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Comments
This is being posted post-Purdue. Anybody still have anything to say in defense (no pun intended) of Coach Rodriguez?
Fellow alums and friends, let's first of all remember that Coach RichRod is still in his second year in the program. He needs more time for his recruits to mature and develop. We're clearly making progress here. Once he has all the players he need, and as we start having enough depth, Michigan will definitely contend for the Big Ten or even National Championship come 3-4 years time. We're Michigan, and we'll definitely rise again.
"We're clearly making progress here."
What? Assuming a loss to Purdue, Wisc and OSU this team is just two pass plays better than last year's 3-9 team. And bear in mind we substituted Delaware St for Utah on the schedule which guarantees one more win.
Here's another problem -- we are not going to get the best HS players with a losing record and a coach with a uncertain future.
I'm sure even his wife doesn't think he'll get 5-6 years to be a contender in the Big Ten. (Thats the 2 years so far plus the 3-4 years you said were needed)
School spirit is great but at some point a train wreck is a train wreck.
As a long time UM grad, and Wolverine fan, I think it is critically important, at this point, to fully support Coach Rodriguez, and his staff! Granted, this team IS young, but they are giving great effort. The coaches are doing everything they can, to put these players in a postion to win. Having started as a student in 1965, with Bump Elliot, I have seen my share of great teams, as well as challenges. But NEVER, during that 45 years, have I seen a team that didn't give total effort. This 2009 squad came within a whisker of beating both MSU and IOWA, on the road, and matched PSU for a half. If Bo were with us today, he would be an ardant defender of this year's Wolverines! As he did, in 1969, Bo would remind us that, "Those who stay, WILL be champions'! And make no mistake about it, this team, and this group of coaches WILL, be champions. I like their fight, and I like that they play for each other. Egos are being checked at the door, daily, and this group has bought into 'THE TEAM'. I expect all of us, UM students, and alums, to close ranks, and remain 'ALL IN for MICHIGAN'! So, bring on the Boilers, the Badgers, and the Buckeyes! I absolutely believe, this team, has the will to 'win out'! But, do we, as fans ,have that same will? I'll be watching. Go BLUE!
BSE '70 / MBA '72
The damage that RichRod is doing to the University is simply incalculable. Put aside the fact that he is clearly beyond his depth as a coach. More importantly, he is tainting the reputation of the University and alienating the alumni. For the good of the University, and not simply the Athletic Department, the University must recognize that it has made a mistake and replace Rodriguez at the end of this season.
'76 LSA, '80 Law
Hey, everything is going to be fine. Yahoo Sports (aka Rivals.com) has projected Michigan to finish in 4th place in the Big Ten and accept a bid to the Alamo Bowl on Jan. 2 to play Nebraska. Problem is I don't think they can get to 4th place even if they win out. [This is not a joke. Go to http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaf;_ylt=AvrI48PTAYE4seU.IaYR0Kc5nYcB and click on Bowl Picks.]
Well, it's gone today.
It has been stated by others elsewhere, Rodriguez simply does not understand the University of Michigan, that it is an academically highly rated state university, with a 190 year history behind it. To think he could even consider trying to recruit junior college students, just reinforces how little he understands the University. Then blame is players is really bush league.
Put simply the U of M is not West Virginia on any level. I think the man is way out of his depth.
Mallett sucked. He's got a cannon for an arm, but can only use it if he has lots of time in the pocket. Doesn't anyone remember the MSU game two years ago when Mallett just kept winging the ball down field and I kept hoping the receivers would win the game for us, or the Illinois game two years ago when Mallett was useless and the injured Henne came back in and won the game?
Very few "Blue chippers" start as freshman. They get minimal PT, or just redshirt, while they're learning. We currently lack talent. How many ranked teams are starting walk-ons and freshman? We'll have to see what kind of recruiter RR is.
Did you see Mallett against Tebo/Florida? Arkansas could beat Florida but unfortunately they were playing Florida+the refs.
Rodriguez chose to run off a competent, pro-style QB (Mallett) rather than take the wiser and easir course of installing an offense that took advantage of Mallett's size and skills. Then he brings in two shrimp-sized QBs who will have a hard time withstanding Big Ten collisions, let alone become pro prospects.
Next he designs an offense with little or no deception and no flexibility to respond to defense that have mastered his now high-school-level version of the spread. Meanwhile, other freshmen QBs around the country are proving themselves adept at play-action mixed with spread and pro-style plays (USC, Miami of Fl. among many). He jumped on his defensive linemen with taunts and insults; no wonder so many left.
All of this is Bill Martin's Folly. Let's hope the new AD is a really qualified one to hold that job. Meanwhile, bring back Jack Weidenbach as the Interim. Or do as Nebraska did when they committed a similar boo boo. Bring in Lloyd Carr as AD and/or coach, and grease the skids for Rich Rod after the NCAA convicts him.
Sadly my anger is starting to turn to pity. We now have our very own Gerry Faust. (Don't forget Cincinnati is pretty much in northern West Virginia).
I've got two problems with:
"Rodriguez said that was because 20 defensive recruits from the last five classes have left the program, and just four of those departures were due to graduation. A moderate level of attrition is natural after a coaching transition. But when over 40 percent of players leave on one side of the ball, it is particularly difficult for Rodriguez to develop the depth he wants — three guys at every position he feels comfortable with."
[1] RichRod demos zero insight into WHY 16 defensive recruits walked out the door he walked in. He doesn't even evidence any curiosity about WHY. He's describing a personnel retention problem, & the 'fix' he articulates is to recruit personnel faster in order to compensate. Nobody can recruit that fast - & stay in the NCAA's good graces. Fix the hole in your bucket, vs. having to furiously refill it.
[2] RichRod's 'explanation' strikes me as a variation on "I inherited a lot of problems, & I'm just the guy with the mop, cleaning up." (Only a marginal improvement on "Lawdy, Miz Scarlet, I don't know nothin' 'bout birthin' no babies!") Does he honestly believe he's got four or five seasons to tinker with personnel? Really? (Shrek: “Really really?”)
Hello All,
Michigan's MBA Program is rooted in Action Based Learning. Seems like we're doing a whole lot of talking, but where's the action? I propose that we establish a committe consisting of Michigan students and alumni that formally request the removal of Coach Rich Rod. Once we obtain 20,000 signatures, we can all congregate together at a Michigan game and voice our outrage. Thoughts?
"20 defensive recruits from the last five classes have left the program, and just four of those departures were due to graduation." And why do you think that is Rich? Did you push them out due to your over-inflated ego? Or did they see through your incompotence, ego, and classless-ness?
Publicly, you do not state your players lack talent. That will only scare off recruits (you obviously blame the players every chance you get) and it only tells the talent you do have not to try to improve because they lack the talent to do it...
RR, quit now to save yourself and the program the embarassment.
What a pitiful example of a leader - to blame the very players he should be inspiring, and accepting none of the blame. Shame on you Rodriguez. You will never be a Michigan Man.
What a pitiful example of a leader - to blame the very people he should be trying to inspire, and accepting none of the blame himself. Shame on you, Rodriguez.
Fire the stupid coach, Bill Martin, and Mary Sue too!
Then hire a real coach for Michigan!
Fire the stupid coach, Bill Martin, and Mary Sue too!
Then hire a real coach for Michigan!
What the coach fails to admit is that he is the cause of several of the departures over the last two years.
A few players left early for the NFL, but Justin Boren and Ryan Mallett left purely because of the new coach. boren sat out a year and is starting at Ohio State and Mallett is starting at Arkansas so I am sure that they did not leave because they were not good enough.
Others left as well.
Man up coach. A coach that blames its players is weak, undesirable and disgusting.
Man up coach. Blaming the players is weak and disgusting.
Dear U of M Regents:
I hate to say I told you so, but here goes: "I told you so." Marvin K . Mooney (aka Rich Rodriguez) will you please, go, NOW! Stop blaming the players for your painful incompetence. Better yet, go start some new team and hire Rick Leach as your assistant, starting yesterday.
U of M alum
It's a poor workman who blames his tools.
The poor coaching makes 4 and 5 star players look poor. But way to blame them anyway coach, I'm sure you will still be able to get a nice 7 digit severance check.
Rich Rod has some of it right. There is a lack of talent associated with the football program; but it is the COACHING staff that lacks talent, not the players.
No class!! Just when you thought Richard couldn't get any worse, he does it again!! I'm sure the guys on the team are thrilled to hear their coaches talk about what horrible players comprise the squad. Richard, you're the coach the CEO--do what you want in private. But publicly, YOU take the blame, do NOT fault KIDS who came here to play for MICHIGAN. In 2 years this clown clearly still hasn't learned what it means to be a Michigan Man and how to represent such a prestigious academic school. This nonsense might fly in the backwoods of Morgantown, but it's not going to work in Ann Arbor. Richard, be a grownup, earn your preposterous salary, and place the blame where it belongs--with you and your staff! These kids are working hard and playing for Michigan. These kids will always be Wolverines, you're clearly here for the paycheck (and the next one) and your ridiculously inflated ego. There are dozens of qualified Michigan Men who would kill to run this program. We MUST return to being Michigan, and cut this clown loose before he embarrasses our school any more. I can deal with losing, but I will never accept someone so terribly representing my alma mater.
AMEN!!!!! This classless bore must go!
It has to be someone else's fault for the football team's failure. It could not possibly be the coaching, so it must be the players, even though most of them were all blue chip players when they came here. It has to be the players, how could it not be.
It has to be someone else's fault for the football team's failure. It could not possibly be the coaching, so it must be the players, even though most of them were all blue chip players when they came here. It has to be the players, how could it not be.
There is going to be a bloodfest on this comments site today and the coaches bear the responsibility for the complete breakdown in poise after Michigan failed to score a touchdown from the one yard line. Kindly remember, gents, Rome was not build in a day.
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