December 18th, 2008 at 4:13 PM ^
Actually that's something I hadn't anticipated. Either Rodriguez is being a fair sport and letting Casteel prepare for the whipping UNC will lay on WVU, or he's just giving Shafer some time to clear out.
Good call Jay.
December 18th, 2008 at 4:16 PM ^
Anyone know why Casteel didn't come with Rodriguez to begin with? Did Rodriguez wanna try a different defense or was Casteel just really enamored with West Virginia?
December 18th, 2008 at 4:18 PM ^
About 4.5 percent. Thanks for asking.
December 18th, 2008 at 4:20 PM ^
Don't be so sure....
December 18th, 2008 at 4:50 PM ^
Ok fine. 6 percent. Unless WVU loses the bowl and in that case about 47 percent.
December 18th, 2008 at 4:26 PM ^
That was my initial feeling.
*all statistics provided by the MRG Bureau of Made Up Data
December 18th, 2008 at 4:26 PM ^
I wonder why he didn't come to AA initially. But I think he has is more inclined to come this year...
December 18th, 2008 at 4:32 PM ^
This is my prediction as well.. if not I still hope he goes out of house..
December 18th, 2008 at 5:51 PM ^
Dandy Don says it's 60-40.
December 18th, 2008 at 6:10 PM ^
I think that Casteel didn't leave because he was holding out hope that he might get the HC nod at WVU. Coach Stew(pid) was just interim at that point.
He also may not have realized that Stewart was going to coach as if he had never seen the game of football played before. Stewart sure did open up that WVU passing game though.
December 18th, 2008 at 7:22 PM ^
things don't just happen. In front of the "reaction" is some sort of "action". In this case the reaction is we lost our DC. What is intresting and worth discussing is the action. What brought about Coach Schaffer's decision to part ways with Michigan. I find it hard to believe that Coach Rod would fire Coach Schaffer after just one year. Coach Rod must have wanted Coach Schaffer to change the defensive scheme or allow other defensive coaches more control in some fashion. With all the coaches that came with Coach Rod, I'm sure Coach Schaffer felt like the outsider of sorts and every difference became a battle that He couldn't win. This is why I feel Hopson or Casteel will be the next DC.
To respond to Jay's post, I feel like the longer it takes to name a DC, the more favorable it is for Casteel and the less favorable it is for Coach Hopson. I do find it intresting that Coach Schaffer stated that He takes full responsibility for Michigan's failures. Talk about laughing all the way to the bank.
December 18th, 2008 at 8:05 PM ^
based on the anonymous player quotes over on Rivals. The alleged story is that the WVU crew forced the 3-3-5 change as a desperation measure before the Purdue game. Shafer thought it could work if they committed to it, but on short notice it would be a disaster. So Shafer pretty much just watched the other coaches run practice the week of that game and when it blew up in their faces, feelings were hurt and not everyone tried to mend fences.
and I don't know who did what, but the whole situation makes me feel like promoting Hopson only encourages unprofessional, cliquish behavior.
December 18th, 2008 at 9:34 PM ^
I have a had time seeing it any other way. I also don't think Coach Rod would have let Coach Schaffer resign without a firm replacement lined up.
Jay if this was Hopson's idea to run the 3-3-5 defensive scheme against Purdue-Coach Rod is looking at Casteel. This would make alot more sense, and would provide the missing piece(coach) that Coach Rod wanted from day one. In my opinion-it is only a matter of time and Casteel will be Michigan's DC......
December 19th, 2008 at 11:33 AM ^
I'm interested to see how this plays out. Supposedly, WVU has been contacted by some programs to ask permission to talk to Jeff Casteel. However, there are Mountaineer fans who are claiming that when Casteel decided to stay put last year rather than come to Michigan, he said that the only reason he would leave West Virginia would be for a head coaching job at another school. I don't know. It would seem that if Jay Hopson were going to get the promotion that Rich Rod would've mentioned it when he announced Scott Shafer's "resignation."