Sneaking out of Morgantown

[Desert Green]

Originally Posted by Big M

Umm..how exactly was he supposed to leave?

As much as I wasn't a Lloyd Carr fan he has 10x the class of RR...just ask the WVU folks ad he's one of their own...I think RR is a VERY good coach but this a VERY risky hire for um...could be great but could also be a disaster...the disaster could be caused by RR not being a "cultural" fit with the um environment...

BTW, Big M it's OK to be critical of this decision...the world won't end, trust me. There were many MSU people that were critical of the JLS hire right from the presser and guess what, they were right! We all hoped for the best, but had concerns.

One of JLS's biggest downfall was his lack of fit for the MSU culture- he was a cowboy in a blue collar, midwestern environment...he lost support of the admin which was the beginning of the end...and yes, it started to happen in his first season even though he went to a decent bowl...

this hire has a similar feel IMO...but as Dennis Miller says" it's just my opinion, I could be wrong! "

[Bullwrinkle]

Originally Posted by PortlandSpartan

You do realize that we grabbed Dantonio before Cincy's season was done right?

There's a simple way to end this nonsense and bring some sort of integrity back to the coaching profession.

Make a rule that when a coach quits for another coaching job - his players are free to transfer without having to sit out a year.

The thought of losing players will make every AD and Universitiy President negotiate binding employment contracts instead of the stuff they have now which isn't worth the paper it's written on.

[YourMomsNewBoyfriend]

Originally Posted by steveschneider

How did Dantonio leave Cinci? He didn't coach in the bowl game right?

On one hand I agree with this, on the other, Cinci wasn't in a BCS game and I Dantonio wasn't a Cinci alumn shouting Cinci for life to the naysayers.

[Robert Leroy Parker]

These coaches are put in a very tough spot. The media scrutiny (see the above spy photos as evidence) is the root of the problem. The coaches have to profess love for their current gig in case the new prospective gig does not come through and to try to keep some emblance of focus in the locker room. It is just as if you guys criticizing Rod were to interview for a new job at Quiznos which is a step up from your sandwich maker position at Subway. If a camera crew followed you to and from the interview and then your manager demanded to know if you wre a dedicated sandiwch artist before your next shift, you would put on that hair net and declare yourself a Subway Man to the masses even though you know you want to be at Quiznos and hope the offer for more hours comes through. Once it does, you leave the green and yellow apron behind for the toasted goodness of you new career.

The media has forced the insincere responses from the coaches which the media then decries as insincere.

[Robbub]

I don't think people (well, except maybe WV folks) have a problem with Dickrod leaving before the bowl game. Lots of schools do that. It is the manner in which he left:

* Abandoned his WV 'tradition' for a (small) pay raise
* Little or no warning with the AD prior to accepting the job
* Said some disparaging remarks about his previous job
* Told recruits before telling team
* Used grad student to tell WV AD

Sorry, but if those are true (and some of them we know are true), it shows a lack of class. Maybe Dickrod will grow into it but right now, I'm unimpressed with him and if I was a WV fan, I'd be pretty mad. Heck, at least Saban had the decency to tell everyone here in person and wait a little while before going after recruits.

[SpartanBone]

Originally Posted by Voodoo76

Will be interesting to see how the Det press deals with the annual "where is RR interviewing" rumors. That hurt MSU recruiting as much as anything over the years.

That's an excellent point. He should settle-in for at least a couple years, but as soon as the 1st BCS type season is done (10-11 W's) it's going to be RE-NEGOTIATION TIME BABY!!

umaa as well as the Blue Wall media just ain't used to that.

[SpartanBone]

Originally Posted by Big M

Umm..how exactly was he supposed to leave?

You're joking, right? Right??

OMG, never mind....Good luck with DickRod, little guy.

[staterules]

Originally Posted by Big M

Umm..how exactly was he supposed to leave?

Umm, lets see, perhaps by manning up and letting his employer and team know in person (not with a note delivered by a ga) that you're baling BEFORE you call to let "Johnny All American de jour" know what you're doing

[spartan80]

Originally Posted by Big M

Umm..how exactly was he supposed to leave?

Like an honest man little M. Something like Mr. Pastilong I'm meeting with Martin & Coleman from um in Toledo, see you Sunday.

It's perfect that you can't figure this out. Dantonio waited until after the reg. season ended before talking to MSU and he didn't sneak around to do it. MSU went through the proper channels with UC, which is simple courtesy.

I'm thrilled that um just got their version of Nick Saban to coach football. The guy jerked his alma mater around last season, got a bigger contract, and did it all over again this year. If he does that to a school he supposedly cares about, why do you think he won't do it at um?

[spartan80]

Originally Posted by Big Kahuna

Sorry. Lloyd didn't have it either.

Yes and no, Lloyd didn't have it for people outside the um sphere, but he was blue to the bone, and would never: A) have ditched out on um, B) done it in such a cowardly way.

[Diesel]

Originally Posted by Bullwrinkle

Let's start with: you don't profess your love for your Alma Mater and then flirt with the Bama job - only to use it get big $$ and a contract extension from your employer, profess how happy you are to stay at the place you love - and then sneak out to meet with the scUM brass. Leaving your AD and University President in the dark, and then having a grad assistant deliver your resignation.

Classy!!!!!

Congrats Big M - you have your very own Petrino - $aban clown to deal with.

Couldn't have stated it any better Bullwrinkle, agree with you 100%

[MichMike]

Originally Posted by YourMom'sNewBoyfriend

On one hand I agree with this, on the other, Cinci wasn't in a BCS game and I Dantonio wasn't a Cinci alumn shouting Cinci for life to the naysayers.

Oh - so now the "type" of bowl game is the important thing. This is hypocrisy at its worst. Of all the fans that might complain about a coach leaving his school before a bowl game, I would think MSU fans would be the last (JLS and Dantonio left in similiar fashion).

It's business and the kids are pawns - regardless of where it happens.

[GaryatMSU]

First, RR did meet in person with his team and delivered the news he was leaving.

Second, going from 1.8 or 1.9 million per year to 2.5 million per year is not a small pay raise. In now way equivalent to Quiznos/Subway.

Third, as long as no rule prohibits it, successful programs are going to go after successful coaches, meaning coaches whose teams are in bowl games. And pressure to get things in place for February recruiting deadline means schools are gonna get after it as soon as they can and not wait until after bowl games are over, just as MSU did last year.

Fourth, LLoyd Carr is a classy guy.

It is possible to try to be somewhat objective and still be a Spartan fan.

It's totally amusing to watch everyone scramble to toss mud just cause its UM.

[Ron_in_ATL]

Originally Posted by steveschneider

How did Dantonio leave Cinci? He didn't coach in the bowl game right?

Cincy is a basketball school so it doesn't count

[green night]

Originally Posted by MichMike

Oh - so now the "type" of bowl game is the important thing. This is hypocrisy at its worst. Of all the fans that might complain about a coach leaving his school before a bowl game, I would think MSU fans would be the last (JLS and Dantonio left in similiar fashion).

It's business and the kids are pawns - regardless of where it happens.

This is the Classic UM response. During the fab 5 investigation... um defenders would say "everyone is else is doing it too". And then the "it's a business anyways".

Mich -- Are you argueing that the way he left was ok?

[green night]

Originally Posted by GaryatMSU

First, RR did meet in person with his team and delivered the news he was leaving.

Second, going from 1.8 or 1.9 million per year to 2.5 million per year is not a small pay raise. In now way equivalent to Quiznos/Subway.

Third, as long as no rule prohibits it, successful programs are going to go after successful coaches, meaning coaches whose teams are in bowl games. And pressure to get things in place for February recruiting deadline means schools are gonna get after it as soon as they can and not wait until after bowl games are over, just as MSU did last year.

Fourth, LLoyd Carr is a classy guy.

It is possible to try to be somewhat objective and still be a Spartan fan.

It's totally amusing to watch everyone scramble to toss mud just cause its UM.

And this comes from a person named "GaryatMSU".

[ISparticus]

Originally Posted by green night

This is the Classic UM response. During the fab 5 investigation... um defenders would say "everyone is else is doing it too". And then the "it's a business anyways".

Mich -- Are you argueing that the way he left was ok?

Relax, he won't be when RR leaves.

[Foxbat]

Wow, Dick Rod sounds like one hell of a tool. Fits their fanbase.

Originally Posted by Big Kahuna

Sorry. Lloyd didn't have it either.

Bull****. You can't base an entire judgement of someone over how much you think he whines during games.

Originally Posted by green night

And this comes from a person named "GaryatMSU".

Not everyone's a dumb**** with a complex who thinks "SCum" is still clever. You are still allowed to think logically.

[PensySpartan]

Originally Posted by GaryatMSU

First, RR did meet in person with his team and delivered the news he was leaving.

Second, going from 1.8 or 1.9 million per year to 2.5 million per year is not a small pay raise. In now way equivalent to Quiznos/Subway.

Third, as long as no rule prohibits it, successful programs are going to go after successful coaches, meaning coaches whose teams are in bowl games. And pressure to get things in place for February recruiting deadline means schools are gonna get after it as soon as they can and not wait until after bowl games are over, just as MSU did last year.

Fourth, LLoyd Carr is a classy guy.

It is possible to try to be somewhat objective and still be a Spartan fan.

It's totally amusing to watch everyone scramble to toss mud just cause its UM.

Completely agree with you on most points, and that some of this thread is piling on, but how about these reports, objectively:

First, Rod didn't give his employer notice that he was meeting with another prospective employer, and, further, didn't bother to say "goodbye" in person. No "thanks for the opportunity to further my career here at my alma mater, I owe this University a lot for everything that it has given me." (Realize here that I am not saying he should have stayed at WVU, but merely been man enough to say he was leaving in person or at least delivering the letter himself.)

Second, before telling his own players or his own employer, he decides to call a HS player in the next state over, who then leaks it to the media for all of Mountaineer country to find out.

How can I be expected to look at that objectively and not question the man's integrity?

[D.Wags]

Originally Posted by Vince of 231

Actually, $aban met with his team to tell them. I think his departure was suspected and rumored, but was not confirmed until he told them to their faces.

As far as RR's departure style, this fits in perfectly with Lloyd's lame sore-loser hand shakes.

?????

Mike Volmar was down in Florida doing prep work for the team getting there to play Florida. Hotel's, establishing where we'd send the weight equipment, when we'd arrive. Mike was Saban's advance man. So Mike says he's down there doing the work, goes to the bar of his hotel to have a drink, looks up on the t.v. and sees the espn ticker about Saban. He knew nothing about him, and Volmar was his personal assistant.

[Will Teasle]

Wasnt MSU the school negotiating with JLS on the sideline of a Louisville bowl game? I recall Louisville players cell phones ringing saying he was leaving. U call that class? That said, I dont think its incumbent for a candidate to tell your current employer you are (or are not) listening to other job offers. Unless you have an employment contract, most employers would fire your ass if they knew you were talking to the competition about a new gig. Maybe some cant admit it, but the UM job is a top 5 job in the country. Probably better for RichRod cuz less competition that the SEC (when he looked at Bama job), a national recruiting base, and very good facilities. Nobody in their right mind leaves a great job until the have the new one signed, sealed, and delivered. And when Terrell Pryor ends up at scUM, it will be at least 3 years of pain for the rest of the Big Ten. Ive seen him live, and he looks alot like Vince Young. Smart move by RichRod to keep that guy in the loop, IMHO.

[greenylc]

Originally Posted by newlander

scUM and their legion of band wagon, mullett wearing fans couldn't care LESS what kind of GUY he is. Just about wins and losses. Same as it's always been. He'll be no better or worse than Carr IMO. He won't beat OSU and top level teams with that offense. Not much of a defensive scheme either. They paid MILLIONS for a guy that will deliver about the same as English would have delivered: 8-10 wins per year. Not bad, but not LES MILES like either.

I had the same thoughts until I talked to my co-worker, an WVU alum and huge WVU fan. She really considered Dick Rod a WVU "family member," and that his actions have "disrespected" the entire WVU family.

[WBill@]

Originally Posted by Will Teasle

That said, I dont think its incumbent for a candidate to tell your current employer you are (or are not) listening to other job offers.

Sounds like many have contract provisions that require just that. Ferentz reportedly had such a provision.

[HawkeyeCheesehead]

Originally Posted by greenylc

I had the same thoughts until I talked to my co-worker, an WVU alum and huge WVU fan. She really considered Dick Rod a WVU "family member," and that his actions have "disrespected" the entire WVU family.

The whole state of WV is in meltdown right now...

[greenylc]

Originally Posted by HawkeyeCheesehead

The whole state of WV is in meltdown right now...

Yup. She, apparently, was literally crying over the whole thing last night. At least now I will have someone in the office to cheer against scUM with me