CC: Process Questions and DB Shoveling Fast and Furious
IIRC, the Detroit Lions got in a bit of trouble a few years back when they hired Mariuchi or Morningwheg or Marinelli...well...one of the "emms" anyway because Detroit did not interview a minority candidate. Something about "Millen wanting his guy and not taking a fair look at other candidates" or something along those lines.
- Does UM have to go through this process (I'm not saying it's a bad thing, btw) or is it strictly an NFL thing? Can Dave Brandon just hire whomever he wants without a committee or search or anything?
- How is it that this JH to UM thing is so quiet? Where are all the websites tracking airline flights (not a fan of this, btw) that may or may not be carrying UM interviewers or interviewees?
Also, if JH is not introduced as coach in the 'back half of the week' how badly does this reflect on Brandon? If there is no deal in place to replace RR with JH at this point, this is going to go from bad to worse in a heartbeat. Brandon has been talking about 'evaluation' for a while now. That has to be BS at this point and clearly a back up plan to JH bailing. However, after the bowl game, seems like the general feeling is that it's Harbaugh or bust at this point. No other coach will do. If the 'evaluation' has not been a cover up for a behind the scenes deal to hire JH after his bowl game tonight, UM football is seriously screwed, RR is hamstrung and Dave Brandon is responsible for at least this:
- Completely undermining his current coach (RR)
- The lack of focus in bowl preparations/game play due to coaching change
- General current and future recruiting fiascos (Zettel to PSU, Dee Hart decommit)
January 3rd, 2011 at 10:27 AM ^
we're in for a ride ... again.
January 3rd, 2011 at 10:28 AM ^
How has he dug himself a hole, again?
January 3rd, 2011 at 10:34 AM ^
if JH is not introduced, what the hell is supposed to happen? Brady Hoke? Not long enough resumé. Urban Meyer? No. A coaching search this late in the process? Hell no. Keep RR and hire Jeff Casteel (WVU def. coord.) to run the D? Great - another D coordinator and more rabble rabble about RR with another year of uncertainty with more coaching questions and the endless uncertainty about RR's future.
January 3rd, 2011 at 10:38 AM ^
You make assumptions you know nothing about. Your "he's dug himself a hole" is built on the assumption that DB could have just hired Harbaugh a month ago and, since he didn't, he's now put us in a bad position. He said he was evaluating. But, none of us know whether he could or could not have hired Harbaugh on December 1st or whenever you believe this should have been handled.
I do agree with your questions regarding our options if Harbaugh does not take the job. They don't seem pretty.
January 3rd, 2011 at 10:55 AM ^
Isn't that the "hole he dug"? He might not have been able to hire Harbaugh on the 1st, but by waiting, we have to hire Harbaugh for this to have worked. And even then, I'd argue that Harbaugh has to be a success. That's a hole to me.
DB had everything he needed to know by Dec. 1st. The only good thing that can come out of waiting is if DB was convinced Harbaugh was the guy, and Harbaugh said the only way he'd come is if the announcement was after the bowl game. If that's true, fine, he gets himself out of the hole if Harbaugh is announced as the coach first thing tomorrow morning. Otherwise, DB has created an awful coaching search situation. Harbaugh isn't the only guy capable of turning the ship around. If DB had fired Rodriguez on Dec. 1st, he could have told Harbaugh it's your job if you want it, it's not going to be available again for a while, because we're going to bring in a winner. If Harbaugh still had said no, we could have gotten the right guy. Maybe Michigan would have been the school to pull Muschamp away from Texas. Maybe Patterson would have been a legitimate option. The point is, we don't know, but by waiting, we've closed out some of the better options. That's called "digging a hole."
January 3rd, 2011 at 11:07 AM ^
It's not called digging a hole. It's called assuming he dug a hole. Count the "if's" in your response. You don't know and neither do I. The difference is, I'm not claiming to.
Obviously it wouldn't change your mind if I told you to assume that Harbaugh said "I won't talk about this job until after our bowl game, but I'm interested" because your answer would be "put him on the clock and tell him to 'take it or leave it.'" Well, if he leaves it, what then? Your response would be "look for guys like Patterson and Muschamp" as if that was such an easy, viable option a month ago. The question "If not Harbaugh, who?" is no more easily answered now than it was at the beginning of December. But, it's easy to say "I would have hired him then" when you ignore any possible scenario which does not fit your assumptions.
January 3rd, 2011 at 11:15 AM ^
And, let me clarify by saying that the "If not Harbaugh" question does not have an obvious answer in my mind. I'm not going to be so presumptuous to suggest that Brandon sat around for the last month or three and never once asked "If I fire Rodriguez, and Harbaugh declines, what then?"
January 3rd, 2011 at 11:44 AM ^
Let me ask you a question. There's a month until signing day, to you, what is a timeline that would be reasonable for hiring a new coach? My answer would be that the head coach must be known by the end of the week with mostly a full coaching staff in place by the end of next week. I'm not sure this is plausible if the coach isn't RR, JH, or *gulp* Brady Hoke. I'm not presuming Brandon doesn't have a plan B, but I can't imagine that plan B is a sure thing at this point (meaning, confirmed that he will accept the job) without word spreading unless that plan B is Hoke. If Hoke is hired, even though he might prove to be an excellent coach, I think all would consider this process a huge disaster.
January 3rd, 2011 at 11:29 AM ^
Doesn't matter how many ifs there are in my post, the point is that it is January 3rd and the fact that we don't know who are coach is going to be next year is a hole. DB can get out of the hole, if the plan everyone assumes is in place works. That's fine, no real harm done. But you're a fool if you think it wouldn't have been easier to find plan B if this process had started when most coaching changes take place.
Do you remember last year at this time? Urban Meyer announced his retirement, and Florida fans freaked out. Much of that was because they thought they were losing a great coach, but there was also a part caused by the knowledge that there wasn't time to do a real coaching search. UF fans feared the next coming of Ron Zook. If we don't get Harbaugh, we're in the same situation.
There's time to get out of this problem. Harbaugh may come. We might still be able to land a solid second choice if he doesn't. But make no mistake, we're down 14 points in the first half, a hole has been dug.
January 3rd, 2011 at 11:45 AM ^
It would be so easy if you were the AD. I like it.
You didn't answer this question, but I didn't state it this clearly: Your assumption is that Harbaugh should have been told "take it or leave it" on December 1st (or thereabouts). If Harbaugh is the guy DB wants, and Harbaugh says he wants to wait, where does that leave us? In fact, let's assume that happened. We're in the same spot we are today, no? Or, would you have preferred DB just moved on rather than wait? That seems to be your position, actually, because this one month waiting period, in your calculus, is more important than getting the right guy. It's the "hole." So, again, it's December, we've moved on from Harbaugh because even though he seems to be a great, maybe even the best candidate, he won't bend to our will and follow our timeline. Let's talk names, now. You've already mentioned Muschamp - oops, we missed out on him - and Patterson who is still available. If it was so important to act then, who should DB have pursued, keeping in mind it would be at the cost of his presumed first choice for the job.
And, two follow-up questions that may seem silly, but I'm curious since you've dismissed the possibilities out of hand: How do you know he doesn't have a Plan B and why do you assume that if Harbaugh says no this week, we're starting from scratch?
January 3rd, 2011 at 12:05 PM ^
That's a fair question. Yes, I would have moved on if Harbaugh didn't want to take the job within a reasonable time period, or at the very least, started a true coaching search. Part of the reason for this sort of answers your last two questions. I don't presume DB doesn't have a plan B, I just don't think there's a "signed, sealed, and delivered" plan B not named Brady Hoke. There would be whispers out there somewhere if there was a coach ready to step in at Michigan if Harbaugh doesn't want the job.
If Harbaugh wants this job as badly as all his proponents on this board believes he does, I believe he would have taken the job in December if push came to shove. He could have still coached Stanford in the Bowl Game if that was extremely important to him, Mike Price did this after being hired away from WSU by Alabama. The only reason I can think of that Harbaugh would not take this job in December and would take it tomorrow is if he really wanted to consider an NFL. If that was true, as AD, I wouldn't have wanted to go through this last month with such an open question.
I don't believe there is "the right guy" in most coaching searches. I'm not sure Harbaugh will even be successful. But, I do believe, that if a change needed to be made, the best chance to get a coach that will win lots of games over the next several years, would have come from making that decision in December. And I believe, that if the question was JH or RR, the decision needed to be made well before the bowl game. The wait has, in all likelihood, ended any possibility that RR can be successful here.
January 3rd, 2011 at 11:33 AM ^
January 3rd, 2011 at 2:39 PM ^
I'm not claiming to have any facts that anyone else doesn't have. I'm also not making assumptions and trying to pass them off as facts. Also, I feel great.
January 3rd, 2011 at 11:28 AM ^
I do agree with your questions regarding our options if Harbaugh does not take the job. They don't seem pretty.
This is the 'hole.'
January 3rd, 2011 at 11:47 AM ^
I'd rephrase.....
Rightly or wrongly there is an expectation among our fans that we're getting James. The problem is that anything less will seem like a "fail" at the hiring phase.
In reality, whether its James, Hoke, or ________ the initial moans, groans or applause will all be supplanted by actual performace once September rolls around.
January 3rd, 2011 at 10:31 AM ^
doesn't apply to colleges. just nfl.
January 3rd, 2011 at 10:44 AM ^
Only one rule applies to everything: Rule 34.
January 3rd, 2011 at 10:31 AM ^
let stuff play out before declaring the sky has fallen.
January 3rd, 2011 at 10:32 AM ^
This is a great post. It is exactly how I have been feeling for weeks. DB has painted himself into a "Harbaugh or bust" corner. If we don't get Harbaugh, perhaps it would have been acceptable to retain RR as plan B before the Gator Blowout. But, since that game (following the Wisco Massacre and the OSU Slaughter), I cannot see how DB can retain RR and allow this circus to continue for another year.
If JH goes to the NFL then I think that DB's only option is to take a shot at Hoke. I know that many love RR, but at this point with all of the media circus, he is no longer a credible option.
January 3rd, 2011 at 10:50 AM ^
I've been thinking all along (and posting, in a mocking way unfortunately) that the alternative to Harbaugh is Rodriguez. I have a gut feeling that if Brandon cannot get Harbaugh he is going to give Rodriguez another year. That's my own unsupported belief, though.
Also, my dad (Michigan alumni) had an interesting point - he said people need to be more concerned about the result than the process. The statement annoyed me at the time but, in this situation, he is so very right. Lets wait until Brandon makes an announcement and then evaluate the process, no?
January 3rd, 2011 at 11:00 AM ^
I have a gut feeling that if Brandon cannot get Harbaugh he is going to give Rodriguez another year.
I think you're right, but then the search is on for a new DC and what DC would want to come coach for a guy who is standing on the edge with a million fans ready to push him over at a moments notice? Even if it is Michigan. And to add to that, the DC position hasn't exactly been stable here lately.
At this point, I hope we do get JH, but I feel terrible for wanting a change. I like RR as a coach and I like the potential of his offense, but as michgoblue said, the situation is toxic, and that is keeping everyone from being united and excited.
January 3rd, 2011 at 11:33 AM ^
Agreed with everything. Although the reason I feel bad wanting a change is because in December of 2007, almost everyone would have said that this would be a 4-5 year process.
Granted, we had no way of knowing how bad it could get, but I'd like to think I don't just change expectations to keep up with the crowd.
It's not like there's certainty anywhere either, I think RR is a great coach who has had a few down years for whatever reason, but that could be highly variable next year. And if Harbaugh comes in next year, we have no idea what he would even do with an offensive scheme. I guess what I'm saying is I wouldn't have a problem changing expectations for a sure thing, but there just isn't one right now.
January 3rd, 2011 at 1:16 PM ^
In December of 2007 it was "one year of transition, get offense and QB in place, compete for Big Ten Title, then National Championships every other year with Michigan's recruiting and Rich's system"....
January 3rd, 2011 at 12:25 PM ^
I think the answer to your question:
I think you're right, but then the search is on for a new DC and what DC would want to come coach for a guy who is standing on the edge with a million fans ready to push him over at a moments notice?
is that whoever the DC is, if they can make this defense even remotely respectable (like top 50ish) he is going to look like a rock star, likely improving the win total 2-4 games, and he and RR have a long career togehter.
On another note, does anyone else notice Dhani Jones wearing a "Keep Ann Arbor Clean" shirt in the mgoblogstore ad to the right?
January 3rd, 2011 at 10:32 AM ^
Nightmare fuel.
Dan Hawkins is available!
But seriously, I'm more of a PROCESS optimist than many. While we would have liked the word to come down at halftime during the Gator Bowl, it will unfold. I would suspect JH is coming because he knows one thing - at some jobs he has a chance to be good. At this one he has a chance to be a legend.
But we're going to have to build him a really nice toilet.
January 3rd, 2011 at 10:32 AM ^
I hope this whole thing doesn't get ugly
January 3rd, 2011 at 10:36 AM ^
...will earn his money now, won't he? He has to know from the last go-round that a Michigan invitation isn't an "automatic yes" from anyone any longer.
Who knows, if Harbaugh watched the bowl game (and I'd be surprised if he hadn't), he might be thinking that rebuilding the M program is going to be a tougher nut to crack than he first thought.
The easier route for him is to stay on the West Coast and keep his family stable. The hard road is coming to the rust belt and trying to rebuild a faltering program in a league that has a lot of parity these days.
January 3rd, 2011 at 10:53 AM ^
Harbaugh has his own game to coach. He doesn't have 3.5 hours to watch someone else's team. I'm sure he saw the box score though.
January 3rd, 2011 at 10:34 AM ^
January 3rd, 2011 at 10:35 AM ^
... RichRod is digging the hole in the Big House.
DB's job is to stop this CFB version of the "China Syndrome" and get someone better quickly.
January 3rd, 2011 at 10:35 AM ^
good questions for sure but I don't think if there is a CC that we can only win if we get JH. I personally am still not sold on him anyway but there are other possibilities...
January 3rd, 2011 at 10:39 AM ^
Can't help but think of this
I'm the innocent bystander/ Somehow I got stuck / Between the rock and the hard place / And I'm down on my luck /
January 3rd, 2011 at 10:40 AM ^
DB said evaluate. Not fire, not replace. Every member of the media who feels they have to show how important they are has taken the word evaluate and created an alternate reality to fit their delusions of the power of their respective pens. Take a deep breath and wait.
Now, please explain how something is "clearly" anything, much less a back-up plan, this is of great interest. Are you his wife's hairdresser? Do you have his office bugged?
The only way to imagine an epic fail without knowing any facts is if you are willing to let the media run things. With no evidence to the contrary, I will trust DB to have the resources to make the best choice.
January 3rd, 2011 at 11:15 AM ^
DB said evaluate...Take a deep breath and wait
Sure, that's true. However, if you choose to believe that Dave Brandon is playing a semantic game, that's up to you. You don't have to look far to find evidence of politicians (which is a large part of DB's job) saying one thing and meaning another. Also, did you really believe that after the 'evaluation' that there wouldn't be changes, in at least some respects, to the coaching staff?
Now, please explain how something is "clearly" anything, much less a back-up plan, this is of great interest.
Gladly:
All the signs point to JH being hired at UM within 2 weeks at most.
It's not surprising that JH didn't want to/couldn't leave Stanford until after the bowl game.
It's possible that waiting until after the bowl game to evaluate the coaching staff could be word for word truth. However, in the real world, people don't say exactly what they mean especially in these types of situations. The evaluation line is a convenient way to hedge your bet in case JH doesn't work out. You don't have to go far to find evidence of this type of politcal 'cover speak' surrounding coaching changes. I'll leave you to google for that.
My point is:
If JH is hired, there will be some cleaning up to do from the recruiting fall out and uncertainty surrounding the program ever since the Wisky game.
If RR is retained, there will still be some cleaning up to do from the recruiting fall out and uncertainty and he will be hamstrung and look powerless. Especially if a new DC is hired and RR is told to keep his hands off the D.
If it's not JH or RR, the recruiting problems still exist and the UM program is setback once again as it now appears that they not only took a flyer on the wrong guy (RR), couldn't get the obvious, home run, former QB, returning hero, hottest current coaching commodity to sign on the dotted line to become legendary at his alma mater (JH), and will have to settle for someone else who is, basically, completely off the radar at this time (Hoke, et al).
The above situation was not created by nor derived from the media. It's an honest look at the situation as it stands right now.
...So to go out and say, I love Michigan, this is the worst, this and all that, well, you're not helping
You're right, what I think on the situation really has any bearing on how the events will play out. (/s) As if I could 'help' in anyway. Even if I could, no thanks. DB: you're on your own on this one. Good luck.
January 3rd, 2011 at 11:47 AM ^
DB said evaluate...Take a deep breath and wait
Sure, that's true. However, if you choose to believe that Dave Brandon is playing a semantic game, that's up to you. You don't have to look far to find evidence of politicians (which is a large part of DB's job) saying one thing and meaning another. Also, did you really believe that after the 'evaluation' that there wouldn't be changes, in at least some respects, to the coaching staff?
What did you think I was holding my breath and waiting for, the Easter Bunny?
How, praytell, did you infer that I did not think there would be changes. Don't worry about explaining clearly. It is clear now how you see things clearly.
January 3rd, 2011 at 12:06 PM ^
I don't know what you were holding your breath for. If I had to guess, you held your breath to buy time to think of a way to post in a more condescending manner.
I inferred that you did not think that there would be changes to coaching staff from this statement of yours.
DB said evaluate. Not fire, not replace. Every member of the media who feels they have to show how important they are has taken the word evaluate and created an alternate reality to fit their delusions of the power of their respective pens.
January 3rd, 2011 at 12:28 PM ^
Next time I will spell out each and every possible meaning of anything I post. Of course, I am going to hold every poster to that same standard.
January 3rd, 2011 at 10:43 AM ^
I think you are pretty close. It seems that everyone involved has painted this thing into a corner. The only acceptable, or I guess "comforting", result would be to hire JH. I'm not saying that this is what I want to happen. Think about it though...
With all of the negativity flying around, this thing would turn into an even larger fiasco if JH doesn't come. I think it is at this point to that level. Which is sad because not only has DB presumably put all of his eggs in one basket, but so has the large majority(atleast from a perception standpoint) of fans, alumni and media. The fallout could be just amazing.
January 3rd, 2011 at 10:46 AM ^
Also, if JH is not introduced as coach in the 'back half of the week' how badly does this reflect on Brandon?Extremely. Freakishly. If he doesn't hire Harbaugh he will have spent the past two months vivisecting Michigan's outgoing coach for no reason.
January 3rd, 2011 at 10:46 AM ^
Deep in the cold recesses of my frozen heart, I always wondered if DB wasn't supporting RR in case a disaster like Saturday happened. The thought went that it would look bad to make a decision on the guy and then have the team lay an egg like it did (we are not talented on defense blah blah blah but it didn't have to be that bad and our staff got out-coached like few things I've ever seen).
The problem with that thought is, "now what?" If we can get Harbaugh in then at this point I'd take it just so people would shut up for a few months. If we can't get Harbaugh then please just throw the house at a new DC who's awesome and watch from a bomb shelter.
January 3rd, 2011 at 10:47 AM ^
When RR is retained because no other candidate is suitable he will be forced to clean house on D and the team will win 10 games in 2011 and everyone will be clamoring for him to stay. This will all be water under the bridge and DB will sign him to an extension. Book it.
January 3rd, 2011 at 10:54 AM ^
Yes
.
.
Yes
January 3rd, 2011 at 10:59 AM ^
Yes, please.
January 3rd, 2011 at 11:00 AM ^
Haven't done so well...
January 3rd, 2011 at 11:03 AM ^
and won't book it, but I'd personally be delighted if this happened. I want RR to have another year, even if no one else does.
January 3rd, 2011 at 10:47 AM ^
think RRod is viable, except as a fall back position? After Saturday? I dont think so...and I am a RR supporter.
JH is first choice. If he is gone, there are not really any good choices. Simply put, the fan base is so divided, no one else could reunite them. Miles, Hoke? Come on...there would be a firestorm. Urban Meyer could, but he has a 0.00000001% chance of taking the job.
for DB, it is JH or bust.
January 3rd, 2011 at 10:51 AM ^
Urban Meyer will not coach in 2011. We have a better chance of getting Saban. I would not be surprised if our new coach comes out of left field.
January 3rd, 2011 at 11:19 AM ^
See posts below, and probably many others who believe that Rodriguez is not only viable, but worth retaining through his contract. I would, of course, like to see changes among the defensive staff, and perhaps some operational changes for them; however, I am one of those who believes that RR can succeed here.
January 3rd, 2011 at 10:48 AM ^
to either get J.H. or one of the top coaches at the smaller institutions that have at least some spread experience but play knock you out defense and that's Pattersen or Petersen! If not them, wipe out the D, and go for Casteel or Shannon as a last year try scenario for RR to succeed here! Oh, one more thing, specifically open up your billfold for a special teams coach as well, let us not be the norm, we are Michigan!
January 3rd, 2011 at 10:49 AM ^