TSUN News/Recruiting

[BuckTwenty]

Why all this comparing DickRod to Tressel? That's apples and oranges.

You're going to have a crappy year of football this year. Your 2009-2010 season will depend on how your players learn the system, develop within that system, and handle the adversity of a trying year. It'll also depend on how you recruit. Hopefully you guys will start getting some commitments from some linemen, or else you're going to have another long season after this one.

[HailToMichigan]

Originally Posted by MaxBuck

Figured that one out pretty quick, didn't you?

It took me a little while. Thought this was a Washington State website for the longest time.

[MaxBuck]

Originally Posted by HailToMichigan

Thought this was a Washington State website for the longest time.

Wazzzzuuuuu (ppppp)?

[Tresselbeliever]

DickRod reminds of "turnaround specialist" CEOs whom would do anything, even at the expense of unethical behavior and sacrificing long-term profitability, to achieve short-term success, pick up the fat compensation package, and leave the organization in shambles. So far, his lack of defensive recruiting is a sign that he plans to ride the success, if you can even call it that, from the current defensive unit and use UM to add to his credential as an offensive guru. It wouldn't surprise me if he is coaching in Tallahassee after a couple of 9-4 seasons.

[brutus2002]

The bigger question is who is gonna play DL for them next year.

[HailToMichigan]

Originally Posted by Jaxbuck

and yes we would hold him in high regard based soley on what he's done in big games against his rival. How's RR's track record on that front?

Winning records against both Pitt and Maryland. I'd be OK with it if he went 4-3 against OSU in 7 years. It'd be about the same as Bo did against Woody.

No, its saying that while you do indeed step up the resources you have availible at scUM, you step up to a higher degree of difficulty with the schedule. Its a wash.

I'd sure like to think that the difference between Michigan and the Iowas and Illinois's of the world is better than that between WVU and the rest of the Big East. There's not that much to work with in Morgantown.

[HailToMichigan]

Originally Posted by Tresselbeliever

DickRod reminds of "turnaround specialist" CEOs whom would do anything, even at the expense of unethical behavior and sacrificing long-term profitability, to achieve short-term success, pick up the fat compensation package, and leave the organization in shambles. So far, his lack of defensive recruiting is a sign that he plans to ride the success, if you can even call it that, from the current defensive unit and use UM to add to his credential as an offensive guru. It wouldn't surprise me if he is coaching in Tallahassee after a couple of 9-4 seasons.

What lack of defensive recruiting? It's not like he's been ignoring that side of the ball. You'd think Signing Day was tomorrow instead of six months from now.

[Jaxbuck]

Originally Posted by HailToMichigan

I'd sure like to think that the difference between Michigan and the Iowas and Illinois's of the world is better than that between WVU and the rest of the Big East. There's not that much to work with in Morgantown.

Don Nehlan did all right. Even played for a National Championship.

[NFBuck]

Originally Posted by brutus2002

The bigger question is who is gonna play DL for them next year.

That's the biggest rub of this whole situation. Recruits are committing earlier and earlier these days. No real "blue-chippers" on defense are very high on um. The CB from Arkansas (whatshisname) mentioned them a couple months ago and we haven't heard much since. They have shots at a couple "under the radar" type guys, but defensive recruiting for DickRod isn't the same as offense. He can recruit these ping-pong balls on offense and get production from them due to the system he runs. Not so on defense. On defense, he's still gonna need to bring in big time recruits. He never did that at wvu (on D) and is struggling to get any to notice him now at um. I don't know if it's a lack of trying or if the big-time defensive prospects um used to be able to reel in are looking elsewhere because of DR's reputation.

Save the "he's just getting settled in at um, it'll come around" crap too. He's a name coach at a name university. He shouldn't have such a hard time attracting "name" recruits. Les Miles recruited immediately at LSU, Meyer at UF, Saban did at 'Bama, hell even Randy Shannon with the Canes in shambles is reeling in good classes. I'd be nervous about DickRod's defensive recruiting prowess if I were a scUMmer (God forbid).

[NFBuck]

Originally Posted by HailToMichigan

Winning records against both Pitt and Maryland. I'd be OK with it if he went 4-3 against OSU in 7 years. It'd be about the same as Bo did against Woody.

Ohio State and Pitt/Maryland are in two seperate universes. Try again.

I'd sure like to think that the difference between Michigan and the Iowas and Illinois's of the world is better than that between WVU and the rest of the Big East. There's not that much to work with in Morgantown.

True, but there is a bigger difference between the Pitts/marylands and tOSU's and the PSUs/Wiscys and the USFs/Louisvilles. His offense struggled against the better defenses in his conference and it reflected in his W-L record. There's not that much to work with in michigan either (relatively speaking) where he isn't cleaning up in recruiting. His recruiting thus far, particularly defense just isn't up to snuff by um standards. See my post above if you want to trot out the "it's his first year" excuse. Other "name" coaches have done quite well in their first year at new stops that didn't quite have um's cache.

Originally Posted by HailToMichigan

What lack of defensive recruiting? It's not like he's been ignoring that side of the ball. You'd think Signing Day was tomorrow instead of six months from now.

True. But what really good defensive recruits does um have a legitimate shot at right now. They're getting scooped quite a bit for defensive recruits. He's simply gonna have to step up his defensive recruiting, especially considering how thin the DL is, if he doesn't want to spend a couple years trying to catch up.

[billmac91]

Why though? Seriously. Why's RR doomed to fail where Tressel succeeded?

Because big time recruits aren't going to want to play for a coach who doesn't produce NFL players.

His style worked at Tulane and WVU feasting on poor competition.....it won't work in a major conference especially when blue-chip atheletes understand his style does not prepare them for pro-ball.

Just the way it is. Ho wmany NFL players did he produce at WVU?

Chris Henry, Pac-Man, Steve Slaton, and who else? I mean I'm sure I'm missing a few names, but what a joke.

[jwinslow]

Originally Posted by Jaxbuck

Don Nehlan did all right. Even played for a National Championship.

Twice.

The 1987 season marked the beginning of the Major Harris era in West Virginia. In Harris' sophomore season, 1988, West Virginia went undefeated and played Notre Dame in The National Championship Fiesta Bowl. West Virginia lost the game 34-21, after Major Harris' injury on the third play of the game.


In 1993, Nehlen led West Virginia to another undefeated regular season, but Florida exacted revenge in the Sugar Bowl, winning 41-7.

[brutus2002]

NFBuck hit the nail on the head.

Remember last years defensive haul for Michigan???? Yep LLoyd Carr recruited them not RR. If LLoyd Carr would not have went out gracefully half those recruits would have bailed. The Michigan faithful ought to give Carr a big applause for his class and how he left the program. RR hasn't show me he can recruit defense...or even at all. I don't look at starratings but I do look at offer list. The big boys are committing elsewhere. Michigan is rumored to have around 9 ships left...Things are not looking that promising.

[NFBuck]

Bump to drive home my point earlier of DR's success again competitive football teams.

Originally Posted by NFBuck

Okay, here's DR's season by season performance in notable games...
2001
at BC LOST 10-34
at Maryland LOST 20-32
VA Tech LOST 0-35
at ND LOST 24-34
at Miami (FL) LOST 3-45
Pitt LOST 17-23

2002
at Wiscy LOST 17-34
Maryland LOST 17-48
Miami (FL) LOST 23-40
BC WON 24-14
at VA Tech WON 21-18
at Pitt WON 24-17
Virginia LOST 22-48

2003
Wiscy LOST 17-24
at Maryland LOST 7-34
at Miami (FL) LOST 20-22
VA Tech WON 28-7
at BC WON 35-28
Pitt WON 52-31
Maryland (bowl) LOST 7-41

2004
Maryland WON 19-16
at VA Tech LOST 13-19
BC LOST 17-36
Pitt LOST 13-16
Fla State LOST 18-30

2005
at Maryland WON 31-19
VA Tech LOST 17-34
Louisville WON 46-44
Pitt WON 45-13
Georgia WON 38-35

2006
Maryland WON 45-24
at Louisville LOST 34-44
S Fla LOST 19-24
Rutgers WON 41-39
Pitt WON 45-27
Ga Tech WON 38-35

2007
Maryland WON 31-14
at S Fla LOST 13-21
Rutgers WON 31-3
Louisville WON 38-31
Pitt LOST 9-13

So there ya have it. Those were his most important games from each season at wvu. He was 4-4 against Maryland (a sorta rival), but struggled against them when they fielded decent teams a few years ago. Against the ACC defectors, he went 4-8: 2-2 (BC), 2-3 (VT) and 0-3 (MIA). South Florida has handled him since they've become competitive (0-2). He was 1-1 against strong L-Ville teams and barely beat a very bad L-ville in 2007. He beat a pretty good Rutgers team in 2006 and a mediocre one in 2007. Against his chief rival, Pitt, he was an underwhelming 4-3 including the absolute embarrassment last year. Then went 2-3 in Bowl games with the only really impressive win being over Georgia. That is a less than stellar resume if you ask me.

[Muck]

Originally Posted by HailToMichigan

Yes, exactly.

But Tressel's record at Youngstown State was 135-57-2, or .701. Applying the fallacious logic that RR's previous coaching win percentage (.625) will be the same at Michigan, Tressel should be giving you 9-4 seasons. He's not, even though the competition is so much better.

He Played For The National Title Six Times & Won Four.

RR is 0-1

In the NAIA title game.