U of M thread (in the Lions Forum) :)

[Mainevent]

If the talent is decent enough, a good coach can win right away. Probably not huge, but it can happen quickly. There's clearly offensive talent on this roster that can play in many sytems. The issue is talent on the D side of the ball.

[SeattleLionsFan]

But if he wasn't they'd fire him sinthey could start the search for the new guy.

I like Brandon and am happy that he's taking a methodical approach (evaluating the coach after the season like he does in other sports) but no other sport has a month before playing the last game.

He should have begun the evaluation after OSU and if the bowl game mattered, he should have said so. But I can't see how the bowl game would be the decider either way.

[LionsWolverines]

If the talent is decent enough, a good coach can win right away. Probably not huge, but it can happen quickly. There's clearly offensive talent on this roster that can play in many sytems. The issue is talent on the D side of the ball.

Obviously, but if Dee Hart is gonna decommit, who's to say some defensive guys won't? Let alone guys we're still fighting for. Hard to sell a kid on coming to a school when he doesn't know who'll be coaching by the time he gets there.

In the long run it might be better to not worry about 1 class of recruits, but our fanbase has shown that there is no long run. I'm not crazy about RR. I think if nothing else, Harbaugh would bring some freshness, and hope to the program, but if you're gonna make a change at michigan, you need to give the new guy as much time as possible to keep our recruits and maybe try to grab one or two of his at stanford.

If we're 8-4 in three years because the 2011 recruiting class went to hell and now we have no juniors contributing, you don't think we'll have cries for his head?

I know we all like to think harbaugh will come in and win the big ten every year until he retires, but it just isn't going to work like that with the players on this team. Recruits are a big deal, and harbaugh needs to be given a shot at keeping the class together.

At least it's hard to make a bad pun on Jim Harbaugh's name.

[Drew]

If Harbaugh has M contending for the B10 in November, won't nobody be crying for his head.

[Topweasel]

Obviously, but if Dee Hart is gonna decommit, who's to say some defensive guys won't? Let alone guys we're still fighting for. Hard to sell a kid on coming to a school when he doesn't know who'll be coaching by the time he gets there.

In the long run it might be better to not worry about 1 class of recruits, but our fanbase has shown that there is no long run. I'm not crazy about RR. I think if nothing else, Harbaugh would bring some freshness, and hope to the program, but if you're gonna make a change at michigan, you need to give the new guy as much time as possible to keep our recruits and maybe try to grab one or two of his at stanford.

If we're 8-4 in three years because the 2011 recruiting class went to hell and now we have no juniors contributing, you don't think we'll have cries for his head?

I know we all like to think harbaugh will come in and win the big ten every year until he retires, but it just isn't going to work like that with the players on this team. Recruits are a big deal, and harbaugh needs to be given a shot at keeping the class together.

At least it's hard to make a bad pun on Jim Harbaugh's name.

Lets not pretend that Dick Rod is actually recruiting college players. Sure he can have a couple big pickups. But no good coach wants small linemen, small corners, small LB, and so on. Chances are that a lot of the 2011 recruiting class might have their offers pulled anyways.

This isn't the case where he came in and top NCAA recruits left because of the system or coach. Every coaching change sees recruits leave, but how many times are the recruits so far out of the prototypical build of the standard college player?

[LionsWolverines]

If Harbaugh has M contending for the B10 in November, won't nobody be crying for his head.

When he waves his magic wand over our defense?I hope as much as anyone we win the B10 next year, but come on. JT floyd isn't gonna show up next year as a shutdown corner. Cam Gordon isn't gonna be some playmaker.

I fully believe Harbaugh can have us winning B10 titles and even NCs, but not next year, or even really the year after.

[Mainevent]

who's to say some defensive guys won't?

What defensive guys? I think if a change is made, Harbaugh's personality and commitment to the entire team will probably sway more recruits than might be lost in this interim time period.

[Cody_Russell]

If Harbaugh can get Stanford to the level where they have Top 10 Recruiting Classes 2 years in a row ... 11-1 Record this year AND BCS bowl game ... Top overall Pick in the 2011 NFL Draft (a QB) ... A Michigan man ... Tough, intimidating person ... pro style offense ... CAN recruit players that our great academically (being @ Stanford) ... 47 years old ...

MICHIGAN SHOULD HIRE HARBOUGH! and PURDUE SHOULD THAN HIRE RICH ROD lol!

[Cody_Russell]

... actually if Rich Rod is fired, I wouldn't be surprised if IU went after him if they remain patient and wait another month for HC options.
IU would go crazy if this would happen :( :(

[gjdodger]

Not to rain on your Hoosier parade, but no Big Ten team would touch RichRod. He'd go out West where lack of defense is de rigeur, or more likely get a job as an offensive assistant in the pros.

[LionsWolverines]

What defensive guys? I think if a change is made, Harbaugh's personality and commitment to the entire team will probably sway more recruits than might be lost in this interim time period.

Which is why every defensive recruit in the country signed with harbaugh, right? Every kid wants something different. These kids signed on to play with someone who isn't going to be around when they get there.

If he brings some great recruits in from stanford, or just some guys who were still undecided. GREAT. I could not be happier about it. Those guys still won't likely be major contributors for a few years. During which our current guys will still be out there and still be bad. I just hope if we don't win the B10 in the next 2 years people don't start with "fire harbaugh" BS.

[Rocky Bleier]

Rodriguez cried at the banquet. My god, he cries more than Dick Vermeil! Like jaadam4 said, he's gone. No way Brandon let's this drag on and then waits after recruits decommit just to retain Rodriguez. First, RR's buyout number reduces. Second, Harbaugh coaches Stanford in their bowl game. Third, Harbaugh is named the new coach and has a month to sway kids to Michigan. Goodbye, Rich. At least you got more of a chance than you gave Scott Shafer.

[Mainevent]

Those guys still won't likely be major contributors for a few years. During which our current guys will still be out there and still be bad.

I'm confused then. How is that any different than keeping RR? Other than RR has shown no inclination to improve the defense.

[jaadam4]

Rodriguez cried at the banquet. My god, he cries more than Dick Vermeil!

lol

[Meano.Culpa]

You can hear Rodriguez cry all the way through the vortex

Out of curiosity, did anyone from the wimpy universe notice that "I truly want to be a Michigan man" implies "I am not a Michigan Man"? At least the twit is self-aware.

Coach Cooper was commenting this morning that he would sell his remaining children to play his annual big game against wimpy Rodriguez.