E.J.

Her?

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w118/vangyjo/urbret.gif

This is the #1 reason why he's in the hot seat. Many important Michigan people were not happy with the hire in the first place. Rich Rod isn't seen as a "Michigan Man", whatever that means. "The spread will never work in the Big Ten." I look for UM to become just like Notre Dame. Pretty soon we'll be just as bitchy.

in addition to it being Rich Rod's 3rd season, the cupboard was most definitely not bare. Rich Rod scared all the players away - including Mallet. The 06 and 07 classes were rated 12 and 13 by Rivals. And there was good groundwork for the class signed a couple months after Rodriguez was hired (#10 by Rivals). Rankings aren't everything, but there were quality players there on both sides of the ball, a really good QB and some play makers on D. The players didn't fit his system and they left in flocks that first spring, but he came into some talent. A heck of a lot more talent than he's going to leave for the next guy. right but a lot of the guys that were recruited by carr were not his type of player. i guess i shouldn't have said that the cupboard was bare, but when you change from a three-yards-and-a-cloud-of-dust offense to a spread option offense. mallett was the type of player who would be a disaster in rich rod's system, that's why he transferred. i think when you hire a coach with a radically different philosophy than the coaching staff that preceded him, you need to give him more time. if you look at his success at wvu, the program really hit its stride after he had been there for 4 years. obviously there's the risk that michigan keeps him on another couple of years and the program remains subpar, but he added two wins each of the last two years, and personally i wouldn't chase him off for another regime change just yet. As an ND fan, I'd love to have Rich Rod stick around for a couple more seasons. Get more spread offense players in and go through yet another defensive overhaul before you dump him, bring in a true "Michigan Man" and go through the process again. Living up here, you hear a lot about Carr leaving the cupboard bare, so I just wanted to jump in on that point. I don't care one way or another about Carr, but Rich Rod's failures are not Carr's fault. Whether the program is moving in the right direction or not - I don't know. Losing to App St a couple years ago is tough to explain. It's year 3 and the defensive backfield is in shambles and the whole defense isn't good. I don't know what all happened though I know a couple of guys Rich Rod signed couldn't make NCAA grades for admittance. But Rich Rod's actions and his "why me" attitude toward the press (not to mention the Josh Groban thing) is pretty embarrassing to the school. That with the results and the poor recruiting is probably enough to shut it down if there is a decent or better option out there. I have no interest in getting in this argument, but here's a very good look at why Mich's defense has been so atrocious the past few years. Decimated Defense Part 1 Decimated Defense Part 2 Also, Carr's last recruiting class was highly rated because of two 5-star players (Mallett, D Warren), both of whom aren't with the team anymore. ESPN's analysis of the 2007 class points out that Michigan needed some CB in that class, but none were recruited.

Move Fukudome to 1b and let him start the first half of the season with Laroche coming off the bench. Switch them up during the 2nd half of the season. Find new RF who's not Tyler Colvin.

The AD claimed he was planning on accepting it. He's making 1.25 right now, curious as to how much the raise would be. The question is whether there's any sort of non-compete clause in that contract. I kind of doubt it. The Michigan situation is going to play out beginning in early January. There probably isn't a reason for Harbaugh to sign anything before his bowl game, which is 2 days after Michigan plays. Both sides should have a pretty good idea of what is going to transpire by the end of that 1st week in January. I wish Michigan's AD would just make a move one way or the other already. This situation has become unbearable. I can only imagine what Rich Rod is going through right now. Poor guy.

I think it's understandable the Convention isn't selling as well as it has in the past. The Cubs just aren't worth getting excited about right now.

He's a cheap lefty starter who's been decently productive in his career so far. Of course the Cubs are shopping him.

I'm excited Michigan got a New Year's Day bowl, and I think Miss State is a solid match-up. Should be a fun game.

And it doesn't matter how great your escapability is when you throw of your back foot and make terrible decisions at times when you are not under pressure. Brady, Brees, and Manning will get sacked more than Jay does in this offense. But they will make up for it with better mechanics and better decision making skills. I don't read much of the Bears game threads, but you stand out quite a bit with your hatred of Cutler. I wonder if you're doing it because you actually think Cutler is bad or you enjoy arguing with the rest of the board week in and week out.

is that Michigan to Gator? Yeah, Michigan. Michigan vs. Tennessee in the Gator Bowl.

I don't have a problem with Oregon playing in the National Championship. I think the whole Cam Newton saga is ridiculous, so I have no interest in seeing Auburn win anything.

Nice defense, Gamecocks. That certainly changes things going into halftime.

They should just remove field goal kicking from the game of football.

No surprise, Gary Danielson just said the SEC championship was his favorite game to broadcast.

I know for sure that no one in Ann Arbor can.

I love watching football in the snow. This Cincy game should be entertaining.

So does Zooker get fired after this year? Hopefully, the Beavers and Gamecocks win today to completely throw off the BCS.

Why the hell is Illinois playing at 9pm on a Friday night in December? Doesn't look like they've shown up for this game.

Michigan's Rivals board is reporting Michigan will play Tennessee in the Gator Bowl.

What horrible news. Ronnie was awesome and I'm going to miss him terribly.

2 blocked PAT's to help win the game? Can't say I've seen that before.

You're quickly becoming my favorite NSBB novelty acct. "Grr...Ricketts...grumble...grumble..."

I bet you wanted Soriano a few years ago. That was definitely too steep.

When is Jim Hendry's contract up again?