Arizona Basketball Dedicated Its Win Over Michigan To Rich Rodriguez
Of course, Arizona head football coach Rich Rodriguez was previously the head man at Michigan, and it didn’t work out so well — he finished with a 15-22 record in Ann Arbor. There’s nothing like rubbing the salt in some old wounds of Michigan fans — I’m sure that many Wolverines fans just want to forget their own Rich-Rod era.
The basketball team recognized the moment by announcing on Twitter it was giving its official game ball to Rodriguez.
“That was a really proud moment for me,” he said.
December 16th, 2013 at 2:23 PM ^
Get over it...you got fired...your teams did not meet expectations. Move the fuck on and quit acting like a blogger.
December 16th, 2013 at 2:36 PM ^
Just tired of Rich Rodriguez, the HEAD COACH...a prominant position in college athletics being so "bloggerish."
Get over it. Represent your University and be thankful for the institutions that gave you an opportunity.
It's like the MSU "little brother" mentality that people always argue about. This obsession about someone else where you care about what they're doing more than what you're doing. It's the Oregon fans on Gameday having more signs about Alabama than the team they're actually playing...then getting smashed.
Why does he need to comment on Michigan...ever?
He's in a position of power and a position of prominence, he should be above all of that. He's not a fan, he's not a blogger or an "average" person. You're a HEAD FOOTBALL COACH. Even if you hate Michigan with every fiber of your being...show some class and put it aside
He's always commenting on Michigan and it's silly, he's doing just fine, he's got a great job and he's doing pretty well. Just move on from it and act like a coach and less like a crazed fan.
December 16th, 2013 at 2:49 PM ^
I hear you and was mostly just giving you a hard time for still being upset about it. That said, I don't think he had any hand in this recent "gesture" by the basketball team. If I had to guess, I bet it made him uncomfortable.
December 16th, 2013 at 2:51 PM ^
like Db did when he put out a release about BH's future at UM?
Let's be honest here and admit that head football cpaches are often not the most savvy when it comes to interacting with the media and often make mistakes. AD's, on the other hand are supposed to be much more in touch with what is and isn't a good idea where that interaction is concerned and our very own DB took that opportunity to give RR yet another kick when he was making a statement about his current coaches future....Just sayin'.
December 16th, 2013 at 4:20 PM ^
It was an actual blog post on 'Brandon's Blog' http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/brandon/spec-rel/112713aaa.html
So that's about as good an example of being (literally) "bloggerish" as I can think of.
December 16th, 2013 at 2:27 PM ^
Because he asked them to do this?
December 16th, 2013 at 2:38 PM ^
He doesn't need to publically comment on it.
Just be thankful, give the guys a hi-five and tell them how thankful you are. Congratulate them on their big win.
If a reporter asks for a comment, how hard is it to say "I'm proud of our University and the team getting a hard-earned victory."
I'm not a head football coach and I came up with that answer in 4 seconds.
December 16th, 2013 at 2:42 PM ^
“That was a good win,” he said with a grin. “Let’s put it that way.”
That's what he said when asked about the win.
He said he was honored to receive a basketball from the team.
You're just wayyyyy off base and angry for no real reason.
December 16th, 2013 at 3:23 PM ^
Mr. Yost. The University spent a lot of money paying a buyout to WVU and he was paid very well. I didn't like when he called our players "entitled" (or something like that) and I'm not a big fan of this.
He obviously has talked a lot to the basketball team or coach about his awful time in Ann Arbor for them to give him a ball. Maybe not. Just is weird to me. Seems we are more "over it" than he is.
December 16th, 2013 at 4:28 PM ^
All he said in the interview (as stated above) was that it was a good win. He also mentioned what a fan of Beilein he is, as he liked him a lot at both WVU and UofM. I don't think he complained about the buyout, and we can't either as it was MSC and Martin's choice to agree to the buyout terms (split between University and RR) and Michigan's choice to move on without him.
I can understand the frustration with the results that RR had while he was here, but do not understand the virtiol with the guy who got let go from a job he wanted and felt was given a less than favorable chance.
December 16th, 2013 at 4:49 PM ^
I did jump. I just think we always hear how Michigan was not supportive of RR. I was a complete supporter of his, as I feel many of us were (I still think he deserved another year) and am disappointed that we never hear anything good about Michigan from him. But, of course, the press loves to stir it up.
Also, since when is jumping to conclusions frowned upon on MGOBLOG?? (ermahgerd, everyone is transferring! Ermahgerd, McGary is Ben Cronin!!)
December 16th, 2013 at 3:55 PM ^
His third year record is the exact same as Hoke's, with an opposite trajectory to get there.
December 16th, 2013 at 2:24 PM ^
And we dedicate our 7-5 season to him.
December 16th, 2013 at 2:37 PM ^
December 16th, 2013 at 2:58 PM ^
this thread
December 16th, 2013 at 2:27 PM ^
#BasketballOnGrass
December 16th, 2013 at 2:28 PM ^
I crushed my brother last night in a competitive game of nerf basketball and dedicated the win to Steve Fisher.
December 16th, 2013 at 2:28 PM ^
I thought Rich Rod and Coach Beilein got along?
December 16th, 2013 at 2:38 PM ^
That's funny b/c my clever thought for a chant at the end of the game was "You have RichRod" but they are pretty happy about that b/c well.... Arizona football.
December 16th, 2013 at 2:54 PM ^
Yeah, sucks for them. Beating Oregon by five scores is not what Lloyd Carr would have done.
I'm not really trying to cause trouble, just pointing out the relatively obvious retort.
December 16th, 2013 at 3:23 PM ^
And Lloyd wouldn't have lost to his rival by four scores. Just saying.
December 16th, 2013 at 5:23 PM ^
No, he'd have just lost six of his last seven against them instead.
December 16th, 2013 at 5:46 PM ^
December 16th, 2013 at 4:01 PM ^
What the HELL makes you think you can talk condescendingly about Arizona Football at this moment?
This is where someone like you talks about ancient championships or recruiting prowess.
I mean, Michigan has Brady Hoke as its head coach right now. A guy who is more respected than Rich Rodriguez in exactly one state in the union among intelligent college football fans. Do you even realize how you sound?
December 16th, 2013 at 4:04 PM ^
You forgot Heisman Trophies and Conference Championships too.
But have you even heard of those things? Oh wait, no, Arizona Football.
Plus this dude. Come on.
December 16th, 2013 at 5:14 PM ^
You are living in the past. Have you heard of this concept?
December 16th, 2013 at 6:05 PM ^
To refer to Rich Rodriguez as a successful football coach you need to be living in the past. The man hasn't had a .500 or better season in conference since 2007.
Not that that means he isn't a good coach. Sometimes it's worth living in the past a little bit.
December 16th, 2013 at 6:16 PM ^
Simply incredible.
You think going 4-5 in the Pac-12 - widely considered the second best conference at worst this season - is worthy of derision when you inherited a 3-9 team two years and have still not had a returning starter at quarterback?
Meanwhile, Hoke goes 3-5 in the horrendous B1G. In this third year. And enjoys almost universal support.
YAY MICHIGAN MEN!!!
December 16th, 2013 at 6:19 PM ^
Arizona wasn't 3-9. They've only lost nine or more games in a football season once in the history of the school, the 2003 Mackovic disaster.
December 16th, 2013 at 8:13 PM ^
Sorry, 4-8. Huge difference. The point stands and it's not one you can refute unless you are going to abandon your support of Hoke.
December 16th, 2013 at 8:34 PM ^
It's not that hard to get the facts right, if you bother to try. When you don't, it looks like you're exaggerating on the likely chance that no one will call you on it, then when they do the facts didn't matter anyway. But never mind that....
Where did I say anything about Hoke? And what was your point?
Arizona has had successive years with 8, 8, 7, 4, 8 and 7 wins.
You might look at that list and say Wow! The guy responsible for those last two years must be terrific!
Or it might just look like there was a one-off bad year in there.
Except for the brief three-year collapse under Mackovic they've consistently won 5-9 games/year for decades now. Their first twenty years in the PAC they were .500 or better in the conference 16 times. It fell apart under Mackovic, Stoops got it back to a level of mediocrity not quite up to the standards of Smith and Tomey. RR has held that same level so far.
If we don't want to live in the past and just look at recent results, there'd be nothing to indicate that Rodriguez is anything special as a coach. Well, that's not quite right--in detail his record's pretty unique (offensive FEI #2, defensive FEI #109--that doesn't happen often). But the overall results are pedestrian.
I don't actually think that's a fair assessment of the man. But if you want to see something else, you have to be willing to look at his past.
---
ed: WTF? Now I look like I'm crazy. Talking to myself. Oh well... :-)
December 16th, 2013 at 2:38 PM ^
December 16th, 2013 at 2:54 PM ^
...but still, somehow funny.
December 16th, 2013 at 4:33 PM ^
Can't neg bang a good 'ol Josh Groban joke.
December 16th, 2013 at 2:41 PM ^
I've had sympathy for RR and what he went through here at UM, and even felt like it would have been the right thing to do to give him one more year to get things on the right track. Having said that, it's certainly time to move on.
From what I gather RR has done just that at AZ and BH and company have done that here. Unfortunately it is other people (fans mostly) that like to keep rehashing this time and time again.
DB played an active role in this IMHE as well when he released that statement in support of BH giving credit to LC for the sugar bowl victory. A guy who hadn't coached UM for 4 years and had nothing (in my opinion) to do with the victory. He could have said exactly what he did without giving credit to anyone other than the current staff but instead to a chance to throw another stone at RR. With a person like that as the AD I suppose it's hard to fault fans who still carry some animosity for RR as well.
I'm sure the BB team's hearts were in the right place but I would bet RR had a face palm moment when this all transpired and thought, "can we just let this go!" That's how I feel every time I see a thread or a post talking about RR and his continued effects on a program he is 3 years removed from. I wish we could all just move on. It doesn't matter how much we wanted him to stay or how much we anted him to go, he's gone and has been for three years...time to get over it.
December 16th, 2013 at 4:04 PM ^
How has Hoke done that here? His third season ended with his boss having to issue a statement saying "he's the right guy." That's usually not the sign of someone rocking it on top.
I agree with the rest of your post, though.
December 16th, 2013 at 5:41 PM ^
You could argue that the letter is consistent with everyone but the fans moving on, which was his point I think. Not that we are "rocking it on top."
If anybody knows about the effect a public outcry opposing a coach has on a program it is Dave Brandon. What are pros/cons to the program of having fans/media call for the coaches head publicly? Recruiting? The clearest con. On field play? Con. Maybe pro if the team goes us vs. them against the fans and media. Program atmosphere? Same as on field play. Hiring next coach? Con. Public perception? Con. Getting the coach fired? This is only thing I can think of you can possibly list as a pro, but feels strange calling blowing up your recruiting and going through a painful coaching search/rebuilding process a pro.
The letter does not necessarily have to be to support Hoke, but could be just to suppress the outcry. That the letter was on a public blog post shows it was tartegeted directly at media and fans. He can talk to recruits and Hoke behind closed doors so it was not for them. He might just be trying to get in front of the snowball he sees coming if we lose this bowl game and lose a couple early games next year.
Brandon didn't "have to" issue the statement. He did anyway because he was there when the department sat on its hands as the torches and pitchforks started showing up at the Rodriguez residence. Thus, it is possible that Brandon may just have leardned from that experience and decided to try a different approach.
December 17th, 2013 at 9:02 AM ^
I have no issue whatsoever with him making a post on his blog or whatever he did. My problem is him taking yet another opportunity to take a shot at our PREVIOUS coach, who hasn't coached here in three years by the way, while giving credit for a win to a coach who hasn't coached here in 7 years. He isn't only being inconsistent, he's being blatanly obnoxious which is why I said it's hard to blame fans for still taking shots at RR when you have an AD who continues to do so. I hope that clears up the intended message in my post.
January 22nd, 2014 at 11:32 PM ^
Correct. Point missed completely. You probably wont read this, but consider this FYI in case you were losing sleep over this and happen to check.
EDIT: Actially looking at my post and yours, there was a post between us that got caved. It was a troll basically calling Brandon a dumbass for posting we were "rocking it on top" or something like that.
December 16th, 2013 at 2:42 PM ^
My response:
December 16th, 2013 at 2:44 PM ^
They got us. Yes, they did! oooooohhh! hrumph!
December 16th, 2013 at 2:49 PM ^
Whoopdi fucking do
December 16th, 2013 at 2:50 PM ^
As much as I'm sure we want to find ways to be offended, RR was pleased that the basketball team honored him and didn't say a thing negative about Michigan in the article. Arizona can be mildly obnoxious if they want, but I don't think that it reflects badly on RR.
Thus, who cares?
December 16th, 2013 at 2:59 PM ^
Other than that...interesting,but pointless.
December 16th, 2013 at 2:51 PM ^
Nothing else, just...Really?
December 16th, 2013 at 2:53 PM ^
LOL... Defense...
“I think Sean and his staff have done a phenomenal job,” Rodriguez said. “They’re fun to watch because they play so hard on defense.”
December 16th, 2013 at 3:05 PM ^
His Arizona defenses have been far better than his Michigan defenses. Also, Oregon