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 3:57 PM ^
I'm tired of nameless "sources" slandering our coach and university behind some washed up, not-known-outside-Michigan "journalist".
Seriously, speak up, name sources or shut-up.
By the way, why is anyone still listening to talk radio?
November 19th, 2009 at 1:01 AM ^
Because it's funny to hear Dave from Phoenix, who likes to piss in everyone's Cheerios.
November 18th, 2009 at 3:41 PM ^
Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight. And I suppose they are going to have a meeting to determine what a blow out is - 20 pts or more? What if the margin is 17pts? 16pts? What will they do then!!!!! Refer to the official definition in the NCAA rulebook of a 'blowout'? Professionals aren't going to determine the fate of a head coach of one of the biggest programs in the nation on whether he gets blown out. And it takes bush league minds to buy into that sort of talk.
November 18th, 2009 at 3:55 PM ^
It was way better when MSU beat Michigan in Ann Arbor by 14 in 2008 than the nailbiting down to the cuticle in that 26-20 OT win in East Lansing this year.
Spartans need to come to Ann Arbor and beat Michigan next fall.
MSU is 2-0 vs. RichRod. Since RR is such an awful coach and the replacement would likely be "so much better", then shouldn't Big Ten opponents and their fans be pulling for RR to stay on at Michigan?
November 18th, 2009 at 3:57 PM ^
I WISH THAT I COULD NEG THIS A MILLION TIMES. SOMEONE, PLEASE, DELETE IT NOW!
Have we already forgotten what Craig Roh's dad taught us?? Recruits read this forum. SO PLEASE - do not post a bunch of unbased garbage on the verge of the biggest recruiting weekend in recent memory!
November 18th, 2009 at 4:07 PM ^
I am pretty sure that we are allowed to bring this kind of stuff up as long as we keep the conversation intelligent. I feel an intelligent response to Valenti from "we the fans" is important. Which means someone needs to bring it up. Its the commenters jobs to say that this is a bad reporting by Valenti, but its not the origanters job to keep the crazy people at bay.
November 18th, 2009 at 9:06 PM ^
Pigs, wrestling, mud, you know the rest.
November 18th, 2009 at 5:15 PM ^
I wish we could make this a life lesson for all future blog posts.
It could even have its own wrist band:
November 18th, 2009 at 4:04 PM ^
Mike Valenti and all radio show hosts, sports or otherwise, operate with an aganda. That agenda is gaining ratings and ad revenue. Making outlandish claims using unverified "I know someone who knows someone who works as a janitor....." sources are just one way of getting peoples interest. Now I love sports and unfortunatly find myself drawn to 97.1, even though I can only take so much of the bullshit that permeates from their know-it-all attitudes. Valenti has the kind of arrogance that makes me feel as though he auditioning for a national show on a network. And TerryDrewRobFosterSharpParker plays the perfect side man, never really disagreeing, but when he does he has a tinge guilt in his voice. Sorry for the back tracking. But the point I am making is that listening to or believing wholeheartedly to what these guys, or anyone in the media says could drive you batshit. Everything is said with a wink, or hint of "believe what you want, but MY sources say......" mentality.
November 18th, 2009 at 4:16 PM ^
Right now it looks like open season for anti-RR people. The team plays bad, some NCAA investigation, they may not qualify for a bowl so let's just fire away.
November 18th, 2009 at 4:36 PM ^
No need to pile on.
November 18th, 2009 at 4:33 PM ^
This is Valenti, AKA He Of Numerous On-Air Meltdowns.
I'm sure he has a ton of what he believes is inside info, and I am also sure they're as full of hot air as he is.
November 18th, 2009 at 4:39 PM ^
I heard 97.1 has it arranged to give Mike Valenti the boot.
November 18th, 2009 at 5:02 PM ^
I have heard from several current and former players that RR is out if we get blown out. -Rosenberg
November 18th, 2009 at 5:18 PM ^
a hack propagandist desperate for ratings, not a reporter...although that may be an oxymoron.
November 18th, 2009 at 5:28 PM ^
Mike "Les Miles is a lock" Valenti.
Move along, nothing to see here.
November 18th, 2009 at 5:33 PM ^
Man. A victory this weekend would probably put all this pointless conjecture to rest. Just like our 4-0 start quieted much of the criticism in the offseason.
November 18th, 2009 at 6:32 PM ^
Please. Start a website and try to put Brian out of business.
Wait. Let me get a beer first. I gotta see this. I haven't seen a good car wreck in a while.
November 18th, 2009 at 6:38 PM ^
I actually prefer the Free Press (to be precise, I prefer battling the Free Press) rather than debating the 97.1 crowd.
I almost never listen to it. I pay attention to it only when they are dealing with Michigan football, and even then only in cases of important/breaking news, ususally when the station's hosts are trying to create news.
Thse are guys who have nothing, really to report, and so the standard fare is guys giving their non-expert opinions about all manner of subjects. They are not experts. They are not experts at anything, and indeed it is rare that they ever entertain real experts on anything, even for the simple purposes of an interview. I suspect that it is easier, and perhaps cheaper, to forego the kind of real radio producer that is needed to book guests and organize a show around real guest appearances.
I am serious; the Free Press, for all of its malevolence, its vile lack of ethics, is at least a more serious news outlet than sportstalk radio as represented by 97.1. "Garbage" looks good by comparison to 97.1.
November 18th, 2009 at 10:10 PM ^
How does the Free Press look good in comparision to a sports talk radio show? 97.1 has done their jobs quite well, considering their whole job is stimulating any sort of sports talk and speculation. The Free Press on the other hand is supposed to use judgement in what they report, checking the facts and ethics of their articles. And they clearly did not when publishing and article, prompting an NCAA investigation of UofM. When 97.1 manages to do this, let me know. Yes the Free Press is a more serious news outlet than 97.1, seeing as they are a news outlet and 97.1 is not. 97.1 does not pretend to be a news outlet, its a forum.
November 19th, 2009 at 5:47 PM ^
You have it pretty much right. By comparison to 97.1, the Freep is far more careful, and claims to be carefully-sourced.
97.1 is just a mosh pit of guys trashtalking. None of it is deserving of serious thought or consideration.
The Free Press, on the other hand, is likely to be sourced out, or linked to, other national news outlets. ESPN, the networks, the BigTenNetwork, etc., are likely to quote a major story from the Freep. Whereas there are no "major stories" coming out of 97.1. You have it right; 97.1 ought not to pretend that it is in the business of presenting any news, about sports or otherwise.
So yes, the Free Press is more serious, and is thereby more dangerous when their malevolence takes hold as it has in the case of Michigan football.
November 18th, 2009 at 8:38 PM ^
Funny thing is, like there's anyone seriously on the in at Michigan who considers Valenti a friend. Particularly when they have a guy on the station right before him who WORKS FOR THE SCHOOL.
November 19th, 2009 at 5:06 PM ^
If this turns out to be true, and RichRod resigns, options?
#1) Brian Kelly - I don't care if he lacks people skills, he might be the best x's and o's coach on the planet. If our head coaching position is enough to put his NFL aspirations to rest, he's the man.
#2) Jim Harbaugh - I don't care that he trashed UofM's student-athlete policies (I actually thought that he made some good points). I sort of care that he's been forgetting his wallet at bars. I really care that he pulled a class-less Woody Hayes. Still though, a hot young coach and a Michigan man. He would really turn things up recruiting-wise around here.
#3) Les Miles - I'm a member of the camp that believes he would have taken the UofM offer last time around IF it was ever given to him, legitimately (I don't think it was). Plus, he's gotta be sensing that his time is coming to an end at high expectations-crazy LSU with Saban and Meyer in town.
#4) Kirk Ferentz - He'd give us pretty much what we had in Lloyd, maybe a little better. Solid coach. Probably our worst case scenario. He wouldn't turn the job down.
...I don't like Chris Peterson, don't ask me why. I don't like one hit wonders, whoever TCU's coach is.
November 19th, 2009 at 10:48 PM ^
Maybe the coaching carousel preview is a bit premature.
November 19th, 2009 at 5:21 PM ^
Michigan coaches will always take heat unless they are undefeated.
November 19th, 2009 at 10:43 PM ^
He's been listing his source's comment, but has been against the intent since he brought it up. He doesn't think Rich Rod should be fired, but he's talking about an alleged source (Captain Ice Breaker) that says Rod could be out. The ground work IS there, losing seasons, and an investigation to get out of the buy out. I want Rich Rod to stay, but I don't think Valenti is too wrong here. He's right, a case could be made to fire him. But he also acknowledges that it would be very stupid to do so.
November 20th, 2009 at 3:17 AM ^
NO way I believe this for a second. Nobody on local FM radio knows the terms of Rich's contract governing what will discharge and what will not discharge his or the school's duties, especially the lynchpin of the entire contract, the buyout clause. What you are saying clearly has no chance of being true.
November 20th, 2009 at 12:21 PM ^
Nobody on local FM? How about anyone with Google?
http://blog.mlive.com/wolverinesfootball_impact/2008/10/102408-rodrigue…
Nobody could know the lynch pin of a contract? What is it, a state secret? The lynchpin would clearly be the salary. Where did you even get that idea?
November 20th, 2009 at 7:20 PM ^
NOt necessarily... The lynchpin is the buyout clause because party A seeks to forbear the right of a successful coaching career at WV where he is being highly paid and is virtually guaranteed employment for at least 10 to 20 more years (he is the program icon) in turn for the right to a higher salary at michigan( a damaged team) yet without any guarantee at all for so much as a term of even five years (especially given the state of the team Carr left us in) Thus if he was fired and there was no buyout clause party A would be left with no money coming in and a tarnished reputation when he could have had a career at a good West Virgina school where he was guaranteed a coaching career and plenty of money.
SO here is the damages diagram
WV 20 years + salarY - ((Richrod yearly salary at michigan X 2) - (buyout) - tarnished reputation (speculative damages)) = [something far greater than 5 million)
THERFORE, the actual terms in the contract that would expressly allow the university to terminate their duty to pay the buyout clause are the lynchpin of the contract. These specific terms are obviously a well kept secret to which Ann Arbor radio programs can only speculate.
Do you understand?
November 20th, 2009 at 9:01 PM ^
as posted earlier in this thread, here is his contract with all of his buyout details
http://mvictors.com/images/2008/Q4/rodriguezcontract.pdf
November 20th, 2009 at 9:36 AM ^
Valenti screen capture from a video on the 97.1 website. Is this guy a d-bag or what?
January 24th, 2010 at 11:20 PM ^
being Valenti.
January 24th, 2010 at 11:25 PM ^
Why the hell was this thread resurrected? LOL! Is this the one that the one dude got negpwned by Brian for -10k?
January 25th, 2010 at 2:44 AM ^
I wanted to see what happened for myself.