ESPN Big Ten Blog
http://espn.go.com/blog/ncfnation/post/_/id/11840/patience-wearing-thin…
Is this RR again veiling how bare the cupboard was when he got here? Just curious what other people think. It seems to be an article (or blog) with not alot of substance, but a lot of "read between the lines".
November 2nd, 2009 at 2:31 PM ^
Should take his picture off the site. I am more interested in him doing my taxes then offering advice on my football team.
November 2nd, 2009 at 2:37 PM ^
Rittenberg isn't a columnist, he seems to be more of a reporter. Reporters can't write their opinions like columnists can but they can get their opinions across by selectively choosing who they interview and the quotes they use. That is why you get pieces like this, an opinion piece dressed as a news piece. With this type of piece you're forced to read between the lines b/c the reporter can't come right out and say what he wants to (though Rittenberg sort of does in the last bit of the article).
November 2nd, 2009 at 2:49 PM ^
Rittenberg's assumption that Michigan must have lots of talent because it is Michigan is the big problem here. Anybody who follows the program closely (or just reads Misopogon's diary entry above) knows that the cupboard Rodriguez inherited was bare (not putting it solely on Lloyd since defections/transfers hurt too, but the fact is the team is talent deficient in the Jr./Sr. class). This is the same faulty reasoning that leads the less-informed people in our own fanbase to believe that the team is somehow underachieving.
November 2nd, 2009 at 2:50 PM ^
But I am simply amazed that RR took the position apparently knowing as little as he did about the program he was taking over. Maybe that's normal for guys at his level, but jeezus...
November 2nd, 2009 at 2:55 PM ^
That's the exact point I was thinking too. He never mentions the attrition that took place once he took the job, but he continues to bring up how bad it was once he got here. Why didn't he do a little digging and investigating before he took the job? If it was as bad as he claims, would he have still taken the job?
November 2nd, 2009 at 3:25 PM ^
This is Michigan football. Head coach here has to be one of the premier positions in the country. Relatively patient and supportive AD. An opportunity to return this program to the elite (they had been good recently, but not elite) - what a fantastic opportunity!
November 3rd, 2009 at 6:11 PM ^
He was offered the reins at a program that was coming off 33 consecutive bowls (and had been bowl-eligible 40 consecutive years). He couldn't have been expected to know what was left in the cupboard. Certainly, Bill Martin wasn't about to tell candidates that they'd be facing a rebuilding job.
It must be noted that throughout the 2008 offseason, RR urged patience on the part of fans. At no point did he suggest we'd see instant results.
November 2nd, 2009 at 3:19 PM ^
Why are you amazed? He was offered an opportunity to coach football at the University of Michigan. You know, college football's winningest program, the one with the Big House. Never mind, you're right, amazing he left West Virginia for that.
November 2nd, 2009 at 3:25 PM ^
Anyone else think that this repeated theme from Rich might be part of the reason Carr took a while to come out and openly support Rodriguez? He's basically throwing Carr and his staff under the bus.
November 2nd, 2009 at 3:27 PM ^
Not everyone wants to leave their current situation for "greener pastures". Schiano didn't leave Rutgers for UM, Ferentz didn't leave Iowa for UM. Sometimes a job on par with Head Football Coach at Michigan can come with alot more issues and pressure than one wants to deal with.
November 2nd, 2009 at 8:06 PM ^
It was rumored at the time that Schiano was going after the Penn State job, as this was when Joe/Jay Pa were bumbling around. 2008 is when Spread HD really took off, that 2007 season for them was awful.
Ferentz was (still) one of the highest paid coaches in college football. Michigan really couldn't offer him much more. I'm not saying that was the deciding factor, but it played a part in the process.
November 3rd, 2009 at 6:14 PM ^
Also, wasn't Ferentz's son still on the Iowa team? Hard to abandon your kid to another coach.
November 2nd, 2009 at 8:13 PM ^
Rittenberg does a fantastic job of reporting about the Big 10. Yes, he sometimes get some facts wrong like yesterday when he wrote UM started out 5-0. No biggie for me (he subsequently corrected it).
And as for RR. I don't think he ever thought he'd go through what he's gone through so far at U of M. And I think it's obvious that the talent level RR inherited was horrendous after the departure of many due to graduation or just because they no longer wanted to play. Carr had a country club atmosphere at UM when you compare it to how other teams operate. Sure, you had guys who worked hard but I don't think it was a team effort. And we see that on the field. There are kids who are "lost" out there who probably have a hard time taking down tackling dummies. Hopefully RR will eventually get kids who "LOVE FOOTBALL" and correct the mind numbing mistakes we have seen in 1.5 seasons.
November 3rd, 2009 at 12:21 PM ^
I think most of his surprise was the lack of depth and talent on the defensive end of the ball. I'm sure he knew the offense would struggle, especially by just taking a glance at the QB position, but I'm sure he thought he could win some close, low scoring games. Unfortunately for him he's playing walk-ons in his 2nd year here and the defense looks like it could be even worse next year.