Rich Rodriguez (official thread of last laughs)

[jwinslow]

Thanks for ignoring my central point. Could you kindly point out where they collapsed and gave up? You guys reference their stereotype quite often over the years, so what happened to your familiarity with that component? I realize that doesn't fit your hopes for that team, but flat out ignoring it is pretty intellectually dishonest. Where is the sparty slappy moment? Where

If you want to claim they'll continue to be competitive but lose nearly every close battle, then say so.

Does it matter if you "almost" beat a team?

When you pretend like it's not possible, yes... but keep telling yourself it's not a possibility, and that the only bias clouding this debate is our man-crush on Dantonio.

Michigan State jumped out to yet another quick start last year against a clusterfuck of terrible teams.

Sorry, but no one viewed that as anything other than it was, a cupcake row of OOC opponents... like UM's schedule should be if they were not rebuilding quite extensively.

So if he loses to Michigan this year, does that make him a shitty coach?

I missed the part where he had talent on his team. That's changing.

 

[jwinslow]

In 07, MSU came up short vs Wisky, and lost a close one to NW. They spanked IU, and kept it close but lost vs OSU, Iowa, UM, smacked Purdue, rallied vs PSU, and gave a grossly unfair bowl opponent a tough game in a loss.

In past seasons, Sparty is dead after a few heart breaking losses. They aren't keeping up with OSU, let alone still fighting by their 5th tough outing (UM), and certainly not beating good teams in Purdue & PSU down that stretch.

2006 - MSU loses a heartbreaker to ND. They lose to unranked ILL, get spanked by UM, OSU, beat NW, and get spanked again by IU. They then lose the next 4, making it 8 out of 9 losses starting with ND.
2005 - MSU loses a heartbreaker to UM. They fall apart (starting with coach) vs OSU and get rolled, get destroyed by NW, beat IU, and lose their last 3 (two blowout losses).

 

[SNIPER26]

I missed the part where he had talent on his team. That's changing.

Javon Ringer? Jehuu Caulcrick? Devin Thomas? Greg Jones?

 

[SNIPER26]

In 07, MSU came up short vs Wisky, and lost a close one to NW. They spanked IU, and kept it close but lost vs OSU, Iowa, UM, smacked Purdue, rallied vs PSU, and gave a grossly unfair bowl opponent a tough game in a loss.

In past seasons, Sparty is dead after a few heart breaking losses. They aren't keeping up with OSU, let alone still fighting by their 5th tough outing (UM), and certainly not beating good teams in Purdue & PSU down that stretch.

2006 - MSU loses a heartbreaker to ND. They lose to unranked ILL, get spanked by UM, OSU, beat NW, and get spanked again by IU. They then lose the next 4, making it 8 out of 9 losses starting with ND.
2005 - MSU loses a heartbreaker to UM. They fall apart (starting with coach) vs OSU and get rolled, get destroyed by NW, beat IU, and lose their last 3 (two blowout losses).

But like I asked, what does it matter if you almost win? There are no ties obviously, so you either win or lose. Hey, you guys ALMOST beat Illinois last year. Does that make you feel better about it? It doesn't matter if you lose by one or 100, it's still a loss.

 

[Steve19]

Sniper, we'll see when we get to the game. I am just hoping that both teams beat Notre Dame. Think of all the hair plugs the outside appearances can bring your coach after that one.

 

[jwinslow]

When the program has about 3-4 players who can make the other team's 2-deep, yes it matters... when it's a first year coach.

I didn't say to annoint him. But it's pretty obvious there's a difference in physicality, competition and drive behind that team. It's also pretty obvious that their talent level is still pretty bad.

Your fans will be jumping off the deep end at times this season, but I imagine you'll see flashes of what is to come. Will your 'what does it matter' still apply then? Maybe for your emotions, but I imagine there will be morsels to take away (even in defeat) about what RR is building. 08 UM won't look anything like the team you'll be fielding in the future. Same goes for Dantonio.

 

[Bleed S & G]

But we're not going to lose to Michigan State, so I fail to see the relevance. I know this board LOVES them some Mark Dantonio, but do we have any evidence that he's a good coach with a 24-22 career record? OOOOOOOO he changed the cuilture of MSU. Really? I'm pretty sure MSU was rabidly obsessed with beating Michigan before. I'm pretty sure MSU has been starting off hot against LOL CREMEPUFFS!!!!!!!!!111 and falling off the face of the Earth for quite a few years now. Call me when MSU isn't Same Old Sparty.

I don;t dispute RR's records.. I dispute his character.

Coach Dantonio is 10x's the person RR has ever thought of being.

 

[VprHis]

Michigan State jumped out to yet another quick start last year against a clusterfuck of terrible teams. UAB, Bowling Green, Pitt, and Notre Dame.

If Pitt's so shitty, how did DickRod manage to lose to them despite having a much stronger team than Dantonio did?

 

[BuckeyeNation27]

Does it matter if you "almost" beat a team? Maybe if you're Notre Dame and you're trying to justify Charlie Weis' contract, then yes, "almost" counts. Other than that, no one gives a shit if you "almost" won. Do I gain solace because Michigan has "almost" beat Ohio State in some recent games? Um, I'm gonna go ahead and say no. So yeah, if almost wins count, then Michigan State is awesome.

Michigan State jumped out to yet another quick start last year against a clusterfuck of terrible teams. UAB, Bowling Green, Pitt, and Notre Dame. Quite the fearsome foursome there. After that, they went on their patented mid-season slide, going 3-6 in that stretch with wins over Indiana, Purdue and Penn State. That includes losses to Northwestern (?!?!?!) and Iowa, amongst others. Gee, I can't see why I'm not chugging the MSU kool-aid along with everyone else.

Every single year, MSU starts strong against bullshit teams, get their heads full of hot air and think they're going to beat Michigan. How's that working out for them lately?

It counts when you almost lose one year, then return a crappy team the next.

 

[SNIPER26]

If Pitt's so [censored]ty, how did DickRod manage to lose to them despite having a much stronger team than Dantonio did?

Yes, because the old Team A beat Team B so they're clearly better than Team C theory always works. And Pitt was a young team which was significantly improved by year's end.

 

[jwinslow]

Then it's good since he didn't use that to ask anything but how RR could lose to them.

Pitt got shellacked 48-37 by South Florida the weak before the epic upset of WVU.

 

[BuckeyeNation27]

Yes, because the old Team A beat Team B so they're clearly better than Team C theory always works. And Pitt was a young team which was significantly improved by year's end.

I don't think he ever said MSU was better than WVU.....he was just wondering how Pitt could qualify as a shitty team, yet your super coach found a way to lose to this shitty team with pretty much everything on the line.

 

[NFBuck]

Yes, because the old Team A beat Team B so they're clearly better than Team C theory always works. And Pitt was a young team which was significantly improved by year's end.

Yes, so much improved that they had lost 3 of their previous 4 and 7 of 9...

 

[jwinslow]

And Pitt was a young team which was significantly improved by year's end.

let's dig into this a bit closer. After beating two patsies, here was Pitt's schedule:

09/15 L 13-17 MSU
09/22 L 14-34 Conn
09/29 L 14-44 UVA
10/10 L 45-48 Navy
10/20 W 20-10 Cinci
10/27 L 17-24 Louis
11/03 W 17-20 Cuse (2-7)
11/17 L 20-16 Rutgers
11/24 L 37-48 South Fla
12/01 W 13-9 WVU

Until 12/1, I'm not seeing the 'significantly improved' pitch angle, given your measuring stick. Lucky for their sniper26 rating, Dantonio isn't their coach.

 

[SNIPER26]

Then it's good he didn't use that to ask anything but how RR could lose to them.

Pitt got shellacked 48-37 by South Florida the weak before the epic upset of WVU.

An 11 point loss is a shellacking nowadays? Mmmmmmmmmk.

I don't think he ever said MSU was better than WVU.....he was just wondering how Pitt could qualify as a [censored]ty team, yet your super coach found a way to lose to this [censored]ty team with pretty much everything on the line.

Pitt was a shitty team. WVU played poorly and White got hurt. Upsets happen.