Coach Rod speaks to Michigan high school coaches

[bighousemike84]

http://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/article/20090116/SPORTS/901160321&referrer=FRONTPAGECAROUSEL


There isnt a lot of info here but still I find it interesting. I guess Dantonio and Ferentz are speaking today

[blueisbetterthanred]

I understand the critics of rod who have very short foresight, I just don't agree with them. I think rod shows he has the long term vision too with the quote from that article:

"You need to have the mindset that you're going to build a program, not just a team," Rodriguez told the coaches. "When you build a program and not a team, sometimes you make decisions that's best for a program and not a team, which means not taking shortcuts. And I think we did that."

He knows he could have taken some shortcuts and probably got us to a bowl last year, but he knew that if he didn't take those shortcuts and fully installed his system completely from the ground up, the rest of the following years would be better for it, so he did it right.

[bighousemike84]

Thats why I would get so mad at journalists or fans who suggested that Coach Rod should have run a different offense that supposedly catered better to his talent.

First of all you dont hire a Rich Rodriguez without understanding first what you are getting in your head coach. In hiring him it should have been unilaterally understood that some serious changes where going to be made and those changes might have a major effect on the performance of the team in the short term. Secondly it is extremely short sighted to ask Coach Rod to hold off on installing his system for a year or two just to have short term success because realistically if he where to do that then instead of 08 being a rough year than 09 or even 2010 would have been the rough year. I applaud Coach Rodriguez for standing firm and not letting the perception of the media or fans change his coaching tactics. Im also glad that Bill Martin is smart enough to realize that also and be willing to give Coach Rod the freedom to work through the hard times in anticipation of the success that lies ahead

[tpilews]

Im also glad that Bill Martin is smart enough to realize that also and be willing to give Coach Rod the freedom to work through the hard times in anticipation of the success that lies ahead

I agree with everything you said Mike, but I'd like to add something about Martin. If he were smart enough and wants the best for the program, he'd give RR an extra $250,000 to get a big name DC. I've heard the budget is pretty tight for a hire. That doesn't make any sense to me considering it's Michigan. The football team makes ridiculous money, whats another $250k?

I could be all wrong about this though since nothing has really been publicly released.

[ronleflore]

Thats why I would get so mad at journalists or fans who suggested that Coach Rod should have run a different offense that supposedly catered better to his talent.

First of all you dont hire a Rich Rodriguez without understanding first what you are getting in your head coach. In hiring him it should have been unilaterally understood that some serious changes where going to be made and those changes might have a major effect on the performance of the team in the short term. Secondly it is extremely short sighted to ask Coach Rod to hold off on installing his system for a year or two just to have short term success because realistically if he where to do that then instead of 08 being a rough year than 09 or even 2010 would have been the rough year. I applaud Coach Rodriguez for standing firm and not letting the perception of the media or fans change his coaching tactics. Im also glad that Bill Martin is smart enough to realize that also and be willing to give Coach Rod the freedom to work through the hard times in anticipation of the success that lies ahead

Reality check Mikey. Martin picked him and doesn't want to fire the guy afer one year, even if he went O-12. Remember M is still paying for RR's buy out. Martin would look as bad as Ford when he had Moller, Ross and Morninhweg all on the payroll simultaneously. Martin is no fool, and he is stuck with his choice for at least four years or there abouts. Football is about adjustments, during the game, week to week. Maybe you love RR's "standing firm" and not changing his tactics. Remember what happened the dinasaurs Mikey! They stood firm too.:p