A Letter To All Michigan Fans

As you all know Michigan has fired head football coach Rich Rodriguez. In a way I feel sorry for the guy because, the people at Michigan and the fans did not exhibit enough patience with him. It wasn't all you guys' fault. A lot of problems he brought on himself, mainly wins and losses. Even before he set foot in Ann Arbor, you guys palced a blcak cloud over him that never left. I can understand he had a horrible 3 year run, but to you Michigan fans he was never good enough. Your complaints went beyond wins and losses.

I say you guys as in Michigan fans, who have a higher opinion of everyhting Michigan. That's what landed you Rodriguez in the first place. Lloyd Carr wasn't good enough. You wanted boring Lloyd out and he walked away. Then you couldn't get the "Michigan Man" when LSU punked Les Miles into staying in Baton Rouge. You want a "Michigan Man" so bad that it limits the pool of coaches you can go after. But then say we want a big name coach. Rodriguez was a big name coach. I understand he was hired amid a shroud of secrecy and left West Virginia unceremoniously. Remember, he had the Alabama job for about two days before he reconsidered. You guys wanted a fancy spread offense, the flavor of the month, and now you denounce it saying you need to get back to Michigan football. Didn't Bo Schembecler run the option. Yes he did. Sometimes do some history checking before speaking. True the defense was tremendously lacking, but the offense was ok. But the fact Rodriguez wasn't a "Michigan Man" was what made you dislike him.
     
Speaking of the defense, I've said it before, it was not Greg Robinson's fault. True he had the blood on his hands only because he was the defensive coordinator. The 3-3-5 scheme he was hired to run was not his scheme. But you guys only wanted him gone because he was the face of the defense. Robinson didn't bring that scheme to town with him. He's also a respected coordinator. He's won a Super Bowl and had a good run at Texas before bombing as a head coach at Syracuse. But hey, to you guys Robinson was the problem with the defense. That was a scheme Rodriguez brought in from West Virginia and swore by.

Now you guys want to hold Athletic Director David Brandon's feet to the fire. The bagman in the whole deal was former Athletic Director Bill Martin. He's the one who hired him and botched the coaching search in the first place. History check again. If Schembecler never mouthed the words "A Michigan man will coach Michigan" regarding the basketball program on the eve of the 1989 NCAA BASKETBALL tournament, Michigan's football program would never be in this position. No one wants to give a non "Michigan Man" a chance, but then say we want a big name coach. Maybe coaches outside of the Michigan family know something we don't. Or realize they could end up like Rodriguez, since they're not from the Michigan family. Get over it. Remember, Schembechler wasn't a "Michigan Man".

The pool of coaches are limited now. If you want a "Michigan Man" the best you can do is Jim Harbaugh. And that's no guarantee. In fact I doubt he comes back to Ann Arbor. Then there's Brady Hoke. If he gets hired I'll feel sorry for him too. You know why? Because that's not good enough for you guys. He lacks pizazz, but has done a credible job at Ball State and San Diego State. Also he's a Michigan man. He may not be ready for those bright lights but as far as "Michigan Men" go that's the best you're gonna do.
I don't believe Brandon will go down the Les Miles trail again. And Ron English isn't getting the job. Remember, everyone jeered Auburn when they hired Gene Chizik and his 5-22 record from Iowa State. So if Hoke is the choice get off your high horse, respect the hire and rally around the coach. Get over the fact that you won't get a high profile "Michigan Man" and just make sure they make a solid hire this time around. Besides the high profile coaches outside the Michigan family you might vilify them the same way you did Rodriguez.