Mailbag Question: Why do you hate Coach Rod?

Why do you guys hate Coach Rod? Why do you want him gone so badly?

Several e-mailers

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Who hates Coach Rod? We certainly do not. All we have done is given honest opinions on team and talent available. Not sure where this is coming from, but WE have not said EVER or demanding that Coach Rod be fired. Have WE been disappointed in the season? YES and when your 3-9 there should be concerns especially at a program like Michigan. When you miss a bowl game in what mostly considered a week conference then YES people will have concerns of the direction of the program especially when you have a new coach, new system, new direction of the program. Now lets clear this up as well that we believe the future looks bright and believe Coach Rod can turn this around.

If that makes us haters, so be it. Think we were proven correct about many of the opinions we gave. Only place we were definitely wrong was we really believed Michigan would win at least six or seven games and be bowl eligible this year to continue the streak especially in a weak Big Ten Conference.

Have WE questioned some of the things that has happened this year? YES and again when your 3-9 there should be concerns. If not then the maize and blue, kool-aid always taste good.

However, if you think we are disappointed with three wins, and honest assessments about what we saw in spring, summer, and fall makes us less of Michigan fans, then I would suggest those questioning our love of Michigan have the problem not us. No matter how people spin this season 3-9 is not a good year and again WE are willing to bet that Coach Rod thought this team would be a lot better than that record. Well WE know because he even said so in the spring. He never said a record, but he thought this team would be decent this past year.

There is just no way in our opinion to sugarcoat this season. It was horrible, and if you asked Coach Rod his opinion, would guess we were just as upset as we are. Coach Rod is nothing if he is not extremely proud man. We have been asked what we think Coach Rod needs to get this team into a bowl game next year to get the heat off him and show progress. We are pretty sure Coach Rod believes the same thing and not only for the fans, but for the future of is Michigan program especially all those 2010 recruits and future recruits that will be taking a real interest into what Michigan does in 2009.

If Michigan would have made a bowl this year and continued the bowl streak people would have seen light at the end of the tunnel and knew this was a rebuilding year. The tunnel is farther away now then most thought. People knew this was going to be a difficult year, but nobody thought 3-9 type season and missing a bowl game for the first time in 33 years.

Does people have concerns about the offense? Again YES when your 3-9 and you rank almost to be one of the worst offenses in the country then people will have concerns.

Offensive stats:
#113 in passing efficiency out of 119 teams
#111 in total offense out of 119 teams
#108 in passing out of 119 teams
#107 in turnovers out of 119 teams
#97 in scoring out of 119 teams
#60 in rushing out of 119 teams
#1 in 3 and outs out of 119 teams (Michigan record in 129 year history and missed it by 1 for a college record)

Yes we knew the offense might be bad this year, but NOBODY never thought it would be that bad that only 8 teams were worse than us in college football and like MaizeMan post he had the other day shows that the defense while playing bad at times the offense with these stats sure didn't help them either.

If your happy with 3-9 then WE do not know what to say.

Is the future bright? YES and again that is the one thing everybody is looking to right now and quite frankly that is what you need to do if your a Michigan fan and have hope for the future.

With some of the kids still looking at Michigan I am hoping that several of our committed kids decide to look around so we can go after higher profile kids that could come in a contribute earlier.

That is one debate that seems to keep getting lost here. We need help now and in most cases a 2 or 3 star kid cannot come in and compete NOW for a position where the elite kids at most schools can come in and at least had depth right away. Barwis said in the spring that he would love a team with all 4 and 5 star kids because their potential is so much higher than the 2-3 star kids because they have a lower ceiling in MOST CASES!

Yes the 2-3 star kids can grow into it and compete later down the road, but Michigan needs help NOW especially at a position like linebacker, safety, offensive line (even though I think this group even with less talent has the best coach on the staff and has shown it).

Not going to name names here either sorry.

I bet the coaching staff at this point had about 7-10 kids to go instead of 3-5 kids to go with some of the kids and positions of need some of these kids are looking at Michigan.

Again not saying that some of the committed Michigan kids are bad kids or even not that good football player, but right now, there are many kids that are looking at Michigan that have higher ceilings and could help this program a lot faster than some of the ones already committed.

This spring is going to be very interesting to watch and see how this off-season is different from last years. Also, be interesting to see how the incoming freshmen react to being at college and some being counted on heavily next year.

written by CoachBt and ErocWolverine