Kennyvr1

January 5th, 2011 at 6:57 PM ^

 

officially the worst day in the 29 years of my being a Michigan football fan. Im done, it was a hell of a ride but for me it's all come to an end, thanks mgoblog for partly ruining my last season as a M fan with the inability to see a bigger picture (not all of you), thank you dave brandon for making probably the worst decision in the history of M football moving forward, thank you to all the haters, idiots who don't know shit about shit. My only hope from here on out is that RR goes somewhere and comes back to beat the shit out of M in the Big House, blah blah tell me i was never a true fan, you'd be wrong, i have lived died laughed and cried from day one, but i now realize that life is way bigger than this shit, dave brandon is trippin, goodbye denard it was fun while it lasted. goodbye the other 20 kids who are gonna transfer, Michigan=Notre Dame. Sorry people, don't fool yourselves, anyone who thinks firing RR was a good decision is without a doubt living in the dark. Last post ever goodbye.

Joined: 07/28/2010

MGoPoints: 1322

BywaterE5

January 5th, 2011 at 10:14 PM ^

Michigan=Notre Dame. Sorry people, don't fool yourselves, anyone who thinks firing RR was a good decision is without a doubt living in the dark. Last post ever goodbye

 

Think more like Alabama post Bear Bryant.  They chased off a some decent coaches who were not from the Bear's coaching family and I see the same BS playing out here with the Old Guard wanting the mythical Michigan Man as a coach.  Until the Old guard is gone we may be in for more of the same.

Joined: 12/23/2010

MGoPoints: 143

STW P. Brabbs

January 5th, 2011 at 7:19 PM ^

No one wants to join the Charlie Strong Mafia with me?  If even the MGoBoard isn't taking the possibility seriously - the same group that has occasionally touted Gruden and Meyer - than I'm afraid he's not on DB's radar either. 

Joined: 08/27/2008

MGoPoints: 3823

bdsisme

January 5th, 2011 at 11:02 PM ^

I'd be up for Charlie Strong.  And I'm sure he's come across Brandon's mind -- with all the emails, calls, and looking-through-the-records-of-recent-hires he's doing, I'm sure he's come to mind.  But then again, probably has every other HC in D1.

Joined: 09/19/2010

MGoPoints: 9061

jackw8542

January 5th, 2011 at 7:52 PM ^

RR has put together a nucleus of players who would be able to make all of us proud, as players and as human beings.  So far, he has really only had 2 recruiting classes, and those classes - this year's freshmen and sophomores - look like they will stand our team in good stead for the next 2 or 3 years.  It should tell you something that there were virtually no juniors or seniors starting this year and that even those few that did start in September were, in many instances, beaten out by freshmen and sophomores before the season ended.  In addition, he has acted with class throughout.

Joined: 10/30/2010

MGoPoints: 4228

WolvinLA2

January 5th, 2011 at 7:50 PM ^

But I think it needs to be said about every 10 posts to chill everyone out.  Let's give this a little time before we bury DB, k?  He's been doing something for the past month, presumably related to M football.  He had an idea he would fire RR, or at least knew it would be a possibility.  He did not starting thinking about this or doing his due dilligence this morning.  The guy didn't get to where he is by being lazy, that much I know.

There are a dozen coaches out there we'd love to have.  Some or most of them won't come, but one will.  We have more money, more history, a better school and more $$$ than all but a few schools and they have coaches right now.   Maybe it's not Patterson, but it wouldn't be too crazy for him to say "You know, I just went undefeated and didn't get a shot at a national title, and I'm moving to the Big East where the last team to go undefeated there (Cincinnati) also didn't get a shot.  I'd like to coach a team where if I put together the best team in the country, I get rewarded for it.  I'd like to coach in a huge stadium where my team is on national TV every year and I can attract numerous future NFLers.  Oh yeah, doubling my salary is nice too."

Or Dan Mullen, who knows no matter what, he'll never be able to out recruit Alabama, Auburn, LSU and Florida, therefore will probably never even win his own conference.  Oh yeah, a million and a half to two million dollar raise wouldn't be bad.  And for a guy not from the south, a chance to get out of the south. 

These are only two examples, and there are many.  We only need one.  I know Notre Dame has tried its hardest to disprove this, but the big programs are never down long.  USC, Alabama, Nebraska, they all had down periods lately.   We have the name, we have the stadium, we'll get the coach.

Joined: 11/13/2009

MGoPoints: 58191

Bodogblog

January 5th, 2011 at 8:20 PM ^

People forget Alabama was a joke not long ago.  Oklahoma drifted for years.  Nebraska is the most recent example of a power coming back to power. 

Great way to phrase the potential coaches.  But about Mullen... I know it probably doesn't mean much, and it was in the heat of the moment, but if you could hear his post-game speech to the crowd after the Gator Bowl... doesn't sound like he's going anywhere.  The MSU folks LOVE him, and he promised to return championships to Mississippi.  Add in the contract extension and I think he stays. 

And Doran Grant just chose OSU during the UA game

Joined: 06/08/2010

MGoPoints: 26674

uferfan1

January 5th, 2011 at 7:54 PM ^

The last CC had the same pattern, our sites lock on one candidate and profess that any other is failure. Why not let Brandon do his job there will be plenty of time to comment when we actually know what we are commenting about. It just seems we look as dumb  as the talking heads when we try to beat the press. Good luck to all in this unsettling time, drive carefully if you are self medicating as I am.

Joined: 10/25/2009

MGoPoints: 346

ST3

January 5th, 2011 at 10:13 PM ^

Harbaugh: I'm meeting with San Fran (Brandon, I want $5.5M per year for seven years).

Brandon: But I will tell you again, my personal belief is that Jim Harbaugh is going to end up with a really, really challenging opportunity in the NFL. (Jim, I can do $4.5M for five years, plus a golden toilet.)

Joined: 09/11/2010

MGoPoints: 52264

Jim Harbaugh S…

January 5th, 2011 at 8:41 PM ^

Hoke is hired.  This is not a good start, I will say that.  What if really assuming to me is that all M fans are up in arms and Sparty/nuetral fans I've talked to are very impressed with Brandon and loved the presser.

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 577

kscurrie2

January 5th, 2011 at 8:50 PM ^

I and i will if I am wrong, but this is the worst thing that could have happened.  If he did not have a coach lined up, why in hell did he wait to fire RR?  This make absolutely no sense now.  How do you fire a coach that you have invested 3 years in, increased wins by 2 every year and not have a coach in waiting.  Just because he is a CEO of Dominos does not make him a genius.  We all know it is not what you know, but who you know.We all gave him the benefit of the doubt because he ran dominos and he did handle the NCAA investigation well, but that is all he has done.  He is slowly selling the University to the highest bidder.  Frankly I am pissed off.  I am a RR supporter and was able to accept JH being our new coach just to find out he is not coming.  I am sure Brandon has no clue what he is doing.  Does he have any experiece in the athletic department?  Please let me know.

Another thing.. if someone else says that we need a MIchigan Man I think I will smack them.  Last time I checked, we are 0-2 on getting a "Michigan Man" to coach this "storied" program.  The BCS changed college football, we were about 10 years late in adapting and now we are behind the curve trying to play catch-up.  Kids now do not care about tradition, they don't care that we have more wins then any other program.  Most of these kids were in preschool when we won our national championship.  They want to win now.. period.  They are growing up in a society that requires instant gratification. Don't believe me?  How many of you wanted RR fired only after 3 years.

 

Joined: 11/22/2010

MGoPoints: 3232

bokee88

January 5th, 2011 at 8:56 PM ^

He didn't have anyone lined up already? What he says publicly/officially is not the same as what has happened privately and off the record. He may have someone lined up but has to go through a "process" in order to cross his t's and dot his i's.
<br>
<br>Who knows? This may not be the case but don't assume that everything we hear is the only truth. I grew with you that he should have plans A B and C but he can't share those with us the day he fires RR.

Joined: 12/01/2009

MGoPoints: 1490

readyourguard

January 5th, 2011 at 11:20 PM ^

That's my feelings exactly.

Did people really expect DB to have a presser today announcing the firing of RR and then have JH walk out from behind the curtain?

Harbaugh is currently under contract with Stanford so if he emerged as our new coach today, it would have looked pretty sleezy. 

Perhaps all parties concerned are going through the motions to throw the dogs off his scent.  DB can say he's conducting a search, JH can say he's finished his season and exploring his options.  After a couple days, voila, Harbs realizes this is his dream job and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and becomes our coach.

Joined: 08/21/2008

MGoPoints: 40944

BlueDragon

January 6th, 2011 at 12:35 AM ^

At least we can stop pretending that the football team is some shining beacon of inspiration and values to the student body/the B1G/AMUUUUUURICA.  It's a big business operation that's all about wins and losses.  The SEC figured this out a long time ago, which is why they win in the post-season while the B1G doesn't.  It's not a question of right and wrong to me, it simply is the way the game is played in this day and age.  Not to mention the Gang of 5 at ytOSU inexplicably being cleared to play in the Sugar Bowl.

The rules are a joke.  The game is rigged.  I don't care if we hire Lane freaking Kiffin to be our next coach as long as he can get us winning games again.  DB needs a big name in a week or his tenure will go down in flames.

Joined: 11/14/2010

MGoPoints: 21757

Clarence Beeks

January 5th, 2011 at 8:50 PM ^

Since thread starting is severely restricted (which sucks big time, since, well, this would be an awesome time to be able to talk about this stuff with the people we are used to being able to talk about it with, but I understand the reason), I'll just deposit this here....

Pretty self-explanatory, but also equally seismic in State College.  Pertinent part as follows:

PITTSBURGH -- Penn State defensive coordinator and assistant head coach Tom Bradley will be named the head football coach at the University of Pittsburgh, WTAE Channel 4 Action Sports' John Meyer has confirmed.There was no indication of when the move will become official, but Meyer reported on Wednesday night that it was a done deal.

http://www.wtae.com/r/26381620/detail.html

This is actually encouraging news, at this point, in my opinion.  If Pitt can pull Bradley from Penn State in January, it stands to reason that Michigan can also pull someone of high quality from somewhere else, even at this late stage.

Joined: 09/06/2008

MGoPoints: 22726

shorts

January 5th, 2011 at 10:08 PM ^

I don't disagree with your overall point, but there's a big difference: Bradley is a longtime assistant who has wanted a head coaching job for a while.

Michigan could have Bradley or any number of other coordinators -- but we want a head coach. And not just any head coach, but a good one. That severely limits the field, and if there are (for argument's sake) 10 guys who would be considered good/satisfactory hires right now, how many of those guys do you think would leave their current places of employment? Probably not many. Hopefully at least one.

Joined: 08/28/2008

MGoPoints: 2407

matty blue

January 5th, 2011 at 9:46 PM ^

you don't know shit about whether brandon will or won't "close" this.  nobody does, and won't for at least a couple of years.  so spare us the sanctimony.

damn, but i hate our fans.

Joined: 08/01/2008

MGoPoints: 39147

1M1Ucla

January 5th, 2011 at 9:57 PM ^

No one lined up.

One month to signing day.

Issue of his own making -- RR had one year left on his contract -- nothing drove this timing except Brandon himself.

This is a guy who sold lousy pizza and spent more money on advertising to convince people that his pizza tasted good than actually making the pizza good.

He is all about appearances and satisfying political constituencies than performance.

His solution for having a good coach in a bad turnaround situation?  Pay someone who is no better more money to extend the turnaround situation.

Next year?  7-6, including bowl game beat down, no recruiting class, attrition among key RR current roster.

2012? 7-6, including bowl game beat down, tentative recruiting class (because, hey, Michigan may dump this guy, too), some more attrition.

2013?  Who the hell knows who the coach will be.

We just became Michigan State and Notre Dame.

Woo.

Joined: 08/12/2008

MGoPoints: 496

Sven_Da_M

January 5th, 2011 at 10:09 PM ^

... let's take a quick look at timing.

1. Brandon said he would give the program a review at the end of season.  Michigan made a New Year's Day bowl game.  That's Jan 1.

1A. As as related point, I'm sure he didn't want to nuke the bowl experience of players who hadn't played in a bowl game the two prior years.  Or have Fred Jackson and a few grad assistants coach the Gator Bowl had he blown out RichRod the day after the Football Bust.  Again, that's Jan. 1.

2. If Harbaugh was a prime candidate, you don't want to nuke his team's experience and distract him before the Orange Bowl.  That's Jan 3.

3. Brandon meets with RichRod the next day, likely gives him the review, and tells him he's gone.  There are details to work out re recruiting schedules, team meetings, and tweaking RichRod's severance.  That's Jan 4.

4. Brandon completes RichRod's removal in the AM, holds the tough presser in the early PM, and clearly is nostalgic for the days of delivering pizzas to drunk frat boys.  That's TODAY, Jan 5.

So there we have it.  Harbaugh couldn't take any opening before he coached Stanford in the Orange Bowl. It's not Brandon's fault that Harbaugh has NFL aspirations.  It's also not Brandon's fault that Harbaugh's wife just dropped a kid, she likes the left coast, nor is it his fault that Harbaugh apparently feels a real pull to the 49ers to follow the path by a mentor, Bill Walsh.  Yes THAT Bill Walsh.

I also think that Harbaugh is using his alma mater as leverage, just like Les Miles did 3 years ago.  So good luck Jimmy working for the douchebag York family and don't take it personally when we don't return your calls in 4 years when the douchebag York family fires your ass.  You are following Mike Singletary, who drops his pants to make a point.

Yet because Brandon didn't pull back a maize-and-blue curtain today and introduce Harbaugh, everyone seems to think he screwed up. 

And to those who say you don't fire RichRod unless you already have Harbaugh? Well I would say you never ran a company or a major football program.  Brandon is AD of the University of Michigan, not the School of Harbaugh.  And RichRod may be a great guy, offensive guru, blah, blah, blah.  But on any objective standpoint, he failed and showed no real likelihood of succeeding. 

Unlike many (including me) flailing away anonymously on this fine board, Brandon has to deal with reality, and work very hard to get through a tough situation. One he didn't create and I believe he really wanted to work out differently. 

I for one am very glad David Brandon is AD and I have complete confidence that he will make an excellent choice.  And I really really hope it is someone like Bo.  You know, someone who is NOT a "Michigan Man".

 

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 2165

LB

January 5th, 2011 at 10:28 PM ^

the timing was all his. He may have found himself in a box, but he built the box.

I will support him if for no reason other than the fact that I have no choice, or out of sheer desperation. Yesterday I was fairly confident he had some grand master plan, and that nothing had leaked because he was running a tight ship. Today, I am praying that there is some master plan, and scared to death that nothing leaked because no one knew anything.

Joined: 09/26/2009

MGoPoints: 25494

mgobleu

January 5th, 2011 at 10:35 PM ^

I don't think anyone would say DB screwed the pooch if there was a reasonable assumption of Harbaugh still in the running. Unfortunately, from just about every source who cares to comment on it, including Brandon himself, it sounds like he's not. But the name all those same sources keep coming up with is Brady Hoke. In which case, holy hell. We'd be stuck with a coach who was in roughly the same spot in his resume as RR was before WVU. Oh, except not as successful. And lest I forget, is a "Michigan Man". Basically, if this is the case, DB has relegated Michigan to another 2-3 years of mediocrity, best case. If 2-3 years of mediocrity is acceptable, isn't at least 1 more year of RR more appealing? I will absolutely hold judgement until a coach is named, but you can't deny that right now DB looks like he's smack dab in the middle of a big hot mess.

Joined: 07/02/2008

MGoPoints: 38416

burtcomma

January 6th, 2011 at 4:01 AM ^

If you define Michigan Man as one who comes to Michigan and adopts and exemplifies the culture and unique traditions of the University of Michigan, then you can understand what the term is supposed to mean and why Fielding Yost or Bo Schembechler or John Beilein or any other coach could come here and be called a "Michigan Man".  Michigan Men are not born, they are made, and it is a state of mind and character and how you do things and how you approach things, not just your existance or admittance to the University.

That's why Freider, who graduated with an MBA from Michigan, was not a "Michigan Man" at the time Bo made the statement.......

Joined: 11/01/2009

MGoPoints: 5866

skwasha

January 6th, 2011 at 4:20 AM ^

The voice of reason. I'm so sick of all the Michgan Man talk. Not because I don't want one at the helm of our football team, I definitely do. Rather, because it seems 90%+ of the people talking about it don't seem to have the foggiest idea of what it really means to be a Michigan Man.

Joined: 10/09/2010

MGoPoints: 633

ST3

January 5th, 2011 at 10:08 PM ^

"DAVID BRANDON: Is there a thought of getting a defensive-minded head coach; there's a thought of getting a defensive-minded everything. I want the -- I want the ball boys to be defensive-minded."

When, you know, the Blog returns to normal and we can edit that stuff.

Joined: 09/11/2010

MGoPoints: 52264

bdsisme

January 5th, 2011 at 10:59 PM ^

Ross is recruiting Harbaugh to Miami, and according to ESPN, is willing to make him the highest paid coach in the NFL (that's crazy), at $7-8 M a year.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5993761

Ross, though, is a stand up guy and wanted to double check that's it OK to compete with his alma mater:

Furthermore, Ross had dialogue with University of Michigan officials to ensure that he would not be competing for Harbaugh's services with his alma mater, sources said. Ross, who is one of Michigan's largest benefactors, was assured by a Michigan official that Harbaugh was not reciprocating interest in the college's now-vacant head coaching position.

Joined: 09/19/2010

MGoPoints: 9061