Wojo Interview with Coach Rod
Excellent interview with Wojo in the Detroit News. I love his Friday columns previewing the upcoming games, and enjoy his witty jabs, even at our expense at times.
http://www.detnews.com/article/20101021/OPINION03/10210333/Michigan%E2%…
October 21st, 2010 at 1:26 AM ^
I love that comment at the end. "Next!"
October 22nd, 2010 at 1:42 AM ^
that's it. i've had it. after the 50th time hearing rich rod (or one of his idiot recruits) use the word 'conscientious' in a completely inappropriate manner, i am writing a letter to david brandon.
October 21st, 2010 at 1:47 AM ^
Good interview. I loved it when he said he wasn't going to gloat when they get the thing rolling. Basically saying we are going to woop ass and then we are going to woop more ass. No need to say anything. It will speak for itself in time. I still totally believe that. Gives me goose bumps.
October 21st, 2010 at 9:07 AM ^
I forget who it was but a while back someones signature was "We are going to be a well oiled machine."
I always liked that quote... and now I can see... we're really close to that.
October 21st, 2010 at 10:19 AM ^
though I don't remember the "well oiled" part.
October 21st, 2010 at 12:43 PM ^
well oiled... i think i added that in... woops.
October 21st, 2010 at 1:49 AM ^
That was a long column, and not all the questions were softballs. I am so happy Rodriguez is the coach at Michigan, and I truly believe that the future is very bright.
October 21st, 2010 at 2:03 AM ^
I enjoyed it a lot! Im excited for the future with RR at the helm. We just need to get bigger and faster at Defense. Im confident that we will in time!
Hail
October 21st, 2010 at 2:10 AM ^
But will enough people (alums in particular) have it......Patience. He tipped off that he is really excited about next year. Finish the job this year (8-4 plus a bowl win) and come back next year to a 10+ winning season.
The question remains, will there be enough patience.
These next 3 games are huge beyond huge. It is driving me crazy that we have to wait another 9 days until we play again.
October 21st, 2010 at 8:03 AM ^
of wins don't understand the game of football. Rod is right when he says it's harder to win nowadays. Lloyd had--what--the third or fourth highest win % among active coaches and people still hated him. Those are the haters that are going to hate. I think if you bring it into the realm of 7-8 to 10 wins on a consistent basis, are a contender most years and run a good program, that's what serious fans should hope for. Given the breaks of the game, even excellent teams can lose two-three a year.
Are the players with you? Are they getting educated? Most fans don't give a darn about that, but the school prez and AD have to be. Rich Rod can do all of the above.
October 21st, 2010 at 8:20 AM ^
Word. Since I live in A2, my primary non-internet source for Michigan football info for many years has been WTKA, which does a tremendous job overall. I've been listening long enough to know that there are regular callers who routinely bashed LC when he was coaching us to 9 or more wins each season and winning a bunch of conference titles on the way, and plenty of these knuckleheads were entirely in favor of Lloyd leaving his job, whether by firing or by retirement. I called up the station plenty of times to rebut them, but some people are impervious to fact. Needless to say, they've been calling up and hammering RR since Justin Boren left.
October 21st, 2010 at 12:37 PM ^
I hope Rich likes the pressure, because it's never going to go away. It'll just change from "why aren't we winning?" to "why aren't we winning 10 games every year" to "why aren't we winning the National Title". It's never going to change. Lloyd had it. Guys like Tressel have it. Even Urban Meyer had them calling for his coached heads (GERG, get used to it too). People act like Rich has had to deal with some new firestorm...but not really. It's taken from some new angles, with violations and character questions that were often unfair. But then he's got the horrid record, so in comparison to before, the unfair criticism has probably equaled out. It's a tough job. But there's pretty nice compensation. But the pressure is not going away.
October 21st, 2010 at 2:45 PM ^
but I certainly was very very frustrated with the fact that he had the talent to be a repeat MNC winner but constantly played it too safe and ended up losing winnable games to inferior talent. Oddly, it was his last game as HC that showed what he could have been if he just trusted his players and opened up the offense a little bit.
Now we have RRod who has started off terribly by opening up the playbook and I find myself defending him because I know he will bring us a title if we give him the time to restock the type of talent he needs. We could be just like Florida of the past 5 years if we give him enough time. I think he is a brilliant schemer who will rarely lose when the talent of his teams is close to equal to his opponents.
In contrast to Lloyd, with the right talent, Rich Rod will consistently beat the teams he is supposed to, more often than not, beat the ones that are, on paper, slightly better and he will pull off more than his fair share of upsets.
October 22nd, 2010 at 3:17 PM ^
What seasons did you see National Championship caliber talent, but woeful underachieving? I mean, while we have charts ad nauseum about our defense, and how the talent isn't there for Rich...were there a lot of National Championship caliber defenses to go with great offenses at the same time during Lloyd's tenure?
The contrast doesn't really work. Because Lloyd consistently beat the teams his is supposed to (check his record vs. the Big Ten, Michigan State, and such), beat teams slightly better than his, and pulled off many an upset. Ask Ohio State or Penn State about that. Or Florida, for that matter. There were lots of "Big Upsets". I think you have this dream image of Rich. Because no one has really gotten on him for losing to teams with more talent than his. But they have for those with equal or lesser talent. Purdue. Illinois. Toledo. Even at W. Virginia, when he has his program rolling. They weren't undefeated every year there, either, and most of the teams they were playing against his latter years had less talent in the Big East. Pitt? (Yes, he had injuries...and it'd be fair to bring them up. But you could do the same for any number of Lloyd losses). Rich also had big wins, just like Lloyd...Georgia...Wisconsin...so forth. It's not to say Rich can't be as good a coach, or better than Lloyd. I hope he is. (That'd be AWESOME!). But if you're expecting him to be regularly bringing you in National Championships, you're probably setting yourself up for disappointment, and you'll probably turn on him someday then too.
October 21st, 2010 at 9:07 AM ^
You think "7-8 to 10" wins is what we should expect? Well then you should be very happy in the future, and I won't criticize your view at all. But as for me, a serious fan as well, a top program, which M will be again, should have expectations for consistent 10 win seasons, just like other top programs do. I would definitely understand (in the future and also this year) a 7-8 season, but only every few years. There is no reason, at all, why M can;t win 10 a year out of 13 game (including bowls) seasons.
October 21st, 2010 at 10:40 AM ^
You have unrealistic expectations. You don't understand how difficult it is for any school to win 10 games consistently. There were three teams in all of college football that averaged 10 wins a year from 1990-1999. There were six teams in all of college football who averaged 10 wins a year from 2000-2009. Only one team, Florida, is on both of those lists. Parity is going to make it more difficult to win 10 games as time goes on as well.
Bo had four ten win seasons in his last eleven (12 games) and Lloyd had six ten win seasons in thirteen (six 13 game seasons and seven 12 games) Winning ten games consistently at Michigan hasn't happened since the 70s. Our longest streak of ten win seasons in the last 30 years is three.
If you won't be happy or satisfied with anything less than 10 wins in any given season, there's a pretty high probability that you can plan on being unhappy and dissatisfied most of your remaining years.
October 21st, 2010 at 10:40 AM ^
10 wins every single year. Bad years will happen and that is to be expected. I don't expect an average of 10 wins per year over a decade, didn't say that either (though I may have expressed myself less than adequately). But I do stand by the statement that there is no reason- at all- not to think we cant win 10 MOST years. If there were 6 TEAMS that averaged 10 in this decade why on earth couldn't M be one of those next decade? There is no reason at all, not fan base, not facilities, not exposure, not access to talent, none--why we can't be at that level
October 21st, 2010 at 10:56 AM ^
Having high expectations is a good thing. Having a Notre Dame and then one other tough non league game makes it a tall order every year. But it can be done as the program re-emerges and finds it's long-term consistency.
October 21st, 2010 at 11:28 AM ^
We can. That is something to aspire to be. To expect to be and to be unhappy if we're not, though, is only setting yourself up for disappointment. It's not just about the number six, either. Like I said, there was only one team who averaged ten wins in each of the last two decades. That team is 4-3 right now.
October 22nd, 2010 at 10:08 AM ^
to it. I get your point, its valid but I disagree. Also, winning ten games is easier now than in the 90's because unless I'm incorrect in my history, in the 90's the regular season was 11 games. Now it is 12. So with a 12 game season plus a bowl game, IMO 10-3 should be our record almost every year. That in no way seems unrealistic or unreasonable for M as a program
October 21st, 2010 at 11:41 AM ^
perspective that since 2002, the year after he arrived ol' Jimmy T has won 14, 11, 8 10, 12, 11, 10 & 11. Plus I don't see them getting less than 10 this year. That is an impressive run. Most fans have every right to compare against their arch rival Tressel & OSU can do it why cant we?? Who can blame them. I know that is what I want unrealistic or not.
October 21st, 2010 at 12:19 PM ^
We are allowed to have down years. Howeva, 7-8 should not be the norm. We should be contending for the B10 title 7 out of 10 times, which means around 10 win seasons.
October 22nd, 2010 at 8:26 AM ^
someone for expressing their thoughts (being a butthead, okay). And I agree that M can do better than 7-8 annually, though I was expressing a range. I do feel many fans are way too invested, that the superheated world of "what have you done for me this minute?" is corrosive, esp. for a great old institution like M and. . . that we are on the right track, anyway.
If you are a real fan--and many of us have no choice--you got to roll with the punches, be in it for the long haul.
October 21st, 2010 at 2:30 AM ^
"I can honestly say we did not lose a guy who really could have helped us. I didn't lose any sleep over anyone who quit ..."
"There hasn't been a guy that left that would've helped us. They left for a reason. That's why I don't talk about them. I talk about the guys that play for Michigan. The guys that left weren't playing for Michigan anyway."
Anyone want to hazard a guess as to which coach said what?
October 21st, 2010 at 4:29 AM ^
1. Bo
2. Richard Rodriguez
October 21st, 2010 at 2:36 PM ^
That was my favorite line from the article too. Anyone who says that Rich is nothing like Bo, well they don't know Bo. Anyone who says that Rich doesn't know what a Michigan Man is hasn't looked closely enough.
October 21st, 2010 at 2:37 AM ^
One of the most ridiculous notions held by many UM "fans" is that RR is somehow deficient in dealing with the media. This interview with Wojo is just one of the many hard pieces of fact that completely contradict that baseless idea.
The idiots who continue to push this idea are completely and totally ignorant of what true antagonism towards the media really is. This old SI article should be required reading.
Until a couple of years ago, he would routinely storm out of press conferences, kick reporters out of the sessions ("Don't be offended," says one of Bo's friends. "He'd kick Millie out, too"), make himself unavailable and order his players not to talk. Talking very softly once at a press conference, he was asked to speak up. "I'm speaking as loudly as I can," said Bo softly and arrogantly. And in a memorable set-to on Oct. 1, 1979, Schembechler gave an absolutely unnecessary push to a publicity-seeking college newspaper reporter.
Yet too much is read into all this. As Don Canham, athletic director at Michigan, says, "Bo is oblivious to life."
October 21st, 2010 at 7:57 AM ^
Great find, Don.
RichRod's enemies have constructed an elaborate straw man (or straw Rodriguez) and flogged it relentlessly from Day One. Among other things, the straw man ran off Mallet, swore at poor Justin Boren, and failed to appreciate the significance of UM's big rivalries.
October 21st, 2010 at 8:21 AM ^
Exactly. If these boneheads simply confined their criticism to what has transpired out on the field for the last 2+ years, I'd have no problem with that; the results haven't been very good, to say the least. We can argue 24/7 about why they haven't been successful, but at least the original data point—won/loss record—would be verifiable fact.
That's not enough for lots of people, obviously. It's the same sort of attitude that permeates our political discourse. it's not enough to disagree with the policies of elected officials; it's necessary to call them socialist/fascist/communist/America-hating AntiChrists/etc/etc/etc.
October 21st, 2010 at 10:35 AM ^
That's not enough for lots of people, obviously. It's the same sort of attitude that permeates our political discourse. it's not enough to disagree with the policies of elected officials; it's necessary to call them socialist/fascist/communist/America-hating AntiChrists/etc/etc/etc.
Absolutely correct. Somewhere along the way we lost the civility, wisdom, and intelligence to have a discussion and a difference of opinion. Somewhere we lost the mutual respect and ability to compromise which allowed win-win outcomes and progress. I speak from experience as an elected official. The only times I think of not running for office again is after just such a situation.
October 21st, 2010 at 11:06 AM ^
"Lost"?
I don't think we ever had it. Civility and wisdom have been the exceptions throughout history. Everybody likes to think that they and their peers are better than that, but unfortunately, as we have all witnessed the last three years (4 if you want to count the insane Fire Lloyd Carr movement), this is not the case. There are as many irrational and combative Michigan fans as any other fan base.
October 21st, 2010 at 11:32 AM ^
+1 to you also Sir.
October 21st, 2010 at 11:29 AM ^
but I'm giving you Sir a +1. Its worth it to lose a few when someone hits the nail on the head.
October 21st, 2010 at 9:48 AM ^
" 'Bob, if I win, I don't need the press, and if I lose, they can't help me.' "
Man, that's eff'n fantastic. RR couldn't have said it better himself.
October 21st, 2010 at 10:20 AM ^
I think RR is deficient in dealing with the media, Don. It would be great if the asshats on this site could go one thread with all calling people who disagree with them idiots or ignorant. Yes, I know that I called you a name for calling me one. Call me old fashioned, but I like my HC to look like he is in control of the situation. I am sick of reading quotes like Drew Sharp's
October 21st, 2010 at 10:39 AM ^
If you listen to the SI interview that was broadcast on WTKA this morning, and then read the Wojo interview, and still conclude that RR is "deficient" in dealing with the media—especially considering the record of Bo Schembechler and Lloyd Carr in the same arena—then it's clear that nothing is going to change your mind about RR's "deficiencies."
I don't care if you called me a name. You aren't the first and won't be the last.
Lest you think otherwise, I am not one of those who believes that RR is beyond criticism. He does bear responsibility for what happens on the field, both offensively and defensively and on special teams. I think he has made some major mistakes in recruiting, both in players that he's signed and players that he should have signed but didn't. I am far from convinced that he and his staff, individually and collectively, have the coaching ability to turn things around here. I am still sticking with my prediction of a 6-6 season, which means only one measly victory out of the next five games. I am sick and tired of people blaming Lloyd Carr this far into RR's coaching regime. It wouldn't surprise me in the least if 2012 is RR's last year here.
But to focus on his media relations, when the fact is that he is hugely more accessible, more open, more direct, and frankly more consistently pleasant than any of his Michigan predecessors in dealing with the media, is very strange.
October 21st, 2010 at 10:49 AM ^
I am not focusing on his media relations. I am just responding to you saying anyone who thinks he is deficient dealing with the media is an 'idiot.' Even if this interview was great, and I don't think it was, 1 interview does not whipe out all other mistakes he has made with the media. Also, the fact that the media hated Lloyd Carr and Bo does not mean that they did not handle the media well. RR is more open than those two were, which is his personallity and it woudl be unfair to ask him to change who he is to fit into the mold of previous coaches. However, if he is going to be so open and quick to respond to any question he is asked, he needs to do a better job of sounding sure with his answers and absorbing more blame directly, whether he deserves it or not. Really, I am just getting f*ing sick of people saying that I have neither the intelligence nor the knowledge of football to have my own opinion about this team or this coach.
October 21st, 2010 at 11:27 AM ^
Most rational fans here understand the difference between what RR can be blamed for (some % of attrition, some borderline recruiting decisions, some personnel decisions, some in-game coaching at times) and what he should not be (the personnel situation coming in, some % of attrition, an extremely hostile media from day 1).
I understand that you personally don't like his style, and I think everyone would agree that that's reasonable (even if they disagree). And I personally think it's a little ridiculous that you care at all if he accepts more blame in his comments - so what? Win and it's fine, lose and it isn't. The end. But I do wonder about one thing:
"...the fact that the media hated Lloyd Carr and Bo does not mean that they did not handle the media well." Objectively, Bo did not, and Lloyd probably didn't either. But by implication, the fact that they hate RR doesn't mean that he doesn't handle them well. So the only thing definitely wrong with his media relations, then, is that you personally think he needs to sound more confident and absorb more blame. Reasonable minds obviously differ on this, and calling your side an "idiot argument" as it was above is hardly the harshest thing said about an argument in the glorious history of this site.
October 21st, 2010 at 1:38 PM ^
But probably not in the way you're thinking. The media was basically afraid of them. And knew better than to pull the shit they do with Rich. You have to come from the mindset that they're basically jackals, and you can't be a zebra, you have to be a lion. To do that, you have to win. I don't know that Rich's personality is going to lend itself to having them fear the repercussions, but when he's winning more games, it will certainly help.
October 21st, 2010 at 2:00 PM ^
That's definitely more accurate than what I said, and I withdraw my blanket statement. I'm actually surprised when RR got burned in the first place, he didn't go into Bo/Lloyd "you people are a pointless obligation" mode - I certainly would have.
October 22nd, 2010 at 2:56 PM ^
And is definitely a nicer guy than me. But I don't know if that is serving him well, in this case. I mean, he really can't lash out at this point, because he's not winning enough. They'll spin it to "wow, he's losing it...has he lost control of his team?". So I can understand why he doesn't go apeshit. Even though, like you, that's what I'd want to do. And maybe he can when he's winning consistently. Or he can kill them with kindness, in his own way, knowing he's got Titles in his back pocket. People only care what you say at press conferences when you lose. As you said elsewhere, you can be Bobby Knight when you're winning.
October 21st, 2010 at 1:53 PM ^
Leadership 101. I heard a lot of people here complimenting Denard Robinson on his comments after the MSU game, and rightfully so. He said he didn't play well enough to win, he needed to get better, and he would. This site was full of "what a guy," and ""this kid has it," comments. Obviously it was not all his fault, but to be a leader is to stand up in front and take the heat. How would you feel about him if he went to the podium and said, "The O line needs to do a better job and the receivers need to catch the damn ball, but they are young and I am too busy in the QB meetings to really get things together with them?" As a leader, he did exactly what he needed to and it earned him the respect of his teamates, his coaches, and me. RR is a head coach and without going all Oklahoma State head coach, he should stand up in front and deflect some of the blame from his coordiantors and his young players.
M-Wolverine explained my position on Lloyd and Bo perfectly, by the way.
October 21st, 2010 at 2:05 PM ^
I agree that taking responsibility is a key part of leadership. But I disagree that RR has just stood there and said "the D coordinators need to do better, these freshmen aren't any good." He has taken an absolute ton of responsibility for losses in press conferences over the past few years, and I know that because I've watched a number of them and read transcripts here of many of the rest.
I think that his Lombardi comment and "hang me off the building" comment are just frustration - 3 years of constant questions about being on the hotseat, about UNACCEPTABLE (by some journalists) is wearing on him. They're also taken out of lengthy conferences where he says "we [the coaches] need to do a better job" 10 times. They just are more interesting than that, so they end up getting headlines/board topics.
Would more self-control help him? Sure. But as far as I'm concerned, he can stand there and make faces like Bobby Knight at people for 30 minutes if he wants as long as the program is actually moving forward (and I believe it finally is).
October 21st, 2010 at 9:26 PM ^
I remember last year in a presser RichRod said something along the lines of "Our coaches didn't prepare the team well enough and that is on us." Then he went on to say what else went wrong, including missed assignments, bad decisions, bad tackling, etc.... Guess which quote was printed and which one was put on the backburner?
October 22nd, 2010 at 9:04 AM ^
Most rational fans here understand the difference between what RR can be blamed for (some % of attrition, some borderline recruiting decisions, some personnel decisions, some in-game coaching at times) and what he should not be (the personnel situation coming in, some % of attrition, an extremely hostile media from day 1).
Totally agree and +1 to you, sir. However, the discourse about RR between passionate fans can be frustrating - here and everywhere else. The loudest voices are often the most irrational. We need a "Rally to Restore Sanity" about UM Football. :-)
October 21st, 2010 at 11:28 AM ^
Hey man I couldn't understand this post without the calculated outbursts of ALL CAPS! That is UNACCEPTABLE!!!!111!!!
October 21st, 2010 at 12:41 PM ^
I think he sticks his foot in his mouth sometimes, but is generally pretty good. But I do see the disconnect where people are lamenting the lack of civilized discord while calling people who aren't in the same camp 100% behind Rich boneheads and whatever else. This place is the last to critique the lack of acceptance of differing opinions.
October 21st, 2010 at 2:30 PM ^
is that I actually believe the Bo/Lloyd method is the right way to go vs being self-deprecating and jovial with the media. Most media are there to vilify the coach if they can....no reason to be friendly and open with them and give them more chances to do so.
So when I say he has "media relations issues" I really mean that I wish he would just stop being so open with them all of the time.
October 21st, 2010 at 2:46 AM ^
I guess I'm more patient allowing RR to build this team. I don't want to start over and have a new rebuilding process with a new coach. If we win one more game this season and finish at 6-6 and a bowl win, this IMO will be enough to keep RR. He's a good coach but it will take a few more years to build the defense needed to be an elite program again. The offense is just about there and should improve the remainder of this season. The defense will slolwy improve but I think RR is right, the defense needs more speed at LB and in the secondary. Though I would be surprised it we don't beat PU and IL, with PSU a toss up, and WI and OSU may be tough losses but you never know. 7 wins are still on track!
October 21st, 2010 at 5:08 AM ^
Q: Do you feel good about how recruiting is going? A: Yeah, and we base it on how we evaluate them, not what some Internet service rates them.Um, the Larry Coker's Guide to College Football I'm reading says that's a huge mistake.