I am incensed by the comments Gene Smith made. Really, Gene Smith? You'll be "on the offensive" if the NCAA makes further penalties?
I think OSU is playing a pretty dangerous game right now. The reason SMU eventually for the death penalty was not only for its pretty glaring, rampant violations, but because of the organization's refusal to take culpability and its "try it, I dare you" attitude towards the NCAA. I'm not saying OSU is getting the death penalty (which really wouldn't be good for anyone, though I might secretly snicker myself to sleep over the indignity), but they must be DAMN FOOLS to think that there will be no more sanctions.
Also, can Gene Smith be fired already? It's cruel to delay the inevitable.
I also know Krikor. I'm not saying I know his brother/his family (other than enjoying a Quickie Burger now and then). I am not saying I am the definitive expert on all things Krikor (in regards to the douche vs not douche debate), nor is anyone who reads this site, except Krikor himself.
He's a nice guy. I agree with a comment in an earlier post that he can come off a little arrogant, but I don't think he means it in a bad way. And, again, he was part of a Michigan National Championship team. I know that means opening up the doors to a public scrutiny, but I feel bad for the guy more than anything now. Who wants to be belittled by anonymous blog posters who don't know him? Regardless of who he is/if he made his own wikipedia page (doubtful, those tend to NOT fly), its all kind of harsh. But not harsher than we all do to everyone else who ever entered the stratosphere of Michigan sports.
And as a recent med school graduate, the M4 is indeed for "Medical School Year 4." He probably only signed that out of a habit, since we're constantly identifying ourselves as the med student in emails to the thousands of doctors who don't know us that we need to work with every day.
I know you're upset. Brady Hoke certainly wasn't in my top 5 choice for our beloved program. That being said, since the beginning of Coaching Carousel 2011 (an ingenious name, BTW), I've noticed you've been sad. Well, sad and angry.
I wish you were less angry. Don't get me wrong, I'm angry too. But it makes it hard to read this site (which usually makes my day better) when coming over here means I'll get my daily dose of "The End is Nigh" when its comes to Michigan football.
I know you're struggling, but please pull out of this funk, because otherwise we're going to turn into a big angry pile of ex-Michigan fans who live underground worshipping golden statues of JH, waiting for the second-coming.
Sincerely,
WolverineHusker, a big fan of yours
P.S.: I suppose if the underground gathering had some kegs of Fat Tire, I might be down to participate. Who am I kidding? I'd go even if there was Busch Light.
This is a great post, and I'll reiterate what others have said in acknowledging the quality of the responses.
First, I'd like to state my pre-Bowl game point of view on Rich Rod, which was basically your "wait." I did not believe that RR was up to my expectations for our program...but did believe he had it in him. It just had to be...drawn out, somehow.
Post-Bowl game? Hmm...Am I done waiting? I am myself an advocate of the "a coach cannot be judged on one game" mentality. There were plenty of things Rich Rod did wrong, from a coaching perspective. But were the dropped passes his fault? We easily could have scored 2 more TDs to make the game, well, seem less like a total blow out. But regardless of whose fault it is...am I still ready to wait?
Faith is a funny thing. Biblically speaking...people lose it all the time. Under pharoah, the Jews in Egypt felt "forsaken" by the God that did not hear their calls for help. When his life was on the line, Peter denied Jesus three times...because in a sense he did not have faith that his "faith" was enough to protect him, in this life or the next.
But faith, in and of itself, is not religious. There is just as much faith in Cubs fans who believe that, one day, the cure will be broken. Or in Red Sox fans who had their faith rewarded in a AL Series that one can only call miraculous.
I do not know if RR can bring us the glory that I hope for. I do not know if JH can, either. But I know the answer to your third question: I am prepared to wait forever. Good golly, I hope it doesn't come to that. But I believe with all my heart that Michigan is my team, and that through years of darkness come years of light. As a child I weathered the 1-15 New England Patriots years...the disappointment, the desperation, the laughable badness...and on the other end watched the team rewarded with three super bowls.
Three lean years of Michigan football can't kill that spirit that lives in us. It gives voice to our detractors, to which I say "bring. it. on." Having faith is about taking the good with the bad. Let the haters hate. I'm staying put right where I am, because I know our good days are coming.
Even after that game i still love Denard. That's not an easy feat when the team loses by a million. But every day, even when our team sucks, I'm still impressed by the kid. It's not his fault those WRs kept dropping sure-thing TD passes that were right to them.
...this expected dejection. I didn't think we'd win this game...no matter how hard I tried to tell myself otherwise. But I certainly didn't expect the big, collapsing mess that was our team on Saturday. It's not the sadness that gets to me (because I feel like we've all had our share of sadness this season)...it's the fact that I'm getting used to it.
That being said, the commentators (Well, some of them) actually had it right: no way you can judge a coach based on one game. That being said, 100% chance they are, right now.
Didn't bring in Rich Rod "re-energize" the program...until it blew up in our faces? I agree that a new coach/possibly new system, combined with the JH jingoism would probably add a curiosity factory to our upcoming season, but it would ONLY sustain itself if the 'new era,' so to speak, proved to be successful. If JH comes and has a poor (or even mediocre) first season, the same "we're-losing-I-hate-this" malaise will strike again. Fresh starts are not always good starts; don't think hiring a new coach guarantees $$$ and prestige.
Why would Denard, Mr. Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year (and, if our team had been better, a possible Heisman contender), sit out a year? He's a proven star right now, and his transferring would sideline him for a full season. That would be a career disaster, in my opinion. I think Denard is staying regardless. Maybe that's just wishful thinking, because his departure would already worsen by Football OffSeason-al Affect Disorder.
i'd like to see one person who's a bigger Rich Rod fan than a Michigan fan. Oh wait, there are those people...at Ohio State, Notre Dame, Michigan State, Iowa, Penn State...
I want Rich Rod to stay, but I believe Rich Rod deserves all the flack he gets around here. People are just getting a little misty eyed about the end of an era...it's like the day after Christmas: your mind knows its over, but your heart just won't let go.
...but a native of California, I can say that, yes, Palo Alto has some nice regions (for the loaded), it's also got lots of crime and traffic, as well as the worst public school system in the country and an absolutely floundering economy that is not getting better anytime soon. Sure, all of these things don't matter when you're going to make as much as Michigan head coach will, but Ann Arbor is decidedly more family-friendly than Palo Alto...even with the chaos that ensues on game days.
Remember the firestorm that erupted when Rich Rod told his players, before their BCS bowl game, that he was jumping ship? Not only did that tarnish his national reputation, but it was a big slap in the face to a program that had only done good for him. I would be DISinclined to respect a coach who, after expounding the virtues of teamwork/integrity/etc., says before the biggest moment of some of his 20 year old players lives, "sorry dudes, I found a better offer."
Regardless of whether Michigan is where JH wants to be, sullying his reputation should not be a required part of the deal. Who wants a coach like that anyway?
Just realized you already said everything I just posted, only better. I think seeing the original post mad me unable to contain myself for long enough to, y'know, read the entire thread.
...but it's a little hyperbolic to call Rich Rod the best football mind of our generation. I'm squarely on the side of Rich Rod staying, but let's not all get misty eyed and forget the money we had to pay to West Virginia, the NCAA violations, the disastrous defense, and the many, many other issues that, while not entirely his fault, are not indicative of a messiah.
I couldn't agree with DakotaBlue more. I will be the first to say that I'm less than thrilled with many aspects of Rich Rod's tenure...but if we just keep beheading our coaches as their find their legs we're going to go from a "rebuilding" powerhouse to a "historical" powerhouse pretty quickly.
And ANYTHING that makes us similar to Notre Dame makes my heart sad.
No sooner does a post go up declaring that there can't possibly be any big news, Terelle et al get themselves suspended for 5 games next year! Obviously, I wish nothing good upon OSU ever, but this is just sad. Jeopardizing your career for under $2500?! You're going to be making much more than that in the NFL if you don't screw it up. Even worse...selling your memorabilia, including your Big Ten championship ring? If I had won one of those I would never let it go, ever. Terelle, you're a class act. It's too bad you won't be suspended when Ohio state isn't playing cupcakes
So, I'll be the first to admit I'm often all fire, no substance, but I'm sure there must be some rule against what Les Miles' is doing. And I'm sure there's no way the NCAA can't do something about it. Well, I guess that last point might be off, because I thought the same about Cam Newton, and here we are.
This isn't like signing a pro player and then letting him or her go...this is taking a kid and basically snatching his football (and, likely, college) opportunities away. THAT, to me, is inexcusable, notwithstanding the whole not telling them himself. What a dickbox. I hate him.
I remember how mad I was that Herbstreit "blew" our chance at Les Miles three years ago. I was furious he wouldn't be coming to Ann Arbor and through Herbstreit melted the whole thing down on purpose.
I ain't saying Rich Rod is a saint, but I'd take him over Miles any day. Thanks, Herbstreit! (though I know you probably weren't even really involved, my sad, angry mind says otherwise)
You think '97 is the terrible one?! What about '95? It might be the rare reverse mullet: look at all that party in the front with the shaved sides. Thought 'party' might be the wrong word...horse tail, on the other hand...
Amen, blue Seoul! I'll be in Lincoln during the game but It'll always be Michigan #1 for me. It's funny how no matter where I go or what I'm doing on gamedays I'll always be wishing I was in Ann arbor
I think this will be a big indicator of things to come for Nebraska in the Big Ten. Not having a vote but having a voice is always tricky, and if Osborne voices his opinion strongly on a few issues and is shot down this all might look like Nebraska is a second-class citizen in the league (which, let's be honest, they will be until things normalize with profit-sharing and all that), which is exactly why Nebraska left the Big Twelve. I'm not saying Nebraska's going to pitch a hissy fit (even if they have to travel to Happy Valley every year), but I think we'll all get a good idea of the way Nebraska is being viewed and how easily they are fitting into the brave new big ten.
It wasn't until I saw that video (the second one) that I realized what college football really needs: more third world propaganda. Each university could pick a country, expose the children at a young age, and in ten to fifteen years acquire millions of new supporters. I'd pay good money to get in the ground floor of Big Ten Network: International.
It's really a testament to the power of college football that I can get so wrapped up in moments that means so much to me, good and bad (Manningham's catch...the block...), as well as those that I don't have any connection to but still make me go a big wet one.
I believe we "comment" because we have...comments. Apologies if they're not useful to your life. I don't think anyone's crying too hard over lost points.
Wow, those renovations look better and better everytime I see them. Is that a mini-kitchen with a built in plasma? I should have tried to tour the boxes because I'll definitely never afford one. Do you think it's possible to buy one and then live in it too? You can't beat that view from the bedroom window.
I'm assuming that even with Nebraska being added they wouldn't mess with a) our OSU homegame [what better way to make everyone suddenly hate Nebraska], b) unschedule our ND game [since they're not in conference, it's not like they'll say "oh, sure, we'll just play Iowa instead to make it easy on you guys]. Also, according to this we aren't even playing PSU in 2011. So the original statement isn't even true.
Isn't the best situation for Michigan exactly that: Forcier and Denard splitting time? We tried it (vaguely) last year, but it was sort of stymied by the fact that Denard couldn't really, you know, throw the ball. If Denard IS a legitimate passing option then splitting time between the QBs could really open up our offense. That might be a big if, but people keep saying Denard can throw now, so...
I used to agree with the sentiment that few goals = no fun, but the America/Algeria game really put that in perspective. There were no goals for 91 minutes but I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. I don't think Americans care about there not being goals, I think we just don't like ties. As long as the game ends with a winner I think the payoff is worth the low score. I mean, the 2-1 Uruguay - South Korea game was 100x better than the 7-0 Portugal - North Korea game, goals be damned.
PSU and Nebraska in the same division/side of the conference would mean so much traveling for players and fans. Nebraska fans pride themselves on road trips, but Happy Valley is like half the country away. Plus, put all four of those teams together and you've officially put all the prestige teams in one division. Might as well leave the other schools to die.
A Penn State/Nebraska rivalry...man that's a lot of travel. As the eastern and western edge of the conference, PSU and Nebraska should NOT be in the same side of the conference, however things get split up. It's not fair to the players, and its not fair to the fans. I'd personally like to see a Wisconsin vs/ Nebraska rivalry game...they can call the trophy the Big Red Jug.
Every women's volleyball game in the past four years has been a sell out, because they're that gosh darn good. The baseball's nice too...hopefully that makes up for the basketball team. Yikes.
Recent Comments
I am incensed by the comments Gene Smith made. Really, Gene Smith? You'll be "on the offensive" if the NCAA makes further penalties?
I think OSU is playing a pretty dangerous game right now. The reason SMU eventually for the death penalty was not only for its pretty glaring, rampant violations, but because of the organization's refusal to take culpability and its "try it, I dare you" attitude towards the NCAA. I'm not saying OSU is getting the death penalty (which really wouldn't be good for anyone, though I might secretly snicker myself to sleep over the indignity), but they must be DAMN FOOLS to think that there will be no more sanctions.
Also, can Gene Smith be fired already? It's cruel to delay the inevitable.
I also know Krikor. I'm not saying I know his brother/his family (other than enjoying a Quickie Burger now and then). I am not saying I am the definitive expert on all things Krikor (in regards to the douche vs not douche debate), nor is anyone who reads this site, except Krikor himself.
He's a nice guy. I agree with a comment in an earlier post that he can come off a little arrogant, but I don't think he means it in a bad way. And, again, he was part of a Michigan National Championship team. I know that means opening up the doors to a public scrutiny, but I feel bad for the guy more than anything now. Who wants to be belittled by anonymous blog posters who don't know him? Regardless of who he is/if he made his own wikipedia page (doubtful, those tend to NOT fly), its all kind of harsh. But not harsher than we all do to everyone else who ever entered the stratosphere of Michigan sports.
And as a recent med school graduate, the M4 is indeed for "Medical School Year 4." He probably only signed that out of a habit, since we're constantly identifying ourselves as the med student in emails to the thousands of doctors who don't know us that we need to work with every day.
Dearest Brian,
I know you're upset. Brady Hoke certainly wasn't in my top 5 choice for our beloved program. That being said, since the beginning of Coaching Carousel 2011 (an ingenious name, BTW), I've noticed you've been sad. Well, sad and angry.
I wish you were less angry. Don't get me wrong, I'm angry too. But it makes it hard to read this site (which usually makes my day better) when coming over here means I'll get my daily dose of "The End is Nigh" when its comes to Michigan football.
I know you're struggling, but please pull out of this funk, because otherwise we're going to turn into a big angry pile of ex-Michigan fans who live underground worshipping golden statues of JH, waiting for the second-coming.
Sincerely,
WolverineHusker, a big fan of yours
P.S.: I suppose if the underground gathering had some kegs of Fat Tire, I might be down to participate. Who am I kidding? I'd go even if there was Busch Light.
This is a great post, and I'll reiterate what others have said in acknowledging the quality of the responses.
First, I'd like to state my pre-Bowl game point of view on Rich Rod, which was basically your "wait." I did not believe that RR was up to my expectations for our program...but did believe he had it in him. It just had to be...drawn out, somehow.
Post-Bowl game? Hmm...Am I done waiting? I am myself an advocate of the "a coach cannot be judged on one game" mentality. There were plenty of things Rich Rod did wrong, from a coaching perspective. But were the dropped passes his fault? We easily could have scored 2 more TDs to make the game, well, seem less like a total blow out. But regardless of whose fault it is...am I still ready to wait?
Faith is a funny thing. Biblically speaking...people lose it all the time. Under pharoah, the Jews in Egypt felt "forsaken" by the God that did not hear their calls for help. When his life was on the line, Peter denied Jesus three times...because in a sense he did not have faith that his "faith" was enough to protect him, in this life or the next.
But faith, in and of itself, is not religious. There is just as much faith in Cubs fans who believe that, one day, the cure will be broken. Or in Red Sox fans who had their faith rewarded in a AL Series that one can only call miraculous.
I do not know if RR can bring us the glory that I hope for. I do not know if JH can, either. But I know the answer to your third question: I am prepared to wait forever. Good golly, I hope it doesn't come to that. But I believe with all my heart that Michigan is my team, and that through years of darkness come years of light. As a child I weathered the 1-15 New England Patriots years...the disappointment, the desperation, the laughable badness...and on the other end watched the team rewarded with three super bowls.
Three lean years of Michigan football can't kill that spirit that lives in us. It gives voice to our detractors, to which I say "bring. it. on." Having faith is about taking the good with the bad. Let the haters hate. I'm staying put right where I am, because I know our good days are coming.
Even after that game i still love Denard. That's not an easy feat when the team loses by a million. But every day, even when our team sucks, I'm still impressed by the kid. It's not his fault those WRs kept dropping sure-thing TD passes that were right to them.
...this expected dejection. I didn't think we'd win this game...no matter how hard I tried to tell myself otherwise. But I certainly didn't expect the big, collapsing mess that was our team on Saturday. It's not the sadness that gets to me (because I feel like we've all had our share of sadness this season)...it's the fact that I'm getting used to it.
That being said, the commentators (Well, some of them) actually had it right: no way you can judge a coach based on one game. That being said, 100% chance they are, right now.
Didn't bring in Rich Rod "re-energize" the program...until it blew up in our faces? I agree that a new coach/possibly new system, combined with the JH jingoism would probably add a curiosity factory to our upcoming season, but it would ONLY sustain itself if the 'new era,' so to speak, proved to be successful. If JH comes and has a poor (or even mediocre) first season, the same "we're-losing-I-hate-this" malaise will strike again. Fresh starts are not always good starts; don't think hiring a new coach guarantees $$$ and prestige.
Why would Denard, Mr. Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year (and, if our team had been better, a possible Heisman contender), sit out a year? He's a proven star right now, and his transferring would sideline him for a full season. That would be a career disaster, in my opinion. I think Denard is staying regardless. Maybe that's just wishful thinking, because his departure would already worsen by Football OffSeason-al Affect Disorder.
i'd like to see one person who's a bigger Rich Rod fan than a Michigan fan. Oh wait, there are those people...at Ohio State, Notre Dame, Michigan State, Iowa, Penn State...
I want Rich Rod to stay, but I believe Rich Rod deserves all the flack he gets around here. People are just getting a little misty eyed about the end of an era...it's like the day after Christmas: your mind knows its over, but your heart just won't let go.
...but a native of California, I can say that, yes, Palo Alto has some nice regions (for the loaded), it's also got lots of crime and traffic, as well as the worst public school system in the country and an absolutely floundering economy that is not getting better anytime soon. Sure, all of these things don't matter when you're going to make as much as Michigan head coach will, but Ann Arbor is decidedly more family-friendly than Palo Alto...even with the chaos that ensues on game days.
Remember the firestorm that erupted when Rich Rod told his players, before their BCS bowl game, that he was jumping ship? Not only did that tarnish his national reputation, but it was a big slap in the face to a program that had only done good for him. I would be DISinclined to respect a coach who, after expounding the virtues of teamwork/integrity/etc., says before the biggest moment of some of his 20 year old players lives, "sorry dudes, I found a better offer."
Regardless of whether Michigan is where JH wants to be, sullying his reputation should not be a required part of the deal. Who wants a coach like that anyway?
Just realized you already said everything I just posted, only better. I think seeing the original post mad me unable to contain myself for long enough to, y'know, read the entire thread.
...but it's a little hyperbolic to call Rich Rod the best football mind of our generation. I'm squarely on the side of Rich Rod staying, but let's not all get misty eyed and forget the money we had to pay to West Virginia, the NCAA violations, the disastrous defense, and the many, many other issues that, while not entirely his fault, are not indicative of a messiah.
I couldn't agree with DakotaBlue more. I will be the first to say that I'm less than thrilled with many aspects of Rich Rod's tenure...but if we just keep beheading our coaches as their find their legs we're going to go from a "rebuilding" powerhouse to a "historical" powerhouse pretty quickly.
And ANYTHING that makes us similar to Notre Dame makes my heart sad.
So, I'll be the first to admit I'm often all fire, no substance, but I'm sure there must be some rule against what Les Miles' is doing. And I'm sure there's no way the NCAA can't do something about it. Well, I guess that last point might be off, because I thought the same about Cam Newton, and here we are.
This isn't like signing a pro player and then letting him or her go...this is taking a kid and basically snatching his football (and, likely, college) opportunities away. THAT, to me, is inexcusable, notwithstanding the whole not telling them himself. What a dickbox. I hate him.
I remember how mad I was that Herbstreit "blew" our chance at Les Miles three years ago. I was furious he wouldn't be coming to Ann Arbor and through Herbstreit melted the whole thing down on purpose.
I ain't saying Rich Rod is a saint, but I'd take him over Miles any day. Thanks, Herbstreit! (though I know you probably weren't even really involved, my sad, angry mind says otherwise)
You think '97 is the terrible one?! What about '95? It might be the rare reverse mullet: look at all that party in the front with the shaved sides. Thought 'party' might be the wrong word...horse tail, on the other hand...
Poor Junior. It's not his fault he's so dainty.
I think this will be a big indicator of things to come for Nebraska in the Big Ten. Not having a vote but having a voice is always tricky, and if Osborne voices his opinion strongly on a few issues and is shot down this all might look like Nebraska is a second-class citizen in the league (which, let's be honest, they will be until things normalize with profit-sharing and all that), which is exactly why Nebraska left the Big Twelve. I'm not saying Nebraska's going to pitch a hissy fit (even if they have to travel to Happy Valley every year), but I think we'll all get a good idea of the way Nebraska is being viewed and how easily they are fitting into the brave new big ten.
It wasn't until I saw that video (the second one) that I realized what college football really needs: more third world propaganda. Each university could pick a country, expose the children at a young age, and in ten to fifteen years acquire millions of new supporters. I'd pay good money to get in the ground floor of Big Ten Network: International.
It's really a testament to the power of college football that I can get so wrapped up in moments that means so much to me, good and bad (Manningham's catch...the block...), as well as those that I don't have any connection to but still make me go a big wet one.
Mr. Voice of Reason,
I believe we "comment" because we have...comments. Apologies if they're not useful to your life. I don't think anyone's crying too hard over lost points.
Wow, those renovations look better and better everytime I see them. Is that a mini-kitchen with a built in plasma? I should have tried to tour the boxes because I'll definitely never afford one. Do you think it's possible to buy one and then live in it too? You can't beat that view from the bedroom window.
I'm assuming that even with Nebraska being added they wouldn't mess with a) our OSU homegame [what better way to make everyone suddenly hate Nebraska], b) unschedule our ND game [since they're not in conference, it's not like they'll say "oh, sure, we'll just play Iowa instead to make it easy on you guys]. Also, according to this we aren't even playing PSU in 2011. So the original statement isn't even true.
Isn't the best situation for Michigan exactly that: Forcier and Denard splitting time? We tried it (vaguely) last year, but it was sort of stymied by the fact that Denard couldn't really, you know, throw the ball. If Denard IS a legitimate passing option then splitting time between the QBs could really open up our offense. That might be a big if, but people keep saying Denard can throw now, so...
I used to agree with the sentiment that few goals = no fun, but the America/Algeria game really put that in perspective. There were no goals for 91 minutes but I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. I don't think Americans care about there not being goals, I think we just don't like ties. As long as the game ends with a winner I think the payoff is worth the low score. I mean, the 2-1 Uruguay - South Korea game was 100x better than the 7-0 Portugal - North Korea game, goals be damned.
PSU and Nebraska in the same division/side of the conference would mean so much traveling for players and fans. Nebraska fans pride themselves on road trips, but Happy Valley is like half the country away. Plus, put all four of those teams together and you've officially put all the prestige teams in one division. Might as well leave the other schools to die.
A Penn State/Nebraska rivalry...man that's a lot of travel. As the eastern and western edge of the conference, PSU and Nebraska should NOT be in the same side of the conference, however things get split up. It's not fair to the players, and its not fair to the fans. I'd personally like to see a Wisconsin vs/ Nebraska rivalry game...they can call the trophy the Big Red Jug.
Every women's volleyball game in the past four years has been a sell out, because they're that gosh darn good. The baseball's nice too...hopefully that makes up for the basketball team. Yikes.
All of my dreams have come true.