Logic from Maisel
Another RR job security piece:
http://espn.go.com/blog/ncfnation/tag/_/name/3-point-stance
While many of us are sick of this subject, I found the logic in this comment more than a little compelling:
Why Rodriguez is considered on the edge of endangered remains mystifying. Michigan has improved and 18 starters return next season. Michigan will be favored in three of its final five games. Regardless of the outcome down the stretch, would it really be better to start over again?
October 28th, 2010 at 12:59 PM ^
it's amazing that espn has two really good college football writers - maisel and feldman and yet continues to employ forde and schlabach who are just downright dreadful.
October 28th, 2010 at 1:43 PM ^
slabach >>>>>>>>> forde
October 28th, 2010 at 2:07 PM ^
yeah, but that's like asking if i want shit on rye or shit on wheat. i like rye better, but i'm still getting a turd sandwich.
October 28th, 2010 at 5:34 PM ^
You should read Bennett, and worse, look at anything that Andrea Adelson is even associated with. My God, do they even proofread the crap they put together?
October 28th, 2010 at 2:07 PM ^
It's the same thing as 97.1 employing Valenti & Foster. It doesn't matter how stupid and fact-less the things they say are. All that matters is that they are entertaining when they say it.
October 28th, 2010 at 2:22 PM ^
his title for his week 9 picks blog is "Sorry, Kirk Cousins, it ends here". Little Brother's first loss cant come soon enough. Go Hawkeyes....and
GO BLUE!!
October 28th, 2010 at 12:59 PM ^
...that Maisel doesn't buy into/spew the RichRod CW. If there were more like Maisel and Rittenberg in the MSM, this meme would die. Unfortunately, the CW is too easy to regurgitate and it gets people to look, listen, and/or click through.
October 28th, 2010 at 1:07 PM ^
I agree. Unfortunately Rittenberg did recently do a piece that wandered into the territory of "Cliche Job Security/Must-Win Game" articles.
October 28th, 2010 at 2:21 PM ^
Yeah but even then I don't really recall him saying a number of games. Either way, Rittenberg seems to be pretty analytical when it comes to his opinions, it's not like he just talks to hear himself.
October 28th, 2010 at 3:36 PM ^
At the risk of exposing my ignorance, what is CW?
October 28th, 2010 at 3:44 PM ^
Conventional wisdom, I believe.
October 28th, 2010 at 4:41 PM ^
...correct, sir.
October 28th, 2010 at 9:28 PM ^
... which doubtlessly will now be shortened to BE'd! across the webs. At what point will we dispense with words altogether?
Mini rant over. I shall now go and yell at the neighborhood kids to get off my lawn.
October 28th, 2010 at 4:16 PM ^
October 28th, 2010 at 1:01 PM ^
Also Woolfolk. (Assuming he wasn't counted the first time around.)
October 28th, 2010 at 2:18 PM ^
He is not happy when he is forgotten about. an you won't like him when he is upset.
October 28th, 2010 at 4:10 PM ^
I think Maisel actually did count him - either Woolfolk or Huyge. If you consider Huyge a returning starter (he'll probably replace Dorrestein) and swap Rogers for Woolfolk, we'll have 19 returning starters (10 offense, 9 defense).
Or he may have been counting Hagerup.
October 28th, 2010 at 1:06 PM ^
I agree with IM 100% on his statement presented above.
What he does not mention, however, is how quickly logic will go out the window if RR only wins 1 game or less the remainder of the season.
October 28th, 2010 at 2:10 PM ^
Unless, of course, that win is against OSU
October 28th, 2010 at 1:07 PM ^
If I may analogize. My local paper frequently runs Letters to the Editor from a person they know is using a pseudonym because the letters are just shy of the insane ravings of a madman*. They have run them with greater frequency in recent months, going so far as to republish the same letter several editions in a row on their online site. I initially thought this was a mistake until I realized their motivation. People comment on the letter, they complain about the letter, the letter writer and his band of trolling pseudonyms counter attack, leading to counterpoints by the initial commenters. Why do they do it? Page hits! People keep coming back to the site to check for new comments. Every time they do, more page views. This drives up their revenue in an area that is generally seen as more of a public service than anything.
Why do ESPN and other MSM outlets keep the "Rodriguez is on the hot seat" meme alive? Page views! People will talk about it, comment it, link it, debate it, write counterpoints. There is smoke but no fire because the smoke is artifically created to make you think there's fire, and most people don't take the time to investigate what actually happened.
*-Seriously, his topic of choice this month is the evil conspiracy that is Daylight Savings Time.
October 28th, 2010 at 1:23 PM ^
That explains the "There is no truth to the recent ESPN story that Rich Rodriguez eats children" story I saw on ESPN.
October 28th, 2010 at 1:57 PM ^
I hear you are being investigated in that "accident" that happened yesterday during ND's football practice. Better hire a good lawyer.
October 28th, 2010 at 3:35 PM ^
/Looks at watch
Yep. Too soon.
October 28th, 2010 at 1:27 PM ^
can you link to the Daylight Savings Time Conspiracy letter? I could use a good laugh.
October 28th, 2010 at 2:05 PM ^
October 28th, 2010 at 3:37 PM ^
Those, sir, are some big words. Are you SURE you want to invoke the Megan-Fox-nailing, unexpected-commitment-predicting, future-knowing Raback?
If so... well done.
October 28th, 2010 at 4:47 PM ^
October 28th, 2010 at 2:26 PM ^
That is probably one of the funniest letters to the editor I have ever read. I hope the letter was intended to be humorous, or else someone has no idea about reality (proximity of earth to sun, origins of DST, when DST historically goes on/off, etc.)
All in all - thanks for the good read.
October 28th, 2010 at 2:41 PM ^
also, can someone photoshop some bongos in front of this little sucker to represent our "cicada rythyms?"
October 28th, 2010 at 3:42 PM ^
But I can give you this:
October 28th, 2010 at 1:28 PM ^
At the root of it is there are large groups of people who truly enjoy watching the suffering and bad fortune of others. See Star Magazine, National Enquirer, etc. etc. Sad.
"Rodriguez the back woods rube who is in over his head" is the chosen fog to hover over and dump acid rain.
Add to that, the story appeals to the "I'm done" reflex of a lot of casual Michigan fans.
Rating's Gold on all fronts.
October 28th, 2010 at 2:05 PM ^
Wait, so you are saying that ESPN has a smoke machine that blows out bullshit??
October 28th, 2010 at 5:30 PM ^
All my relatives that live in Indiana seem to think that Daylight Savings Time is some evil conspiracy. We have not heard the end of this not that the whole state of Indiana is on Daylight Savings Time. Fun stuff.
October 28th, 2010 at 1:12 PM ^
we are effectively brining back more than 18 starters seeing as demens seems to have all but replaced ezeh. Really, if you look at solid-good contributors, we’re only losing mouton and schilling.
October 28th, 2010 at 2:16 PM ^
Have to include Webb in there, has been a big part of the run game, surpassed Koger for playing time.
October 28th, 2010 at 2:44 PM ^
a 6-7 MSU and one that currently stands at 8-0? Experience and not losing a lot of contributors? It hasn't been superstar freshmen recruits that cured all MSU's ills from last year. That won't be our salvation either. Experience will.
October 28th, 2010 at 4:23 PM ^
Dorrestein
October 28th, 2010 at 6:25 PM ^
Yes, but he'll most likely be replaced by Huyge, who is basically a returning starter. Schilling and Mouton are the only guys (now that Black is sharing time with Banks in the DE rotation) leaving without an experienced replacement - although I guess you could argue that we still haven't replaced Olesnavage at kicker from last year.
October 28th, 2010 at 1:21 PM ^
With all the negativity and drama that has surrounded Rich Rod, I am amazed how well he has kept his composure and stayed positive throughout the process. And for that I tip my hat. I know if other coaches were in his sitiuation they may have acted a lil crazy by now.
October 28th, 2010 at 1:38 PM ^
No, no, no.... don't you know that RR has done a bad job dealing with the media, and that he isn't likeable? Get your narratives straight!
October 28th, 2010 at 2:20 PM ^
I heard he gave those kids at Mott cancer!
rabblerabblerabble
October 28th, 2010 at 1:44 PM ^
This is what I have been thinking about for several weeks, and actually since RR arrived.
He is a genuinely nice guy. Everybody who deals with him likes him, especially his players. He is good at recruiting. He is intelligent in football, and makes reasoned decisions in a timely manner.
Furthermore, he is always a pleasant, engaging, and intelligent interview. And he is open to the public.
All of this despite the setbacks and the controversy and the prejudice.
He represents our university well.
He is a "Michigan Man".
October 28th, 2010 at 1:12 PM ^
It was refreshing to read that from Maisel. I am not sure what is happening at ESPN, there seems to be an outbreak of rationality wrt Michigan. It appears that Bruce Feldman has been afflicted for some time, but lately is becoming contagious. Here's hoping for an epidemic.
October 28th, 2010 at 1:13 PM ^
Ivan Maisel is one of the few guys left on ESPN who realize that the sports are supposed to be the attraction and not the network. He deserves better than that pile of idiocy.
He and Gene Wojowhatsisface make a great podcasts on Mondays.
October 28th, 2010 at 1:13 PM ^
Dave Brandon would be insane to fire RR after the season. With the first-ever night game at the BIg House and against Notre Dame and then a 2012 season opener on a Thursday Night against Bama, starting over again would probablt drive him into politics.
7-5 or better and RR is guaranteed to stay. With the timeBrandon spends around the football program these days, I trust his judgement either way, but I just can't picture a change at the HC.
October 28th, 2010 at 2:24 PM ^
the Bama game is not on a thursday night, it is on a saturday.
October 28th, 2010 at 3:52 PM ^
...RR is a good coach and given time he could bring Michigan not only back to respectability but to a level beyond.
That being said, if Brandon feels that a change needs to be made for the benifit of the university, even if he finishes 8-4, he needs to pull the trigger and get someone in here who he feels can do it.
I trust DB to be a very smart man who knows this university, football in general and the politics that dictate the timing of neccessary moves.
October 28th, 2010 at 1:16 PM ^
I still think this weekend shapes up as a huge one for RichRod. Win and the monkey should be off his back--confidence will rise. Lose and neither of the next two will look as easy; the hounds will be back in full cry.
October 28th, 2010 at 3:18 PM ^
Lose and neither of the next two will look as easy; the hounds will be back in full cry.
They don't look easy now. UM is almost over the hump, I think. Finish the season at 7-5 or better and that gets RR another year and there will be real progress in 2011 (event hough the schedule is dicey with tough Big 10 opponents on the road for the most part). Anything less...well...you're right about the hounds and they would have a justifiable position (even though I would be on the other side of that argument).
This is the way is looks to me: RR's future as coach and UM's near future as a football team rest squarely on the shoulders of a talented, but, young offense with a JV defense. If the kids can play mistake free football for 3 weeks in a row, they should win at least 2 or 3 and it's all good for RR. I'm really hoping they pull through, but, that is a risky proposition.