CC-I agree Rod needs to go, but I hate it

Submitted by Vasav on

I've held my tongue for the most part on the CC discussion, mainly because I wasn't exactly sure how I felt. But having just returned from Jacksonville*, I'm convinced Rod needs to go. While Oregon and Auburn prove that a great O can overcome a middling D, Michigan has confirmed that a good but inconsistent O cannot overcome a hapless D. While I'm confident both sides of the ball would have improved in 2011 under Rod, I don't think they would have done so enough for RR to keep Bo's promise to his first senior class - "Those who stay will be champions."

But I hate it, for plenty of reasons. I hate that "The House of Bo" concept will be cemented. Don't get me wrong, I love what Bo stood for. I love when he originally coined the term "Michigan Man" it preceded a Men's BBall title. But I hate how the jihadis have twisted it - so that it doesn't include a man who took the high road, mentored his players, reprimanded them when they deserved it, and put their welfare above wins and losses. I hate how that twisted form will now be the accepted form. Because as we worried in 2007, if we only look for alums and former assistants to coach here, we are likely to stagnate. And the next time a disciple of Bo retires, it'll be even harder to change, even when change is necessary, because of Rod's failed marriage with Michigan.

 I hope Harbaugh comes, and finds the success that eluded RR (because of his own mismanagement). I don't think it's certain. Coach Rod's tenure here proves that nothing is certain. He came to the winningest program in football as an innovative mind that had proven his mettle by dominating the Big East. I thought it would be the type of marriage that lasted for decades and included multiple NCs. I was very wrong.

I hate that Harbaugh's triumphs aren't certainties in my mind. I hate that the only thing I'm certain of is that we will struggle mightily in 2011. I remember in Columbus 2008, when an usher tried to steal my friend's ticket, and an old, fat, drunk woman tried to pick a fight with me. I remember some jerk-off calling me "Hajji" the whole game rows behind me, and when I finally turned around, and he pointed to the scoreboard, I had no comeback. So I did what any good Michigan Man would do. I said, "Good job, you deserved it today." I remember some OSU student telling me, "don't worry, Rod'll be gone in three years. We'll see you then." I remember taking comfort in the fact that he was wrong. I was so confident that they would all eat crow sooner than Gordon Gee.

But I was wrong, and those jerks were right. The Freep jihadis won this argument. A decent man failed at his job. He ought to be fired. But dangit, do I still hate those pissants. And I really hate the fact that at Michigan, the nice guy finished last.

He needs to go, but I really hate it.

*On a lighter note, while the cowbells were really annoying, I thought that the Mississippi State fans were not your stereotypical SEC crowd. They were all friendly and fun.

los

January 4th, 2011 at 3:29 AM ^

1. I love almonds

2. All signs point to Harbaugh not wanting to Coach here...

3. In that case, RR should stay. The offense will be considered one of the best offenses in the country. A new system and coach will disrupt the strides our offensive unit has made. Learning a new system, as we saw, is painful.

4. The defense next year will be vastly improved considering how many players we get back both from injury and with a full year of experience. We do need a new DC however and he should be allowed to decide who's going to be on his staff.

5. If this pans out, which is not unlikely, RR will be considered a genius once again and ppl will have to swallow their words. Give the man his 4th yeat. If he blows it, make the move. It's not there are any 'gotta have' candidates out there except for Harbaugh.

teldar

January 4th, 2011 at 9:04 AM ^

why people seem to think that the D will be vastly improved if we have the same dc with the same system he doesn't know how to run and the same assistants who are fighting him on how to run his defense. 

I just don't get it. 

Desmonlon Edwoodson

January 4th, 2011 at 12:52 AM ^

I pray that DB gives JH everything he wants.  If he ends up coaching the niners I am going to be devastated.  However, under no circumstances can Rodriguez be brought back.  His perrenial hot seat is becoming increasingly toxic to recruiting which will only worsen with the public outcry that will erupt if he is brought back.  We need to have a coach that can honestly tell recruits(and our next defensive coordinator) that he is going to be here for 4 years.

willywill9

January 4th, 2011 at 8:35 AM ^

If he goes to SF, and doesnt come here, then i guess he just wasn't the Michigan man we all wanted him to be then right? If he wants to come and the job really is open, he will be here. If not then he clearly played his intentions close to the vest for a better contract.

RR wants to be here, and I'll be very willing to embrace another year. The excuses have to stop for next year's team though. I will concede that. We must beat the good teams.

bluenyc

January 4th, 2011 at 10:14 AM ^

I think that RR should get another year, I just don't see how it can work.  DB will have to give him an extension or a public re-assurance.  Otherwise, it will be like this year and maybe much worse.  The MSM vultures will be circling until we win NEB or OSU.  God forbid we lose to MSU or any other team, the heat will be hotter than the sun. 

I just don't see an extension.

teamort2

January 4th, 2011 at 7:51 AM ^

How can he?  He has little if any fanbase.  DB has left him hanging.  I think RR is just waiting for his 2.5 million, and the moving van is loaded.  I wish him well and think he will succeed.

Tim Waymen

January 4th, 2011 at 12:47 AM ^

I completely agree with this post.  Don't forget that Jim Harbaugh dissed UM a few years ago.  This will be the Empire Strikes Back of coaching tenures.

tomcat

January 4th, 2011 at 1:07 AM ^

Really? Can we get over this already? Can you even state what was said? Probably not because all you know is that he dissed michigan and NOBODY can diss Michigan...because we are Michigan and we are...not allowed to take critisim. Even if it wasn't constructive, get off the high horse, the guy has high expectations and thinks michigan should have them too.

tomcat

January 4th, 2011 at 12:50 PM ^

sorry didn't know you were on roids, the fact is the majority of people just say he dissed michigan without really knowing what was said. The idea that he waited for Bo to die before he said anything is just retarded. Jim loved Bo and would do nothing to try and diminish his memory.

Plegerize

January 4th, 2011 at 12:48 AM ^

I hate it too, but it is what it is.

I defended RichRod for as long as I deemed fit, until it hurt too much to continue to do so. As good of a coach as RR is, and I believe he is a great coach, it just didn't work out, this little marriage between him and Michigan. Maybe in an alternate universe or in some other frame of time, but at this moment, it just didn't work.

I wish him the best and hope that he finds success somewhere else, but even at this point, with DB holding off for so long, I don't see Rich Rod being retained even if Harbaugh goes to the NFL.

jmblue

January 4th, 2011 at 12:55 AM ^

I love when he originally coined the term "Michigan Man" it preceded a Men's BBall title. 

Sigh . . . this meme won't die, despite being repeatedly disproven.  The term goes back to Fielding Yost, if not even earlier. 

skwasha

January 4th, 2011 at 3:42 AM ^

The quote that gets all the attention is "a Michigan man will coach Michigan, not an Arizona State man." Bo said it after Frieder announced he was leaving for ASU right before the tourney was starting.

But, guess what? Frieder was the one that went to UM, not Fisher. So, obviously alumni status has nothing to do with being a 'Michigan Man.' It has everything to do with (by Bo's standards) dedication and loyalty to Michigan. Period.

aiglick

January 4th, 2011 at 12:58 AM ^

I have also wanted RR to succeed ever since he got here. Hopefully DB makes the choice that will return our program to prominence as quickly and ethically as possible.

Blue_Sox

January 4th, 2011 at 1:00 AM ^

Harbaugh is clearly the slam dunk candidate here that is the top priority. This is only partially due to the fact that he went to Michigan and is from the "House of Bo." It is not the entire reason. He is the hottest candidate for the NFL and would be a top candidate at other top programs if Michigan wasn't such a perfect opportunity. 

 

The point is it really does set an interesting precedent that you so wisely point out Vasav. The fact that he did go to Michigan is what most people will see as the key to success for any Michigan head coach down the road. I don't like this thinking either. It boxes us in from making the best hire in the future. Even though Harbaugh happens to be the best hire in this case and went here...that won't always be the case. It definitely sets a bad precedent, but I'll gladly take it as I think he would be wildly successful here.

Eye of the Tiger

January 4th, 2011 at 1:10 AM ^

And wish he'd had more success here.  I hope he has success wherever he lands.  But as Brian said, our only signature victory was the first one over UCONN.  We handed Wisc, OSU and Miss St. signature victories in our final 3 games.  This is not good.  

Now, I am a CC supporter, and someone who thinks JH is the best option available.  I'm not happy about some of the alternatives being floated around.  

But at the end of the day?  I'll get behind whoever coaches us in 2011.  

AMazinBlue

January 4th, 2011 at 1:11 AM ^

Because if it didn't end badly, it wouldn't end - Tom Cruise, Cocktail

Look, everybody thinks Rich is a good guy and a hell of  a coach.  It was just a bad fit.  Sometimes that relationship with the hot girl just doesn't feel right. 

Sometimes the higher-paying job is not better than the lower-paying job you have.

Not everything is always a perfect fit and that is the case here.  Don't worry about Rich, he'll land on his feet, with a larger bank account and will be a head coach again soon, probably in a place that will be more accepting of his methods.

Sometimes things just don't work out.

SalvatoreQuattro

January 4th, 2011 at 1:13 AM ^

I do disagree with some parts of your posts like the defense improving under RR or that it is certain that UM will struggle in '11.  But the rest I can definitely sympathize with.As a fan , you always hate to see a guy fired because it generally means the team you love failed. You also cannot fail as a human being  to feel sorry for a guy who is losing his job.Real lives are being impacted by Brandon's decision.

 

 

mEEchigan04

January 4th, 2011 at 1:16 AM ^

I was with a fellow alum for a few days before and after New Years.  Before the bowl game we talked about how although we were dissapointed with the way the team played in several key games, we thought RR deserved another year.  We didn't like the way DB was handling the situation - didn't think it was fair to leave RR dangling because he might have wanted JH more.

Then we got absolutely blown out in the Gator Bowl.  I can't say I really hate that RR needs to go at this point.  Even if we don't land JH, we have to make a change.  RR might be a great coach, but it's not working here, now.

Injuries and all that aside, there is no reason the defense should be THAT bad.  Every offense in the country looks like they can do whatever they want on any play.  That's coaching.  It's a poor scheme, rushing only 3 and not getting any pressure on the QB, and poor player development.  Offensively, the play calling left our head spinning.  For all the talk about the "spread", we don't look like Oregon with guys flying all over and really spreading the field. 

MGoLiteral

January 4th, 2011 at 1:35 AM ^

Just think, if we get JH, it'll be the first HC in Michigan history who's guest starred on Saved by the Bell: The New Class. Just think what that would do for recruiting!

CalifExile

January 4th, 2011 at 2:32 AM ^

The thought of Jim Harbaugh as our coach sickens me.

The idea that Michigan might fire someone without giving him a fair chance to succeed is repulsive.

Until proven otherwise, I will expect DB to do the right thing and announce that RR has shown improvement every year and will remain as our coach for the 6 years on his contract.

Wolverine318

January 4th, 2011 at 7:15 AM ^

I have come to the decision that letting Rich go is the ethical and kind act. It is obvious now Rich just was not a good fit. He is a great person who will do anything to help out his players. However, recruiting of the defense and offensive line did not fit in with the big ten and will ultimately be his undoing. I do not believe his handling of special teams was horrible. Our punting is still great and I doubt he could have forseen Gibbons turning out to be a complete flop at the college level since he was an All American in high school. Rich deserves a better situation for himself and his family. Let him go to a warmer climate school in the ACC where this is less of an emphasis on size. Rich would be a great fit at Clemson when they finally get rid of Dabo.

Libertine

January 4th, 2011 at 8:54 AM ^

RR system isn't built to play against the strong front 7's of the B1G TEN.  He doesn't hire good personnel (sorry but Casteel isn't the answer).  For the most part, he recruits marginal players (when was the last time our recruiting was the consistently bad, ever?).  With the exception of DRob and MM, our offensive line is decent and our receivers are ok, the rest of the time are Minnesota or Indiana caliber players.  We'll be able to beat the middle of the pack B1G TEN teams, but we'll never win a conference championship under RR.  We'll be a 7-5/8-4 team every year.  After January 1st, it was pretty obvious how good our conference was this year, yet we managed to go under .500 in conference play.  We don't need that type of medocrity. 

I don't understand why we shouldn't take a chance with someone like Hoke.  He might be 47-50, but he coached at Ball State for Christ-sakes (and he turned them around in time).  RR won't turn our program into what we want it to be, why not give someone else a try?

Hail-Storm

January 4th, 2011 at 9:35 AM ^

you really came with your guns loaded.

Well done. I feel the same as I have defended RR for the last three years, not on his record, but his character. During the MSU game, one of the MSU fans I was watching it with said he hated RR because of the criminals he recruited.  I found it ironic, as this was after the rather hall incident, and asked him who were all these bad kids he recruited.  He couldn't come up with any and tried another route, but I new he was toast and grasping at straws by the end.  My wife always asks me why I defend RR so much, and the OP summed it up nicely.  It's cause he is a good guy, and took the high road even after years of being dragged through the mud. I hope the next guy we bring in is equally as good a person.

Happyshooter

January 4th, 2011 at 10:07 AM ^

As a fan...I was very very tired of Carr's repeating the same three plays over and over. I loved him otherwise. Took one of his team taught seminars (not a pun, that was how he taught it with a faculty member).

I wanted RichRod to be different on play calling. He was. I was a little concerned when he ripped down all the history and started running good prospects off.

Then he did some great outreach things to the fan base, and was really getting the players in shape. The offense was a little (lot) rough, but I could see where it was going. I wished he had gone halfway until he had the QB, but that was a judgment call.

Then the defense started really sucking. No such thing as a spread defense to adjust to.

Maybe Carr really did screw up the new classes so I gave him another year. Nope, RichRod just can't do a defense.

More personal things. I love the spring game rah and the player walk before the game and the other events. Carr's events were classy but a little stuffy.

RR seemed to want to reach out. But, I grew to not like him so much. The constant dirty deals, not just with boosters in WV, but the bank scandal in A2 that he dragged the sideline into. The practice thing (mild as it is compared to what OSU is getting a wrist slap for).

You can just barely smell the slime off of him, and after growing up with Bo, and Moller getting the boot for having a few beers an hour from campus, and then Carr, it isn't a good odor.