via U-M Media Relations: Comments from Michigan Head Coach Rich Rodriguez About playing in the Gator Bowl … “We are excited about the opportunity to play a very good Mississippi State team in the Gator Bowl. They run a first-class operation and our players will really enjoy the experience. I’ve always enjoyed my previous experiences at the Gator Bowl.” About playing Mississippi State … “Mississippi State is a great team and has been consistently ranked among the top 25 this season. Dan Mullen and his staff have done an outstanding job. It should be a great matchup and we look forward to playing them on New Year’s Day.” About his past trips to the Gator Bowl … “I have been fortunate to have coached in several Gator Bowls and I also played in it. They do a great job of hosting the teams and making the bowl experience a memorable one for the players. I look forward to seeing many of the Gator Bowl representatives who have become friends over the years.”
-
-
The January Effect
I’ve maintained all along that the money involved in Rodriguez’s contract isn’t driving Michigan’s timeline for a decision. I think it was Mike Rosenberg who first pointed out that if Brandon decided to terminate RR and waits until January 1 to formally make that change, Michigan owes Rodriguez $1.5 fewer bucks. Article 3.01(b) defines the contract years: Article 4.01(a) defines the amount U-M must pay Rodriguez if he’s terminated without cause and note the drop in contract year four starting January 1, 2011. However, these terms require Michigan to provide 30 days written notice of the termination: Practically speaking if Brandon fires Rodriguez next week, Rich Rod is not going to hang around for 30 days. But it appears as though the contractual time table on the termination will stretch into January, providing another reason why the $1.5 million “savings” question doesn’t hold water. All this said and even without this 30 day notice clause, these matters are negotiated. Michigan could argue the NCAA violations provide an out “with cause”. If the NCAA finds wrong-doing by Rodriguez at WVU Michigan, per the contract, could again argue termination with cause. Above and beyond all this, there are other legal matters and requests by Michigan that will certainly be in play. Finally, Brandon’s not going to let $1.5 million drive the decision…
-
We Had a Bust Thursday
You heard? On an recent email thread in my inbox someone mentioned they heard Jim Rome talking about how Rodriguez played Bette Midler at the banquet. I was there and even live blogged for the second year in a row if you missed it. (It was going well until the Dee Hart to Bama rumors emerged and unfolded during the middle of the bust and the live chat went sideways for a spell. Recruitniks! <shakes fist>) So regarding Rodriguez’s speech and the Josh Groban moment. I was seated in the back of the room. Rich Rod starting his final words around 9pm and lost in all the Grobanathon is that Rodriguez delivered an excellent speech. It was passionate, heartfelt and he seemed truly humbled in the moment. About ten minutes in he dropped two of his big lines, “Our time is coming, and it’s coming in a big way”, and “We’ll let people jump on the bandwagon. They may not get a front seat.” You forget that Rodriguez is a skilled public speaker in these type of forums. Then came the Groban stuff, about 10 minutes in. When RR first mentioned the pop-opera crooner I winced. When he recited the lyrics I chuckled & when they started blasting the tune I cringed. And it was LOUD. I think it would…
-
Live Chat : 2010 Michigan Football Bust
Live Chat is done – thanks for all who joined and participated. [Ed. December 3 - I’m getting a lot of traffic on this post due to Josh Groban-gate so I re-added the replay of the live event. Yes, I rip on the Groban thing in the live blog and found it odd. But I will say this: Rich Rod gave a great speech before that and probably should have left it at that. It was passionate & heartfelt and he came off to me as humbly stating his desire to be a part of this family.] Replay: 2010 Michigan Football Bust
-
2,000 Foot Big Chill – Michigan Stadium
Thanks to reader Ken for passing this exclusive photo along – a view of the hockey rink in Michigan Stadium from 2,000 feet: Make sure you follow MVictors on Twitter.
-
Harbaugh Joins Colin Cowherd (Dec-1 audio)
Jim Harbaugh on ESPN radio with Colin Cowherd this afternoon. Here’s the somewhat relevant portion on the coaching talk: [display_podcast] – * Talked about and praised QB Andrew Luck. He compared him to his wife…”perfect”. * “Coaching’s the next best thing”..to playing. * Is Stanford big enough for Jim Harbaugh: “No question it’s big enough” * On addressing the coaching rumors: Harbaugh: “I’m not one of those guys that spends any time on the blogosphere.” bah! Then he won’t mind my Jimmy bobblehead. * He’s just focusing on his dad’s advice: “Just coach the team”.
-
Meram Lost his Shirt – The Lady, the Photog or an Inside Job?
Good stuff in the Daily today. Apparently in the aftermath of Justin Meram’s shirtless body surf in the student section following last week’s overtime triumph over Central Florida, the senior forward lost his jersey. You’ve probably already seen this shot from last Sunday: You are all suspects. And you’re all suspect. I witnessed a little bit of the aftermath after Meram walked back onto the field. I remember him asking for the jersey back. Here’s a horrible photo, the second to last I took, of Meram walking back to the students to find his shirt: Here’s the last shot I had in the camera, apparently Meram giving up or seeing if someone had it back on the bench by this time: The lady in yellow seems suspiciously aware of the shirt situation, and even found a shirt, just not the one Meram was looking for. The old bait and switch? And the dude in the black Members Only jacket with his hands in his pockets is little too casual for a crime scene if you ask me. I did find this shot of a jersey during the melee’, unconfirmed if it’s Meram’s. It appears as though it’s one of Meram’s teammates – is this an inside job? I also caught longtime Michigan photographer Per Kjeldsen packing his bag: What’s…
-
Dave Brandon joins WTKA (12-01 audio)
Great get by Ira Weintraub and Sam Webb on WTKA 1050am. Here’s their interview with AD David Brandon from this morning, helping promote the Adopt-A-Family program: [display_podcast] _ All of the WTKA podcasts are found here. While he spoke about the AAF program primarily, they did ask Brandon about the timeline for the coaching decision (about 6 minutes in). Update: Brandon’s response transcribed by BKFinest of mgoblog: "I have to look at the big picture thats what I do and approach things and the big picture is most important. Everything you do impacts recruiting…there’s all this firestorm about speculation and all that. What i try to be is infinitely consistent, we have our banquet tomorrow night, we have a bowl game to play, 15 practices to prepare for an undoubtedly a really fine opponent..the players and coaches have earned that right, get that experience behind them hopefully in a positive way. So all the firestorm that’s trying to move timetable is not going to work."
