I miss Professor Carr
Five days before an undefeated Michigan team played undefeated Ohio State two years ago, a reporter asked Bo if he ever did anything special to prepare for OSU. Just a few days before his death, Bo shouted his answer, "EVERY DAY!"
Two years later, Michigan has just lost its 8th game for the first time in 129 years of playing football, it's Ohio State week again, and the media assembled in the Junge Family Champions Center are begging Coach Rodriguez to give them a headline like "Rodriguez embraces rivalry". What do they get instead? The Button Story. That's right, he's got a button right there on his desk. It says "Beat OSU" so he can never forget. Because he has a button. On his desk. Next to the phone. A button. Awesome?
Why not make up a story that he was down in Toledo for a meeting with his lawyer when he ran out of gas and him and Barwis had to push his car all the way to the Michigan state line to avoid buying gas in Ohio? Or just admit what everyone else on campus besides him seems to know, that this is, was and will always be the biggest game on our schedule?
This is an actual quote from Monday's presser:
"You ever see the movie [The] Lion King?" Rodriguez began. "That monkey hits the lion over the head, and the monkey says what did you do that for? Doesn't matter, it's in the past."
What? The monkey asks himself why he hit the lion? Why is it so hard to keep the monkey and the lion straight after 10 months of practicing this same line in front of the same reporters? Can you imagine that moment when he was there with Rita and the kids watching a cartoon and he learned something so important and meaningful about football and life? I can't wait until Coach Rodriguez wins 10 national championships in a row starting in 2010 and Coach Carr has to go out and try to rent that movie on Betamax.
Coach Carr wasn't nearly as accessible or open as Coach Rodriguez has been with the media but he did have a system that worked: scowl for no reason, tremendous Bo story, tremendous Kipling quote, scowl again, Bo, Yost, Churchill, scowl, Bo, Brown Jug, Bo, scowl, Woody, Bo, scowl, repeat. I know most people are disappointed with our record, bracing themselves for another loss to OSU or worried about transfers but sometimes I just miss Lloyd, the man.
November 19th, 2008 at 8:07 AM ^
So you miss the guy who's given us 4 straight heart-breakers to OSU? Carr was a lame duck against OSU for the past 7-8 years. Also, just because Rich Rod mixes up a monkey and a lion from a cartoon in front of a reporter doesn't mean he doesn't care about the rivalry or is a bad coach. He prepares for every game the same, like coaches should, he doesn't base the whole season off of one game. Everyone with a brain knows how big UM-OSU is, just like I would know how big Alabama-Auburn is, or Notre Dame-USC is if I ended up coaching one of those teams, even though I'm from Michigan and have never lived those rivalries, I would still know how much it meant to the fan base, so Rich Rod isn't clueless, and as competitive as he is, he definitely cares.
November 19th, 2008 at 8:40 AM ^
I thought I made it clear that I was comparing their public personas. I agree it's logical to think he cares and cares deeply that we win this game and every game. I just wish he could use the English language to communicate that.
November 19th, 2008 at 8:19 AM ^
I miss Lloyd too - I'm sure I'd much rather have a conversation with him than with Rich.
Still, on the bright side, it will be awesome when Rich's offense starts clicking. If Rich hires DeBord someday, all bets are off.
November 19th, 2008 at 9:20 AM ^
Here's another RRism: He can see the improvement in practice, it's just not showing up on Saturday yet. If we play so much better Sunday - Friday, maybe we should start scheduling Thursday night games?
November 19th, 2008 at 8:44 AM ^
...RR will think a little different of the rivalry. I love RR but would have to agree that he could have shown a little more emotion on this game. The fact is he just does not really comprehend it like BO did as RR never PLAYED for or coached with Tressel. It is a new generation and those two do not hate each other..maybe for the Pryor issue but that is not hate right now. There needs to be a spark in this rivalry for RR to understand what it is about or at least he needs to get through this first game for him to understand. It is the biggest show every year and there is nothing wrong with RR admitting that. I do think, however, that he is a little handicapped this year. He can't do much without being laughed off the stage. Although I hate to see little emotion or a button story, I think he is doing the right thing by laying(or is it lying) low. If we pull a win out, then he looks like a genuis. If we lose, he does not have more egg on his face.
November 19th, 2008 at 10:39 AM ^
Everything any coach says is seen through the lens of his record. The same schtick at 9-3 is a lot funnier than the same stuff at 3-9. Things can downshift from "cute" to "grating" in a hurry.
Then there's John L. Smith slapping himself, which is a fantastic blend of strange & funny no matter the record.
November 19th, 2008 at 10:51 AM ^
Like Timon & Pumba?
I too miss Lloyd; mostly, his press conferences. Coaches that treat the press like the scum that they are garner the most respect from enlightened fans.
I would much prefer a monkey who says, when Simba asks why he hit him, "That's the dumbest question I've ever heard." But that's just me. Despite my nostalgia, vivid memories of the 2007 Rose Bowl, losses to OSU, ASU, Oregon....yeah. [insert knee-jerk pro-Rich Rod slogan] ... then again there are fresh memories of more devastating losses this season than I ever expected to witness. The knee jerks a bit more slowly these days.
Watching BTN's rerun of the 1969 rivalry game, an interviewed player recalled how Bo told him, "Every day, during every practice that season, we did something, at least one thing, to prepare for Ohio State." I doubt Rich Rod has done this. There is no way we will win unless he has. Failure in this regard is inexcusable... not that we should demand a win per se, but if there is even an iota less preparation for OSU than Bo's first season means he isn't giving the players the chance they deserve. I can't handle that. We'll see how well-prepared the team looks soon enough.
November 19th, 2008 at 11:30 AM ^
Bo could put in something every week for the OSU game because he was beating the rest of his schedule 56-3.
November 19th, 2008 at 11:35 AM ^
"I doubt Rich Rod has done this. There is no way we will win unless he has"
Things that will help UM beat OSU:
-Blocking, tackling, not turning the ball over, covering WR's, special teams.
I will say with confidence that those things have been covered every day in practice.
November 19th, 2008 at 1:57 PM ^
point taken
November 19th, 2008 at 11:14 AM ^
whether RRod appreciates this rivalry or not? By what he said at a presser to a bunch of media people that we all bitch about anyways? He said it more than once, that he is not going to divulge every thing he has spoken to the team about, and I am sure he has some feelings toward OSU, and the rivalry that he did not make public either. Lloyd understood the rivalry well, and lost 6 out of his last 7, so chill out.
November 19th, 2008 at 11:37 AM ^
For the record:
The whole pushing the car across state lines thing is probably a cute story he made up. I love it and will tell my unborn kids about it. But I doubt it actually happened. If it did, well, I would like to think that coaches are too busy to worry about helping the economy in another state.
November 19th, 2008 at 11:46 AM ^
What bugs me about this Diary is not as much what you wrote, but its opening the doors for people to say RR does not understand this rivalry and our traditions. And, i think that meme is crap, not based in any reality, whatsoever.
Come on.....I doubt you really believe that. Would you really feel better if RR made something up to appease you/us that he knows the rivalry.....i dont, it just seems kind of lame and the kind of thing that makes buckeye nation hearts flutter.
Besides, I always thought of us UM fans as being a whole lot less obsessive about our rival. We have other things going on, we are a more well rounded fan base. The only time I care about OSU is when we play them....i could care less about them otherwise. (of course, thats not true based on my gambling habit, but you get the drift)
Look at the response you just responded to, as an example.....what, like RR has time with all the other personnel flaws this team has to practice for OSU like the poster demands....it seems like a straw man argument that people will use against our coach when the inevitable happens on Saturday.
Like you pointed out, Bo was crushing the rest of the league 56-3 back in those no scholarship limitation days, so he could afford the extra time. Rodriguez can not afford it, not with this team, not with this transition.
Anyway, I've been grouchy for a couple of weeks, so sorry if you felt I was smacking you down behind your back....fact is, I use the WLA board as a sounding board to see if I am full of chit or not......that cut and paste from the espn boards got me going, and your theme just continued it.
Please keep writing and Go Blue!!
November 19th, 2008 at 12:03 PM ^
I'd agree that suggesting that he can't understand it is crap... but let's be realistic here. Do you think you understand the Red River Shootout as well as someone from Texas or Oklahoma? Of course you don't, you've never lived it.
That said, RR clearly wants to understand. He's not John Cooper, who never completely got the rivalry. (Cooper doesn't hate Michigan for simply being Michigan, he hates us because of how we ruined his career. Which isn't quite in tune with what most of the fans feel)
RR has had a baptism by fire, and this is no different. No matter the result on Saturday, he'll understand by the end of the game what it means to the fans.
November 19th, 2008 at 2:09 PM ^
"it seems like a straw man argument that people will use against our coach when *the inevitable* happens on Saturday"
More than I hope our coach has done a lot to prepare for OSU throughout the season, I hope he does not share your attitude. Though now I understand your perspective: If we have no chance of winning, any investment in preparing for OSU would be a waste.
I disagree with your perspective. The importance of going the extra mile in preparation for this game is even greater because of the personnel flaws and transition you've cited.
November 19th, 2008 at 3:03 PM ^
.....i actually think we stand a good chance at winning, and I can guarantee you RR does not think losing Saturday is inevitable.
What I meant is we're big underdogs, we will likely lose based on that.....and I dont want any 'sky is falling' posters crying we lost because all RR has is a 'beat osu button' or he didn't call out the Bucks at the Bbball game last winter or becuase he didn't spend enough time every day practicing for the Bucks or because he does not understand the rivalry.
Those would be straw man-like arguments used by the growing group of people (not you included, mind you) who want us to wash our hands of this guy.
November 19th, 2008 at 11:48 AM ^
Link here:
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Pumpkin-Mousse/Detail.aspx
INGREDIENTS
3 eggs
1 cup milk
3/4 cup honey
1/2 cup milk
1 (.25 ounce) package unflavored gelatin
1 1/2 cups pumpkin puree
3 tablespoons white sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground mace
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons chopped crystallized ginger
DIRECTIONS
Pour the 1/2 cup of water or milk into a small bowl and sprinkle the gelatin over it to soften.
Separate the eggs, placing the whites in an electric mixer bowl and the yolks in a heat-proof bowl that holds at least 2 cups.
Combine the milk, honey and spices in a heavy bottomed saucepan and heat until the honey dissolves and the mixture is steaming hot. Add the softened gelatin with its liquid and stir until it is completely dissolved.
Pour most of the hot milk mixture into the egg yolks, whisking constantly, then pour this mixture back into the pot and continue heating until it thickens and almost boils. Stir in the pumpkin and keep stirring until there are no big bubbles when you stop stirring for a few seconds. Remove from the heat and whisk in the vanilla.
Beat the egg whites until frothy, then start adding the sugar gradually, beating until stiff peaks have formed. Fold a big spatula of the whites into the pumpkin custard, then fold in the remaining egg whites. Turn the mousse into a 6-cup metal mold that has been rinsed with cold water. Chill mousse overnight. To unmold, dip the mold in hot water for about 30 seconds then invert onto a serving platter. Alternatively, spoon the mousse into individual ramekins or wine glasses that have a tablespoon or two of chopped crystallized ginger and/or gingersnap crumbs in the bottom. Serve with whipped cream.
November 19th, 2008 at 12:18 PM ^
I peed my pants a little.
November 19th, 2008 at 11:50 AM ^
At least RR isn't taking the bullshit "Just another game" that did Cooper in at Ohio State.
November 19th, 2008 at 12:00 PM ^
How can you seriously expect RR to be emotional about something that he has yet to experience? It's like asking a guy to have feelings for someone he has only met online. Once RR runs onto the 'Shoe in the maize and blue, he'll have a completely different perspective.
I appreciate Lloyd more now but don't miss him. M was a Top 10 program over his tenure and falling off a cliff the year after is tough. But it was time several years ago. Hopefully RR will give us a consistent chance to beat the Bucks in a few years and I'm not sure Lloyd could do that again, despite so many close losses.
November 20th, 2008 at 12:11 AM ^
i completely agree with ts here....
how can people like brodie try to excuse him for his first year. "No matter the result on Saturday, he'll understand by the end of the game what it means to the fans. "
i dont care if its his first game. its ohio state michigan. it does not take a warm up game to "understand" the rivalry.
November 20th, 2008 at 10:12 AM ^
"i dont care if its his first game. its ohio state michigan. it does not take a warm up game to "understand" the rivalry."
Hey asshat, what precisely would you like RichRod to do? Be specific.
November 20th, 2008 at 11:13 AM ^
A 73-page, annotated term paper on the history of the Michigan/OSU rivalry. This is the only way.
November 21st, 2008 at 7:02 PM ^
that they blocking sleds have had OSU jerseys on them all season, don't you?
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