Edward R Murrow's Ghost

Sun, Jan 30, 2011 : 7:17 p.m.

@Macabre: You and I agree on little else, esp. when the discussion revolves around politics, but on this you are 110% correct. Good Night and Good Luck

Macabre Sunset

Sun, Jan 30, 2011 : 6:44 p.m.

I don't mind the people who believe Michigan could be even better than they were under Carr. Sure, they will inevitably be frustrated and disappointed. Sure, they know very little about how a 120-school division with 58 major schools works. But at least their hearts are in the right place. What I do mind is the assumption that Rich Rodriguez had some powerful magic that could give them everything they wanted. In that sense, they are the victims of powerful marketing. Delusional marketing. Rodriguez has one trick. He takes a phenomenal, undersized athlete and puts him at quarterback and rides him until he breaks. He doesn't understand defense very well, and just hopes his staff is good enough to get him the ball back once in a while. This approach may work in a minor conference because of poor coaching and mediocre athletes on defense. That can give you a 10-2 record and a pretty bowl game if you play in the Big East or lower. But in the Big Ten, where everyone has good athletes, you will not win. At West Virginia, Rodriguez was 60-26 (.698). At Michigan, the man he replaced, Lloyd Carr, was 122-40 (.753) at a much higher level. After replacing Carr, Rodriguez put together a 15-22 (.405) record here, including the three worst single seasons in Michigan's recent history. They gave up more than 300 points for the first three times in 132 seasons of Michigan football. Rodriguez was a horrible, horrible, coach. He could not make it work at this level. The thought that he could even get Michigan within a sniff of a Big Ten title (something Carr won or shared five times in 13 years) is beyond laughable. It's pathetic. I'm so relieved he's gone. He did enormous damage in his short tenure.

Chilltime

Sun, Jan 30, 2011 : 3:11 p.m.

And really if Michigan finishes #20-25 every under I will not be happy!

Chilltime

Sun, Jan 30, 2011 : 3:09 p.m.

Now we are making excuses. Where we making excuses when LLoyd was going 10-2? You can not spell LLoyd with two Ls. Am I the only one who remembers that? There was a reason folks wanted LLoyd to change or leave.

Chilltime

Sun, Jan 30, 2011 : 3 p.m.

Those programs are relevant because I except them to compete and be there in the discussion. Michigan is not and has not been for a long time. I think most of you believe I am a RichRod guy. I am not. Never was! I am just giving the truth. Thanks to th AF I have had the ability to live around the country and see what the rest of the country thinks of our beloved program. They laugh and have done so for 10 plus years.

missionbrazil

Sun, Jan 30, 2011 : 2:48 p.m.

Chilltime, you mentioned we only had 1 title in 13 years (under LC). In the 13 year history of the BCS, how many titles: Alabama ? Auburn ? Texas ? USC ? Ohio State ? Miami ? Florida State ? Oklahoma ? The answer is 1 every time. Only 2 teams have been fortunate enough to win it 2 times in 13 years: LSU and Florida. With your logic all of the above teams except maybe FLA and LSU were "not relevant" and were really failures, not to mention all of the remaining "losers" in the BCS conferences who never won even 1 title in 13 years. And even LSU and FLA "failed" in 11 of 13 years, which is a lousy percentage. The truth is that it is very difficult to win the BCS title, and in your "BCS title or nothing" logic you are bound to be a "failure" even if you consistently end up ranked in the Top 25 (like say 12 out of 13 years).

Blu n Tpa

Sun, Jan 30, 2011 : 12:30 p.m.

Chilltime Right now you would have a hard time convincing me that Michigan was even a STATE power. If you don't think Michigan is STILL recognized as a historic National football program did you watch the coverage of the WCiMFH's firing and again when COACH Hoke was hired? Not state or regional in scope, National, leading sports story of the day in a lot of places around the country. Don't be confused that having a bad coach leading to bad results erases a century plus of success. As far as losing in major bowl games vs other national programs, you have to get to those games first. That's what Coach Hoke was hired to do. Make no mistake, the program was NOT heading in the right direction. Now, with new leadership Michigan has a chance to be relevant NATIONALLY, again. TiM Go Blue!

Edward R Murrow's Ghost

Sun, Jan 30, 2011 : 3:47 a.m.

Speak for yourself, Chilly. I like that reflection just fine. 120 teams in the FBS of the NCAA. 69 teams in the BCS conferences (i.e., the Big Boys). And how often do you think Michigan ought win a NC?? How often ought it be in the Top Ten?? It's called "Entitlement," and it's what led to the disaster with whatshisname over the past three years. You know, the guy that brought the football team its first-in-history NCAA probation and its worst-in-history bowl loss. Good Night and Good Luck

Chilltime

Sun, Jan 30, 2011 : 2:50 a.m.

Edward I am sorry you do not like the reflection in the mirror. That resume was nice in the 90's - early 00's but it is a new day in college football. That resume makes my point! One title in 13 seasons and none before that in the glory years. That is not entitlement it is the truth. Michigan's attitude of entitlement has them in this mess. The fact that it is Michigan is not working anymore. It is not working for me and many others.

Edward R Murrow's Ghost

Sun, Jan 30, 2011 : 2:19 a.m.

"11-25 yes!" That's the unrealistic attitude of entitlement that brought us whatshisname. 12 Top 25 rankings in 13 seasons. 5 Top Ten finishes 1 National Championship You need to go read the story about killing the goose that laid the golden egg. Good Night and Good Luck

Chilltime

Sat, Jan 29, 2011 : 8:40 p.m.

11-25 yes! Those in the top ten are national powers today and have a shot at the crystal. I am tired of Michigan thinking they are when they are not. I am tired of Michigan talking the game but not stepping and being a national power. All I am hearing from the AD is marketing the brand. I want Michigan to be relevant again! That has not been the case in ten years! National no cares about Michigan. Michigan does not matter! Sure there was the 1 vs 2 matchup but that class of players was a huge disappointment. App St. Anyone? You think Ala will really be afraid of Michigan when they meet in Dallas? My beloved AF can pop Michigan at home and that should never be a thought in my mind!

Edward R Murrow's Ghost

Sat, Jan 29, 2011 : 7:34 p.m.

Chilly: This year's final Top 25: 1. Auburn Tigers (56) 14-0 2. T-C-U Horned Frogs (3) 13-0 3. Oregon Ducks 12-1 4. Stanford Cardinal 12-1 5. Ohio State Buckeyes 12-1 6. Oklahoma Sooners 12-2 7. Wisconsin Badgers 11-2 8. L-S-U Tigers 11-2 9. Boise State Broncos 12-1 10. Alabama Crimson Tide 10-3 11. Nevada Wolf Pack 13-1 12. Arkansas Razorbacks 10-3 13. Oklahoma State Cowboys 11-2 14. Michigan State Spartans 11-2 15. Mississippi State Bulldogs 9-4 16. Virginia Tech Hokies 11-3 17. Florida State Seminoles 10-4 18. Missouri Tigers 10-3 19. Texas A&M Aggies 9-4 20. Nebraska Cornhuskers 10-4 21. U-C-F Knights 11-3 22. South Carolina Gamecocks 9-5 23. Maryland Terrapins 9-4 24. Tulsa Golden Hurricane 10-3 25. North Carolina State Wolfpack 9-4 So I guess the 3- and 4-loss teams here are just regional powers? News to them, I am certain. Good Night and Good Luck

Chilltime

Sat, Jan 29, 2011 : 5:51 p.m.

@Eddie. Ok 10-3 record with a bowl lost. Still not a national power and still not the big dog in the region. My point is still the same and still valid.

Edward R Murrow's Ghost

Sat, Jan 29, 2011 : 3:27 p.m.

"What hurts me most is that all the signs are there and everyone is so happy with going back to 8-4." I'm curious: when, exactly, was the U of M a perennial 8-4 team? Lloyd Carr's records: 9-4 8-4 12-0 10-3 10-2 9-3 8-4 10-3 10-3 9-3 7-5 11-2 9-4 Now, perhaps I'm missing something, but, by my count, I see 3 (out of 13) seasons with 8 or fewer wins here. I see 6 seasons with 10 or more wins here. So when, exactly, was the U a perennial 8-4 team? Answer: it was MUCH worse than that in the three years under whatshisname. Good Night and Good Luck

Chilltime

Sat, Jan 29, 2011 : 3:03 p.m.

@missionbrazil. We are talking about one year. Michigan has done this in the past with their non conference schedule. The MAC teams will be back. The AD is doing this for the BRAND not to be a national power. Again I hope I am wrong but I have seen this movie before and it always ends in blowout loses to more superior teams.

missionbrazil

Sat, Jan 29, 2011 : 2:35 p.m.

Chilltime "I believe the AD is happy with being a regional power." If this were true then why is he scheduling teams like Alabama, Air Force,... in 2012 and not teams like Toledo, EMU, CMU,... ? DB and BH and his staff are building us up to once again be a national power, not just a regional one.

Chilltime

Sat, Jan 29, 2011 : 1:38 p.m.

Blu n Tpa. I know Michigan gets recruits from all around the USA and Candana. The problem is Michigsn no longer attracts the top recruits in the country. That is not RichRod fault. This has been the cAse for over 10 years. I believe the AD is happy with being a regional power. As long as Hoke beats Brutus and Sparty and ends with at least eight wins he will be happy. I will not. I was not happy with LLoyd's record at the end and was certainly not happy with RichRod! What hurts me most is that all the signs are there and everyone is so happy with going back to 8-4.

Blu n Tpa

Sat, Jan 29, 2011 : 12:35 p.m.

Chilltime Michigan has a long history of getting football players from Florida. Not only is COACH Mattison coming from the NFL, where he spent the last two very successful seasons, but also from UF. So he has recent contact with coaches inside the state and that's only going to help, on both sides of the ball. TiM Go Blue!

Edward R Murrow's Ghost

Sat, Jan 29, 2011 : 2:37 a.m.

Chilltime, It was Fisher getting fired in combination with Ellerbee's incompetence that opened up the state to that school in East Lansing. But, in the end, the cause is not the issue. The result is. We had a pipeline into Flint and into Detroit--it no longer exists. Instead it runs to East Lansing. The same has happened in football thanks to whatshisname's incompetence. Good Night and Good Luck

Chilltime

Sat, Jan 29, 2011 : 1:12 a.m.

It was Elerbe (sp) who turn his back on Detroit not Fisher. Getting athletes from Fla should not stop recruiting in MI. I hope Hoke can still recruit from Fla. Michigan needs athletes like the ones from SEC country to compete nationally. Like I said before I think Michigan is happy to just be a regional power. 8-4 and 9-3 seasons. Big 10 champs every 3-4 years when Brutus is down and then they will lose the Rose Bowl just like it was before. I hope I am wrong but I do not think so.

Edward R Murrow's Ghost

Sat, Jan 29, 2011 : 12:39 a.m.

Dusty wrote: "I can promise you that the first time a Michigan recruiter stops by the campus of a local highschool to look at a kid, that kid's coach is going to be gushing just like he was with Carr, and just like he WOULD have been had one of Rich Rod's recruiters stopped by." Dusty, I think you need to explain to Beilein and to the HS B-ball coaches in Lansing, Flint, and Detroit that this is how it works because they don't seem to understand that this is the way it is. Fact of the matter is that it will take Hoke several seasons to reassert the U of M as a formidable recruiting presence among the state's premier high school football programs. Good Night and Good Luck

1st Down

Fri, Jan 28, 2011 : 11:25 p.m.

Its amazing how much damage RR did to our program in a short 3 years. Thank Brandon that he made the choice to move on to give us enough time to recover. Go Blue.

Mick

Fri, Jan 28, 2011 : 8:22 p.m.

It seems we'll be playing The Air Force Academy @ home in 2012,no home and home, I like it. Good job DB, that's a credible opponent for that season along w/Ala, Neb, OSU, MSU, ND. Wow, what an exciting schedule and w/Hoke being in his 2nd yr and getting things going in the right direction. Congrats to Air Force for the million or so they'll be getting for that game. It's gonna be fun folks.....Go Blue!!!

Theo212

Fri, Jan 28, 2011 : 8:14 p.m.

Nice one, mission.

missionbrazil

Fri, Jan 28, 2011 : 8:09 p.m.

Ode To Dusty (Theo style) There once was a guy named Dusty, who was always quite contrary. You say white, and he will say black; make a comment and he's quick to attack. Like his buddy Theo he loves RR; and when someone doesn't like him he's ready to spar. Too bad for them that their guy was a flop; but thankfully we got a new HC and returned to the top. We will have to wait and see, if ol Dusty will follow his man to D3.

Macabre Sunset

Fri, Jan 28, 2011 : 7:08 p.m.

There are about 700 high schools in Michigan. Their football coaches are not characters from some shoddy science fiction soap opera who share a collective mind-meld against the invading Klingons. The Michigan coach can walk into any one of those high schools and command respect as the leader of the likely dream destination of most of the athletes. "Restoring" relationships simply means shaking hands with an individual coach, looking at some film and intelligently discussing the pros and cons of each prospective recruit. Hoke can do this. Hopefully, we never again have to watch a local elite talent like Detroit's Lawrence Thomas declare early for the Spartans.

Mick

Fri, Jan 28, 2011 : 7:02 p.m.

Sorry about the last post, I had to make sure it worked before I wasted my time and effort. @BLU & ERMG, you guys just make too much sense for RR lovers to fathom, ERMG, I love the way you refer to him as whatshisname. @Tater, Theo and Dusty, again, your boy RR was an unmitigated disaster in so many ways yet you guys defend him as if he was the be all end all. Dusty, on an earlier thread you wondered why people lumped you in w/Theo, I think that many of your comments defending RR give people that impression. Also from an earlier thread, you bagged on me for saying we had 17 WR's on scholly, sorry it's ONLY 13, geez my bad, that's such a small number, I'm ashamed of myself, yeah whatever. 13 is still too much buddy, I went and counted. Like I said , all you need is about 10 or so. Performance matters, RR's was unacceptable, period, case closed!!! Go Blue, TiM!!!

Dusty

Fri, Jan 28, 2011 : 6:38 p.m.

I'm sorry, but just because you choose to recruit elsewhere doesn't mean there were any damaged relationships. And even if there were, it's up to the highschool coaches to be intelligent enough to distinguish between a coaching staff and a university. I can promise you that the first time a Michigan recruiter stops by the campus of a local highschool to look at a kid, that kid's coach is going to be gushing just like he was with Carr, and just like he WOULD have been had one of Rich Rod's recruiters stopped by. This story by Snyder is a sham. Using the words "I think x" just means "I don't have any source to cite, but I'm going to just put it out there to stir up trouble.... EERRRRR... spark debate." Just another excuse to bash a guy who people can't get enough of bashing.

Blu n Tpa

Fri, Jan 28, 2011 : 2:53 p.m.

Why is there repeated comments about the SEC here lately? Michigan OWNS the SEC, except, of course, under the WCiMFH. (Worst bowl loss in MFH was earlier this month, ssshhh, don't say that too loud, it might upset some) The last successful football coach at Michigan, COACH Carr, had a 5-2 record vs the SEC, including beating the defending champion, Tim Tebow led, Florida team at.....wait....the Capital One Bowl. SWEET! TiM Go Blue!

Theo212

Fri, Jan 28, 2011 : 2:13 p.m.

Hoke (dialing an old rotary phone, of course, 'cause that's what fans of yesteryear love)...... RRRRiiinggggg, rrrrrrriiinnnnggggg. Hoke: "Hello, Florida, I'm just calling you to shut off the pipeline." Florida: "Whu, what's goin' on Coach. What's wrong??!!" Hoke: "Well, we're just no longer interested in Crystal. You see, to be a Crystal seeker, you'd have to be lumped in with those SEC schools. You're familiar with them, right? They win all the time, but they just don't have that stodgy image that will get us into lesser bowls for decades on end." Florida: "That's too bad. Bye, Coach." Hoke: "I won't be back." Click.

tater

Fri, Jan 28, 2011 : 2:07 p.m.

Funny how Snyder can't write anything remotely positive about Michigan without finding a way to take a backhanded slap at RR. It's sad to see anyone, especially an "objective" writer, so consumed with personal hatred that he allows it to affect his job performance. When it comes to "mending fences," Snyder should worry about mending his own fences with Michigan fans; I don't think this piece of "writing" is any way to do it. It's like he is still arguing some argument from three years ago, still trying to prove that he is "right." That is not the way to get Michigan fans to ever click onto his shoddy rag of a newspaper again.

Edward R Murrow's Ghost

Fri, Jan 28, 2011 : 2:03 p.m.

This is news that the U of M no longer has the best football players in the state locked up? Those of us who watched whatshisname operate for three years knew this, and a certain school up in East Lansing has taken advantage of it. Just as the Fisher debacle gave Izzo and MSU an opening into the state's basketball players they wouldn't have had (and now they own it), the debacle with whatshisname has given Dantonio and MSU an opening they would not otherwise have had. Let's hope the damage isn't permanent. Another reason to thank God that whatshisname is gone. Good Night and Good Luck

Blu n Tpa

Fri, Jan 28, 2011 : 2 p.m.

Not to beat a dead horse, especially one that's already been sent to the glue factory and is now sitting on some gradeschoolers desk, but what did Michigan spend over $14 MILLION for? (Two buyouts, lawyers' fees, salaries, and etc...for the WCiMFH) And before anyone goes nuts here, it is, no was, his job to foster a good to great relationship with high school coaches around the state and the midwest. Thank goodness DB used the data about how coaches are more successful if they have a understanding of the area they will be working. BH is showing that he can do the talking part, even with the limited time he and his staff has had. Keep it up. TiM Go Blue!