One more time, if nothing else

Submitted by Erik_in_Dayton on

If an intelligent history of the last twenty years of football is ever written (I realize that this is probably like saying, "If only a hundred honest people were in Congress..."), Coach Rod's name would have to come up as someone who helped revolutionize the way the game is played.  Teams from the NFL to Pop Warner line up in offenses that are heavily influenced by his ideas.  The man invented the zone read!  How many coaches can claim to have invented a play that is such a staple?  That's the sort of thing that Paul Brown could lay claim to.

Certain versions of the spread are likely to go in and out of style, but I doubt that the basic offense ever will.  Numeric advantage and spacing are unlikely to go the way of the dodo.  Taking advantage of spacing in football the way that basketball teams have since the invention of that game is something so simple that it's hard to believe it used to be ignored.   

I didn't lable this "CC" because I'm not trying to argue that Coach Rod should stay.  I also have absolutely no inside information on the subject.  I just hope that, should Denard break free for a 75 yard run or Roundtree catch a touchdown when he's absurdly wide open tomorrow, people will appreciate what we have at Michigan right now.  Putting aside the issue of whether Coach Rod should stay, he's done some special things as a coach and an innovator.   That deserves to be enjoyed. 

tjl7386

December 31st, 2010 at 5:55 PM ^

I trust RR to take the Michigan football program back to where it was in the late 90's. Lloyd got out because he knew he had failed to continue recruiting to keep Michigan at it's high standards and unfortunately RR has been the scape goat. Go Blue!!

mackbru

December 31st, 2010 at 8:16 PM ^

 

I can't wait till the day when buffoons stop blaming this three-year mess on a newspaper

The articles, though certainly painful, had zero influence on Michigan defense or special teams. The newspaper didn't cause a steady stream of transfers, management blunders, and embarrassing losses to our top rivals. As if the scores would have been different had the articles never been published. As if the articles hired Gerg. 

Also, you neglect to mention that the team, under RR, was found guilty of major NCAA violations. Richrod is a likable guy. But he's not a victim.

Apologists like you are embarrassing.

MGoCards

December 31st, 2010 at 7:08 PM ^

This is a common refrain in these CC arguments, often phrased as "I'm not a fan of the Michigan Rodriguezes or the Michigan Harbaughs" or what have you. But the thing about this that never sat well with me is that this is a fanbase — one of the few in the country — that is absolutely enraptured by its coaches past. There is an entire cottage industry of Bo, even now that he's been dead for four years. I would guess that books, wine bottles, shirts, and the like featuring his name or image have certainly sold in the millions of dollars. And, besides that, his name — as is that of Fielding Yost and, to a lesser degree, that of Fritz Crisler — is evoked constantly as a myth and as an appeal to authority on any number of topics. Earlier, I read an argument on here (not the first) about whether Bo would or wouldn't hire Harbaugh and whether or not he'd have slapped him first, at any rate. It's very strange. So when I see people act as if all this focus on the coach is some kind of aberration, I roll my eyes a little. 

Desmonlon Edwoodson

December 31st, 2010 at 6:12 PM ^

He will be remembered for a lot of things, both good and bad.  He has spent more time in the headlines here at Michigan than any coach I can remember.  In some ways he has been hung out to dry, and in some ways he has dug his own grave.  Love him or hate him, you will remember him.  In some ways the last 3 years have been more about Rodriguez than about Michigan--in terms of the media, the fans, and to some extent Rodrigue's words and actions as well.  Regardless, any fan who claims he will be routing against the maize and blue tomorrow is no fan at all.  I hope they do carry the guy off the field tomorrow.  The guy has done the best he could here.  Either way, I hope he has success wherever he is.

RockinLoud

January 1st, 2011 at 4:08 PM ^

Likewise.  He definitely had the deck stacked against him in many ways, and his own mistakes in personnel - both coaching staff and players - have likely cost him his job.  I do think he could turn things around with the D if given more time, but unfortunately if Harbaugh is willing to come I think RR is done.  I think that's likely not the most fair thing to RR, but is the way things have played out.  I will certainly be rooting for whatever team RR goes to next, and should he ever play UM in the future and beat us, or even win a NC with his next team?  Well, lets just say part of me will be smirking and laughing at all the UM "fans" and people that hated him for no reason.  I'll fully support Harbaugh if he comes, but from here on out because of the blatant, unwarranted animosity many have shown RR I will still be supporting him, too.

mmiicchhiiggaann

December 31st, 2010 at 6:18 PM ^

Heres to throwing up if brady hoke is hired next week. I love RR's offense and hope that tommorrow some of the fans that hate him can realize this style is necessary to compete nationally.

SoullessHack

December 31st, 2010 at 7:07 PM ^

There's a great book out right now by SI writer Tim Layden called Blood, Sweat and Chalk.   It's the history of modern football as it evolved after Teddy Roosevelt "outlawed" the forward pass.  (This is a bit of an urban myth, which the book explains.)  In short, before the rules allowing offensive players to push the ball carrier forward were changed, football consisted of basically three guys on offense ramming a guy carrying the ball headfirst into a defensive player... who was in turn being pushed forward by three of his defensive teammates.

 

After that practice was outlawed, Amos Alonzo Stagg and Pop Warner devised the first "modern" football offenses - that is, offenses that were designed to confuse the defense.  In fact, before the rules were changed it was considered kinda cowardly to try to use subterfuge to gain an advantage over the defense.  AAS and PW were the first ones to say, "Hey, maybe we shouldn't let the defense know where we're going before the snap," and the game of football began to evolve.

 

ANYWAY... Layden devtoes an entire chapter to the spread option, and credits RR with basically inventing it.  (The whole chapter isn't about RR, though.)  The rest of the book is really interesting, too.  It's a great read.  Turns out that 99% of the great offensive and defensive innovations were the result of desperation, not necessarily inspiration. 

DaytonBlue

January 1st, 2011 at 3:51 PM ^

but no way I want to se this TEAM next year.  Give RR all the credit for "evolving" football you want to, it just hasn't translated for UM. Like the pretty girl you can no longer stand, we need to end this.