Ex-players write letter to current U-M football team

Submitted by snarling wolverine on

Nice gesture by some recent grads.

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In the aftermath of Brady Hoke's firing as Michigan head coach on Tuesday, former player Ryan Van Bergen told The Detroit News he hoped to organize a group of former players to help the current players adjust and handle the transition to a new coach.

Van Bergen played for three coaches while at Michigan — Lloyd Carr, Rich Rodriguez and Brady Hoke — so he has first-hand knowledge, as do others who went through the transitions, how challenging this situation can be for the players who are waiting to find out what's next.

"It's sad to see someone get fired, but it's important to help the players now get through this," Van Bergen said Tuesday after Hoke had been fired.

To this end, an open letter to current players and the Michigan fan base has been drafted and will be shared via social media beginning at noon Saturday to encourage a "welcoming environment" so the next coach and his team can be successful....

 

Full story:

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/college/university-michigan/2014/12/06/um-football-letter/20002181/

 

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Bluesnu

December 6th, 2014 at 12:49 PM ^

Personally, I actually don't like this letter. For one, because there's no reason this statement can't be made to the players directly versus a social medium. And second, because reading a letter that seems like an "official statement" of sorts on behalf of player alumni, akin to something that would be released by a university department, feels like it continues to drive separation between the program and fans. For me at least. I'm not saying I disagree with the letter's sentiment, or what it asks of fans for the new coaching hire, but just because it feels like something that says "this is the official stance on the coaching search process, and you as a fan have no say in what the proper stance is or should be. If you disagree with this letter, you're in the wrong." Maybe that's just me.

Joined: 01/06/2011

MGoPoints: 381

evenyoubrutus

December 6th, 2014 at 12:58 PM ^

I think the reason he made it public is because he is also indirectly speaking to many fans. Maybe I'm reading my own feelings into this but he seems a little bitter towards the fans (and players) who so strongly doubted Rodriguez from the very beginning.

Joined: 11/04/2008

MGoPoints: 178179

Bluesnu

December 6th, 2014 at 2:21 PM ^

Like I said, I don't disagree with the sentiments. But I also believe that every fan, just like every player, person, alumni, etc., has the right to support the team in whatever way they see fit. I don't think fans need RVB telling them what they do or do not do in terms of supporting certain hires is right or wrong and/or with or against. Supporting be program and supporting a hiring decision are two different things. People always support the program, but do so based on what they believe is best for the program. If you don't believe a coaching hire is in the program's best interest, you don't need to conform our opinion or risk be called a "muggle."

Joined: 01/06/2011

MGoPoints: 381

tolmichfan

December 6th, 2014 at 3:37 PM ^

Your sentiment has gotten two coaches fired. The players also know both coaches are good they played for them. The AD has done a terrible job the last couple years of conveying this to the fans. And in both cases the coaches truly needed more time. We need to get rid of this I pay 100 bucks and I went to school at Michigan so my opinion matters so much attitude.

Joined: 11/26/2010

MGoPoints: 1433

MGoCarolinaBlue

December 6th, 2014 at 4:28 PM ^

This is the most reasonable post I have found on this site in quite some time.

I think it's weird also how many people here were so offended about the 'muggles' thing. We fans are not in Schembechler hall every day. We don't know what happens in practices or in team meetings. We are profoundly uninformed relative to the players and it is flat out wrong to insist that we know what is best for them.

I spoke with a former player at a bar here in Chapel Hill last night, and the topic of Michigan naturally came up while we were watching Arizona lose to Oregon. His experience was that when something goes wrong on the field it almost never has anything to do with the coaches and almost always is caused by the guys lining up across from you being faster, stronger, or more talented.

Joined: 03/19/2013

MGoPoints: 5774

tolmichfan

December 6th, 2014 at 4:56 PM ^

Please stop calling me reasonable I am firmly entrenched in the hoke apologists camp. The first chance I get to wave my "I was right about hoke needing more time" banner I'll look for the flag poll to raise it. Where is section 1 I'll need his help after Jon U Bacon writes another fucking book that keeps dividing the fan base.

Joined: 11/26/2010

MGoPoints: 1433

tolmichfan

December 7th, 2014 at 1:34 AM ^

You sir must have a miserable life if your feelings are never taken into account. It sounds like you need a hug. On top of that I'm commenting on players "feelings" not coaches. Technically playing college football is not a job. They are not getting paid, they don't get fired. They don't get performance evaluations. Playing in college can lead to a job in the future, kind of like normal people going to college can lead to a job in the future. They play a game they love, we as fans are not forced to watch them play, but we do because we enjoy the game. Michigan happens to be the team we all like here at mgoblog.

Joined: 11/26/2010

MGoPoints: 1433

GoBLUinTX

December 6th, 2014 at 1:19 PM ^

The fans don't get to choose the coach, only the University has that luxury and responsiblity.  The fans are, like it or not, customers and if the customers don't like the product being offered they have every right to state as much just as they have a right to cheer a product they do like.  If RVB and his former teammates want everyone to be happy happy then they need to direct their concerns to the people actually hiring the coach and who will have to sell the coach to fans and players alike.

Joined: 12/02/2013

MGoPoints: 5895

Timnotep

December 6th, 2014 at 1:08 PM ^

I like the letter. I have no issue with it being posted on social media because it was stated to be a letter to both the current team as well as the fans. The only critique I have is that the letter does seem to be blaming the attitude of the fans for the attitude of the players, and while there is some truth to that and we in the fan and alumni base do have our own share in the blame for the failure of the Rodriguez era it was not strictly on our shoulders, that is to say that those players who saw our hesitance and reacted by transferring out and not buying in did so of their own accord.

Having said that I believe that this letter needed to be written, and I'm not sure how aside from the use of social media one would go about getting this to circulate among the fan and alumni base. We as a fanbase do need to get behind the new coach regardless of who it is because that will inevitably effect the feelings and reactions of the players. Again they are still responsible for their own reactions and decisions in the transition, but a divided fanbase is going to be very hard to overcome.

Joined: 07/07/2008

MGoPoints: 5862

Gulogulo37

December 6th, 2014 at 8:13 PM ^

People are getting way too paranoid about this us vs. them mentality. He doesn't single out the fans. He said the "fans and players". He in no way insinuates that the fans' sentiments is what caused the players to not trust Hoke.

Joined: 03/16/2010

MGoPoints: 28302

Simps

December 6th, 2014 at 2:15 PM ^

I dislike the letter. Taking shots at fans who were there for the shitstorm that was NU at home (2008) in the coldest November rain I can remember seems a bit unfair. The stadium is always full-ish. The fans aren't the ones who dropped RR's defense into the bottom of all of college football, they aren't the ones that allowed Gardner to get sacked time and time again, they aren't the ones who put 10 men out on the punt team. If the players don't care what "muggles" have to say when the team is underperforming then they shouldn't tell us what to say/think/do when a coaching change occurs.

Joined: 08/11/2012

MGoPoints: 2071

AlwaysBlue

December 6th, 2014 at 2:36 PM ^

refers to RR and Hoke's first year and the difference a full buy in can mean. RR pissed off a lot of people with a number of decisions, he blew up almost the entire coaching staff and he wasn't invested in any of the themes that players and fans considered the identity of the program. It is just human nature that there would be reservations on player's parts. Having the support of fans and alum would of course provide a sense of comfort and confidence. Having said that, a leader (Martin and RR) should know that too.

Joined: 11/23/2008

MGoPoints: 7854

Tater

December 6th, 2014 at 2:20 PM ^

This letter acknowledges how the petty assholes who didn't support RR caused a lot of problems for the team.  It's too bad former players didn't do this when RR was hired, but better late than never. 

The only "red flag" for many should be that if Harbaugh was hired, there wouldn't be any need for a letter like this because his supporters will so grossly outnumber his critics.  That means that a JH hiring may not be as likely as it has been starting to look the last few days.

Joined: 08/13/2008

MGoPoints: 30584

GoBLUinTX

December 6th, 2014 at 2:49 PM ^

were the ones that hired RR.  They were absolutely tone deaf and out of touch and did little to nothing to sell RR.  For his part RR failed to sell himself (talking about the critical interim period immediately following his announcement).  Moreover, right or wrong, Michigan fans, then as now, feel as if the coaching hire should be self-evident and not have to be sold to the fans and players (shouldn't be the 4th choice).

You want to blame RRs failure at Michigan on the fans and former players, why?  It was Bill Martin and MSC that set him up for failure.

Joined: 12/02/2013

MGoPoints: 5895

Prince Lover

December 6th, 2014 at 1:01 PM ^

It's a pretty generic attempt to rally everyone for team 136. I don't see how this implies a strong personality coach to be next either, unless you were joking and it went over my head.

Joined: 07/01/2013

MGoPoints: 13070

Yourmyboyblue

December 6th, 2014 at 1:03 PM ^

I hope whomever becomes the new coach; whether its a spread, pro style, etc. they have the full support of everyone. Very telling when a former player confirms the transfers, players not buying in, lack of support for RR vs. Hoke. Wondered why so many underclassmen played under RR and sounds to me like the players who were here wasn't buying in while underclassmen were. As the those underclassmen began maturing, so did the wins. Albeit slowly. So RVB, if everyone was buying into Hoke, why did the win totals decline year over year? Why only cite the first year of RR and Hoke? The part that irritate me is the fact that he didn't buy in and give 100% regardless of who the coach is. To me, a "Michigan Man" tries his or her best regardless of circumstance and he is more or less admitting he and possibly some teammates did not do that. Not sure what to think about the letter.

Joined: 12/05/2014

MGoPoints: 25

Yourmyboyblue

December 6th, 2014 at 5:26 PM ^

Youth certainly contributed to it, though I thought Hoke had a bit more time with the roster since there was enough upperclassmen talent his first year while he "coached" up the youngsters. In contrast to RR's first year where the talent transfered or defected to the NFL and try to build a team from the minimal talent left on the roster. Both obviously did not produced as expected by the fans but the trajectory of the two coached teams is telling.

Joined: 12/05/2014

MGoPoints: 25

Bluemama

December 6th, 2014 at 1:05 PM ^

I could see from the perspective of being a young player with no college experience and having everybody hate on your new coach being a problem and a distraction to the team. That is likely why the seniors who were once freshman stood up and lead the team that first year Hoke came in. Hoke did have more support from everybody.

Joined: 04/27/2013

MGoPoints: 390

Ryanonymous

December 6th, 2014 at 1:07 PM ^

It's cool to see an attempt at unifying the team and rallying support for the decision overall.
Compared to Nebraska where there was so much bashing and hatred against everything going on.
I know it's different because they fired a 9-10 win coach and hired a coach that appears worse on paper but still.

The part that seems weird is where the letter is worded as if the new coach is in place already; where it says things such as "we support the new coach" etc vs we will support the new coach when hired.
Maybe they know who this new coach is going to be already?

Joined: 05/02/2011

MGoPoints: 1018

PhillipFulmersPants

December 6th, 2014 at 3:09 PM ^

in the generic sense when he says "we support the new coach," meaning that it doesn't matter who it is, they're going to get behind him unconditionally.

I would be shocked if a bunch of ex-players knew who the next coach was.  1) Hackett doesn't seem to be operating that way 2) If a large group of people know that kind of secret, it's virtually impossible for word not to leak out.  No knock on former players.  That's just human nature.  

Joined: 01/06/2009

MGoPoints: 4222

Carolina Wolverine

December 6th, 2014 at 1:32 PM ^

Things haven't been the same since Bo died. There hasn't been anyone that everyone could and would rally around. This seems like a great start to a new era of Michigan football. We all need to rally around the new guy, even if it's someone like Greg Schiano, and give him the chance to make Michigan what it should be. That being said, there is one person that would perfectly fit this role. Number 4 in the program and Number One on everyone's wish list, Jim Harbaugh

Joined: 12/02/2014

MGoPoints: 527

PhillipFulmersPants

December 6th, 2014 at 3:02 PM ^

Don't see much downside.   It's not like he's airing dirty laundry that's not already known. Like the transparency, if indeed he's speaking for a large number of former players. 

I don't necessarily think he's taking a shot at fans or ex-players or other camps, but I suppose it could be interpreted that way. To me it was more about  "everyone wants the same thing" ... for the team to be successful on the field, off the field, in the classroom, in the community.

Seems to be saying that that goal is tough to pull off if people are pulling in different directions, and that the "noise" around the program influences young kids, both positively or negativelly depending on what the noise is.  If he's trying to lead a group of ex-players to committ to build positive energy around the next hire, then all the power to him.  It couldn't hurt and it very wall may help.   I think we've seen what the other approach can produce.  

Joined: 01/06/2009

MGoPoints: 4222

JCass

December 6th, 2014 at 3:10 PM ^

This appears to be an old baseball mangerial technique. Sometime a manger when frustrated with an umpire will start screaming at the pitcher.  This way the manager doesn't "show-up" the ump (resulting in ejection), but gets his point across.

Given how RVB talks of divide in the "community", my guess is that the "fans" aren't the real target of the letter.

Joined: 09/08/2010

MGoPoints: 338

Cold War

December 6th, 2014 at 4:53 PM ^

He's simply contrasting the welcome Hoke got with the obstacles RichRod faced and is encouraging people to support the new coach.

It's amazing to me how self absorbed some are, to the point they think this is a jab at them. 

Joined: 01/15/2012

MGoPoints: -3144

Yourmyboyblue

December 6th, 2014 at 6:03 PM ^

RVB came in during what I imagine a laid back players' coach during his final year. Then a hard nosed, high intensity guy comes in whom I imagine is more demanding using a different tone and some of the players didn't like that. Then Fred Flintstone comes in and claps for the players no matter what the players do. I would probably like to have the nice guy clapping for me or my grandpa not as demanding as my father as well. To me RR would've been more like my dad, more intense, expecting more from me then anyone else. My point is that maybe being a nice coach didn't work for sustained success. I have a feeling BO was no peach and while respected, there had to be some of his players that thought he was an a******. I'm sure Hoke is a great guy but Harbaugh doesn't seam like a peach either. I would like to see an intense coach who shows some emotion on the sideline again, I can support that. Even Carr launched into angry grandpa on the sidelines from time to time. Hoke reminded me to clap no matter what...still trying to figure out how to apply that in my personal/professional life....next time I get a flat tire? Maybe when one of our employees makes a mistake? Applications are endless. As for RVB, this letter gets more and more irritating for me, RR was his coach and it feels like he is dissing him in a way but I digress.

Joined: 12/05/2014

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