The Real Big Ten Coach Rankings
The Vest beats The Kirk in our rankingsAfter reading an article by Rivals.com’s Tom Dienhart that ranked the Big Ten’s football coaches, I could not be more apalled by what I have seen, even as Buckeye Grove has tried to rectify Dienhart’s analysis. In case you’re too lazy to click the link in the last sentence, Dienhart has listed Kirk Ferentz and Rich Rodriguez above The Vest in his list of the top coaches in the conference.
While I understand, but don’t agree, with the decision to put a guy like Ferentz first on his list, how can Dienhart possibly justify putting Joe Tiller’s good buddy before JT? First off, looking at the numbers, RR is 63-35 as a head coach at the FBS level, while The Senator’s mark stands at 83-19. Secondly, Dick Rod has 4 conference titles (all Big Least) in his 8 years at the FBS level, while going 2-3 in bowl games (Bill Stewart coached WVU’s 2008 Fiesta Bowl win), with 1 BCS victory. Tress has 5 conference titles (in a real conference), is 4-4 in bowl games, 3-3 in BCS games, and oh yeah, has a National Championship.
As I could continue to steam off more and more stats and other pertinent information as to why I am so angered that Dienhart has in all seriousness listed Dick Rod above Tressel in his coach rankings, I would much rather show Tommy how the rankings should fall when it comes to coaches in the Big Ten. Tom take notes, here’s how it goes:
1. Jim Tressel, The Ohio State University
While you can say I am completely biased, I think the above statistics and continued dominance in the conference speak for themselves. Four straight outright or shared conference titles, four straight BCS games (6 in 8 years), double digit victory seasons in six out of eight seasons, and the best built program for success on the national level give Jim the upperhand over Kirk, Joe Pa, or any other coach that people want to argue should hold the number one spot on this list.
2. Kirk Ferentz, Iowa
Not to take anything away from Ferentz, as he is a great coach, but he is number two in my book behind JT. Kirk has done a great job with an Iowa program that went 1-10 in his first year, and holds a 82-74 record with the Hawkeyes headed into his 11th season with the program. He has taken Iowa to seven bowl games during his tenure, winning four of those. Year in and year out he makes the more out of less and has even tallied two Big Ten titles during his time in Iowa City. Looking at the numbers, Ferentz doesn’t pop out at you, but there is a reason his name is continually brought up for big time college openings and in the NFL every year.
3. Rich Rodriguez, Michigan
It was a tough call whether to put RR or Joe Pa in this slot, but I do have to give credit where credit is due, even if it pains me to do so. Dick Rod did do a very good job with his alma mater at WVU, bringing them to the top of the Big Least and putting them on the national map with a big Sugar Bowl win over Georgia in January of 2006. We’re not completely sure how his time up north will pan out, but now that he is starting to get some players that are made for his system it’s time for old Dicky to put up or shut up. If he doesn’t have the results on the field in the next couple of years he may find himself on the open market.
4. Joe Paterno, Penn State
You can make the argument that Joe Pa doesn’t even really coach the Nittany Lions anymore, but as far as we know he’s still whipping up genius from his seat in the press box. Happy Valley has enjoyed a revival of the program the last few years, with two conference titles in the last four seasons, including last year’s surprising 11-1 record and appearance in the Rose Bowl. Joe Pa is 383-127-3 in his 43-year stint as head of the PSU squad and holds the record for most wins, bowl wins (23), and bowl appearances (35), among other marks for FBS coaches. At age 82, he’s still hanging in there and whether he’s calling the plays or not, he remains a very important person to Penn State football and tradition.
5. Ron Zook, Illinois
After getting the royal treatment by Gator Nation after a 23-14 run in his three years at Florida, Zook has bounced back strong and made the Fighting Illini a legitimate Big Ten Contender. The Zooker is 18-30 in four years in Champaign-Urbana, but don’t let numbers fool you as Illinois made the Rose Bowl in January 2008 after a 9-3 season which included an upset of our beloved Buckeyes in Columbus. Zook has done an excellent job of recruiting and while Illinois had a disappointing 5-7 season last year, expect the Orange Crush to bounce back strongly in Juice Williams’ senior season. Illinois may be a basketball school, but Ron Zook is not letting football be forgotten.
6. Mark Dantonio, Michigan State
The man who lead the OSU defense to the 2002 National Title is working his magic again, this time in East Lansing. After resurrecting Cincinnati football, Mark D. is 16-10 in his two years leading the Green and White. He’s brought Sparty to two consecutive bowl games and has taken advantage of Michigan’s fall by having tremendous success with in-state recruiting, putting his team in a position to be successful for many years to come. Dantonio may one day be JT’s successor in Columbus, but it may be awfully hard to leave MSU if the program continues its success under his lead.
7. Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern
Fitzgerald has done a very nice job since taking over for the late Randy Walker a few seasons ago. He has improved the Wildcats every year he has been the head coach, going 19-18 in his three seasons at the helm and lead NU to the Alamo Bowl last season. The future is bright for Fitzgerald in Evanston and with Mike Kafka behind center this year, his spread offense should be even more lethal than ever before.
8. Bret Bielema, Wisconsin
I am not a huge fan of Bielema’s and he has regressed the last two seasons after going 12-1 in his first year taking over for Barry Alvarez. Bielema clearly has had a problem bringing in his own players and developing talent, but the prestige and success of the UW program, coupled with three bowl appearances in three seasons puts him above Tim Brewster in the eight spot.
9. Tim Brewster, Minnesota
Brewster is another Big Ten coach on the up and the Gophers impressed many by going 7-6 last season, just one year after their embarassing 1-11 campaign in 2007. Brewster not only had Minny bowling last year, but has put the Gophers on the recruiting map on the national level. The program in the twin cities has turned around quickly and it will be interesting to see what progress the Brew Crew can make this season.
10. Bill Lynch, Indiana
Lynch is lucky that there’s a new coach in town, otherwise he’d be at the bottom of this list. Lynch has not been able to complete the rebuilding project that late coach Terry Hoeppner started and faltered with a 3-9 record last year after making a bowl appearance in his first season with Hoepp’s players. This season Lynch is shaking things up on offense in Bloomington, including moving QB Kellen Lewis to wide receiver and using more spread and pistol in his schemes. If the changes don’t lead to more wins, Lynch can’t expect to have a job much longer.
11. Danny Hope, Purdue
Unfortunately for Hope, he is the new guy in town and is inheriting a team that went 4-8 last season. Bringing experience as a former head coach at Eastern Kentucky and as offensive coordinator at Louisville, Hope also had a stint as an offensive line coach in West Lafeyette during the Drew Brees era, and was brought on by Joe Tiller a couple seasons ago with it being known that he would succeed the long time coach. Hope has a lot of work to do and he falls last on this list because he first has to prove himself in the ranks of the Big Ten’s quality stable of coaches.
Much better than old Tommy boy’s list, but I still have to disagree with Dick Rod’s placement. Someone, and I was thinking it was you guys, did a post about how a good coach does not go 3-9 his first season, not matter how badly the talent doesn’t match his playing style and I fully agree with that sentiment.
I agree, a good coach would have molded his system around his players rather than forcing players to play in a system that didn’t suit them
give other coaches in the Big Ten the talent on Michigan’s team last year and I bet over half of them do better than 3-9
General Anonymous, I have no players.
Lloyd Car would not have gone 3-9 last year, even with no talent. I don’t care if Rodriquez was building a new system, I just don’t think he’s that impressive of a coach. He did good at WVU but big deal.
WVU, Tulane, Clemson… everywhere he has gone, he has churned out a better offense that whatever the hell Dear Leader is calling an offense these days, you have to give him that.
But I don’t think even Pete Carroll would have had a winning record starting Nick Sheridan and a bevy of walk-ons and freshmen on the offensive line.
that’s a little unfair to compare what lloyd would have done in his first year. its a completely different system with no players recruited for the system. the real question is how much better would urban mayer/gary pinkel/ron zook/even mike leech would have done and im not convinced they would have done anything better.
oh sam ever with the ‘my contrarian opinion is more astute than your homer-itis opinion’
JT is far from a perfect coach but when he had the players the offense was explosive and he let it do its thing. petey would not have had to deal with nick sheridan at QB bc petey is not an arrogant douche bag who chases off players who don’t fit the mold. richrod created his own problems. richrod will win but he will also throw in lots of 8-4 and 7-5 seasons in the Big Ten bc he can not adapt as circumstances dictate.
BHart =/= Gonzo
Robo =/= Ginn
Small =/= Santonio
Bockeman or Frosh Pryor =/= Heisman Trophy winner
we had a beast of a running back and mediocre to avg QBs the last two years…what did you think Tress was gonna do? that we had that situation was his and Jimmy B’s fault but he adapted and extracted the most his players would allow…even getting that improbable championship game against LSU with a team that was not very good.
Tressel has had one year of offensive excellence, surrounded by years of mediocrity alternating with mere goodness.
Rodriguez, on the other hand, has consistently produced top-25 offenses everywhere he has gone, with the obvious exceptions of 2001 and 2008. This isn’t even a contest. Rodriguez did not have the players to run his offense, and it would have made absolutely no sense for him to hinder their development in his offense by reverting to the drop-back, three yards-and-a-cloud mentality. Yeah, he may have gotten 4 or 5 wins, maybe even a Motor City Bowl appearance. Terrific. Then this year, his team would have to re-learn his entire offense. It’s a wonder you don’t have a coaching job, anon.
Sam don’t you think the big ten has better teams then the big east? That might be a factor as far as stats go. There are several games that would be lay-ups for the buckeyes. If they were in the big east im sure Tressels offense would be top 10. He doesn’t care about stats like dorky fantasy fans like yourself. Stats do not mean anything. Tressel is happy to just win the game. I got Ohio state a national title how many titles does Rich have?
No, I don’t think the Big 10 is that much better than the Big East. I think they’re on a relatively equal footing since 2002 or thereabouts.
that is ass-anine
I could have coached Michigan to a win over Toledo.
Submit your application, Poe. I’m sure Michigan will be hungry for new blood if this experiment doesn’t work out
Ah, here’s the post I was talking about: http://www.elevenwarriors.com/2008/11/ss-richrod-under-duress.html
I think Dantonio is better than Ferentz and Zook. I guess time will tell though
Maybe it is because Jimbo can’t finish the job, runner up is really just the first loser.
Paterno 2………. his record earns him that.
I agree.
If this were a list of coaching careers in FBS, JoPa gets the #1 spot.
If this is a list of the coach’s current achievements, Paterno should be #2. You said it yourself…2 Big Ten Titles in 4 years. That is more than Ferentz and RR have done. How many Big East Titles could Penn State have won in 8 years under Paterno?
8
I agree. RR doesn’t get to go on the top of this list until he’s proven something here.
I’d say:
Paterno (for lifetime achievement)
Tressel
Ferentz
Dantonio
Zook
Rodriguez
etc.
……….and I could agree with that–coaching resume and record is strong–post season wins alone are #1. The man got screwed out of 2 national titles with undefeated seasons as well.
I agree, JoePa deserves to be 2. The rest of the coaches have not been able to put together more than 1-2 good years at a time. RR does not yet deserve to be any higher than 5, behind Ferentz and Dantonio. He has to earn it.
Very, very surprising to see a buckeye homer rewrite these rankings to benefit “thee” ohio state… Success in big games says all you need to know about “the senator’s” coaching ability. He simply has not delivered in his last 4 big games with losses to teams from power conferences. Rodriguez, on the other hand, led his team to victory in his last 3 bowl games including upset wins over Georgia and Oklahoma. It’s really not that complicated – the Big Ten has been down, ohio state has played lesser competition out of conference, and has fallen flat in bowl games. Nice fluff piece though…
RR didn’t coach them in their win over OU (it was Bill Stewart), and in the 2004 Gator Bowl, lost to the MIGHTY Terrapins of Maryland 41 to 7.
As down as the Big 10 has been, it is still far superior to the Big East.
Besides the win over Georgia in the 2006 Sugar Bowl, what “big games” has RR won?
well, he lost the biggest game of his career to a sh!tty pittsburgh team. that has to count for something, right?
Rodriguez’s players, Rodriguez’s system, and Rodriguez’s assistants. Do you really think football is simple enough for a coach to step in weeks before a bowl, overhaul the entire team, and win the game on his own accord? If you do, that says an awful lot about your knowledge of the game… Is the Big Ten such a terrible conference that it’s “best coach” has a .500 bowl record?
Tressel coached Ohio State to four straight bowl victories (including a National Championship). His lack of success in the previous three bowl games is apparent, but his overall success as a coach at Ohio State is undeniable… RR has the same .500 record in bowl games (far less significant bowls [in most cases]), and that’s ONLY if you give him the win over Oklahoma.
You never responded to my question on what big games RR has actually won, besides the Georgia game or had any comment to the embarrassing 41-7 stomping at the hands of Maryland in 2004.
I personally think JoePa is the best coach in the conference, but Tressel is far and away the second best. If RR wins 10 games this year (which he may considering their EXTREMELY weak schedule), I may change my mind.
So, are we rating all-time coaches in the Big Ten or coaching ability? Very different lists… Paterno has the most wins of ANY active coach – so he would have to be the All-Time greatest in the Big Ten. Unfortunately, he hasn’t coached that team for several years and can’t be considered to have much of an upside in the future.
Rodriguez turned WVU around, leading them to 4 of 13 all-time conference championships in 7 years. And, he did this with 2-3 star recruits. How do you honestly think Tressel would fare without a top 10 class every year? How would he function outside the most obese athletic department in the country? Both coaches have shown great ability, I just think Rodriguez has the better upside and don’t expect you to agree…
So… Recruiting must not be a significant aspect of head coaching in college football?
To B: I know exactly how Tressel would do. He’d have won 4 national championships at Youngstown State. Not exactly a football powerhouse. You don’t think he would be in contention wherever he went?
B
Bill Stewart prepared and coached the team for Oklahoma…..also what’s your list? Just curious
go away you annoying insect…. you have nothing to flap your gums about when you have an abysmal season for the ages and lose to Toledo at home. Come back when you contend for a Big-10 title.
Can anyone else believe that B gets up, makes a cup of coffee, eats his bowl of wheaties, and starts trolling his superiors at 8:39 in the morning?
Do you have a job? Wife? Kids? Girlfriend? Have you ever touched a boob, B? Methinks not. Methinks this is a reasonable approximation of your current appearance: http://blogs.courierpostonline.com/worldofwarcraft/files/2008/12/southpark_wow2.jpg
Now go back to being an MGoIdiot on MGoBlog and leave us nincompoops, halfwits and plebeians to discuss our team amongst ourselves. Michigan fans are (sorta) welcome, as long as they’re reasonable and courteous. You are neither. You are a grade-A douchenozzle. Good day, sir.
Good enough job that I have time to waste on this blather while still quadrupling your salary. Good day to you…
wow, you make 400k a year?? Good job–I didnt know that janitors do that well.
How can you say Joe Pa hasn’t coached that team for the last few years? Are you a close insider to the program? The players seem to be passionate about playing for him, not the assistant who you assume is coaching the team. Also, Rich Rodriquez did do well at WVU, but how can you criticize Ohio State for playing in a bad conference and a week schedule when WVU has done the exact same thing. The conference schedule there was much weaker than the Big 10, and they didn’t dominate the conference every year. They had Louisville right there with them, and Louisville proved to be over rated as well. You beat Georgia ine a owl game, and Georgia always falls on it’s face when it matters, even more that the media perceives Ohio State does. Oklahoma is also a team that has not won a big game in a really long time. Michigan has fallen hard in bowl games as well. I don’t see how you think Rodriquez is so great. Not to mention, he’s proven he has no problem F’ing over a college or the kids who play for them.
Please don’t even compare the big east to the big ten. Ive been to a few big east games at USF and the talent level is night and day. Ohio State would avg. 40 points a game in the big east.
Sure, the talent gap may be there, but I don’t think it’s much harder to win the Big Ten than the Big East. The ACC also has a ton of talent with Miami, Va Tech and Florida State, doesn’t make it good, or a “tough” conference.
B, stop kidding yourself. You have no job. If you did, you wouldn’t be trolling the intarwebz at eight o’clock in the fucking morning like a fifteen-year old.
Douchenozzle for the win….EPIC
RichRod has 1 career win over a top 10 team, he defeated Georgia when the Dawgs were ranked #10.
Well for purposes of staying with tom it was who is the best coach as an actual coach I guess-numbers need to be taken into account but so does quality of team/players and other factors. I HATE Dick Rod more than anyone in college football but if you look at his track record his teams always struggle in year 1 and improve. Whether you like him or not you have to be impressed with what he built in morgantown. As for Joe Pa, he is an all time great but his time in the big ten has not been all peachy. Also Tom Bradley really runs the show so you have to consider that to. Mark D and some other guys are climbing up the list but need to prove more first.
How can you rate JT high based on his team’s accomplishments and not rank JoePa above him. Surely Joe has done more, for longer than JT.
Other than that obvious flaw, have you taken into account talent discrepencies the coaches face?
JT is the best because he won the most recent NC in the conference? So, is this a list of who is “hot now” or who is the best coach “all factors considered”?
If it is the later, then JoePa and Fitzgerald have a better claim to No. 1.
Joe PA doesn’t even coach that team anymore. He just sits in the booth wondering whats for lunch.
Rich Rod needs to fall towards the bottom of the list. I think Paterno, Dantonio, and Bielema should all move higher.
Sam,
You hit the nail right on the head, but I am not so sure that both of his hand are on the keyboard!! Whack the weasel is a popular game in his computer room…. the only boobs he ever sees is in National Geographic.
Yeah…effff JT b/c he has great recruiting…what? isn’t that part of coaching?
Not at michiscUM….up there in the hole, you are supposed to run talent out of town and right in to the hands of other teams. Oh, btw, dickrod, thanks for Boren….we will use him correctly
Yeah I guess Urban Meyer, Les Miles, Pete Carol, and Mack Brown are terrible coaches too, they have the big athletic departments and huge recruits so it’s just a given that they’ll win.
Alright, alright – you got me… The sharp volley’s about not touching boob’s were the most poignant. You should be very proud of your clever blog and it’s objective debates. Enjoy the conversation about WHY Jim Tressel is the greatest coach of all time. We’ll all see him prove it again in September against USC, and again during bowl season, and again next fall against Miami (that one may actually be winnable). I’ve got to get back to my horribly pathetic life now…
…..wait you forgot (or maybe you didn’t) to mention how DickRod is going to beat OSU up in Ann Arbor this year. Lets see how well Dick Rod does against that other genius Cheesburger Charlie this fall. Buzz off and good riddance.
He’ll definitely prove it in November, in Ann Arbor.
Prove what? That we’re right?
Seriously, I respect your opinions, but OSU will once again demoralize scUM this year, you don’t need a degree or a 100K job to see that coming.
I think it’s 50/50 that when OSU drops 40 on the Wolverines in Ann Arbor next year, B resurfaces as a Gator fan, should they win the title.
Sam, I think B is gonna be in hiding after this season, he talked smack before the Michigan game this year and was no where in sight after the complete meltdown.
Yeah, and where were all the PSU fans that got on here and talked trash after our game and said they were gonna destroy USC??
Its funny to see reality come crashing down around non-OSU fans.
You can use all the ESPN banter you want, but the fact remains, this is the Buckeyes conference.
That Pre-game bitch down by Michigan was great. Although knew before the start of the game it wasn’t going to be one of the classic battles and Dicky is crap and actually ranked 11 on this list as he did nothing to get his girls going.
is this list supposed to be a snapshot in time ranking or an overall program record? regardless, i’m not drinking the ferrenz juice simply because i think he is probably the 4th or 5th best recruiter in the conference (OSU, PSU, UM, Wisco). Where does Thad rank in basketball because he seems to be the best recruiter but when it coems to X’s and O’s I’d put him in the middle of the conference.
This list must be a current ranking, because lets face it, right now is all the really matters.
Right scUM fan always bringing up the 90’s?
basketball wise i’d have to go:
1. Izzo
2. Bo Ryan
3. Crean
4. Tubby
5. Painter
6. Thad
7. Beilein
8. Weber
and the rest can scrap it out for 9, 10, 11
8.
Alex,
Agreed except I have Painter No.2.
Honestly, I’d bump Tubby down a notch or 2. I live in KY, and that man had some extrordinary talent at UK over the years and would lose 10 games or 9 games, and crap out in the tournament. I know he had one championship, but he inherited the keys to a Ferrari and turned it into a Ford Tempo lol. He is good in schools like Georgia and Minnesota, but he’s jut not great.
Since it’s “Big Ten Coaches” you can’t count ‘lifetime achievement’ for Joe Paterno. Simply put, it’s their resume from conference start.
1. JT
2. Dantonio
3. Paterno
4. Ferentz
5. Fitz
6. Brewster
7-11. Doesn’t matter
I have to agree — Fitz deserves better, and there is NO WAY that Zook is the 5th best coach in the Big Ten. I’d probably rank them:
1. Tressel (clearly the best, although doing the most with the most doesn’t exactly demonstrate excellence in coaching….)
2. Paterno
3. Ferentz (he’s had some clunker teams lately, though)
4. Dantonio
5. Fitz
6. Brewster
7. RichRod (based largely on Big East rep)
8. Bielema
9. Zook (honestly, he’s been awful as a coach….one good season — they were only 2nd in Big Ten, remember — does not make him an excellent coach)
10. Lynch
11. Hope (basically he gets an incomplete)
Even though the offenses are slightly different, Joe Tiller tried to bring the spread to the B10. That didnt work out so well. I think UM will eventually be good but not for another 2-3 years. I think it’s more likely RR is fired within the next 4 years than win a BCS game.
Here’s my list
The Vest
JoePa
Dantonio
Fitzgerald
Ferentz
Brewster
DickRod
Bielema
Zook
Lynch
Hope
Brett Bielema is the dumbest coach in football; look at his decision-making in the bowl game vs. FSU. Pathetic.
Agree. Dude is dismantling everything that Alvarez built up.
But it was kind of funny when he worked Joe Pa over on that kickoff rule a few years ago.
No question about it! I don’t think there’s a more textbook case of why you don’t hire internally after a legend retires. Not only did he screw up more than his fair share of games last year, but now he’s showing that his recruiting ability is lame. Big, big mistake.
But FSU doesn’t want to play Wisconsin football!!!!!
Stomped.
I saw the Dienhart list last week…what an idiot. But if we’re going by bowls, Paterno has just as strong a bowl record as Ferentz, and he’s had more conference titles than Ferentz since he’s been at Iowa. If Jim Tressel is the best, Paterno not only has the 2nd best resume, but he’s got 3 wins over Tressel, two of which led to a share of the conference title and the Big Ten’s BCS bid.
No question Paterno should be 2nd behind Tressel. Rich-Rod at #3 is laughable. In the what-have-you-done-for-me-lately world of college football, the new scUM head man has managed to push away many veteran players to other schools, didn’t have enough players to field a Spring Game in 2008, sacrificed very talented QBs’ abilities in favor of his gimmicky offense, cost his new school about 4 million dollars in WVU salary back payments, lost out on Terrelle Pryor to Ohio State, delivered the worst record in Michigan football’s storied history, in which he lost to all 3 of Michigan’s rivals, including the largest lopsided loss to Ohio State in 40 years.
Rich Rod may very well bring the haze and blah to national prominence one day. But it’s certainly not this day. And it wasn’t on any day in 2008 (he didn’t even deserve full credit for WVU’s victory over Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl). At best, Rich Rod is 10th in the Big Ten.
Great, great insight… Few things – which “veteran players” were pushed away to other schools besides that malcontent Boren? He would have stayed at Michigan if Rodriguez had recruited his MAC talent brother. There was a 2008 Spring Game, held at a local HS due to construction at Michigan Stadium. Which “very talented QB’s” were sacrificed? Mallett transferred to AR and already has one arrest for intoxication. Threet’s talent is still very much up for debate. Where did you come up with 4 million in “salary back payments”? Michigan paid $2.5 million of his buyout. And, Michigan wasn’t in the race for Pryor UNTIL Rodriguez came to the school. Again, great insight, very intelligent contribution…
Tony Clemens was a 2-year letterman, but Rodriguez never used him, so he’s transferring. Artis Chambers played safety in 14 games in 2 years at Michigan, but he’s transferring citing “system changes.” Steve Threet and Sam McGuffie were both starters last year, they’re gone. It doesn’t matter whether or not they’re the most talented players in the nation, what matters is if they’re the most talented, veteran players available – which they were, that is not debatable! Justin Boren was a huge loss, of course got the most press. Sorry, but Mallet was in line to be a 2500-yard passer for the Wolverines…that’s a major transfer! His off-the-field antics are irrelevant to this conversation.
The Spring Game was not televised, it was not open to the public, there was no press invited, and no one but coaches and players saw it. That is not a Spring Game, that is a practice.
Actually, Michigan payed $2.5 million as part of the $4 million buyout, PLUS they paid the $1.6 million dollars in taxes that Rodriguez owed the IRS on that money. 2.5 + 1.6 = $4.1 million. It’s called math. Do they teach you that at Michigan? Plus, if you add in his salary, Michigan payed $6.6 million for Rodriguez.
I don’t care if Michigan wasn’t in the running for Pryor until Rodriguez came into the picture…he put all his chips in that one basket, and lost…to Ohio State!
Thanks for the compliments on my insight. It seems I have more than you and I hate that team from up north! I’m ashamed that you share my name, so as to confuse the great people of ElevenWarriors.
Correction to my post…Michigan did have a spring practice, which was televised on BTN. But it was not a full game, it was only open to select donors, and fans could not attend. There, you happy fake-Steve?
HA! Fake-steve for the win
So, you said “veterans” left the team. Artis Chambers may have won 2 letters but made only 11 total tackles in two seasons. No sacks, no ints. “Veteran”? Toney Clemons made 3 receptions for 32 yards in two seasons. Another “veteran”? Mallett was and is a well documented team cancer, on and off the field. Rodriguez took that trash out – a lot like he showed the Boren family to the curb.
The Spring Game was held, but held at a different site and under different conditions due to construction at Michigan Stadium, not due to “lack of players” as you puked out.
Contract buyout plus tax equals your “salary back payment”? Right…
The Rodriguez hire got Michigan into the race for Pryor and has secured them Devin Gardner this year. Your ignorant point is, again, pathetically moot. I’ll say it again – thanks for the deep insight, ANOTHER solid contribution. How much time did you waste researching and constructing that stupid rebuttal? Nice…
Well, Wolverine-Steve, I don’t know what you’re trying to accomplish here. Impact players have certainly transferred, and that’s well-documented. Clemons actually had 12 receptions for 100 yards in his Ann Arbor career…again, you’re making it seem like I know more about your team than you do.
Michigan did not have a Spring GAME in 2008 (a football game is 4 – 15 minute quarters). They had a practice. Fans were not invited. And yes, Buckeye fans will always consider a Michigan team as lacking football players.
Rich Rodriguez’s obligation to the IRS on the $2.5 million portion of the buyout was $1.6 million. Michigan decided to make the necessary tax payments “in order that Rodriguez not be unduly burdened or distracted in connection with the performance of his duties hereunder,” according to his contract. Mince it however you want, Rodriguez owed money in the form of tax on the new additional income he received from Michigan to cover his expenses to WVU – which Michigan gladly covered. So, it was a $4 million bailout, not just $2.5 million!!! So, yes, I am right.
Pryor is NOT a moot point. Rodriguez was going to try putting a square peg in a round hole no matter what. Pryor would have been a perfect fit to his unyielding style, and would have won Michigan more games in 2008, and would likely have Michigan in contention to beat Ohio State this year for a Big Ten title. However, Mallet could probably have the same thing said about him if Rodriguez wasn’t so married to his gimmick offense.
Yes you know nothing about Michigan and what happened in the locker room. #1 Ryan Mallet was a punk and had significant problems with Lloyd Carr and many of the other players including Henne and Long. No one liked the kid and Carr might’ve ran his sorry ass out of the state if he would’ve stayed. Hell, Mallet was even trying to transfer back to Michigan after his decision to leave, but the NCAA wouldn’t allow it. #2 Artis Chambers is a chump and I know he had problems in the locker room as well. He was a below average player and was only in the game by default cause the safety play was pathetic(kind of like how OSU was in the NC game by default against LSU). Sam McGuffie didn’t pan out. His inability to not make cuts and run straight up and down allowed for him to just get wrecked by Big Ten competition. Lets face it you’re not going to jump over James Laurinhoweveryouspellit. Steven Threet was a good kid, but honestly he wouldn’t start at any Big Ten school. He has the arm and the desire to get better, but he just doesn’t have that god given talent. I see him more or less, hypothetically but probably not as good and then pathetic, like a Boeckman. So, good riddance to him and good luck somewhere else. Tony Clemens just couldn’t cut it and new talent was coming in to replace him so he jumped ship. See ya Tony. Boren, basically was a bitch and left. What he practiced with the guy for a few months and decided he didn’t like him and wanted to make a statement by going to OSU? Oh well, shit happens.
Actually, the Spring game was open to the public and had an attendance near 50,000. Rich Rod completely overhauled the spring game from the Carr era, which was more like a practice. Know your facts before spouting out some putrid garbage.
Next thing: who gives a rats ass how much they paid him. What’s your point with this statement? Cause honestly I don’t think you had one. I just think you wanted to prove your superior math skills with your Texas Instrument calculator. Is it a graphing calculator? Ohhh you’re one tech savvy individual.
Ok now I’ll go fuck off my douche bag self cause I know that’s the inbred hick way of disputing an argument.
the funny thing is, rivals had rodriguez ahead of tressel but he has only spent 1 year at michigan thus far. so what if rodriguez gets run out of town by michigan after posting consecutive losing seasons? i must say, rivals is spot on….spot on, boys. oh, and it’s kind of like their ’star’ rating system…..what a crock.
I think dickrod’s got 2 more gimme years. That’s 2 losses to ohio state they’ll allow. One up north, the next down in the shoe with Pryor a junior. The year after that, when we have to replace pryor and all the other juniors that leave, and we have to go to michigan to play what will be all dickrod’s own recruits will be the loss that gets him shitcanned.
Especially if they are riding bowl-eligibility.
Over the next 3 years Northwestern scares me as a trap game. We’ve beaten them like a drum the past couple of years, I think fitz is going to come in and slap us one.
I know it’s comparing 2 totally different sports and programs, but I think that if Rodriquez has another awful season, 3 or 4 wins, he may get canned after this season. Just look at Kentucky and their basketball situation. They hired a good coach who had done well in schools that weren’t traditional powers, they brought him in, he tried put his system in place and recruit to his system and 2 season of bad basketball later he was gone. I think it could be very much the same in Ann Arbor. If you are at Ohio State, Michigan, Notre Dame, Alabama, etc, you have to win and honestly with the schedule they have, how can you not make a bowl game? I’d say the same about OSU, I mean C’mon there are 6 wins built into all the major power’s schedule. You play 3 non conference crappers, and you know there are three awful teams in every conference that you should beat. However, Michigan can’t beat the crappers anymore. That’s a problem, and if they have another embarrassing loss, like TOledo, they miss a bowl game this year, and lose to OSU, there is ag ood chance that DickRod may be looking for a new job.
I can’t buy into the Kirk Ferentz hype. He would probably be a great pro coach with his ability to get more out of less……..but seriously, recruiting is part of being a college coach and he is only getting more out of less because he cannot get the great recruits…….Illinois, Minnesota, and MSU will soon be knocking Iowa down on the Big Ten totem poll with their continued better recruiting classes.
Which one of you jerkoffs voted that it was more likely for the cavs to lose in the first round
mean muggin
interesting story: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/draft09/news/story?id=4067162