Kalamazoo Blue 87

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Date Title Body
1 year 23 weeks ago Lies, D**mned Lies, and Statistics

Question for Mathlete and statisticians from an LSA major - is data at all meaningful from this universe?

"The survey of 1,224 Michigan voting residents — including 393 who identified themselves as Michigan fans — was conducted from Dec. 3-6."

What is the margin of error on a survey universe of just 393?
1 year 24 weeks ago Yes

Thank you for this post.  Coach Rodriguez definitely reminds me of Bo.   He has a plan, he's implementing it, and we are showing progress.  I grew up with Bo.  I watched Mike Lantry miss field goals in 1973 and 74.  Bump Elliot left a lot more talent in the cupboard than Accidental-coach Carr.  . Coach Rodriguez knows what he's doing - he's proven that every where he's coached.  What I don't understand is why some Michigan fans do not support Coach Rodriguez.  He became coach AFTER Accidental-coach Carr lost to Appy State and was blown out at home 38-9 by Oregon.  Obviously, to me as a long time fan, our program was in a shambles because of Carr.   Thankfully, we have a coach now who knows what he's doing.
1 year 26 weeks ago Thank you, Brian

Thank you, Brian for your thoughtful comments on Rich Rodriguez,   I've been going to Michigan games since 1973 and this year I travelled from Virginia to take my 11-year old to the Illinois game - what a thrill for both of us.  I was at Michigan when we went 6-6 in 1984 - it was a nightmare.  I was in the stands for Colorado the Desmond Howard trip in the end zone and so many other heart wrenching losses.  I also enjoyed the thrill of going to Pasedena in 1981 for Bo's first Rose Bowl win and again in 1997 for the national title game.  I've lived and died with Michigan football for a long time.

So I don't come to this conclusion lightly - I think Michigan is very, very lucky that Rich Rodriguez is our head coach.  He has a proven track record of success, he is demonstrating progress each year, and his offense is magic. 

Coach Rodriguez has been unfairly attacked, in my opinion, since the day he arrived in Ann Arbor.  And the fact of the matter is - when he got here the Michigan football program was a wreck.

As a long time fan, I do not understand the affection that many Michigan fans have for Coach Carr.  Frankly, I think he drove the program off the cliff but jumped out with a parachute before the rest of us crashed and burned in 2008.  In his final 6 years, he went 1-5 against Ohio State - the worst stretch of any Michigan head football coach in our history.  In his final year he lost to Appalachian State at home and was blown out by Oregon the following week.  We scored 3 points against Ohio State in 2007.  Michigan football was in terrible shape when Coach Rodriguez arrived in Ann Arbor - we weren't competitive with our primary rival and were falling further and further behind upcoming programs like Oregon. 

In thinking about Coach Rodriguez's third year, I was curious what our defense looked like in Coach Carr's third year.  I was surprised at the great junior/senior talent that Coach Moeller assembled before he was let go just before the 1995 season.  The 1997 defense included: 13 jr/sr's who started at least one game; 8 of whom played in the NFL (2 are still playing!) and a junior Heisman Trophy winner. If Coach Carr had assembled just half the talent that Coach Moeller left him, I can only dream about how great Coach Rodriguez's third year year would be.  But he didn't.  And the simple fact is there is a huge difference between the talent and ability of a true freshman and a junior or senior in college. 

Coach Rodriguez is an offensive genius, he is showing progress, and I have every confidence that he will build a strong defense as the players he is bringing in develop.  The cupboard was dry when he got here.  He has filled half of it.  Let's give him a reasable amount of time to fill the other half.  Obviously, he has to win, but every sign so far, at least for me, demonstrates that he is moving us in the right direction.

1997 Seniors / Juniors who started games on defense:

Jr - James Hall (started 11 games) - LB (NFL - 13 years)

Sr - Clint Copenhaver (started 8) - LB

Sr - Rob Swett (started 3) - LB

Sr - Sam Sword (started 11) - LB (NFL 4 yrs)

Sr - Eric Mayes (started 3) - LB

Sr - Juaquin Feazell (started 3) - LB, DT, DE

Jr - Josh Williams (started 11) - DT (NFL 7 yrs)

Jr - Rob Renes (started 12) - NT (NFL 1 yr)

Sr - Glen Steele (started 11) - DE (NFL 6 yrs)

Jr - Charles Woodson (started 12) - CB (NFL CURRENT - 13 yrs)

Sr - Andrew Weathers (started 10) - CB (NFL 2 yrs)

Jr - Daydrion Taylor (started 1) - CB

Sr - Marcus Ray (started 12) - SS (NFL 1 yr)
1 year 38 weeks ago Thank you, Gary Moeller!!!!! Lloyd?

Here were the juniors and seniors on "Lloyd Carr's" 3rd year defense in 1997.  I'm not sure that the 2010 version will have 8 jr/srs play in the NFL.  Or that in 2024 two jr/sr on the 2010 defense will STILL be in the NFL.   (Games started in 1997 in parens).

LB - James Hall - Jr - (11) - LB - (NFL 13 years - so far)

LB - Clint Copenhaver - Sr - (8)

LB - Rob Swett - Sr - (3)

LB - Sam Sword - Sr - (11) (NFL 4 years) 

LB - Eric Mayes - Sr - (3)

LB, DT, DE - Juaqin Feazell - Sr - (3)

DT - Josh Williams - Jr (11) (NFL 7 years)

NT - Rob Renes - Jr (12) (NFL 1 year)

DE - Glen Steele - Sr - (11) (NFL 6 years)

CB - Andrew Weathers - Sr (10) (NFL 2 years)

CB - Daydrion Taylor - Jr (1)

SS - Marcus Ray - Sr (12) (NFL 1 year)

CB - Charles Woodson - Jr (12) (also started one game on offense) (NFL 13 years - so far) 
1 year 43 weeks ago Be Confident

Echo what most people say above - the goal is to put yourself in the most confident state of mind possible. 

Stay at a decent hotel; eat alone, review your summaries the night before for a little while; get a good night's sleep both nights; exercise in the morning (maybe a 20-30 minute run to get the blood flowing), get there early to avoid stress; 10 deep breaths before you start; bring a watch to pace yourself; don't get bogged down on any questions (trust yourself and move on to the next one).

And remember ... you probably know a lot of people who are lawyers who are not the smartest cats in the bag.   That has got to give you a little confidence that if us jokers could do it you can, too.

Good luck.
1 year 45 weeks ago The leg I'm standing on ...

Coach Carr's statement is a non-denial, denial.  All he says is that the re-telling of the conversation is a distortion.  That it wasn't accurate.  That he didn't talk to the author(who said he did?).

Notably, he does not deny the central issue.  He did not say: "I did not tell Morgan Trent that I heard that Coach Rodriguez said negative things about him to NFL scouts."

All Carr says is that the re-telling of the story by the author was a "distortion."

Morgan Trent, in his sort-of-retraction re-confirms that Coach Carr did say negative things about Coach Rodriguez:  "When we spoke, I brought it up to him, and he said he had heard some of the same things."

In contrast, Coach Rodriguez provides an actual denial of the central issue: "The comments attributed to me are inaccurate and absolutely ridiculous," Rodriguez said in the statement. "I said just the opposite about Morgan Trent to NFL scouts and wish him well with the Bengals."

Rather than spread or confirm negative rumors about Coach Rodriguez, Coach Carr, an employee of the Michigan athletic department, should have said something like: "Trent, don't worry about rumors.  Or what he said or she said.  I know you're a good player.  Go out there and prove that you belong in the NFL."

But Coach Carr didn't say that, did he?  Instead, Coach Carr created or left an impression with Morgan Trent that he either volunteered or confirmed negative statements about Coach Rodriguez.

And now he is quitting.

So I wonder - was the resignation voluntary or involuntary?  I think the timing is interesting. 
1 year 45 weeks ago Forced or Voluntary Retirement?

Interesting timing so soon after Coach Carr apparently undermined Coach Rodriguez a couple of months ago when Carr left Morgan Trent with the impression (intentionally or unintentionally) that Coach Carr was critical of Coach Rodriguez.  

 
1 year 45 weeks ago Voluntary or Forced Retirement?

Interesting timing so soon after Coach Carr apparently undermined Coach Rodriguez a couple of months ago when Carr left Morgan Trent with the impression (intentionally or unintentionally) that Coach Carr was critical of Coach Rodriguez.  
1 year 47 weeks ago 1-3 vs. Ohio State

Michigan was 1-3 against Ohio State during Braylon's tenure at Michigan.   Pretty rich for him to be complaining NOW about our record against them.  I wonder if he ever criticized Carr for finishing his career 1-6 against OSU.  It has been a long, long time since we were competitive with Ohio State.  At least with Coach Rodriguez, we have some hope to turn this ship around.
1 year 48 weeks ago Carr's Record Speaks for Itself: 1-6 vs. Ohio State in final 7

November 2007 story after yet another loss by Coach Carr to Ohio State: 

"The four consecutive losses to Ohio State, matched Michigan's longest losing streak in the storied series, and Carr became the first coach in school history to lose six times in seven years in the rivalry."  http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3117704

 
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