Up front, let me say I'm an Alabama fan. At one time, I pushed for the hiring of Rich Rodriguez. I was disappointed when he said no. I am of course elated today.
But that is not necessarily because I now think coach Rod is a bad coach, but because my Crimson Tide were able to get Nick Saban instead, and I'm sure you can see the difference in where the two programs are now.
I've always watched and admired Michigan. In many ways, the Wolverines are the "Bama" up North. A long and storied tradition with lots of records. Like Bama, you've had some recent problems. Ours was the NCAA and the coaching carousel, yours was Ohio State and now changing coaches.
The problem at least as I see it, is coach Rod's ego. His "I know best" attitude has cost you at least one season. Despite warnings from his own assistants that Michigan's roster was in no way set up to run his "spread" offense, Rodriguez thought he knew better.
He has spent a whole season trying to pound that square peg into a round hole and neither his sheer will or stubbornness is going to make it fit. Not this season, probably not next year either, but it may at some point.
His reluctance to it any other way that "his way" may show undaunted faith in own coaching style, but to us outside, it just makes him look stupid. Good coaches modify their styles for the players they have, not the ones they wish they had.
He couldn't look much dumber unless he started a reserve nose tackle at quarterback for the final game and insisted he throw on every down. And we're scratching our heads and saying, "And they got rid of Lloyd Carr for this?"
Coach Rod can and will eventually turn things around. He can and will recruit athletes suited for his style and system. The question all of us are wondering is whether you'll keep him around long enough to do it? What say you?
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about 1 month ago
good article larry. i respect bama in the same way you respect michigan. but to make a small point, it is completely unfair to compare where your program is this year and where our program is this year. saban has a year under his belt and did not completely overhaul the offensive scheme. rich rod has had to use the spread with players that aren't built for it, not to mention it is his first season. i point to last season to make my point: did you guys not lose to LA laffeyette? i remember that, as well as uncertainty in the bama community about sabans effectiveness. as to your other arguments, read the article i publish today. good stuff though, it's always nice to hear an outsiders thoughtful perspective on your home team.
about 1 month ago
I agree with the article, and it is a good one.
But mun, didn't Rich Rod lose to Toledo? He also was at the head of Michigan's first loss to my beloved PSU in 12 years. That's a long time coming. Anyhow, Rich Rod can not run that sort of offense with players Carr brought to UM. It will take more than a couple of years. I could have won the Big Least by telling Pat White and Steve Slaton to run. It didn't take a genius, mind you. But this is the University of Michigan, and this is Big Ten football.
Rich Rod must get the axe.
about 1 month ago
This is Michigan's worst season ever. Just think about that. In the 125 years that the University of Michigan has played football, there has never been a worse year than this. In over a century filled with transitions and upsets and problems, this is the worst year ever. I understand your point mun, but I think that Anthony and Larry have the right end of this stick here.
Rich Rob is incredibly arrogant and he has clearly turned off a lot of people. A new coach has to be able to get players to buy into his system and way of doing things. Saban has clearly done that at Alabama. Tressel did that at Ohio State. Michigan is not going to contend for the national championship next year. Or the year after that. Maybe not even in three or four years. Hiring a new coach is one of the riskiest decision a program can take. Ask a Notre Dame fan and they'll tell you that.
about 1 month ago
Mun, Rich Rod didn't have to use the spread. A good coach would adapt his playcalling to the players he has available. Look at how Tressel has utilized Terrelle Pryor in Columbus. Todd Boeckman never had so many running plays called for him. Better yet, look at how Tim Tebow and Chris Leak were utilized a couple of years ago. Rich Rod has to learn how to swallow his pride and call a gameplan that his players are capable of executing.
about 1 month ago
Anyone who thinks RR will be fired after this season or next season doesn't know much about college football, and especially Michigan football. this AD, Bill Martin, is a committed man, a loyal man. Michigan will never become a program that is a coaching carousel. No way. Not after two years at least. RR has at least three years, After that, if success is not forthcoming, he could be fired. Any earlier then that is not going to happen though. Not with his huge contract. Not after paying two of his four million he owed WV. Not under Bill Martin's watch. The guy has a top 25 class coming in. He'll have his style QB running the offense next year. They will go from a three win team to a six win team next year, and by year three be back to the 'old Michigan' yet be the 'new' Michigan running a SUCCESSFUL spread.
RR is a very good coach. And we Michigan fans lose site of that because we have just solidified our worst season in school history, but, for such a drastic change, patience must come first-and-foremost.
about 1 month ago
Two added points: He has a top 10 class coming in, not top 25.
and, nice article, by the way.
about 1 month ago
The entire idea behind him not adapting to his players is a fallacy. Rodriguez and WVU ran the ball 70% of the time last year, this year at Michigan they are at 54%. Big difference. I admit he was very wrong when he came in with his attitude, but I think over the months he's realized he was wrong and he's working to make things right.
People keep saying he should've run the pro-form but the thing is how will it help? Minor was still hurt, the receivers/backs are pretty inexperienced, the line is medicore, the quarterbacks are, well, bad. It doesn't change much. Maybe a win or two.
It was the defense that killed us.
about 1 month ago
Good to see an outsiders view.However, think about this.He has 6 freshman starting on offense and numerous other sophmores.So in that case why should he teach an offense he doesn't know this year only to scrap it for next year?Going with the spread this year was a great idea despite the outcome.The young guys are goin to learn it this year and by year 3 watch out cause they may very well be in NC contention having so much experience in the system.Slowly introducing the spread would only slow the transition and we would be just poor to average for the next 3-4 years and that is not acceptable.He nneded to get it done and over with and i applaud him for it.He is not as egotistical as people say.He is a highly experienced coach, got his first head coaching gig at the age of 24 i believe maybe 26.He has been around the block before.He does know what is best.That is why he is the one coaching and you are the one writing.Good luck to Bama though.Hey didn't saban suck it up in year 1 with Bama...yup he did i remember a loss to Louisiana-Monroe....RR not far off from that.Btw the people that say this is the worst season ever is wrong.Only reason this is worse is because we have most losses.Don't forget we have had two 1-loss seasons and another 2 loss season.We only have more losses than those teams because we play more games.Not the worse team in school history.
about 1 month ago
sorry that was supposed to be one two win season, not two loss season.
about 1 month ago
to everyone who thinks larry and anthony are right, read the article i am publishing RIGHT NOW. if you still disagree it's because you haven;t thought it out, which is understandable considering that most of you who agree with larry and anthony are not michigan fans and dont really know what is going on
about 1 month ago
I agree completely with this article. And U of M fans just wanting to say it's just the one year blues your wrong. This is Michigan's worst season ever. Don't take me wrong I want to see Ohio state get handed their third lose by U of M but it's not going to happen. Look at Mark Dantonio he was able to have a winnig first season that only lost there games by 7 points and now MSU is number 15 in the nation and is 9-2 and ready to beat Penn State.
from about 1 month ago
It's a slightly different situation in East Lansing, friend.
about 1 month ago
As someone who's not the greatest Michigan fan (I love Penn State), I'm pretty happy that Michigan has gone down in the world since Rodriguez' arrival.
Having said that, RichRod is a great recruiter. Michigan will be back next year or the year after. You watch.
Oh, and a great Michigan is important for college football.
about 1 month ago
This guy sold us a bill of good's with which he obviously didn't deliver. There have been numerous coaches who have taken over big time programs and have not even come close to the debacle that is Michigan football in 2008. Let's look at some of his distinguished accomplishments for this year:
1) 3 and 9 record, worst in history of the school.
2) Most points given up in history of school.
3) First loss to a MAC school ever.
4) Fisrt loss to Penn State in 10 years.
5) First loss to MSU in 7 years.
I'm sure there are other milestones I've missed, however, this has got to be the absolute worst product that Michigan has put on the filed in modern history and it's all on Rich's watch. And give me a break with all the BS about him not having the right people for his system, what, do you think next year all his people will be in place think not. As a long time Michigan fan, I seriously see this program being reduced to the bottom tier of the Big 10 and not being a factor on the National sceen for years to come. Personally, I think they need to change the Michigan and OSU game to earlier in the season because OSU win's for the next 7-10 years anyway.
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