TomVH
Hey Tom just wondering if you heard anything about a new DC? RR interview stated the people that were interested of may by interested in the DC job were preparing for Bowl games well since most of the Bowl games are over have you heard anything about the DC search?
January 5th, 2009 at 10:55 AM ^
I can't tell if this is just a wild goose chase, or if there really is someone that he's waiting for. To be honest with you, I haven't heard anything that you probably haven't heard. I'm trying to find out more, it's been very quiet though.
January 5th, 2009 at 10:58 AM ^
Do you think there is a chance that RR is waiting till after the recruiting season takes place to name a new DC. He might not want to rock the boat with all of these kids on deck to come here.
January 5th, 2009 at 11:04 AM ^
I don't think hes waiting for signing day to announce is DC, I don't think RR would wait just cause of some recruits. I'm guessing the guys he wants is still tied up with a program somewhere at lease I hope so anyway, seems RR would want his guy to get set up in AA as fast as possible.
January 5th, 2009 at 11:10 AM ^
at the basketball game, and I thought that was strange. I figured he'd be out interviewing potential candidates.
Makes me think he's already "got his guy".
January 5th, 2009 at 12:46 PM ^
Do you really think finding a new DC would take so much time that he couldn't even go down the road to a B-ball game?
January 5th, 2009 at 1:31 PM ^
And I didn't say that. It just struck me as odd that we don't have a DC yet, and he has time to take in a bball game.
It's great that he's there to support the other programs, but I would think finding a new DC should probably be a MAJOR priority when you just went 3-9, and had one of the worst seasons (and one of the worst defenses) in our history.
Hey, call me crazy.
January 5th, 2009 at 1:55 PM ^
I think you're overestimating the time it takes to hire someone. Many of these searches for assistant coaches involve calling up old friends/connections.
Rodriguez: "Hey, you wanna coach with me at Michigan? Be my defensive coordinator?"
Friend #1: "That sounds good."
Rodriguez: "Cool. Here, talk to some lawyers and stuff. See you in Ann Arbor."
Rodriguez knows who he wants and/or he has trusted friends and confidants who he will take advice from. He's not sitting at his desk, crunching numbers, watching hours and hours of film of Coach X's defenses, etc.
January 5th, 2009 at 2:08 PM ^
Shafer, then I sure hope he spends a little more time on the process.
Frankly, I don't want to see him doing jack shit until a new DC is hired.
January 5th, 2009 at 2:10 PM ^
I hope your employer/future employer is a little more lenient with you.
"I don't want to see you doing jack shit until you get all those papers filed and hire a new secretary. No basketball games, no dinners, no Little League games for your son, nothing."
Lighten up.
January 5th, 2009 at 4:26 PM ^
Everything that's said on this blog is 100% serious.
January 5th, 2009 at 4:28 PM ^
Then you fooled me too. Might want one extra coat of the sarcasm spread next time.
January 5th, 2009 at 4:33 PM ^
is easy!!
This blog is dripping with it.
January 5th, 2009 at 5:18 PM ^
Then consider this a failure of my sarcasm detector and your sarcasm maker.
January 5th, 2009 at 3:59 PM ^
Yeah, I know we have high expectations for these guys, but they get to have lives too. And supporting other athletics is even part of his job.
A company called Research in Motion just had a breakthrough invention, and they're calling it a blackberry. I got one, it's fantastic. It allows you to get a lot of work done even if you're not sitting inside of your office. Maybe similar technology has made its way to the midwest and RR has access to one.
January 5th, 2009 at 4:32 PM ^
several times.
Hey, does that thing offer suggestions for interview questions?
Things like...I don't know...what is your defensive philosophy?
If it does. I sure hope RR has one.
January 5th, 2009 at 4:36 PM ^
No, you're right. Clearly you're more qualified at this stuff than RR, so submit your resume to Bill Martin as the new Hiring Coordinator. Just don't but any sarcasm on there, he probably won't pick up on it.
January 5th, 2009 at 11:11 AM ^
I thought that the new rumor regarding the DC job was that it was offered to Hopson, but, RR is still waiting for him to accept or turn down the job. Supposedly, Hopson's family has had an extremely difficult time adjusting to the new area and he's considering other options before making the commitment to become Michigan's new DC.
January 5th, 2009 at 11:25 AM ^
I think with recruits coming in early this year, one would think RR would want his DC in there working with the other coaches and the kids right away, or am I out of the loop here?
January 5th, 2009 at 11:29 AM ^
I could be wrong, but I get the idea that Rodriguez has his sights set on an Oklahoma or Florida assistant, but he doesn't want to be a homewrecker or be a distraction for that team. My guess is that we'll see an announcement right after the national championship game, although that's purely based on speculation and not anything I've read/heard.
January 5th, 2009 at 11:34 AM ^
Yea there's something that everyone is missing here. I don't think Rich Rod would wait around for Hopson to decide, especially if he turns it down. That just doesn't add up for me, there's something else to this that we're not hearing.
January 5th, 2009 at 11:46 AM ^
The question is if Hopson doesn't get the job, will he resign and go elsewhere? Putting myself in his shoes, I'd probably bolt for another opportunity closer to home (meaning down south) if I didn't get the DC position.
January 5th, 2009 at 11:36 AM ^
....we've been through this.
Per the Knowledge.....Rex Ryan.
Once the Titans beat the Ravens in the playoffs next week, we'll have our second RR on the coaching staff.
I'm sure it will happen that way.
January 5th, 2009 at 11:37 AM ^
Florida's DC would be a nice pick, there D is always pretty good and playing against SEC teams they fair pretty well. Would like to see what he could do in the B10
January 5th, 2009 at 11:58 AM ^
That would be a lateral move for Charlie Strong. My guess is that he'll be a college head coaching candidate in another year or two. Why would he come to Michigan when he's got such great talent at Florida, a national championship caliber team, and a good recruiting base?
January 5th, 2009 at 11:51 AM ^
candidate is Jeff Casteel? He's a known quantity to RR, has substantial experience with the 3-3-5 stack RR seems to prefer, and also (perhaps most importantly) is also a known quantity to the other UM defensive coaches, so presumably would work with them in a more seamless fashion than Shafer apparently did.
My guess is that RR will be reluctant to go with another outside candidate that he doesn't have personal experience with, since that didn't work out so well with Shafer. RR can't really afford another whiff at the DC position.
But I thought Campbell would commit somewhere else, so what do I know...
January 5th, 2009 at 11:53 AM ^
Casteel was already approached. He turned down the job (again) according to Rivals.
January 5th, 2009 at 2:41 PM ^
Link?
January 5th, 2009 at 2:57 PM ^
Rivals. It was posted here a couple of weeks ago.
January 5th, 2009 at 11:56 AM ^
If Jeff Casteel wanted to come, he would be here already. He's not coming.
January 5th, 2009 at 11:58 AM ^
leave a NFL DC job or a possible NFL HC job to be a DC at UM? THere's more money in the NFL and we all know these guys are mercaneries looking the next best-paying gig.
The Hopson thing scares me. If he(and/or his family is that unhappy in the north, then won't he be leaving in the next year or two anyway. Can RR (yes, that RR) be waiting on R.Ryan or Hopson? Isn't he betting on a longshot with the defensive recruits? The 3-9 season and the coaching uncertainties can create a lot of ifs and maybes with the recruits.
Just get a tough-minded DC in here soon so we can rise back to power.
January 5th, 2009 at 12:50 PM ^
RR isn't getting RR. It was BS. Or is my sarcasm meter busted?
January 5th, 2009 at 5:33 PM ^
Your sarcasm detector is properly calibrated.
January 5th, 2009 at 12:14 PM ^
Threads titled TomVH: 15?
January 5th, 2009 at 12:17 PM ^
I just think that with all the pressure Rich Rod has on him right now, he needs a home run. He needs someone that he doesn't have to babysit, and worry about. With Shafer, he let him do what he wanted, until it didn't work, then he switched to what he knew. I think with this DC, he needs to find someone proven that can handle Michigan.
January 5th, 2009 at 12:57 PM ^
Doesn't one of Florida's defensive coaches have a Michigan connection? I'm not sure it's the DC himself, might be the secondary coach. There's also the apparently strong ties between Rodriguez's staff and Oklahoma, which could be where they are looking.
January 5th, 2009 at 1:01 PM ^
Vance Bedford was Michigan's secondaries coach in 2007. He
also had a stint here some time before that, too.
January 5th, 2009 at 1:22 PM ^
Greg Mattison, our old DC was "co-defensive coordinator" and D-line coach for Florida.
January 5th, 2009 at 1:37 PM ^
Mattison is who I was thinking of. I'd say we have a better chance prying away the Ravens' Linebackers' Coach than their D.C.
January 5th, 2009 at 2:32 PM ^
I agree with Tom. This has to be a homerun. It is indictive of how he can handle and run his program. I do think that RR's spine is made of enough steel to get who he wants and weather a storm of backlash if it isn't the sexy pick. However, I don't think he can/nor should be able to withstand the backlash of another bottom feeding defense. By letting go of Shafer RR has publically stated to the M faithful that it was not a good fit. And the M faithful is now looking back at him and saying "So now what?" So it is intense pressure the man is under to get it right this time. Because if he doesn't, the whispers will grow louder about him being the wrong guy. But more than that. He may lose his team's faith. Now, if the rumor is true that Hopson is debating on staying or not, replace the dude along with the DC. We have already had enough decommits to have only a functional assistant coach. I want that dude and every other coach breathing fire (of course in a way that fosters a family oriented environment) and bleeding blue.
January 5th, 2009 at 2:56 PM ^
I posted this thought in another thread; The Daily listed four DC options. Two of them accepted other positions (HC @ ISU and DC @ LSU), one is on staff (Hoppy) and the other is now free of his post-season obligations; Rick Smith, the DC @ ECU. Mr. Smith was RR's DC @ Tulane when they went 12-0. I gotta think that he knows the 3-3-5 and is certainly familiar with RR. However, other than The Daily article, I've never seen his name pop up. I also have to think Casteel is not interested (because of his kids).
January 5th, 2009 at 5:35 PM ^
Rodriguez was Tulane's Offensive Coordinator, not head coach, so I don't think he would have worked much with Smith. I never saw that Tulane team play, but since Tommy Bowden was the HC, and he ran a 4-3 at Clemson, I'd imagine that Smith ran a 4-3. He certainly ran one at ECU.
January 5th, 2009 at 3:07 PM ^
I don't understand the whole "Never go from NFL to college, rawr!" talk. If somebody finds an interesting job, or maybe a change, they may do it. Rex Ryan has run good defenses at Baltimore, and maybe if they go all the way he'll try his hand at something else? Who knows. We're all waiting.
January 5th, 2009 at 3:17 PM ^
Uh, wow. Rex Ryan will likely be an NFL head coach in the next year or two (He is probably going to end up in Denver). He is NOT going to take a pay cut to become a coordinator for a collegiate team.
January 5th, 2009 at 3:38 PM ^
"I don't understand the whole "Never go from NFL to college, rawr!" talk."
It's exceedingly rare unless one of two things happens:
- the coach failed out of the pros and is going back to what he's good at (Nick Saban, Steve Spurrier)
- there's some VERY strong personal interest in college (Al Groh getting the chance to coach at his alma mater, e.g.)
The NFL coach doesn't have to recruit, he doesn't have to deal with pushy boosters, he doesn't have to be a "father figure" to 85+ young men of varying maturity levels, he usually gets paid better, and he doesn't have to spend every second of every day sweating over possibly running afoul of any number of arcane NCAA rules and regulations.
Coaches would probably have little trouble going from a dead-endish coordinator or assistant NFL job to a promotion in college (coordinator to head coach, assistant to coordinator, etc.) but guys like Rex Ryan who are pretty clearly in line for a top NFL job sometime in the near future aren't going to put that on hold for a sideways jump to college.
January 5th, 2009 at 5:21 PM ^
NFL coordinators make way more money that college coordinators do. That's why you don't see them make the move down.
January 5th, 2009 at 5:51 PM ^
The longer this defensive coordinator search lasts, the less and less I think Rodriguez is looking to move to a 3-3-5. There aren't many practitioners of the 3-3-5, and some of them have already said they're not interested in the job (Dean Hood, Jeff Casteel, etc.). If Rodriguez were going to promote from within to install a 3-3-5, I think he would have done so already (Hopson, Gibson, etc.).
I think Rodriguez is going to hire a base 4-3 guy away from a BCS bowl team.
Again, it's pure speculation on my part.
January 5th, 2009 at 6:29 PM ^
one would think that Coach Hopson would make the most sense. What isn't making any sense is the waiting period to name the DC if in fact it was going to be Hopson. Magnus-I agree with you on this issue.
January 5th, 2009 at 6:43 PM ^
Does RR have any connections with him? Maybe he'll have so much fun beating the crap out of the Buckeyes tonight that he'll decide to come to M.
January 5th, 2009 at 6:47 PM ^
Muschamp is the coach-in-waiting at Texas and it would be a lateral move if he were to come to Michigan.
January 5th, 2009 at 6:52 PM ^
How many years does Mack Brown have left? I just remember seeing a Bo interview where he said he was the coach in waiting at UOS and Woody went on for another 20-30 years.