In Praise of Rich Rod

Submitted by 3rdGenerationBlue on

The build up to the game tomorrow and Coach Rod's comments are indicative of how and why he will eventually lead Michigan to the top echelon of college football. He has a long range goal and has set a strategy to accomplish that goal. He hasn't put a count down clock up for this game or OSU for that matter because his goal extends beyond those games. He respects the rivalry games and understands their strategic importance but has an undercurrent of contempt for them because they are merely stepping stones. He has been knocked for not understanding Michigan tradition or how things are done in the Big Ten but this is a false claim. He knows the history and understands the consquences of getting a team to peak in early October or mid November. No disrepect to Schembechler but winning the Big Ten is no longer the be all end all:

Coach Rod plans to win a National Championship

The results of the game tomorrow will provide Rich Rod another data point relative to his goal. He knows attaining his goal isn't a matter of "if" it is simply a function of time.

TESOE

October 3rd, 2009 at 12:58 AM ^

but hail yes brother! I am with you on this one. It's nice to have father time on Michigan's side. Plus I no longer fear we will under achieve. Even last year...dare I say... a stepping stone.

VictorsValiant09

October 3rd, 2009 at 1:01 AM ^

I also hope this means we will run up the score on some teams like the Michigan of yore used to do, pre-Carr and possibly Schembechler, too.

It's been 4+ years since a Big Ten title, I'm ready to remind everybody else who runs this place.

Let's hit 'em in the mouth!

Don

October 3rd, 2009 at 5:54 AM ^

You're saying this about a coach whose most painful loss BY FAR is in a rivalry game, a loss that cost him an almost certain spot in the NC game?

I'm curious just exactly what RR has said or done to lead you to the conclusion that he's contemptuous of rivalry games.

If anything, I would think that he would be supremely focused on their importance, since losing to Pitt in '07 was a gigantic disappointment.

That doesn't mean your main point—that RR's primary goal is to win a NC—is inaccurate; I hope to hell you're right. But if RR is even slightly contemptuous of rivalry games, he'll never get to that goal.

3rdGenerationBlue

October 3rd, 2009 at 8:12 AM ^

Coach Rod's "contempt" is evident in the way he deflects questions about rivalry games. He'll give a pat answer about the importance but spends more time talking about the team/players making improvements etc. He is focused on what it takes to win the games and doesn't waste time or energy blowing hot air about short players on the rival's team or putting count down clocks on the wall. That stuff is just wrong headed distraction.