FB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[formerd3db]

sac:

If that report turns out to be true, then I will be very disappointed for several reasons.  I guess we'll all find out tomorrow AM.  Very surprising that Martin would leak that to the reporter of that article, when Rodriguez remains "tightlipped".

[formerd3db]

Flea and Oval:
I believe that lacrosse and hockey would have the inside tracks (no pun intented ).  Also, though, as I previously mentioned, for women, field hockey might turn out to be a distinct possibility they would consider bringing back in, somehow to balance this Title IX thing, if necessary.

[sac]

Its pretty much official.

http://mgoblue.com/football/page.aspx?id=12116


No truth to the rumor that WVU's hockey coach is the #1 candidate to replace Red Berenson when he retires.

[bulldogalum]

Well, regardless of whether this is a good hire or not, it seems as though Michigan has officially found itself a new rival.  Pretty sure folks from WV will not be happy about UM stealing a head basketball coach and an head football coach in the same calendar year.

[formerd3db]

bulldogalum:
I think you are right, especially if it was down "not above board" as it appears to have been done from the scant reports that have surfaced so far.  I thought Michigan was going "to do it the right way".

[D306]

I think it is a good hire for U of M.
Shows they are aggressively looking to be more active on the field and off.

I think any major college is under incrediable stress to hire a coach now, look at the circus that was this process. Most of the issues were media created, they all think they have the inside scoop. Sorry it is a process, and when you second, and third guess every call and movement things look bad.

I swear ESPN and the sports stations are sometimes the worst thing that ever happend to sports. Bad stories, players playing for TV time on sportscenter, showboating, Baseball highlights are strictly, HR and no story. Has our attention span really become 3 seconds, or 20 seconds for a complete topic?

My only concern for Michigan is that the academic standards do not go down. We all know they have had some questionable admits, but in the big part they have a first class program. I do not want SEC, Big East, Big 12 type troubles.

[formerd3db]

D306:

I agree with you about the ridiculous media circus that always occurs during these situations.  I realize that we cannot believe everything that is printed and/or said in the media, however, do you really think Michigan would procede in talking with a head coach from another school without permission from the latter's administration as has been reportedly said by the WVa president?  As I said before, if that did occur, Bill Martin and Sue Coleman do not have the intergrety that many believe they do (i.e. a first class program per your terms), or at least should have, which I think most of us would agree, putting "looking to be more active on the field and off" aside.  Do people really want to do it right or not?   Personally, I hope those reports of "non-permission" which appeared in yesterday's papers are false.   

[bulldogalum]

I'm with you, formerd3db:

My biggest concern in this coaching search was that Michigan find a coach that acts with integrity, and respects the Michigan way of doing things.  Turns out I might have been well advised to look for an athletic director and university president more in line with those qualities as well.    Anytime there is a change like this, you'd have to be lacking in some capacity if you were not at least a little nervous.  I don't know if this is a good hire, but I hope it is.  We'll find out soon enough I suppose.

Also, fair or not, this hire will likely define Bill Martin's tenure as athletic director.  He's done a lot of good things for the school, but if it turns out that Rich Rodriguez brings dishonor to the program in any way, it will severly tarnish the Martin Era of Michigan athletics.  Likewise, if Rodriguez runs a great program, Martin will be mentioned in the same breath as Canham.

At any rate, it will be interesting to see what the next few months bring.

[Mr. Ypsi]

What troubles me is that Bill Martin said he didn't contact Les Miles 'til after the SEC Championship (by which time it was too late) because he promised the LSU AD that he wouldn't.  For that he took tons of grief, but I thought "good; ethical decision".  Now WVU claims he never sought permission (he says he did and got it).  Someone is lying, and (for Michigan's sake) I just hope it is not Martin.

On a related note, I wonder how long 'til someone brings up the Michigan - WVU = Yankees - KC A's parallel (or isn't anyone else as old as me? ).   New WVU hiring slogan for the athletic department: Miami of Ohio claims to be the 'cradle of coaches', but they're just generic; WVU is the 'cradle of Michigan coaches'!

[sac]

UM-Morgantown 

[D306]

I am under the understanding that U of M did contact WVU prior to talking to RR.

At this point I am more concerned about transition.

Michigan always hired within the family so everything is new, I think to some extent that is a good thing.
IS RR the right guy, all you ever know is he has a good history with building teams, he has won with his guys and others.

Has anybody done any looking to see who, has what coming back in the MIAA?

I will do some reviews before I comment on 2008.
Then it still will be a crapshoot, 
It's not like I was perfect with my predictions this year.
Not bad year but missed a few picks, that hurt.

By the way have a great Holiday folks.

[formerd3db]

Well, they might not want to be so hasty as to call it U of M - Morgantown after Coach B's Michigan guys lost to Central Michigan in basketball over the weekend.  While I like to see the "littler guys" beat the "big guys" on occassion, that was not a great aspect in the "building block" for restoring Michigan's bb program (it was like Grand Valley State beating Mich State this year - too bad it was labeled an "exhibition game" and not counted/scheduled as a regular season game - but, oh, we've discussed those aspects in the past so I won't bring up and get into that discussion - like DIII Wheaton almost beating Northwestern at the buzzer last year - a great game!).

Seriously, though, you all make good points.  D306, you are right that transition now is the step at hand since it is a done deal now.  However, I will again say that it does matter as to who is telling the truth regarding who contacted who or not and when and IMO, that should be made public.  If the media circus jerks make such a big deal about trying to "get the scoop" first, then they should pursue this and find out who is telling the truth.  I will be among the many waiting to see how Rodriguez now does - I still don't care for him based on what I've been personally told and also seen in the past.  Time will tell.

D306, yeah, we'll all have to do some digging and find out about the MIAA returnees and as recruiting progresses over the winter.  Problem is though, in most cases, for the new recruits, everyone doesn't really know exactly how it will turn out until they see who actually shows up for the first day of pre-season camp, even if they have a decent list of "committed" recruits.  Should be interesting, though.

[formerd3db]

Oops!  Clarification!  In my above post, I forgot to put a  in after my comment about Morgantown in the first sentence as well as "However" should be in bold in the second sentence, second paragraph instead of the sentence before. Sorry:

[HOF]

In talking with some guys at the local watering hole a rumor was flying around that Rickett's from Hope also interviewed at Bluffton University last week.  So two MIAA guys up for the job?  Wow...that is pretty cool, unless your the Hope fan!

So is Hope going to lose a Defensive Coordinator??

Any word on those jobs???

[cave2bens]

At this point I am more concerned about transition.

Michigan always hired within the family so everything is new, I think to some extent that is a good thing.

Perhaps ignorance on my part, but curious as to Bo's previous links to UM when he replaced Elliot?  My recollections were Barberton High, "Mother Miami," Grad Asst at OSU under Hayes (Moeller was a captain of that championship team), Presbyterian College, back to Miami as HC, and then UM.  Am I missing something in between?   Thanks!