Know Your Anti-RR Factions: A Taxonomy
"The latent causes of faction are thus sown in the nature of man, and we see them everywhere brought into different degrees of activity", James Madison, Federalist #10.
When Madison wrote about the dangers of faction, he was concerned that competing interests would destroy the nascent American government. If we turn to Michigan football and its current coach, one might think that there are only two factions: the pro-Rodriguez and the anti-Rodriguez. But these are not monolithic factions. Members of the anti-Rodriguez group have all sorts of motivations: some overlapping, some singular. Some are personal, directed at Rodriguez. Some have nothing to do with Rodriguez himself and everything to do with his job.
It’s important to know who you’re dealing with. So when you encounter a card-carrying anti-Rodriguez person in the wild, please refer to the guide below. Your combatant may have one, some, or many of these motivations. Disarming them is nearly impossible; it’s best to walk away.
The Just Win, Baby
This is the most legitimate type of Rodriguez basher. They point to his 8-16 record, his 3-13 Big 10 record, the end of the bowl streak, the end of the winning season streak, etc. They just want the team to keep winning like it always has and can’t understand why it’s losing now. For this group, any losing record is unforgiveable, and two in a row is a death sentence. Almost every Michigan fan is a member of this group to some degree; the difference is between those who see progress out of a deep hole vs. those who think a good thing was driven into the ditch.
The Devout Nostalgic
Somewhat similar to The Just Win, Baby but less pragmatic and more unrealistic in expectations. Believes Michigan has a divine right to have a winning program, and anyone to divert Michigan from that divine right must be Satan himself.
The Traditionalist
Maybe more realistic than the Devout Nostalgic, yet still upset about any change to the football program. This includes the spread offense, piped in music, the handling of the #1 jersey, the lack of season-starting permanent team captains, etc. For this type, Rodriguez is not a ‘Michigan Man’ and never will be.
The Distrustful
This group has problems with Rodriguez because he can seem like a glib gladhander. They are put off by the way he left his alma mater, the lawsuit (whether it was encouraged by U-M or not), the golly-gee press conferences, the failed real estate deal, the GPA claim, the Lion King quotes, etc. They don’t fully trust Rodriguez and likely never will. They also know that this feeling is somewhat irrational. [Full disclosure: I'm an occasional member of this group]
The Football Hater
This person hates football. They hate big-time sports. They may have tolerated Lloyd Carr because of his emphasis on character and academics and charitable work, but now that Carr’s gone this group is out in full force.
The Puritan
Rodriguez swears. Therefore, he’s a bad coach. Anything that any member of the program does is wrong and further proof of Rodriguez’s evil core - regardless of similar things happening under previous Michigan football coaches or at other programs. For this person, a minor NCAA violation would be the equivalent of a double homicide.
The Media Elite
Perhaps after years of getting dressed down by Lloyd Carr, the media elite is exacting his revenge on the Michigan program. While Carr intimidated the press, Rodriguez does not. And rather than repay his humanity, they take advantage of it.
'I Wanted a Different Coach'
These are legion. For whatever reason, they wanted another coach (Miles, Ferentz, Kelly, Harbaugh, English, Hoke), and since Rodriguez is not that coach, they want him out.
The Vengeful West Virginia Hillbilly
DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE! West Virginia is a beautiful state and West Virginians can be beautiful people. BUT THEY DO NOT GIVE A SHIT. They have elected a crotchety former KKK member to the Senate for 50 years. West Virginia is also the state that gave us the Hatfields and McCoys; long-running feuds are nothing new to these folks. They feel betrayed by native son Rodriguez, and they want nothing less than the nuclear annihilation of Rodriguez and anything associated with him – including the Michigan football program. They would think nothing of sowing discontent wherever possible. So, every word you read, every voice you hear, everything you see, you must ask yourself - is a pissed off West Virginian behind it all? Maybe yes, maybe no.
I hope this helps. Remember, Madison said that the causes of faction cannot be controlled, only the effects. So do your best, and please feel free to add to the taxonomy in the comments.
November 26th, 2009 at 12:31 PM ^
Great post! (I forgot to add this earlier.)
I'd change "devout nostalgic" to "demented/delusional nostalgic." These are the people who fondly remember Bo's five national championships (or, less seriously, the ones who believe that anyone outside the Midwest gave a @#$% about the "ten-year war" during which the Big 10 went 1-9 in the Rose Bowl). They're also the ones who insist that UMich has been Tier 1 / elite, right there with Florida State, for the past 25 years. You might see "Ufer Michigan" stickers on their RVs.
I'd also add a "Uzi Down" (rhymes with the name of the plush-bottomed alumna who famously scolded RichRod in a WXYZ interview after the "serious allegations" were aired) group. It would overlap with the other group here. These people really believe that UMich had the cleanest program in all of the U.S. all these years. (Sure, it was clearly better than Auburn, but it probably had quite a few peers. As well, it would likely rank beneath places like Stanford, NWU, and Notre Dame.) How *dare* that vulgar hillbilly tar our reputation! Many of them are upscale Moral Majority types.
Another: Townies. They just happen to live in Ann Arbor. They might not have much going on in life (coupled with low self-esteem). They *live* for UM football. They're having a hard time now and venting on all the boards.
November 26th, 2009 at 12:42 PM ^
Ultimately, if Rodriguez wins, all of the others go away, or become so marginalized that they no longer matter.
What the "Traditionalist" is really saying is, “If you don’t understand Michigan traditions, then you can’t win.” All of the other objections eventually boil down to, “I don’t think this guy can win.”
November 26th, 2009 at 1:25 PM ^
Often, I'm hearing about Paul Johnson and how he's winning at GTU. Or that Lane Kiffin is bowl-bound at Tennessee. Or that it took Bob Stoops only two years to win at Okie after a forgotten decade at OU. Or Jim Harbaugh needed just three years at a school known for losing. Or Pat Fitzgerald took over and is winning at NU. Or Bo Pelini is playing for a conference title in Year 2. And so on and so on.
Hey, I wrote off RichRod's first year given what he had returning. This year is more frustrating. Sorry to say, but he DID get badly out-coached by Danny Hope!
Given that I was whining about Lloyd during the last few years about his inability to beat Sweater Vest (or win a bowl game, save his final shot), I'm willing to give RichRod at least one more year (probably two) to show some real progress.
I just don't see that 2 yrs is a fair judge of a guy, even if I'm pissed with the melt downs vs. Illinois and Purdue. Fat Charlie...he's had enough time. Dan Hawkins...he's had enough time at Colorado.
My patience is wearing thin but it's still there.
My final point...a certain Michigan Man went out west to re-build a program (yes...UM wasn't re-building but was clearly not playing good old fashioned 10-win UM ball). His first few years were terrible. He was rumored on the way out going into his 4th season. The team made a cheap bowl to save his job. A few years later, they put together a string of three Big 8 titles in a row. His name...Bill McCartney. If Colorado had dumped him too early, they may have remained an 8-loss team.
November 26th, 2009 at 2:55 PM ^
Admittedly Stoops and Pelini were impressive out of the gate, but some of the others seem to cut in favor of RR. Kiffin took over a very talented team, and his first year improved by precisely one win over Phil Fulmer. Harbaugh's first two years he went 4–8 and 5–7, though admittedly an upset win over USC improved the look of the second year. Fitzgerald took over a team that had been doing pretty well (Walker hadn't been fired for non-performance, but rather passed away suddenly.)And still his first two years he was 4-8 and 6-6. If Fitzgerald and Harbaugh are measuring sticks, their first two years were not that different from what we're seeing here. I remember people saying at the end of his second year that Fitz was over his head and was going to be fired soon.
November 27th, 2009 at 8:13 PM ^
many of the 'ANTI-RR' faction I have run into living so close to the southern confines of this great state of MICHIGAN...sweatervest is brought up as winning big ten titles and national championship games, plus a now cringing record vs. MICHIGAN...he too inherited a strong core of players from Cooper...as much as my bias and owning his butt makes me like the Cooper era even more, he was still a strong recruiter and a solid coach save the UM hex...sweaterboy walked into a strong situation and has rode that wave (not much different from the situation jimmie stewart-carr walked into with the unfortunate circumstances handed off by Moeler...) bottom line, Lllloyd sank the ship...be it illness, apathy, whatever, he left the program in the condition RR inherited...and as Rick Leach has deftly pointed out, what kind of an M MAN leaves his replacement out to dry like this? In a time of struggle, LLLLLOyd should be supporting the program...but he's spent more time with EMU coaching staff, Iowa big wigs, and any other distraction than helping his former program...time to move on and move out LLLOYD...The new AD's first job should be cleaning out that office...just me and yeah I'm a tad grouchy about it.
November 26th, 2009 at 3:45 PM ^
...the devout nostalgic is that most of them were calling for Carr's head after 2005, the OSU losses and failure to win a meaningful bowl game and now they are are the same ones pointing to Carr's record during those years now that Rodriguez is here. Just a thought.
November 26th, 2009 at 8:57 PM ^
Some people have short memories; perhaps some newer people never experienced the board after the OSU losses or "the horror". Sadly, Brian couldn't declare a state of emergency then either.
November 26th, 2009 at 8:13 PM ^
I don't really care if you are anti-RR or if you are anti-RR for a particular reason. But it would help when you make arguments against RR to not say things like "I don't really pay much attention to the recruiting and I don't want to hear about the lack of scholarship players." That is 90% of the reason we were not good this year. You can't conveniently ignore this fact and expect to convince any RR supporter that he isn't doing his best.
November 26th, 2009 at 11:49 PM ^
I would add a small, but hardcore, group of people who have bashed Rich Rod to friends, on radio or online. Having done so, they don't want to be proven wrong. First, their pride would be hurt. Second, and more seriously, they have become so anti-RR that they will always carry it. If Rich Rod gets an NC, they will feel less a part of it because they ranted about how UNACCEPTABLE Rich Rod is. They want him out now because they are petrified that Rich Rod will win with more experience and talent.
Yes, I do actually feel that there are people who would rather be right than have Michigan win. I feel sorry for these people.
November 27th, 2009 at 10:28 PM ^
You could completely flip flop it and say there are people who SO wanted Lloyd gone and change that they have to back Rich Rod blindly or be proven wrong and have their feelings hurt.
The positive this side has is they are currently rooting for Michigan to succeed. The negative is that they could be saying "wait till next year" into year 4...5...6....if things continue to go badly and REALLY bury us.
Not that that's going to happen...but if you think it's just the anti and not the pro people who are stuck on their dogma... Well, there are extremists on both sides.
November 28th, 2009 at 9:47 PM ^
I am not sure that RR's success or failure can be tied to whether Carr should have stayed or retired. (The man is in his late-60s or 70s.) I do remember some people seriously saying he needed to be fired, but those folks will never be happy. (I exclude any comments made by anyone w/n 24 hours of the HORROR from this statement.) In fact, I bet a lot of the "Fire Lloyd" people are your more extreme "Fire Rich Rod Now" folks.
I am sure that there are extremists on both sides, but I hope no one is so extreme as to argue that Rich Rod will automatically get 6 years no matter what. Of course, I could be wrong.
November 27th, 2009 at 1:20 AM ^
Nice diary Undefeated -- I think you hit all the bases.
To me the real damage comes in trying to see which categories Lloyd fits into. Arguably he's in the The Devout Nostalgic, The Traditionalist, The Distrustful, The Media Elite, The 'I Wanted A Different Coach' ... hey, this coaching rift is starting to make sense to me.
November 27th, 2009 at 10:42 AM ^
Only thing I might add to the "football hater"
crowd is the "Northern Snob" contingent of that crowd.
This person thinks that RR is from WV = hillbilly.
Anything from the "uneducated south" = bad.
November 27th, 2009 at 11:23 AM ^
Great breakdown, but I think that some of these groups might be more rational than the "RR was great at WVU, so he'll be great here too" crowd. I support RR but that faction needs to be quiet too.
November 27th, 2009 at 11:43 AM ^
It's All About Me or The Person Who Takes It All as a Personal Affront: All of the negative things that have happened since RR's hiring are the result of a conspiracy aimed specifically at taking away the hater's ability to gloat about U of M football. This person also hates Bill Martin and MSC as co-conspirators.
This is a combination of all of the other categories except the football hater and WV'ian.
November 27th, 2009 at 12:15 PM ^
This Thanksgiving I am thankful and hopeful that our athletic department is not as shortsighted as some of our fans. After RR leads this team to 8-4 or 9-3 next year, and then a BCS bowl in 2011, everyone will shut up.
November 27th, 2009 at 4:27 PM ^
...a lot of work to do. Let's not get too far ahead of ourselves
November 27th, 2009 at 9:48 PM ^
Great breakdown. Except now I think there should be a follow up of a taxonomy of those who want Rich Rod to stay. Including:
The Frugal Fan - we paid too much to get him here
The Rich Rod is our Charlie Weis - group of MSU people who only want Rich Rod to stay because that's the only way they can beat big brother.
Blame Game - they blame everyone but Rich Rod (defensive coordinators, Bill Martin, Lloyd, the fans, Fritz Crisler)
The "you just wait for next year" - will repeat this until the end of time
November 27th, 2009 at 10:11 PM ^
Though the Blame Game category might have too many permutations. They don't always agree who to blame.
November 27th, 2009 at 11:00 PM ^
Also perhaps the "Blind Loyalist" - who defends RR because he's the coach, and would even defend Matt Millen if he were on the sideline because dissent is not tolerated.
December 9th, 2009 at 3:40 AM ^
...They're crawling all over this blog. I wrote a diary post that was critical of RR's table manners over the summer and was "negged into oblivion". At some point, Brian Cook washed his hands of me and saw fit to disable my ability to add new posts because of my negative point total. If you're seeking a free and open exchange of ideas (something I was encouraged to do as an LS&A student), go elsewhere. If you're looking for hockey news, monotone podcasts and sycophantic updates that spin the latest 2-star signing in a positive light, then you've come to the right place!
November 28th, 2009 at 9:25 AM ^
How about:
- "The Cupboard was bare"
- "He only has 1 full recruiting class" and the sub faction of "wait until he gets HIS guys"
- "Lloyd gave up on recruiting years ago"
or the group I fall in
"We are going to score 70pts per game with this offense"
November 28th, 2009 at 2:12 AM ^
How about the "...But Captain Front-Butt got 5 Years at ND, Surely RR Can Do Better Than Him In 4" guys. I have one foot in this group out of sheer jealousy of Weis' schematic advantage.
November 28th, 2009 at 4:13 PM ^
It is understandble for ALOT of Michigan fans to have a beef with the current state of the program. None of us are used to back-to-back losing seasons and no bowl games. Nor are we used to losing to MSU and Penn State two years in a row. We can't change this. Now we just got to look to the future.
I saw progress this year. Everyone that watched a game should have seen progress. Remember in 2008 where it seemed almost painful for Michigan to move the ball? That became different this year. That is progress. There will be progress again next year. It has been slower than everyone though but it is what it is. The progress probably won't be enough to make a BCS game but I believe we'll have a winning season again..if the fan base gives Rodriguez a chance.
I don't think anyone really knows how devastating it would be to the program if Rodriguez was fired.
November 29th, 2009 at 1:57 AM ^
....is not getting fired
November 29th, 2009 at 4:01 PM ^
The Triumph of Hope Over Experience...a/k/a The None So Blind as Those Who Won't See,
Through sheer force of will these RR supporters will themselves to ignore all the facts that compel the conclusion RR was, is, and always will be a bust. Best characterized by the "wait'll RR gets his recruits in place ..." types these RR have no answer for the conundrums: (1) How many years will it now take for RR to reach the same winning percentage that got Charlie Weis fired? (Answer, RR cannot realistically expect to ever reach that high lofty plateau of .565 in the four years he has remaining on his current contract. (
2) How is it that Urban Meyer and Paul Johnson -- both gurus of the same spread option RR proclaims -- were able to win in their second years at Florida and Georgia Tech? Why was it not necessary to take those programs down to nothing before they could be built back up?
(2) How many years are you willing to accept Michiocrity for the once fabled UM football program before you jump off the RR bandwagon? We know the answer is no less than three. But if three, why not four? And if four, why not five? or six? (The Rodrigexcuse will just transform from ... I don't have my guys ... to ... my guys are hurt, or academically ineligible, or in prison (e.g., Feagin. Remember that savior?) ... whatever...
As it is now, other Big Ten coaches are at this very moment sitting in recruit living rooms telling kids that UM has not been to a bowl in two years, and no player on the team has ever beaten OSU, and no coach or player recruited by them has ever beaten MSU, PSU, OSU, Illinois or ... Toledo... and, having now learned a lesson about what a REAL football school is like, if RR ever is successful he's going to bolt UM for the SEC first chance he gets.
November 29th, 2009 at 9:28 PM ^
My old football coach--who gets invited to practice because he occasionally has D-1 level players--told me the atmosphere is shockingly different than under Carr. He said the level of intensity (and the swearing) is much higher now. I think your "Puritans" do have an argument if that is what they truly believe. That said, these guys are 18-21 year old kids and RR obviously knows how to motivate them.
I guess I was shocked early last year at how far the team had fallen, and I probably would have been in favor of a slower transition if Mallett would have stuck around. However, I felt like the team was significantly better this year than last year and that given a non-Freshman QB and some scholarship defensive players, things can really go well. He needs his time.
December 9th, 2009 at 3:22 AM ^
A relative of mine, another HS coach who's been around some of the spring practices for years, Told me the same thing.
I posted about it earlier in the summer and was crucified. I got so many negative points that Brian Cook blackballed me from writing any new posts (though I can still comment).
The Asshole - this can be the most difficult one to nail down. Not because he is hard to miss - he's not - but because he can all of the other types. Assholes can be The Puritan one day and the Just Win, Baby the next day.
Hell... they can change every hour. (oops... just lost the Puritans)
Or they can be all of the above - all at the same time.
Two of the telltale signs is in their coloration... often they will be seen wearing either green and white or red (as in either redneck or OSU - or are they the same?)
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