[Lefty Noob]

Could Rich Rodriguez be the man to end Michigan's consecutive bowl streak?

Olin Buchanan of Rivals.com seems to think it's possible:

Yet, I'm most intrigued by Rich Rodriguez's coaching debut at Michigan - against Utah. Here's a highly successful coach with a wide-open offensive system taking over a legendary program in which the majority of the players were recruited for a much different style of play.

Meanwhile, Utah projects to be a team that could equal or improve on last season's nine-win total. Teams from conferences such as the Mountain West relish the opportunity to beat members of one of the "Big Six" conferences.

Some observers feel the Wolverines' streak of 33 consecutive bowl appearances is in jeopardy this season, so every game is of utmost importance. The opener against Utah may provide a glimpse of what's to come for Michigan this season.

So what do you think? Will Rodriguez be the first Wolverines coach in over three decades to fail to take Michigan to a bowl game?

Rivals.com College Football - Roundtable: Best opening-week game

[cdublxi]

I don't know if we'll get to a bowl game but I can say this... if we don't the price is well worth the payoff in the end.

The Big Ten ball Michigan has played is going to the wayside and it's time to get with the program.

[DE82]

Originally Posted by cdublxi

I don't know if we'll get to a bowl game but I can say this... if we don't the price is well worth the payoff in the end.

The Big Ten ball Michigan has played is going to the wayside and it's time to get with the program.

I respectfully disagree. I never liked the Rich Rod hire for a few reasons.

1. A change in the way we do things and system isn't what was needed. A pro offense wins and wins consistently and over all is easier to run and easier to plug in backups when there are injuries. If anybody has any questions on if Lloyd Carr's offense still worked look no further than the 11-2 season a few years back. Execution is key and the losses to Ohio State and USC that season was about them being a better team. USC doesn't run a spread option offense and they are without a doubt the best program in the country in the last 8 years. They run a pro offense, much like what the Pats ran last year.

2. Bringing in a guy who says when being introduced "I don't know anything about Michigan football or how you guys do things" Didn't help his cause, nor did ticking off Braylon Edwards and other alumni.

3. He's shown in the past winning is more important than integrity to him. That's never been Michigan stance since Bo took over. We care about winning and winning the RIGHT way. Not Rich Rod, as is evident with his slap on the wrist for Kevin Grady who had a ONE game suspension after drinking and driving and being 3X the league limit.

4. His system relies on the QB being not only a runner and a passer but also being awesome. If the QB goes down, there goes the season. See Oregon last year and WV when they lost White vs. Pitt.

5. He's often taken the stance that it doesn't matter what he does this year because he doesn't have "his" players. Sends a bad message to the fans and to the team that because you didn't recruit them you are just using them as fill in players this season or how ever long it takes to get the guy you want playing.

6. He was a big fish in a little pond. Now people will point to wins over UGA and some other schools and proof he can win vs. top schools but that's not winning consistently in the big leagues. Lets face it, when the big ten is where it normally is Penn State, Wisconsin, Iowa, Purdue, Ohio State and Illinios as well as Michigan State are all teams that can play with most in the country.

7. He's not a Michigan Man and hasn't embraced the tradition of Michigan football, trust me I'm here at UM and I'm friends with MANY former and current players.


As I said I didn't like the hire, still don't. Lloyd Carr showed he could win a national title by doing it. He showed he could win the big ten by doing it and doing it often. Rich Rod will have to do the same. As far as I'm concerned if we don't make a bowl this season fire him and the staff move on and call Les Miles or Skip Holtz - DE82

[timbeau]

1. A change in the way we do things and system isn't what was needed. A pro offense wins and wins consistently and over all is easier to run and easier to plug in backups when there are injuries. If anybody has any questions on if Lloyd Carr's offense still worked look no further than the 11-2 season a few years back. Execution is key and the losses to Ohio State and USC that season was about them being a better team. USC doesn't run a spread option offense and they are without a doubt the best program in the country in the last 8 years. They run a pro offense, much like what the Pats ran last year.

The difference between USC's 'pro style' offense and Michigan's under Carr is the play calling. Michigan's offense as we all know wasn't exactly the most imaginative...teams knew EXACTLY what the team was going to run, each and every time. Personally, I'm glad those days are gone.

[Lefty Noob]

A loss to Utah followed up with a narrow win over the Miami Redhawks. What do you folks think about the Wolverines bowl chances now?

[DE82]

Originally Posted by timbeau

And the countless 8-4 and 9-4 seasons before that...

The difference between USC's 'pro style' offense and Michigan's under Carr is the play calling. Michigan's offense as we all know wasn't exactly the most imaginative...teams knew EXACTLY what the team was going to run, each and every time. Personally, I'm glad those days are gone.

No the difference is the talent level, face is Michigan doesn't have the talent of USC and hasn't been getting the talent USC has for years. Simply put Lloyd Carr is one of the greatest coaches to ever roam the sidelines for the maize and blue. He had the third highest winning percentage, a national title(something Bo didn't do) and had his team in the big title title picture ever year, which is what we stress on UM and have since Bo was coaching.

[DE82]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

A loss to Utah followed up with a narrow win over the Miami Redhawks. What do you folks think about the Wolverines bowl chances now?

Depends on how the team does next week I believe. I still think they can beat Northwestern, Illinios and Minnesota just based on that great D-line. However, I want a win over MSU too and Notre Dame

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by DE82

Depends on how the team does next week I believe. I still think they can beat Northwestern, Illinios and Minnesota just based on that great D-line. However, I want a win over MSU too and Notre Dame

Illinois might be a toughie. In my opinion, Notre Dame is a more likely win than the Illini are.

[timbeau]

No the difference is the talent level, face is Michigan doesn't have the talent of USC and hasn't been getting the talent USC has for years. Simply put Lloyd Carr is one of the greatest coaches to ever roam the sidelines for the maize and blue. He had the third highest winning percentage, a national title(something Bo didn't do) and had his team in the big title title picture ever year, which is what we stress on UM and have since Bo was coaching.

Not gonna disagree. Lloyd also seemed like a great guy to me (keep in mind I'm speaking as a fan and not an alum of UM), a real class act. However, the fact I am looking forward to the future of the program without him and his teams' predictable offense remains. It's time to move on.

[DE82]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

Illinois might be a toughie. In my opinion, Notre Dame is a more likely win than the Illini are.

I don't buy Illinios what so ever. They have no answer for the D-line UM has. Force Juice to throw and he can't beat you. I mean we didn't even have Hart and Henne last year when we beat them.

[DE82]

Originally Posted by timbeau

Not gonna disagree. Lloyd seemed to me like a great guy (keep in mind I'm speaking as a fan and not an alum of UM), a real class act. However, the fact remains that I am looking forward to the future of the program without him and his teams' predictable offense.

I just don't feel the spreed was a "need" if you get what I mean. This team would be better off with Grobe, Pinkle or Les Miles coaching and I firmly believe that. I'm pretty easy to please though. Beat MSU, contend for the Big Ten, go to a bowl. If Rod can do that this year remains to be seen. I did see SOME progress this week over last though.

[timbeau]

I just don't feel the spreed was a "need" if you get what I mean.

I don't think it was a need either. At the same time though, the spread offense is what's 'in' in the world of college football these days. Tons of teams are adapting a variation of the spread offense, and it has shown it works.

[DE82]

Originally Posted by timbeau

I don't think it was a need either. At the same time though, the spread offense is what's 'in' in the world of college football these days. Tons of teams are adapting a variation of the spread offense, and it has shown it works.

It does, unless as I mentioned your QB goes down. If that happens your season is over.

[timbeau]

Originally Posted by DE82

No the difference is the talent level, face is Michigan doesn't have the talent of USC and hasn't been getting the talent USC has for years. Simply put Lloyd Carr is one of the greatest coaches to ever roam the sidelines for the maize and blue. He had the third highest winning percentage, a national title(something Bo didn't do) and had his team in the big title title picture ever year, which is what we stress on UM and have since Bo was coaching.

Originally Posted by DE82

It does, unless as I mentioned your QB goes down. If that happens your season is over.

That may be the case. But hey, they're going to have two highly dual threat QBs on the roster next season (Beaver, Forcier). So it's not like they're completely screwed if one goes down.

[DE82]

Originally Posted by timbeau

That may very well be the case. But hey, they're going to have two highly dual threat QBs on the roster next season (Beaver, Forcier). ;p

Forcier? You mean Jason Forcier?