Brandon Should Give Rich Rod an Extension.
[Ed-M: Interesting thoughts. Not a diary, really, though. Retitiled and thumped to board]
I am proposing a contract extension for Rich Rodriguez immediately to calm the waters in this crazy time for Michigan football. I apologize in advance for formatting, I am typing on my Blackberry.
With so much drama around the program at this time, recruits have to be asking questions and current players may be nervous about the future of the coaching staff they came to Michigan to play for. David Brandon should offer Rich a 2 year extension at the current terms of Rich's deal. Under the current terms, Rich can be fired "with cause" for major NCAA violations. M has already admitted to multiple major violations under Rodriguez. Due to this fact, a 2 year extension really obligates the university to nothing (lawyers, please feel free to refute this).
Rich could still be fired at the end of the season if Brandon thinks it is necessary. In my opinion, the pros of doing this far outweigh the cons. I am sure the media would go crazy and Rich Rod haters would be flooding Brandon's mailbox. However, it would be a statement to recruits that the coaching situation is stable. We would also be locking Rich in to a few more years when his value is at its lowest point in years. This is a great time to buy Rich Rod stock.
November 2nd, 2010 at 11:40 AM ^
Give Rich Rod the option to work with an approved defensive coordinator/system or to leave.
I'm okay with this in theory, but how would you actually pull it off? Who approves of the DC? Brandon?
November 2nd, 2010 at 2:48 PM ^
I'm NOT ok with this in theory . . . it's complete lunacy!
Have any one of you actually been in charge of anything before?
You don't hamstring your field general. It's asinine!
Are we going to child-proof the sharp parts of Shembechler Hall next?
Speaking of Bo, (who most of us dream all Michigan coaches should resemble) do you think he would have EVER tolerated the suggestion that he was anything less than 100% in charge of the football team?
There are too many middle managers on this board.
November 2nd, 2010 at 11:28 AM ^
No matter how everyone feels about the current state of the program and direction, I think everyone can agree that David Brandon is the best person to make the correct decision on the future of the program.
November 2nd, 2010 at 11:28 AM ^
would sign it. I am not sure that you have this in quite the right perspective right now.
November 2nd, 2010 at 11:29 AM ^
No extension is necessary or will be given most likely. RR signed a 6yr contract meaning his he is under contract through the 2013 season. Thus, he is not a lame duck coach. Dave Brandon is waiting until the end of the season for two reasons. The first being the final verdict from the NCAA should be available by then meaning that if RR is found to have violated NCAA regulations, DB can fire RR with cause which translates to a savings of 4 million dollars (buyout clause). The second reason is that its a good idea to see how the team finishes. If the season ended today, I think RR is gone no questions asked. DB has a business mentality which means he likes to cut his losses early. There are many coaches out there than would succeed at Michigan. Its clear the RR has not. Would he given 6 years take Michigan to the BCS? Maybe, but I doubt anyone will wait that long. Its taken him 3 years and the time is making minor leaps, not the giant leaps observed with his other teams. My guess is that RR is gone at the end of this season. Plus a new coach brings a sense of confidence to the program.
November 2nd, 2010 at 11:50 AM ^
1. Contracts are bought out all the time. It's not really a consideration when firing him. However, his 6 year contract has a buyout that decreases every year. The longer we wait, the less we have to pay in the buyout.
2. The NCAA violations are set. We appealed the violation that RR promotes a bad program but none of the other ones. That means that at least 4 major violations were committed and he can get fired without the buyout whenever.
3. Dave Brandon's business mentality also says that he's not going to neuter his flagship sport by cutting off the investment early.
4. There are also many coaches out there, that given the attrition on defense, would be failing worse than Rich Rod is right now.
5. We have had major leaps on offense that have been hindered by the degrading defense as leftover seniors leave the team. Any improvement on defense next year coupled with slight improvement on offense will pay dividends in the Wins column.
November 2nd, 2010 at 1:59 PM ^
Wow, couldn't disagree with you more. I think there's no question that if the season ended today, RichRod would be back for next year. The offense is the fourth best in the country, with absolutely no support from the defense. We have the #1 RB in the country coming in next year and there's nothing but upside for the O under Rich's leadership. There just needs to be a tangible plan for the D that Brandon believes in, and if Rich and Dave together can't address that, then I suppose Rich might have to go. I really don't see that happening though.
November 2nd, 2010 at 11:33 AM ^
this isn't all RR's problem. Bash away at me if you want, but where are all the talented Jrs and Srs on this team? There aren't many and that isn't RR's fault. I was as pissed as anyone Saturday night so much so that I turned the TV off after Talbott missed an opportunity for a pick/PBU and the WR went for 30+ after the catch.
Kids are playing out of position and trying their hardest. They have not quit on RR and it's not time for us to either. Like it or not he is our coach and this is our team and we need to cheer as loud as we can to show them our support.
Go Blue!
November 2nd, 2010 at 11:41 AM ^
With all the talk of firing, that is only half of the story. Who is out there for hire (that even equals RR's resume) that would be an upgrade? Seriously?
Coaches and recruits are like a box of chocolates-- you never know what you are going to get.
November 2nd, 2010 at 11:57 AM ^
Does RR still have a great résumé? The most recent entry has him 13-19 (4-16) at Michigan. Given that we had 40 consecutive non-losing seasons before he arrived, one would think that it wouldn't be that hard to find a coach who can get us back in the upper echelon.
November 2nd, 2010 at 1:09 PM ^
Valid point, but at the time of the hire RR was proven.
How this will all work out I don't know, but there are no slam dunks with a coaching change. I'd rather err on the side of patience, than to get into the coaching carousel game like ND.
November 2nd, 2010 at 1:36 PM ^
We may have believed he was proven at the time, but was he? Or was Jeff Casteel more important to his success than we thought?
November 2nd, 2010 at 2:00 PM ^
Exactly-- that's my point. At that time. We are all Monday-morning QBing it here. It is impossible to predict success whether with RR or whoever else. You never know what is going to happen, which is why CFB is exciting and why they play the games.
November 2nd, 2010 at 2:07 PM ^
Yes, it would be a gamble. But given that we're the winningest program in history and that this coach is below .500 overall and .200 in conference play, what are the odds that we could do worse? Really, what's gone on since December 2007 has been a worst-case scenario. No one could have possibly predicted this.
November 2nd, 2010 at 2:29 PM ^
Yea-I'm with you-- the odds of being worse (record-wise) are slim. Can our D get any worse? (I'd hate to see it) If our D is even mediocre, I bet we aren't having this conversation.
That is why my patience has one year left.
November 2nd, 2010 at 1:39 PM ^
We can't be scared into Lions' logic. Can you imagine how much better the Lions would be if they had gotten rid of Millen years ago? Instead, he got to switch coaches repeatedly (as many as hoping RR will do with his DC). Of course there are no slam dunks, but when it becomes clear that a mistake has been made, a change must be made. Otherwise, we're just treading water in a pool of failure.
Who knows, maybe RR will win 3 of the last 4? If that happens, I think he should stay. I just don't believe, based on his history here, that it will.
November 2nd, 2010 at 11:43 PM ^
November 2nd, 2010 at 12:01 PM ^
Well, Randy "I seen it in practice" Shannon (UMiami) got an extension last year and that hasn't helped him at all with rumors or recruits decommitting. Just saying...
Unfortunately, winning is the only way to restore calm.
November 2nd, 2010 at 11:55 AM ^
...for an extension. Jury's still out.
November 2nd, 2010 at 11:57 AM ^
An extension? No way. I'm a RRod supporter and even I am not in agreement with that. I do think that Brandon can give RRod a vote of confidence to calm the waters but it's a little too early for that. This team stands at 5 and 3 going into 2 games on the schedule which on paper we should win. Granted most of us expect Illinois to give us fits but if you looked at this game 2 months ago I'm sure most of us would have predicted a win against Illinois. I expect an inspired effort this Saturday in front of a home crowd. Let's see where we are after the Purdue game before we start talking about possible scenarios involving David Brandon...
November 2nd, 2010 at 11:57 AM ^
I agree with the OP. Although I have stated that I am no longer an RR apologist I do want to see what he can do with a program stocked full of his recruits from Freshmen to Seniors. It is only fair to let the coach play out his tenure. Also if we can get him signed now with no strings attached for the future he wouldn't break the bank (as if that's even possible).
November 2nd, 2010 at 12:03 PM ^
IMO, RR needs to do the job he was hired to do and then reap the benefits brought on by his success. An extension right now validates mediocrity.
November 2nd, 2010 at 12:43 PM ^
There is no way RRod gets an extension, let alone the dreaded vote of confidence until the season is over, if at all. Brandon said he will wait until the season is over to evaluate, and given what's going on, no way that changes.
November 2nd, 2010 at 12:45 PM ^
The main issue presented here would be that after three-straight losses, DB would be "All In" for RR. He would basically tie himself into this situation. Legally speaking, the extension would be another K and you would be able to make the argument that RR hasn't breached the new K (the extension) because he wouldnt have violated any NCAA rules since the formation of the new K. So...its not so simple as just extending his stay here for the sole purpose of solidifying recruits and then giving him the heave ho. Without getting into a lot legal BS, there are many ways this could be attacked in court and the last thing UM needs to do is look like they are screwing their HC's to save a few bucks and land a few recruits. Not exactly a good look for an institution that has gone APE SH** over some extra practice hours.
November 2nd, 2010 at 1:09 PM ^
Brandon will learn from the fiasco that has been ND for the last 20 years and avoid the head coaching carousel this year even if we go 5-7. As I mentioned in a prior post and got lambasted by touchy UM fans, aside from obvious no-no's like getting Moeller'd at a local watering hole, RR can rest assured that Brandon's ultimate decision will come down to how RR's offense has performed this year vs the Big 10. This is the picture I believe Brandon sees:
1. RR's offense, while still young with a new starter (Denard) has posted incredible numbers this year.
2. Those O numbers are even more impressive given how little time the O has had on the field since the D never makes any stops. Imagine the O numbers if the D afforeded the extra 7-9 minutes of ball possession a game that a middling D1 D would offer?
3. Brandon will look at the disaster that is the D, but factor in the lack of personnel and experience. He will note how a power like Florida is struggling at 5-3 losing to, uh, Miss St? Why? Young personnel. Yet is anyone asking for Urban Meyers' head?
4. At season's end Brandon will meet with RR about major shake ups in the D staff. The third time will be the charm, and during the off season UM will bring in a stud D coordinator with the chutzpa to tell RR how it is going to be on D, and not allow himself to be pushed in 5 directions, away from the schemes he has confidence running. Who that will be? Guess it's bad form to discuss it too much during the recruiting season.
5. Brandon will realize there is really only one direction for this program to go under RR - UP. The O will only get better with experience, depth and Dee Hart running wild. And the D? Can it possibly get any worse? This D reminds me of the O 2 years ago- the worst unit on that side of the ball we will ever again see in our lifetimes. It can only get better.
6. With RR and a new D coordinator, UM goes 8-4 next year or 9-3 next year and finally beats OSU, but loses to Nebraska.
7. RR signs a long term deal before 2012 season - Denard's senior season, a trip to Dallas vs Alabama, etc. - and UM's D is finally fixed for good, and clear sailing.
November 2nd, 2010 at 1:48 PM ^
This is what I hope Brandon is thinking. Never know though. Right after the game I wanted Rich gone. But really, he can only get better. The defense can't be this bad every year. If it gets just decent we will be a great team. Just one more year....just one more year...just one more year. If suckage continues next year, then... SEE YA LATER DICKROD!!!111!!
November 2nd, 2010 at 2:11 PM ^
Brandon will learn from the fiasco that has been ND for the last 20 years and avoid the head coaching carousel this year even if we go 5-7.
If we finish 5-7, RR will be gone. There is no way he could be retained after going 2-6, 1-7 and 1-7 in Big Ten play, with the latter two wins coming against Indiana. And enough with the ND stuff. Teams fire underperforming coaches all the time. That's how most of the top coaches arrived at their current schools.
November 2nd, 2010 at 2:19 PM ^
Don't forget that one of the wins in 2008 was against Minnesota.
November 2nd, 2010 at 5:19 PM ^
I'll give him credit for that one, actually. Minnesota won 7 games that year, and the game was on the road. It was probably RR's best performance against a Big Ten opponent. What's disheartening is that we can't seem to win these types of games now.
November 2nd, 2010 at 3:17 PM ^
On how we go 5-7. If our offense is beastly and performs well the rest of the year. I don't see RR gone even if we lose all the games. Too much upside to keep him and too much downside to start again from scratch. However honestly, God bless RR if we lose to both Illinois and Purdue.. He will need it.
I predicted 6-6 or 7-5 this year with:
4 predictable losses - Iowa, PSU, Wisc, OSU
4 predictable wins - BG, UMass, Indiana, Illinois
4 coin flips - UConn, ND, MSU, Purdue.
So far my prediction has been accurate, and with the only changes being PSU becoming a lost coin flip, and Purdue and Illinois swapping places. Illinois is now the coin flip, and Purdue, even though an away game, appears a predictable win even for this wretched D, especially with a healty Martin.
All faith is not lost, but we absolutely MUST beat Purdue. The Illinois win will be very nice if we can get it. I think we can. Win this week, win next week. Lose Wisc/OSU. 7-5, then win a bowl game - 8-5. Not terrible.
November 2nd, 2010 at 4:53 PM ^
And enough with the ND stuff. Teams fire underperforming coaches all the time.
Amen to that. People constantly bring up ND in an attempt essentially to end a debate. Every situation is different, yet people act as if Michigan is guaranteed to head down the same road as ND if Rodriguez is fired after the season. That's simply not the case.
November 3rd, 2010 at 12:00 AM ^
November 2nd, 2010 at 1:21 PM ^
no. this really makes no sense... If i'm reading this correctly, you're advocating a ruse where we give the appearance of stability by offering the extension and then rescinding it if necessary at the end of the year?
I can't get behind that idea. Looks pretty bad for the program, and if commits come in based on the idea that Rich is staying for 2 more years, and then he gets canned, are they really going to stick around anyway?
If Brandon is convinced that Rich Rodriguez is the future of Michigan football, then he should extend the contract. If not, you do not fuck around with something like this.
As so many have said, Brandon (and the rest of us) need to see what happens over these last four games.
Scenario 1 - We lose out, showing no further signs of life. 5-7 Again.
= I think Brandon will (and should) pull the plug on the Rodriguez experiment. This should happen immediately after Ohio State, to give us time to get after someone like Harbaugh or whoever else may be the Coach Du Jour. Now, something I would qualify this with: If there's not an attainable clear Top-Tier or widely sought after Coach available, I would rather they stick with Rodriguez and simply overhaul the Defensive Coaching staff. This is not a time for another project coach.
Scenario 2 - We beat Purdue & Lose the rest. 6-6.
= Extra Practices, BOWL GAME!!!! 6-6 was the grey area I really was hoping to avoid, but I would be comfortable enough to allow Rodriguez to continue to build this team and see how things play out. Added factor: Plan B may not be available and the coaching landscape may not be amenable to replacing Rich after a bowl game. Major defensive staff overhaul probably necessary. No contract extension for Rich, but Brandon makes it clear that tangible progress has occurred and the staff will come back for a 4th year.
Scenario 3 - We miraculously win out! 9-3!
= Extra Practices, tougher BOWL GAME against SEC team! Brandon should definitely consider an extension in this scenario, especially if we pull off a bowl game. Also: if we win out, Denard probably should win the heisman, because he will have done rediculous things to allow us to do that.
to recap: I think Rich will be back for a 4th year. We really should be able to, at the VERY LEAST, Indiana our way past Purdue. Anything between scenarios 2 & 3 above would be gravy, particularly if it includes a win over OSU.
Yeah, I'm pissed off and sick of what's happening on saturdays of late, but the thing we always overlook is who really would be available to coach our team that would be a definite upgrade. IMO, Harbaugh would be. He may be too expensive though, if the NFL is seeking his services. I just do not want a project coach replacing another project already in it's 3rd year.
Why would Harbaugh definitely be a good fit?
(1) Michigan Man - Alums would largely get behind him, I would think.
(2) Cocky - would bring an arrogance and swagger back to Ann Arbor that is kind of lacking right now. Is he maybe sorta definitely an asshole? Maybe sorta definitely so. If that's what it takes to get it up for big games against State & OSU, so be it. You KNOW JH would love the opportunity to be the guy who restores order to Michigan football.
(3) His resume/trajectory at Stanford has been impressive. He's shown the ability to improve a program in the dumps. He gets his team ready for huge games. The wins against USC are not to be overlooked.
(4) I would make the argument that the transition would not be nearly as rough as in 2008. Why, you ask? Tate Forcier, Mike Shaw, Daryl Stonum, Roy Roundtree, Kevin Koger and the offensive line. I'm sure there would be some attrition somewhere, but Harbaugh's a great offensive coach, a former QB, and he'd be dealt quite an upperclass hand, unlike Rodriguez. I have no idea what happens to Denard Robinson in this scenario. Would it suck majorly to have him transfer. Yep. Would it also suck to see JH try to turn Denard into a more pro-style QB. Yep. Would it suck to see JH offer Denard a position switch to Tailback/WR/cb? no, but chances are a top5 heisman guy will not want to switch positions. So there's that. Jim Harbaugh with a Junior Tate Forcier is something I could live with. I actually think Tate would flourish under Harbaugh in a more wide open pro-style set. Maybe Gardner transfers, or maybe he redshirts (if he doesn't get his medical this year) to learn the system. A baseline of 6-6 would not be farfetched given the returning personnel.
(5) our defense needed an overhaul anyway: it would continue to be bad, but maybe a different philosophy and attitude could help.
anyway, just stuff that's on all of our minds. please remember that the Harbaugh stuff is purely hypothetical. I think Rich will be around as long as we can plug the gaping wound with Purdue.
November 2nd, 2010 at 2:22 PM ^
Disagree with Scenario 2. I don't think a 6-6 (2-6) season, with the two wins coming against bad Purdue and Indiana teams, will be enough to convince Brandon or the fanbase that "tangible progress" has occurred. That scenario involves us going 0-4 at home in Big Ten play, losing to Zook for a third consecutive year, and again not beating a quality opponent. Our conference record would be identical to that of 2008, which was supposed to be the worst season ever. That's not enough. I think you'd see Fred Jackson appointed interim coach for the bowl.
November 2nd, 2010 at 3:55 PM ^
I heartily disagree, unless Brandon is set in his heart to get a specific coaching candidate. If UM gets to a bowl, I really think Rich gets one last chance next year. Extra practices, a high percentage bowl game against a mac team. just a little momentum to build off of.
November 2nd, 2010 at 5:22 PM ^
If we finish 6-6, with that last win against Purdue, we'll have finished 1-6. We will likely have zero wins against winning teams. We will have gone 2-6, 1-7, and 2-6 in conference play, and we would be a combined 0-6 against Sparty and OSU. The fanbase would be outraged if Brandon brought RR back after that. It won't happen.
November 2nd, 2010 at 6:42 PM ^
The 0-3 record against Penn State isn't going to help Rodriguez's cause either.
November 2nd, 2010 at 11:50 PM ^
November 2nd, 2010 at 1:22 PM ^
Now is not the time to be talking contract extensions. The defense is horrendous and could possibly lose us the next 4 games. I'm trying to stay positive but it is so hard given the defensive product on the field Saturday night. I have not decided where I fall in the RR returning next year but I am 100% against a contract extension right now. That's absurd.
November 2nd, 2010 at 3:14 PM ^
Step back and look at this for a second. Does anyone actually believe that in five years' time, Rich Rodriguez will be our coach, and we'll be competing for national championships under him? Even after all that has transpired in the past three years? If so, I admire how stubborn you are, but I wouldn't want to match it in this case. We can't stick our heads in the sand and pretend everything is peaches and cream. Rich Rod needs to go. OSU and MSU (and hell, the rest of the Big Ten sans Indiana) dominate us. When will this nightmare end?
November 2nd, 2010 at 5:48 PM ^
I understand the oddveious, yes I've seen the performance on the field, yes our def is horrible, yes it seems like theirs no urgency for improvement by the coaches...I UNDERSTAND YOUR PAIN!!!!! but the truth is theres no one out there that has the offensive production we do except the DUCK'S and he aint leavin Eugene...Harbaugh aint it his team got smashed by the same offensive skeem we have...as a matter of fact.. Oregon is gonna save RR job the only thing they have on us is they finally have a average def.....ask Jim Harbaugh
November 2nd, 2010 at 7:15 PM ^
Brandon should give RR an extension??? No, but Brandon should give the OP a drug test.
November 2nd, 2010 at 7:04 PM ^
Im wouldnt say give him an extension but to come out in public and say that Rich Rod is our guy...He is the leader of this program and he sees a lot of positives from this years team to the last two.
You fire the man if he has lost his players and no one believes in the system. I dont think that is the case. I think every player is buying what hes selling. Especially on offense. On defense...you will need to fire everybody...and get a true proven leader.
November 2nd, 2010 at 7:13 PM ^
Maybe the heavy attrition is a sign that not everyone is buying in. At least, enough guys are choosing to leave to continually leave us shorthanded on D.
November 2nd, 2010 at 7:31 PM ^
I think that's why he said we need to get a new defensive staff.
November 2nd, 2010 at 7:38 PM ^
People are definetly buying in on the Offense and thats Rich Rods baby...You dont see people on the offensive side of the ball leaving like on the defensive side. The defensive needs a complete over-haul...get rid of everyone, get the right people in there and start from scratch and to develop the youth. Robinson or the D staff hasnt developed anyone.
November 2nd, 2010 at 7:43 PM ^
Hired by the same guy who hired the last staff...who picked the players...and installed the scheme. That sounds like a great plan.
November 2nd, 2010 at 7:50 PM ^
Gerg was a bad hire...everyone knows this...he runs the D...not rich rod. Get someone in there who can run the D or run the D rich rod wants to run. Gerg cant run this D...Obviously. He cant develop players. obviously he cant do shit right. Rich Rod is proven on the O...get someone proven on the D.
November 2nd, 2010 at 7:57 PM ^
Why are people calling for our coaches head? sure we lost 3 games this year, anyone remember when we only won 3 for the year? If we go 7-5 this year, it's an improvement over the last few years and another year of experience for our young players. People need to take a step back and breath, we are 5-3 still have Denard (starting his 1st year) have boat loads of talent on offense, need to get healthy on both sides of the ball. Defense well....we know how this has been going :(... look on the bright side of things we have boat loads of talent on that side of ball to BUT..they're so young and have limited knowlege of the college game, many key injuries hasn't helped IMO.