Semi-OT: What do you say to your kids if you're Rich Rod?
It has to be tough for a kid whose father is in such a high profile position in the community to see them get villified and have their character dragged through the mud by so many people.
And while I'm sure RR's family is very supportive, I have to imagine that, as a man, his ego and self-confidence took a hit today and wonder if he thinks about how this might affect his children's admiration of him, which I'm sure is one of the most important things in his life.
I'm wondering if anyone has ever found themselves in a similar situation (even if on a smaller scale) and how you handled it.
January 5th, 2011 at 5:58 PM ^
"they hung Jesus Christ to a cross" not everybody is going to like you.
January 5th, 2011 at 7:40 PM ^
This is what I would tell my kids if I was RR. +1 to you Sir (as soon as I can).
January 5th, 2011 at 9:17 PM ^
He tells them the same thing that thousands of parents across the state of Michigan have had to tell their families, that he lost his job. Fortunately for him though, he can also tell them that he got a 2.5 million dollar severance package. It makes the news a little less harsh.
January 5th, 2011 at 9:56 PM ^
Should have ended here.
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<br>(OK, not really, but this sums it up).
January 5th, 2011 at 9:51 PM ^
January 6th, 2011 at 7:41 AM ^
If someone is awake and has an iPhone can you cut and copy Brian's Front page "NON-Hoke Options:Extant" to the MgoBoard so we can discuss. Either I'm an Idiot (debatable), I cannot create content and I'm Ass-u-meing you tech people can. Thanks.
January 5th, 2011 at 6:00 PM ^
As much as I know RR was never a good fit for this conference, school, program, fan base, local media... I feel for him, his staff, and all of their families right now. Sure he didn't win, but the worst thing he ever got in trouble for was trying to practice too much--in a conference with teams organizing group fights against other students, starting QBs riding a new loaner car every week, and one of the best RBs in the conference riding dirty a week before his team's bowl game -- RR could have been running a program in trouble for much worse.
January 5th, 2011 at 6:00 PM ^
Seriously. I am sure he is down, but somethings don't work out, and he's better off than almost all Americans, in that he get a $2.5M payout when he looses his job. Besides, this job had to have been grinding on him as well.
You tell the kids, everyting is fine, you have reached the end of a long nightmare, and it is time to move on to a happier situation.
January 5th, 2011 at 6:00 PM ^
I think he can say, "Daddy got paid! Let's go spend the winter on a beach somewhere. I'm going to get you kids a live-in babysitter so me and mommy can live it up for a while. $2.5 million!!!!"
January 5th, 2011 at 8:24 PM ^
Please do us a favor and never have any children. ( /giving you a hard time)
His son is probably crying his eyes out over this. I cried when Desmond was tripped in the endzone by Sparty. I can't imagine how I would have reacted if my dad had just been fired by my favorite team. Maybe Michigan wasn't his favorite team but I imagine this will have a serious effect on his children. Maybe I'm being overly sensitive because I'm a father, but its really sad for his family. Money isn't everything. The best thing he'll be able to say is that he will be able to finally spend time with his kids (?), at least for a few weeks?
January 6th, 2011 at 2:52 PM ^
The children of coaches have a different perspective with these things. Their fathers (or, in some cases, mothers) have likely been moving from job to job for their entire lives. Sometimes the parents quits the job; other times, the job quits them.
Let's not pretend that RR's kids grew up loving Michigan sports. I'm sure the WVU situation was much more difficult for them. Their dad makes a lot of money and his job involves much pressure and uncertainty. It's not like RR was working at Ford for 25 years and was suddenly laid off leaving the family to beg for food. The entire family is and will be fine.
p.s. I didn't cry for the Desmond no-call. I think I just swore.
January 5th, 2011 at 6:01 PM ^
Don't read Michigan sports blogs
January 5th, 2011 at 6:01 PM ^
well, I just got a big cash buyout.
January 5th, 2011 at 6:01 PM ^
"Look at the pretty statue they made of daddy here at Clemson. And before I even coached a game."
January 5th, 2011 at 8:19 PM ^
is that place a perfect fit or what. a sleeping giant, imo.
January 5th, 2011 at 6:01 PM ^
This emo shit is getting weird. He will tell them that their futures are paid for, we move on, lets go to Disneyland because I just got a 2.5 million severance check. The kids still love him and see him being wronged (possibly so) as well as his wife. Pretty soon he will be wearing victorious Sugar Bowl UConn hats while we make the Pizza Pizza bowl despite the ire it brings DB. Everyone will be ok...except maybe this football team's future if we can F it up already more than we have.
January 5th, 2011 at 6:04 PM ^
You never tell the kids how much money you've got, especially at Disneyland. Those kids will burn through that buyout at the churro stand before the poor guy knows what hit him.
January 5th, 2011 at 6:05 PM ^
Low ball them and tell them that they each have 50 bucks to blow on Space Mountain.
January 5th, 2011 at 7:29 PM ^
Between churros and those little Mickey-ear ice cream deals...
Seriously, though, the Rodriguez family is fortunate. Normally when the primary breadwinner loses their job, they don't have a multi-million dollar check coming a few days later. There are worse things in life. Those kids are provided for, don't have to worry about dad getting another job soon so they can afford things like food and housing, etc.
January 5th, 2011 at 9:39 PM ^
about his staff and their families. They are not quite so well compensated, and they find themselves in the same position.
January 5th, 2011 at 9:54 PM ^
It's safe to assume, just like the last time, that a lot of them will follow Rich wherever he goes. The rest will probably find jobs elsewhere.
That's the profession. They've been paid quite well. And it's likely they'll all land on their feet.
January 6th, 2011 at 11:07 AM ^
You may not be one, but you sound like one.
I know you're happy that Rich is gone, much of your posts reveal this, but understand that this man begged for his job, begged for the jobs of his assistants, and desperately wanted to stay here.
While it's certainly well within your rights to be cynical, moving and uprooting your family sucks. Just because the men in their families chose to be coaches, doesn't mean it doesn't hurt like hell every time they are forced to move on.
January 5th, 2011 at 6:04 PM ^
On a gut level, I feel bad for RR. On the tangible level, dude needs no sympathy.
January 5th, 2011 at 7:04 PM ^
Hmm...I like your speculation here. Once Michigan makes it to the Pizza Pizza bowl, DB's pizza-filled career will have finally come full circle!
January 5th, 2011 at 7:06 PM ^
Pretty soon he will be wearing victorious Sugar Bowl UConn hats while we make the Pizza Pizza bowl despite the ire it brings DB.
You say "this emo shit is weird," and then you drop this?
January 5th, 2011 at 8:13 PM ^
There is a difference. One talks about how sad a former coach's kids will be and has no bearing on our football team's future. The Pizza Pizza Bowl was half in jest and based in reality. We have a situation where we were so goddamned anxious to pull the trigger on RR with no serious plan to replace him evident. If we go back to "Michigan Man" rabble rabble football, then we again are changing systems and we all know how that goes. So yes, year three, RR will be at a school of his choosing where he already has some players for the spread offense in place and won't make the same mistake on defense again while we are struggling for a bowl again because we are too damn proud to stick it out with adjustments or have a plan after firing a proven winner. I am sorry if reality seems emo to you, but it is what it is.
January 5th, 2011 at 8:23 PM ^
Some times reality is emo.
January 5th, 2011 at 8:45 PM ^
Maybe even like like. Let's get an apartment together after this.
January 6th, 2011 at 12:30 PM ^
"...has no bearing on our football team's future."
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<br>Hence the "OT" label, genius.
January 6th, 2011 at 1:01 PM ^
Pretty soon he will be wearing victorious Sugar Bowl UConn hats while we make the Pizza Pizza bowl despite the ire it brings DB.
You say "this emo shit is weird," and then you drop this?
Hence the post I was responding to dumbass.
January 5th, 2011 at 9:10 PM ^
there you are buddy. We have been missing you. I bet RR doesnt eat Dominos anymore.
January 5th, 2011 at 9:16 PM ^
I've been around just watching the MGoCommunity unravel since the Gator Bowl and writing a new diary. The only thing good about this shitty situation we find ourselves in now is that I have more material to make another diary before football shuts down for the most part after we find a coach.
January 5th, 2011 at 9:25 PM ^
I didn't read any of it, but I did listen to Purple Rain like 8 times during the madness yesterday.
January 5th, 2011 at 9:30 PM ^
Well I am glad you got something out of it. Funny you said that too, I was just listening to the other song I put on there, Imagine by John Lennon while I was daydreaming of better days, past accomplishments, and Dave Brandon pulling out an epic Space Jams type roster of coaches for Michigan.
January 5th, 2011 at 6:02 PM ^
Looks like the University of Illinois!
January 5th, 2011 at 6:15 PM ^
He wouldn't be able to offer Denard a scholarship.
January 5th, 2011 at 6:16 PM ^
+1 for the Risky Business reference. Where you going next year? Wisconsin? That's a big school.
January 5th, 2011 at 6:03 PM ^
"...and all you can really rely on in the end are your family and friends. Take special care of them, and you'll be fine."
January 5th, 2011 at 6:06 PM ^
Or he could avoid blaming his failings on life being 'unfair' and say, "Kids, when you have a job, you're judged on your performance. In this job, Daddy's performance wasn't what was required but don't worry, I'm still a good guy and good coach. I made a boatload of money and will produce better results at my next job. Now, can you please pass the diamond encrusted lobster?"
January 5th, 2011 at 8:14 PM ^
It's funny because lobsters really aren't encrusted with diamonds.
January 5th, 2011 at 8:36 PM ^
Daddy is still a good guy? I didn't read that anywhere in the freep.
I don't feal bad for the kids over him getting fired. I feal bad for the kids over what some other kid has been saying to them at school through all this crap.
January 5th, 2011 at 8:48 PM ^
banging on the "up" button until voting is restored. Then I will bang on it some more hoping I can +1 you more than once.
I would add to your thought that I would feel bad for his kids if any of them were unfortunate enough to read an Internet message board as well.
January 5th, 2011 at 11:06 PM ^
"Kids, when you have a job, you're judged on your performance...."
What job do you have that if you improve every year on your performance from the previous year you get fired?
January 6th, 2011 at 12:14 AM ^
Ones that are judged on goals.
January 5th, 2011 at 6:03 PM ^
cash money.
January 5th, 2011 at 9:15 PM ^
better be real cash money.
January 5th, 2011 at 6:03 PM ^
i'm sure he's already prepared them for this day. RR is a good person and i bet he's a good dad.
January 5th, 2011 at 9:15 PM ^
a wonderful dad.
January 5th, 2011 at 6:05 PM ^
"How would you like to take a trip around the world for a year?"
January 5th, 2011 at 6:05 PM ^
He can probably just say, I signed a contract and took a job to support our family. I didn't do a good enough job to keep the job, and got a buyout to buy me a year to look for another job. I don't think its the end of the world for his family. He will also be moving from Michigan no doubt, so I don't think his kids are going to be persecuted or anything like that.