It's now been 10 days since Michigan got embarrassed in the Gator Bowl. It's been 44 days since Michigan got blown out by Ohio State. It's been 5 days since Rich Rodriguez got fired by David Brandon as Michigan's head coach. It's 21 days until signing day for the 2011 class.
Folks, time is not on our side. I know this is maybe the most important decision David will ever make in his entire career as athletic director and he needs some time to make the right decision but there are currently 4 open BCS positions at the moment: Michigan, Stanford, Pitt, and UConn. You could argue that just Stanford would be competing with Michigan for candidates. So why is this taking so long?
I had convinced myself that David Brandon had a plan in December. Maybe he did and maybe that plan got blown up when Harbough's ego blew up. Either way this search is a mess right now. Les Miles has more ghosts in his closet then a Poltergeist movie, Brady Hoke seems to have a clean slate but no experience leading a BCS school and after that nothing but question marks.
The Detroit media has not done Michigan any favors the last few years so I can see why he is keeping this search quiet. With that said, I thought Brandon had until this past weekend to find a head coach while trying to keep this recruiting class in tact. Let me be very clear, we can not throw the 2011 recruiting class away. You will set the program back years. I don't care if you hire Bob Stoops, Jon Gruden, Jimmy Johnson, or Bill Cower you have to have talent to win football games. Losing an entire class is criminal and would kill the Wolverines a couple years down the line.
Bill Martin had an entire year to plan for Lloyd Carr's retirement, he did nothing to prepare for his search. David Brandon should of had an idea what his plan was for RR after the Ohio State game. It looks like he didn't have a plan B after Harbaugh. I know it would have been difficult to keep RR after the Gator Bowl, but keeping him and firing his entire defensive staff might be better plan then flying around the country with a help wanted sign.
Do you remember when Ole Miss hired Houston Nutt? At the time Houston was the head coach of Arkansas. Houston resigned from Arkansas and within a few minutes was named the head coach of Ole Miss. They had a plan and executed it. Stephen Ross took a hit this week talking to Jim Harbaugh when he already had a head coach under contract. Why? I think he did the right thing. He had a coach that he thought was doing a good job but maybe he had a chance to get the hottest candidate in the land. He didn't land him and the Dolphins current head coach got a 2 year extension. I know those 2 days had to suck for the Dolphins staff but they got a two year reward out of it.
The Michigan job is one of the highest profile jobs in college football. It comes with huge expectations. It has to be the right candidate for now and for 10+ years for now. Hiring for this position is a huge responsibility and you need to make the right choice. As each day goes by as each hour ticks away, it looks more and more like a huge mess with very few options. 1 big recruiting weekend now lost, what will we lose next?
The latest is that Miles will meet with Brandon on Tuesday in Dallas at the coaching convention. Glad this discussion can wait a couple of days.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Michigan Monday: No News is Bad News
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4 comments:
Right now, in order to keep the class intact, the recruiting person should call all the uncommitted but still in contention players and those who may sign on the first day of the Signing Period and ask them to hold off on actually signing letters of intent for a week or more until they meet the new coach.
Those that don't have any qualms about signing right away, by all means do it! Why? It prevents the competition from spiriting away a prospect.
That may be a way we can save the class!
Jumping Jimmie
Nice Bob!
Wouldn't you think by now a lot of other BCS schools have to be getting filled up with recruits?
They are. Kris Frost who committed to Auburn over Michigan on Saturday might not have room for one of the best players in the country.
From other sources, it seems Brady Hoke may be emerging. None of this is factual, but the "sense"...which is a shame, if true, means that BH is Michigans' choice.
Sad day for the Big Blue Machine. The coach in question is not in any way a truly long-term bad choice. In the short term, it may test the fan base to give Michigan at least three to four years to re-group and be successful.
RR was on the verge of a great offensive show at Michigan. Someone here suggested why not eliminate the defensive side of the coaching staff and pay good money to hire a DC and associates, keep RR, and build from this year on.
Well, I made a mistake or two or three that people wanted Brady and were slanting the information for just this time that makes any other search virtually impossible.
Net result? You may just get the man you, DB and the Ad-Min deserve.
Since nothing is for certain, I still like Les Miles over Brady Hoke. Until I see Dave Brandon actually hire BH I will remain hopeful of clearer heads and a possible "unknown" hire that can bring us out of a very deep hole.
Jumping Jimmie
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