the job opening in anne arbour

M Club · Post by **M Club** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 1:11 am

so, speculation. les miles? brian kelly? hire from within? i read the best line about promoting from within on mgoblog:

Carr was stubborn, arrogant, and loyal to a fault. There is no Carr coaching tree because the program is inbred.

that seems to be the biggest concern about the criteria for a new coach: his ties to the program. the ivan maisel article mentioned jim grobe:

Among other names that will be discussed amongst the public is Wake Forest head coach Jim Grobe, a Midwesterner who believes in physical football. Grobe's teams are known for playing hard for 60 minutes, and he is greatly respected by his peers.

Grobe, however, is not a "Michigan Man." Asked whether the next coach should have that quality, Carr said, "Well, you remember a guy named Schembechler? He wasn't a Michigan Man. Fritz Crisler wasn't a Michigan Man. Fielding Yost wasn't a Michigan Man. I know this: Bill wants to hire the finest coach in the country."

i'm all for making sure the next coach is a michigan man, though that term needs to be understood in a different context other than where'd your degree come from. i'd hope michigan man speaks to a set of values someone holds - thereby eliminating nick saban from consideration - and not whether or not he was suckled on schembechler's boobies. after all, bo, the patron saint of michigan men, revitalized the program after cutting his teeth at ohio state, and crisler brought with him from princeton the most revered of michigan traditions, a rival power at the time, so it's not the pedigree so much as where you'll steer the ship. i think the message here is bill martin needs to play corporate headhunter rather than fat middle manager rubber stamping a birthright cum promotion.

i don't know who i prefer at the moment. the public debate's thus far been largely about whether miles will leave lsu when we offer him the job, but i suspect our fascination with him has been the contrast between lsu's season and ours and not because he's the right guy for the job. i'm interested to see who makes it through the initial vetting process and PRAY TO FUCKING GOD it's not someone who's coached in aa the last ten years.

MgoBlue-LightSpecial · Tue Nov 20, 2007 1:24 am

What is it with Brian Kelly's attitude that some "michigan men" have a problem with? Cocky? Pompous? You mean like how Lloyd belittled sideline reporters on national tv? That kind of cocky and pompous?

M Club · Post by **M Club** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 1:33 am

i have no idea. i really haven't heard much criticism of him by "michigan men," though i'm sure i could find it by googling. i gather a lot has to do with known quantities. lloyd jalopy's no doubt quite bitter about some things, but that's accepted as just a part of a his personality since he's run a clean and successful program. i imagine the more affluent and conservative "michigan men" could be a bit leery at the prospect of a slick oil salesman putting his needs ahead of their beloved football program he's been entrusted to run. perhaps that's what they think when they see kelly?

Adelpiero · Post by **Adelpiero** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 1:38 am

if harbaugh hadnt stepped on toes, think he would of been an option. he has done a great job at stanford, they were a fucking mess, still are, but a little glimmer of hope the next years under Jim

MgoBlue-LightSpecial · Tue Nov 20, 2007 1:41 am

M Club wrote:i imagine the more affluent and conservative "michigan men" could be a bit leery at the prospect of a slick oil salesman putting his needs ahead of their beloved football program he's been entrusted to run. perhaps that's what they think when they see kelly?

If Kelly gets the job, his needs have been met. GVSU, CMU, and Cincy were all stepping stones to get to this point: a chance to coach a bigtime program. Unless his eyes are set on the NFL...

M Club · Post by **M Club** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 1:47 am

i entirely agree, and it's not like bo wasn't cocky at all, right? if i remember correctly, kelly campaigned hard for the msu job b/c he wanted to remain in michigan.

The Seer · Post by **The Seer** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 3:18 am

Adelpiero wrote:if harbaugh hadnt stepped on toes, think he would of been an option. he has done a great job at stanford, they were a fucking mess, still are, but a little glimmer of hope the next years under Jim

Concur. Harbaugh is the choice that would make or break an A.D.

WolverineSteve · Post by **WolverineSteve** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 5:44 am

MgoBlue-LightSpecial wrote:What is it with Brian Kelly's attitude that some "michigan men" have a problem with? Cocky? Pompous? You mean like how Lloyd belittled sideline reporters on national tv? That kind of cocky and pompous?

Do you seriously have a problem with the way Lloyd snubbed sideline eye-candy whores during pre-kickoff and halftime sound bites? I'll rack the hell out of Lloyd for not having respect for dumb cunt Communication majoring slunts trying to ask an informed question during a pressure packed football game. Just because ESPN/ABC decries it so (these fucking sideline interviews) doesn't mean he has to like it. If the question is dumb (what are your feelings....?) he let the skirts know. Lloyd did not like alot of media types, mostly because they were invasive and many took pot shots at him and his program. Why the hell should he kiss their ass?

As for Kelly, don't know much about him. Haven't heard that he has some sort of 'tude. I know he's won everywhere he's been. Doesn't mean he can handle the pressure of the big time. I think Tressel may be more the exeption than the rule. By that I mean that Kelly may need more seasoning at the BCS conf. level.

MuchoBulls · Post by **MuchoBulls** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 3:15 pm

WolverineSteve wrote:I'll rack the hell out of Lloyd for not having respect for dumb cunt Communication majoring slunts trying to ask an informed question during a pressure packed football game.

I'll RACK that take. I always loved when they tried to interview Lloyd going into the half and hearing his responses.

MgoBlue-LightSpecial · Tue Nov 20, 2007 3:25 pm

WolverineSteve wrote:Do you seriously have a problem with the way Lloyd snubbed sideline eye-candy whores during pre-kickoff and halftime sound bites?

Do I? Nah, I don't have a big problem with it, though I've always thought turning your nose up at the sideline pee-ons is pretty lame. "Hey, look at me! I just out-smarted Bonnie Bernstein."

Nice job, coach.

M Club · Post by **M Club** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 4:00 pm

if turning up your nose at bonnie bernstein is the same as out-smarting her than he wasn't going to win anyhow.

WolverineSteve · Post by **WolverineSteve** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 5:29 pm

Anybody catch Miles' presser. He's prepping for R-Kansas.

Les is going to get a hard look. There is an article on M-live where the author visited Miles before this season. The way he speaks about Michigan and AA and Bo, I gotta say, I think he takes the gig.

Link....
http://www.mlive.com/wolverines/index.s ... chiga.html

Hell, when a job of this magnitude is open everybody who ever won anything at any level will be asked about the gig. Down here I've heard Jon Gruden asked about it in his presser yesterday. Hopefully the search will comb the land. But I think UM would be hard pressed to find a better fit than Miles.

WolverineSteve · Post by **WolverineSteve** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 5:33 pm

By the way....

Great post by Yost at the UM blog. Pretty much sums up my feelings....

If Lloyd Carr's press conference yesterday was any indication, there might never be another college football coach like him. And the game will be worse because of it.

What Michigan supporters saw during his retirement announcement was a coach who truly embodied Bo Schembechler's mantra of "The Team. The Team. The Team." What jaded sports fans witnessed was a man who still put principle above a paycheck. What the sport lost was a teacher who realized the "big game" was simply a way to instill larger lessons regarding the big picture.

[Photo]Unfortunately, we live in an era, especially when it comes to athletic competition, where many of us claim to care about the above but deep down - and usually less so - all that really matters is the scoreboard, baby. And to many in the Michigan family, Carr had fallen short in that column of late. So while they profess their admiration for the man, deep down - and usually less so - they were happy to see the coach step aside.

Never mind that Carr never had a losing season in 13 years at the helm. Forget that the school never once had the hint of a scandal during his tenure. Who cares that keeping any team among the nation's elite year in and year out is a much tougher assignment than its ever been (see: Nebraska, Notre Dame and Miami). It simply wasn't enough for some.

And I'm not naive, blind or an apologist. Yes, the recent bowl losses and stumbles against Ohio State stung. But college football, like life, is a game of ups and downs. To wax less poetically than Carr at his press conference yesterday: Shit happens. There is an ebb and flow to everything...except the unwieldy expectations of Michigan fans.

Thus, U-M begins its search for a new coach. Forget interest or availability, I just hope the person we're looking for exists. You know, someone able to contend for a national title every year, win each bowl game and never lose to Ohio State. If not, watch out. We Michigan fans are like some long-married guy going through a perpetual mid-life crisis: the grass is always greener, the coach of "that team" is always sexier.

But to some, the coaching situation is already looking up because whoever it is, it won't be Carr. Which really is a shame. Because a special part of a Michigan just retired yesterday. Yet, sadly, too many peopled failed to realize just how good we had it.

Thank you, Coach Carr, for everything you did. Both on and off the field.

T REX · Post by **T REX** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 6:19 pm

Miles to Michigan

Jimbo Fisher to LSU

Write it down.....

WolverineSteve · Post by **WolverineSteve** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 6:25 pm

Like I said, everyone who has ever had success coaching will be mentioned. Most make absolutely no sense, there may be 3-5 true candidates. Guys entrenched in programs like Stoops is are ridiculous to even speculate on.

I can't stand the thought of Kirk Ferentz. Just because the broad that hired him is now at UM doesn't make him a candidate IMO. Besides, he's got the greatest gig at any level right there in Iowa.

My guess is that the coach will come from this list...

Miles
Kelly
Rodriquez
Schiano
Grobe/Navy guy.

Miles is far and away the leader at the zygote stage of the search. Anything can happen. LSU has the resources to pay Miles whatever they want. The fact that he wasn't particularly liked by the fanbase down there, made him the favorite in my view. I think the call to come home will out weigh his successes at LSU. A national championship might swing the fans in his favor and build a huge swell of loyalty toward Baton Rouge.

It should be interesting. The first time in my lifetime that UM is going to go outside the program for their new coach. It worked out pretty well the last time.

another interesting article

http://cbs.sportsline.com/collegefootba ... y/10483756

Sky · Post by **Sky** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 7:20 pm

WolverineSteve wrote:Do you seriously have a problem with the way Lloyd snubbed sideline eye-candy whores during pre-kickoff and halftime sound bites? I'll rack the hell out of Lloyd for not having respect for dumb cunt Communication majoring slunts trying to ask an informed question during a pressure packed football game. Just because ESPN/ABC decries it so (these fucking sideline interviews) doesn't mean he has to like it. If the question is dumb (what are your feelings....?) he let the skirts know. Lloyd did not like alot of media types, mostly because they were invasive and many took pot shots at him and his program. Why the hell should he kiss their ass?

As for Kelly, don't know much about him. Haven't heard that he has some sort of 'tude. I know he's won everywhere he's been. Doesn't mean he can handle the pressure of the big time. I think Tressel may be more the exeption than the rule. By that I mean that Kelly may need more seasoning at the BCS conf. level.

Two things, I love any coach that answers stupid questions with stupid responses. And when the coaches can be snide about it, I love it even more. The only thing I hate more than these stupid pre-game/halftime questions are when they interview coaches during the game. Come on, like anyone really needs this kind of crap to enjoy the game?

Seconldy, Kelly is a good coach but a complete ass. I have nothing against Cincy (I usually root for them outside of their rivalry game with MU) but every time I hear him speak, I think his chip is a little too big. Almost to the point of being disrepectful just for the sake of being disrespectful. But, that doesn't mean he isn't a good coach. FWIW.

M Club · Post by **M Club** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 9:55 pm

Sky wrote:Two things, I love any coach that answers stupid questions with stupid responses. And when the coaches can be snide about it, I love it even more. The only thing I hate more than these stupid pre-game/halftime questions are when they interview coaches during the game. Come on, like anyone really needs this kind of crap to enjoy the game?

i liked tressel's response after the umich game when that chick asked him about both offenses struggling and he said very casually, we actually ran the ball pretty well.

peter dragon · Post by **peter dragon** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 10:26 pm

M Club wrote:
Sky wrote:Two things, I love any coach that answers stupid questions with stupid responses. And when the coaches can be snide about it, I love it even more. The only thing I hate more than these stupid pre-game/halftime questions are when they interview coaches during the game. Come on, like anyone really needs this kind of crap to enjoy the game?
i liked tressel's response after the umich game when that chick asked him about both offenses struggling and he said very casually, we actually ran the ball pretty well.

stop it.. tressel isnt going to UMich..

LOL

seriously though, what happens if michigan goes the route of ND and Miami and or Neb, and starts droping games. Will the fan base stand behind a coach that goes say 4-7 and gets pounded by OSU in columbus next year?

with Carr out, and no head coach to do recruiting in Dec, giving him less than a month to hire a staff and put together a class, it could end badly.
You should check with Nebraska fan i frank should have still been fired. I know OSU got lucky with the cooper to tressel hire, but how many times does that happen, instead of the team struggle in the first couple of years?

e

M Club · Post by **M Club** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 10:38 pm

i don't think things at michigan will get as bad as it has at nebraska or notre dame. for one thing, charlie weis is locked up for quite some time, so there's no danger of that fat lout eating our offensive line's share of the buffet, thereby leaving them to small to block anyone. and secondly, lloyd's departure wasn't catastrophic. it was engineered to create as smooth of a transition as possible. it'll affect things somewhat, but basically the same infrastructure is still in place that has kept michigan football performing reasonably well for quite some time now. at nebraska they threw out what remained of t.o.'s legacy and draped an entirely different machine in the big red, which wreaked havoc on a proud program.