Michigan Football Tidbits: Part 2 of 3

Michigan Football Tidbits: Part two

Some will blame the recruiting coordinator on this, but we believe that the head coach, position coach, or whoever the specific coach on point for recruiting a player should have been the ones to communicate the information, one way or another: phone call, a message, email — something! This could have been done either Sunday or Monday night, since the resignation was not public until Tuesday morning. If they would have talked to these kids beforehand, especially the committed kids. Telling the kids on Monday night would not have given much time for rumors to spread, since the announcement was made early Tuesday morning.

Incidents like this does not help the program at all. Some posters think this is no big deal. That might be true, but, again, this kind of thing should not keep happening. It seems like this past year, Michigan has been getting way too much negative press coverage already.

Here’s a recap of some of the bigger stories:

The West Virginia buyout fiasco: After West Virginia said they would not settle or accept a lower their buyout, Coach Rod and Michigan should have both agreed to pay, especially after details of Coach Rod’s Michigan contract came out with its own four million dollar buyout clause. The money was put in place for Coach Rod to pay it off, so that should not have been a concern.

Justin Boren’s hissy fit: these comments, regardless of their truth, delivered a big hit to the program and Coach Rod who seems to pride himself with having a family atmosphere in his program. We have seen how much the coaching staff has had to battle with this smear. Yet another straw on the camel’s back.

The Ryan-Mallett-Express-Outta-Town: we’re not going to revisit the debate of whether or not he should have stayed, but when you go 3-9, it doesn’t look good that Michigan let a five star quarterback leave without re-recruiting him like they did the 2008 recruiting class.

Braylon’s Number One debacle: This could have been, and should have been, handled out of sight and sound of the media. We blame the old regime, along with Braylon himself. Coach Rod might not have understood the ramifications of the issue, but the retained staff, meaning the administrative staff, along with Fred Jackson could have filled him in. Braylon could have talked to Coach Rod personally and told him about the foundation that he and Anthony Carter created at Michigan to honor the number the two former wide recievers brought fame to by seting up a scholarship for the football team and having a say on which, if any, future wide receiver would be allowed to wear it.

Coach Shafer’s resignation: maybe not too big a deal in it’s own right, but combined with all this previous stuff? Makes you wonder. Good thing that Coach Shafer was told not to be that active on the recruiting trail this year. Even though, the news has had some impact with some recruits, since they have said they have become comfortable with Coach Shafer.

Another point: we have to separate Coach Rod — the football coach — from Rich Rodriguez — the head of the Michigan football program. There is a difference. This is where we continue to say that he needs to hold people around him accountable. Maybe you think his staff is on top of things, but we do not agree. The staff isn’t showing the competency necessary, not even close, for a program of Michigan’s stature.

At Michigan (more so than at SOME other schools) there is a Head Football COACH and the Head of the Football PROGRAM. In Michigan’s case, this is a big difference.

Lloyd Carr was a master of being the Head of the Michigan Football PROGRAM. He had been around for years, and he understood all of the politics and off-field aspects of this job.

Coach Rod is a football COACH who has learned some tough lessons in his short tenure at Michigan about being head of the Michigan Football PROGRAM.

Keep in mind Coach Rod retained a lot of people from Carr’s internal administrative staff .The biggest beef we have is these people are letting way too many things fall through the cracks, and unfortunately, since Coach Rod is the head of the Michigan Football PROGRAM, it falls on him. He needs to hold these people accountable.

We have made this statement numerous times, and, yes — it is our OPINION — but Coach Rod is really a simple guy when it comes to football. He simply wants to coach football, and despite what posters/fans think, WE think he is a good football COACH.

The reality is, this job is more than just being a COACH. It is okay for Coach Rod to just want to coach football as long as he surrounds himself with people who will handle the many varieties of bullshit that the head of the football PROGRAM has to deal with. THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED. Thus the Public Relations blunders.

It is important for Michigan to hit the clinic and lecture circuit this winter and spring. This will give them chance to be seen, and change subject off public relations and onto their strength, which is football. This is especially true with regards to the Midwest, especially Ohio and Michigan.

Written by MaizeMan, CoachBt and ErocWolverine