buddhafrog

April 19th, 2011 at 12:05 AM ^

Do the players he is "welcoming back" like what is happening?  Are they excited to yell out the number of championships?  Do they feel a part of the current family and a part of the historical family of Michigan Football?  Are they more vocal and supportive of the team? 

I don't know why this is the case exactly.  I liked RR.  But I think it is pretty foolish for us to argue with the overwhelming support we hear from the players.  We didn't walk into the meetings or the building and interact with the coaches or players.  We weren't communicated with by either of these coaching staffs.  Instead of assuming the majority of football alum are just wrong and foolish, I think I'll trust what I hear: they feel like family and are excited about Michigan football.  I won't read too much into it and won't place blame anywhere - I'll accept these positive feelings for what they are - and be *very glad* the players feel this way.

Hoke is just copying how he starts meetings with the players - some have criticized this as well, and my point in support of that arguement is exactly the same as my point here.  If the players like it and it makes them feel more a part of the current and historical family of Michigan Football, then for God's sake, continue.

I find the OP comments slightly annoying and foolish, but hey, they are his opinions.  I certainly don't trust his opinions more than the opinions of people who are in that room and putting on that winged helmet.  The OP's negativity is no more sensical than early detractors of RR.  Both are ignorant and unproductive.  Furthermore, it flies in the face of what we hear from former and current players.

robb0226

April 18th, 2011 at 5:07 PM ^

in regard to there being a problem with "bandwagoney" fans.  We should all stick by our school through thick and thin... but I'm not sure about your problem with yelling out team records.  It's just his way of putting an emphasis on our teams history and what that means to this University.  So, I'm not sure why you have a problem with that.

Marley Nowell

April 18th, 2011 at 5:10 PM ^

My problem with this is that Hoke gets way too much credit for emphaziing Michigan tradition.  RR brought in Bo's first team to teach them about transition, put OSU logos on the tackling dumbies, etc...  What I would love to know is exactly why a significant amount of the Michigan Football Program wanted their head coach to fail.

In reply to by King Douche Ornery

ryebreadboy

April 18th, 2011 at 5:46 PM ^

That's a terrible answer to a valid question.  I don't think there's anyone who can legitimately deny that Hoke has received FAR more positive press than RR ever did.  Saying you "just knew he would" doesn't make any sense unless you're some sort of oracle.  Granted, people were justifiably concerned that he would be changing the scheme of the program, but no one (at least at first) had any reason to expect anything less than success after watching what he did at WVU.  So if you're saying you somehow "just knew" RR would fail from the outset, you didn't exactly WANT him to win, either.

In reply to by King Douche Ornery

Eyebrowse

April 18th, 2011 at 6:30 PM ^

This coming from the asshat that only showed up and joined the site after RR was fired to gloat about it and be a general fuckhead about Michigan football.  Go to bed, would you please.

In reply to by King Douche Ornery

rbgoblue

April 18th, 2011 at 7:01 PM ^

Why are you such a dick?  Why dont you do us all a favor and take your comments to the RCMB.  You will find a lot of like-minded friends over there.

In reply to by King Douche Ornery

MichFan1997

April 18th, 2011 at 7:07 PM ^

into the blog archives in early 2008 and find me a bunch of instance of people who "knew" of what was going to happen. I will eagerly await your findings....

no joke its hoke

April 18th, 2011 at 7:01 PM ^

1.Was Yost a hick from west virginny??

2.You must be related to Justin Boren

3.Yeah Rick Leach really hated RR (so did Mike Hart)

4.Your dead on with this one

5.Yeah I'm sure RR sit around and thought "I would MUCH rather beat Del. St then stupid OSU"

6.This has nothing to do with anything put stupid anit-RR rabble

7.Yeah Denard is all "G's up Ho's down"

8.Yeah treated a kid that didnt go to class and was a general ass bad.

9.You are probably pretty right on this(esp. on defense)

10. I know your right on this one!!

 

This is not a knock on Hoke supporters but the venom towards a guy that is no longer here is stupid and sad. Get over it,the last three years sucked. let's hope the next three don't.

dahblue

April 18th, 2011 at 5:58 PM ^

What I would love to know is exactly why a significant amount of the Michigan Football Program wanted their head coach to fail.

What's your source?  A "significant amount of the Program wanted RR to fail"?  Really?  That's what you get from many former players being more comfortable now than under RR?  Maybe they wanted the coach (and thus program) to succeed under RR, but it didn't work.  Maybe they rooted constantly for the coach (and program) under RR, but didn't have a personal connection as they now do.  

The world is not all pro-RR/anti-RR.  Really liking Hoke does not equal hating RR.  Seems like the MGoBubble is back in effect here.

Mitch Cumstein

April 18th, 2011 at 7:21 PM ^

Come on, you have to know that the lack of alumni support, fans that didn't like where RR was from and Lloyd Carr are to blame for the record. The worst defense in history of the school had nothing to do with it. And if you like Hoke, or appreciate anything he does, you're a hypocrite b/c RR did the exact same things and never, ever got credit from it (except on here of course).

Tuebor

April 28th, 2011 at 4:31 AM ^

Giving up 45 points in regulation to that Illinois team is unacceptable.  So I understand any criticism about that win.  

I miss the days when if Michigan scored 28 points you knew it was a victory.  Having a balanced team is important.  I feel last season there was too much pressure on the offense to perform.  If denard knows that he has a defense (and special teams for that matter) to back him up he can play much more relaxed and not be put in a position where he is trying to force things.  

Above all else what this program needs is stability.  Four defensive coordinators in six years is why kids are leaving, not some "Michigan secondary hating God".  The coaches that they commit to are leaving.  This problem dates back to the last few years of the Carr era so that isn't all RR's fault but he certainly didn't help fix it.  Hopefully Mattison will stay here for a decade and we can have some top 10 defenses.

maizenbluenc

April 19th, 2011 at 10:20 AM ^

I listen to what Hoke says, and compare it to what Rodriguez said - not much different outwardly. Plain speak, not well articulated, occasionally drawn into a guffaw, no Lloyd Carr poetry recitations for the elitist, etc.

Hoke was asked at his first press conference about the importance of the OSU and MSU games. He gave Rodriguez-like answers ("I understand" and "three rivalries"). The difference: he was asked three times. The press kept serving up big juicy slow pitches and by the third time, he got it, and started pounding the pulpit. The press only reported on his third answer, and therefore everybody only remembers the third time.

It is clear to me that Rich got a raw deal from the press, many football alumni, and other "insiders". This same group (or their Freep / M-Live / Mid-Western-valued lackeys) are now all bandwagon-y, and are trumpeting warm maize and blue fuzzy pap all over the internets (including the low points posters here).

This has / will go on ad nauseam. Rich Rod got a bad deal / Brady Hoke is so dreamy ...

So - I too am sickened by the family coming back (when they should have been here before even if they weren't wanted), and the dreamy pap on the web.

But rather than sounding like a broken record (I am dating myself into the 5% category), I'm posting less. It's like I have to hold my breath until there is real football to talk about, because the point is moot.

Rich was let go. Hoke is here. Just ignore the pap. It will die down unless Hoke is wildly successful, in which case we'll all be wildly happy.

TrppWlbrnID

April 18th, 2011 at 5:20 PM ^

its a long time until fall practice starts and if we spend all that time parsing every single sentence about UM football, we will go insane.

these worthless posts should just be called something like "internet meme parade" or "funny picture and quote-a-thons" or ".gif fests"

chitownblue2

April 18th, 2011 at 5:22 PM ^

Jesus. We've fired RR so many time on this board, you'd think that at some point that sonofabitch would just stay fired.

pasadenablue

April 18th, 2011 at 5:24 PM ^

 

mostly, im just really disappointed to see the extent of the xenophobia and lack of support that the previous regime had to endure.  it makes me feel a lot of shame to think i am united in a cause with people who can behave that way.

 

but honestly, all we can do is wait.  i think my signature really puts it best...

Hurricane

April 18th, 2011 at 5:43 PM ^

I would hardly describe the way the treatment of the previous regime as xenophobic. Yes, there were some who didn't like RR from the start for a litany of reasons, some deserved some undeserved; but let's not he didnt do himself too many favors either.  If he had won more games, the alumni and fan base would have accepted him as if he was a native son.  Bottom line. End of story.

 

Just be happy that everyone is on the same page now regardless of why they may not have been in the past.

pasadenablue

April 18th, 2011 at 5:55 PM ^

when i say xenophobia, it's not just the fact that he was from wv.  that was certainly a factor with some alums, but that's not facet im aiming to point out.

 

the xenophobia against richrod was due to unfamiliarity with his system and with him not being tied to the previous michigan coaching tree.  he was foreign, and his methods, especially compared to the status quo ante, were stange.  this is indeed xenophobia (look it up).

 

the absolute aversion to change, despite a proven record of success, to the point where players in the locker room were "rebelling" and there was open conflict within the alumni base, was not only sad, but extremely harmful and hurtful to the program.

 

it brought a lot of old heroes down to earth.  players and alums who were once idols are now flawed and petty men.  personally, while i'll never be able stop supporting the program 100%, it was disheartening to see that the players who made the program could behave in such a way.  its kinda like, as a kid, realizing that santa no longer exists.  you have to accept it, but that doesn't make it any easier to stomach.

Steeveebr

April 18th, 2011 at 7:44 PM ^

I'm not sure I feel the same way about it bringing the heroes down to earth.... but that's mostly because I'm jaded and expect them to be flawable humans in the first place.

It's not the fairness or moral issues regarding the treatment of change and outsiders that bothers me.  It's more the fear that we are now tied to the Michigan Man coaching tree for the very distant future or until there is epic failure, whichever comes first.  I certainly hope for the best for Hoke and I never want the program to fail, but being tied to the Michigan Man coaching tree makes us succeptable to many of the same risks that a fortune 500 company would face by only promoting from within.

Regardless of your assessment of RR's success or failure, the rest of the world is improving.  We need to improve at the same or a faster rate to remain the leaders and best.  Not just cling to our traditions and past victories.

Hurricane

April 18th, 2011 at 9:18 PM ^

RR wasnt exactly set up for success with the players he inherited but if he had done his job better as in WIN MORE GAMES, the alumni, fans, and players would have found a way to like him.  People didnt fear him because he and his system were different, they didnt like the fact that he didnt have a grasp of the traditions and didnt win enough. I think if Ron English or Mike DeBord had gotten the job we would have had an even worse last 3 years and plenty of people would have been calling for their heads if either one of them had gone 15-22. People who turned on RR at the end or werent fans of him aren't xenophobic, they are losingphobic.

Steeveebr

April 18th, 2011 at 9:29 PM ^

But, I'm not sure if they fit into the context of the post above:

 

"to the point where players in the locker room were "rebelling" and there was open conflict within the alumni base"

 

To put it in context, did that rebellion and open conflict start before or after the losses piled up?  I seem to remember some of it starting from the moment a certain coach didn't get the job.

Hurricane

April 18th, 2011 at 11:29 PM ^

It was clear that some players on that 08 team quit and that is an indictment of their character, the new coaching staff for not getting them to buy in, and the previous staff for not making sure that the players did what was best for Michigan regardless of the coach. This is an area where I have the utmost respect for RR because the holdover players have been all in for Michigan as an institution and as a TEAM. The guys from 08 could learn a thing or 2 from the current team.

As for the alumni, I recall a very popular website that had been around since 05 called sackcarr.com and open discussion of why M needed a change. We got the change and some hated it. There will always be a portion of the fan base that isnt happy unless we are winning the B1G and beating tuos year in and out.  The opposition RR faced was unfortunate and unwarranted in many instances, but winning cures all. He didnt win and now he's gone. It happened, it's over, time to support Hoke and THE TEAM.

Creedence Tapes

April 19th, 2011 at 3:24 AM ^

Honestly, I think a lot of the players were happy to have Rich Rod go, that's why nobody transfered away. There is something to be said about the high rate of transfers from the school, even if you only look at Rich Rod recruited players that left.  Vlad Emilien, J.T Turner, Anthony La Lotta, to name just a few from last year. By all accounts everyone is happy, all the positivity sorounding the team will lead to much better recruiting and confidence on the field. 10-3 this year. Book It.