Why Do Spartans Dislike RichRod So Much?

by grahamfiller10 on Nov 14, 2009 8:04 PM CST in Michigan State Comment 5 comments

I got a text message today from a Spartan friend who was obviously excited about the Purdue win enough to feel condescending. He texted:

In RichRod We Trust

That was all. And it confounds me, because there was never this kind of dislike toward Bo or Lloyd Carr in East Lansing, both who resided over numerous thrashings of Michigan State. This isn't an isolated text either, all anyone around here (East Lansing) wants to discuss with me is whether RichRod is running the program into the ground. No discussion about the changed offense or the worst UM defense maybe ever. Just vitriol and sarcasm pointed directly at Rodriguez.

Why in the world would a Michigan State fan have nothing but positive things to say about RichRod? Hell, I'd be starting a "Keep RR" website. Consider the things that have happened since Rich took over-

MSU has two inspiring victories over Michigan, both showing a superior Spartan team.
Michigan has featured it's two worst defenses in Ann Arbor history, scoring wise.
The "never lost to a MAC school" meme has been shattered.
MSU won the in-state recruiting battle this year, which Dantonio has repeatedly mentioned as a vital part of his building.
The Maize and Blue boosters and big names have been split into Old Guard and Not Old Guard, and this fissure hasn't been pretty, as the Rick Leach-Lloyd Carr incident showed.
Michigan may miss a bowl game for a 2nd consecutive year.
The Detroit Free Press and former players were so disenchanted with RR that they organized a nice attack piece regarding his practice habits, leading to an NCAA investigation.

So remind me again why Spartan fans would be anything but positive towards RichRod staying in Ann Arbor for years to come? Either supporters of Michigan State are stupid, and long for the days of inferiority to return...Or they think that by mocking the head coach, I will be deeply hurt because I have to support a team that he coaches...Or the specific Spartans I deal with are closeted UM fans, secretly hoping for a resurgence in AA...Or they fear the eventual dominance of his Spread offense and want him out before it comes to fruition...Or these fans don't know anything about schemes or football and just spout what they read online.

Whatever it is, my East Lansing brothers, I encourage you to focus on our 5-6 record, our talentless defense, and our Big Ten slide. There's plenty of material there for annoying text messages and chat room LOL's. Don't worry about our head coach. He's getting at least one more year (and probably two) to sharpen his system with his recruits.

Rr3_medium

0 recs | Comment 5 comments | Share

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

MSU fans dislike RR...

Because, well, pretty much everyone dislikes RichRod…

by hmlee on Nov 14, 2009 8:21 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I’m still worried that Rodriguez will get things figured out in Michigan. But the down years might be enough for us to establish a competitive program and make things interesting long-term.

The only reason a non-Michigan fan should want Rodriguez fired is that it would be a sign of absurd impatience on their part and would indicate that they’re likely to be stuck “in transition” for a long time (other than Brian Kelly, what big names are out there that would have any reason to make the jump?).

by SpartanDan on Nov 14, 2009 9:46 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

God Graham, did you fap enough while writing this

Check any, ANY, of the Spartan blogs, or listen to Jim Miller beg for scUM to keep dickrod, and you will know that your Spartan friends are either: A. Outliers, or B. Being honest.

A quick scan of the first few pages of the RCMB had five different references to Dickrod positively. Dickrod is almost as good for MSU as Dantonio is. Did you ever consider the fact that perhaps your friends were making fun of you for your support of dickrod? Comeon Graham, I frequent this site because of it’s good writing – not self congratulatory crap like this.

by milesgmsu1 on Nov 14, 2009 9:50 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

had to urbandictionary FAP

and the answer is no.

I stick to pretty cynical, fact based writing usually, but I just don’t see any reason for the focus on Rich Rodriguez. I think Michigan fans like Brian at MGo here, have taken a measured, mature approach to our struggles. And if it pays off, it pays off…If not, we see a chink in the Ann Arbor armor. But right now, I don’t have a damn choice about supporting RR or not, because 1) it’s not about him and 2) he’s going to be there for 1-2 more years no matter what. Unlike Rush Limbaugh thoughts about Obama’s plans, I don’t want RichRod to fail just so he can leave.

By the way, what am I congratulating myself about in this post?

The Rivalry, Esq.
"Ricky Stanzi is to interceptions as Journey is to 80s rock ballads...inextricably linked."

by grahamfiller10 on Nov 15, 2009 2:34 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I think it's less about RichRod failing or wanting to see him fired ...

After years of misery and things not going “as planned” under a string of (what turned out to be) horrible coaches in East Lansing, it’s just nice to see some of that same consternation down the road in AA — where, despite what one may have thought of Llyod or Gary, at least the situation was never as embarassing as it was for those of us who had to endure John L. and Bobby.

Man looks in the abyss, there's nothing staring back at him. At that moment, man finds his character. And that is what keeps him out of the abyss. -- Lou Mannheim, Wall Street

by ChiSpartan on Nov 16, 2009 9:15 AM CST reply actions 0 recs