97.1 (mike valenti) reporting that the ground has been laid to let RR go if michigan gets blown out...
valenti opened todays show saying that he got a call from a friend that is close to the michigan situation. this person told valenti that if michigan gets blown out on saturday that the university has laid the ground work to get rid of RR without having to pay him his buyout. this person said that because of the allegations that have been brought forth that its is enough for michigan to let RR go.
brian what have you heard??? or has anyone else heard anything???
valenti has said it would be stupid to fire a coach because of one game. i agree with that.
November 18th, 2009 at 2:38 PM ^
All my Mgopoints that he will not be let go even if M gets 'blown out' with Saiboat still at the helm RR is not going anywhere.
November 18th, 2009 at 2:39 PM ^
Please stop posting Mike Valenti material and questioning it's accuracy. He is regurgitating speculation that EVERYONE can speculate about. Of course if the administration was going to let him go, this NCAA investigation/CARA report garbage would be their excuse to avoid the buyout. I think we can all be intelligent enough to connect those dots. However, when Mary Sue and Bill Martin have come out and blatantly said we support Rich Rodriguez, anything other than that is pure SPECULATION. Niiiiiinety sssseeeveeen onnnneeeeeeee.
November 18th, 2009 at 3:21 PM ^
Quite simply, Matt Dery is the only one worth listening to on that station. Too bad he doesn't have his own show.
November 18th, 2009 at 2:41 PM ^
Why in the flying hell would U-M lay groundwork to fire RR based solely on the outcome game that most sane people would expect U-M to lose?
I've got as much hope as anyone that we pull off a win, but come ON. Odds are against us, a "blowout" would be an unwelcome kick in the 'nads but hardly reason you would suddenly pull the rug out from under a coach you have publicly said would be given time to rebuild.
I can't believe Valenti didn't just have a good laugh and hang up.
November 18th, 2009 at 3:22 PM ^
... that most sane people would expect U-M to lose?are you calling me insane? nobody calls me insane! except of course, my parents. oh, and dr. dalack.
November 18th, 2009 at 3:26 PM ^
Haha. +1 for using "unwelcome kick in the 'nads" to describe a blowout on Saturday. A tip of the cap to you.
November 18th, 2009 at 3:57 PM ^
As opposed to a welcome kick in the nads? Is there such a thing?
Although, if say, Brandon Graham wanted to kick me in the nads and it somehow guaranteed a Michigan win, I'd gladly take that one for the team. Just fill me up with booze first, and have some ready for afterwards (assuming I don't pass out from the impact).
November 18th, 2009 at 6:25 PM ^
I would pay many rupees to see this. Super Cereal.
November 19th, 2009 at 5:34 PM ^
Personally, I still want to have children. I don't know that I would sacrifice the lives of my future sons and daughters for a single Michigan victory...but I'd have to think about it. Kudos to you for your willingess to take one (and in so doing, lose two...) for the team.
November 18th, 2009 at 2:39 PM ^
If Brian had heard anything we'd have heard it.
November 18th, 2009 at 2:56 PM ^
Actually, Brian usually waits until he has several good sources on the topic so that he doesn't spread rumors that aren't true. So, he could have heard something along these lines, but is still waiting for confirmation from more/better resources to post it.
November 18th, 2009 at 3:53 PM ^
Which is why this is probably an unsourced dumb rumor that Valenti is spreading.
Seriously, if I was a person with "inside information", my first choice of an outlet would NOT be Mike Valenti. If you had it in for Rich Rod, why not go to Freep/Rosenberg/Snyder/Albom?
November 18th, 2009 at 11:01 PM ^
I don't disagree that this is an unsourced dumb rumor, but to say that Brian would have posted it by now goes against the precedent that Brian has laid down when it comes to revealing inside information.
November 18th, 2009 at 2:39 PM ^
I had to use my finger to get it out, but I put tissue over it first.
November 18th, 2009 at 3:45 PM ^
That was the perfect response.
November 18th, 2009 at 2:40 PM ^
I smell sparty bullshit.
November 18th, 2009 at 2:41 PM ^
At this point, there are only allegations of violations, not proof. I can't imagine any contract that would allow for a multi-million dollar buy-out to be waived just because someone levels an accusation.
Plus, and this isn't a minor point, Valenti has never had a scoop on anything. Ever. He's a mildly interesting talk show host prone to douchiness to attract attention, but he has never broken an story of any note. I highly doubt this is the time that changes. Without reading an exact transcript, it's hard to comment fully, but while I don't believe that he is completely making this story up, I still put zero credence in it.
November 18th, 2009 at 2:46 PM ^
Valenti knows Michael Wilbon? I'm mean, if that's the case, he may be onto something.
November 18th, 2009 at 2:47 PM ^
RR's contract requires actual that it be "determined by the NCAA...to have committed a major violation..." This is from page 8 of his contract Section 4.02(e).
http://mvictors.com/images/2008/Q4/rodriguezcontract.pdf
If they fired him and refused to pay him before the finding of any violations, the University would fnd itself in a similar position as OSU when they fired Jim O'Brien. If you remember, OSU fired him before the violations were finalized, and they ended up losing a breach of contract suit and owed O'Brien a large chunk of cash.
I can't believe I just did this much to disprove Valenti.
November 18th, 2009 at 2:42 PM ^
Valenti is a biased douche. Take everything he says w/ a grain of salt.
November 18th, 2009 at 2:43 PM ^
I wonder if he will address this claim if Michigan does end up getting blown out and Rich is still here. I'm guessing he will ignore what he said completely.
November 18th, 2009 at 2:44 PM ^
If Rodriguez is fired right now, who will be running the next coaching search? Not Martin, he won't want to go through that again, not right before he retires. Not Mary Sue, she doesn't want that pressure or responsibility.
Even if Michigan theoretically wants him gone, they are going to wait until next season.
November 18th, 2009 at 2:47 PM ^
It is his job to lob crap out there to drive phone calls/text messages into the station. That is why he keeps poking UM fans with DG rumors, Tate/Denard transfer crap, and now RR firing rumors. I riles up the masses and garners phone calls. Then he rips the callers to create more calls. It's his job speculate to drive interest in the program he hosts. He is not a reporter or journalist (not like they don't do the same thing).
MGoPHILLY said it right: take it with a grain of salt. It is not factual, just BS to get a response.
November 18th, 2009 at 8:15 PM ^
It is sad that the actions of idiots in media are defended in this manner. It's like defending racism or hate mongerins because it increases viewership. Just because it makes them money doesn't make it right.
November 19th, 2009 at 10:35 AM ^
Did you just compare Valenti speculating on the (very real) possibility that people at Michigan want RR out to racism?
Even if you really did mean the people defending it is similar to defending racism you should still find some freaking context. That's a ridiculous statement.
I think that Valenti is right: if sanctions come down and M loses this game very badly, there will be factions pulling for RR's head. And that's all Valenti was saying. He didn't say it was likely to happen, he said that this is the scenario that he could see it happen in, if it were to happen.
Am I as bad as someone who defends racism now?
November 19th, 2009 at 2:08 PM ^
Holy overreaction. Read some context.
I'm just saying the ends don't justify the means. Just because it increases viewership doesn't mean we should excuse it.
I'm sorry I went to the extreme example of this. I didn't say it was as bad as defending racism.
I'm just saying that stirring the pot and being outrageous just to increase viewership or ratings shouldn't be excused.
No, I don't think you, Valenti or the pope are a racist.
November 18th, 2009 at 2:47 PM ^
A lot of the time I cannot stand Valenti, but you have to admit, he does a GREAT job. How many Valenti threads are there on here? Whether you like him or not, he does his job extremely well. He stirs people up. He knows a lot about ALL SPORTS. I can't see him staying in Detroit very long though. He is ESPN material all the way.
November 18th, 2009 at 2:57 PM ^
When Howard was at his peak people who loved him listened to him less than people who did not love him, because those people were curious what he would do next so they could get pissed about it.
Valenti is no Howard Stern (it is an insult to Stern to say so), but the same kind of principal rings true here. He knows Michigan fans will listen, if to do nothing more than to get pissed at him for what he says. I do not always agree with him but he does do his job very well.
November 18th, 2009 at 8:17 PM ^
Bill "The Huge Show" Simonson does the same thing here in GR (I think he's syndicated around the rest of the state too).
It's poor schtick and one more reason I never listen to the radio.
Anymore, podcasts are where it's at.
November 18th, 2009 at 2:47 PM ^
I wonder if his source is Mike Wilbon?
November 18th, 2009 at 2:49 PM ^
Seems crazy to have this be true, but Valenti noted that his source was the same person who was the first to tell him RichRod was getting hired. I put the BS factor at about 98%, but I still hate stories like these piling up one after the other.
November 18th, 2009 at 8:32 PM ^
So when did Valenti "break" that news? I don't remember him being the first source..
November 18th, 2009 at 2:50 PM ^
everyone taking part in this mgoblog community should be smart enough to know rich rodriguez is going absolutely nowhere (barring some ridiculous sanctions being handed down from the ncaa as a direct result of something rich rod was directly responsible for). by far the biggest evidence supporting this is the fact that mary sue and bill martin have said so within the past two weeks. these two people are not nick saban. the fact that mary sue said something is the kicker here. no way she jeopardizes her credibility if there's even the slightest chance rich rod could be fired after this season. these are not stupid people. they know full well all the negative ramifications of firing rich rod at this time as much as we all do.
November 18th, 2009 at 3:06 PM ^
that Rodrigeuz is not going anywhere. Such a statement is every bit as outrageous as Valenti saying that he is fired for certain if they get blown out. Both sides of the argument, that being "he is gone for sure" and "he is not going anywhere" are equally preposturous at this point. I think "he will likely return if there are no major NCAA violations" is a sustainable position, but stating that anybody should be "smart enough to know" that he is not going anywhere clearly does not have the information to lay such a claim. Michigan is not really in a position to let him go, but he really cannot make a strong case to remain the head coach here either based upon on-field performance or off the field program management. I want RR to stay, but I don't really think you can argue that his tenure has not been a disaster so far.
November 18th, 2009 at 2:53 PM ^
I believe RR's contract states that he will be terminated if any major violations are found by the NCAA. I'm assuming the accusations don't meany shit until the NCAA finds RR/Michigan guilty.
(Edit: sorry, I didn't see that "me" already posted this)
November 18th, 2009 at 2:55 PM ^
PLEASE NO MORE STUPID SHIT!! I am tired of hearing it.
November 18th, 2009 at 2:55 PM ^
Cmon Mods, Mgoblog is better than this. Delete the thread and send the idiot OP an MGOWARNING.
November 18th, 2009 at 3:11 PM ^
what did i do that was so wrong??? i heard something on the radio and i posted it here and that means my thread should be deleted and i should get a warning from the MOD's??? its not like i found this rumor on MLIVE, Rivals, Scout or some other half assed message board. did i ever say once that believed what valenti is saying??? NO. yeah there are people that think valenti is just a biased sparty that is trying to piss of michigan fans so that they'll call in.
the MOD's can do what ever they want and thats fine by me, but they don't need you to tell them how do their jobs.
November 18th, 2009 at 3:40 PM ^
on a half-assed message board.
November 18th, 2009 at 4:27 PM ^
on the radio is somehow better??
How did you rationalize that in your head ?
November 18th, 2009 at 5:20 PM ^
rationalize calling me an idiot??? people post stuff that they hear on the radio all of time, so does that make them idiots as well???
November 18th, 2009 at 5:24 PM ^
Yeah, it does.
November 18th, 2009 at 5:38 PM ^
Lot's of people kill people, kill dogs, etc., etc. Just be like everyone else and you will go far.
November 18th, 2009 at 3:02 PM ^
yeah well I heard that if michigan wins big on saturday that the university has laid the ground work to get RR a huge promotion without having to pay for his new hot tub.
this person said that because of the allegations that have been brought forth that its is enough for michigan to let RR smile for once.
brian what have you heard??? or has anyone else heard anything???
valenti has said it would be stupid to give a coach more money because of one game and then not pay for his new hot tub. i'm not sure if i agree with that.
November 18th, 2009 at 3:07 PM ^
That rumor better not be true, and I doubt it is anyways. Firing a coach, especially one with a good track record (yes, I said good track record motherfucker) after two years would be the biggest mistake ever, whether or not it's Michigan.
One reason is that it makes the job too high pressure, and who would want to be hired by a place that is so quick to fire coaches. And even if UM fired RR due to the NCAA finding Michigan guilty, I think there is the possibility that coaches would still not want to work for UM because practicegate was just a witch hunt. Man I only hate Michael Rosenberg more.
November 18th, 2009 at 3:53 PM ^
Somehow I dont see the University of Michigan finding qualified people that want to coach for us.
November 18th, 2009 at 3:06 PM ^
MAKE PLAYS!
November 18th, 2009 at 3:08 PM ^
Don't feed the monkey
November 18th, 2009 at 3:13 PM ^
I won't claim him to be an expert source; however, Todd McShay seemed almost apologetic about the potential of RR being fired this off season. He seemed to suggest that the mere threat of violations against the school was enough to fire RR and not pay his remaining contract. I'm in no way suggesting that McShay is "close to a source" at UM and has insider access; so, please don't hammer me for being the messenger.
My opinion is that if RR is fired, UM will be the next Nebraska.