Some Recruitment Perspective (to hopefully chill everyone out)
Everyone just take a break and compare this potentially "lackluster" UM class to ANYTHING RR brought in at WVU.
Here is an article from LAST February that illustrates this point and highlights none other than Mr. Rodriguez.
"Under former coach Rich Rodriguez, WVU's classes were generally rated from the mid-30s to the mid-50s. But the Mountaineers have won two BCS bowls in the past three seasons, have consistently been highly ranked and came within one win of playing for last year's national title."
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/recruiting/football/2008-02-06-recruit-r…
Seriously, everyone just chill.
February 3rd, 2009 at 11:25 AM ^
Yes, you are absolutely right and that is fine for WVU. Unfortunately, UM fans/alums/recruiting services won't and don't accept that.
February 3rd, 2009 at 11:29 AM ^
the alums can go f*** themselves
February 3rd, 2009 at 11:31 AM ^
He is bringing in a Top 15-ish class after a 3-9 season. He was bringing in classes ranked in the 30s after winning BCS bowls at WVU.
UM fans/alums/recruiting services won't have to accept it for long.
February 3rd, 2009 at 11:32 AM ^
So you bash RR when he has his best class ever, and by all accounts a solid if not spectacular recruting year, even by Michigan's lofty standards? This, despite a 3-9 season? And that is somehow supposed to help the program? I thought fans and alums were supposed to try to help the team . . . I am a fan. Please don't speak for me. I do accept what RR has done for the 2009 class.
February 3rd, 2009 at 12:20 PM ^
I hope your comments aren't directed towards me cuz I am not bashing RR at all.
February 3rd, 2009 at 12:39 PM ^
Intended to refer to the unreasonable "fans and alums" - not you. Apologies.
February 3rd, 2009 at 1:40 PM ^
I don't know exactly what many of the older alums think of RR but I know one first hand account of an older alum well past his 60's who dislike RR because of what happened last season. Even the old coots with tons of life experience are irrational when it comes to putting in a new football coach. GO figure.
February 3rd, 2009 at 11:55 AM ^
i'm downright happy
February 3rd, 2009 at 12:10 PM ^
I also gratefully accept the class RR has brought in so far.
And it will be even better if he gets one more QB.....
As for the "fans" who "don't accept" it, they aren't really fans, anyway.
Carr had let the program slip; do the losses to OSU ring a bell?
An overhaul and modernization was needed to bring UM into this millenium. That is what is happening. I would have preferred that it be a little smoother, but that's the way it goes. The important thing is that RR positions UM to start beating OSU again and start, as Martin's goal states, "competing for the national championship most years and winning it...." every few years or so.
Besides, UM still has enough talent that with even a mediocre major college QB, they will win seven or eight this season. Whether Forcier works out, Threet magically becomes a real QB, or Denard Robinson ends up there, UM needs a real QB this season.
Hopefully, it happens.
February 3rd, 2009 at 12:26 PM ^
I think everyone needs to realize one thing. The only players we recruit that matter right now are ones that can help us win now or the year after. The reason is we have a smart coach who seems to be able to recruit as well, a great strength coach, tradition, great facilities coming, etc. The one thing that's missing is winning now. If we can just win 7 oh my god if we do 8 games next year, everything else will fall into place. Mark my word all we need to do is win this year and the year after. Also getting Devin Gardner may help.
February 3rd, 2009 at 12:27 PM ^
We're already starting to see RR transition from a recruiting "whoever is available" to recruiting who he wants. That's a big difference with very high potential.
February 3rd, 2009 at 1:00 PM ^
Let’s not forget that while the recruits are better at Michigan, so is the competition. Just because it's the best class for RR, doesn't mean he's going to be that much better than he was at WVU.
That said, I pray for the success of the program.
February 3rd, 2009 at 1:26 PM ^
That may be true on a week by week basis. But remember how Michigan has fared in BCS bowls of late compared to WVU--even with the talent discrepency.
February 3rd, 2009 at 1:52 PM ^
does not translate here IMO. Remember that no one in the Big East since Miami et. al. left the conference got/get highly ranked classes, and the level of competition does not compare either. WVA , Big East or mid-major BCS wins( again IMO) don't count hugely either, (obviously technically they do, and I'd count it all day if I was an an alum of WVA) because in the BCS era one thing is clear--teams that miss out on the championship game are ripe for upsets in the other bowl games, as they often do not get up for them. This is definitely debatable, or count me as flat out wrong if you like, but I do not believe in any way that Utah is a better team than Bama, Boise than Ok, WVa than GA. If any of those team played each other in a playoff system where the games counted, it would be far different.
Having said all that, I supported RR's hire, still support him, and believe he's a strong coach for us until he proves otherwise.
February 3rd, 2009 at 1:07 PM ^
How is this a lackluster class? Coming off the worst season many of us have seen in our lifetime, RR pulled in a top-20 class with some big-name kids on it and with a clear vision. I think the "fans and alums" who speak ill of this recruiting season are the type who barely follow college football, who presume that UM will always win and lose only because the refs screwed them over, and who don't realize that not everyone is an enamored with the UM name as they may be. The years of coaches from any program just walking into a living room and expecting to pull in any recruit they want are over; coaches have to work for these kids, and even then they may sign somewhere completely unexpected. I'm proud of how this coaching staff has acted throughout this season and into the off-season, and I fully expect next year to be a "revelation" to most casual fans.
February 3rd, 2009 at 1:21 PM ^
You ahve the highest rated player in OH, the highest rated player in MI. You have a top five dual threat qb. You have 2 4 star DE's and 2 4 star OL.
This, regardless of what happens tomorrow is a class to get excited about. Expect next year to bring in even more impact players and depth so that by 2010 we should be back to running on all cylinders.
There really is reason for optimism.
February 3rd, 2009 at 1:34 PM ^
Really, this was a critical juncture for Coach R and his staff. And they have pulled it off, regardless of what happens tomorrow with add ons.
And during this last 24 hour period, let's keep the spirits very high, in the off chance some undecided 17 year old reads our nonsense. What an opportunity - potential early playing time at a "Public Ivy" with one of the most storied football traditions in the the history of the Republic.
Quite simply - Go Blue.
February 3rd, 2009 at 1:59 PM ^
I don't know exactly what many of the older alums think of RR but I know one first hand account of an older alum well past his 60's who dislike RR because of what happened last season.
Some of the older folk I know in Chicago (in their sixties and beyond) HATE RR. And this was even before the season that I heard. "he is a jerk." This crowd really had a bond with Lloyd and I dont know that RR will ever win them over.
February 3rd, 2009 at 2:05 PM ^
Winning cures everything.
February 3rd, 2009 at 2:17 PM ^
You mean dex will have his herpes cured?
February 3rd, 2009 at 2:37 PM ^
and the blue haired alums.....Face it, he's a different breed that lives and breathes football 24/7. All M fans appreciate and most respect that fact about RR, but I have seen and met him in person at alumni gatherings in the midwest before the season and in Ann Arbor on gamedays 2 times this season.
I love his passion for the game and realize his passion and appreciation of M and its tradition will be there with him over time...but its not gonna happen overnight. I was born and raised in Ann Arbor, went M in the 80's, worked for the football staff for 4 out of my 5 years there and am steeped in the tradition. Hell, my son's name is "Yost". But RR is not there yet and he will never be there in comparison to my experiences and many of the blue hairs that i know who contribute a lot of resources and $ to the athletic department. I'm a former "cutter"/townie and can relate to where RR comes from....my M experience and current professional career successes are directly attributed to the whole concept of public education at a state school like Michigan. RR is very similar in this regard with WVU.
But at the end of the day, I have many friends and acquaintances that were very successful in their education and professional careers, who come from money or are self made successes. They are insanely proud of their alma mater just as I am and you are, but they are even more judgemental.
RR is not well read like Lloyd and Bo were....he is not a good buddy like Moe was with schmoozing these guys and talking their language. RR is a not bs straight shooter that will tell you what he thinks about 95% of the time and he has that southern twang and it irks the old school, pure and simple. They don't relate to him like they did his predecessors. So there is definitely a double standard here and it isn't fair, but it is what it is.....winning and winning consistently in the B10 and beating the rivals will resurrect things and the old school rumblings will die down. But let's pray we don't have another losing season....because if we do, he is gone. Plain and simple. You can bash me with the blue hued glasses all you want on this, but I know for a fact that there are enough blue hairs that would step up to make this happen.
I envision success and progress for many years to come with RR as he has the right backing of the M athletic dept, and again he breathes this stuff 24/7...i love his passion, so i will ignore the sky is falling scenarios and have fun seeing who he signs tomorrow to play for the Wolverines!
"Those Who Stay Will Be Champions"
February 3rd, 2009 at 3:17 PM ^
are at work with some people, who regard a guy like RR, with a southern accent who says "yawl", as the equivalent to Jethro Bodine and the guy from Deliverance.
February 3rd, 2009 at 3:20 PM ^
"The mountains nurse scholars and the sheepfolds house philosophers."
--Cervantes
February 3rd, 2009 at 3:27 PM ^
I think part of the problem that many people are having evaluating this class is that we are no longer playing the Michigan football we've been playing the last 20 years. RR went out and got ATHLETIC players at every position. In the past, Michigan's "athletes" have largely been confined to the skill positions. He is clearly chasing a different type of player than Lloyd and co. were.
Also, I think it is important to note that he basically took the best player out of the state of Ohio with little to no competition. This has not happened under Tressel's watch and is hopefully a sign of things to come.
The negative media attention/transition/record have hurt and the change-over has probably gone as bad as it could, but I do think we are moving in the right direction. The Super Bowl alone should tell you that there were some serious coaching issues at Michigan. I mean, Steve Breaston can actually catch the ball and run at the same time. Other than his touchdown at Oregon, how many times did you see that while he was playing for Michigan?
February 3rd, 2009 at 8:58 PM ^
With so much negativity surrounding the U of M football program, having a recruiting class anywhere within the top 25 is astounding! A class that's now in the top 10 is a testament to RR, his staff and what the future holds for the program.