Rich Rodriguez is going to be fired

[Todd4State]

While waiting on an airplane to Jacksonville, and I just happened to sit by a guy that works in the Michigan athletic dept. He saw my MSU t-shirt and asked if I was going to the game, and we started talking- which is how I found out what he did. I asked him about Rich Rodriguez and if he was going to get fired, and he told me that if Michigan loses their bowl game- obviously that has happened- then he would be gone.

And he also told me that Harbaugh is the guy that they want. Didn't say anything about it being a done deal or anything like that- probably because they wanted to see what RichRod would do.

I also asked him about Rodriguez and why it hasn't worked out there, and he told me that Rodriguez didn't follow some of their traditions- he gave me the example of giving the jersey #1 to the top WR on the team, and how that is a special honor to their top WR- and that has rubbed a lot of their alumni the wrong way.

He also mentioned that the buyout for his contract would drop significantly after Jan. 1, which was also a factor.

Just for your info, but I'm thinking that this is going to go down in the next couple of days. I know that this won't surprise very many people.

 

[Todd4State]

While waiting on an airplane to Jacksonville, and I just happened to sit by a guy that works in the Michigan athletic dept. He saw my MSU t-shirt and asked if I was going to the game, and we started talking- which is how I found out what he did. I asked him about Rich Rodriguez and if he was going to get fired, and he told me that if Michigan loses their bowl game- obviously that has happened- then he would be gone.

And he also told me that Harbaugh is the guy that they want. Didn't say anything about it being a done deal or anything like that- probably because they wanted to see what RichRod would do.

I also asked him about Rodriguez and why it hasn't worked out there, and he told me that Rodriguez didn't follow some of their traditions- he gave me the example of giving the jersey #1 to the top WR on the team, and how that is a special honor to their top WR- and that has rubbed a lot of their alumni the wrong way.

He also mentioned that the buyout for his contract would drop significantly after Jan. 1, which was also a factor.

Just for your info, but I'm thinking that this is going to go down in the next couple of days. I know that this won't surprise very many people.

 

[QuaoarsKing]

If Michigan goes back to a pro-style offense, they're going to suck for a couple more years switching back (especially with that awful defense). I mean, I assume Denard isn't going to play QB with Harbaugh...will he play on defense?

 

[Coach34]

.

 

[Todd4State]

maybe even running back, too. But whatever it is, it won't be QB unless it's wildcat.

 

[HammerOfTheDogs]

...Sincerely,

Tyrone Willingham

 

[Goat Holder II]

take Denard Robinson and do big things with him, you aren't worth a **** and shouldn't be coaching.

 

[Goat Holder II]

Unfortunately for him he went into an unstable situation from the AD all the way to the Joe Nobody fans who go shirtless and paint their face. That offense can smoke, and he's got a good, young team coming back. He's made improvement each year in a place that is very, very hard to change the culture. I think where he messed up is, like you say, not playing the 'game' at least a little bit. You have to do that everywhere, even Saban had to do it. He does need to do something with the defense though.

The crusty Michigan elite need to give him what he needs to be successful. They told him to do a job that they weren't sure they really wanted him do. Bad situation for everybody involved. Rich Rod didn't know how good he had it at West Virginia.

 

[spudley]

Personally, I think Rich Rod should stay. He is an offensive genius. ON the other hand, That defensive coordinator is a disgrace to the game. He should be the one that people criticize, NOT Rich Rod

 

[SnakePlissken]

That defensive coordinator is a disgrace to the game. He should be the one that people criticize, NOT Rich Rod

Rich Rod HIRED that disgrace of a coordinator. Rich Rod deserves criticism.

 

[Todd4State]

Yes, he is a good offensive mind. But, this is a guy that we just took to the shed at a school that should have more talent than us. We held him and his Heisman contender QB to 14 points. I'm not dogging MSU either, but honestly, we shouldn't beat Michigan by 38 points. Heck, that's more than we put up on Alcorn State and Memphis.

He is at Michigan. It really shouldn't be that hard to win there- they play in the Big 10, which is honestly not that difficult of a conference, especially when compared to the SEC. Michigan should be no worse than fourth in the Big 10, and that is on a down year. And he has failed miserably. Not researching a school's traditions and emrbacing them is, well, Croomesque in the very least.

And then the defensive coordinator thing has been fubared and is also scary for any team that hires him. I haven't even mentioned special teams yesterday- they were awful. They were missing chip shot field goals and having punts blocked.

I think Rich Rodriguez is at best damaged goods and at worst washed up. Sure, he did well at West Virginia- I understand that. But his tenure at Michigan and some of the things that he has done there are certainly red flag worthy to say the least.

The Michigan fans thanking me for "getting rid of RichRod for us" was also eerily Croomesque as well. Let's face it- yesterday was their Egg Bowl 2008.

I just don't understand why so many people on here would want a guy that has failed at Michigan as our head coach or think he is a great head coach. It just doesn't make any sense.

 

[Goat Holder II]

and the fact is, despite all the limitations, he's still improved every year and if given two more years, will probably be competing for Big 10 Titles. Those crusty UM elite didn't know what they wanted when they hired him. They thought they wanted to change up everything, Rich Rod did it, now they don't like it. The reason I know this is because I know alot of people in Michigan. You know how Tommy West complained that he never had a chance at Memphis because they never gave him a chance? Same at Michigan with Rich Rod. They treated him like ****, refused to support him fully and yet he's still done what he was hired to do. I think it's a damn shame, but Rich Rod put himself in that position by getting greedy at WV. He had it made there.

 

[mstateglfr]

Even you arent that illogical, and that is saying something.

 

[GloryDawg]

Even trade for Denard and Russell. Russell is more of a pro set QB and Denard is the opposite. It crossed my mind as well.

 

[BoDawg.sixpack]

The offense they ran in the GB looked like a chinese fire drill. And how in the hell does the winningest team in CFB history have a kicker who is 4 of 14 on the year?? That is beyond dumb.</p>

 

[MSUCosmo]

Harbaugh has had back to back Heisman finalists come out of his offense. I highly doubt, if he took the job, that he would run his pro style offense with a 5'10" QB.

And, if he continued to use Robinson in a zone read offense, then what's the reason for getting rid of RichRod?

 

[Todd4State]

Harbaugh has had back to back Heisman finalists come out of his offense. I highly doubt, if he took the job, that he would run his pro style offense with a 5'10" QB.



And, if he continued to use Robinson in a zone read offense, then what's the reason for getting rid of RichRod?

would run Harbaugh's offense.

But as I have said, the ill-will with Rich Rod runs much deeper than his offense.

 

[Goat Holder II]

some of you just don't get 'it'.

 

[TilloDawg]

Sorry, but this guy is one of the best coaches in America...and yes, he's no doubtrubbed some um folks the wrong way with how he's done stuff. Not to mention getting them on probation not long after he arrived with "Practice-gate" and stopping some traditiona stuff....

But if they want him to run his program, they need to let him get his style players in there and give him time to get the old 3-yd dive& play action passing game type players out of the system.....and he needs to replace his entire defensive staff

 

[Coach34]

Even trade for Denard and Russell. Russell is more of a pro set QB and Denard is the opposite. It crossed my mind as well.

and a player to be named later...I like what I've seen from Prescott and Farvuh is supposedly making some plays, but Denard would be outstanding for us

 

[TilloDawg]

the reason why....they either said 6 of their 8 DB's or 6 of their 8 non-defensive line starters(UM runs a 3-3-5)were true freshmen.

 

[Todd4State]

the reason why....they either said 6 of their 8 DB's or 6 of their 8 non-defensive line starters(UM runs a 3-3-5)were true freshmen.

I'm not sure if that's Rich Rodriguez's fault or not- but that's horrible roster management.

 

[Stormrider81]

Not saying Rich Rod has done a wonderful job recruiting, but if Carr does his job, you aren't playing a bunch of freshmen in the defensive backfield.

What Michigan needs to do is fire the DC and give Rich Rod another year. Firing him would ensure another turbulent two years. Harbaugh is a good coach, but he isn't a miracle worker. You can't take a team built for the pro-style offense and run a spread with success right off the bat. You can't take a team built for the spread option and run a pro-style offense with success right off the bat. In year 3 Rich's offense placed 6th in the nation. He has the players and they are comfortable running his system.

The offense isn't the problem. Rich's arrogance isn't the problem. Failing to follow traditions isn't the problem. The problem is defense. There are three main reasons MSU won 4 more games than last year and one of them was hiring a great DC. Tell Rich Rod to follow the Mullen pattern here and find him an up and comer DC.

 

[Todd4State]

but the Michigan people don't see it that way. Just talking to that guy, I think it's more Rich Rodriguez not fitting in rather than them prefering a certain scheme.

I'll put it like this- people at MSU don't want to run the WCO in part because that's associated with Croom. And yes, unlike Michigan, we had stats to back up that Croom's offense wasn't working.

I think that's part of the reason why they want to change their schemes. They want to be rid of any and all things Rich Rodriguez. And that means the spread option. I'm not so sure that it has all that much to do with working vs not in this case. There are a lot of fractures in that relationship, and honestly, it probably is best for both to go their separate ways.

I could kind of sympathize with what the guy at the airport. Croom did some similar things that rubbed our fanbase the wrong way- even stuff like white helmets and his obsession with beating Alabama vs Ole Miss among other things.

It is worth noting that he said the exact same thing you did about personnel.


I think what Michigan will do as far as personnel is try to find a JUCO QB that can run a pro style offense and be a stopgap for a little while. If they can get Harbaugh quickly, they will have enough time- they'll have about a month to recruit- to pull in a QB that can functionally run a pro-style offense. Heck, they may even go after the guy that Ole Miss got- Stoudt- for all I know. After that, they can go forward. I'm sure that they will get a new defensive staff regardless.

 

[TilloDawg]

whatever that means

 

[Wizard.sixpack]

maybe Denard will transfer to a team that has a coach that recruited him at Florida....????

 

[tenureplan]

and then AU will step in last minute and nab him

 

[Hidog78]

Why would wewant another Mccluster without a rap song when we already have a white one? Just like State's defenseshowed the college world that he is stoppable. At wr he quick but to small, best used as a return man or awildcat formation.