RR: "We lost to Michigan State, what, you wanna hang me off the building now? "
There's more:
"I mean, there might be a few people who want to do that, but that's the same people that probably wanted to do that after the first five games too, they just weren't saying it publicly."
I love this fire out of RR. A me against the world type of attitude. He's going to do his thing no matter what his detractors say or do to him. As well he should. He likely has Dave Brandon's full support and will continue implementing his system now and for the foreseeable future. It's good to see this confidence in a coach, as it not only helps keep the current players focused, but can only keep recruits coming our way. We got your back Rich. Keep doing your thing. The best is clearly yet to come.
October 11th, 2010 at 4:39 PM ^
Why is this worthy of a new thread? You could have posted your comment in the comment section to the main page post.
October 11th, 2010 at 4:40 PM ^
Oh, and also, what do you mean by "doing his thing"?? It sounds as if you are saying that he is going to keep losing no matter how much people complain about it?
October 11th, 2010 at 4:42 PM ^
if you read my post, doing his thing fits into the context of recruiting his players and not letting his detractors take him away from doing it.
October 11th, 2010 at 4:44 PM ^
to people like you when he says "I mean, there might be a few people who want to do that, but that's the same people that probably wanted to do that after the first five games too, they just weren't saying it publicly."
October 11th, 2010 at 7:20 PM ^
"Rodriguez has balls"
I like balls.
October 11th, 2010 at 9:05 PM ^
I have 2
October 11th, 2010 at 9:07 PM ^
braggart
October 11th, 2010 at 4:55 PM ^
IMO it is acceptable to start a new thread to discuss in detail one specific aspect of the press conference, rather than post it in the comments section to a diary covering an entire press conference where multiple players and coaches spoke and said a number of discussion-worthy things (such as "Nick Saban's a d-bag").
October 11th, 2010 at 5:17 PM ^
I know we're all crabby after Saturday but lets not take it out on each other.
I'm neutral when it comes to coaches. Lawyers have to win their cases, doctors have to save lives, salesmen have to make sales and coaches have to win. Accordingly, I'm "All In" as long as RR can show me he can win in the Big Ten. Two or three more in the last six and we're on the right track. I'd sooner he gets it right because starting over would be hideous and we can all see that the offense, when it clicks, is like nothing we've ever seen before.
That said, please respect the animosity involved in this rivalry. No, no one wants to "Hang" you but though I hate losing to OSU more, for those of us who have to live amongst the fans of Michigan's Secondbest University, hearing their bullcrap for another year is absolutely gutwrenching. So yes, I don't care whether its Lloyd, Moeller, Bo or RR, losing to State makes the fans unhappy and Coach needs to get that and understand. Its not about him, its about losing to your little brother. Though WVU doesn't have an instate comparison (don't say Marshall since MU has never beaten WVU and they don't even play every year) he needs to respect the fact that as fans, losing to little brother hurts about as bad as losing to your little brother in anything you do.
October 11th, 2010 at 5:42 PM ^
won't Rich Rodriguez please think of me, and what I have to deal with in social situations with alums from different schools on Mondays!!
It's like he's still focused on winning the other games the team plays, and not even taking my daily interractions with people into account!
October 11th, 2010 at 6:13 PM ^
You sir are acting in a douchelike manner and clearly missing the point for the purposes of expressing your douchiness (which, contrary to what you may think, is not that witty, just douchey).
Some games matter more than others. State is one of them when you're a Michigan fan whether its in football or women's golf. To deny that is to misunderstand the nature of sports and particularly the fandom that makes college and pro sports what they are. Coach shouldn't be surprised if the fanbase is mad. That said, its not like he did anything per se wrong. His star QB made a few bad passes and our defense essentially is what is. While I don't buy into what some of the posters below said (particulary the one about committing Harakiri though the description was elegant), it matters and his quote can certainly be read to say that we, the fanbase, shouldn't be as angry as we likely are. The reality of college sports is that his job wouldn't be the big deal it is if 113,000 people didn't roll up to the stadium seven or eight days every fall and another several million hang on every play at home on the tv. Were the program/coach NOT to care about what the fans think and feel, our stadium would likely often look like Rynerson Stadium down the road in Ypsi which looks like THIS
Now while that is a non gameday - Game day isn't much better as the average attendance is just over 5,000 in a stadium built for 30,000.
October 12th, 2010 at 8:11 AM ^
It's the hundreds of thousands of people that come into that Stadium, and donate big money to the program, so he can get paid millions to win, not go under .500 and lose to every major team he plays. He may not be thinking of them individually, but their feelings do matter. At least if he wants to keep his job. Because guess what, focusing on the next games hasn't worked out so great for him so far.
October 11th, 2010 at 7:53 PM ^
I agree, I'm an RR supporter, and off-the-cuff comments are often just that. That said to show a somewhat blase' attitude about the game is kind of annoying. No matter how he really feels about the matter.
October 11th, 2010 at 4:41 PM ^
as worthy as your comment on the thread
October 11th, 2010 at 4:49 PM ^
and rightly so. I wonder how much the MSM tries to provoke him as well.
October 11th, 2010 at 4:54 PM ^
MSM? Sorry but no clue what that means.
October 11th, 2010 at 4:55 PM ^
Main Stream Media
October 11th, 2010 at 7:01 PM ^
Whenever I see this abbreviation I always think - Michigan State Mafia even though I know what it means.
October 11th, 2010 at 4:59 PM ^
it means Main Stream Media and they are a very sneaky street gang whose sole determination is to undermine the authority of someone by asking them a trick question after they infiltrate press conferences.
October 11th, 2010 at 6:16 PM ^
Do they wear specifically colored bandanas?
October 11th, 2010 at 4:55 PM ^
You know what, lots of coaches have nice quotes, that make them sound tough, and have that "me against the world" mentality. You know what not a lot of coaches do? Win BCS conference games. I'm tired of losing to MSU, I'm tired of losing to OSU and I'm tired of people expecting me to think its OK b/c RR said some cool stuff in a press conference, or did some good charity work, or brought in some hot recruit.
Win next week, then I'll be impressed and love his attitude. That will make me love Rich Rod.
This is only my opinion, I'm not condemning you for posting this, or others for enjoying it also. You're welcome to think what you want.
October 11th, 2010 at 5:18 PM ^
"I'm tired of losing to MSU, I'm tired of losing to OSU and I'm tired of people expecting me to think its OK b/c RR said some cool stuff in a press conference, or did some good charity work, or brought in some hot recruit. "
You seem to be really tired. I'm no doc but you could have an underactive thyroid.
October 11th, 2010 at 5:24 PM ^
Yeah, I'm going to go get that checked out. Thanks.
October 11th, 2010 at 5:57 PM ^
Rome wasn't built in a day. And Michigan didn't deteriorate overnight. You want success today? We all do. But screaming and hollering like a Toddler doesn't mean mommy is going to run over and make it better.
As I look at the coaches, and the incoming recruits, I am more and more convinced that RR is building success for the long term. He is taking his lumps now. But looking at our defensive depth for 2011, we should be much improved, with the possible exception of the LB corps. Our lack of depth and experience at LB & in the secondary has been appalling, and something you can't fix right away.
Looking to the offense, with most of them returning, with another year's experience and adding Dee Hart in January, so as to go through Spring practice I expect great things from the offense in 2011.
October 11th, 2010 at 6:00 PM ^
Was appropriate two years ago. Its year 3, and I'm not optimistic about the D next year. I hope you're right and I'm wrong though, but I expect a better than .500 record in the b10 in year 3. Right now we're 1-1. If we finish 4-4, I will be content. My point is no press conference quote is going to change my opinion of that.
October 16th, 2010 at 4:14 PM ^
I am going to disagree. RichRod is building a new offense, and doing okay with it.
However, defense was never a huge problem before RR, there is no such thing as a spread defense to adjust to, and I have seen little sign RR is doing anything about the defense issue that rolled in with him.
I don't expect problems to be fixed overnight. I do expect a head coach who is getting millions per year to get out there and fix the gaping hole in his program. I have not seen a sign he is doing that, though.
October 11th, 2010 at 5:05 PM ^
As a RR supporter, this quote worries me...
It's almost like he's saying that MSU is just another opponent and we shouldn't have any other expectations beyond that. I know RR's philosophy is one game at a time, but at some point he should really recognize that some games are more important than others. That's the way of life. This was one of those games and the team didn't show up. Not good.
I would have loved to see the following fire: "Yeah, we lost to MSU. That shouldn't happen and we're going to do what we can to make sure it doesn't happen again."
October 11th, 2010 at 5:05 PM ^
I'd rather have a coach that treats every game equally. I don't want someone like Dantonio who emphasizes one game over every other. I think we see how that has worked out for MSU the last several years.
The ND, MSU, OSU games are always going to be more important to the fans than the team. These aren't the days of the Bo coaching tree, where it's only important to win those games. If we lose to any of those 3, and still win a BCS game, I'm going to be a lot happier than beating all 3 of them and then losing another Rose Bowl.
October 11th, 2010 at 5:08 PM ^
losing sucks. Some more than others, but every loss hurts.
October 11th, 2010 at 6:28 PM ^
"I'd rather have a coach that treats every game equally". Ask Cooper how that worked out.
October 11th, 2010 at 6:56 PM ^
Why would I ask Cooper about that? What a coach does at OSU doesn't impact my opinion at all. Cooper wasn't rebuilding a program. Cooper didn't coach in the BCS era. Cooper is a complete straw man in this discussion. Congratulations.
October 11th, 2010 at 7:10 PM ^
Your post is full of fail. No need to waste a history lesson on the likes of you.
October 12th, 2010 at 8:16 AM ^
Or Dantonio? Are they relevant enough?
Because guys like John L. who don't prioritize the rivalries don't get to coach in them for very long. And those other guys who make a big deal out of it? Like Bo and Lloyd? They have success and coach a long time.
October 12th, 2010 at 9:14 AM ^
Michigan lost bc RR "didn't care enough."
You're taking your negative opinion to depths unknown
October 12th, 2010 at 9:26 AM ^
Are you going to argue that the amount of emphasis Dantonio and RR each put on this rivalry game had no impact? Not even a little? The seriousness with the RR takes these games is a legitimate concern.
October 12th, 2010 at 9:27 AM ^
i am arguing they were not a factor.
October 12th, 2010 at 10:25 AM ^
Ok, then are you going to say the same thing about the OSU game? That emotions, emotional preparation, wont be a factor? I seriously hope not, Because if that's so, we have 0 chance in that game. It's easy and myopic to say that the immeasurable didnt matter, that only interceptions and drops mattered. But we know that more was going on.
October 12th, 2010 at 10:36 AM ^
I'm saying I do not think RR "failed to get it" or downplayed the game in a manner that gave Dantonio, by caring, an advantage
October 12th, 2010 at 10:54 AM ^
I guess we have to agree to disagree. You are taking the evidence (statements by RR like, "I understand the rivalry, some say MSU is our biggest rival, others say OSU is. But we treat the rivalry games like any other game") and are saying that it doesn't mean other evidence isn't there. I am taking evidence such as those statements, AND the lack of other apparent evidence, as evidence, and looking at it as a whole. It's a tenuous position I admit, but I have to think, hope, that this team is capable of more than we saw on Saturday. And that leaves mental/emotional preparedness - not in terms of them winning, but just making a better showing, not getting spanked. It's not hard to find evidence that Dantonio has put a lot of emphasis on this game over the past 3 years. I'm not saying RR downplayed the rivalry, but that he failed to lead this team in a way that "up-played" the rivalry, meaning getting them adequately emotionally prepared. Two ways of looking at it, and I sit content with my perspective. As you do yours.
October 12th, 2010 at 10:57 AM ^
what evidence is there that he isn't? that he's lost? that's a straw man argument.
October 12th, 2010 at 11:03 AM ^
And that is quite the straw man reply. Did you even read my post? I admitted that I am using lack of evidence as evidence. But, it's undeniable that RR states that they treat the rivalry games like any other. HIs statement yesterday (the "hang me off a building" statement) basically saying, "so I lost to MSU, so shoot me" is also evidence. Getting spanked on the field is also evidence. I want RR to succeed. But I know he must manage and lead much better than he has been to do so. You can sit with maize and blue blinders, but I will not. I care too much about this program as a whole.
October 12th, 2010 at 11:13 AM ^
so anyone who disagrees with you has blinders on while you 'see the light.'
now all you have to do is compare someone to Hitler, make a picture of a cat with mindspeak language and pick a fight with someone and dare them to meet in your neighborhood and you've covered all internet memes.
he lost to a good MSU team with a decent UM team. it happens. you're acting like Carr used to set fire to a Spartan doll before each game and now RR is scheduling family vacations the 5 days leading up to the MSU game. a lack of wins =/= not taking the game seriously. you act like the guy's job isn't in jeopardy and he's just dinking around
October 12th, 2010 at 11:22 AM ^
Seriously? Resorting to extreme, somewhat nonsensical caricatures of my position does nothing for your argument. Talk about a straw man.
"he lost to a good MSU team with a decent UM team. it happens."
- No, Its not just the loss, its the way we lost. And how often does it have to happen before you start to question things?
"you're acting like Carr used to set fire to a Spartan doll before each game and now RR is scheduling family vacations the 5 days leading up to the MSU game."
- No substantive response necessary. Yeah, that's what I am saying. Keep telling yourself that.
"a lack of wins =/= not taking the game seriously."
- See above - its not just the loss, its the spanking we took.
"you act like the guy's job isn't in jeopardy and he's just dinking around"
- Again, no substantive response necessary to such a ridiculous assertion. Yeah, that's what I am saying. Keep telling yourself that.
GB, you have truly been a waste of time.
October 12th, 2010 at 12:57 PM ^
is a bit offputting. you seem to think the game was an up and down ass whipping. i see it differently. mistakes were made but this was not 47-3. this was a team losing by 17 after making two crucial red zone INTs and a flat out drop. MSU won and deservedly so. you just seem to be taking it a bit harder than I am. you summarily point to a score while i see a lot of different things in the game that make me not as despondent. you were better off at the "we have different opinions" stage than the "i'm a waste of time" stage. you've not pointed to any specific elements that prove RR didn't take it seriously other than the scoreboard. sorry but i require a bit more to feel a valid or compelling argument has been made.
October 12th, 2010 at 1:00 PM ^
How about this - let's move on to Iowa. I think I am ready to stop dwelling on MSU.
October 11th, 2010 at 5:07 PM ^
I really liked the second part of that quote. I also liked how he dismissed that faction and its bleatings as "drama" later in the presser.
I am seeing a lot fo confidence here. This sounds a lot more like a "man with a plan" than it does a "coach on the hot seat."
October 11th, 2010 at 5:20 PM ^
For example, when I look at the remaining games on the schedule, I see teams that I think "should be" wins and teams that "should be" losses, but then I get to the OSU game and think: this game is a toss-up, throw out records, throw out rankings. If Michigan comes out wanting to win that game more than OSU, then Michigan will win that game. I tend to think guys have more desire in a huge rivalry game like that, which is why I refuse to "count" that game as a loss when I look at the remaining schedule. There's a huge emotional part of the game of football, and I would hope that everyone associated with the team would show that much more fire and determination against hated rivals.
October 11th, 2010 at 5:56 PM ^
It irks them that we acknowledge OSU as our biggest rival. I had a friend who went to State validate MSU/UM as a bigger rivalry because it's the whole state that's involved. I just said okay and moved on.
I would rather the team get over the State game by now and focus on beating Iowa and getting bowl eligible at home and against a darn good football team. I'm sure the Hawkeyes would love to hear the coach and players grumbling about the previous game.