What players didn't "buy in" to Rodriguez last year?
Ezeh and Graham in comments yesterday became around the 5th and 6th players I've heard comment in the press that the difference between this year and last in player's attitudes is that this year "all the guys are buying in." Graham commented in the Freep this morning that now "all" the guys are believing in Rodriguez. My question is, who were the guys last year that didn't believe in RR and "buy in?" Any mgobloggers with inside scoop know this? And are any of the guys that didn't buy in still on the team? Or is this too inside to be knowable?
April 12th, 2009 at 11:08 AM ^
But I'm guessing boren and mallett may have been part of that group for a brief time.
Also Minor mentioned seniors not buying in last year at the end of the season. I'm guessing that doesn't include Will Johnson though.
Mallett transfered so fast he was never in the group to begin with. Boren, yeah, I guess so.
I think it was probably just a subtle kind of thing. Sometimes the team just doesn't have the right chemistry somehow. Not open mutiny, but rather it just not quite clicking.
April 12th, 2009 at 10:25 PM ^
I have some friends that work in the NFL, and I wont mention any specific names, but if you look at the comments one of our D-Linemen made about how the coaching change affected his draft status it makes it pretty clear he was not real happy with the coaches last year.
Aug
April 12th, 2009 at 11:32 AM ^
Butler
April 12th, 2009 at 11:56 AM ^
my logic tells me that it was the guys who either transferred or got kicked off. i don't know though, that may be a stretch.
you may be on to something.
April 12th, 2009 at 12:32 PM ^
It's probably not just individual players that they make reference to, but the fragile state of the locker room. Particularly, we saw that with the defense and its coaching struggles that did not really come across in the media.
Morgan Trent. Oh yeah, and also Morgan Trent.
do you have any evidence other than brash accusations that morgan trent didnt buy in
I repeatedly heard from people covering the team that Trent and Rich Rod didn't get along particularly well, and that Trent had a fairly negative attitude regarding the coaching change. From what they told me, it was particularly telling that at the annual postseason banquet, when the seniors address their teammates, Trent thanked Lloyd — not Rich Rod. (All the other seniors thanked Rich Rod)
I don't know conclusively that Trent didn't buy in, but most rumors have a grain of truth, and I've consistently heard this one.
Most likely, guys like Babb, Butler, and Kates.
I have heard rumblings from people that speak with players, that a lot of the players, especially many of defense, were not very happy last year. I suppose that means they did not buy in 100%. I think Shafer being gone helps; there was little love lost between many defensive players and Shafer.
Some players are starters and are are still around - Warren, for example. It wasn't just the guys who left or didn't play. If so, it wouldn't have been as big of a deal.
Didn't buy in. Obvs. What a non Michigan man, leaving at his first chance.
to guys that left the team before the 2008 season commenced. Those guys obviously never bought in.
The comments from Minor and others referred to players who actually played on the football team during the 2008 season.
This probably included a number of Carr-era recruits and the 2008 seniors.
I would hazard a guess and start with CB Charles Stewart, a few other unnamed seniors, plus any other junior/RS senior player that were on the 2008 fall roster, but are no longer on the 2009 Spring roster.
Some UM players are making repeated comments that that "everyone on the team is buying in".
Actually, all of the players should have "bought in" (past tense) already following the last 2008 team meeting in November 2008 after the most embarrassing loss to Ohio State since 1968.
I wouldn't be too concerned or upset about the players who have left the team, or may soon leave. It's there choice. I wish them well.
But something's definitely happening with the Michigan football program. The Wolverines have not turned the corner yet, but RR has definitely clicked on the indicator lights.
April 13th, 2009 at 12:23 AM ^
I think this is the correct take.
That's what i'm seeing
No predictions here, but the cumulative effect on myself of recent developments in the program has been a tingling sensation not unlike when we used to climb the rope in gym class
I'm willing to speculate that McGuffie did NOT buy in.
where they work out in preparation for their NFL tryouts.
If they worked out in California, while they had Barwis at their disposal, that would be very telling. If they did not come back for the Spring Game, and if they did come back for the Spring Game and chose not to associate with current and fromer players that would be very telling also.
Stewart had that yelling match on the sideline, so I'd say he's a likely candidate.
Butler obviously doesn't like "hard work" or "blocking" or "laws."
But we can find reasons that everyone wouldn't have bought in. Will Johnson lost playing time to a true freshman. Johnny Thompson lost his job to a sophomore (Evans) and then a nickel back. Taylor thought he was going to be a first rounder. Etc.
It's natural not to buy in to the new regime. As much as it sucked, we've all been through it. When you get a new babysitter or a new teacher or a new boss or a new coach, there's always an aspect of "Well, we used to do it this way" or "I think the other way was better." I bet we're all guilty of something like that. It would be great if every single guy bought in 100%, but that's not very realistic in any situation. So I think we should cut those guys some slack.
My concern would be those guys that were a problem in this area last year that are still on the team--they've apparently bought in this year, but how long will that last after the first disappointing loss? While is is natural as you say, they owe the max effort to their teammates regardless. And reading between the lines, the implication is some guys didn't do that last year.
Lastly though, with 100 guys you'll never get 100% anything so...