CC: Will Gator sway many opinions here?
Happy hols, everyone. With the Gator Bowl just days a way, I'm wondering re the degree to which a big win or loss would influence opinions of RR here. In other words, would a win silence many in the anti-RR camp? Would a loss -- a double-digit one -- push many pro-RRs in the anti camp?
And what about the undecideds? It's my sense that most people are somewhat on the fence. I could be wrong -- I usually am -- but I just get the sense that a big win or loss would tip a lot of opinions. Am I wrong?
December 25th, 2010 at 12:19 PM ^
We should just enjoy the game and be happy that we get to watch our team on New Year's Day. Whether people love RR or hate him, want him retained or fired...this game shouldn't matter. It's essentially an exhibition game against the #5 team in the SEC West, not Auburn. Winning proves nothing about RR's ability to do the job against top competition...and losing proves the same - nothing. Let's just enjoy the game and hope for a W.
December 25th, 2010 at 12:27 PM ^
what the hell are you talking about?
Winning proves nothing? ok.. So if we would have won against the ranked teams we played this year it would of meant nothing? Same goes to the teams we lost to?
It's good you think this way, because if it was true we would all know who are coach was going to be next year.
December 25th, 2010 at 12:36 PM ^
I'm talking about reality. In reality (aka "non-meaningless bowl"), we don't have 5 weeks to prepare for one game. In reality, we didn't beat any of the ranked teams we played this year. In reality, we barely beat a number of terrible teams we played this year.
The bowl game result proves nothing because RR has built a three-year track record. If you want him to stay, you base that on what he has done to date. If you want him to do, you case that on the track record as well.
December 25th, 2010 at 1:04 PM ^
y'know, you could just say "i'm in the anti-RR camp and staying there no matter what" since that's obviously your answer, instead of sidetracking the thread by trying to undermine the question.
as for me, a win/loss wouldn't change how i feel about RR, but it will impact what i predict will happen. in other words, i think the way the team prepares for the game and the way the team executes in it might sway DB's opinion.
December 25th, 2010 at 1:35 PM ^
If you're in the anti-RR camp, then it's fair to make an argument about why winning wouldn't make an impact on your stance.
December 25th, 2010 at 2:10 PM ^
What are you talking about? The OP asks if the game will change opinions. I say no. RR supporters might still find "hope" if we lose by 21 and realists (see what I did there) will understand that even a win over Miss St doesn't show what shall come in the future.
Responding to the question doesn't undermine it. Try to relax a bit. RR will be wealthy and happy even if he's without a job next year.
December 25th, 2010 at 2:50 PM ^
not so much?
December 25th, 2010 at 5:02 PM ^
I didn't know else anyone here cared for assistants given all of the scapegoating that goes 'round. It's a good point. Assistants coaches certainly have a much more difficult ride in collegiate sports.
December 25th, 2010 at 10:46 PM ^
would split up a bowl or conference championship bonuses to share with the assistants.
December 25th, 2010 at 5:13 PM ^
...and I tend to agree with you. I really want to see a competetive game but I don't think that it will change much about the Michigan program. The decision has most likely already been made (one way or the other).
The bowl game will be a good opportunity for RR to show what he's got....but I don't think that it will have much impact on DB's decision. He'd be crazy to make a decision that big with a sample size of one when he's already got 36 games to look at.
December 26th, 2010 at 8:42 AM ^
December 25th, 2010 at 11:31 PM ^
the gator bowl is meaningless,I don't think so.Rich has done the best with what he has,we didn't beat any ranked teams but we didn't quit either,also you have to look at all the youth that played dis year.I really don't know what to say to this type of fan.
December 26th, 2010 at 9:10 AM ^
2 Weeks to prepare and THAT was the best the staff could do?
I still want to give RR another year though. I'm just apathetic about whether he's a head coach or offensive coordinator.
December 25th, 2010 at 12:35 PM ^
I tend to agree with you about the opponent not mattering much.
However, if he shows that he worked some magic during these last fifteen practices and everyone plays in top form, I think that can say a lot. Same if the team looks like they've been in Gergs office playing with stuffed animals the whole time.
December 25th, 2010 at 12:43 PM ^
I'm not sure I completely agree that winning and losing proves nothing, but I agree with your general approach to watching the game. I'm going to sit back, nurse my NYE hangover, root for Michigan as much as I do every week, and be glad I don't have to make the coaching decisions that come afterwards.
It sucks that we've finally gotten back to the bowl season and so many fans are concerned about what comes after it. Just enjoy it for what it is for now.
December 26th, 2010 at 9:00 AM ^
I actually agree with this.
December 25th, 2010 at 12:21 PM ^
If we lose by multiple touchdowns I think RR is gone. I'm sure that's why DB hasn't just said he's retianing him. MSU may be ranked higher, but I honestly believe they are a team we can and should beat. If we lose uncompetitively, that says a lot about our consisetency when you consider the fashion in which we lost the 5 games we lost.
If we keep it close or win, I think we'll be looking at a new DC and hopefully a coming out party next year. San Diego State is looking like it'll be just as tough as Notre Dame, and the schedule looks good for at least 9 next year if we progress like I expect we should. If we do bad next year, RR is gone, but I thnk that was a given anyway.
December 25th, 2010 at 12:25 PM ^
December 25th, 2010 at 12:27 PM ^
I am going to watch the game and leave RichRod's "bowels" out of it.
EDIT: Your edit beat my snark.
December 25th, 2010 at 12:26 PM ^
which I think is fairly likely, then a 3 touchdown win almost has to make his life more difficult.
December 25th, 2010 at 12:28 PM ^
so now his job is down to how many TD's he beats teams by.. lol ...
December 25th, 2010 at 12:27 PM ^
Ive been on both sides of the fence since the Iowa game and now I really hope we keep RR. So to answer your question, no I dont think this one game is going to change my mind.
With the offense we have coming back next year I think there is no one better then RR to coach them.
December 29th, 2010 at 9:56 PM ^
I see you just made it past -5000 points. You're doing great! Keep posting!
I agree with your points. I intend to keep rooting for RR no matter where he winds up as a coach.
December 30th, 2010 at 2:30 AM ^
And don't go begging for the points back. If you continue to post good things, people will rally behind you, and you'll get the points back faster than you think. And you'll have the satisfaction of crawling your way back with no help. Plus, when the penalty expires in like a year, you'll get a fun little surprise bonus when the points all come back.
December 25th, 2010 at 12:27 PM ^
December 25th, 2010 at 1:11 PM ^
Why another year.... no wins against ranked opponents. Crushing defeats by the top echelon of the Big 10....and recruiting a bunch of midgets. Defense and physical play wins football games, not some little guy who occasionally can outrun the field. Time to move on.
December 25th, 2010 at 1:28 PM ^
Do you really think anyone will read this and say, "there's a worthwhile contribution, that's something I never thought of before"?
It's the holiday - my suggestion would be to enjoy it.
Have some eggnog.
December 25th, 2010 at 2:06 PM ^
Apparently tall people win football games too. You mentioned that at first but not in your recap.
I mean, Hart didn't win many games. Hell, Woodson is only 6'1; we could've gone without him I'm sure.
December 26th, 2010 at 1:05 AM ^
Bellblue NEED MORE Pat Masseys! If we lined up a bunch of 6' 8" Pat Masseys, we would be undefeated at this moment. Height is crucial to college football success.
I'm also pretty sure Santa didn't bring him his number one gift choice or he's stuck with family he hates and is taking it out on us. Cheer up, bellblue, we're a few more days closer to finding out what DB's plan is going to be.
December 25th, 2010 at 3:27 PM ^
On Christmas. How sad.
December 25th, 2010 at 4:26 PM ^
Defense and physical play wins football games huh? Some of that may be true, but then you go on to sound more like an idiot saying "not some little guy who can outrun the field"
Maybe you should try watching the national championship game this year.. Oregon might say otherwise.
It shouldn't be "time to move on" Our offense has just hit the top of the iceberg in terms of what it is capable of, and all we need is someone to run the defense. The risk of overhauling the entire team again after just 3 years is absurd
December 25th, 2010 at 12:30 PM ^
I dont know how much a bowl win will change DB's mind one way or the other. We've shown pretty good progress in terms of beating teams we are even with, it's the top teams that we have been woefully inferior to.
Although, I would hate to lose the RR + DR combo before it really becomes something special...
December 25th, 2010 at 12:37 PM ^
Progress at beating teams we are "even with"????????? WHAT the ZARK does this mean?
All that from barely beating Illinois and Purdue (both coached by two men deemed as complete idiots by most UM message board guys)? That's "progress"?????
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Enjoy the bowl game, email RR how much you love him. Wish him good luck at his next stop.
December 25th, 2010 at 1:26 PM ^
Even if you deserve it. Merry Christmas.
December 25th, 2010 at 2:31 PM ^
Are you capable of not acting like a troll?
December 25th, 2010 at 3:28 PM ^
I'd say probably no.
December 25th, 2010 at 2:38 PM ^
3, 5. 7. beat most of the teams we lost to last year. With a broken secondary. Imagine that beating other teams with 3-5 secondary players that were not in college football last year and the ones that were here last year have never started a game. Give it time.
December 25th, 2010 at 2:51 PM ^
I think coaches generally deserve five years but RR deserves at least four. It's crazy. If there is CC it had BETTER work out, or We Are Notre Dame!!
December 25th, 2010 at 3:27 PM ^
Or stay...but how is beating 2 of the 7 teams we lost to "most" of them?
December 25th, 2010 at 12:32 PM ^
I think in ANY system, with ANY coach no matter what their record.. A coach should get at least 4 years..
He should at LEAST have a chance to have an upper classmen at QB...
Specially with a chance to have an every down back to take the pressure of denard next year is pretty exciting.
December 25th, 2010 at 2:06 PM ^
Abso-F'in-Lutely. The only exception would be if every year kept getting worse and worse (which it hasn't).
December 25th, 2010 at 4:02 PM ^
Every coach should get 4 years minimum. That is always the best policy. I mean, look at Stanford. If they had stuck with Walt Harris for four years, then they may well have been much better off...
December 25th, 2010 at 12:38 PM ^
I just get the sense that a double-digit loss will be a crusher for him. I think the garden-variety M fan doesn't care (or know) that MSU is a solid team. So a loss, to some hayseed team most M fans have never seen, would fall under the UNACCEPTABLE rubric.
December 25th, 2010 at 12:40 PM ^
not that my opinion matters anyway. As for the rest of the board, I'm guessing each side has reasons that any result can be fit into the existing viewpoint. We all get pretty good at playing up the things that help us argue our points and explaining away data that might tend to support the opposite side.
My opinion is what it is in part because I have had the immeasurable blessing of learning quite a bit about coaching from a top-notch coach. He is a program builder. He is phenomenal at getting average kids to buy in, believe, work hard, and earn success. I was privileged to work with him in starting one program on the path to dominance.
As I took my first head coaching job last year, he advised me to take heart in the small successes and not be discouraged by the appearance of slow or non-existent progress. After years of 'start dynasty, rinse, repeat', he advised me that "The first two years anywhere suck".
Incidentally, it was in year three that the school at which we worked together took its first title.
December 25th, 2010 at 12:43 PM ^
There is nothing that Rich Rod can do to silence his haters. If Michigan wins, the haters will just discredit the MSU team and say they are a bad SEC team.
December 25th, 2010 at 12:51 PM ^
I've been saying for a while that it's hard to beat a good team because by winning, that team is no longer considered as good as they were previously.
December 25th, 2010 at 11:10 PM ^
I have been thinking this all year. Many thought that we would lose to UCONN because they were a solid team. We beat them well, then they sucked. But now they are in a BCS game. I hope they spank OU (probably not) but its funny how once we beat a team then that team sucks.
December 26th, 2010 at 5:30 PM ^
UConn isn't considered a solid team because after losing to us, they got solidly beaten by a middling-at-best Temple, lost to Big East worst Rutgers, and got shut out by a very mediocre Louisville team. Even discounting their loss to us, they were decidedly mediocre this year and are in a BCS game by virtue of the all-around terrible state of the Big East this year.
Our other wins are as follows:
28-24 @ 7-5 Notre Dame
42-37 v. 6-5 UMass (FCS)
65-21 v. 2-10 Bowling Green
42-35 @ 5-7 Indiana
67-65 v. 6-6 Illinois
27-16 @ 4-8 Purdue
So in summary, our best wins came against 8-4 UConn, who had three bad losses, and 7-5 Notre Dame. We also beat a middling FCS team, a terrible MAC team, a mediocre team in Illinois, and two bad Big Ten teams in Indiana and Purdue. None of these wins are particularly strong, which has nothing to do with Michigan beating them.