But it wasn’t entirely the Michigan fan bases fault.
A lot of problems he brought on himself, mainly wins and losses. Even before he set foot in Ann Arbor, many Michigan fans placed a black cloud over him that never left. I can understand he had a horrible 3 year run, but to some of you Michigan fans he simply was never good enough. Your complaints went beyond wins and losses.
Many Michigan fans have always had a higher opinion of everything Michigan. That’s what landed you Rodriguez in the first place. Lloyd Carr wasn’t good enough. Michigan fans wanted boring Lloyd out and he walked away. Then Michigan couldn’t get the “Michigan Man” when LSU punked Les Miles into staying in Baton Rouge. Michigan wants a “Michigan Man” so bad that it limits the pool of coaches you can go after.
But then say we want a big name coach. Rodriguez was a big name coach. I understand he was hired amid a shroud of secrecy and left West Virginia unceremoniously. Remember, he had the Alabama job for about two days before he reconsidered. Michigan wanted a fancy spread offense, the flavor of the month and now Michigan denounces it saying it needs to get back to Michigan football.
Now Didn’t Bo Schembecler run the option? Yes he did and Bo is a legend in Ann Arbor.
Now it’s true that Rodriguez’s defense was tremendously lacking, but the offense was ok. The fact that Rodriguez wasn’t a “Michigan Man” is what made a lot of Michigan fans dislike him.
Speaking of the defense and I’ve said it before, it was not Greg Robinson’s fault. True he had the blood on his hands only because he was the defensive coordinator. The 3-3-5 scheme he was hired to run was not his scheme. But Michigan fans only wanted him gone because he was the face of the defense. Robinson didn’t bring that scheme to town with him. Something a lot of Michigan fans have to remember is that Robinson won a Super Bowl and had a good run at Texas before bombing as a head coach at Syracuse. But hey, to some Michigan fans Robinson was the problem with the defense. That was a scheme Rodriguez brought in from West Virginia and swore by.
Then there’s the fans that want to hold Athletic Director David Brandon’s feet to the fire. The bag man in the whole deal was former Athletic Director Bill Martin. He’s the one who hired him and botched the coaching search in the first place. History check again. If Schembecler never mouthed the words “A Michigan man will coach Michigan” regarding the basketball program on the eve of the 1989 NCAA BASKETBALL tournament, Michigan’s football program would never be in this position. No one wants to give a non “Michigan Man” a chance, but then say we want a big name coach. Maybe coaches outside of the Michigan family know something we don’t. Or perhaps they realize they could end up like Rodriguez, since they’re not from the Michigan family.
Get over it.
Remember, Schembechler wasn’t a “Michigan Man”.
The pool of coaches are limited now. If you want a “Michigan Man” the best you can do is Jim Harbaugh and that’s no guarantee. In fact I doubt he comes back to Ann Arbor.
Then there’s Brady Hoke.
If he gets hired I’ll feel sorry for him too. You know why? Because that’s probably still not good enough for a lot of Michigan fans. He lacks pizazz, but has done a credible job at Ball State and San Diego State. Also he’s a Michigan man. He may not be ready for those bright lights but as far as “Michigan Men” go that’s probably the best Michigan’s gonna do.
I don’t believe Brandon will go down the Les Miles trail again and Ron English isn’t getting the job. Remember, everyone jeered Auburn when they hired Gene Chizik and his 5-22 record from Iowa State. So if Hoke is the choice get off Michigan needs to get off it’s high horse, respect the hire and rally around the coach. Get over the fact that Michigan won’t get a high profile “Michigan Man” and just make sure they get a solid hire this time around.
