Michigan, Rodriguez, change, and a stubborn fan base

Submitted by JonSobel on

Preface: Opinions are like @$$holes; everyone has one, they all stink, and once it is a part of you, it requires surgery to remove. I will be the first to acknowledge that this includes the following piece. This is my opinion and many will disagree. That said, perhaps it will also bring forth the passion I feel for the University as a whole. I did not attend it, but hope to at some point for my Master's degree.

To the mods: This being my first diary, I have no idea if this is where this is supposed to go, or if something like this should be relegated to MGoBoard instead.  I will leave this up to your discretion and am open to any insight you might have regarding this.

I became physically sick watching all this unfold. No matter how many relevant facts or figures you bring out of your arsenal, it has become, in essence, a religious or political argument. It has degenerated into blind insults among friends and family, "pundits" with a national outlet spouting whatever will get them the best ratings, a fan base that eats it up, witch hunts, mob mentality, and 2 sides that think the other one has their head firmly planted up their @$$es.

First, let me get this out there. Harbaugh, or anyone in his mold, will mean another 3-5 year crater/nuclear winter in the program (which is about 2 years longer than some of our fans have been willing to wait as it is). That's almost a guarantee because of the system he runs in relation to the one in place. That seems to get lost or just doesn't matter to those that can't see the looming forest for the trees a foot in front of their face. To me this represents who want Rodriguez gone because "he's not a Michigan man". Here's what I don't understand about that argument. Bo didn’t start as a Michigan man either. Bo was an Ohio State/Miami man. Crisler didn’t start as a Michigan man. He was a Minnesota and Princeton man. Yost didn’t start as a Michigan man. He was a Stanford, Kansas, Ohio Wesleyan, Nebraska, San Jose State man. They became Michigan men because they were allowed to implement the changes they wanted. They were allowed to implement changes that often flew in the face of whatever had come before them. And they did this without an entire section of a fan base crawling up their proverbial @$$es at every turn because "that's not the way it was done before".

Fear of change is paralyzing. However, just because something worked in the past does not indicate future success. This is a well known and regularly proven fact that manifests itself in many different areas of life on a daily basis. In fact, a lack of change often means the death knell for organizations that once thought themselves invincible and impervious to entropy over any lengthy period of time.

If, as a loyal follower of this institution, you truly believe Michigan is the leader and best, that also means the existence of an inherent willingness to take risks and chances where others don't have the stomach or intestinal fortitude to see it through. You do it in the face of adversity, criticism, and anything else the opposition can throw at you. In the case of this team, you do it in spite of a portion of your team's fans.

We sit at our computers and challenge a coach from a distance behind anonymity because we don't like him, and he isn't what we're used to, and insert reason here we can come up with and then point to and cling to the past like an overused security blanket that's disintegrating in our hands. Or we hold true to our new coach because we see improvement and signs of life and something we find fun to watch for a change. We stick up for him when he is attacked, fairly or not, because we see something worth defending when all is said and done. And we want to succeed by exhibiting patience because we feel we're better than that as a fan base. Or perhaps we just don't want to be the next Notre Dame, a program wallowing in insecurity and fading into irrelevance because they try to please everyone instead of just taking someone's vision and sticking with it until it has run its course. As a side note, I believe Notre Dame's coaches have been as guilty of this as their administration has.

I am willing to take the small risk of alienating some of you right here.  But allow me this statement that may seem obvious, but for the sake of this piece is important to mention.  The Bo era is dead just like Crisler's and Yost's. It was wonderful, but it is over and gone. Not only that, I believe it should stay over and gone. As much good as it brought us, by the end, products of the Bo era brought us The Horror and embarrassing losses to "new fangled" offenses that we, more often than not, were unable stop, even with All-American talent on the team. It had run its course and was becoming an inbred mess that could not possibly continue to be sustained without program-destroying ramifications. Change was on the horizon whether we wanted it or not. It was a matter of "when", and no longer an "if".

Frankly, the best coaches at Michigan have been the ones that realized the old system was slightly (or very) outdated. They were ahead of the curve in offense or defense and brought the other side of the ball along for the ride until they could match the production of the aspect of the game they knew best. They saw the inherent growing weaknesses of the previous systems and said, "I can do this better."

[EDIT: Warning.  What I am about to say will be considered by most to at first be some sort of blasphemy.  If you follow the logic to the end, I hope you will see I am in no way making a comparison based on current record, but on attitude and future potential]

Keeping that in mind, I posit this. Rich Rodriguez IS Bo Schembechler. He IS Fritz Crisler. He IS Fielding Yost. He has proven that he can win with great regularity when he's given time, resources, and support. And he's done this in multiple locations that weren't historical powers in college football. He is an innovator in a sport that doesn't have too many of them left, just like all of those great coaches we've looked so fondly upon for over a century. He is a representative of the next big change in college football.

Using that parallel as the premise then, what would Bo think of Rodriguez? If he was half the coach we all thought him to be (and I believe he was that and then some), it is my opinion that he would see the innovation and promise the future held and be excited by it. He would see a marketing cash cow in the making that would profit the University he devoted a large part of his life to. He would see new interest in attendance for a university with the proudest in academic tradition.  He would look at all of you tearing at the foundations of the love of his life and probably tell you to go to hell if you aren't willing to stick it out with us. Why? Because Bo understood something few will ever grasp. He understood change was not only inevitable, but that those who adapt first are in prime position for continued success. He understood sacrificing in the short term for the sake of long term dividends. He understood myopia and constant gazing into the past leads to walking off the edge of so many cliffs we might encounter along the way. And he understood that if the fan base clung to him instead of the University, it would mean the end of it all when he was gone. That was why Bo was great. He understood that the good of the University was always the most important thing and he put that mantra into everything he did.

I want the "next thing" not because it's shiny and new. I want it because I want the continued success it has been proven to bring. I want teams to fear us again. As some of you know, I live in Columbus, and people are actually beginning to be frightened of Michigan's offense. Even here, they understand that when this offense gets a defense that's even mediocre, Michigan will be a name they fear every year, and that when the defense becomes good again, this rivalry may become as one sided as it currently is but in our favor. Around here, they have almost no faith that "The Vest" can stop our offense with anything resembling consistency. That is the right direction. I want the next thing, and to me, the next thing is Rodriguez, slowly and surely, improving in the face of scrutiny and adversity. I want the team I see every Saturday, growing up on the field, as my team.

My team that hasn't fractured in spite of the fan base that has. My team whose dilithium-based offense calls the worst defense, statistically speaking, in the history of our program the best defense they've faced all year. My team that says it convincingly enough that I have no choice but to believe it, regardless of what I've seen with my own eyes. My team whose backup didn't transfer because he knew he would be needed in a big way and became the biggest cheerleader on the sideline every week. My team who rallied behind one of their own and his brother who is going to walk again despite what science and medicine have told him. My team whose coach cares more about the health of his players than his own job. My team with fun fingerstaches, Donald Duck impressions, polo shirt/tie/nerd glasses ensembles at pressers, and a genuine sense of love that emanates from them and is infectious.

You want "the team, the team, the team"? Sit down with a pen and some paper and take notes, because the embodiment of that principle Bo instilled in all of us has played football every Saturday this fall wearing Maize pants, Blue jerseys, and wing-tipped helmets. And the coach that has made that happen is no longer Bo, or anyone in his coaching tree. To say that Rodriguez doesn’t understand Michigan tradition is preposterous.  He's recreated the very best Michigan tradition there is, and he's done it in the worst possible surrounding circumstances. And he's done it despite those who have been too busy looking for ways to get rid of him to notice it.

Most of all, I believe wholeheartedly that this fan base NEEDS the next thing, because just like the Motor City itself, holding on to the past turns you into a dinosaur that can't keep up anymore. And watching this possibly die at the hands of those who just can't let go of the past is painful. Take a drive 45 minutes east from Ann Arbor and see the remains of what was once a great empire that thought itself invincible if you need proof. Clinging to the past doesn't honor a great coach. Clinging to the past in spite of all the evidence that an overhaul is needed is nothing but fear of the unknown. It slowly and brutally takes everything he loved and built through years of hard work and crumbles it to dust.

Comments

JamieH

November 24th, 2010 at 10:29 PM ^

Using that parallel as the premise then, what would Bo think of Rodriguez?

Bo preached defense and ball security over ALL things.  Do you really have to ask what he would think of Rodriguez?

The Bo era is dead just like Crisler's and Yost's. It was wonderful, but it is over and gone. Not only that, I believe it should stay over and gone.

Yes, damn that 38 years stretch of winning seasons and Big Ten Championships and New Year's Day bowl games and top 25 finishes.  That SUCKED.  I sure am glad that is over.

First, let me get this out there. Harbaugh, or anyone in his mold, will mean another 3-5 year crater/nuclear winter in the program

I'll be sure to tell Stanford that they can't possibly be 10-1 this season, because they should still be in a "nuclear winter" from hiring Harbaugh. 

Rich Rodriguez IS Bo Schembechler. He IS Fritz Crisler. He IS Fielding Yost.

Wow.  Just, wow.  WOW.

JamieH

November 24th, 2010 at 10:54 PM ^

Fielding Yost: 165-29-10

Fritz Crisler:  71-16-3

Bo Schembechler: 194-48-5

Rich Rodriguez:  15-20

Wow, now that I look at it, you ARE right.  Rodriguez is clearly the reembodiment of not just any one of those guys, but ALL THREE OF THEM put together! 

UMich87

November 26th, 2010 at 2:14 PM ^

that RR only emphasizes ball security in press conferences and not in practices?  And the Bo Era was ending with The Horror and shellacking by Oregon and the rise of the spread and ESSEEESEE speed on defense.  The game changed. 

And, yes, I am more than old enough to know Michigan's tradition.  I think Bo and LLoyd were terrific coaches, and there will never be another Bo, but I was getting tired of being great in the Big Ten but not feeling we would continue to compete nationally.  Because the game changes and we had not.

JBE

November 24th, 2010 at 11:06 PM ^

Just because an entity changes doesn't necessarily mean that this change will be positive and ensure survival. Everything changes. Change is ultimately as inevitable as time, and therefore it is never lack of change that is detrimental, but the type of change employed that proves fatal.

So, the question is not one about stubbornness and change. Be stubborn all you want; change is gonna
happen. The question is: Will the change that is currently taking place in Michigan Football prove positive or detrimental? All propaganda and ra ra feelings aside (above post), we are in the midst of history, and if that history ended today, which side of the fence would you be on? If this history was able to continue, do you believe the results would ultimately prove positive for Michigan Football. Nobody knows the future, and this is where the fan base is divided. Some have faith in the future, and believe the change will be positive, and some have seen enough of the past to believe this inevitable change that is taking place is, well, fatal.

Kilgore Trout

November 26th, 2010 at 1:22 PM ^

I think you've hit it right on.  The name calling on both sides is stupid and daft.  Change happens, change is inevitable.  Look at the offense Bo ran in 1969, 1979, and 1989.  Evolution and change are inevitable, the question is whether or not this is the right change, and it's not that simple of a question.

Indiana Blue

November 24th, 2010 at 10:42 PM ^

But please RR is not Bo or Yost or Crisler.  Yes none of them graduated from Michigan, but you miss the point of what being a Michigan man means.  It is not where you were born or where you went to school ... it is understanding what your commitment to Michigan is  -  to the players, the University and to the fans.  It is not just wins and losses (though excessive losses will NOT be tolerated) ... hence Gary Moeller lost his position because he lacked personal commitment to those responsibilities.

Finally ... Bo changed Michigan football in year 1.  You state that bringing in Harbaugh means 3 - 5 more years of futility.  This statement is simply untrue.  None of us know what will happen is RR stays or Harbaugh replaces him.

have you seen Stanford play ?  They physically beat the shit out of teams !   This is Stanford mind you  -  the equivalent  PAC 10 of Northwestern.  Stanford is laying a beat down on PAC 10 teams - they play "Big 10" (from the 80's & 90's) style football.   Just how many 5 star recruits are going to Stanford ???  with their academic requirement ... probably none.

Say what you will about RR ... I think he has a great offensive mind and the ability to find great players to fit that offense.  I rate him as an average game day coach ... strategies, time outs, punt & FG decisions.  and absolutely lost on defense. 

How in the world is RR getting a total bye on Michigan's defensive pathetic-ness ?  When you fire one DC after the first year and bring in your "guy" and then have the back to back (write new record breaking shitty-ness defensive stats in the 130 years of football at the winningest program in the history of college football.

Say what you will ... but the AD who hired RR is gone.  The new AD just may see things entirely differently ... he certainly understands Michigan tradition and what football rivalries are all about (which I really don't think RR does -  he has no hate that has been passed from one M generation to the next ... and all TRUE Michigan fans have osu hate  -  even the RR supporters !)

So while I thought RR was safe and that another year was guaranteed ... I now have my doubts.  I really don't expect an announcement on Monday .... but we all will hear something not too far down the road !

Go Blue ! 

JonSobel

November 25th, 2010 at 10:09 AM ^

right after the statement on coming from elsewhere and changing things to fit a vision they thought was better.

Bo, Crisler, and Yost were all revolutionary in some way when they came to Michigan, and none of them started in our coaching tree.

I have no idea if Rodriguez will turn out as good as those three legends, but I know with 100% certainty that without patience on our part, we'll never know.

bighouseinmate

November 26th, 2010 at 11:25 AM ^

.......one has to remember that times are quite different than when even Bo was starting out here. Today, we have ESPN, where if you were once a player, can speak well(or are funny when you do speak, like Lou), you can get a job pontificating on the futures of 18-22 year olds, the need for coaching changes, etc. The fanbases as a whole, when speaking of life in general, are part of a generation who has become used to getting what they want immediately. They are a me-first, right now type and that has transferred over into their feelings on their favorite teams. Example #1 is ND, where Kelly, even in a first year that saw his team decimated by injuries, is calling for his head. Other places have been similar, where the fanbases have made 3 or less years the measuring stick's length for determination on whether to fire the coach or keep him.

Long, steady stays at the top, essentially, the building of a very strong program, can sometimes take longer than today's fans want to wait. The foundations for a program are the most important, and can take awhile, but in the end, when years and years of success are seen, is most definitely worth it.

NateVolk

November 24th, 2010 at 10:44 PM ^

I like Rich.   I like Harbaugh way better.  All meaningful numbers the last 4 years proves he is the superior football coach. Through astounding success at a school with no football tradition he has become possibly the hottest coaching prospect in the nation. His superiority to Rich in performance and results building a big conference program isn't debatable. Additionally, he has recruited bigger better football players  to a school with way more recruiting red tape than Michigan.

His teams each year have  played more disciplined, tougher and with greater swagger against quality competition than this Michigan team.

These are are all facts, not opinions.

People who want Jim aren't out on some vendetta against a person we don't like. Rich is a quality guy from everything we've see and also a quality football coach.  We just want to win and Jim Harbaugh is the best chance for us do it consistently into the future.  He is more future than any other coach in the college game right now. Don't believe me, go ask people who follow it for a living or ask an AD looking to upgrade. 

If we can't get him, stick with Rich and give him his fourth year.  His best argument is continuity and it is a good argument for any program.

David Brandon will get it right either way.

bighouseinmate

November 24th, 2010 at 11:05 PM ^

.........hottest coaching prospect in the nation the past 2 seasons prior to this one. So then, why didn't he turn ND around immediately? Or is it that he needs a few seasons to implement his system, recruit his type of players, and, oh yeah, have his teams battle through the injuries? To even believe that Harbaugh coming here will turn this team around faster than RR can build it up into his vision is seriously delusional.

bighouseinmate

November 24th, 2010 at 11:40 PM ^

.......starters on the team as well as a highly rated QB coming in. The team he came into was no where near the shambles that UM was when RR came in, yet, Kelly didn't immediately turn that team around, did he? My point is that for most incoming coaches, it takes time to implement offensive and defensive systems, get the kids used to different coaching styles, etc.

If you don't wish to see the promise of this team's future with RR at the helm, I doubt anyone can persuade you to think otherwise, but don't sit there and think, or believe, that a coaching change will magically transform this team into greatness immediately.

TennBlue

November 24th, 2010 at 11:51 PM ^

knew we were in deep shit in January 2008, once the last good class graduated.  Looking at what was left behind, I knew we were screwed for several years.

Seeing as you clearly have no knowledge of the team or its recent history, you may want to get on back to West By God Virginia, burn some couches, and leave us all alone.

bighouseinmate

November 24th, 2010 at 11:58 PM ^

....crazy talk. Anyone who knew anything about RR and his teams at WVU, or his time at Clemson, knew that none of the QB's on the team, or coming to the team in 2008 were anywhere close to the type that could run his offense effectively.

And sure, most of us probably thought the team would be better than 7-4 after game 11 in season 3 when he was hired, but then again, no one could have foretold the defections, or injuries, or non-contributors out of the players we had coming in. You, and the fans who think like you, want to chalk that up as excuses, but somewhere along the line, the lack of depth and experience becomes more than an excuse. It becomes a legitimate reason why there is failure, either partially, or in whole. Trampling on the team, and by extension the coach, as a whole for the failures of certain parts is a chicken***t way of being a fan.

Uncle Rico

November 25th, 2010 at 9:54 AM ^

Look back at RR's coaching at Tulane, Clemson, and the WVU - not once did he have a winning season in which his QB ran for less than 500 yds.  In 08 and 09, it was clear we weren't getting that with Sheridan/Threet.  It was an obvious rebuilding situation.

tenerson

November 24th, 2010 at 11:07 PM ^

Yes, Harbaugh has had success. My main problem with hiring him si that I believe he will jump to the NFL. RR probably won't have that opportunity. He could be a lifer here. SO let's say it take RR 2 more years to get this thing on a consistent NC contending track. Do you really think Harbaugh will do it in that short of time? Besides that, what if he leaves? Then you gave up perhaps the next 30 years for just a few great years. I think, given the time, RR can get this program to the point we want it to be at and hold it there potentially for a very long time.

uminks

November 24th, 2010 at 11:13 PM ^

I agree David Brandon will get it right.  Both Jim and Rich are great coaches. They  have different styles in leadership and motivation, and Jim may be enough of a go getter to get the team winning right away. However, Rich is building a program that may become unstopable in the near future. I know the defense is down and part of the blame is Rich's own.  But once he gets the defense playing at a good level, the b10 conference will be ours!!!! And we can focus on the BCS title game!

CompleteLunacy

November 25th, 2010 at 1:01 AM ^

I mean, yeah it's great he has ties to Michigan and is doing a good job as coach at Stanford...but there is not a single shred of evidence to believe he will do anything better than RR at Michigan. Not a one. He might be better, he might not. All I see with him is further uncertainty with the program...make no mistake, Harbaugh is a very risky move at this point in time. At the very least, let RR graduate ONE of his own recruiting classes, which would mean next year. 

My biggest fear is hiring Harbaugh and seeing RR succeed tremendously somewhere else, like in SEC-land. 

Indiana Blue

November 25th, 2010 at 6:44 AM ^

Seriously ... after the last 3 years, maybe Vanderbilt ?   RR's success at by god WV - doesn't really say a lot.  The big east is the WAC of the east ... not a football powerhouse conference.  All the "good" teams left for the ACC.  Ever wonder why the ACC didn't take WV ?

And , oh yeah  -  there is not a single shred of evidence to believe Harbaugh wouldn't do better immediately.  Your "crystal ball" isn't any better than mine or anyone else !

Go Blue !

CompleteLunacy

November 25th, 2010 at 12:58 PM ^

Considering what RR has done to Michigan on offense, a lot of teams would. 

Also, I never said Harbaugh wouldn't do well here...and I'm sorry if that was a misleading statement...but merely to mention that Harbaugh is just as uncertain as RR is right now, if not moreso.  So I guess what I'm saying is...be careful what you wish for. 

HAIL-YEA

November 25th, 2010 at 7:04 AM ^

is the hottest name in coaching on any level. He is as safe of a hire that could possibly be made. He is out-recruiting RR at Stanford of all places. His offense is higher ranked then RR's and his defence..well we dont even need to go there do we..Currently im on the fence on whether or not to give RR another year...but 1 thing I do know for sure is that Harbaugh is a dam good college football coach.

Uncle Rico

November 25th, 2010 at 9:50 AM ^

Really, it's a win-win situation for us, change or no-change.

DB needs to decide if he wants to go shopping while he already has "a bird in the hand".  That's a sensitive situation and tough to play it right....

My senses tell me DB will hold for another season - I think that's the right call...

The tie-breaker is that the players themselves support RR.  That's huge.

Michichick

November 25th, 2010 at 2:07 PM ^

In what statistic is Stanford's offense higher rated than Michigan's right now?  Michigan is 4th nationally in total offense, Stanford is 15th, and Michigan leads Stanford in both total passing yards (2888-2803) and total rushing yards (2831-2367). To say nothing of the QB comparison. Luck may have a higher passing rating (#8) than Denard (#16), but Denard is the #1 rusher in the country. That gives him the edge easily, IMO.

Stanford's defense isn't light years ahead either. Neither team is in the top 40 for sacks or interceptions.

http://espn.go.com/college-football/statistics

And as far as recruiting goes, here are Rivals recruiting rankings since RR's hire:

2008:  UM #10  SU #50

2009:  UM #8  SU #20

2010: UM #20 SU #26

http://rivals.yahoo.com/michigan/football/recruiting/teamrank/2011/all/all

Can't compare for 2011, bc classes aren't final til February.  So how is Harbaugh out-recruiting Rodriguez?

mmc22

November 25th, 2010 at 10:49 AM ^

All meaningful numbers the last 4 years proves he is the superior football coach.

Ok. Let's go to the numbers.

Harbaugh - Stanford (2007-2010)

RECORD     PS - PA     Y/G

   4-8          235-339     322.5

   5-7          315-329     351.8

   8-5          461-345     427.6

 10-1          446-214     467.1

 27-21       1457-1227   392.3   TOTAL

Rodriguez - W. Virginia/Michigan (2007-2010)

RECORD     PS - PA       Y/G

   11-2        515-235     456.2

     3-9        243-347     290.8

     5-7        354-330     384.5

     7-4        405-369     514.5

  26-22      1517-1281   411.5   TOTAL

PS - Points scored; PA - Points allowed; Y/G - Offensive yards per game.

http://michigan.rivals.com/teamstats.asp?Team=MICHIGAN

    Now tell me; which numbers proves he is the superior coach?

    The one more victory, maybe the 54 les points allowed, which by the way is a little over 1 point per game over a 4 seasons span and is nullify by the 60 more points scored by Rich Rod's teams. Let me to tell you what is the big difference between them? Harbaugh is in his 4th year at Stanford, Rodriguez in his 3rd at Michigan. If you compare the first 3 years of both coaches you will find that they are pretty similar. Now what we Rich Rod supporters whant is a little patience from everybody. Let's wait for that 4th year. Let's wait for that 10-1* season and if is not coming next year, I will be the first one to say is time to get rid of him, until then we have to stay united and support the team.

His superiority to Rich in performance and results building a big conference program isn't debatable. Additionally, he has recruited bigger better football players to a school with way more recruiting red tape than Michigan.

    Really? When Harbaugh is going to take Stanford to 3 BCS bowl game you can come back and talk about "building a big conference program". "Additionally, he has recruited bigger" I give you that but better players I don't know. Every recruiting service has Michigan recruiting classes ahead of Stanford ones, plus California is a hotbed for top recruits and it has nice weather too. I never heard a recruit saying :" I'm not going to Stanford because of the weather". The red tape comment, come on. I know you are a Harbaugh supporter but that is an insult at University of Michigan as an educational institution. We all know Stanford is regarded as one of the best in the country, but Michigan is no slouch either.

 a school with no football tradition

    Really? The same Stanford that has 2 national championships (1926 and 1940) and played in 12 Rose Bowl games. No football tradition, right!

http://www.gostanford.com/sports/m-footbl/archive/stan-m-footbl-archive.html

    Look, I'm not saying Harbaugh is a bad coach or that I don't want him at Michigan all I'm saying is we have a coach which has made progress in every year and is one year away from making this team special again. Let's give him one more year. That's all.

Michichick

November 25th, 2010 at 1:32 PM ^

People who want Jim aren't out on some vendetta against a person we don't like.

That may not be your reason for wanting Harbaugh, but there are plenty of people who have a visceral hatred of RichRod and want Harbaugh brought in as a direct F*&^ you to those who support keeping RR.

And since Rodriguez has coached here for not quite 3 full seasons, you can't compare the past 4 years. If you do, look at what Rodriguez's last WVU team did to Oklahoma in the 2008 Fiesta Bowl.  RR's record his first 3 seasons at Michigan and JH's first 3 season record are pretty similar. Plus, RR's sophomore QB just set NCAA records for QB rushing, QB rushing and passing in a season and the team is 4th nationally in total offense so far.  Even RR's comeback win over Wisconsin in 2008 compares pretty well to Harbaugh's upset win of USC in his first year.

Understand, I don't disagree that Harbaugh is proving himself a very good coach. I have had issues with him since his remarks about Michigan after Bo passed away.  I hope Dave Brandon's public words about considering the direction of the program as a whole means that RR will stay for at least another year.  I want RR to be successful because I want Michigan to be successful. But I have to admit to a bit of extra pull for RR because I think he has gotten a raw deal since he came to Ann Arbor, due to no fault of his own.

Soulfire21

November 25th, 2010 at 6:02 PM ^

"meaningful statistics" are you measuring by?

If it's anything other than defensive numbers, you're going to be hard pressed to say that Harbaugh is significantly better than Rodriguez.  And if you want to talk about defense, Stanford is starting 9 Jr/Sr. and has only 2 So. players.  No true freshman.

Michigan plays between 4-6 true freshman (over half of the defense) at times.  Whether or not that is Rodriguez's fault might be debateable, but direct comparisons are not relevant.

Pretty sure Stanford's made 12 Rose Bowls and has a rather storied program, so, to say they're nothing is, well, not quite accurate.

Well, I'd go through the rest of your arguments, but it's more of the same.  It's a lot of "Harbaugh is better than Rich Rod.  Harbaugh recruits better.  Harbaugh plays better.  Harbaugh's team is better"... but there's nothing backing up anything.

Yes, he has a better record (now) but he's a few years ahead of Rodriguez as well.

Nevertheless, we agree that David Brandon will do the right thing.

RichRodFollower

November 24th, 2010 at 10:44 PM ^

I love watching this team!  It hasn't been pretty, it hasn't always been fun, but how can anyone not think that group of young men is not a team?! 

Rich Rodriguez DOESN'T teach ball security?  That's just a stupid thing to say.  You can coach a team, you can teach them technique, you CAN NOT control how they execute on the field. 

This Diary was well done.  Can't wait 'til DB let's everyone know that RR will be our coach in 2011.

bighouseinmate

November 24th, 2010 at 10:58 PM ^

........due to the recent memory of the nearly past 3 seasons, our previous coach happened to have lost his last seven games against that team from the south.

I have no time, or sympathy, for the feelings of  "fans" like Spoof who believe that what is old will always be the best. Our team, the one I and many others across the nation, root for nearly every weekend in the fall, was being bypassed by many other teams. 

I, for one, am glad UM hired RR. And I still feel that way after all the pain and heartache over the past 3 seasons. He has been successful everywhere he has been, and there is no reason to believe it won't happen here as well.

Mirasola

November 24th, 2010 at 11:28 PM ^

This is reminding me of Apple fanboys.  No matter what happens with any particular product, they support it blindly and defend the brand with their life.

But other people know better.  Even the ones that have used Apple products extensively eventually see their flaws and then point them out.  But then they're accused"of being "Windows people" who don't understand how Apple works.  And then no one listens to each other because there's a neverending cycle of one accusing the other of a lack of logic/open-mindedness, when in fact they are both just perpetuating idiocy.

If you see a flaw, it is OKAY to point it out and question and challenge.  We don't have to be 100% behind the program at all times.  Good for you if you support the program without any questions, but let other people bring their questions and challenges.

TennBlue

November 24th, 2010 at 11:37 PM ^

who happen to support their team's coach to a bunch of "fanbois" is most certainly worthy of a negging.

Dragging in the whole OS flamewars as though it were relevant would get you several more if I could do so.

The problem is not with people who question and challenge, by the way.  If you think that's what's going on, you're part of the problem.