RichRod to speak to Tulane about HC position

Submitted by bdsisme on

Two stories from sportsNOLA.com lay this out. RR is calling the Southern Miss game this weekend, and is expected to make a detour to New Orleans to meet with the Tulane administration as well as reunite with the 1998 Tulane football team (that he was a coordinator for).

Sources tell sportsNOLA.com that Rodriguez is expected to speak with Tulane officials this week about the Green Wave football head coaching position.

Link 1

Link 2

Red is Blue

November 9th, 2011 at 4:49 PM ^

FWIW, my advice is say your what is own your mind.  Some may neg you if it is opinioned based, but just ignore them.  If you're really concerned about getting negged, stay away from topics that related to RR and use decorum.  Responding to negs won't change anything and opens up further possibilities for getting negged.

Johnny Blood

November 9th, 2011 at 9:47 AM ^

Where ever he ends up, I wish him the best.  It didn't work out for him at Michigan, and I really hope he learns to be less stubborn (especially about the defense), but I still hope it works out for him.

Lutha

November 9th, 2011 at 9:49 AM ^

RR should've gotten the HC job at Tulane the first time around (when he was the OC).  I think this is a good spot for him and wouldn't be surprised to see him build them into a perennial winner.

CRex

November 9th, 2011 at 9:50 AM ^

Makes sense.  RR's big issue is assembling a staff.  He'd have to to lure people away from Pitt  and a few other schools (and get his new employeer to pony up the money to buy them out).  At Tulane they'll likely be patient enough to let him assemble a new team and train them.  

Ziff72

November 9th, 2011 at 9:50 AM ^

He's not going to Tulane. Tulane is a dead end.   The story is pure speculation, if he's meeting with anyone at tulane it is probably to recommend someone.

He's going to end up at North Carolina.

1. They cleaned house so sanctions should be minimal.

2. It's a basketball school so he'll get time

3. Rich talent pool to recruit from.

4. ACC is big enough conference to get to NC and has some soft spots so it is easier to get ther than the SEC.

5. Perfect Fit.

RR vs Hoke in 2015 NC game presented by Dominos.

 

Don

November 9th, 2011 at 10:03 AM ^

I agree that Tulane has no real value for RR, other than a paycheck. The question I wonder about is whether the residual effects of his disappointing time at UM going to make him less than attractive for BCS-conference programs.

NC would seem to be a natural fit for him. I thought Clemson was a very possible destination (especially since they supposedly still have fond regard for him down there), but their success this season has probably made Swinney's position secure for the time being.

Ziff72

November 9th, 2011 at 10:18 AM ^

I was pulling for a Clemson meltdown, because RR would have been candidate #1 and they are loaded with talent, but Swinney did a good job and he's safe so now RR will have to take a less than ideal situation if he wants to coach next year.

raleighwood

November 9th, 2011 at 10:15 AM ^

RR just left a team on probation (actually that's two teams if you count recent events at WVU).  North Carolina is way too image conscious at this point to mess with that stigma.  There's no way that RR will be in Chapel Hill next year.

Ziff72

November 9th, 2011 at 10:23 AM ^

You appear to be closer to the situation based on your screen name, but from your response I'm guessing you did not read the book. 

I would encourage you to read the book before you just send out blanket "he left teams on probation".  I think RR's reputation amongst decision makers and other coaches is still very strong.  Considering all the scum bubbling to the surface the last few years in college football,  I would think a school president would run after him. RR opened the doors up for 3 years for everyone to see and he comes off way cleaner than you would imagine.

BlueVoix

November 9th, 2011 at 10:37 AM ^

That really doesn't matter.  The perception is that Rodriguez left Michigan on probation and while you or I might like to think UNC's trustees and President would read Three and Out, it's much more likely they won't.  His reputation amongst coaches may still be strong, but that doesn't really mean much unless he is looking for an assistant coaching position.

Derek

November 12th, 2011 at 4:12 PM ^

While I'm sure the president and trustees won't read it, I think we can safely assume that at least one person on their staff will read it and create a memo to bring them up to speed. It's not as though there are hundreds of prominent head coaches with the credentials to warrant a job like UNC, and he's the only one with a tell-all book detailing what happened behind the scenes at his last stop. After the Butch Davis fiasco, the last thing they will be is haphazard in hiring a coach.

superstringer

November 9th, 2011 at 11:12 AM ^

You are making it up that he's going to UNC.

In fact, when UNC fired Davis, the AD put out a PR saying they will ONLY consider a head coach with NO major violations on his record.  UNC is an excellent school, and the academic fraud and major violations have seriously embarrassed the administration, and all of the good will Smith and Williams (with a couple guys in between) have built up on the hoops side.

So unless UNC wants to reverse itself, and given the academic standards at the place I can't see them doing it, UNC will never consider RR.  In fact, when they put out the PR, it was like they were implicitly saying, "No, we aren't hiring Rich Rod."

jmblue

November 9th, 2011 at 12:09 PM ^

No small-conference school is a dead end.  (I mean, if even EMU can win...) There isn't the huge gap in institutional advantages between Conference USA schools that there is between say, Michigan and Indiana.  The small conferences have parity.  If you're a good coach, you can win.

Ziff72

November 9th, 2011 at 9:55 AM ^

RR knows you need a good defense to win.  His defenses sucked, but not because he didn't know he needed one.  People refuse to observe the fact that at WV he had good defenses that's how he got 1 game away from the NC. 

Arrgggggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

 

jmblue

November 9th, 2011 at 11:54 AM ^

Do you think there has ever been a coach in the history of football who literally did not know defense was important?

That's not the question.  The question is whether RR is capable of fielding a top-notch defense, especially if he can't get his old friend Casteel to work for him.  If he remains wedded to the 3-3-5, a defense that only a small number of coordinators favor, he may find success elusive.

Rabbit21

November 9th, 2011 at 9:55 AM ^

While I was really hoping he'd take the UCLA job(if it becomes available, but Neuheisel appears insistent on becoming a zombie coach).  This would be a great fit, nice recruiting area, he's been at Tulane before and he has the potential to build a program and get his name out there for an ACC/Big East job that comes open(I just don't see him doing well in the SEC for the same reason that things didn't seem to go well in the Big Ten). 

After reading Three and out though, I wonder if it happens just because they passed on him for mysterious reasons and he might not get the answer he's looking for as to why he was passed over the first time.

Magnus

November 9th, 2011 at 9:58 AM ^

Good for him.  If he gets the job, it will save thousands and thousands of dollars in jet fuel.  His coaches won't have to travel quite so far to recruit thousands of Floridians.

Moonlight Graham

November 9th, 2011 at 10:05 AM ^

Several weeks ago there was a thread discussing "what's your second favorite college program" or something to that effect, and mine is North Carolina, especially basketball (sorry). I'd definitely root for them and hope for a dream UM-UNC matchup in the Orange Bowl some day in which I hope M pounds them. But I do want to see the man succeed, I think it would be good for both his and in a roundabout way UM's legacy.

ClearEyesFullHart

November 9th, 2011 at 10:19 AM ^

     Go back and read page 48 of Bacon's book.

     "Man, that was embarrassing.  I felt like a junior high school kid all over again, like you wore the wrong shirt and everyone's looking at you.  'What kind of loser is that guy in the balcony?' 

     "I just wanted to go-anywhere."

     That he's willing to even consider going back to that place...I'm not a fan of what he did with Michigan's football program, but I cannot help but feel bad for him.  Got to feel like going to your disapproving in-laws for a handout.  Bleh.

    

 

jg2112

November 9th, 2011 at 10:23 AM ^

I think the best situation for Rich Rod would be to get hired as Steve Spurrier's OC at South Carolina for two years before getting the top gig. They have top defensive coaches, and he could get back in the swing of things without going right back into the fire as the head of a program.

ClearEyesFullHart

November 9th, 2011 at 10:28 AM ^

     Regardless of what you think of Rodriguez as a head coach(and I admit I dont think much of him in that regard), the guy is one heck of an offensive mind.  Assuming that the rest of the coaching team was willing to stay, Rodriguez would have a much better chance to succeed in a locale where the rest of the program was already in place.

In reply to by ClearEyesFullHart

SamIam

November 9th, 2011 at 10:34 AM ^

To me stepping in as an OC on a strong defensive team is by far his best bet at future success especially if it is near his preferred recruting areas.

jg2112

November 9th, 2011 at 11:25 AM ^

First off, you don't know that.

Second, it's not like Rich Rod gets to pick his next gig. He has to get hired. If he wants to go somewhere at the level of MIchigan, he's certainly not going to be a head coach given 15-22 and his terrible recruiting/retention of players.

Now- Tulane? UCF? Florida Atlantic? Sure, head coach away. But big time programs aren't going to open the doors to a guy who made it a clean sweep of losses against every tough team on his schedule for 3 years.

BigBlue02

November 9th, 2011 at 12:45 PM ^

Dont forget that the statement itself is a little ridiculous considering I know at least one very large BCS program that just hired a head coach who not only has very few "large" wins on his resume but also has a losing record as a head coach.

jackw8542

November 9th, 2011 at 10:30 AM ^

PSU would be a good fit.  They need a guy who runs a clean program, as RR does and did at UM.  It also recruits in pretty much the same area, albeit at a higher level, than WVU.  And, Casteel would probably be willing to come join him.  NC within 3 years and a great rivalry with us for as long as he's there.

ClearEyesFullHart

November 9th, 2011 at 10:42 AM ^

PSU needs Rich Rod's Nancy Kerrigan "Why Me" right now like they need a hole in the head.  Dont think any program in the history of college football has ever needed a vanilla hire more.

Section 1

November 9th, 2011 at 1:49 PM ^

When Rodriguez was getting hammered in the press over the transfer of Mallett, he kept silent.  When the Boren family attacked him, Rodriguez just took it and kept his mouth shut although I don't think he should have.  When the Free Press railroaded him, Rodriguez turned over the entire defense (at least in the realm of public relations; his separate personal defense was aggressive, and a winner) to the University, which did little on his behalf to counter-attack the newspaper.

Time and time again, Rodriguez took it on the chin (his own chin)  for the football program and the athletes, even the departed athletes.

Your suggestion of the name "Nancy Kerrigan" in connection with Rodriguez is an insult to our intelligence and the facts.  I'd like to use stonger language, but I'll leave it at that.

As for new jobs for Rich Rodriguez, I have no idea where he might end up.  I'll be an immediate fan of whatever program hires him.  South Carolina would be very nice in my mind, because the last two head coaches there (Hotlz and Spurrier) were both invited to join Augusta National.  There's always been a heavy connection between Gamecocks football and ANGC.  That would be awfully nice for Coach Rodriguez.  (Former Gamecock FB and past Chairman of ANGC Hootie Johsnon has denied that an ANGC membership would ever be made a standard perk of the HFC job at South Carolina.)

ClearEyesFullHart

November 10th, 2011 at 11:06 AM ^

     I thought she was freaking hot.  She was, though, also a VICTIM, and it seems like this is what's bothering you.  If you dont want Rodriguez to be seen as a victim though, you're not doing a very good job.

     I've read "3 and Out" and I have to say...Besides some interesting pre-2008 history, there's not a whole heck of a lot there that wasn't discussed ad nauseum on this very board before the book even came out.

     I suppose the descriptions of Rodriguez's intermittent tantrums are new material, broken up with touching moments of Rodriguez crying on Bacon's shoulder.  Found it interesting that Carr facilitated the Rodriguez hire because he had something against Les Miles(who would never say no to Michigan). 

     Found it interesting that Brandon using millions in lawyer fees to clear Rodriguez's name in the practicegate saga was pretty much glazed over.  Nary a pimp hand mentioned.

     Also thought Bacon's criticism of Carr for leaving his door open to his former players was a little strange.  Can you imagine Carr refusing to listen to their problems?  Seriously?

     I also thought it was a little strange how quickly Rodriguez lost Carr's support after said meetings.  I respect Carr's wishes to be a "martyr for Michigan" but I've got speculation.  I've got lots and lots of speculation.

     For me, the book culminated at the football bust.  But not with the silly Grobin song.  No, for me it culminated with Rodriguez's tearful, "Is it worth it?  Is it worth it for your family?"

     Nary a dry eye in the house.

     Rodriguez didn't get a lot of support at Michigan, but what has happened to him since them has been worse.  You, and Brian, and Bacon have been trying so hard to paint him as a victim.  Hell Bacon gave up years of his life for the cause.  For better or for worse, the overriding association with Rodriguez now is "victim".

     But college football is a bottom line business.  The phrase "Excuses are for losers" didn't just pop up out of nowhere.  Major college football programs aren't looking for victims.  They're looking for winners.

    

Section 1

November 10th, 2011 at 12:27 PM ^

 

I've read "3 and Out" and I have to say...Besides some interesting pre-2008 history, there's not a whole heck of a lot there that wasn't discussed ad nauseum on this very board before the book even came out. 

 

Yes, a lot of what was content in Three and Out was old news to readers of MGoBlog.  That's because we were defending Rodriguez from the unfair attacks when the rest of the press was filing to do so.

I am not sure that there was much detail, that John Bacon wrote about the jihad conducted by Rosenberg and the Free Press, that hadn't already been covered here.  So a lot of it is old news to MGoBlog.  What was news for me was how much the program was being hurt by all of it.

As for Nancy Kerrigan, you used her as an exemplar of a weepy helpless victim.  Now I agree that Rodriguez was victimized while he was in Ann Arbor, and very unfairly so.  I just find it offensive, that when there is a vicitm like that, you want to beat up the vicitm and not the wrongdoer(s).

 

 If you dont want Rodriguez to be seen as a victim though, you're not doing a very good job.

 

Done.  I do indeed say that Rodriguez was a vicitm.  A victim of collossally bad and unfiair press, and an unsupportive University administration.  That's exacly what I say.  I think Three and Out proves the point, beyond any reasonable doubt.

 

 

I suppose the descriptions of Rodriguez's intermittent tantrums are new material, broken up with touching moments of Rodriguez crying on Bacon's shoulder. Found it interesting that Carr facilitated the Rodriguez hire because he had something against Les Miles(who would never say no to Michigan).

 

Found it interesting that Brandon using millions in lawyer fees to clear Rodriguez's name in the practicegate saga was pretty much glazed over. Nary a pimp hand mentioned.

God damn you.  A University of Michigan football coach, wrongly accused of a major NCAA violation (Failure to Promote an Atmosphere of Compliance) -- an allegation that might have severe adverse consequences for the University and not just the coach -- and you are mad that we defend the charge?  Rodriguez paid his own, separately-retained counsel, by the way.  So you've pretty much blown this little issue.

 

Also thought Bacon's criticism of Carr for leaving his door open to his former players was a little strange. Can you imagine Carr refusing to listen to their problems? Seriously?

 

Bacon drew the comparison to Bump Elliott, who was in an identical position, and told his former players to talk to Bo if they had problems with the coaching staff.

 

Rodriguez didn't get a lot of support at Michigan, but what has happened to him since them has been worse. You, and Brian, and Bacon have been trying so hard to paint him as a victim. Hell Bacon gave up years of his life for the cause. For better or for worse, the overriding association with Rodriguez now is "victim".

 

You're damn right.  Rodriguez was a victim of the forces who treated him unfairly and who failed to support him.  And there are a lot of people still around -- Carr-era coaches and players, newspaper reporters, university administrators -- who have yet to be called to account for what they did during the Rodriguez years.

And, speaking purely emotionally, my seeing Mike Hart's face as your avatar, makes me dislike Hart.  Associating him with your garbage-posting makes me think even more ill of the entire late-Carr era.  A braggart whose team lost to Appalachian State and Oregon.  (Too bad Hart was too injured in both of those games.)  A cocky trashtalker whose record against Ohio State just sucked.  The originator of "Little Brother," right before little brother started Michigan's longest in-state losing streak in living memory.

I am deeply ashamed of the fact that there are Michigan fans like you.

ClearEyesFullHart

November 10th, 2011 at 1:07 PM ^

You'll have to forgive my "stupidity", but I have a few minor corrections.  When you suggest that:

and you are mad that we defend the charge? """' "

I wonder where you got the idea that I wasn't happy with how Brandon handled the situation.  I LOVED how Brandon put together a team to fight it, and how he handled the press.  I think we all did.  I just noticed that it was hardly mentioned in the book, likely because it didn't fit the general theme of victimization.  I have to tell you though.  That book is not going to do Rodriguez any favors in terms of employability.

As for your hatred of coach Carr, I'm glad that you can put a coach who put together 15 wins in three years(6 of them in conference) above a coach who  went 122-40, won a National Championship,  5 Big Ten Championships,  endowed a women’s sports scholarship, served as the chairperson for the WJR/Special Olympics Golf Outing, chaired the 2002 Washtenaw County United Way Campaign, and started "Carr's Wash for Kids" with the proceeds benefiting C.S. Mott Children's Hospital

On a personal note(as you seem to want to go there) I neither have much respect for your level of intelligence, nor do I consider you to be a Michigan fan.

Section 1

November 10th, 2011 at 1:33 PM ^

you will be very, very hard-pressed to find any unkind words from me as to Coach Carr.

Just about the worst that I have said about Carr can be boiled down to the following:

  • 2007 started out as a historic disaster of a year; I had always supported Carr, and liked him, and I thought that by then, it was probably time for him to retire.  As Carr mostly agreed.
  • I was, and remain, tremendously disappointed that Carr did not forcefully speak out on one issue that virtually anyone associated with the University of Michigan ought to be able to agree on, 100%:  that the August 2009 story in the Detroit Free Press was garbage, and that it constituted a false and defamatory attack on the program.  Carr could have said something.  Carr should have said something.  He failed.
  • I am suspicious of Carr, to this day, about people with whom he vaguely associates and whom he apparently counts among his friendly acquaintances.  James Stapelton.  Michael Rosenberg.

Carr may have a story to tell.  I will welcome hearing from Carr.  I will read a Lloyd Carr memoir.

It is really a shame, and a disgrace to the University of Michigan, that one of its Head Football Coaches (Rodriguez) got so little internal support compared to his predecessor (Carr).

markinmsp

November 9th, 2011 at 10:58 AM ^

RR @ PSU?!?!?!?

No way, no how!  He won't be back in B1G, (unless there is more conf re-align and he is already at a program they get).

PSU will get an alum, established coach, or one of JoPa's old disciples.



I like RR and personally hope he gets a good program. OleMiss and UGA would be perfect for him as they have BCS access and allow him to recruit the south easily. (plenty of talent slipping out of Miss to LSU and the Alabama schools.)  AZ would be a good fit, but he'd have to learn to recruit CA and TX, though he did have some strong 'gets' and near 'gets' in AZ with Roh, Lewan, etc.

NOLAWolverine

November 9th, 2011 at 10:33 AM ^

I think Tulane would be a pretty good fit for RR. Not only does he have previous ties to the program, but he could obviously recruit the kids that he wants from the South. In addition, Tulane is in the process of trying to build an on-campus stadium and bringing in a high-profile coach such as RR would help that effort. Right now, the program has no buzz, the game day atmosphere is terrible since they play in the SuperDome and the team sucks. RR could change that and rebuild a program that many thought wouldn't come back after Katrina. As a Tulane student, I am hoping we can hire him.

Michael

November 9th, 2011 at 11:05 AM ^

Except for the fact that no big time programs are at the stage where they're looking for a coach. Whether people around here believe it or not, RR is widely regarded in coaching circles, and will have no problem landing in a BCS conference. Will it be a program on par with the Alabamas (where he was offered to coach) USCs and Michigans? Probably not, but he'll land somewhere and do just fine.

Louie C

November 9th, 2011 at 10:49 AM ^

While I think Tulane is an ideal place for him to regroup and rebound (plus N'awlins? Hellz yeah) I'd like to see him back at a BCS school so that he can eventually have another shot at the possible NC that eluded him back in '07. But on the other hand, he probably doesn't want the pressure of building a championship caliber team within a short time frame.

jared32696

November 9th, 2011 at 11:03 AM ^

I don't think Rich Rod will coach there. Tulane is in the dumps and struggle to put 20k in the seats. I just can't imagine RR going from the Big House to a empty Superdome. I was a kid when I got to watch Shaun King run over my university (second love) Ragin Cajuns. That season, Tulane went undefeated. Tulane slighted him for the HC job and I remember reading a story about RR wanting to coach UL(Lafayette) just to beat Tulane. Rita talked him out of it because of it being a "Deadend" job. I'm sorry but I just can't see it. Supposedly Mike Leach and RR are candidates. That's just Tulane blowing smoke up their own butts. That program is basically dead

M-Dog

November 9th, 2011 at 11:15 AM ^

RR did not work out here, it was not a good fit.  And that is a shame.

But RR is still a good coach.  I gotta say, I think Tulane is below RR.  He can and should do better.  IMO, he owes it to himself and CFB to be in a position to return to BCS bowl games and tear it up.

No matter where he goes, I'll bet he's learned his lesson on D and hires a proven DC and stays the hell out of the way.