RichRod speaks at length; takes a jab at DB
Rich Rod spoke in depth with Dennis Dodd of CBS. (Link: http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/story/14640415/rich-rod-we-thought-it-was-just-getting-ready-to-take-off?ttag=gen10_on_all_fb_na_txt_0001)
Most of the things are stuff we've heard him say before..."we were almost there; lots of drama; took longer than I expected." Something new that I hadn't heard him say was a critique of Dave Brandon and his position to make the decision that he made:
"Were you treated fairly by Dave Brandon?
Rodriguez:"To say publicly how I was treated would be self-serving. Everybody says three years is enough time. If you don't know all the factors maybe you make that conclusion. If you're here in the middle of this for three years fighting all the battles. ... We'd like to be able to finish the job. I can't sit here a month later and say this and that should have happened.
"What I am going to do to make sure the next job I get, we win the national championship and everybody is pulling in the right direction. Dave's been on the job -- what? -- nine months? He knows the business world. I did the best I could to tell him or show him what was going on in the football program. I tried to show him as best I could. He wasn't involved in athletics [before getting to Michigan]. I've been a head coach in Division I for 10 years and coaching for 25. I know college football."
(Note: Brandon played defensive end under Bo Schembechler at Michigan. He is also a former Michigan regent. Brandon came to the school after serving as Domino's Pizza CEO.)
That's an interesting place to needle Brandon on. I don't think it's fair to say he "wasn't involved in athletics." As Dodd points out in his note, he did play for Michigan and as a Regent from 1998-2006 he undoubtedly was involved in athletics at least little bit. Seems like sour grapes to me.
February 4th, 2011 at 5:24 PM ^
I've been illogical? Hmmm...Well, I guess my lack of logic found a friend in Dave Brandon (and the vast majority of Michigan fans). You've viciously argued on the wrong side of fact and insulted to no end on this board. You have been lost in the MGoBubble (as your hefty point total will attest). You're shitty behavior takes you so far as to insult me in a comment to a third person that has nothing to do with me. In short, stop being like RR. Don't make excuses. Don't blame others. Move along.
...and don't use my name in vain.
February 4th, 2011 at 6:01 PM ^
Although you were ultimately proven right, you jumped on the "Fire RR!!1!!" bandwagon at a time where nothing you were saying could have possibly been the result of some form of superior football intellect. You were making RR-->Millen comparisons and screaming for him to be fired six games through the 2009 season.
Because of your extremely emotional reaction at the first sign of adversity, I decided you were an illogical moron. It's always easy to be the guy who immediately jumps ship like you.........
February 5th, 2011 at 1:08 PM ^
Or, if you lack the capability of making a solid, reasoned argument...you can just hurl insults from inside of your bubble. As for me, I'll stick to being right and living in reality.
February 6th, 2011 at 12:13 AM ^
Whatever you say, chief.
All I ask is that you don't jump ship immediately after Michigan's first loss under Hoke.
Either way, have fun living in the dahblue bubble.
February 4th, 2011 at 9:37 PM ^
"Stop being like RR...."
This is why you are an illogical moron.
February 4th, 2011 at 12:25 PM ^
i don't think it was that the defense was too small to stop good RB's as it was their age..
Yes the age has to do with them being so small, but our LB's not filling the proper holes half the time led to a lot of big runs..
Gerg had no clue how to coach a 3-3-5
February 4th, 2011 at 12:12 PM ^
I honestly think Rich Rod is a great person and I wish him the best from here on out, but he is delusional about where the program was going.
And as far as areas lacking in recruiting I would say that defensive line and linbackers were the two major ones. He recruited way too many tweener types and he couldn't land any stout interior lineman. I think the tweener issue was brought to the forefront a few days ago when Hoke signed like 10 linebackers. I just wish he had enough time to land a good interior DL.
February 4th, 2011 at 12:22 PM ^
Because our offensive line was such a problem... And the defensive line issue was just unfortunate for Rich. Yes, a great deal was his fault, but it's hard to get good defensive line players when two decommit on signing day and your five star player ends up turning into a bust (not totally, but certainly very close so far).
The fact is that we would've had 20 starters back with the first QB to start for two years in a row. Our wins improved yearly and our defense was extremely young. Greg Robinson did Rich in, as well as his control-freak attitude, but it's stupid to think we were going to suck next year.
February 4th, 2011 at 11:48 AM ^
February 4th, 2011 at 11:56 AM ^
Let's wait and lower the buyout.
RR and the team knew his fate at the bust (bad word), a bowl victory would not have changed anything IMO.
February 4th, 2011 at 11:59 AM ^
I didn't like the timing either, but to think that Miami or Florida would hire RR is pretty wild. Whether he got fired in December or January, his choices would likely have been mediocre program or take some time off. As it stands, he's getting paid a shitload of money to take time off. By taking the time off, some of the taint will disappear and he'll have a chance to land a more prestigious job (but likely only in the ACC or Big East).
February 4th, 2011 at 1:11 PM ^
"But in some ways I feel like Brandon was also truing to make sure Rich didn't have great options so players like Denard didn't have as big of a reason to jump."
Isn't this smart on the part of Brandon? I mean, RR received a nice parting gift.
It was Michigan(not RR) who turned Denard into a "larger than life" figure. It would be foolish for DB to create a situation where someone else reaps the benefits of our extensive PR work.
February 4th, 2011 at 1:49 PM ^
How can you say that it was MIchigan that made DRob the figure he is? If Rich Rod han't been here most likely DRob wouldn't have been either. If he had happened to get here it certainly wouldn't have been at qb.
February 4th, 2011 at 2:37 PM ^
If Denard didn't come to Michigan, he was going to Central Florida. Do you think Denard would have been a Heisman frontrunner after three games into his first season of starting if he went to Central Florida?
February 4th, 2011 at 3:41 PM ^
He probably wouldn't have been a Heisman hopefull at Central Florida. But are you realy making the argument that Rich Rod didn't have a hand in his development? DRob just showed up at Michigan and Michigans reputation made him what he is? A lot of it is DRob's natural ability but you can't say that Rich didn't help his development and use his talents in ways no top tier football program wanted too.
February 4th, 2011 at 3:51 PM ^
"But are you realy making the argument that Rich Rod didn't have a hand in his development?"
No. Re-read what I said if you can't figure it out on your own.
February 4th, 2011 at 1:52 PM ^
It was the only smart part about it. It was a business move. Followed by a stupid business move. Parading around the country on a coaching search instead of saying Hoke was the guy almost immediately after was stupid.
And on the parting gift note-I would say that legacy and winning is more important long term to some people than money. Especially people who already have money. I am sure the failure of Rich here at Michigan was killing his insides. Look at his face over the last 2 years. That man aged. I agree to disagree with you and a lot of people as to where this program was headed. I respect why a lot of fans felt like we weren't headed in a positive/winning direction-but I truly feel and still do that were a few adjustments and some upperclassmen away from turning the corner and making a very large jump. Hell, a Junior Denard and a kicker alone could have seriously won 2 more games in 2011. Especially with the beautiful schedule we have set up next year. Teams played us differently because they didn't have to respect us. It wasn't just the defense that they gambled on-teams knew we couldn't kick so they gambled defensively on us on 4th downs.
I mean the list goes on and on, and there are so many view points that its impossible to really discuss it without bringing up too many heated opposing views. But I will always stick with the notion regardless of my feeling about RR coaching abilities that DB handled this entire thing horribly.
February 4th, 2011 at 2:40 PM ^
The "parade around the country" was obviously a fairly successful attempt at bringing the factions back together. As someone who presumably cares about the long term success of Michigan football, I don't see how you can call this a stupid business decision.
February 4th, 2011 at 3:22 PM ^
And DB didn't bring jack shit back together with that move. A guy with Michigan ties was going to make a certain faction of the fanbase happy regardless of when he was hired. All he did was make himself look desperate after a few days by letting the media over speculate. It was handled shitty no matter what way you wanna spin it.
February 4th, 2011 at 3:44 PM ^
He didn't bring shit back together with the process and coaching hire?
What are you smoking? Have you seen the positive press the University of Michigan football program has been getting for the past 3.5 weeks? We never got positive press when Rod was here. I know he didn't deserve most of the bad press he got but this hire has done alot to change the perceptions around the country about our program. Almost every college football analyst has praised the hiring of Hoke and Mattison along with coaches and staff members around the country. He may not have brought in the big name, but he brought in someone who he felt would reunite most of the fanbase and turn things around.
February 4th, 2011 at 4:07 PM ^
that is what I am smoking. Dave Brandon did something that any AD could have done and made the fanbase happy. They wanted a Michigan guy since the day RR was hired. Hiring one was a no brainer after what happened to Rich. How is that an amazing accomplishment? It wasn't.
February 4th, 2011 at 4:32 PM ^
I see you conveniently ignored the entire comment you were responding to. Nice work.
February 4th, 2011 at 2:48 PM ^
If Miami or Florida had genuinely been interested in RR, they would have contacted him. Schools do not normally wait until a man is fired to go after him. If anything, they want to avoid going after a fired coach, because that's just bad from a PR standpoint.
February 4th, 2011 at 3:26 PM ^
special circumstances-and maybe the general football fans don't wanna see it that way, but football minds at the top are not stupid and I think they see the big picture. Maybe Florida is a stretch but Miami is not. And even if both had no interest it isn't like any of us will ever know. Maybe that speculation could have been laid to rest if DB would have fired Rich at a more appropriate time.
February 4th, 2011 at 11:48 AM ^
Just did not work out bottomline. We all need to move on and so does he. Unless he keeps running his trapp towards Mr. Pizza Man. Go Blue.
February 4th, 2011 at 11:48 AM ^
But I'm ready to move on.
February 4th, 2011 at 11:50 AM ^
Yes, but I completely understand where RR is coming from. No matter if you agree with his decisions or not, how Brandon chose to handle the firing/hiring supports the theory of "inexperience." By waiting a full month to fire RR, he put Hoke and his staff at a disadvantage and threw a good man and coach (RR) under the bus. More importantly, his delay shows that he was ultimately making his decision based on ONE GAME. Though many may argue that RR still would have been gone with a win over MSU, improving every year, installing a prolific offense, and grooming the Big Ten OPOY simply screams: "be patient." Unfortunately for RR (hopefully not for us michigan fans) I believe that his decision and how DB handled himself is very revealing of his inexperience.
Nevertheless, I wish both RR and Hoke well and hope that DB realizes his mistakes and learns from them.
February 4th, 2011 at 11:58 AM ^
But RR was questioning his ability to make a decision of whether the program was going in the right direction or not. His football acumen, basically. That is what I don't agree with. How long does it take someone to realize what's going on with the program? It's not like Brandon came into the situation totally in the dark about Michigan football in the first place.
February 4th, 2011 at 11:51 AM ^
February 4th, 2011 at 11:53 AM ^
I would like to hear RR own up to some of the mistakes made on his end, but somehow I don't see that happening. No doubt he walked into a bad situation, but he didn't really show a reason to continue paying him so much $$$ either. I wish him luck wherever he lands next year.
February 4th, 2011 at 12:06 PM ^
(who was quoting Benjamin Disraeli): "Never complain, never explain"
It's a basic tenet of leadership. You're judged by your results, not by your intents. I have no expectations of Rich ever "owning up" to anything, except maybe in a memoir in 25 years or so.
February 4th, 2011 at 11:56 AM ^
Wore 4 Super Bowl rings but that didn't translate into being able to evaluate talent or run a successful football operation.
February 4th, 2011 at 11:57 AM ^
"Mistakes were made....by Dave Brandon with The Process."
and let it end with that
February 4th, 2011 at 11:58 AM ^
Meh. I only talk about the coaches who coach for Michigan.
February 4th, 2011 at 12:08 PM ^
I guess then we should never mention Bo again then?
February 4th, 2011 at 12:04 PM ^
Top 10 recruiting class "no question"? I don't see how that's the case. We lost D Hart who would have been our top rated recruit, but he may have left either way. It didn't seem like TomVH or Tim were writing about many other Top 150 guys who we had a chance with, particularly on defense where they are most needed. Maybe there would have been a few surprises, but not enough to bring the class to elite status.
Also, I'm sick of him talking about "drama."
February 4th, 2011 at 12:10 PM ^
Kris Frost and Devin Lucien ring a bell?
February 4th, 2011 at 12:22 PM ^
February 4th, 2011 at 12:42 PM ^
Sure, they do. I'm just saying it wasn't going to bump us into the top 10. To (somewhat) match those guys, we got a 4* TE and borderline 4* LB (Poole) who seemed to be Hoke/Mattison grabs.
February 4th, 2011 at 1:05 PM ^
Yes, because we need 14 WRs on scholarship. RR was going to let Frost try to play WR, you may recall.
February 4th, 2011 at 12:11 PM ^
Barf. For a while I was in the No Hard Feelings camp; thanks for your service, best of luck in the future, adieu. Now I just really want to stop hearing from this guy. If he had said "onward and upward for Rich Rodriguez," cool. If he had said "fuck Dave Brandon," cool. I understand that he's going to have to sell himself hard in 2011 if he wants a coaching job anytime soon and I support him in that salesmanship. If he wants to remind people of what he accomplished with Denard, he should feel free. He has every right. It was his creation. But...you lost, Rich. A lot. You lost a motherfucking shitload of games. None of them were close. "I know college football." Shouldn't you know, then, that you can't get your ass kicked three years in a row and expect everyone to love you and tell you what a great job you're doing?
Nice unprompted shot at Lloyd's defense, too. Bang up job here.
Sorry, everyone. I hope I'm civil about this, and please let me know if I'm not. But I'm done with this dude.
February 4th, 2011 at 12:27 PM ^
He's not going to have to sell himself hard for a new job.
February 4th, 2011 at 12:47 PM ^
Yeah, Carr's defense struggled in '07, but they rallied and beat Tebow and Harvin. With our D this year, we would have lost by 20 in the Horror.
February 4th, 2011 at 2:36 PM ^
February 4th, 2011 at 2:53 PM ^
Watch the game again. In Florida's last two possessions, they turned in over on downs in their own territory each time.
February 5th, 2011 at 10:07 AM ^
In a 41-35 game, you can't credit the defense with getting the win even if they made some good plays throughout the game or down the stretch. See also, beating Illinois in 3OT by getting good pressure on the final play of the game.
February 4th, 2011 at 12:11 PM ^
February 4th, 2011 at 12:28 PM ^
February 4th, 2011 at 12:14 PM ^
Money. That extra $1.5 million owed.
It was not a football decision. The football decision could have been made after the OSU game.
February 4th, 2011 at 12:27 PM ^
guys like Steven Threet and Nick Sheridan turned into Devin Gardner and Denard Robinson under RR's watch.
the defense was a concern. RR clearly made mistakes there, but no different than mistakes made by every other coach in the country. difference is, Tressel, Saban, and Meyer can afford to make mistakes because they are loaded with talent. RR's mistakes were pervasive because Michigan didnt have the talent to save him. i didnt see the problem in a sit down between DB and RR in an attempt to change the defense with a top paid coordinator and one more year to see what we were capable of.
even Brady Hoke said it. great players make us look like great coaches. well.... goodbye Nick Sheridan, hello Denard Robinson and you see the differences. that was starting to happen across the roster. RR couldnt win the people, so recruiting wasnt as great as years past. but imo, his wins in 2011 wouldve turn the tides in recruiting. this class wouldve finished as RR strongest. next year wouldve done the same.
i think Brady Hoke is a great guy and i support him. though, i wouldve welcomed him without question if a failed 2011 year from RR made it necessary for a change. i didnt think it right to fire RR a year early with everything that had transpired under Lloyd, and during RR's years. we had 20 starters back, and staring 9 or 10 wins in the eye without Wisconsin or Penn State on the schedule. ND, OSU, and Nebraska are home games as well.