We are at a critical juncture in the RichRod era
With all the media (and booster) scrutiny Michigan is receiving in the wake of the MSU game, winning this game may prove to be the turning point of RichRod's tenure. Before the State game, I would have traded a loss v. Iowa if that meant a guaranteed win over MSU.
Now, although certain people are going to clutch to the MSU loss, the game against Iowa could be the biggest game of RichRod's tenure. The team just inadvertently set in motion a chain of events that will make or break RichRod's legacy. Everyone expects him to fail. Last year some excused his 1st year and blamed it on a bare cupboard. When we started rolling in the beginning of year 2, people got excited and thought we were back. Now, no one thinks we're back - everyone expects us to fail, including many of our own "fans" and boosters.
If Michigan beats Iowa, there is a good chance we go 4-2 the rest of the way. More specifically, with a win this week over Iowa the haters will be proven wrong, the negativity will start to die down, fans will get excited for a bowl game, we will travel well for the bowl game. If we win the bowl game, we will be a consensus top 20 team going into the offseason/preseason. Michigan will be back, and the only thing people will have against RichRod is the past.
If Michigan loses the game this weekend, there is still hope to silence the haters, but it won't come until the end of the season. Not to say that RichRod will be gone if he loses to Iowa/Wisconsin/OSU, but we will be arguing all these same issues on this date in 2011 if that's the case.
If the team can take care of business this weekend, it provides hope and ammunition against the persistent pessimists.
Go Blue!
Edit: It seems I did not make my position clear in this post. I am a huge RichRod supporter and even if he goes 6-6 this year, I still want him here because I think he deserves to finish what he started and I have confidence he will. A loss to Iowa is not an end of the world situation for this team, and I never said it was (in fact I said "if we lose to Iowa, there is still hope"). A loss to Iowa is simply a loss to Iowa. However, if we win this game, I think we will look back on it in a few years as the game where we turned the corner. Certainly we can't just go out and beat Iowa and call this season a success - we've gotta finish strong. I'm just trying to play Nostradamus a bit.
October 14th, 2010 at 1:10 PM ^
....you would find that the school's current coach was one who could recruit like crazy, but not be a good coach. The next coach comes in, like Myer did at UF, and have mega talent all around. Institute his gameplans, and the talent more than makes up for the first years in a new system.
Our situation was different. Yes, Carr had talent in places, but not mega talent at all positions, and the system implemented was radically different than Carr's, with none of the talent suited for the most important job in RR's system, that of QB.
Nebraska was another example, except defensively. Callahan could recruit bigtime. He just can't coach. Pellini comes in, and now Nebraska's defense, using much of Callahan's recruits, is one of the best in the nation.
A year from now we will all be considering whether or not that if UM can get by OSU, if we have a shot at the MNC. Our offense will be as good or better, with none of the mistakes from last game, and our defense will be good enough to keep us in the game with anyone.
October 14th, 2010 at 1:40 PM ^
I can think of a few examples off the top of my head...
Well, then why don't you name them?
October 14th, 2010 at 2:52 PM ^
urban meyer took a 7-4 florida team and went 9-3 then 13-1
tressel took an 8-4 osu team and went 7-5 and 14-0
pelini took a 5-7 nebraska team and went 9-4, then 10-4
nick saban cheated his way to 7-6 than 12-2 after taking over a 6-7
mack brown went 9-3 then 9-5 after taking over a 5-7 teamc
chizik took over a 5-7 team and went 8-5 and now is sitting pretty at 6-0
dantonio took a 4-8 msu team and went 7-6 then 9-4
etc. etc. etc.
but the point is, sure michigan could be down for a few years after another coaching hire but they are not guaranteed to go through purgatory. coaches can come in and have rather instant success, even with teams worse off than our own.
October 14th, 2010 at 5:33 PM ^
Lloyd's not coming back. Get over it.
October 14th, 2010 at 6:33 PM ^
you asked for coaches who were successful after replacing another coach. no where in my response (or ever, for that matter) did i insinuate that lloyd carr was coming back to coach michigan. this aint k-state.
October 14th, 2010 at 12:23 PM ^
If we lose to Iowa. This devastating event was predicted by the Mayans and is foretold as a precursor to the apocalypse. Or....
This is another game like every other game our team and our coach wants to win. I recognize for college football fans there are rivalry games, grudge matches, and etc. But frankly I am as emotionally crushed losing to MSU as I would be to Iowa or Indiana or Illinois. This team is improving and becoming noticeably better. I predict the defense will stabilize and the offense will continue to expand its potential. When a few things go wrong everything goes wrong. Timing is off, people forget their assignments, and wheels come off. This happens with young teams. They aren't a veteran enough offense to stabilize themselves. But on offense this team has leaders and they will right the ship if not improve even more. The defense maybe too personnel challenged to become anything beyond serviceable, but if we can get to serviceable by the end of the year, I would be ecstatic. I can't quote the evidence but the WVU defenses were not Top Ten that I remember in any year that Rich was there. They were however competent and serviceable. If we can get to that we will win a lot of games.
Having said all that, if you are placing your hopes on the Rich Rod tenure on this game with Iowa, then you will be disappointed. Iowa lost one game this year, where multiple freakish events occurred to even have this happen. If we beat this team straight up, then Michigan will win EVERY remaining game. But Iowa is too experienced, too talented and too tough on both sides of the line for our team.
After we lost to MSU, I felt that the Penn State game is the most important game for Rich Rod. I maintain it still is. That is a team we should beat. If we don't beat them, then his coaching career at Michigan is at risk almost certainly. But putting that pressure on Iowa is not logical. If you lose to a better team that is not an indictment of your coaching ability.
October 14th, 2010 at 1:48 PM ^
But, if you beat a better team, then that is an positive indicator of your coaching ability. I wasn't clear in my original post but - for the TEAM this game is just as important as any other game and the coaches and kids need to keep that in mind. When you're a player, EVERY game is important, and losing any particular game can't negatively affect your performance for the next game. But as a fan, as someone who has to deal with UM scrutiny every day, this would be a big win. I won't be devastated with a loss, I'm still going to make the trip out to Penn State, but this would be a big win if we can pull it off. And I have a feeling that 2 years from now, people will look back and point to this game (a big win over a top 15 team that is solid on both sides of the ball, coming off an emotional loss to Iowa) as the date that RR turned it all around.
If we lose - the chance for that kind of game doesn't pop up again till maybe OSU or next year's MSU game (maybe Wisconsin, but I think they're a bit overrated).
October 14th, 2010 at 12:24 PM ^
Cant we just enjoy the game on Saturday for what it is--a football game
This stuff is getting old
October 14th, 2010 at 12:37 PM ^
don't actually enjoy it. It just gives them stress and rage, I don't know why they put themselves through it. My theory is that it gives them an opportunity to be critical.
October 14th, 2010 at 3:40 PM ^
Of of us go to watch the games, and seeing winning. Other's go to drink and see chicks, apparently.
We get that you don't care about the outcomes of the games unless you have money on it. That's fine. Don't blame the rest of us for actually being more interested in the outcomes of the games than the tailgating.
October 14th, 2010 at 4:20 PM ^
If Mgo had those idiot emoticons, I would be using the jack off hand right now.
Sorry for trying to be reasonable and not jumping off fucking ledges because we're 5-1. Or for inventing mock, dramatic crossroads like the OP and many other folks are doing.
I go to games to sit in the same seats I've sat in for three decades, connect with my past, watch my favorite team play and enjoy the company of friends. I cant contol the outcome and, believe it or not, can still have fun on a sunny day in Ann Arbor even when the boys lose.
I know. I know. I am a shitty fan. I should probably be fired with Rich Rod for the 5-1 start and turn in my season tickets.
October 14th, 2010 at 4:40 PM ^
Three decades? THREE DECADES?
Sounds like the only thing 'getting old' around here is you, jamie. Oh oh, sorry I meant Mr. Mac.
October 14th, 2010 at 6:53 PM ^
Oh, and hey,
see you at the tailgate :)
October 14th, 2010 at 5:18 PM ^
More power to you. No one is making you care on the outcome, anymore than caring if Bruce Willis saves the day matters or not. It can be just entertainment for some.
But jumping in just to criticize those who do care, that's the only mental masturbation going on. If you've gotten to the point where the only way you really care about the results of the game is vs. the spread, good for you. At least you've found some way to still care about the games.
(And if you think you can't control the outcome, you should really be over in the standing at Michigan Stadium thread...because they're convinced that standing SO controls the outcome...go set them straight...).
October 14th, 2010 at 5:31 PM ^
You really need to relax. When you start thinking that Having Fun == Not Caring, then you need to take a deep breath.
Everybody here cares about M football. Just because someone is interested in enjoying the games doesn't mean he doesn't care. And I'm very depressed that I have to explain that.
October 14th, 2010 at 5:51 PM ^
I never said anything about caring only about games I gamble on
If anyone wants to break down plays, talk about the depth chart, scout the other team, any and all that stuff. Talk about it to death
This mythical crossroads shit, is just that. Bull Fucking Shit
I am tired of 3-4 threads a day popping up about it.
People do need to relax. Let the season play out. We'll pick up the pieces afterwards. It was the first loss of the season and people are actually saying we're worse now than last year. Morons. And the longer a thread like this lives on without cooler heads like myself urging people to relax, then the worse this blog gets. No sugarcoat.
Here's the deal: College Football is my favorite sport. The 12-13 Saturdays a year are special. And, I had just as much fun with at the 1997 OSU game as I did the 2009 OSU game. Special memories all of them. I feel bad for the folks who let it ruin their lives.
So what exactly does Michigan Football mean to you? Nothing if they lose? That's the thing. it's not a win or lose thing for me and Michigan football. It's that they're playing. Thats whats important. I can take the losing because we've won so much pretty much my entire life. Every team I've ever cheered for goes through patches like this. It will get better. Will Rich be the coach? I dont know. We'll find out in a few weeks. Like I said, i am enjoying the season for what it is--a college football season--and any pieces that need to be picked up will be picked up later.
Iowa isnt a crossroads. Its just another game. I've been Jonesing all week to watch Denard play again. So, fuck this crossroads shit. Just try to enjoy something that we spend most of year looking forward to.
October 15th, 2010 at 2:08 AM ^
As for the current Michigan program, they took a grim step back against Stiffler U and are now poised on the edge of the same cliff no one knew they were falling from until the Illinois game last year. It is really hard to step back and say "it's just one game" after that travesty at Michigan Stadium, both inside and out,
It's a site by a guy who gets excited when we win, downtrodden when we lose, and is emotional about the games. And one, who oddly enough, thought it was more than just one game, thinks it may be a crossroads to going the same direction as last year, and may have started the week overreacting himself. This is not to say that you do or should agree with him. It's just it's a funny place to complain about the same stuff. Frankly, it may be as good as other places that you can find for it, but if you're really looking for stupendous football analysis, maybe the discourse is slightly better here than most places, but I don't think you're really going to find a lot of it here, either.
But I haven't seen you offering a lot by posting thread about that, or jumping in with some keen analysis in the few threads that may meet your approval. Your content has consisted of this too cool for school stance that berates people for getting upset over a game, or consists of asking people their thoughts on games vs. the spread (with not a lot of analysis worthy of all those breakdowns your jonesing for. You've saved that for your site). So, you haven't contributed to the discourse a lot either. This post has over 150 responses. People must have thought it somewhat worthy of discussion. So it seems to fit into this blog pretty well. The fact that it doesn't fit your image of what you think the site should be about...well, you do have your own blog to discuss what you want, and for people to read if they want. Trashing people for being interested in different stuff doesn't really add anything to this site. And doesn't make you look better than everyone else.
October 14th, 2010 at 4:36 PM ^
I totally agree that outcomes are the ONLY thing that matter when it comes to these james. Seeing kids play their hearts out and sometimes pleasantly surprise coaches and fans with their progress and improvement? FUCK THAT, IT'S ALL ABOUT WINNING AND LOSING BABY. After all, everybody knows that after a loss the size of fans' penises get a little smaller and their lives are a little more miserable. That's why winning matters. Fuck all this "have fun" shit. I mean come on, what do you think this is- the NFL?
October 14th, 2010 at 7:13 PM ^
It wasn't losing football games that made your penis small.
October 14th, 2010 at 12:36 PM ^
With all the media (and booster) scrutiny
what is the metric for increased booster scrutiny? has there been a reduction in donations that is substantially different than other schools? are people buying less gear? this is just a very wishy-washy way to start a long, supposedly thoughtful post.
October 14th, 2010 at 1:59 PM ^
Its disheartening to listen to people who give a significant amount of money to Michigan Athletics badmouth Rodriguez at every turn. I've spoken to these kinds of people after every game, and have yet to hear anything positive from many of them (not all, got a lot of good feedback after the ND game).
October 14th, 2010 at 12:40 PM ^
October 14th, 2010 at 12:51 PM ^
and RR is here to stay.
October 14th, 2010 at 12:58 PM ^
Everyone ready to walk into oncoming traffic should relax a bit. There were opportunities last weekend, two picks in the end zone, missing a open Stonum and Roundtree just dropping a sure TD would have led to some significantly different results IMO.
Our offense is going to have to provide pressure on the remaining teams by forcing them to play catch up. We simply cannot stand and play ball control and field position control football wth the best teams given the state of the defense.
Right or wrong, the offense is the key to the remainder of the year. Not all is lost, I think that there is every possibility for the offense to turn it up on Iowa.....they did just fine last year against what I think was a better Iowa team especially on offense. Robinson & company need to execute and put up points and force the remaining Big Ten teams to press on offense. Iowa wants ball control, they have not shown any desire for uptempo offense. Getting them to play to outscore can help lead to mistakes and pressing by other QBs - something Stanzi and up to the last few weekends, Cousins were prone to do.
I think what Michigan cannot afford is to just get shut down. Competitive and hard fought losses with issues on defense hopefully are the worst possible outcome we face. I think keeping Robinson calm and working within the offense will lead to some success against any of the remaining teams.
I would also argue that we need to really look at Hopkins/Cox a bit more. Jackson always talks up his stable of backs, but has a complete tendency to want to stick with one guy 98% of most games it seems. There is no way we should be running plays on 3rd and 1 with Smith running the same counter play into the line it appears he runs on about 90% of his called plays. He is a tough, smart and reliable player no question. But I think there are just some lingering issues with his speed due to injury and his size just does not lend to providing that downhill power running. I would argue that we are really missing that Minor type of running from last year that would take us up to the next level of execution.
October 14th, 2010 at 7:35 PM ^
...due to assignment errors. But Hoskins has done well when's he's played so I'm not sure why he isn't getting more of a shot unless its "OMG we can't play a FRESHMAN" (with our D backing up this reasoning tremendously...unfortunately).
October 14th, 2010 at 1:06 PM ^
See what we have to put up with. Please tell the team and their coaches to win for the sake of our sanity. That is all.
October 14th, 2010 at 1:23 PM ^
This year at the moment appears worse than 2009. I know, that's because of the defense, and the defense is not at all the fault or responsibility of RR. But even still, very little improvement is evidenced. Like last year, we barely beat an awful ND and Indiana. Like last year, we lose to State, although this year of course they dominated us.
So, there are a couple other sucky Big Ten teams that will probably get us to a 7-5 record and a depressing bowl. Yay.
I don't have much hope for 2011, which is the year everyone says we should begin to show that we're back to where we should be: beating State at least 75% of the time, actually being able to compete with Ohio State, demoralizing and demolishing teams like Indiana, Illinois, and Purdue.
October 14th, 2010 at 1:42 PM ^
Or are you looking at the game in it's entirety?
Indiana, for example, is better than they showed against OSU. Their offense played without it's starting RB, LT(and another lost during that game), and OSU's secondary is one of the best in the country. Indiana will win a few games that surprise some people in the B10.
ND, for example, held Stanford defensively quite well. Under their season average in yardage and forced many FG's instead of TD's. ND will end up with 8-9 wins this year, and forced OT against State, which may win 11 or even 12 games this year.
As for State dominating us, that had more to do with our O's mistakes than anything, and I don't believe most of those mistakes can be attributable to State's D.
Call me an optomist, but I see great things happening next year for UM football.
October 14th, 2010 at 2:01 PM ^
What can I say, keep believing. I think Indiana showed exactly how good they are against OSU: Not good at all.
October 14th, 2010 at 2:32 PM ^
Darius Willis was out and so was a starting OL
October 14th, 2010 at 7:41 PM ^
...the missing runningback is essentially completely irrelevant. I will, however, give you the Tackle as that had to have screwed up the passing system.
October 14th, 2010 at 1:45 PM ^
This year at the moment appears worse than 2009
You are out of your mind if you truly believe this.
October 14th, 2010 at 1:58 PM ^
If I'm allowed to count the defense as being part of our team, how is it crazy to say that we're worse this year than last year. Believe me, I hope I'm proved wrong.
October 14th, 2010 at 2:07 PM ^
.....maybe the fact that we've played arguably a better schedule than last year, and done fairly well against it. Along with playing a State team where if our offense played as mistake free as they had previously, the outcome certainly would have been different?
There is no doubt that our D is worse than last year. Our O though, is much better, but still prone to youthful mistakes like last game. That won't happen for every game from here on out.
October 14th, 2010 at 2:12 PM ^
We had a bad defense last year, too. Since you seem like a fan that doesn't pay much attention, let me spell it out to you.
We lost BRANDON GRAHAM on the d-line...and Woolfolk, Warren, Turner, and Vlad in the secondary. You cannot sit there with a level head and tell me that our defense is not what we all expected. How can you say this team is not improved? Is it all based off of an already expected defense performance?
Our offense has vastly improved with added depth and experience. Do you realize we possess a potent offense or do you just look at a MSU performance of 17 points and base the season off of that? You are the first person that has said that this team has regressed from 2009 to 2010...you sir are an idiot!
October 14th, 2010 at 3:14 PM ^
We all know MSU was the first real test for this offense. You can explain it away however you want, but we scored on touchdown in the entire second half.
Just because we expected the defense to be worse, doesn't change the fact that it is worse.
The improvement of the offense has not offset the regression of the defense. We are worse this year than we were in 2009.
October 14th, 2010 at 3:20 PM ^
October 14th, 2010 at 2:26 PM ^
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups raisins
- 3/4 cup white sugar
- 1/2 cup butter, cubed
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 pinch salt
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
- 1/4 cup real maple syrup
Directions
- Place raisins, sugar, butter, eggs, milk, and vanilla in a large heavy-bottomed saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently until mixture is hot, slightly thickened, and just beginning to bubble, about 4 to 5 minutes. Cool slightly, uncovered, in the refrigerator, while continuing with recipe.
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease 12 muffin cups or coat with cooking spray.
- Stir flour with baking powder, soda, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Make a well in center and pour in warm raisin mixture, stirring just until combined. Stir in nuts until evenly mixed. Spoon batter into muffin cups.
- Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) in center of oven until golden and a cake tester inserted into center of a muffin comes out clean, about 15 to 17 minutes. Remove from oven and immediately pour about 1 teaspoon syrup over each muffin. Cool muffins in cups for 10 minutes, then remove to a rack. Serve warm.
October 14th, 2010 at 3:30 PM ^
OK . . . these were moderately amusing the first time. Now they're aggressively unfunny.
October 14th, 2010 at 4:12 PM ^
Recipes are meant to be an appropriate response to something. Generally I only do them for threads, but occasionally comments will go so far off the deep end that they beg for a recipe.
If they get a laugh, then great. But the primary purpose is to let the poster (or commenter) know that I think s/he is so far off base that it doesn't deserve a serious response.
You need to let go of this notion that every comment/thread deserves a serious response.
October 14th, 2010 at 5:35 PM ^
I have made some of the recipes posted. Excellent!
October 14th, 2010 at 2:31 PM ^
I think you're crazy and I don't think you pay attention to anything, but even in your dull and stupid world surely you'd have to admit that Michigan starting 5-1 is better than Michigan starting 4-2.
October 14th, 2010 at 3:04 PM ^
couldnt you say that michigan started 5-2 last year. and if we lose to iowa, we'll again be 5-2. lets see how the last 5 games play out.
oh and i love the comments that RR is not responsible for defense. maybe herein lies the problem. the head coach should be responsible for both defense and offense.
keep drinking the RR juice. i'll be back when we finish the season 7-5. and yes i will say that i am disappointed. i am not sure if any of the wins will be against a bowl eligible team.
October 14th, 2010 at 3:13 PM ^
I know you're on a crusade to demean anyone who disagrees with you, but you have to be smart enough to know that the FCS game came at a different point this year, right? UM went 4-1 against their first 5 FBS teams both seasons.
October 14th, 2010 at 3:57 PM ^
The guy said that he thinks this team is worse than 2009's team. I mean, do you really believe a well-reasoned response is going to have any impact on this guy? Come on, he's out of his mind with negativity, and nothing's going to get through to him.
October 14th, 2010 at 5:19 PM ^
Sigh, as pointed out, 5-1 actually isn't better than 4-2, when the reason you're 5-1 is that you played a cupcake team (or what should be a cupcake team) earlier in the year as opposed to later.
October 14th, 2010 at 7:16 PM ^
If you want to be a pessimist and insist that DOOM is around the corner, well, then good luck I guess. I don't know what you're getting from Michigan football if 5-1 is worse than 4-2 and it's all just worse worse worse blah blah blah blah. Whatever.
October 14th, 2010 at 1:58 PM ^
ND doesn't actually appear to be sucky this year....at least not to "Weis-ian" proportions. They could conceivably win out from here. MSU (I hate saying this!) and Stanford are pretty good teams this year, regardless of how good you feel UofM is.
Indian looked sucky vs. the OSU D - (a lot of teams will) - but this is also without 3 starting O-linemen - and one of the starters backups, I'm not sayin....I'm just sayin.....
We haven't been able to beat OSU for 7 years - RR has only 3 of those on his lap - and with a lot of LC players. If you are meaning "competitive", I think last year's game was fairly close - and many of the LC losses may have been competitive due to the play style of he and Tressel. Besides - as many of the RR haters say -- the only thing that matters is a win..and that resides at 0-7 despite the coach's name.
October 14th, 2010 at 2:11 PM ^
You probably should try watching the games. The improvement on the field is pretty obvious.
Or don't and just give up since it's all so hopeless and depressing.
October 14th, 2010 at 2:28 PM ^
MSU did not dominate us this year. MSU dominated us last year. We had 28 yards rushing last year. We lost by more points this year, but they dominated us last year.
We shot ourselves in the foot last Saturday.