OT-SI follows RR during his first 2 days in AZ
Two very interesting articles on Rich Rodriguez's first 48 hours as the Arizona head coach:
The first is the play-by-play:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1192629/1/index.htm
The second is a summary:
Sounds like both RR and Arizona learned from the mistakes highlighted in 3&O.
I wish him all the best.
December 1st, 2011 at 11:18 AM ^
The former players may have been right that RR ultimately would not succeed at Michigan.
No way in hell were they right to behave the way they did - ask RVB.
December 1st, 2011 at 11:24 AM ^
WE don't know everything that went down that may have led the players - again, many, not just a few isolated individuals - to feel the way that they did.
But, putting that aside, there is a meme around here that "the former players undermined RR." Can you please tell me which players you are referring to and what specifically they did?
Brayon's "Lloyd Carr's Michigan Wolverines" wasn't my favorite comment, but it can also be viewed as simply paying homage to his former close who recently retired.
Other than that comment, I am not aware of players saying anything the was offensive to RR. Honest criticism (i.e. Desmond saying that Michigan needs to get back to playing Michigan defense) is just that - honest criticism.
December 1st, 2011 at 12:45 PM ^
It's not like former players were coming back to the program and suggesting to the players that they should transfer away from Rodriguez. (insert shot at Lloyd Carr here)
But not supporting the program while Rodriguez was here and showing a lot more support for the program while Hoke is here shows that Rodriguez had a more difficult time succeeding at Michigan than Hoke has now.
December 1st, 2011 at 2:27 PM ^
Brayon's [sic] "Lloyd Carr's Michigan Wolverines" wasn't my favorite comment, but it can also be viewed as simply paying homage to his former close who recently retired.
It could, if you are as gullible as Braylon would like you to be, or if you are as stupid as Braylon is.
There's no mistaking Braylon's intent. And there's no mistaking the fact that it was one of many stupid and disloyal comments that Braylon made about Rodriguez. It is also just one more item in a rather long line of shit-stupid things Braylon has done in his life off the football field.
December 1st, 2011 at 1:19 PM ^
populated with such real Michigan fans. I totally fail in this regard as I only have 3 degrees from the school and think there are more important things (like integity, the University and its acedemic programs, etc.) than winning football games.
Oh, and Bo had a losing record against Earl Bruce. I guess by your logic, clearly Bruce emphasized the game more than Bo. But Bo did have an astounding record agains Indiana, so he must have really been emphasizing that one.
This emphasizing the game stuff is so fucking stupid and orginates with Tressel. Under Tressel, OSU won because they had a better game plan and better players. Carr didn't stop emphasizing the game after Cooper was fired, He out-coached Cooper and was out-coached by Tressel.
This is akin to if Tressel had said that OSU had to have more emphasis on team circle-jerks before "the game" people would be attributing his success and our failures on our not emphasizing pre-game team circle-jerks enough.
Better players and better gameplans win games, not hollow platitudes and stupid countdown clocks.
December 1st, 2011 at 1:31 PM ^
shhhhh... that's apostasy around here.
December 1st, 2011 at 3:44 PM ^
I think Hoke uses the countdown clocks and the other stuff not to emphasize the game, but rather, to give the team something to focus upon on a daily basis. The OSU game will always be there as a carrot at the end of the season. Emphasizing "The Game" is an effective way to motivate players year round. "Beat Ohio", is a singular unifying galvanizing force at Hoke's disposal for the duration of his career to get players to do more and give more on a daily basis than they otherwise might.
Why did players spend extra time in film study? To beat Ohio
Why did players do all the seven on seven drills in the summer? To beat Ohio
The list could go on and on and on. Brilliant on Hoke's part
November 30th, 2011 at 11:10 PM ^
I wonder how do the players feel when their Coach (the one who recruited them) is coaching another team.
November 30th, 2011 at 11:19 PM ^
Well, I think that they will be too busy preparing to play for Hoke in a BCS BOwl (!!!) to think about it.
November 30th, 2011 at 11:13 PM ^
Two and Out: the Behind-the-Scenes Story of Arizona Football and the Coach Who Was Deported
November 30th, 2011 at 11:16 PM ^
It does seem that he has at least adopted adapting his coaching style to fit his players. I think that made his transition here a little more difficult. His experience at Michigan will make him a better coach in Arizona, I think. Could be wrong, just my opinion.
November 30th, 2011 at 11:39 PM ^
But can Rich polish a turd?
December 1st, 2011 at 12:04 AM ^
And if he can't, could Vince Lombardi?
December 1st, 2011 at 2:22 AM ^
He can make a turd out of a jugernaut.
December 1st, 2011 at 9:45 AM ^
Can you break down what we actually need to happen this weekend to make it to a BCS game?
December 1st, 2011 at 11:31 AM ^
December 1st, 2011 at 9:37 AM ^
I'm looking forward to seeing his Arizona team play football.
December 1st, 2011 at 4:04 PM ^
How many of the things he in his 48 hours were predicted in the "If Rich Rod Learned Anything At Michigan, He Will..." thread. Nice predictions, MGoBloggers.
Mentioning "Bear Down" with enthusiasm, meeting with a core of former pros and being unblinking yet polite about firing the existing staff are 3 that come to mind.
December 3rd, 2011 at 7:56 PM ^
When you hear your ex-girlfriend started dating somebody new (even when you decided to break up with her, it kind of hits your self esteem a little bit...
unless you're already dating a new smokeshow. In which case, you're probably pretty happy for your ex-gf if she's a decent person.
Big collection of RR to AZ coverage: