How quickly do folks jump back on the wagon
I wholy admit to being a Michigan slappy, and have a feeling that they can win the Big Ten every year. Through my maize and blue colored glasses I see a 10-2 season coming our way, with lots of improvement. I loved Lloyd as our coach, and have been a Rich Rod fan since he got here, and fully support him and the program right now. I do, though, understand others are not as easily swayed and some truly dislike Rich Rod as our coach.
My question is not how many wins it will take for Rich to keep his job, cause in my world, the win total will be so high by October, this topic will be moot. My question is, how many wins, or seasons of winning, does it take for him to get back the entire fan base? Or has that ship sailed where no matter how many championships he gets, he can't do enough to get certain fans back?
Carry on.
August 5th, 2010 at 10:23 AM ^
Some people will jump on the bandwagon after a solid win over UConn, and others will never be convinced. Remember, quite a few people were ready to run Lloyd Carr out of town, and all the guy did was win 75 percent of his games, with a national championship along the way. Right now, Carr is looking pretty good.
I think the average fan needs, at the bare minimum, to see the team in contention for the Big Ten Title practically every year, winning the Big Ten around half the time, and being at least at parity with Ohio State.
If you look at Carr, he did contend for the Big Ten championship every year, but he won it (or shared it) in only five of his thirteen seasons. He also lost his last four, and six of his last seven against Ohio State. That statistic, more than any other, is the reason why many people were down on Lloyd Carr.
Frankly, because Ohio State is never down for very long, reaching parity with the Buckeyes is the telling statistic. If Rodriguez wants most fans in his corner, he needs a winning record against the sweater vest.
August 5th, 2010 at 10:41 AM ^
Winning the Big Ten half of the time is an incredibly tall order. Being in contention almost every year, yes, but there are too many good teams in the conference to expect that.
August 5th, 2010 at 11:00 AM ^
Ohio State has won or shared the title for five straight years, and most people figure that anything OSU can do, Michigan can do too.
August 5th, 2010 at 11:10 AM ^
That's true. I'm not sure what time frame you were referring to, I guess. 50% or greater for 5 years is different than 50% for thirty years.
August 5th, 2010 at 11:31 AM ^
Can do better.
That Bo guy must have sucked too.
I mean, we did win 5 in a row from 88-92...but there's a reason only 3 teams have EVER done it in the Big Ten. And it just gets harder, with PSU, and Nebraska...and probably someone else before the next 5 year period is done.
OSU's current success is credit to them, and blame for our failing for not beating them (or anyone else). But it's not the norm. And if you think Rich, in the new tougher Big Ten, with no shared titles and an extra (Championship) game is going to do it regular...you're setting yourself up to be disappointed.
August 5th, 2010 at 11:41 AM ^
I personally feel that Lloyd was a great coach. I however also feel that Jim Herrman and Mike DeBoard weren't aggresive enough, as well as not making changes to different formations. After Coach Herrman was forced out, I thought that Coach English was cut from the same cloth. In the OSU game we stayed in a nickel defense damn near the whole first half before making changes. That, in my opinion cost us the game! I was one that wanted Lloyd to go, but only because he was too loyal to his coaches that weren't getting the job done.
August 5th, 2010 at 12:45 PM ^
is setting the bar far too low! I'll be happy when we are continually better than the buttnuts. RR almost has the support and personnel that he needs to get the job done. Because he is still young maybe he can be convinced to stick around for thirty years to kick the pus out of colonpus year after year.
August 5th, 2010 at 10:33 AM ^
that believe themselves to be Michigan fans that just hate Rich Rodriguez, and are more likely to just stop "liking" Michigan than they are to support Rodriguez. These are the folks that do not like and did not like college football as much as they did being alligned with the illusion that Michigan does it "differently" or "the right way." When Michigan begins to win, they will continue to fein alliance with Michigan, but also talk this and that about how Rich Rod is a cheater and a thief and how Lloyd Carr never had to cheat to win and made sure his players were like Carlton Banks in the classroom. So to answer your question, those that have already jumped off the bandwagon are not wanted and will never really return, and those that still live and die Michigan football have not left the bandwagon because they were never on it to begin with.
August 5th, 2010 at 10:39 AM ^
I would think that most people on this board have been on the wagon the entire time. If you consider being off the wagon being critical of the coach or the program then I guess I was off the wagon from about 2001 til 2007. Its not that I didnt cheer for Michigan, or support the program, during that time. I was just highly critical of Lloyd Carr. I hated the conservative play and losing to teams with inferior talent. I thought Michigan had more potential then that. I still watched every Saturday and cheered my butt off. I was a fan of the RR hire from day one. I was pumped the second we got him. I didnt want Les Miles or anyone else. I thought Rich Rod gave us the best chance to be a premier national power. I still think that and will support him the whole time. If people jumped completely off the band wagon, stop watching games and repping Blue because of a couple losing seasons, then I could care less if they ever get back on the wagon.
August 5th, 2010 at 10:55 AM ^
...is not whether people are rooting for the team, but whether they are convinced that Rodriguez can be better than Lloyd Carr. Remember, Carr won about 75 percent of his games, but many people (such as yourself) were nevertheless not in his corner.
Which would be highly successful....will they still be in his corner?
If the coaching feelings were reversed (you liked Lloyd, but didn't like something about Rich), it'd make you the definition of a bandwagon guy on this site. And that you didn't like those years after the National Championship had faded...yeah, that would probably make you one.
August 5th, 2010 at 10:41 AM ^
Don't care. If they jumped off we don't want them back. Besides, our wagon is going to be moving so fast they won't be able to catch it to jump on. It will kind of represent our offense. So fast nobody can catch it.
August 5th, 2010 at 10:43 AM ^
but wagons be ok.
August 5th, 2010 at 11:04 AM ^
if you are a Michigan fan, you're a Michigan fan no matter who the coach is, what the record is, just support the school. If you don't, you never were a Michigan fan to begin with, bottom line.
August 5th, 2010 at 11:17 AM ^
This year, we hopefully win at least 7 and go to a bowl. After that, I think we are preseason Top 25, which would make the fence fans happy and interested. Then competing for the B10 the year after should make most if not all M fans on board with RR. After the 2011 season has ended, (under this scenario), M would be Top 10 pre-season, and the fanbase would be 100% on board!
August 5th, 2010 at 11:41 AM ^
I'm a Michigan fan (and/or Michigan Man). I'm been so since I was a tiny lil tot running around in Michigan T-shirt and diaper. I was always "Anthony Carter" while playing backyard football. I'm an alum. I love Michigan and Michigan football. I am extremely disappointed in our program under RichRod, but I don't "hate" him. I don't know him. I do know that he has so far failed as the coach. That doesn't mean I'm a bandwagon fan, or that I'm "off the bandwagon".
I watch with anguish as we lose to Illinois, Purdue, Toledo, MSU, etc. A bandwagon fan is one who doesn't care about the program. That person doesn't watch the games; maybe doesn't even know they're on. Frankly, I don't think that Michigan is a "bandwagon" program. Our fans are emotionally invested in the program. The story is different with teams like the Yankees or Lakers. Random folks suddenly become fans when those teams are deep in the their playoffs.
Let's not forget that the coach, RIchRod, held a rally with a giant sign behind him, "Detractors Not Allowed". That's the type of attitude that exacerbates the problem. I support the team (which existed many moons before RichRod) but question the coach, especially a coach who actively divides a very loyal but frustrated fanbase. There is no wagon.
August 5th, 2010 at 12:46 PM ^
I understand your point, and respect that you have that view. But The Horror changed much. Been said many times before, but for decades most weaker teams fell at our feet after even a glancing blow. It will take time, distance, and championships to move that back
RR didn't have anything to do with that, but he's dealt with the aftermath
The Horror was terrible indeed, but the team rallied and salvaged the season, even beating Jesus and his Florida Gators. Even after that, I think all weaker teams still had the fear in Michigan Stadium. the 3 win season (Toledo, really, Toledo?) ended that. RR had everything to do with that. I was actually on the sideline for the Toledo game and the difference between a RR sideline and LC sideline was night/day. RR created his own aftermath and may create his own recovery from that.
August 5th, 2010 at 11:48 AM ^
if we're fortunate enough to be undefeated after the MSU game, there will be a gigantic stampede of those frantically trying to jump onto the bus. This will result not only in horrific bone and joint injuries to scores of those at the bottom of the pile, but it will also overload the suspension and frame of the bus, causing it to careen off the road and down 800 ft into the steep gorge below, where it will burst into flames and then explode, littering the valley floor with a confetti of shredded Michigan apparel and human remains.
August 5th, 2010 at 12:33 PM ^
Q: "How quickly do folks jump back on the wagon?"
A: "Just as quickly as they jump off."
next!
August 5th, 2010 at 12:42 PM ^
It won't take long at all. If we win 8 games or so this year and keep recruiting well, then this coming off-season will be filled with hype. People will be excited to jump back on the bandwagon, and new fans will come as well.
Then in 2011 when we win the Big Ten it will be all over. We'll be the new hot team in college football.
It depends on how well-conditioned they are. A Barwis-trained fan can jump back on in one second flat.
I was thinking this was a drinking thread.
The fan base is too big to ever make everyone happy. By too big I mean to many personalities and opinions.
Even if we are winning NC’s there will be those who say we aren’t winning them in the right way.