Will Brandon even feel he has a choice after this?
The alumni and especially the rich Alums, will have a deafening voice to fire after this. Even if he was inclined to give another year, do we think he can withstand the chorus of "fire RR" in his voicemail and email? I'm not sure it's possible to resist that, especially as business oriented as he is. If your rich and majority of Alums are screaming, and you need those contributions, can you withstand that even if you want to?
November 27th, 2010 at 3:28 PM ^
i think the key words were "top three teams in the conference." is RR's job only secure in year three if he's winning Big Ten titles or is he allowed, you know, time. Hell, I guess the athletic department is to blame for signing him for four years. should have been two. coaches don't get time to develop talent and adjust. they get 2 years. then if you go 7-5/(7-6/8-5), you're out!
November 27th, 2010 at 4:13 PM ^
In December 2007, did you really think it'd be impossible for us to post a .500 conference record in the next three seasons?
November 27th, 2010 at 4:42 PM ^
bc i never would have thought the roster would be what it was in 2008, how minor the progress was in 2009 or the injuries in 2010. your argument is stale bc it relies on a "This is Michigan" basis and not a breakdown of facts that can tangibly be pointed to for understanding of WHY it happened. unless you think it's just bc RR is teh dumz
November 27th, 2010 at 5:13 PM ^
His contract is for six years.
November 27th, 2010 at 8:13 PM ^
Pretty sure Michigan football's still profitable and will be next year. Thanks though.
November 27th, 2010 at 3:11 PM ^
Shut up.
November 27th, 2010 at 3:33 PM ^
I have a long history here, with rational commentary, and this question was completely legitimate. I, like most people, don't always make the right comment and am not always correct with questions or opinions. But I don't call people out, I've never criticized a player, and I try to respond to people with respect, which I think my other comments on this thread show. But you deserve none of that.
November 27th, 2010 at 3:11 PM ^
+1 for the Joan Harris pic
November 27th, 2010 at 3:11 PM ^
The defense has played much better! Offense can move but cannot score. Special teams are a disaster.
November 27th, 2010 at 3:12 PM ^
You don't get to be the CEO of a major company or the athletic director of one of the country's most storied schools by being a spineless pushover.
Yeah, the alumni and media will throw a fit...but this is Brandon's call, and if he thinks Rodriguez should stay, he will.
November 27th, 2010 at 3:16 PM ^
While I agree that DB will make the decision / will not be forced to. I also would point out the CEOs make decisions taking major shareholder and board members input with more weight than not.
November 27th, 2010 at 3:19 PM ^
That's actually a pretty good question. I don't know how much the alumni / fanbase should play into the decision. Let's face it - Brandon would have to do something monumentally stupid to get people to stop supporting their alumni. I don't think refusing to fire a coach that's had a steadily improving record is that kind of decision.
November 27th, 2010 at 3:14 PM ^
If you're a hopeless homer that enjoys tailgating more than watching the game, yes. If you're grounded in reality, then absolutely not.
November 27th, 2010 at 3:26 PM ^
i think i'm grounded in reality and think your reaction is completely reactionary and takes into account absolutely nothing in terms of progress on offense (where we actually have upperclassmen/player development) and what's going on in defense, which is a shmismortion not dissimilar from what it is on similarly young teams.
November 27th, 2010 at 3:16 PM ^
Wake up people! RR has no clue what these rivalry games are!
November 27th, 2010 at 3:16 PM ^
I think the one thing we can all agree on is that RR isn't making the decision easy either way
November 27th, 2010 at 3:18 PM ^
I am an alumnus of University of Michigan, and a relatively wealthy one. I'm not deafening to fire Rich Rodriguez, in fact, I'm email Dave Brandon to voice my support.
Unfortunately, Michigan and Ohio State are no longer on the same level of program, and that isn't Coach Rodriguez's fault. Obviously it is so so so painful to say that, and I don't think there isn't hope that in the next couple of seasons, that we won't be at that level. But we won't be if fire our head coach.
November 27th, 2010 at 3:24 PM ^
Who's fault is it?
The buck has to stop somewhere.
November 27th, 2010 at 3:27 PM ^
How in the holy hell is this not Rich Rod's fault?
It is at least partially, if not mostly his fault. You can argue improvement on offense as a reason to keep him.
But three years of worst defenses ever, three years of turnover city, three years of sub par special teams play sputtering offenses in big games later, there is no way that the Head Coach is not responsible.
November 27th, 2010 at 4:16 PM ^
Whether it's his "fault" that we're mediocre is beside the point. Is he the right guy for the program? If not, you try to find the right guy.
November 27th, 2010 at 10:47 PM ^
You are right, there is a great divide between UM and OSU right now, especially in the coaching department. It cannot be denied. Jim Tressel has 5 national championships and is one of the best coaches in the country.
Whatever side of the RR fence you fall on in regards to keeping or firing, it's clear that OSU has the better coach, right now.
November 27th, 2010 at 3:18 PM ^
Brandon didn't get where he is today by being overly reactionary. He'll look at the season as a whole, the bowl game, the returning players, etc. and make a decision. If it was me, I'd give RR one more year and expect 8-9 wins. Despite what movies make people think, most alums don't pull funding because the team loses unless there appears to be little stability. Brandon and RR are on the right page, and I think that will be communicated to the relevant parties.
November 27th, 2010 at 3:19 PM ^
Eerily, I received my 2011 Victors Club & PSD renewal in the mail today.
<br>I'm wondering how many people don't renew their season tickets next year?
<br>PSD is "preferred seating donation"
November 27th, 2010 at 4:10 PM ^
No one would have known what PSD was without your help, pathetic as it might have been. Thanks so much. Some of those seats could stand to change hands. The current holders have gotten complacent over the years.
November 27th, 2010 at 4:19 PM ^
Do not vilify the fanbase that has led the nation in attendance 36 of the last 37 years. Even in a horrible economy, and coming off our worst two-year stretch since the 1960s, we still filled up the largest stadium in the country this year. We have great fans. All they ask for is a reason to have faith in the program. Right now it's becoming very difficult to find any.
November 27th, 2010 at 4:38 PM ^
regarding RR, but your above comment is dead on (except I would use "increasingly" for "very" in your last sentence).
November 27th, 2010 at 4:44 PM ^
faith, you have my sympathies.
November 27th, 2010 at 4:47 PM ^
Turning the word some into the fanbase is a bit of a stretch, don't you think?
November 27th, 2010 at 3:20 PM ^
I don't know, I'm on the fire side now. They're not competitive against good teams. Sorry.
November 27th, 2010 at 3:23 PM ^
firing him is too knee-jerk. it also fails to take into account the reality that, outside of two games, the offense fired on all gears. what's more, the team has never been healthy on defense. i would LOVE to hear how you think this is RR's bed other than the same old "buck stops here" crap.
November 27th, 2010 at 3:31 PM ^
7 points in 3 quarters vs Iowa
0 points in 2 quarters against Wisconsin, then an explosion, then nothing
7 points in 4 quarters vs tOSU
17 points total against MSU
Plus the Purdue game.
I like RR's offense, but where do you get only 2 games where the offense didn't fire on all cylinders?
November 27th, 2010 at 3:34 PM ^
seriously. i get that you're pissed and all but to claim this team didn't click in any of those games is a joke. and i was at the Purdue game. God couldn't have moved the ball in that crap.
November 27th, 2010 at 4:16 PM ^
But the offense sputtered in each of those games, scoring primarily after we'd fallen into a deep hole. So the stats are a bit deceiving. Like most front-running teams, our opponents relaxed a little. We would catch up, then the other team would slam the door. The pattern was pretty damn consistent. Except, in the later games, the whole catch-up thing went out the window, and we hardly scored at all. The offense has great potential, and has great moments, but it's far from great.
November 27th, 2010 at 4:18 PM ^
I don't think it's that knee jerk. Has Michigan beaten a single team that finished the season ranked? I'm not sure about Wisconsin in 08, but that's it.
<br>The staff hasn't managed it's roster well at all. Sure, some of it's bad luck, but only about 4-5 of the defenders should have started this year. There's two ways to look at that, either feel bad for all the bad luck, or think something is fundamentally wrong with his player management skills. Eventually it's the latter--I just got there a few games sooner.
<br>They aren't competitive, bottom line and I think Rodriguez would agree with me.
November 27th, 2010 at 4:29 PM ^
Our three Big Ten wins this year were by a combined 20 points. Our five Big Ten losses were by a combined 87 points.
November 27th, 2010 at 4:43 PM ^
My real issue is from a leadership point of view. I've don't have a real problem with the wins. My problem is that the staff has been unable to develop any semblance of depth on defense or a somewhat competent special teams. James Rogers starting is a perfect example. There needs to be some depth everywhere, not position switches. I've got no info, but all the departures tell me he'll always struggle molding young men here, for whatever reason.
<br>It's easy to get Mike Martin or Troy Woolfolk all in, but convincing an all-world recruit that's struggling to stay the course is hard and I don't know that he can do that.
November 27th, 2010 at 4:55 PM ^
we were making definite progress in defensive recruiting so i don't understand your post other than fretting
November 27th, 2010 at 5:40 PM ^
406 points allowed this season. That's 59 more than in 2008 and 76 more than in 2009. They are the three worst totals in Michigan's history.
After signing day, I'd have (and I think most would have) guessed the starting secondary probably would have read something like Woolfolk, Dorsey, Turner, Emelien, and Kovacs. 60% of those players aren't even on the roster. If any one of them leave, I don't really care, but 3 of 5 of his recruits leaving when they're in line to compete for starting spots indicates roster management and character identification issues to me. You can easily explain each of them away and I know each of the purported reasons, but all the departures and never arrived players indicate a larger issue to me.
November 27th, 2010 at 7:47 PM ^
we're also playing some teams in the Big Ten who are having decades-best performances while playing one of, if not THE, youngest secondary in the Big Ten... or NCAA. you'd have a terrific point if we had juniors and seniors who were failing to accomplish. instead we have freshman playing their ass off to compensate a complete lack of game experience. and we STILL overcame all that to win 7 games.
you just sound grumpy imo
November 27th, 2010 at 10:28 PM ^
This has been bothering me since last summer. We're not going to agree, but I'm upset that the staff can't seem to play the hand they're dealt and work on the future as best they can. You've got to whatever you can to keep guys like Emelien and Turner. It's a coach's job to motivate and inspire them to put in the work to succeed.
<br>If he can't judge character well enough to pick the right guys or motivate them to succeed, then that is a serious flaw that isn't going to be rectified with time.
<br>I've got no idea what's different now than when he was at WVU. Maybe he could fill holes with transfers, or maybe he's stretched for some higher profile kids that have badly backfired, but not having a backup free safety after three seasons is crappy roster management, IMO.
November 27th, 2010 at 3:22 PM ^
Why is it that RR gets credit for recruiting a "juggernaut offense" but gets a flier on the crap defense? It's ridiculous.
November 27th, 2010 at 3:24 PM ^
because the defense is at 2/3 of its starting roster and is made up of freshman.
November 27th, 2010 at 4:31 PM ^
In year one, you can make that excuse. If that's still the case in year three, some serious roster mismanagement has gone on.
November 27th, 2010 at 4:39 PM ^
to fall on that as your argument. the secondary has been decimated, which led to linebackers having to help with coverage, etc. the defensive line has been a disappointment but even there you find big injuries. year one didn't feature freshman so it's not an excuse for then. year two even. but year three is pure underclassmen. shortest set of haikus in ages. but that's all RRs fault, right?
November 27th, 2010 at 4:49 PM ^
Eventually, yes. Part of the staff's job is to convince players to stay and be part of the team.
November 27th, 2010 at 3:26 PM ^
He's actually recruited alright on the defensive side of the ball. They all just left/never made it here/got injured.
(See Demar Dorsey, J.T. Turner, Vlad Emilien, etc.)
November 27th, 2010 at 4:52 PM ^
And RR is the one responsible.
November 27th, 2010 at 3:23 PM ^
Hey Rich, when you come back to Ann Arbor, go to Yost Ice Arena during a game and go straight to the penalty box.
All the chants work. C-Ya. Sieve. It's all your fault. Take your pick. Disgusted.
November 27th, 2010 at 3:25 PM ^
Disgusted? Did you forget your MLive login password?
November 27th, 2010 at 8:15 PM ^
Cool idea bro! How long did that take?!