Non-Coaching Issues With RR
I am sure that there will be numerous posts criticizing RR as a coach. While I agree with those criticisms, this is not the subject of this post. Rather, my criticism is with some statements that RR has made to the press.
Watching this game, one of the announcers commented that RR said to him that he hoped to find a FG kicker on the trip to Penn State. It sounded like ajoking comment, but if this is what he said, than he is an ass. OUr FG kickers are not good. Fine, we know. But they are young men coming to practice every day to try to help M win. How do you think they feel hearing RR say things like that? How do they feel when RR says (earlier this year) that he would welcome students to cme and try out for the kicker job. Talk about undermining a kid's confidence.
More importantly, if I were a parent of a recruit, and I heard that RR mad statements like that publicly, I would think twice about sending my son to play for him.
October 31st, 2010 at 4:16 AM ^
October 31st, 2010 at 10:04 AM ^
...mildly uncomfortable with RR's "pass the buck" comments that tend to diminish his own players.
If the players hear from their own coach that "they're not good enough... etc..." then that has to have a detrimental affect on the way they play.
To that extent, I'm just not sure that RR's demeanor is good for Michigan football.
October 31st, 2010 at 2:07 PM ^
I have heard that all of the kickers got little trophies, because there are no losers here.
Has the place kicking been horrible? Yes, it has. Are the kickers not self aware enough to realize that? I wouldn't think so. See the comment above about "not having vaginas".
October 31st, 2010 at 12:12 PM ^
I remain bothered by sparsely attended "Victors Rally" (an embarrassment on its face), held about a day after new AD, Dave Brandon, announced that he wanted to heal the rift within the Michigan family. RR spoke in front of a giant sign, "Detractors Not Allowed". With a new boss, it took RR about one day to publicly do exactly the opposite of what was demanded while simultaneously tearing open the "healing" rift.
October 31st, 2010 at 12:36 PM ^
Did that really happen? Wow
October 31st, 2010 at 12:52 PM ^
Sorry, the link is expired to the free archive, but here's a copy of the piece written on the Victor's Rally:
'Victor's Rally' embarrassing for football program of U-M's stature
ANGELIQUE S. CHENGELIS
It is nearly a week after the non-university-backed "Victor's Rally" was held at the Michigan Theater to support Michigan football coach Rich Rodriguez and the program, and my opinion hasn't changed.
Really? A Victor's Rally? In February, no less?
Does anyone else get the feeling the need for a rally almost sounds, well, desperate?
The last time I checked, the Michigan football program remains one of the most storied in the history of the sport. Has it been kicked around the last couple years? Yes. Has the winning tradition taken a shot? Hard to argue that -- an 8-16 record through two seasons, not to mention an NCAA investigation into rules violations, has proven that.
This is new territory for Michigan supporters, at least in the last 40 or so years, because they became accustomed to winning and going to bowl games and earning national rankings. Times have been tough lately, and there has been some fracturing in the Michigan family of former players, at least in terms of their perception of the direction in which the program is moving.
Unless I have missed something, however, I don't recall any public grousing about Rodriguez by former players -- not including those who have played under him the last two years, because that's another story -- who are not thrilled about the program's direction and its coach. Have they mentioned how much they hate seeing the program lose? Of course, but publicly dissing Rodriguez? Haven't heard it.
Divisive support
A wise former player once told me that the noise -- and there has been plenty of that the last few years -- has come from those who so fully back Rodriguez, not from those who would not refer to themselves as staunch Rodriguez supporters.
Three words that appeared on the Michigan Theater screen last Sunday said it all: "Detractors Not Allowed."
Talk about drawing a line in the sand. Those are threatening words, unreasonable and defensive words, words that challenge and draw resistance, not words that try to heal and bind.
Detractors not allowed.
In this effort to rally support for Rodriguez and the program, the rally could very well have had the uncalculated effect of digging deeper into the family rift. A rally is meant to encourage support, but the suggestion by those three little words was that, "OK, we're on this side, and if you don't like it even if you paid the dues on the football field and love Michigan football as much as anyone we don't want you."
Give me a break.
Winning cures everything
Michigan fans want Michigan football to be strong and powerful and nationally respected. That much has always been true, and they didn't need to be reminded of that during a "rally."
And making Rodriguez a main focus of the rally was probably not the best idea.
Why? Because Michigan football is bigger than Rodriguez, just as it was bigger than the coaches who preceded him, Lloyd Carr, Gary Moeller and, yes, even bigger than Bo Schembechler, who unearthed Michigan from a down time and re-established its relevance.
Has Rodriguez taken his share of hits? Yes, and that comes with losing (and an NCAA investigation). Did Carr take his share of hits? Of course he did. And so did Moeller and Schembechler.
The point is, no one threw a rally for Moeller after that brutal loss to Colorado, and there wasn't a rally for Carr after the Wolverines lost the opener to Appalachian State, only to be followed by a blowout to Oregon.
Michigan football doesn't need a rally. Rodriguez doesn't need a rally. Neither needs to look so beaten it needs to be picked up off the mat.
Rodriguez and Michigan don't need a rally. Quite simply, they need to win.
October 31st, 2010 at 2:00 PM ^
Usually there is a point to a post like this.
October 31st, 2010 at 2:33 PM ^
Sometimes there are two points - 1) providing requested information and 2) detailing a RR non-coaching issue (as is the title of the thread).
October 31st, 2010 at 2:51 PM ^
Please explain the non-coaching issue. Was it that he accepted the invitation to attend the function and should have been recruiting? Or is it that you believe he chose the signage?
October 31st, 2010 at 3:04 PM ^
He spoke in front of a giant "Detractors Not Allowed" projection without commenting on it. That is a big, non-coaching issue. Doing this just after his new boss expressed a desire to heal the rift was (for lack of a better word) dumb. Open your mind a bit to understand that recruiting vs. skipping the event are not the only options. He may not have selected the words, but there are multiple options that a smart, non-rift creating coach would have done:
-Demand that the slide be turned off (perhaps replaced with a Block M) before speaking. That'd take about 2 seconds to fix.
-Begin speaking, turn around to "notice" the slide and say something like, "Actually, detractors are allowed. I realize we haven't lived up to expectations yet, but the Michigan family is a big one and I plan to show everyone just how good our program is going to be."
-Walk on stage, point to the sign and say something like, "I realize that people want to see strife and dissent within our program. I promise you that I will fight hard to win the support of all fans - supporters, detractors and anyone in the middle."
October 31st, 2010 at 4:22 PM ^
non-rift creating coach
Are you implying that his intent was to create rifts? If so, that is very difficult to believe.
Your "big" non-coaching issue is that RR isn't as politically savvy as you would like. I guess we have different definitions of the words "big" and "issue".
October 31st, 2010 at 5:18 PM ^
At least take the time to read what I wrote...or even what you quoted. Do you see, anywhere, that he "intended" to create a rift? Of course not. So why ask? His actions, however, either created (some might argue) or exacerbated (as can't be debated) the rift.
The "big non-coaching issue" is that the coach, shortly after the new AD proclaimed it was time to heal divisions within the family, gave a big "fuck you" to a large chunk of the family. He may not have intended it, but there's a difference between "politically savvy" and "stupid". If you don't agree with the message, you don't stand in front of a giant sign and give a speech. Some folks seem more "all in" for RichRod than "Michigan".
October 31st, 2010 at 6:21 PM ^
RayIsaac likes to put words in people's mouths and make huge assumptions based on what people say on this here message board. Generally, he's not worth the time to have an argument.
November 1st, 2010 at 12:45 PM ^
Magnus is upset that I point out his bullshit? If you didn't brag about how right you always are, perhaps that wouldn't happen.
Are you going to "burn" me with another one of your homophobic attacks?
November 1st, 2010 at 2:51 PM ^
You just say random stuff and hope it sticks, don't you? Now I'm a homophobe, huh? Interesting...
November 1st, 2010 at 4:06 PM ^
I remember a time when you said that you had a man crush on Justin Bieber and that your favorite TV show was "Queer Eye for a Straight Guy."
http://mgoblog.com/mgoboard/carvin-johnson-deep-safety?page=1
Did I misunderstand your thinly veiled references?
November 1st, 2010 at 8:03 PM ^
You clearly missed the point of my comment. Why does that not surprise me?
November 1st, 2010 at 12:45 PM ^
His actions, however, either created (some might argue) or exacerbated (as can't be debated) the rift.
So...from the above quote - his actions either did or didn't do something that we may or may not know about. It is obvious that his actions didn't create the rift, because AD Brandon spoke about rifts prior to the rally. I am not sure why your second point "can't be debated" as if it came from Isaac Newton. I do believe it "can't be debated" because nobody knows the truth.
gave a big "fuck you" to a large chunk of the family.
Where does the concept of this fit in with respect to healing rifts? Again, are you saying that there are at least two groups "detractors" and "non-detractors" with "detractors" being a "large chunk"? If the point of the whole function and AD Brandon's comments was to heal rifts (in other words eliminate the chunkiness), wouldn't it be more productive for the program if we leaned toward "non-detractor"? The win-loss record is ultimately going to determine RR's fate, soon, so why bitch all the way? He is the current coach, and deserves the support while he is the current coach. That is what is best for the program right now. If the time comes when it is determined that his coaching regime is not the best option for the program, I trust that a change will be made.
In addition, I think that you may be projecting your petttiness onto the "detractors" group. If a "detractor" really got offended by this, and thought about it for more than 15 seconds, I think the issue lies with the the hypersensitive offended rather than the coach. Perhaps that this where we disagree, as I stated earlier. You think this action exacerbated a rift, I give more credit to UM fans of all opinions. I would hope all UM fans want to see wins, regardless of who the coach is or isn't.
I am having a difficult time understanding how supporting RR, who is part of the Michigan program right now, can be construed as not showing support for the program.
November 1st, 2010 at 1:43 PM ^
Please, don't waste any more of my time. I actually read much of your post before noticing this:
If the point of the whole function and AD Brandon's comments was to heal rifts (in other words eliminate the chunkiness), wouldn't...
Did you read anything I wrote? I mean, read it and let the words sink in to your head? The function had NOTHING TO DO with Brandon's comments. That is the entire problem. The event had the opposite effect from what Brandon (the boss) had just demanded. When your boss says "heal rifts" and you then tear them open, you deserve every ounce of scrutiny headed your way.
November 1st, 2010 at 2:17 PM ^
I know you so very much want to be right, but you have no idea what the effect of the rally had. None whatsoever Therefore you cannot claim "and you then tear them open" as if it were a fact. It's not a fact.
AD Brandon's words "heal rifts" is akin to sayin "get the program going in one direction" is it not? The point of the rally was the same. I know you may have been offended, and apparently very deeply, by the signage. But you have no proof of any effect of the rally.
Your original thought was that this was a non-coaching issue. My thought was that it wasn't.
November 1st, 2010 at 3:37 PM ^
My thought is that you might be retarded. When Brandon spoke of healing rifts, he was talking about ending the spats within the Michigan family. You do not do that by telling a portion of the family to fuck off. Period. If you got in an argument with a co-worker (Fred) and your boss said to heal the rift, do you think that posting a "Fred Not Allowed" sign on your office door would be "healing the rift"? Of course not.
It seems that logic and common sense mean little to you. So I'll just move on.
November 2nd, 2010 at 11:02 PM ^
How have you made it in life being an idiotic, whiny little bitch?
Posting a sign on my door is not the same as speaking in front of sign. Do you need an explanation? In the case of the door sign, I have actively placed the sign there thereby increasing tension. The other situatio - Coach gets asked to speak at a non-university event that has a sign that says "no detractors". Is it a stupid sign? Yes. Could it also be an attempt to unify the fan base? Yes. You have admitted that RR did not have the intent to cause a further rift. So, as I said earlier, only a hypersensitive whiny little bitch would be offended so deeply to this day.
Do you have any proof that it created a deeper rift? No, you do not. You have no clue...in general.
November 2nd, 2010 at 11:10 PM ^
They let anonymous assholes say whatever they want. Facts means nothing (the "sign" was the screen filling up the stage behind him). Decency means nothing. Watch your tone asshole.
November 2nd, 2010 at 11:13 PM ^
Watch your tone asshole.
November 2nd, 2010 at 11:36 PM ^
Call me crazy, but when someone calls me "an idiotic, whiny little bitch" I don't want to give them a hug. But feel free to post some sweet snarky pics for the other dude. I love you.
November 2nd, 2010 at 11:27 PM ^
They let anonymous assholes say whatever they want.
You fit this category very well, except I would add "whiny little bitch" right after the word anonymous.
November 2nd, 2010 at 11:37 PM ^
Do you fellate your mother with that mouth?
Nice picture of a cat though. Have a good one.
November 4th, 2010 at 10:19 PM ^
A bit harsh and not really funny.
October 31st, 2010 at 3:09 PM ^
Detractors not allowed? That is really non-Michiganesque.
October 31st, 2010 at 4:06 PM ^
I think the press doesn't like RichRod so they are out to burn him for comments that in another coach would rate a chuckle and be forgotten.
Why are they after RichRod? Because of what he does vice what a MarkyD does.
MarkyD's guys go out, maybe after a few beers, and beat up some other guys. Heck, the reporters all remember that time second semester of freshman year when they were at the red cup party and their roommate's best friend from high school got jumped down the street and so they all...
Mark gives the kid a break, and everyone shrugs in the press.
The reporters also remember that time senior year that they carried some coke to give to their girlfriend's friend cause she asked, but didn't get caught . There but for the grace...
Add in the fact that they are around all the kids in the locker room at open practice and see how hard they work and they are pretty likeable kids, and you have a 'Okay, you gave another one a break'. You can see how that wave kept going until this latest MSU case.
RichRod, though, gets himself jammed up other ways than giving a kid a break, and helping the team at the same time. The assistant thing. The kids didn't have anything to do with it, he was trying to get away with some extra coaches and practice sessions. Was it as bad as OSU's constant line of crap they get away with? No, but it wasn't rainbows and sunshine.
Then add in RichRod's business deals. So many of them are super shady at best, and worse than that-- I think. The reporters see that stuff all the time when they report news stories, rich guys with money or power or influence ripping off others for an extra buck they don't even need.
Then the scam with the free bank money. The reporters all have mortgages and credit cards, same as the rest of us, and seeing RichRod use power, connections and the lure of sideline passes to get free money while the rest of us have to pay fees and interest is an abuse of Michigan's Tradition, and one that would lead a reporter to dislike RichRod.
So the press goes head hunting. Fair? Most likely not.