Michigan football coaches begin 'hideaway' meetings today
For Michigan football coach Rich Rodriguez and his staff, summer is over.
Rodriguez, his assistants and Michigan’s administrative football staff begin their annual “hideaway” meetings today. The retreat-like gathering takes place both on and off campus, and is something Rodriguez has held since he was head coach at West Virginia.
Rich Rodriguez
File photo
Michigan’s compliance staff and other departments are invited to attend the meetings, according to Rodriguez’s response.
The Wolverines’ offensive and defensive staffs hold separate breakout sessions during the retreat to discuss personnel, coaching techniques and other football-related issues, but Michigan actually began preparing for its 2010 opponents earlier this spring.
“We’ve already spent a great deal of post spring, usually on your first three, four opponents, and then all your conference games,” Rodriguez said last month at the Sound Mind, Sound Body football camp. “We do that on offense and defense, they break it down where each coach takes a team. Then we meet as an entire offensive, entire defensive staff and then the kicking game, so I get to go to all three of them.”
Players have one more week of summer conditioning, then take next week off before reporting for camp.
Michigan opens its season Sept. 4 against UConn.
Dave Birkett covers University of Michigan football for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at 734-623-2552 or by e-mail at davidbirkett@annarbor.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.
Comments
Wolvdoug
Wed, Jul 28, 2010 : 1:25 p.m.
stunhsif Did you come up with that while sitting on the banks of The Red Crapper River?
stunhsif
Wed, Jul 28, 2010 : 8:05 a.m.
I predict a 4 win season, 5 if they are lucky. Go Green Go White
BlueInBama
Wed, Jul 28, 2010 : 4:01 a.m.
Terry Star, Theo, and myself will personally guard the secret meetings with our lives! You can bet on that! Long Coach The King!
Jarhead
Tue, Jul 27, 2010 : 11:14 p.m.
annarbortownie It's that time of year to have these meetings. The article says "both on and off campus". I know three different people that work in different depts of the U and they go on retreats with their supervisors for a week, (usually once a year), to brain storm and make policies for their depts, etc. They go to Houghton Lake, Traverse City and the Upper Peninsula. And all on the University's dime. And as you are well aware the athletic dept stands on its own financially. Last I knew the athletic dept dosen't ask us how to make their money or how to spend it. The point of a retreat is to concentrate on the tasks at hand without outside interference or distractions. I doubt the compliance dept went the last two years. Heck, they couldn't walk across the athletic campus to talk to RR for 18 months. Maybe cause THEY got us into violations with the NCAA, they may join this year and actually be involved.
Terry Star21
Tue, Jul 27, 2010 : 8:44 p.m.
Some funny negative comments here, going to miss most of you after Michigan's 5th or 6th game, shame - you were just way too funny...have fun in columbus and east lansing...
Yelmonian
Tue, Jul 27, 2010 : 7:05 p.m.
Michiganiac... Just because a coach is the coach de jour... does not make him a great coach. Wasn't Tommy Amaker supposed to be the next great coach for UM Bball? If I recall, Alabama also hired Mike Price (Roll Tide!)... and he didn't even get to coach a game... so Alabama isn't the best judge of coaching character. Billy Gillespie was the biggest new name in college BBall... how'd that work out for Kentucky? Heck... Lane Kiffin was hired by Tennesse for big bucks... never won anything (other than most annoying coach status). And the fact that WVU was irked... has more to do with being lied to, and him taking the job before a BCS bowl game than anything. Scott... everyone knows there were seasons that weren't great. But at least Carr always had good seasons. And Carr did have a GREAT season. The man won a national championship. That's more than Bo did. But he was outdated, he was old school, and he didn't talk a big game... so he was stale. RR will still always be the coach that had BAD seasons. RR will still be the coach that got UM put on probation. RR will be the coach that had a losing record in the Big Ten. But yeah... playing in the Rose Bowl and losing... is so much worse. Geesh.
Michiganiac
Tue, Jul 27, 2010 : 6:27 p.m.
No losing to toledo isn't texas,but app state is no toledo either.Carr play the keep it close a hope you win game.He was a goood coach but by far not a great one.RR? the jury is still out.Change takes time and year three to me is make or brake. but to say he wasn't wanted by wv is a lie, they made him pay four million dollars for leaving, and hated him for going.I mean you don't hate someone for leaving unless you wanted him to stay.He was a high sought after coach before coming here.Remember Alabama was going to give 10 million a year or somthing like that.. To that says people more informed then you and I think of rr as a great coach is not an understatment...To say things have not gone good at michigan sence he has come is no understatement either. but this team has been so young and inexperienced over the last to years.. winning would of been a miracle...
GettingBluer
Tue, Jul 27, 2010 : 5:24 p.m.
"Remember when Coach Carr did not have great seasons? Remember the loss against Texas in the Rose Bowl? Remember the pain? We still gave him a chance." So, Michigan losing Rose Bowl to #2 Texas = Michigan losing to Toledo? I think you're alone on that line of thinking. The problem isn't the lack of success, it is the MAGNITUDE of the lack of success.
cutty240
Tue, Jul 27, 2010 : 1:57 p.m.
Wolvdoug, I'm from West Virginia,and Rich is a friend of mine.So i'm not a RR hater.He is just a paranoid coach.Like Urban Meyer,and most of the young hot shots coaches.I hope he wins,but he has had some BAD KARMA that he is dealing with.Give you one Big One hiring Robinson as his DC.Greg plays that Matador defense,ways at you as you go buy.Michigan will have to average 70 points a game,to win 7 games.Good luck,but it will fun to watch.
Scott
Tue, Jul 27, 2010 : 8:18 a.m.
I am by no means a huge supporter of RR. However, I am a supporter of allowing a coach to finish his/her contract. If the AD chooses, RR will be gone. Like any job in America, it is about how well he performs and gets results. Will this be his last season? I am sure RR is not thinking about this... he is thinking about winning and putting the football program back in prominence in the Big Ten. Remember when Coach Carr did not have great seasons? Remember the loss against Texas in the Rose Bowl? Remember the pain? We still gave him a chance. From 1952 thru 1964 no bowl game appearances... Coach Oosterbaan did not do so well, one bowl game. Coach Elliot came along, one bowl game... 1969 Coach Bo came along 17 Bowl Games (5 Wins, 12 Losses). Moeller a better bowl record (4 Wins - 1 Loss). Carr's bowl record (6 wins - 7 Losses). The point is perspective. Yes, we all love to win a bowl game... but truly, we want to beat Ohio State right? Give RR a chance... it takes time to rebuild a program. Right, wrong or indifferent, RR chose to rebuild. The least we can do it support the program.
Steve Pepple
Tue, Jul 27, 2010 : 6:45 a.m.
A comment was removed because it contained a personal attack against another commenter.
tzgoblue
Tue, Jul 27, 2010 : 6:43 a.m.
Apparently you RR haters don't pay attention to what the recruits, parents and players high school coaches say about RR, his staff and the program. The majority of the feedback is very positive about all aspects of the program, the direction they are trying to go and as for RR and his staff, they give them high marks. As all of us die hard wolverine fans are not happy about what has taken place over the past 2 seasons, it is obvious that RR has been able to bring in good recruiting classes and as they mature, the wins will come. It is a hard lesson for us since we are used to winnng a min of 8 and usually double digit wins. I'm sure our new AD will properly evaluate the program and RR and make the best decision for UM. I believe he is better qualified to access this situation than all of us out here posting our meaningless thoughts, complaints and wishes. I hope the current staff is successful and I will continue to be a truebluefan as I have been for over 40 years.
annarbortownie
Tue, Jul 27, 2010 : 6:30 a.m.
Why, with the amazing new stadium and ALL the beautiful and "hidden" places all over the University of Michigan campus does this man feel he has to have retreats off campus, thus spending more money?? This guy is just bad news for the get go. I hear West Virginia calling, they want you back. GO. Wishful thinking. Just a Maize and Blue dream.
RobbiesBoyfriend
Tue, Jul 27, 2010 : 12:33 a.m.
Just found this out, Every other team in college foorball is having a coaches meeting as well. Also Just found out that every other team in college foorball has players in the offseason who have been in the gym night and day, and working on drills to get ready for the upcoming season. Crap!
flyerpride01
Tue, Jul 27, 2010 : 12:12 a.m.
Edward Murrows ghost i love it..lol@ nimrod..lol..ok obviously the "hideaway meeting" should be also known as the a.ka. "exit strategy" becuase this will be a very long season (an sooner or later he'll realize he cant get it done).. at best we're headed to the pizza pizza bowl.. nimrod has no idea of what the monster big ten football is about..when in the history of Michigan football have we recruited the state of florida so hard? we're losing the top michigan kids..nimrod (rich r0driguez-bush has retired) has never recovered from firing Ron english..an this year bgsu an indiana arent gimmes..go blue..!!! but under nimrod it's so blue
azwolverine
Mon, Jul 26, 2010 : 11:51 p.m.
Michigan will win 8 games, RR will be temporarily saved...then Michigan will win a max of 9 games under RR and will not beat OSU as long as he is coach which will ultimately get him the boot.
mjwinkie
Mon, Jul 26, 2010 : 10:33 p.m.
I will take the over.
trigg7
Mon, Jul 26, 2010 : 9:43 p.m.
Over/under 5 games.
Jaxon5
Mon, Jul 26, 2010 : 9:17 p.m.
As always, Edward R speaks the truth. Maybe should open the posts with "This is Michigan football". Or, maybe this was Michigan football.
michboy40
Mon, Jul 26, 2010 : 7:06 p.m.
I'm looking forward to an 8 win season, a mid-level bowl win, and a breakout 2011!! That's what's gonna happen...It's not great, but it's gonna feel good after what weve been through the last few years. We are on the way back up!
keetmalik
Mon, Jul 26, 2010 : 6:25 p.m.
Hey,If the coaches need something like this,let them have it.Wins are the only things fans want to remember about this season.I'm ready for college football, goBlue!!!!!
wvtroll
Mon, Jul 26, 2010 : 6:23 p.m.
Let me correct that - what RR has admitted that UM has done.
wvtroll
Mon, Jul 26, 2010 : 6:21 p.m.
So did the compliance people skip the last two year's meeting? How'd they overlook what the NCAA is accusing them of and what RR has admitted to doing?
Terry Star21
Mon, Jul 26, 2010 : 5:38 p.m.
Wolvdoug...good for you. Good news is all those bashers whom have predicted 3-5 wins will have disappeared after Michigan's 4th and 6th game, gone elsewhere - columbus, east lansing penitentiary, somewhere else.... I don't know what disaster is coming in 123 days, but that time frame has Michigan Football at 12-0 and plans for Rodrigeuz Hall being finalized... Best time to be a Michigan fan - from here on out baby.......Go Blue!
Wolvdoug
Mon, Jul 26, 2010 : 4:58 p.m.
Ummmm...Cutty....You have no clue....He has held those meetings in the past and yes the compliance department has ALWAYS been invited. This has been stated in the past when asked about these meetings. I can understand your dislike for the guy... but dislike him for the right reasons and not something you pretend to know about. It won't be long and all you RR haters will be on his bandwagon when he rights the ship beginning with this season.....Go Blue
truebluefan
Mon, Jul 26, 2010 : 4:48 p.m.
Pure geniuses commenting on Michigan articles here. I mean, can't you tell? The thought and the insight are unmatched. Good Night and...Good Night
Eric
Mon, Jul 26, 2010 : 3:25 p.m.
Can't wait for the season to begin. Go Blue!
Sean T.
Mon, Jul 26, 2010 : 2:49 p.m.
Actually, this seems to be pretty cool. I haven't heard anything about it in a negative light so it's all good to me! Maybe they can get some focus entering the season.
RobbiesBoyfriend
Mon, Jul 26, 2010 : 2:32 p.m.
Overheard at the opening meeting of the 2010 hideaway by an unnamed source close to the meetings "Ok, now that ive got you all together, my opening question and theme for this years meeting will be 'Do any of you know that much about Football?' because really i dont, and im in waaaaaay over my head, and this is starting to be somewhat imbarising"
cutty240
Mon, Jul 26, 2010 : 2:07 p.m.
This is a new twist to Rich's hideaway meetings,or as i called them Paranoid meetings.Anyway he never invited anybody outside the football staff,period.It was like F.B.I. training,my how things have changed with him.Good Luck.