RR's Quote about "wanting to be a Michigan Man"

I truly want to be a Michigan man.

Well it shows he is more committed to the success of Michigan football than most people on this board.

And since the players haven't quit on him and he hasn't quit. I won't.

In all honesty there hasn't been anyone criticizing him for his remarks last night, it was for the song and hand-holding and that whole bit of awkwardness.

I love the guy. If he leaves, I will root for whatever university he goes to (2nd to UM, if you are wondering). If he stays, I really think our students are in good hands.

He continues to build my confidence in him. When he kept Hagerup home - I was pissed - and totally impressed by his integrity.

It is going to be a long month.

It's the MSM and a certain sect of fans that have made sure he is not considered a Michigan Man.  Those same people are now chastizing him for addressing his difficulty (due to MSM and some fans) in "becoming" a Michigan Man.

Pretty pathetic on the media and certain fans' parts, IMO. 

It's like telling someone for 3 years that they "aren't good enough" and the moment the person responds with "maybe I'm not good enough, but, I'm going to be" then the original accusor lashes back with "You have zero confidence, you are worthless because you admit you aren't good enough"

It's like watching verbally abusive parents.........

Amen! Very well said!

Is you raise me up! Thank you.

Look how he has handled himself the last 3 years!

Other Coaches dogging him-he says nothing, holds his head high!

Ex-Players/Alumni dogging him-He says nothing, holds his head high!

Look at this team, have you ever seen a team that is all about TEAM!!! I know I have not in my 30 years of living and breathing MI football.

RR is class and is truely a MI man, and Bo would be proud. Lets just hope others that are making the calls are MI men also!

to call myself a Michigan fan. I'm rapidly approaching that point. I know it won't be an issue in public, because we will fit right in with the tOSU fans, but I am getting to the point where I am going to ignore everything but the team.

People accepting as fact statements that he was begging for his job have just about put me over the edge. I do know that I long ago stopped saying to myself "well, it can't get much worse".

C'mon, didn't you get the Michigan Memo? Emotions are for coaches who win many more games than they lose. Then it's perfectly acceptable to shed a tear or two, but if you've had a losing season, God forbid you should do anything than display a steely-jawed demeanor with no hint of any feelings whatsoever.

Couldn't agree with you more.  He is a class act and doesn't deserve this nonsense.

I had one opportunity to meet RR at a DC alumni function and was very impressed.  Everything he has done as head coach has continued to impress me.  To me, he will always be a Michigan Man, and has always conducted himself in the highest tradition of Michigan Men, regardless of whatever decision DB makes in ~ 4 weeks.  And, like sheepman, I will always root for him if he leaves unless he is playing against us.

What were the findings of the post-season poll regarding whether or not we think RR has done enough to stay?

Not that it matters to the AD, the program, or MSM, i'm curious as i consider ourselves to be amongst the elite... and by that i mean... Elite of fanaticism.

Josh Groban?  Man, he might have just as well sang Kum ba yah at the end of the OSU game.

The way that RR has been demonized by the MSM/freep/grumpyAlumni/etc makes me sick. He is honestly a very good and humble guy, and as such I really wanted to see his luck turn around this year. And make no mistake, he's a great coach.

We can sit here debating whether he's a good fit for Michigan all day long, that's obviously still way up in the air right now. But as soon as I see a "DickRod" or a "first major violations in UM history RABBLE RABBLE", I tend to get very upset...many people disrespecting a guy who has really a ton of integrity. 

I mean, look at the numerous times he's put the team, the school, and most importantly the health of his players ahead of football since he's been here, and is maintaining a high standard of excellency. Mealer, CIssoko being dismissed, Hagerup being suspended for violating team rules, the numerous times Denard has been benched for cautionary health reasons (most especially Illinois), the Tate situation earlier this year (and look at how mature he is now!) etc. etc. etc.  Those are all qualities of a Michigan Man. How can you criticize a guy for wanting to be considered one? 

I've got to say, I'm more on board with keeing RR now than I was before he gave that speech.

I do like his Michigan Man comments, I do not like Josh Grobin songs anywhere near a UM football team activity. I'm very mixed on this issue and really not sure whether to hire JH or keep RR. I do think that DB should probably make the decision sooner rather than later for recruiting's sake but then again what does it matter what I think.

This event is now getting press on ESPN

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=5877414

It's bullshit that there's anyone out there who doesn't feel like he's what people want to call a "Michigan Man". I was at the UConn game....I saw Brock Mealer....I've seen a team that has improved each year and is solidly behind their coach. He's been dragged through a ton of shit for the last three years, most of it unwarranted. I'm proud to call him my coach. 

I am convinced that if RR stood at a press conference and announced that he had personally discovered the cure for Cancer the media headlines the next day would be:

"Milliions of Doctors and other health care suddenly out of work - Michigan Coach Rodriguez found responsible"

Clearly RR understands Michigan tradition. Namely, the fact that one can only become a Michigan man as a coach* is through several increasingly difficult tasks:

1. Sign three 5* athletes in one class.

2. Beat OSU in six consecutive years.

3. Prove by way of genetic testing that you are a carrier of several little known recessive genes that Bo Schembechler was known to have. 

The only alternative is to become blood brothers with the current athletic director.

No one cares more about this program than Rich Rodriguez, and he realizes that since he hasn't made great strides toward completing the tasks, his fate lies with David Brandon. I, for one, and impressed with his knowledge and understanding of the Michigan Illuminati and their workings. It is rare for a non-Michigan-man to have such insight.

(*Coincidentally, for a fan to become a Michigan Man, all he or she must do is be very angry every time they don't like something. The more anger, the higher their standing in the Order of the Wolverine.)

Very well said michgoblue. I for one have supported him all along and will until he is no longer a coach, no matter where he roams the sidelines. I hope that RR has at least one more year to turn Michigan into a force again, but if not I am glad that he was our coach for three years. Yes, it was a rough three years, but RR has as much class and integrity as anyone in the sport.