What is Rich Rod saying to Dave Brandon?
Day 2 of the Brandon-Rodriguez summit is about to start. Maybe they are just negotiating a buyout, or maybe Brandon is giving RichRod a serious chance to save his job. If so, I imagine it is going something like this:
"Yes, our first season was a disaster, but we knew that was a possibility when I was hired. Lloyd left me with a bunch of big, slow guys that couldn't play my system. I've had to spend three recruiting classes trying to fix that. We got better in our second season, and then look what happened this year. You saw Denard play last year - did you think I could turn him in a Heisman Trophy candidate in one offseason? Imagine what he's going to be like after another summer with me."
"I'm an offensive genius - just ask the teams I clobbered with little West Virginia - but I admit that I've done a poor job of picking defensive coordinators. I understand that our staff on that side of the ball needs to be rebuilt, and that I need some help making those choices. You give me a list of people to talk to, and I'll listen to their advice, and I'll come to you to approve my decision."
"College football is all about the system. We've got the system in place on offense, and we've got the athletes in place on defense. You and I will find the right defensive coordinator with the right system, and we'll beat Michigan State next year, and we'll beat Ohio State, and we'll finish the season in Indianapolis."
"I know the media wants me out, but, Dave, I know you want what is best for this program. The media is the reason we're on probation, and now they are trying to do even more damage to this great university. You saw the games this year. When Denard was healthy, our offense was as good as anyone's, and we know we can fix the defense."
"If you fire me, you are going to end up with some throwback coach who plays a three-yards-and-a-cloud-of dust offense from the 1960s. That's not how you win in the 21st Century. Do you see Auburn playing that way? Oregon certainly doesn't."
"You know Jim Harbaugh's not coming here. He's going to be coaching the 49ers or the Raiders, and good for him. He's done a great job and he deserves a shot at the NFL."
"But that leaves you in a bind, doesn't it? You could hire Brady Hoke - he's a 'Michigan Man'. He had a good season at San Diego State this year, but you know what happened when he played TCU and Utah? His team gave up a combined 78 points. I wouldn't say he's got defensive football figured out, either. Plus we're talking about a guy whose career highlight is taking a team to the Poinsettia Bowl and beating Navy. I took West Virginia to the brink of the BCS championship game."
"That leaves you with Les Miles. Great record, and a national championship under his belt. I don't have one of those. Of course, I never got to take over a program that Nick Saban had built into a powerhouse. I'm not sure if you have noticed, but in the seasons since Miles had to use his own recruits? Hasn't had a top-10 finish. Besides, if he wanted to be here, he had his chance. Why go after him now when he hasn't done as well? Makes you look weak, Dave."
"Oh, and if you fire me for one of those guys, do you think Denard or Devin will set foot on this campus again? Tate's already done. Do you want to be in the position where your unspectacular new coach has to win over the fan base with Jack Kennedy behind center?"
"I know things haven't gone perfectly. The probation looks bad, but you and I both know that every school in the country does those things. They just didn't have a newspaper with a vendetta forcing the NCAA to take action."
"We're on the right track here. We've made a lot of mistakes, but they can be fixed. You've seen how fast a good coordinator can turn around his part of the team, and you and I can find the coach who can do that for us."
"Give me 2011, Dave. I'm going to finish polishing Denard, and I'm going to have Devin on the same path. Michigan's never had a Heisman-winning quarterback, and that's a shame. I'm going to give you two guys with a chance to win that trophy, and win a lot of other things along the way. We've worked together for a season now, and I know we can be a powerful team. I've got my players now, and I've got you to watch my back."
"Let's keep this together. You saw how the Big Ten looked in the bowls, and you know Ohio State is losing all of their cheaters. Michigan State's a one-trick pony. Nebraska hasn't played in a real conference in decades. Penn State - well, bless JoePa, but a 102-year-old coach isn't going to win the Big Ten."
"What do you say, Dave? Let's shock the world."