RichRod's Recent Adjustments: Adapting to Michigan Tradition
Since Sunday we've been witness to what I consider to be a fairly significant shift in how RichRod does business -- a shift toward Michigan football tradition.
- Exhibit One: Late on Sunday, reporters starting tweeting up a storm about how the first day of practice would be closed to the media. After Monday night's presser, Dave Ablauf announced that would be the case for the remainder of the camp. Now this was really a continuation of what happened last year when there were internet reports about plays that were being run in practice which caused a crackdown, but the late Sunday notice did seem to throw the Michigan press for a loop. The Fort appears to be back, the gates are closed and the ramparts are manned.
- Exhibit Two: At last night's presser, RichRod announced that the seniors had recommended that he name permanent captains, that he had acted on their recommendaton (but would also have game captains) and the team had voted on their captains. Later the announcement was made that Steven Schilling and Mark Moundros were selected and approved.
- Exhibit Three: Within the past hour, RichRod sent out this tweet. You might be familiar with its sentiment: UM_CoachRod Getting ready for practice #2....THE TEAM.. THE TEAM ...THE TEAM......Keeping the MAIN THING the MAIN THING.
It certainly appears to me that RichRod has learned the value of greater incorporation of Michigan football tradition (most likely under the tutelage and strong encouragement of AD Dave Brandon). Other than achieving a won-loss record that approaches the level normally associated with Michigan football, a more complete embrace of Michigan tradition is the most important thing he can do to win over the portion of the fanbase that is disaffected.
That and pray that the NCAA doesn't add any additional penalties to Michigan's self-imposed penalties stemming from Practicegate.
August 10th, 2010 at 3:49 PM ^
Well, I am certainly satisfied. Thank goodness he finally tweeted "the team." I mean it only took him two years, but now I can like him.
August 10th, 2010 at 5:44 PM ^
Sweet sweet sarcasm.
August 10th, 2010 at 6:04 PM ^
Come on, people, have we no sense of humor?
August 10th, 2010 at 6:46 PM ^
/sarcasm
August 10th, 2010 at 3:50 PM ^
how RichRod handled this presser. He took a more stern approach with the media, which has been missing IMO. I'm glad that The Fort is back.
August 10th, 2010 at 3:59 PM ^
Now if only he could pull off the "why would you ask such a stupid question" scowl/glare...
August 10th, 2010 at 4:02 PM ^
He might be able to. Rich has a stern glare he can use. The real difference is Lloyd Carr had a sort of been around for ages, learned high ground as well.
August 10th, 2010 at 4:02 PM ^
Its only a matter of time. You can tell he's done catering to the media. I hope this continues into the future.
August 10th, 2010 at 4:08 PM ^
Once he's gotten past the "hot seat" shit, he'll be able to say whatever he wants to them. Right now, he has to be careful because the media controls what all the lemmings think. After the wins come, the lemmings won't care what the media says.
August 10th, 2010 at 4:11 PM ^
he's coming to realize that Mr. Nice guy isn't going to work with these vultures! Your right though, once that seat cools down, all bets are off!
August 10th, 2010 at 8:31 PM ^
He should open very presser with that from now on..
August 10th, 2010 at 3:52 PM ^
I appreciate that RR listened to his seniors when deciding how to handle captains. I think the best coaches adapt their style to the situation presented to get the best out of the team. GO BLUE!
August 10th, 2010 at 3:59 PM ^
Wake me when he gets back to beating OSU and winning Big Ten Championships, don't care about the cosmetic bull shit.
August 10th, 2010 at 4:47 PM ^
...Mr. Bandwagon.
August 10th, 2010 at 5:48 PM ^
Sheeeeet I been on the bandwagon since the back in the day when England was still part of the European mainland and polar bears swummed in the Thames, although I don't recall if those times coincided, since like I said, It's been a while
August 10th, 2010 at 6:07 PM ^
Did you poop your pants again?
August 10th, 2010 at 3:59 PM ^
I am wondering if the department has engaged a PR firm or brought in new PR staff, because there is definitely a shift in strategy since Dave arrived. Notice how well coached Rich appears to be about consistently stating he doesn't know what went on in the summer.
That said, it sounds like the players really took the lead on the permanent captains thing. Good for them in finding a balanced compromise.
August 10th, 2010 at 4:05 PM ^
I have high hopes (perhaps unreasonable) that Brandon can help RichRod improve in areas of relative weakness. Executive coaching, if you will...
August 10th, 2010 at 4:29 PM ^
one of the biggest failings of the Bill Martin tenure was not properly managing the PR coming out of Ann Arbor, especially when things got a little chaotic regardless of the sport.
The return to Fort Shembechler is a welcome change.
August 10th, 2010 at 6:14 PM ^
I can't believe no one else pounced on the "Schembechler" misspelling. That would normally send the board spelling and grammar police into a tizzy. I'm going to assume it's just a typo.
Of course, I'm now the one that pointed it out, fulfilling what I said at the beginning.
August 10th, 2010 at 4:05 PM ^
I honestly couldn't care less about these few "traditions." Not talking to the media a whole lot isn't even a tradition in the first place. It's not like he changed the helmets or the fight song. The only tradition that's been lost that I care about is winning. Getting to bowl games, beating OSU, beating MSU, etc. The other stuff is nice, but I only care about it as long as it's helping us win games.
August 10th, 2010 at 5:15 PM ^
well said. all of these things are symptoms of an evolving team and a series of failures in the past (press, plays getting out, etc.) - i don't see much tradition in them.
August 10th, 2010 at 4:11 PM ^
I'm envisioning helmeted men on parapets manning huge cauldrons of boiling oil. I'm volunteering as spotter.
August 10th, 2010 at 4:26 PM ^
I assume that the helmets to which you refer have wings?
August 10th, 2010 at 4:33 PM ^
The helmets he's referring to GOT wings.
August 10th, 2010 at 6:52 PM ^
I'd run through a freakin wall for Rich Rodriguez, if it meant the return of Michigan Football as we used to know it.
August 10th, 2010 at 4:14 PM ^
Awesome to see him recognizing the tradition. I also don't mind him trying to add to it in differerent ways. There was no "The Team" speech or "Those Who Stay Will Be Champions" before Bo showed up. If Rich Rod wins big maybe someday we'll be telling our sons to have a "Hard Edge" on the field like it was gospel.
August 10th, 2010 at 4:16 PM ^
I think this is a big deal. It makes me smile more than it probably should, which means other traditionalists will probably feel the same. This means something
you can tell from my signature, just loved the MAIN THING quote from last night
August 10th, 2010 at 4:25 PM ^
...wholeheartedly. Tradition can't be hidebound -- it has to evolve. But it also can't be tossed aside as if it's insignificant. I don't believe that's what he did when he came in, but many do. Combine that with the actual W-L record, and you have a recipe for severe discontent. Combine that with a shiny W-L record, and only a few would give a rat's ass about it.
Moving into year three with the actual W-L record, he no longer has the luxury of not paying strict attention to how things have been done. Some of that is indeed cosmetic, but it's what people see and it effects how they react.
I said it in the OP, but I'm convinced that Brandon is the mastermind behind this. MSC certainly knew what she was doing when she hired him.
August 10th, 2010 at 9:03 PM ^
I said it in the OP, but I'm convinced that Brandon is the mastermind behind this. MSC certainly knew what she was doing when she hired him.
Agreed, and I'll go one further; I think this is in part the university positioning itself to keep RR around for another year regardless of the W/L record. Unless 3-9, then yeah...
August 10th, 2010 at 4:53 PM ^
I know some people think these things don't matter, but if you quit pointing out to new people that they're hanging their stuff on the same nail that Yost used, then it gets forgotten and the nail becomes just a stupid nail. There is always a new generation of people (and potential recruits) that need to learn about Michigan's history and traditions. When the press asks RR a question about The Game (for example) it's not a matter of whether or not he "gets it," it's about him using that opportunity to educate or remind people why it matters. I hope this is a sign of more to come.
August 10th, 2010 at 4:26 PM ^
This tweet changes everything! You can stand up in front of me from now on!!
August 10th, 2010 at 4:29 PM ^
You are reaching here.
The lock down was a reaction to being exposed and exploited (trick plays and practice gate). You can't logically re-interpret it as embracing a Michigan tradition. If the lock-down was done beforehand, then perhaps. But a retrospective attribution doesn't pass the straight face test.
Team captains is a football, or rather a team sports, tradition - not a Michigan tradition. While nice to see, I don't think listening to a sound suggestion from your players for team captains, something done in many, many football programs, qualities as enacting a Michigan tradition. I think we have more to offer by way of tradition than that.
The tweet, on the other hand, is a step toward embracing Michigan tradition. It is nice to see, but it is all you have.
August 10th, 2010 at 4:32 PM ^
Now I want to hear RR tweeting about the OSU game.
August 10th, 2010 at 4:41 PM ^
I disagree, in that it signifies an embrace of the attitude that Bo evinced toward the media starting over four decades ago and that Lloyd continued through 2007.
It's true that it actually began during last season, but the continuance of the media blackout from Day 1 of 2010 is a sign that RR has decided to go "all-in" so to speak. If you want to quibble and say that a media blackout is not a "tradition" in the same way that singing the Victors is, fine, but given that the term "Fort Schembechler" became synonymous with Michigan football, that constitutes a tradition in my eyes, and it's a tradition that RR has adopted, however unwillingly.
August 10th, 2010 at 4:49 PM ^
The unwillingly part. We do not know for sure that this was crammed down RR's throat. What I will say, is it doesn;t go with his nature, especially the captain situation. I actually feel strangely comforted by some of these old "traditions" coming back into play. I never understood how you wait a whole season to elect captains, since isn;t part of the reason you follow people is because you have a captain during the season? This was always odd. I love the media being cut off. This is great. The media has not doen any favors for RR from the beginning. If that were me, I would cut them off immediately if I sensed they were digging for bad press all the time. Michigna doesnlt need the media attention, since the outside is infatutated with them anyways.
Mich has there work cut out for them, as it seems "most" publications figure they will win 6 games at most.
August 10th, 2010 at 5:13 PM ^
I didn't mean to imply that RR was forced into this by DB or somebody else; what I was referring to is the fact that I think the re-instituting of the Fort Schembechler mentality goes against his natural grain, and was done out of absolute necessity.
From the outset in his tenure here, RR was far more open and accommodating than had ever been the case under LC, Mo, and Bo. I think this reflects his basic nature; from what I see, RR is a friendly, personable, unsuspicious kind of guy who is completely at ease in dealing with the media. It's a shame, really, but between Michigan Daily reporters tweeting about special plays and Rosenberg/Snyder lying to his players, I think RR concluded he had no choice but to shut things down.
It's true that Fort Schembechler is not the kind of tradition that gets mentioned in official university publications and gauzy puff pieces on UM football, but it's been a fundamental part of Michigan football operations for all but two years out of the past 40+.
August 10th, 2010 at 5:22 PM ^
Well said. Fully agree with your comments. People are looking too far into the "tradition" statement.
August 10th, 2010 at 4:49 PM ^
that I appreciate. Just looks like the guy has regained his equilibrium.
I just hope he's got enough in the tank to hang on if we aren't as spectacular as people here like to think we'll be. Because--realistically--I see promise and growth this year, a good team the following year.
August 10th, 2010 at 5:08 PM ^
just too old school. I would prefer he not even tweet. Ever.
Can any of us (the ones old enough to know) even picture Bo tweeting?
August 10th, 2010 at 5:19 PM ^
"Figuring out contraption. Team. I'm Hungry. Who is Team Edward - are they out of conference? El Ewe El, is that how they say it? Practice."
August 10th, 2010 at 5:17 PM ^
Tradition is something you can't bottle, you can't buy at the corner store. But is is there to sustain you when you need it most. I've called upon it time and time again. And so have countless other Michigan athletes and coaches. There is nothing like it. I hope it never dies."
August 10th, 2010 at 5:59 PM ^
whether cosmetic or not
1) it was needed
2) perception is reality so i'm all for cosmetic changes in getting the whiners "all in"
August 10th, 2010 at 7:19 PM ^
Reading the title of this thread, I got all excited because it sounded like the title of a MSM article - if that had been the case then we could have found a winner for the pool that was started by today's UV ("Who wants to bet that someone at a newspaper or in sports radio declares this a repudiation of Rodriguez? We should start a pool. I've got Jeff DeFran.")
August 10th, 2010 at 8:13 PM ^
the start of what we all hoped for when he got here?
August 10th, 2010 at 8:41 PM ^
#1 Jersey?
August 10th, 2010 at 8:55 PM ^
...earns it, the lack of a #1 is actually upholding the tradition. He got the message on this loud and clear in 2008.
August 10th, 2010 at 9:32 PM ^
I know. I was being sarcastic. When someone earns the #1 we will be close to back on top.