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

Monk

November 26th, 2010 at 11:52 AM ^

but he hasn't translated that vision at UM, while the others did.  I remember a saying from a prof at the b-school - vision is no solution, everything lies in execution.

Time for RR to start executing and implementing, especially on the defense and ST.

Marc 71

November 25th, 2010 at 1:04 PM ^

that Bo had high end  NFL talent when he first arrived.  I remember a few: Jim Mandich, Dan Deirdorf, Reggie McKenzie, Glen Doughty.  I'm sure there were more.  Who did Rich Rod have when he arrived.  Give him a little more time. 

mackbru

November 25th, 2010 at 2:40 PM ^

I appreciate this. I'd just say that I don't think most people who question RR necessarily want to go back to the three-yards-and-a-cloud-of-dust era. It doesn't have to be one or the other.

NoNon

November 25th, 2010 at 2:58 PM ^

...Harbaugh as someone with an eye geared towards the NFL, especially with his current pro ties? 

He's obviously a quality coach, but the temptations to jump from the college ranks to the pros (even elite programs) is not unprecedented and then where would we go?

Rodriguez ain't going to the NFL - just an additional thought

Soulfire21

November 25th, 2010 at 3:50 PM ^

Why we would fire a coach who has gone like this...

3-9

5-7

7+ wins

Especially, when his pattern has been like this everywhere he's coached:

Glenville State:

1-7-1

4-5-1

6-4

10-3

8-3

8-2

6-4

 

WVU:

3-8

9-4

8-5

8-4

11-1

11-1

10-2

The win trajectory is almost the same... and yet, we want to fire him? 

Monk

November 25th, 2010 at 8:42 PM ^

I think RR should get four years, let's see what happens next year and if he can't win with a seasoned offense and a hopefully improved defense, then make a change.  However opinions like this only focus on one thing, the offense, the fact is that the defense and special teams have regressed under RR, big time, and sure it's great to have an innovator on offense but if UW can run the ball 30 times in a row and win, you're not going to win too many games in the big-10.  

The defense and s/t are missing a lot of things, talent, depth, experience, coaching, schemes etc..  I don't think this can be fixed in one year, but it's worth a try, unless you can get JH, in which case you do it, because being out here in the bay area, I can tell you that JH is a better coach than RR and if you can get him, do it.

Bill45

November 25th, 2010 at 9:19 PM ^

"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."

Let's examine that "proven" part a bit

3-9

5-7

7-5 (getting throttled by Iowa, MSU, PSU and OSU and barely eking out wins against doormats Indiana and Illinois)

Three straight losses to MSU, PSU, Iowa, and OSU.

First losing season in 38 years

First no-bowl season in 33 years

First back to back losing seasons in nearly 50 years

First major NCAA violations

"We'll beat Ohio State when we're a better team than Ohio State"

KISS.  Its about the losing.

Bill45

November 25th, 2010 at 9:27 PM ^

"I live in Columbus, and people are actually beginning to be frightened of Michigan's offense."

This poster comes across as so counter factual and delusional that I think it may be an attempt at satire.

I live in Columbus too and I assure down here they are as "frightened" of Michigan's offense as they are any MAC school.  The fact they love Rich Rod down here is all the proof of that one needs.  The worse part of being a UM fan down here is that they hardly think of UM in terms of a real rivalry any more.  Sure they pay lip service but no one gets especially energized about it.  It is assumed that OSU will cream Michigan.

JonSobel

November 26th, 2010 at 9:09 AM ^

but if you look at the original post, nowhere does it say that Ohio State fans think they will lose this Saturday.  They, like us, still know our defense is terrible.  They are also quick to admit that with a mediocre defense, we'll be not only competetive, but a downright nightmare.

With regard to the rivalry, I lived here through the late 80's and 90's and it used to bother them so badly that I just expected my team to win every year like it was guaranteed.  It used to bother them that I would say things like "Don't both teams have to win occasionally for this to be a rivalry?"  The proverbial shoe is on the other foot.

I knew the comparison to the great coaches of Michigan would be a controversial one, which is why I was careful to lay out the ways that I felt this to be true and left the ways it wasn't to the eye of the reader.  Any reader of this will be able to rattle off reasons Rodriguez isn't like any of those coaches and I very much respect that.  The comparisons I made, however, I believe hold water (coach from outside the program, intent on scheme of choice, cares deeply for his kids, etc...).  The overarching theme of the article was merely cathartic on a personal level, and a plea for patience at a fan level.

Thank you for disagreeing with me, though.  As I said, it's just my opinion, and I find writing to be almost therapeutic.  And I'm always open to hear why others feel differently.

+1

Monk

November 26th, 2010 at 11:49 AM ^

something.  I know it's a diary and you're certainly entitled to your opinion but you lose credibility when you compare RR to Bo when RR has done nothing at Michigan except invite the NCAA's.

If RR goes to three or four Rose Bowls, you can start the comparison seriously but for now, you're basically saying a player who got a hit is the next Willie Mays, because he looks like him.

Wolfman

November 26th, 2010 at 7:16 PM ^

for anyone w/a modicum of interest in the program to realize you don't like RR. He didn't invite the NCAAs. In fact, I find it quite ironic that those left over from the previous regime - the ones Carr counted on- to do this menial bookeeping decided it wasn't necessary  inasmuch as they didn't like the new coach.

I believe RR is a lot like Bo in terms of football knowledge, motivation, etc. He'll never have the same number of quality players at one time due to the scholarship cuts, but when he has time to complete building his roster similar to the one Bo inherited, then, and only then, can one rightfully say RR doesn't have a clue as some are want to say prematurely.

His teams play every bit as hard as LC's. And he's the first UM coach since Bump to have to rebuild a team.  Bo reestablished the program to comparable levels of the Crisler years and MO, although not the coach Bo was, raised our recruiting a notch by going after "future" pros, something Bo wasn't too worried about because they don't always make the best college players. LC was fortunate enough to inherit the players Mo had brought in and go from there. They were all good coaches and Bo was the great among them. 

However, RR's winning percentage in a conference comparable to the MAC, where Bo came from, minus a couple of the better teams is quite close. Let him have his time to gather players, reminding you again that this is something none of the three preceeding him did not have to do. It makes a hell of a difference and then decide.

At this time I see a team playing virtually every game against opponents generally older, more experienced and seasoned. But they never quit. This is very important because one day his injured players will return, his kids will become men and his offense will be magnificent. Of course, I'm basing this on historical data, actually a good starting point.

Ask yourself one question. If you had a chance to hire a coach to rebuild a program, not to maintain the  status quo, would you opt for RR, someone who's proven he can do it, or LC, someone who never held the position and although considered a decent DC, was woefully lacking in experience compared to RR as to being the man at the helm. 

I maintain it's not difficult, if you're a man of confidence and can recruit, to take over a program that you know inside out, how it was built, how to follow the blueprint to the letter and even given broad latitude to recruit a different type of player, if you so desire. Recall, if you will, after three years, LC went to Bo and told him, almost in hysterical terms,"Bo, I just don't think I'm cut out for this job."  Just as he did with his players, Bo instilled in him the confidence not to only believe he was suited for the job, but also the confidence to become his own man and to lead us  to a perfect season. He was as much a product of Bo as were Rick Leach, Dan Deirdorf and other greats of that 40 year period.

 

RR's resume has only just began, and I hold firmly to the belief, until I see his players quit, he'll become one of UM's great ones.

AlwaysBlue

November 25th, 2010 at 11:08 PM ^

Rich Rodriguez IS Bo Schembechler

In no way, shape or form is this true.  It has nothing to do with football schemes or records and everything to do with honor, integrity and personal accountability.   

MightAndMainWeCheer

November 26th, 2010 at 12:14 AM ^

In no way, shape or form is this true.  It has nothing to do with football schemes or records and everything to do with honor, integrity and personal accountability.   

Please explain when RR has shown a lack of honor or integrity.  Yes, he swears at his players (so did Bo).  Yes, he swears at his coaches (so did Bo).  Yes, he yells at his players during games (so did Bo).  He spends a lot of time at Mott Hospital.  He took a vested interest in Brock Mealer.  He has not played important players (e.g. D Robinson, Lewan, etc.) due to concussion symptoms, even as his job status is continuously questioned.

I'm honestly very curious to see if you can come up with one example of where he has failed to act with honor and integrity.  I'm guessing that you're going to bring up something stupid like practice-gate or leaving WVA.

You're better argument for the comparison to Bo not holding up is with the win/losses on the football field.

Nutsnbolts

November 26th, 2010 at 11:28 AM ^

Jim Harbaugh... Sucks 

The Pac 10.... Sucks 

Harbaugh was destroyed by... a spread offense (52-31)

Harbaugh would be Carr 2.0 or worse Ty Willingham 2.0

And all of you Harbaugh supporters seem to forget that he threw UofM players under a bus academically, when a Michigan Man was running the program... 

Harbaugh = douchebag (e.g. acting like he was a Baltimore Ravens coach on MNF game, coming onto the field to argue with an official)  What a dumb@ss...  I would be embarrassed to have him as a coach!

JFW

November 26th, 2010 at 9:09 PM ^

Decent guy. Good Coach. won. 

 

The best thing would be for us to blow OSU up and go on to a 10 win season next year, and following years. But Carr was a good guy; and if Harbaugh came in and was like him, I'd be good. 

 

Goblueman

November 29th, 2010 at 7:04 PM ^

great motivator,coach and an honorable man BUT in no way ,shape or form was he an inovator,as the author claims.In fact ,Bo's achilles heal was his unwillingness to change from the 3 yards and a cloud of dust philoshphy to a more advanced offense that including the forward pass.It's no coincidence that Bo FINALLY won a Rose Bowl when Anthony Carter came along.This is not meant as a critism of Bo but someone had to point out that Bo himself would laugh at the thought of him being called an inovator or embracer of the "next best thing."        

 Re Rich Rod I am uncertain as to what DB should do.For years I longed for the day MICH would have an exposive spread offense that emphasised getting quick speedy players into space rather than repeatedly attempt to pound the ball,throw in predictable situations and only "open up "the offense when behind.How ironic it was that in Lloyds last game he opened it up, with 4 or 5 wideouts and let Henne and company riddle  Florida.Rich Rod has the style of offense I have longed for but you can't win with only 1/3 of a football team.

jpazy23

December 1st, 2010 at 8:34 PM ^

Great post, I couldn't have said it better my self. I have no interest in Harbaugh and the i-formation.......that does not equal national championships..........maybe some of you need to look back at how slow we looked against Texas and USC in our bowl games under Lloyd.

I don't want to be patient anymore than the next guy, but changing now would not be a good idea.

Also, I have finally come to admit that "BIG TEN FOOTBALL" is overrated. Its something us UM fans don't want to say, but its fact. Going back to 1989(past 20yrs), the big ten has only 2 national titles........PAC 10 has 3, BIG 12 has 6, ACC has 6, SEC has 8.

Another interesting fact.........little brother (MSU) has more national titles in the past 50yrs that UM. Yeah, we have dominated the big ten in the past, but have not been a power house in the national title column for quite some time.

rpel84

December 3rd, 2010 at 12:53 PM ^

This is a great post and I love it.  I am a huge RR supporter because he took over a tough situation that the Michigan Man Lloyd Carr left.  And he has given it everything that he can to turn this program around.  For Example Lloyd stopped going on in-home vistis, left us 15 scholorships below the limit (without attrition) and lost to the bucks all the time.  He was a boring coach who refused to change with the times.  I am sooo sick of the people who want a "Michigan Man"  (Harbaugh) who bashes Michigan and our players.  I would be pissed if we got Harbaugh.  He sucks and would start us all over.  The closest guy would be Les Miles to run what we have in place. 

All these people who want Rodriguez gone are the same people who hated Carr, and will hate Harbaugh if we hire him and he sucks.  Then they will say how they never wanted any of these coaches in the first place and blah blah blah.  The part that makes me laugh is that most of these haters know nothing about coaching, schemes, recruiting, or what it takes to turn the program around.  Any coach who took us over when RR did would be going through these problems.  If Lloyd was in place these last 3 years would have been even worse.  Nobody would have won with the lack of talent we had.

Be true Michigan fans and get behind our coach, our players, and our program and support these guys who lay it on the line for us every week.  Your people are the reason our program has so much uncertainty swirling around it right now. 

rpel84

December 3rd, 2010 at 12:53 PM ^

This is a great post and I love it.  I am a huge RR supporter because he took over a tough situation that the Michigan Man Lloyd Carr left.  And he has given it everything that he can to turn this program around.  For Example Lloyd stopped going on in-home vistis, left us 15 scholorships below the limit (without attrition) and lost to the bucks all the time.  He was a boring coach who refused to change with the times.  I am sooo sick of the people who want a "Michigan Man"  (Harbaugh) who bashes Michigan and our players.  I would be pissed if we got Harbaugh.  He sucks and would start us all over.  The closest guy would be Les Miles to run what we have in place. 

All these people who want Rodriguez gone are the same people who hated Carr, and will hate Harbaugh if we hire him and he sucks.  Then they will say how they never wanted any of these coaches in the first place and blah blah blah.  The part that makes me laugh is that most of these haters know nothing about coaching, schemes, recruiting, or what it takes to turn the program around.  Any coach who took us over when RR did would be going through these problems.  If Lloyd was in place these last 3 years would have been even worse.  Nobody would have won with the lack of talent we had.

Be true Michigan fans and get behind our coach, our players, and our program and support these guys who lay it on the line for us every week.  Your people are the reason our program has so much uncertainty swirling around it right now.