Bruce Feldman's take on Coach Rod's situation (paywall)
After a while a situation gets toxic. The coaches feel it. Their families feel it. The players feel it. You get that self-fulfilling prophecy.
http://insider.espn.go.com/ncf/blog?name=feldman_bruce&id=5981226
January 2nd, 2011 at 3:56 PM ^
Of all the ESPN CFB reporters, I enjoy Feldman the most. He definitely has an affinity for Michigan too. Also, one of the best people to follow on twitter for CFB news.
January 2nd, 2011 at 3:58 PM ^
I've never seen him as biased, one way or another.
January 2nd, 2011 at 3:56 PM ^
in other news, detroit lions win
January 2nd, 2011 at 8:24 PM ^
Can anyone remember a year when the lions won more games than UM?
January 2nd, 2011 at 3:58 PM ^
He makes it out to be a negative situation.
January 2nd, 2011 at 4:03 PM ^
situation?
January 2nd, 2011 at 3:58 PM ^
The RichRod part is paywalled.
January 2nd, 2011 at 3:59 PM ^
I think he hit it right on the nose. Still have to read his book about recruiting.
January 2nd, 2011 at 4:02 PM ^
It's a quality read. Definitely worth your time/money
January 2nd, 2011 at 4:28 PM ^
Going to get it on Kindle if it's available. I think he is very fair. From ESPN, Rittenberg and Feldman are the best.
January 2nd, 2011 at 4:27 PM ^
Decent take - though I don't think you're missing much re: Meat Market (FYI). Decent read, not great.
January 2nd, 2011 at 3:59 PM ^
Good take, him and everyone else in the world could have come up with that synopsis.
January 2nd, 2011 at 4:32 PM ^
January 2nd, 2011 at 7:01 PM ^
if we keep him people may get so disgusted they don't want to show up for the opener. I wouldn't want that and I'm sure DB wouldn't either.
January 2nd, 2011 at 7:59 PM ^
Come on this is MICHIGAN no matter the head coaching situation or the fans disgust Michigan Fans will always fill the stands....Thats who we are, we love this school, this name, and its sports teams.
January 2nd, 2011 at 10:02 PM ^
Northwestern and Ohio State have a different impression about that.
January 3rd, 2011 at 12:36 AM ^
What do you mean that they have different impressions about that?
January 3rd, 2011 at 12:48 AM ^
In this economy, a lot of people have to cut back on luxuries, and spending hundreds of dollars (not counting transportation, food, etc.) to go to college football games in person may not make sense for some, especially if they feel alienated from the program. And if a very unpopular coach is brought back, the collective sense of alienation will rise significantly. We've got a very attractive home schedule (OSU, Nebraska, ND at night), but I wouldn't want to chance it if I were Brandon.
January 2nd, 2011 at 4:43 PM ^
something has to happen that the fan base will rally around.
January 2nd, 2011 at 5:05 PM ^
In pro football, perception is less a part of reality than in college. You draft guys and you throw money at them in free agency. In college, because of recruiting, the perception that a program is in trouble eventually puts the program in real trouble.
January 2nd, 2011 at 8:28 PM ^
...."it's not you Coach Rod, it's us".
I agree with Feldman, the situation is toxic and it's just as much Old Blue's fault as it is Rich Rods. Thing is, we can't fire Old Blue.
Thanks for the memories coach!
January 2nd, 2011 at 9:16 PM ^
The situation is the same from RR's perspective. He should want a new place, a new job for the same reason. Sometimes a relationship doesn't work no matter how much work you put into it. Sometimes it's no one's fault, the dynamic gets worked into a groove so deep, you get stuck in it and can't get out.
January 2nd, 2011 at 9:32 PM ^
There's been a lot of good jobs that RR could have gone to if they could have come to an "understanding" before the bowl game. The thought of RR to Pitt is intriguing. I can only imagine the WVU fans would go even more bersek than they were when he left for Michigan. RR does know the BE though.
January 3rd, 2011 at 12:51 AM ^
Who's to say that his agent hasn't been in contact with those schools over that time period? I think it's very likely that he simply won't land another job this winter. Right now he looks like damaged goods.
January 2nd, 2011 at 11:49 PM ^
a dime. perhaps some of the comentators on there are not so bad, but as a whole, i wouldn't give them a single penny. I've said it before and I'll say it again, I'm done defending RR to anyone who wants him gone. I've supported him, but more importantly I've supported the players, the team and the school. If people don't show up to the games because they don't support the coach, then they should give up their season tickets, move to afghanistan and join the taliban. Michigan football is bigger than a coach, a player, a recruit. It's a team, and we should support the team, and want them to succeed. Yes, RR has been responsible as the head coach for several embarrasing losses, an NCAA investigation/probation, and some of our worst-on-record performances. If DB decides to fire him, I'll support the next HC as much as I supported RR. However, if DB decides to bring back RR, then support the team, or find a new team to be a fan of. As I said above, the taliban is always recruiting.
January 3rd, 2011 at 2:40 AM ^
I've come to expect the unexpected, so I wouldn't be surprised if by the "back end of the week", Dave Brandon hasn't fired Rich Rodriguez. I just wonder what rationale Brandon could offer for retaining Rodriguez after three seasons with very few highlights and too many lowlights for Michigan football.
Jim Harbaugh decides to accept an NFL job? . . . Brady Hoke’s coaching resume doesn’t quite measure up to Rodriguez’s, even when Rich Rod’s three seasons at Michigan are considered? . . . Les Miles’s clock-management problems wouldn’t be tolerated at the Big House, and he’s unavailable until after the Cotton Bowl on January 7? . . . Rutgers’ Greg Schiano hasn’t lived up to expectations since he (according to rumor) turned down Michigan’s offer in 2007? . . . It would be too much of a stretch to offer the job to Georgia Tech’s Paul Johnson or Delaware’s K. C. Keeler (whose team’s helmets have wings, but who wouldn’t be available until after the FCS National Championship game on January 7)? . . . It would be much easier and far less expensive to allow Rodriguez to coach for a fourth season at Michigan with a new staff coaching the defense and special teams than it would be to start the 2011 season with an entirely new coaching staff? . . . Even Greg Robinson was given four years to destroy a once-respected college football program?