Rich Rodriguez will NOT be accepting the coaching position at Michigan. On top of that, Rich wasn't even lying yesterday. The only thing puzzling is why his financial advisor can't afford to take a 5 hour drive to Morgantown instead of making what I'm sure is his only high profile client hop a plane with his wife, causing all of this sexy stir.
So what the fuck happened? Well, I'm glad you asked...
Earlier this week after the Michigan fiasco, alums, former players, and major boosters felt snubbed and screwed by Martin asking them for money to buy out Miles contract and telling them that Miles WAS to be the head coach...w/o having even interviewing him.
Then, the Schiano fallout came...once again b/c Michigan went the "right route" and got grilled by message board pundits and media for doing it the right way. A group of very influential boosters put together somewhat of a petition of sorts to get rid of Martin...or that they were pulling funds based on this coaching search. To do damage control, the appointed seven man search committee got together with people high up in the booster program and a list was put together of coaches that would be deemed "acceptable" to bring in in the wake of this fiasco. Rich Rod was one of those names. This is considered a "damage control" hire. Michigan sent out feelers to Rod's people and there was a mutual interest...a mild one. Rod makes only 1.8 per year, and Michigan has been badgered by alums to up the ante on that price. They can't go back and offer more to Miles or Schiano, but they can offer more to the next guy. Also, a reason Schiano wasn't privy was not only the paycut, but the assistant coach retention that Michigan was demanding...similar to what Nebraska asked of Grobe. Michigan has to pay the entire staff another season if they get fired or if they coach. Being cheap, that prospect isn't that sexy.
They are said to be open to talking about this "assistant retention" with Rodriguez. Martin needs to save face, and basically he was given a list of people who would do just that. I am still a little surprised by this. That's the scoop though. Rich is on a VERY slim list of acceptable names as of earlier this week. If something happens, it will happen very soon. Otherwise, don't worry.
To break it down for those with attention spans as short as Jamie Lee Curtis' dick...Rich found out UM was interested. He's had a lil tiff with the AD and a few others in the WVU department over the last few years and with UM sniffing around, he figured he'd spray his scent of interest. Bill Martin and Sue Coleman never met with him. It was purely him, his wife, and his advisor going over things like marketing in Michigan, the pay scale for Michigan, what they might offer, and if it was a fiscally responsible decision to make the change and piss off an entire state of toothless lovables. Rich decided today that it wasn't worth it and Michigan backed off. Bill Martin NEVER contacted Rich. Members of the "seven man search committee" sniffed around and it reeked of some interest, so they took a shot and told him to think about doing an official interview. Rest easy WVU fans, and go brush that tooth.
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Brady Hoke to Michigan?
Ball State head coach Brady Hoke, a former lineman coach @ Michigan was contacted today by Bill Martin concerning the head coach position. He is expected to interview sometime this week.
I think this is a good move. I like this guy. Young, upcoming, really has turned a terrible program in a horrible area around (granted it took a minute). Glad they're finally branching out and...you know...doing their jobs in the ADs office.
But...it's just an interview. This is what they need to do instead of just hiring someone on a whim. I would very much be behind this hire. But...I have personal experiences with Brady Hoke, so I am admittedly biased.
More on this as it develops.
I think this is a good move. I like this guy. Young, upcoming, really has turned a terrible program in a horrible area around (granted it took a minute). Glad they're finally branching out and...you know...doing their jobs in the ADs office.
But...it's just an interview. This is what they need to do instead of just hiring someone on a whim. I would very much be behind this hire. But...I have personal experiences with Brady Hoke, so I am admittedly biased.
More on this as it develops.
Jim Grobe to Arkansas
Arkansas trustees are prepared to give their blessing to hire Jim Grobe, head coach at Wake Forest currently.
This hire comes out of nowhere, and proves that even though we think we know what's going on, we have no effing idea. A longtime ACC guy and a UVA alum, one must wonder if Al Groh is just keeping his seat warm, however.
The book on Grobe is that he had nothing to work with at Wake, with academic restrictions abound and no tradition to feed incoming recruits. But his players played harder than any other in the conference several coaches were apt to say. He can get talent at Arkansas.
This hire comes out of nowhere, and proves that even though we think we know what's going on, we have no effing idea. A longtime ACC guy and a UVA alum, one must wonder if Al Groh is just keeping his seat warm, however.
The book on Grobe is that he had nothing to work with at Wake, with academic restrictions abound and no tradition to feed incoming recruits. But his players played harder than any other in the conference several coaches were apt to say. He can get talent at Arkansas.
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Where to go from here?
As of tonight, December 1st...names circling around the Michigan family for possible contacting are diverse....
1. Kirk Ferentz seems to be picking up media steam, if only because the current UM president hired Kirk at Iowa. This is a lot like LSU spawning ideas that b/c their prez hired Spurrier @ Florida, he'd hire him again @ LSU if it was necessary. Stupid. This would be a terrible hire and doesn't right now have great support inside the program. Why would it? Kirk recruits many of the same areas as Michigan...if those kids wanted to play for him...they would have GONE TO IOWA! What a novel idea, no? On top of that, Ferentz has lead Iowa to back to back 6-6 regular seasons, this one where they likely won't go bowling. Pretty pathetic.
2. Greg Schiano. This one IS picking up steam. I thought they'd take a look at Schiano at some point. He fits the profile, being a coach at a school very worried about its academic reputation. I think this guy is a serious candidate and can't find anyone that disagrees with me of note.
3. Brian Kelly. This seems to be the lead pipe lock hire that everyone seems to want for their program, but for some reason Michigan isn't high on him. In most UM circles, his name isn't coming up. I don't know why. He has a knowledge of the state having coached at CMU and has a winning attitude, having won titles @ Grand Valley State.
4. Jeff Tedford. Tedford would be open to moving, as already noted in "The Next Lloyd Carr" posting of mine. He's not been contacted, but could be after his season ends. Tedford is known as a great college QB coach, but has dramatically underachieved in Berkeley.
I'd look at these four names if you're interested on "where Michigan could go from here."
1. Kirk Ferentz seems to be picking up media steam, if only because the current UM president hired Kirk at Iowa. This is a lot like LSU spawning ideas that b/c their prez hired Spurrier @ Florida, he'd hire him again @ LSU if it was necessary. Stupid. This would be a terrible hire and doesn't right now have great support inside the program. Why would it? Kirk recruits many of the same areas as Michigan...if those kids wanted to play for him...they would have GONE TO IOWA! What a novel idea, no? On top of that, Ferentz has lead Iowa to back to back 6-6 regular seasons, this one where they likely won't go bowling. Pretty pathetic.
2. Greg Schiano. This one IS picking up steam. I thought they'd take a look at Schiano at some point. He fits the profile, being a coach at a school very worried about its academic reputation. I think this guy is a serious candidate and can't find anyone that disagrees with me of note.
3. Brian Kelly. This seems to be the lead pipe lock hire that everyone seems to want for their program, but for some reason Michigan isn't high on him. In most UM circles, his name isn't coming up. I don't know why. He has a knowledge of the state having coached at CMU and has a winning attitude, having won titles @ Grand Valley State.
4. Jeff Tedford. Tedford would be open to moving, as already noted in "The Next Lloyd Carr" posting of mine. He's not been contacted, but could be after his season ends. Tedford is known as a great college QB coach, but has dramatically underachieved in Berkeley.
I'd look at these four names if you're interested on "where Michigan could go from here."
The REAL scoop on Les Miles (ESPN might wanna read...)
As we all know, this Les Miles situation has turned into a completely NBC made for network TV shitty movie where some husband slays his wife and then falls in love with her sister in prison. Here's how it all went down...
After Lloyd Carr announced the world's worst kept secret about his retirement, Bill Martin "whittled" his list of 30 down to under 10 names. Miles was one of those. As a result "feelers" (no, not like a priest) were sent out to gauge Les' possible interest in the job. People close to Miles such as his old college roommate at Michigan gave the impression to Michigan that Miles was indeed interested in the position.
At this point, Michigan did what they should have done with respect to LSU...called Skip Bertman and asked if they could have permission to interview Miles. LSU obliged, but asked that it be AFTER the SEC title game. Similar to them asking Nebraska not to comment publicly on Bo Pelini being hired until after the game. Michigan was down with that, in so many words.
At some point, Michigan decided that Lesticles was the guy. If he wanted the job and was willing to work for the pricepoint Michigan deemed acceptable, it was his. How do I know this? Martin sent out letters to all Michigan football alums asking for donations to be used to help buy out Les' contract...the sum of 1.25 million. Naturally, since I'm an asshole, I'm not going to reveal which player gave me this information. That wouldn't be nice. The letter also asked the Michigan family to be on board with such a hire, and that in the week following the SEC title game, a press conference would be held to announce the decision and introduce Les Miles. It listed Monday or Tuesday as probable days for such events. This is very likely where ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit got his information that Michigan was to hire Miles. Bill Martin never contacted Miles or his agent, yet somehow got the brainiac idea that hiring someone without talking to them would be a good idea. This is why I'm worried about my Wolves.
Upon hearing this break, Miles, whom many blame for being distracted last week against Arkansas, decided to call a conference before the SEC title game to squelch rumors. He did just that. On top of that, Skip Bertman announced that he was giving Miles a raise and extension...something unheard of for a guy that just watched his team get hosed out of a national title race. Bertman knew and people close to Miles knew that this would end pretty much with "whoever got to him last." Bertman knew that if Michigan was to interview him next week, it'd be too late. So he had until Monday to figure out how to keep Les. The deal has not been signed, only agreed to in principle. Carlos Boozer somewhere is saying "that doesn't mean shit, Les."
My Take: I think both programs win here. Michigan obviously didn't do much of a thorough coaching search, and now will be forced to. Likewise, LSU, which has been anointed a "stepping stone job" of sorts finally gets a coach as committed as some of their fan base. I think Miles would have been a terrible fit at Michigan. A safe hire, no doubt. Someone capable of running the program and getting the wins, but a guy with poor discipline on the field and a guy that sometimes looks like he lets his coordinators run the show. Michigan needs new ideas, new blood. I think Miles at some point decided that it would be somewhat backstabbing of him to dump LSU after ushering the program through the tenious Katrina months. If Michigan had gotten to Miles formally, I think he would have left, but Miles is a tricky character that seems to just pull things out of his ass based on what he is feeling at that particular second. All in all, a win for both programs.
After Lloyd Carr announced the world's worst kept secret about his retirement, Bill Martin "whittled" his list of 30 down to under 10 names. Miles was one of those. As a result "feelers" (no, not like a priest) were sent out to gauge Les' possible interest in the job. People close to Miles such as his old college roommate at Michigan gave the impression to Michigan that Miles was indeed interested in the position.
At this point, Michigan did what they should have done with respect to LSU...called Skip Bertman and asked if they could have permission to interview Miles. LSU obliged, but asked that it be AFTER the SEC title game. Similar to them asking Nebraska not to comment publicly on Bo Pelini being hired until after the game. Michigan was down with that, in so many words.
At some point, Michigan decided that Lesticles was the guy. If he wanted the job and was willing to work for the pricepoint Michigan deemed acceptable, it was his. How do I know this? Martin sent out letters to all Michigan football alums asking for donations to be used to help buy out Les' contract...the sum of 1.25 million. Naturally, since I'm an asshole, I'm not going to reveal which player gave me this information. That wouldn't be nice. The letter also asked the Michigan family to be on board with such a hire, and that in the week following the SEC title game, a press conference would be held to announce the decision and introduce Les Miles. It listed Monday or Tuesday as probable days for such events. This is very likely where ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit got his information that Michigan was to hire Miles. Bill Martin never contacted Miles or his agent, yet somehow got the brainiac idea that hiring someone without talking to them would be a good idea. This is why I'm worried about my Wolves.
Upon hearing this break, Miles, whom many blame for being distracted last week against Arkansas, decided to call a conference before the SEC title game to squelch rumors. He did just that. On top of that, Skip Bertman announced that he was giving Miles a raise and extension...something unheard of for a guy that just watched his team get hosed out of a national title race. Bertman knew and people close to Miles knew that this would end pretty much with "whoever got to him last." Bertman knew that if Michigan was to interview him next week, it'd be too late. So he had until Monday to figure out how to keep Les. The deal has not been signed, only agreed to in principle. Carlos Boozer somewhere is saying "that doesn't mean shit, Les."
My Take: I think both programs win here. Michigan obviously didn't do much of a thorough coaching search, and now will be forced to. Likewise, LSU, which has been anointed a "stepping stone job" of sorts finally gets a coach as committed as some of their fan base. I think Miles would have been a terrible fit at Michigan. A safe hire, no doubt. Someone capable of running the program and getting the wins, but a guy with poor discipline on the field and a guy that sometimes looks like he lets his coordinators run the show. Michigan needs new ideas, new blood. I think Miles at some point decided that it would be somewhat backstabbing of him to dump LSU after ushering the program through the tenious Katrina months. If Michigan had gotten to Miles formally, I think he would have left, but Miles is a tricky character that seems to just pull things out of his ass based on what he is feeling at that particular second. All in all, a win for both programs.
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