
Since thread starting is severely restricted (which sucks big time, since, well, this would be an awesome time to be able to talk about this stuff with the people we are used to being able to talk about it with, but I understand the reason), I'll just deposit this here....
Pretty self-explanatory, but also equally seismic in State College. Pertinent part as follows:
PITTSBURGH -- Penn State defensive coordinator and assistant head coach Tom Bradley will be named the head football coach at the University of Pittsburgh, WTAE Channel 4 Action Sports' John Meyer has confirmed.There was no indication of when the move will become official, but Meyer reported on Wednesday night that it was a done deal.
http://www.wtae.com/r/26381620/detail.html
This is actually encouraging news, at this point, in my opinion. If Pitt can pull Bradley from Penn State in January, it stands to reason that Michigan can also pull someone of high quality from somewhere else, even at this late stage.
January 5th, 2011 at 11:08 PM
#1216
Eh
I don't disagree with your overall point, but there's a big difference: Bradley is a longtime assistant who has wanted a head coaching job for a while.
Michigan could have Bradley or any number of other coordinators -- but we want a head coach. And not just any head coach, but a good one. That severely limits the field, and if there are (for argument's sake) 10 guys who would be considered good/satisfactory hires right now, how many of those guys do you think would leave their current places of employment? Probably not many. Hopefully at least one.
January 5th, 2011 at 10:46 PM
#1217
dude,
you don't know shit about whether brandon will or won't "close" this. nobody does, and won't for at least a couple of years. so spare us the sanctimony.
damn, but i hate our fans.
January 5th, 2011 at 10:57 PM
#1218
David Brandon -- Unbelievable incompetence
No one lined up.
One month to signing day.
Issue of his own making -- RR had one year left on his contract -- nothing drove this timing except Brandon himself.
This is a guy who sold lousy pizza and spent more money on advertising to convince people that his pizza tasted good than actually making the pizza good.
He is all about appearances and satisfying political constituencies than performance.
His solution for having a good coach in a bad turnaround situation? Pay someone who is no better more money to extend the turnaround situation.
Next year? 7-6, including bowl game beat down, no recruiting class, attrition among key RR current roster.
2012? 7-6, including bowl game beat down, tentative recruiting class (because, hey, Michigan may dump this guy, too), some more attrition.
2013? Who the hell knows who the coach will be.
We just became Michigan State and Notre Dame.
Woo.
January 6th, 2011 at 1:42 AM
#1219
Might want to check your crystal ball
and your head while you're at it.
January 6th, 2011 at 3:01 AM
#1220
I wish you would go to
I wish you would go to Somalia for a year.
January 6th, 2011 at 5:12 AM
#1221
7-6? who in the hell are you
7-6? who in the hell are you kidding. transfer attrition will be huge, recruiting class destroyed and i'm going to say 2-3 wins next year tops.
January 6th, 2011 at 9:05 AM
#1222
MLive misses you.
Please
MLive misses you.
Please return.
January 5th, 2011 at 10:59 PM
#1223
My plea to Brandon: Unite us. UNITE US. UNITE DA CLANS!
January 5th, 2011 at 11:09 PM
#1224
Give Brandon a break...
... let's take a quick look at timing.
1. Brandon said he would give the program a review at the end of season. Michigan made a New Year's Day bowl game. That's Jan 1.
1A. As as related point, I'm sure he didn't want to nuke the bowl experience of players who hadn't played in a bowl game the two prior years. Or have Fred Jackson and a few grad assistants coach the Gator Bowl had he blown out RichRod the day after the Football Bust. Again, that's Jan. 1.
2. If Harbaugh was a prime candidate, you don't want to nuke his team's experience and distract him before the Orange Bowl. That's Jan 3.
3. Brandon meets with RichRod the next day, likely gives him the review, and tells him he's gone. There are details to work out re recruiting schedules, team meetings, and tweaking RichRod's severance. That's Jan 4.
4. Brandon completes RichRod's removal in the AM, holds the tough presser in the early PM, and clearly is nostalgic for the days of delivering pizzas to drunk frat boys. That's TODAY, Jan 5.
So there we have it. Harbaugh couldn't take any opening before he coached Stanford in the Orange Bowl. It's not Brandon's fault that Harbaugh has NFL aspirations. It's also not Brandon's fault that Harbaugh's wife just dropped a kid, she likes the left coast, nor is it his fault that Harbaugh apparently feels a real pull to the 49ers to follow the path by a mentor, Bill Walsh. Yes THAT Bill Walsh.
I also think that Harbaugh is using his alma mater as leverage, just like Les Miles did 3 years ago. So good luck Jimmy working for the douchebag York family and don't take it personally when we don't return your calls in 4 years when the douchebag York family fires your ass. You are following Mike Singletary, who drops his pants to make a point.
Yet because Brandon didn't pull back a maize-and-blue curtain today and introduce Harbaugh, everyone seems to think he screwed up.
And to those who say you don't fire RichRod unless you already have Harbaugh? Well I would say you never ran a company or a major football program. Brandon is AD of the University of Michigan, not the School of Harbaugh. And RichRod may be a great guy, offensive guru, blah, blah, blah. But on any objective standpoint, he failed and showed no real likelihood of succeeding.
Unlike many (including me) flailing away anonymously on this fine board, Brandon has to deal with reality, and work very hard to get through a tough situation. One he didn't create and I believe he really wanted to work out differently.
I for one am very glad David Brandon is AD and I have complete confidence that he will make an excellent choice. And I really really hope it is someone like Bo. You know, someone who is NOT a "Michigan Man".
January 5th, 2011 at 11:28 PM
#1225
Sven_Da_M, I can appreciate all of that, but
the timing was all his. He may have found himself in a box, but he built the box.
I will support him if for no reason other than the fact that I have no choice, or out of sheer desperation. Yesterday I was fairly confident he had some grand master plan, and that nothing had leaked because he was running a tight ship. Today, I am praying that there is some master plan, and scared to death that nothing leaked because no one knew anything.
January 5th, 2011 at 11:35 PM
#1226
I don't think anyone would
I don't think anyone would say DB screwed the pooch if there was a reasonable assumption of Harbaugh still in the running. Unfortunately, from just about every source who cares to comment on it, including Brandon himself, it sounds like he's not. But the name all those same sources keep coming up with is Brady Hoke. In which case, holy hell. We'd be stuck with a coach who was in roughly the same spot in his resume as RR was before WVU. Oh, except not as successful. And lest I forget, is a "Michigan Man". Basically, if this is the case, DB has relegated Michigan to another 2-3 years of mediocrity, best case. If 2-3 years of mediocrity is acceptable, isn't at least 1 more year of RR more appealing? I will absolutely hold judgement until a coach is named, but you can't deny that right now DB looks like he's smack dab in the middle of a big hot mess.
January 6th, 2011 at 12:01 AM
#1227
Not sure I agree that JH is
Not sure I agree that JH is actively using Michigan as leverage. He could use the Raiders, the Panthers, and the Dolphins for that. Hot coaches have a high market value by definition.
January 6th, 2011 at 5:17 AM
#1228
don't forget denver, 5 NFL
don't forget denver, 5 NFL franchises will have that effect on a coach. he's going to the NFL, make no mistake. all coaches aspire to that, he's no exception especially when brother harbaugh is whispering in your ear.
January 6th, 2011 at 5:01 AM
#1229
DEFINE MICHIGAN MAN.....
If you define Michigan Man as one who comes to Michigan and adopts and exemplifies the culture and unique traditions of the University of Michigan, then you can understand what the term is supposed to mean and why Fielding Yost or Bo Schembechler or John Beilein or any other coach could come here and be called a "Michigan Man". Michigan Men are not born, they are made, and it is a state of mind and character and how you do things and how you approach things, not just your existance or admittance to the University.
That's why Freider, who graduated with an MBA from Michigan, was not a "Michigan Man" at the time Bo made the statement.......
January 6th, 2011 at 5:20 AM
#1230
halleluja
The voice of reason. I'm so sick of all the Michgan Man talk. Not because I don't want one at the helm of our football team, I definitely do. Rather, because it seems 90%+ of the people talking about it don't seem to have the foggiest idea of what it really means to be a Michigan Man.
January 5th, 2011 at 11:08 PM
#1231
My new signature
"DAVID BRANDON: Is there a thought of getting a defensive-minded head coach; there's a thought of getting a defensive-minded everything. I want the -- I want the ball boys to be defensive-minded."
When, you know, the Blog returns to normal and we can edit that stuff.
January 5th, 2011 at 11:59 PM
#1232
Stephen Ross confirms Harbaugh has no interest in UM
Ross is recruiting Harbaugh to Miami, and according to ESPN, is willing to make him the highest paid coach in the NFL (that's crazy), at $7-8 M a year.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5993761
Ross, though, is a stand up guy and wanted to double check that's it OK to compete with his alma mater:
Furthermore, Ross had dialogue with University of Michigan officials to ensure that he would not be competing for Harbaugh's services with his alma mater, sources said. Ross, who is one of Michigan's largest benefactors, was assured by a Michigan official that Harbaugh was not reciprocating interest in the college's now-vacant head coaching position.
January 6th, 2011 at 12:06 AM
#1233
Did you hear that?
Sounded like us getting screwed unless DB is a god damn miracle worker.
January 6th, 2011 at 12:14 AM
#1234
Or Ross isn't really looking
Or Ross isn't really looking at hiring him for the Miami job -- he's secretly doing some prodding towards coming back to UM.
January 6th, 2011 at 12:25 AM
#1235
By making his salary second
By making his salary second to only Phil Jackson's?
January 6th, 2011 at 12:26 AM
#1236
I'd feel more confident...
If Jeff Ireland (Miami's GM) wasn't also on the plane.
To recall yachtsman Bill Martin, I think the Harbaugh ship has sailed.
January 6th, 2011 at 12:14 AM
#1239
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
January 6th, 2011 at 12:25 AM
#1240
Boom Embed'd
January 6th, 2011 at 12:20 AM
#1241
If the Dolphins hire him
They're going to have to rename the Business School.
January 6th, 2011 at 1:41 AM
#1242
Well...
....is it safe to assume that Harbaugh wants NOTHING to do with the university.
(harbaugh is the chick, and ross is the guy shaking his head)
January 6th, 2011 at 12:02 AM
#1243
Saw this on the Wolverine. I
Saw this on the Wolverine. I don't know whats more interesting. DB's comments or the fact that the Huge show landed him for an interview, especially on a day like today.
"It's a dynamic list. It has been over the last year. You put people on the list, you get to know them a little better some come off, others go on? it's not just a hard and fast list, but a list that's evolved and will continue to evolve.
January 6th, 2011 at 12:08 AM
#1244
Don't Know
Earlier today, we heard that JH was meeting with the 49ers. I am sure everyone thought (or was afraid) that he would be announced as the 49ers coach tonight. Instead, no announcement and the ESPN headline now reads that he is being chased by Miami and that SF wants him, too. So, who knows? This may well turn out to be a big poker game that has one winner, identity presently unknown.
January 6th, 2011 at 12:34 AM
#1245
Can't post to Board...Hey Steve Ross
Take your building back and get me a Coach!
@davebrandon
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5993761&campaign=rss&source=...
January 6th, 2011 at 12:52 AM
#1246
Interesting Quote
The article has one very interesting quote:
"Furthermore, Ross had dialogue with University of Michigan officials to ensure that he would not be competing for Harbaugh's services with his alma mater, sources said. Ross, who is one of Michigan's largest benefactors, was assured by a Michigan official that Harbaugh was not reciprocating interest in the college's now-vacant head coaching position."
If this is true, then what another poster asked becomes even more to the point: If he is not interested, why doesn't he just come right out and say so. I would certainly like to know the source for the quoted material.
January 6th, 2011 at 9:09 AM
#1247
Ross doesn't want to step on
Ross doesn't want to step on Michigan's toes before he pursues Harbaugh, yet he'll send his entire front office to California to interview him despite NOT FIRING HIS CURRENT COACH???
Something's fishy.
January 6th, 2011 at 12:37 AM
#1248
I've never heard JH say
he is not interested in UM. All this is coming from people not named JH. Why doesn't he come out and say he is not interested in the job so we can end this madness?
January 6th, 2011 at 9:21 AM
#1249
All this is coming from people not named JH.
Right. After all, Michigan is Harbaugh's Dream Job! Of course he'll come here! Because we want it that way.
Fervently-held notions are like zombies. Very hard to kill off.
January 6th, 2011 at 12:32 PM
#1250
Use Fire
When in doubt, kill it with fire. I think this "Harbaugh hasn't said no so we still have a chance1!1!!1!" meme is a self-coping mechanism to survive this shitstorm. Personally, I am clinging to vain hope that the U can invent a time maching and go back to get young Bo. That or a Serpentor-style hybrid using the DNA of Yost, Bo, Crisler, Oosterbaan, and Crisler
January 6th, 2011 at 12:50 AM
#1251
posted from iPhone
ESPN reports re Miami's owner, Steve Ross, a Michigan alum:
"Furthermore, Ross had dialogue with University of Michigan officials to ensure that he would not be competing for Harbaugh's services with his alma mater, sources said. Ross, who is one of Michigan's largest benefactors, was assured by a Michigan official that Harbaugh was not reciprocating interest in the college's now-vacant head coaching position."
January 6th, 2011 at 1:00 AM
#1252
Best M analogy?
Bama post-Bear?
USC post-John Robinson?
UCLA?
Nebraska post-Osborne?
ND post-Lou?
MSU?
Tennessee?
Which cluster fuck do we resemble most, Pizza Man?
What a maroon.
January 6th, 2011 at 1:49 AM
#1253
Right now I'm going ND 2004
Ty Willingham entered his third season after going 5-7 in year two. With a promising sophomore quarterback (Brady Quinn), the Irish started 5-2 including a win over Michigan (making Ty 2-1 against the Wolverines, essentially their equivalent of us beating them) and entered the top-25 only to lose three of their last four games, including a 41-10 drubbing on the road against archrival USC (making Willingham 0-3 against the Trojans, though SC went to a BCS bowl game each of those seasons making it sort of understandable that a rebuilding team might lose to them). Notre Dame sought redemption in a bowl game against an opponent with lackluster history/tradition (Oregon State) but fell behind by 21 points in the second quarter and were beaten soundly.
Fans saw no progress and no sign of improvement, citing a failure to compete against the best teams and in rivalry games (the rivalry game they were quite successful in was, of course, ignored). They also thought that hot coaching prospect and former ND assistant Urban Meyer, coming off a BCS bowl win, wanted more than anything to come back and lead his beloved Irish. So they fired Ty Willingham.
Sadly, Urban Meyer wasn't interested and took a better job. Instead, ND was forced to settle for a portly gentleman who had never been a head coach in the NFL or at the highest levels of college football. This was overlooked because of his tenous connections to the school's football program having graduated from ND after getting to be roommates with Joe Montana, though he never played football there (which is perhaps slightly less meaningful than being a defensive line coach under Lloyd Carr nearly a decade ago).
Luckily for new BIG man on campus, he got to coach all the promising young freshmen and sophomores the last coach got no credit for bringing to campus, and it turned out those guys were pretty good when they got to be juniors/seniors. The team won 19 games in his first two seasons and even came close to beating those hated archrivals.
So yeah, as long as we don't give Brady Hoke a ten year extension we should be in great shape.
January 6th, 2011 at 2:24 AM
#1254
Fill in the blanks
Blank coach is really good but he just wasn't a good fit at blank university. We need to hire someone who understands the unique/special characteristics of blank university. These characteristics amount to "Win in three years or you're out, especially if you are different from the blank university men we are used to."
You'd think we could have seen this coming after we spent so long laughing at the folks in South Bend. I just hope Brandon lands a proven coach who can take advantage of this situation and have sustained success rather than cave to the "He's a blank university man!" nonsense.
January 6th, 2011 at 5:12 AM
#1255
On point!
Thanks for the comments. As I posted ealier, we have 9 back on both sides of the ball. I'd say that's a fair start for the next coach.
I'll have some of the purple stuff. =]
January 6th, 2011 at 5:25 AM
#1256
transfers
transfers
January 6th, 2011 at 2:33 AM
#1257
So, wait, Rodriguez is
So, wait, Rodriguez is Willingham? Is this the analogy you want to use? I can't wait to see what Rodriguez's Washington is then.
January 6th, 2011 at 2:44 AM
#1258
Hopefully Rodriguez is more astute
Willingham walked into a smoking crater after the Neuheisel firing and the Gilbertson extended interim coach fiasco at Washington and again got just 3.5 years to rebuild. And of course the guys he brought in just finished 3rd in the Pac 10 and won the Holiday Bowl. I'm pretty sure Sarkisian isn't playing a team full of his freshmen recruits but rather is starting guys like, you know, Jake Locker, but you probably figured that out, right?
Hopefully when Rodriguez chooses his next job he'll have a better sense of context and circumstance than most internet users.
January 6th, 2011 at 3:12 AM
#1259
Wait, you mean the Washington
Wait, you mean the Washington team that was supposed to be OMG amazing this year and finished 6-6 before Nebraska decided they didn't want to show up to their bowl game? I watched that game. Nebraska didn't want to be there and Pelini never had them ready to be there. You also seriously didn't just roll out Jake Locker as an argument, did you?
Sark is a good coach, but he inherited a pile of rubble from Ty. Trying to argue that a guy that owns the worst winning percentage in the history of Washington football was really just a great guy and coach makes you look foolish.
January 6th, 2011 at 9:14 AM
#1260
posted from iPhone
Ty Willingham was a mediocre coach who had two good years at Stanford (where he went 8-4 and 9-3) and whose success in the Pac10 came pre-Pete Carroll to USC.
Further after Notre Dame he ran the Washington program to the ground, going 0-12 his fourth season there (and if you think they should have kept him after that, your crazy). Washington fans absolutely despise the guy and it's really Sarkisian that's cleaning up the mess left behind by him.
Notre Dame's problem wasn't that they fired Ty Willingham, it was that hired Charlie Weis. No one realistically thinks Willingham would have ever been successful there, even if they had given him 10 years.
January 6th, 2011 at 9:20 AM
#1261
are you arguing that willingham was a good coach?
are you suggesting willingham was a good coach? washington may have been in bad shape when he took over, but it was certainly in worse shape when he left.
at the time nd fired him, this was a more complex question. but, after washington, i think he answered it fairly definitively...2-9, 5-7, 2-7, 0-12. if that doesn't render him a weak coach, what would? the pattern of teams getting worse the longer you're there isn't a favorable one for a coach.
when nd fired him, i would have said the same thing that michigan fans are saying about rich rod now: fine coach, wrong situation. after washington i concluded that he is a lousy coach.
January 6th, 2011 at 2:39 AM
#1262
Also, out of curiosity, at
Also, out of curiosity, at what point did Rodriguez go 10-3 at Michigan? Ty had two winning seasons and the trust of much of the fanbase after one. Rich had one "winning season" that felt like a sham.
Will you ever be able to place the blame on Rodriguez, or do you really think the fans did him 100%?
January 6th, 2011 at 2:45 AM
#1263
Just remember...
If Brady Hoke goes 10-3 next year and everyone is thrilled, don't say I didn't warn you.
January 6th, 2011 at 3:14 AM
#1264
Ah yes, because it was Bob
Ah yes, because it was Bob Davie that stacked Notre Dame before he got fired.
Do you read the shit you write before you post it?
January 6th, 2011 at 3:18 AM
#1265
If....
We go 10-3 next season not only will I kiss your gangly bare feet but I'll send a one thousand dollar check to your favorite charity, ok?
January 6th, 2011 at 8:25 AM
#1266
pretty different situation than willingham
if we're comparing career arcs, then willingham seems fairly different. ty had an excellent first season where (largely through luck) they won a ton of games with pretty good talent on hand, this set unfortunately high expectations. he then cratered the next two seasons, including his last season where the team obviously quit on him. if willingham had gone 8-4 first first season and not established falsely elevated expectations the sting of his next two seasons wouldn't have been as bad. similarly, the both sides of the ball looked worse over time (especially the offense). the other kicker was that while his first recruiting class was excellent, his subsequent two were godawful and his reputation was as a guy who didn't want to work that hard to recruit.
rich rod, by contrast, had a godawful first year (surely not a problem with setting expectations too high) with limited talent and made significant improvements on one side of the ball while doing very little on the other side. the talent-on-hand is perceived to have improved while he was here.
i'd characterize rich rod as being most similar to weis - their strengths and weaknesses were fairly similar, even though the career arcs were not. both were excellent tactical offensive guys who placed too much faith in the strength of their tactics. neither developed a decent defense. both crafted teams that weren't physically up to snuff. neither seemed like a particularly effective motivator...and at the end of the day they felt like excellent offensive coordinators and mediocre head coaches.
January 6th, 2011 at 1:00 AM
#1267
We can't compete with NFL
We can't compete with NFL money. I think someone posted earlier that the top salary in college is 5 million. The problem is that we will not hire someone unti Harbaugh makes a final decision in case he deigns to choose us. Therefore, we cannot seriously negoitiate with anyone else. Hopefully, Harbaugh will make a decision soon or at least make his UM intentions known.
January 6th, 2011 at 1:30 AM
#1268
It has been less than 24 hrs
It has been less than 24 hrs since RR was fired......it takes some time. Patience. This is the beginning of a new era. They don't always start with a bang.
January 6th, 2011 at 3:29 AM
#1269
What if Stephen Ross is
What if Stephen Ross is scaring all the other NFL teams away until they all decide on other coaches and then tells Jim to go home to Ann Arbor, saying that he will pay half his salary of $7 million. That would be fantastic. They would just rename it the Ross College of Literature, Science and the Arts.
January 6th, 2011 at 4:30 AM
#1270
JH was interested
I've heard JH was very interested in coaching here just a few months ago. May be he was just too successful this season and never imagined onslaught of NFL owners interested in him. Now SF, Denver, Carolina and MIA. May be a bidding war between SF and MIA? I doubt he will be interested in us enough to turn down an NFL coaching job!
January 6th, 2011 at 5:29 AM
#1271
Indications from sources
Indications from sources (e.g., Schefter, Mortensen, etc.) are that SF is not willing to ante up to the $$$ JH is looking for. MIA (Ross) might be willing to. But even so, my personal feeling is that it'll have to be the right situation (control, etc.) for JH to make the jump. If he decides (in spite of the $$) that the sit isn't right, then he'll likely just stick with Stanford.
Just MHO.
January 6th, 2011 at 5:30 AM
#1272
yes because coaches who are 1
yes because coaches who are 1 step away from reaching the pinnacle of their profession turn down more than one opportunity at it to take over a college program they have to spend 4 years rebuilding AGAIN. no, he's going to the NFL.
January 6th, 2011 at 10:10 AM
#1273
Agreed, but he's doing it in
Agreed, but he's doing it in an awkward way - why is he interviewing with Miami when Sparano hasn't been fired? Seems unethical at best to me...
January 6th, 2011 at 2:22 PM
#1274
I never truly understood why the NFL is the ultimate destination
I understand that you can make more money in the NFL, but other than money, what is so great about coaching in the NFL versus college? In my opinion, college life is a thousand times better than professional life, at least in terms of personal satisfaction. And what can be better than helping mold young minds and bodies, helping them reach their goals? Plus, if college coaches think the scrutiny is hard, the NFL is exponentially worse. There sure as heck are not long-standing coaches in the NFL like there are in college.
I'm not naiive, but I sure as heck would take a big-time college program over an NFL gig every time and once more on Saturday.
