UPDATE: Uh-oh! CMU, EMU and now WMU in big trouble thanks to Rich Rod!

Re: Uh-oh! Cental Michigan, or some other smaller football program, in trouble

The fact he lost by 21 to Wisconsin -- it should have been much worse -- means he should be shown the door.

 

Re: Uh-oh! Cental Michigan, or some other smaller football program, in trouble

Here's an account of Kelly's comments, from Sept. 2005:

http://www.cm-life.com/2005/09/23/kellyraceplayedroleinsilence/

Needless to say, Kelly was not fired (and since then has continued to recruit and play many black players). However, when his name came up for the Michigan State job in 2006 and then U-M in 2007, the comments were quickly brought up to torpedo his candidacy (ironically, by factions who wanted to hand the job to 'insiders' in both cases).

One factor which could work in his factor at Michigan would be that Kelly tends to use a wide-open spread offense; it is somewhat different than what Rodriguez uses, but still pretty similar, so U-M would not be looking at another top-to-bottom process taking 3-5 years to clean out the roster, as Rodriguez has embarked upon. When Rodriguez came in, not only did he throw the baby out with the bathwater, he boiled the baby on the stove, chopped up the body, and threw the pieces out the window to the dogs.

 

Re: Uh-oh! Cental Michigan, or some other smaller football program, in trouble

That's somewhat debatable. Michigan is still very much a national name and has one of, if not the largest alumni bases in the country.

Compared to Michigan's tradition, LSU is still a flavor-of-the-month type of program.

Money-wise, Michigan has deeper pockets.

The only advantage LSU definitely has is one of the best recruiting bases in the country. Next door to Texas, down the interstate from Florida, and the entire run of Louisiana. But it's not like Michigan can't go into the south and pull a few away from them.

 

Re: Uh-oh! Cental Michigan, or some other smaller football program, in trouble

There are four top-tier jobs in college football right now, in no particular order:

USC, Texas, Florida & Ohio State.

Michigan, Oklahoma, Alabama, Notre Dame, Nebraska and Tennessee would be on the next tier.

The one factor that would separate the top four from the second group is the fact those four are located in the middle of the most fertile recruiting territories in the country.

 

Re: Uh-oh! Cental Michigan, or some other smaller football program, in trouble

CAN

Can we stop the rumor mongering? Jesus Christ! We are journalists, do we not read?

Mary Sue Coleman came out weeks ago and said Rodriguez will not only be around next year, but probably in 2011 as well. She said it will be similar to how they gave Tommy Amaker a chance to work things out before cutting him lose. Amaker got six years (she did not imply RR would get 6 years of losing, but you get the point).

Besides, anyone who thinks Michigan would risk cutting RR right now forcing the team to rebuild again is a moron. A moron that should be punched in the throat.

 

Re: Uh-oh! Cental Michigan, or some other smaller football program, in trouble

 

Re: Uh-oh! Cental Michigan, or some other smaller football program, in trouble

Lloyd Carr lost by 16 in his final season to Wisconsin. Should they have fired him? You are going to fire a guy based on the Wisconsin loss?

His record sucks. He is sketchy, but I think he will turn it around IF he can get the defensive problems addressed. The offense is fine save for a few freshman mistakes and the special teams are much improved. The defense sucks but that has a lot to do with not having a lot of experience, not having a full slate of scholarship players etc. They've had a lot of attrition and players being kicked off the team dating back to Johnny Sears during the Lloyd Carr era. They are weak at the linebacker because of some transfers during the Carr era and signing Austin Panter a JUCO LB... the attrition when RR came didn't help, neither did booting Cissoko off the team BUT AGAIN, Cissoko was also a Carr target. Rodriguez has lost his share of players, hasn't done well developing others like Mike Williams (original Carr recruit) but this defense cannot all be blamed on him. Oh and this is the team's fourth defensive coordinator in four years.

 

Re: Uh-oh! Cental Michigan, or some other smaller football program, in trouble

Damn us all to hell for engaging in speculation on a message board!

 

Re: Uh-oh! Cental Michigan, or some other smaller football program, in trouble

I think this speculation is justified. This is one of the premier college football coaching jobs in the country, as was said on the previous page. The coach has a conduct/rule clause. The program is being investigated by the NCAA, and the coach was hung out to dry on the university's Web site a matter of days before the biggest game of the season, as far as a rival.

Speculate on, fellow scribes.

 

Re: Uh-oh! Cental Michigan, or some other smaller football program, in trouble

Lets speculate on something the Michigan president said wasn't going to happen.

 

Re: Uh-oh! Cental Michigan, or some other smaller football program, in trouble

College presidents always say that shit, and quite frequently fire the coach four days later. Anything an administrator/AD/university president says is meaningless.

Equally meaningless as when the coach says, "I'm perfectly happy here and don't plan on going anywhere else," three days before jumping to Yeehaw State for a $40 million contract.

 

Re: Uh-oh! Cental Michigan, or some other smaller football program, in trouble

Mustang - Don't get so touchy, please. Where there's smoke, there's fire, and there's lots of smoke swirling above Schembechler Hall.

Remember - football (and whatever other sport) is just a game. It's not life and death. It's not worth busting a blood vessel over. The sun will come up tomorrow - guaranteed.