New Wojo article: somewhat surprising

People want to get rid of Rich Rod? I wish they would have spoken up before this.

Wojo's argument is more convincing than most I've read from those advocating for a change.  Still, I'm wary of another drawn out debacle of a coaching search like we saw under Martin (although Brandon seems less likely to make this mistake.)  Back then, people assumed that Miles would jump at the chance to coach in Ann Arbor.  How is the assumption about Harbaugh wanting to return any different?

If Brandon gets assurances from his targeted HC replacement, that's great; make a switch if it seems like the right time to do so.  Otherwise, start from scratch with the defensive coaching staff and give RR a one year audition for an extension.

Well, personally, I'm happy if our coach is either Rodriguez or Harbaugh.  I admit I had my doubts about Harbaugh before this season but after Stanford's success this year and especially after watching them absolutely destroy Cal last week, he's convinced me.  I think we will win with either one.

But really, I will be very, very surprised if Rodriguez is fired, regardless of what happens Saturday.

Ohio State and end all this bullshit!

I'll give Wojo this...he can write a provocative article without being an asshole....others should watch and learn

I think everyone is missing something  here. Wojo simply said he must go if we get blown out. I thought this was the case before the Wisconsin game. There is a difference between losing these last two games and getting back to back wake up calls that we have fallen so far from the top of the Big Ten. Getting blown out these last two weeks was going to put his job at risk. It is not a barometer of wins like Brandon said. Back to back blowouts to end the season make for a very tough to swallow December.

Keep the game competitive or beat the buckeyes! 

I thought the offseason message board was obnoxious, but this is getting ridiculous. According to my (amateur) calculations, we are on options 7 and 8 at cornerback. 1. Warren should still be here 2. Woolfolk 3. Turner was a 5 star who knew he was a puss? 4. Dorsey another 5 star, eff admissions 5. Cissoko 6. Floyd 7. Rogers 8. Whichever freshman. Show me the team with 8 good cornerbacks, starting in the Big 10 cornerbacks. I'm not saying the coaches are blameless, but let's be real, Buddy Fucking Ryan couldn't do any better. There is no instant cure for lack of depth or youth. Time and patience are the only solutions.

However it was them that got abused in the first half that allowed Wiscy the luxury of doing what they do best in the 2nd half.

Wow. this article shows just how out of touch Wojo is with the state of our program both currently and pre-Rod...

Richrod is back next year.

I don't think he is necessarily saying that if Rodriguez doesn't win this one he should be fired, and I don't think he is saying that he should be kept if we do win. What he is saying is Jim Harbaugh is a great candidate, and this hasn't worked as evidenced by tangible results that most average fans care about.

He is likely trying to get out front of something that looks increasingly likely to happen. If you read his recent articles, this is a definite departure from his more moderate tone. Take the Henning interview with Brandon where Rodriguez was not mentioned by name at any point by Brandon, but Beilein was giving a vote of long-term confidence, anonymous athletic department connected rumors here and there, Stanford about to hit their pre-bowl break, and it can be at least conjectured there may be something about to happen.

I think we all appreciate the numbers and what they say about the improvement from year 1 of the Rich Rodriguez program. People on here are highly knowledgeable and make good points about continuity and the potential of this offense. They may even be right that it would be a big mistake to let him go.

The key word though is "may". Michigan Football and the money and power it represents doesn't abide by hope in most cases. It looks at results and decides based on them.

 This might be one of those debates where it could be wise to get our noses out of the stat sheets and the recruiting blogs and look around at what's in the wind.  Don't try to outthink the room. If were losing like this to teams we have to beat, and the average fan (most fans) is jumping ship and there is a top flight candidate who may be available and willing, then there isn't a lot of point wishing it weren't so.

     If it's generally accepted that Harbaugh has interest in the NFL (and vice versa) does it make sense to bring him here?  Perhaps he could turn the program around but how long would he stay?  I personally don't want someone who might want to test himself in the most competitive venue in his field.  We have always had college coaches who wanted to be college coaches and that has been one of our strengths.

     I personally think it's a foregone conclusion that rr will be back next year.  If we're having this same discussion twelve months from now, the it will be time to pull the plug.   I would wager that Brandon has already had back channel conversations with other coaches re: our problem and possible solutions.  He (like Rich Rod) didn't get to be where he is by being either stupid or lucky.

 

     It is worth repeating that most of us were looking at 7-5 or 8-4 before the injuries.  I still believe that a competent defensive staff can produce an acceptable defense with this group of players next year and give us a 9-3 season.

While I understand the sentiment behind WoJo's case and I somewhat agree, UM fans need to realize that this team isn't anywhere close to OSU or Wiscy, so I'm not sure handing down a mandate that "this game has to be close" is really fair.  Against good teams, the defense tends to struggle to get off the field while the offense usually fails to score early on.  Those are the realities of this team - 7-4, good-but-not-great offense and an historically bad defense.  Broken record, I know.  But losing to Wiscy and OSU, one on the road, is what happens to mediocre teams like UM.  It hurts for the faithful to admit it because that wasn't the case even a couple of years ago, but since 2007 this team has been a largely mediocre program, and while I have seen legitimate strides the past 1.5 years, it is going to take more than a season to get back to the level of a senior-laden Wiscy or consistent top-5 OSU team.  That's just the facts, and while it should be factor, I hope Brandon does not try to hold RR against those impossible standards right now.  I'm not saying he should be absolved for the past 3 years, but wanting him to "keep it close" is purely cosmetic, like how mediocre teams used to "keep it close" against UM even though UM usually won.

Really?

Does he get marginally more respect in this corner of the blogosphere by mere default, since virtually everyone who is associated with the other metro newspaper goes beyond annoying, into the realm of "malignant"?

This is not a good day for the Detroit News and its sports columnists.  Not one day following Lynn Henning's embarassing rumor-implosion.

Key quote: "Harbaugh is 10-1 in his fourth year". At 8-5 or 9-4, which is what our record will be, Rich Rod deserves one more year.

that usually Wojo is commonly referred to as "the one who brings sanity" and usually gets the "as usual, Wojo adds solid perspective" comments from this blog, but as soon as he writes something that is deemed disagreeable, he is worthless and doesn't know what he's talking about. 

Come on people. Don't slam the guy for a reasonable opinion. You don't have to agree with him. His point is solid. if Michigan gets killed, Rich will be 15-21 with two blowout losses, and Brandon has continually said he will use all aspects of the program, not just wins and losses to determine the next direction. Those facts (and yes, they are facts) make it seem very reasonable that Rich could get fired. 

Obviously, anyone may disagree and have solid facts to support your opinions too, but don't hammer a guy for making a reasonable argument just because you have a different perspective or desire. 

The article assumes that Harbaugh, "must surely be interested..." Oh, really? Says whom? Harbaugh hasn't said so. Dave Brandon hasn't said so.

Harbaugh is not stupid. He can probably see the level of talent on the defense and say, "Uh, no thanks." He will realize that the players recruited to play in RR's style of spread offense don't fit his system.

And, Wojo thinks Harbaugh will find that enticing? Who in their right mind would?

If DB fires RR, and Harbaugh turns down the offer, then what? We're back to where we were three years ago, and probably even worse off.

Finally, just because a guy played here, played for Bo, is a successful coach in his own right, is a hot commodity in the coaching ranks, etc., does not mean he will be successful at his alma mater. Just ask Notre Dame and Charlie Weis how it worked out for them.

that I could unsubscribe over Henning. Now I remember why I don't read the papers in the first place.

Ohio State "whipped" Michigan last year 21-10?