Figured I'd take a break from Buckeye talk today and give you some my thoughts about topics around college football outside my enclosed bubble of Ohio State...
- What a disaster occurring in Ann Arbor right now. As a professed Buckeye, I find myself a bit conflicted in regards to the "State Up North."
On one hand, this is my Darth Vader in life, the team I've hated ever since I was old enough to talk, and the team that destroyed National Championship hopes and dreams for me in '95 and '96. The pain and anguish that they are experiencing has me smitten with giddy delight.
On the other hand, winning six out of the last seven in "THE Rivalry" and watching national powerhouses Appalachian State and Toledo beat the Wolverweenies (on their home field, mind you) has almost watered down the rivalry for me.
But maybe the most frustrating part is why the Wolverines are an absolutely irrelevant 2-6 this season. I don't want excuses from Michigan fan about the people transferring or a new offensive system.
I could be completely wrong, because it has been less than a year, but I think Rich Rodriguez was a terrible hire for that university. Do you think Michigan would be 2-6 with Lloyd Carr at the helm still? No way.
Rich Rodriguez, in his "coaching wisdom," has decided to put square pegs in round holes with his personnel, and he has deserved everything he's gotten for it. Good coaches see their team's strengths and weaknesses and play to talent, not the scheme.
If you are Rich Rodriguez and you want to bring the spread option to Michigan, fine. It's your team, and you take it the direction you choose. But you recruit to the style and make the switch when you can make the commitment to that scheme.
Rodriguez ran people out of the program and has done an absolute disservice to the returning players of the Carr regime by having them try to run an offense they weren't recruited to.
One more indictment, and probably the most telling one, is the de-commitments coming from their current recruiting class. Kevin Newsome, Bryce McNeal, and William Campbell—three of the cornerstones to his first full recruiting class—have already evacuated, which tells me that the recruits don't buy Rodriguez's vision for the program.
Look back at Jim Tressel's first couple of recruiting campaigns...despite the Buckeyes' struggles in 2000 and 2001, Tressel was able to keep the 2000 recruiting class by Cooper relatively intact and build with following classes because the recruits bought his vision.
The same thing happened with Urban Meyer, Bob Stoops, and Pete Carroll. You never saw the rash of de-commitments you are seeing in Ann Arbor.
Bet Michigan fan is wishing Mr. Yachtman (Bill Martin) would have been a bit more proactive in the Les Miles courtship, eh? What an abomination.
Much as I hate them, the school up north should NEVER be 2-6...if I was Michigan fan, I'd have Rodriguez flown back to Morgantown on my own dime immediately.
34 Comments
Loading more comments...
This comment and all replies have been deleted This comment has been deleted Undo delete