Our fanbase and recruiting
Well, Rich got ripped a new one a few weeks ago by some who objected to his suggestion that the negativity in our fanbase was hurting us on the recruiting trail. Well, I certainly wouldn't think it has helped us here... Bye Dee, would have loved to see you share a backfield with Denard.
Any objections? Neg away...
December 2nd, 2010 at 11:48 PM ^
This has no legs at all.. you don't think he has been watching MIchigan for the last 2 years? We had a worse record last year and he stil committed.. I dont think the record was the problem at all. He knew what he was getting into initially.. He knew it is cold in michigan.. none of this is new info to him.
December 2nd, 2010 at 10:45 PM ^
Did Hart actually decommit? Because that would be news to me. I am as reactionary as anyone, but this is a rumor with some legs but not a foregone conclusion. It doesn't sound like anyone other than Dee knows what his announcement will be tomorrow, and right now over-analyzing and assigning blame it is just foolish. I agree that this fanbase does go into a tizzy rather quickly, but I'm sure that it true everywhere else. Heck, TWIS thrives on this type of behavior.
December 2nd, 2010 at 10:45 PM ^
Somehow I think not being competitive in big games and melting down in the second half of the season AGAIN combined with the job status limbo of the coaching staff has far more to do with the decommit than fanbase rumbling which happens at every big-time program. I think we need to sit back and get over ourselves a bit.
December 2nd, 2010 at 10:46 PM ^
There's no question the negativity has hurt our recruiting, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Fans have complained that RR recruiting focus has been too offensive. While some have presented viable points I don't think it's true. The fact is that more offensive studs were willing to take a leap of faith to play in RR's genius system. Top-tier defensive recruits haven't had as great of a risk vs reward scenario with UM. Considering the fact that many "fans" were calling for his head 3 games into season 1, I think RR's point is correct.
December 2nd, 2010 at 11:05 PM ^
How do you think it helps the defensive recruiting when you have a coach who acts indifferent to defense? He said a few weeks ago that he "checks in" and that 98 percent of his time or some huge number is spent on offense.
Rodriguez comes across as lame and unaccountable when he bashes fans on the recruiting. Give the fan base at large a reason to feel excited and the negativity will cool down. 7-5 with a series of narrow wins over also rans like Indiana, UMASS and Purdue and nothing else, isn't going to do it. This is a demanding fan base.
This board is a very small sample of a much larger group that is way past dissatisfied.
December 2nd, 2010 at 11:41 PM ^
7-5 with a series of narrow wins over also rans like Indiana, UMASS and Purdue and nothing else, isn't going to do it.
I might have worded it a little differently. For example. You could also say 7-5 with three victories agains bowl eligible teams and three losses against teams ranked in the top 8 of the BCS.
Purdue and Indiana might be "also rans," but there probably aren't too many jackasses in the Iowa fan base complaining about their narrow victory over Indiana or in the MSU fan base complaining about their game against Purdue at home that looked to be a sure loss until a series of mistakes by the Boilermakers late in the 4th doomed the upset bid.
December 3rd, 2010 at 12:27 AM ^
Chip Kelly and Jim Tressel are two coaches who, by their own account, do not even go into defensive meetings.
December 2nd, 2010 at 10:47 PM ^
Thats all I have heard for weeks. Well I have common sense and this whole thing is bullshit. Dave Brandon is fucking us. The fans. The team. The coach.
December 2nd, 2010 at 10:49 PM ^
Link?
December 2nd, 2010 at 11:07 PM ^
So be a dick if you want. But leaving the program under this cloud is a horrible move for this teams and staffs future. It doesn't help anything. Only makes what has been a hard job even harder. Having kids who want to commit in doubt is proof in that pudding. Call DB the messiah if you want but I see nothing so far that is helping this football team that wasn't already being done/set in motion before he arrived.
December 2nd, 2010 at 11:13 PM ^
Dave Brandon is fucking us. The fans. The team. The coach.
I like how you put you, the fan, in front of the team and the coach. It speaks volumes about how short sighted you are.
I have never called DB 'the messiah' but I think you're getting a little carried away. Just have a beer and go to bed. Things will look better in the morning.
December 2nd, 2010 at 11:33 PM ^
I guess I have to put them in some grand order for it to be ok with you if I express my opinion. Get over yourself. I'm not carried away. Its how I feel. Ooooh so sorry I didn't say it the way you think I should have. I didn't know saying an opinion on here had to be checked by you. But since I am so short sighted I guess thinking Dave Brandon is making a mistake that I see as a very large one means I need your input. And things won't look better in the morning when it comes to my feelings towards Michigan football. They aren't going to be better until all this speculation is over.
December 2nd, 2010 at 11:49 PM ^
I am with you 100% on this.. I am quicky losing faith in this guy as AD..
December 2nd, 2010 at 10:49 PM ^
Uhh I'm here for the Neg Bang.
December 2nd, 2010 at 10:58 PM ^
Neg away if you want... I gotta vent a little.
DB's decision to wait until after the bowl game has me believing that JH will be our coach. IMO all signs lead to me believing this.
1. DB went from all in for Rich Rod to saying that he has been pressured for change and hes not happy with the way things are going
2. Stanfords bowl game is stopping the immediate announcement of JH as our next head coach.
3. January RR buyout will be much less than if we got rid of him right now.
4. RRs emotional speech at the bust is his attempt to change the future outcome
December 2nd, 2010 at 11:00 PM ^
These are my opinions only.
Let it be known that I have been a firm RR supporter and would love to see him stay but from the looks of things, hes gone. I really wish Dee stays committed and RR gets another year.
December 2nd, 2010 at 11:26 PM ^
When did DB say he was pressured for change? If I recall, he was pretty adamant that it was his decision and that he was the only one qualified to make it, given that everyone else had 5% of the information.
December 3rd, 2010 at 1:08 AM ^
This is the only scenario that makes sense. To keep RR but leave him dangling in the media so that he loses many of his prize recruits is simply too foolish a strategy to be attributed to DB. I really feel for Rich in all this, and tonight's speech sounds to me like the words of a man who is facing a major rejection. If this is true, it really bums me out that we will never see what RR's offense would do next year, and also that this approach is uncaring towards him as a person. But DB may think of Harbaugh as someone who will unify our community (once the dust has cleared) and carry forward the tradition for another twenty years. I would think that it is the long-term rather than the present that is really on DB's mind.
December 2nd, 2010 at 10:59 PM ^
if this means anything but on our commit page on rivals there is no Dee. Plus when you click on his list of school it has bama as the only high interest school. FML
December 2nd, 2010 at 11:12 PM ^
December 2nd, 2010 at 11:16 PM ^
Guys, you know that maybe it's possible that Alabama turned up the heat on Dee and convinced him to go to Bama? Sure the indecision may have hurt, but it sounds like this is more of Alabama winning a recruit then us losing a recruit.
December 2nd, 2010 at 11:17 PM ^
At least we picked up Justice Hayes. You never want to lose any Hart, but you KNOW that Hayes will be able to LAY DOWN THE LAW. Or that Hayes will POUND THE GAVEL. 4 Years of fun with a first name like Justice. "JUSTICE SENDING THE SAFETY TO A SENTENCE OF 25 TO LIFE YARDS!"
December 2nd, 2010 at 11:21 PM ^
The 415 replies to the Dee Hart rumor thread is a bit, how do I say this, insane.
Dee seems like a good guy with a good head on his shoulders. He will make the decision that is best for him. I hope he ends up at Michigan but who knows.
But to see huge chunks of fanbases hanging on every word and whim of 17-18 year olds that aren't even on the team yet is slightly disturbing. I like seeing Hello:_____ posts too but I dont live or die based on recruits. There was one post where a dude said he was breathing into a paper bag while typing because of the rumor. Seriously man?
December 2nd, 2010 at 11:22 PM ^
Welcome to the internet age. It's pretty cool at times but also kinda sad a lot as well.
December 2nd, 2010 at 11:29 PM ^
Can anyone blame a young man from not going to Michigan because of the fanbase? I'm 19 right now. I sure know that if I were being recruited for football, I wouldn't want to go to a school where all my "fans" are constantly criticizing the coaches, players, administration.
Being a Division 1 athelete isn't easy in any aspect; mentally, physically, emotionally, etc. We as the fans can heavily effect the mental aspect of a player. I know I certainly would not feel comfortable knowing the 110,000 people I play infront of every Saturday are scrutinizing every little thing that happens.
Of course, maybe none of this happens. After all, I'm not a Division 1 athlete. With the current day we're in though with social networking, the fanbase definitely has some impact. I can only hope we aren't making the team worse. Remember Bo: No man is more important than the team. We are part of the team. When we are divided and not buying into the system, we fail the team.
December 3rd, 2010 at 12:31 AM ^
You want to see scrutiny, take a look at the SEC. We are pikers by comparison.
December 2nd, 2010 at 11:57 PM ^
December 3rd, 2010 at 3:06 AM ^
This is the point in time when I'm just really, really glad I put absolutely zero energy into following recruiting. I just can't get emotionally wrapped up in 17 year old high school kids, because let's be honest, we all couldn't make a decision about what to eat for lunch at that age without changing our minds 5 times.
I feel for all of you who do, however. This is quite the bummer.
December 3rd, 2010 at 3:24 AM ^
course it hurts when everybody is calling for our coach's head,but this is what yall wanting!!!
December 3rd, 2010 at 3:29 AM ^
next do we blame us, the fans, for not beating msu, osu at all the last three years? no winning is everything. think about it, you win and there's no need for blame or excuses. if were winning more, then recruiting becomes easier and places like bama wont lure away players like dee. not saying bama is better then us what so ever. its just frustrating to think powers so high up could place any blame on the blog world or the fans for their opinions. its sports and their will always be peoples opinions.
December 3rd, 2010 at 3:32 AM ^
Student athletes need to understand most social networking sites are full of keyboard cowboys. They will do anything to stir the pot and disway them from coming to a certain program.
December 3rd, 2010 at 7:11 AM ^
dissuade?
December 3rd, 2010 at 7:17 AM ^
I don't think the anti-RR is just in the fanbase, but is also spread by the MSM. I listened to an XM radio show, hosted by a ND fan the evening of our lost to tOSU. The host kept saying that RR is for sure gone, no questions by Monday. No mention that Brandon had said to wait until after the bowl game. He had no inside information, just hate for the program. It is idiots like this that keep spreading the hate.
December 3rd, 2010 at 9:17 AM ^
Good God, some of you are insufferable.
A couple weeks ago, all you people were in love with this dude as the AD.
Suddenly ONE kid (who doesn't even play a position of need!) is thinking about decommitting, and you want to lynch David Brandon.
Get over yourselves.