RR On the Hot Seat per ESPN
#1 Hot Seat. I guess now he is more deserved than previously.
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/notebook?page=gamedayKickoff091
September 3rd, 2009 at 2:44 PM ^
I guess there are lots of bored print guys with nothing new to write. This is getting pretty old. And cliche.
Onward we march into 2009! Hail to the Victors!
September 3rd, 2009 at 2:52 PM ^
By "hot seat" Forde was referencing the amount of bad attention focused on Rodriguez. And I would agree that right now he is #1 in that respect. In terms of settling down the fanbase and critics, no team probably needs a win this weekend that Michigan. A loss would be damaging on many fronts and I don't think there are many that would disagree with that.
"Hot seat"certainly wasn't written in the sense that Rodriguez is most likely to be fired.
September 3rd, 2009 at 2:58 PM ^
for reading the article's context and not jumping to conclusions.
September 3rd, 2009 at 3:19 PM ^
Ah, I can see the ESPN storyline now...
"Michigan wins big over Western. How much did excessive practice play a role?"
September 3rd, 2009 at 3:46 PM ^
Or "UM loses to WMU. Even with all that extra practice they still suck!"
September 3rd, 2009 at 2:44 PM ^
I would love to see a remake of "celebrity" deathmatch wherein Forde was pitted against Rosenberg and the winner was the venue itself, which in venus flytrap form came to life and ate them both. Ahh, if wishing made it so...
September 3rd, 2009 at 2:50 PM ^
If we won the National Championship this year they would put him on the hot seat for not winning by enough points, or too many points, or too many running touchdowns, or not enough play time for upperclassmen or ... blah blah blah.
September 3rd, 2009 at 2:50 PM ^
do any of you NOT think that he'll have a lot of forces working against him if he doesn't pull out a winning season.
Completely unfair and I both support and like what I've seen out of RR so far. That said, I don't get to make the decisions and we all know that another losing season will spur a lot of detractors with a lot more pull than us.
September 3rd, 2009 at 2:56 PM ^
We gave Amaker 6 years, and he had less of a history of success before he came to M.
RichRod ain't on the hot seat and won't be unless major violations are indeed found.
Brian is 100% right when he has said this, and, unfortunately, few people outside the M community seem to get it.
September 3rd, 2009 at 3:26 PM ^
There are also still large numbers of people who think Lloyd was fired or forced to retire. People nationally really don't understand how Bill Martin and the athletic department work.
September 3rd, 2009 at 3:55 PM ^
Don't forget about the money. UM went deep into the well including his buyout. Maybe i'm overthinking this but in a state that is going broke and has the worst unemployment, seems like taking a hit on RR's salary would not play well (asumimng that it's for only going 6-6 or some such and not for violations).
Barring any big sanctions, RR will be given a full 3 years to prove himself.
September 3rd, 2009 at 4:03 PM ^
Amaker and Rodriguez are apples and oranges.
September 3rd, 2009 at 4:33 PM ^
I'd say more like a pineapple and a durian.
One's a decorative place-holder that may or may not get eaten before it's tossed, the other is rich custard of pure awesome if you don't mind turning your hands into a bleeding mess before getting to the fruit.
September 3rd, 2009 at 4:14 PM ^
RR isn't going anywhere, but the Amaker comparison isn't very relevant. Football generates way, way more revenue than men's basketball and it's essential that that revenue stream remain healthy (which probably requires a strong product on the field). I fully expect us to improve this year and further in 2010, but if we do not, he could genuinely be on the hot seat then.
September 3rd, 2009 at 4:28 PM ^
It's not just revenue (though of course that's very important) it's that football itself at Michigan is WAY bigger than basketball, and generates way more media, student alum and fan attention. Nothing will happen this year absent sanctions, no matter the record, but anyone that thinks that a, let's just say, 7-5 record in 2010 wouldn't cause major heat, is kidding themselves.
September 3rd, 2009 at 4:29 PM ^
One of Amaker's roles was to absolve the guilt of the program. Rod is here to win the big games
September 3rd, 2009 at 3:15 PM ^
I support RR to the fullest and think he will do a fine job, but i will stop short of saying "i like what i've seen so far". 7+ wins this year will go along way in saying that we're on the right track.
September 3rd, 2009 at 2:53 PM ^
Running backs, Quarterbacks, Coaches...apparently ties at the number "6" and number "4" spots. He has an odd list of 'hot seaters'.
September 3rd, 2009 at 2:55 PM ^
but read the article more closely.
"The first game of the season is always big -- but some openers are bigger than others. Some palms will be sweatier than others. Some players and coaches will have a greater urgency to start strong than others."
this is a hot-seat for the opening game. starting strong and what-not.
September 3rd, 2009 at 3:04 PM ^
ESPN sure loves that phrase. I think it's their secret way of saying they think the coach has a hot ass.
September 3rd, 2009 at 3:07 PM ^
The armrest to my buddy's couch.
We typically go up there (Lime Lake) for Labor Day weekend, meaning I was up there for the Horror, which was the first time my friend said
"dude, careful with the couch."I got it most of the way off last season during the Utah game(thank you Stevie Brown), and the Red Wings didn't do it any favors this spring when we went up during the Finals. I think there's one nail holding that sucker down right now, and a bad game against Wmich.edu would just about do it.
September 3rd, 2009 at 3:19 PM ^
I just Bet a guy in the office $50 that RR is the head coach of Michigan next year. No gimmicks, if he is on the sideline next year i get $50.
Good or bad?
September 3rd, 2009 at 3:21 PM ^
Good bet. If you think Rod will be fired, you have never heard Bill Martin speak.
September 3rd, 2009 at 3:29 PM ^
Can I get in also?
September 3rd, 2009 at 5:46 PM ^
My friend, an MSU fan, said he wouldn't be surprised if Bill Martin got fired if RR has a year with no bowl game again.
He also said that "a lot" of Michigan boosters/alumni/high-ups "want Rich Rod out now".
I don't believe either of those, and I don't know who said those to him (probably read them on MSU boards) but yeah.
September 3rd, 2009 at 3:30 PM ^
Let me know if your office buddy is looking for more action on that.
September 3rd, 2009 at 3:57 PM ^
He is an old guy that loves Penn State. He told me to name a line and he will take that action as well. Im going to ask for 28 and see if he'll take it.
September 3rd, 2009 at 4:42 PM ^
I made a similar bet with a very sensationalist/idiotic friend of mine. He is convinced that Rich Rod will not be on the sidelines in 2010 (he's also still giving me shit about running a 3-3-5...so you can see what type of ass-clown I'm working with).
Anyway, I bet him $500 that he definitely does not have, and if he can't pay I get 2 open hand slaps to his face...as hard as I can.
Please don't ask why I surround myself with these people...I grew up near Lansing so MSU was the school of choice in my area. My childhood was constantly spent on the defensive (although it wasn't that hard).
September 3rd, 2009 at 3:23 PM ^
Well, you know, that's just, like their opinion, man.
September 3rd, 2009 at 3:29 PM ^
I think RR got a pass last year b/c people kept (keep) referencing his big jump from year 1 to year 2. If he doesn't do well this year, there's gonna be a lot of media, fans, "insiders" clamoring for his firing. I think Martin is probably smarter than that though, and knows a firing and hiring will probably set us back another couple years b/c undoubtedly the offense will change. Unless of course someone like Meyer, Stoops, or other "spread" coach comes here (first 2 not gonna happen, no clue on the last).
September 3rd, 2009 at 3:50 PM ^
If you were to fire Coach Rod after this year, you would set the program back for another 3 years easily. He is too good a football coach to get rid of after only 2 years.
September 3rd, 2009 at 4:26 PM ^
Thanks for the neg even though I was stating the same damn thing you did.
EDIT: Or maybe I just don't know how this point system works. My apologies if I was off-base.
September 3rd, 2009 at 3:52 PM ^
ESPN is a joke. I stand by Coach Rod through thick and thin. He's done more for this program than we could have ever expected. Sure, we had a rough season last year, but this season will be different...trust me.
September 3rd, 2009 at 3:55 PM ^
this thread makes my head asplode for more reasons than one.
September 3rd, 2009 at 4:15 PM ^
What is the origin of the "asplode" meme?
September 3rd, 2009 at 4:35 PM ^
It's based on this parody game back in the 90's: "Asp Lode Runner"
Like Lode runner but with a snake (which seems arbitrary but was probably a surrogate used due to the slightly more censor-happy times) and a lot of fart humor
September 3rd, 2009 at 4:54 PM ^
Strong Bad
Can't embed without it auto-starting and annoying everyone.
September 3rd, 2009 at 5:45 PM ^
But if we fire RR for however bad he does we are royally... F*cked. Because we've brought in all of these players who pretty much won't fit any other system.
Firing RR this year would set our program back 3-4 years. IMO he is NOT on the hotseat until year 3 nor should he be.