The University of Michigan finally found someone willing to take over for Lloyd Carr as head coach. They continued their raid on all things West Virginia, tapping Rich Rodriguez after stealing John Beilein only last year. Incest and moonshine can't be far behind.
Rodriguez brings a vaunted offensive mind to Ann Arbor, where it will be interesting to see how the traditionalists respond to his offense. You would think that he will have an easier time recruiting talent like Pat White and Steve Slayton to Michigan, but after this year, where would you rather play? Michigan had the most talked-about loss in the country this year, and WVU is playing in their second BCS bowl in the past 3 years.
The other notable coaching innovation
Rodriguez brings to the table is the multi-colored wristbands pictured above. Clearly, these were the height of fashion in Morgantown, but how will they play out in cosmopolitan Ann Arbor? Presumably, they serve some sort of play calling purpose, but in these post-spygate times, doesn't that just make it easier for other teams to steal signals?
After all the coaching changes of the past few years, you have to ask the question: why do coaches even bother with contracts? They can be fired before the contract is done, or they can leave early. Sometimes that involves a buyout, but why not just have coaches coach year-to-year? These multi-year contracts are rarely honored.
Another point: Is it time for the NCAA to do something about coaching changes before bowl season? It's not fair to the West Virginia players to adjust to a new coach while they're preparing for a bowl game. There needs to be an anti-tampering rule for coaches switching schools during the season.
I also have to give props to J-Red for predicting this move and accurately noting that the $4M buyout would not be a deal-breaker for Michigan.
December 16, 2007
Rodriguez to Michigan
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11 Responses:
It's unfortunate that you feel it necessary to disparage the state of West Virginia in reporting this story. It really only shows your own ignorance to bring moonshine and incest into a report about a nationally ranked football coach.
It's unfortunate that you feel the need to respond to an obviously sarcastic comment on the Internet. It really only shows your own thin skin to get offended by blog posts.
I've been to West Virginia. I stand by my colleague's moonshine and incest comments, though I would like to note that the I-81 corridor in Virginia proper is not without the same.
Plus a couple of us live near Baltimore. Through good times and lean times, the one thing all Baltimorons rallied around is being better than West Virginia.
1) I'm VERY nervous about this. That does not mean I oppose the hire. I'm just very, very nervous.
2) Please tell me some things I should know about Rich Rodriguez (things that can't be found in the 800 articles in the Free Press). We've already started calling him Dick Rod. It seems like a natural nickname for him. Did Maryland have others that will be adopted by Ohio State?
3) I'm so very, very nervous.
The West Virginians loved him like they love their sisters.
You owe me an apology too. I did predict that this would not only happen, but it would happen before the bowl games.
Well, seeing as how you never apologized for the crack about Morgantown vs. Ann Arbor because you tried to claim you were comparing a town to a state, I'd say we're even.
I am surprised this happened, but if it was going to happen I had no doubt it would be before the bowl.
I wonder if WVA kicked Rich Rod out before the bowl, Rich Rod was so ashamed he kicked himself out, or if Michigan told him to get his butt in AA. I would have thought Michigan would have let him coach the bowl game since Lloyd Carr is still holding down the fort. Maybe not.
I will tell you that RichRod (as he goes by to the WVU fan base... or rather went by), is a hell of a recruiter, but not necessarily the best gameday coach. He's horrible at making adjustments, and his pregame "motivational" speeches are nothing short of laughable (I refer in particular to his pre-Terps-WVU Gator Bowl locker room speech which NBC aired and which he stumbled through like Emmitt Smith reading a teleprompter).
"A hell of a recruiter, but not necessarily the best gameday coach. He's horrible at making adjustments."
We are used to this.
The presser is going on live right now. Bill Martin said how they were impressed with how Rod truly cares about his player and treats them like family.
Hehehehe.
Why would he say that? Dumb and pointless.
About 20 minutes into Rich Rod's 1st press conference. He's a pretty good talker. I like him. Go Blue!
Why is a blog titled "east-coast-bias" even talking about college football? Don't you have some Yankees-Sox winter meetings postgame to break down?
Uh, college football is played in the East. Ever heard of the ACC? It hass got this school called Maryland. Maryland hates West Virginia (which is from the Big EAST).
Believe me, this all makes sense.
What is someone who so clearly hates the East doing checking out a blog that's called East Cost Bias?
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