ESPN Analysts Not Shy When It Comes To Piling On Michigan
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
A Columbus radio station, that has on ESPN analysts as regular guests, has been talking all week about the upcoming UM-OSU game. They've had both Chris Spielman (OSU alum) and Desmond Howard (UM alum) on in the past few days, and both have pulled no punches in laying into the team and the coaching staff....
Desmond Howard- "That would be the popular thinking after watching them lose eight games this season, and the way they've lost some of those games. I made a comment (Sunday) on our show that it's not like they were trying to learn a spread offense (as much as) like they were trying to learn how to play football in some of those games, they looked so bad. This isn't Michigan, this is like Michigan Tech.Well how's that for journalistic integrity? I understand the rivalry and the hatred, but saying you love seeing them "beaten down", is just a little over-the-top if you ask me. I think Herbstreit has always taken the right approach when he discusses the two teams, and there's always going to be some level of love for your school, but let's tone it down some there, Chris.
"I said, 'If they win six games, Rich Rod is one of the best coaches in college football.' Then I said, 'If they win seven, he has to be finalist for the best coach in college football, if they win eight, he is the best coach in college football.' I expected them to struggle.
"Now, there's a way to lose, and there's a way to look embarrassing. Earlier in the season, when guys couldn't field kickoffs, that to me that goes beyond coaching.
"There's a lot of blame to go around, so Rich Rodriguez, and (defensive coordinator) Scott Shafer and the rest of the coaching staff -- those guys definitely have to shoulder some of the blame, there's no doubt about that. But as a player, you have to have some pride to go out on the field and do certain things that show you're a football player."
Chris Spielman- "[The Wolverines] stink, they're not very good. They don't play offense ... they can't run it consistently, they can't throw it consistently, they can't stop the run, they're not very good defending the pass, they're not very good covering kicks, they're not very good returning kicks."
"I love seeing them beaten down, man. It's great."
ESPN should probably keep Chris Spielman away from Michigan games from now on (Dr. Saturday)
Howard: 'This isn't Michigan' (Detroit Free Press)
Desmond Howard Interview (1460 The Fan)
19 Comments:
As a michigan fan (Ehh, I expected a really tough year)... and loving every single second of Notre Dame's past season. I really don't have an issue with what Chris Spielman said.
Yes, I know i'm just a fan and he is an analyst and he has some responsibility to watch his words. But I fully know every non-michigan fan out there is loving this year.
@ Jeff: Right you are. I'm a Penn State fan and I'm loving this year. The only thing that would make it better is if Ohio State was right there with them.
A part of me is actually hoping that Michigan does win on Saturday a). to shut Spielman up as that was obnoxious and uncalled for, as much as I hate Michigan myself, and b). I want Ohio State to have a taste of humiliation as well.
But then again, Rich Rod is about as sanctimonious as they come. I guess the answer is, I'll have some sort of satisfaction out of that game regardless of who wins.
As far as Howard and Spielman go, Howard actually advanced a point, Spielman just talked trash.
Chris Spielman did the color on the Missouri-Nebraska game...and everything made sense after the realization was made that he and Bo Pelini were teammates at Ohio State (and on the defensive side of the ball at that)...
have you never heard Chris Spielman pontificate on Michigan before? This is very tame.
AA, I listen to Spielman everyday (or the two times a week that he works) on 1460. This is a local radio station that caters to Buckeye fans. It's not like he's on TV doing this like the guy from The U that wanted to fight everybody.
I don't know, I guess I just don't get what the big deal is. And for the record, I HATE both of these schools.
No big deal. At least Spielman didn't go on his radio show and call a specific player "worthless" (although this year, just about all of them are).
I also live in columbus. Chris Spielman is on the short list of the worst radio personalities in the country. He's prone to do radio like he's having a conversation with a buddy, always interrupting and speaking over the live reads (i.e. Sponsers) of his partner. The guy who hosts his 3-7 pm Big Show must cringe everytime he opens his mouth. He talks about integrity and class, then makes comments like this...Chris Spielman could never work in another town other than Columbus, Ohio. His credibility would just evaporate. Its a shame he gets a sweet gig on ESPN, because there are talented, lesser knowns that could do a great job.
Michigan Tech can probably hang with Michigan this year.
AA
you have marbles to even type the words "journalistic" and "integrity"
PUH LEEZE
FYI Desmond: MTU is 8-3 in football this year...looks like Michigan wishes it was 'like' Michigan Tech! Another example of an arrogant Mich grad (General Studies??) running his mouth.
terrelle pryor looks exactly like chris brown.
just thought id point that out
Rich Rod is a TERRIBLE coach.
He should never try to run or install the spread if he doesn't have the players to execute it.
You put the players in the best position to win NOW. Otherwise, you're saying winning is not important.
@Anon 12:43
So you would rather Rich Rod come in, with extreme youth still on the offensive side of the ball, and install and run an offensive system he hasn't coached in 16+ years?
...Yea, the offense would be unstoppable if he did that...
No matter what offense we ran we would have been horrible on offense this year. We were green, VERY green. One returning starter on the offensive side of the ball, starting freshman and true freshman all over the place. There just isn't any talent there.
Making the argument he should have stayed with a pro-style offensive is just being uninformed and ignorant. He, without a doubt, made the correct choice in installing the spread. He had no other choice.
Jeff, he could have avoided putting all his eggs in the Pryor basket. He could have avoided alienating players like Mallet, Boren, etc. Oh I know, who needs em, they arent MICHIGAN MEN! How many players have to leave/decommit (McGuffie, Newsome)before Rodriguez loses his luster?
Varsity Blue actually had a good piece on the "eggs in one basket" claim, so I'll link them instead of repeating what they said http://varsityblue.blogspot.com/2008/11/eggs-in-one-basket.html
Did he alienate Mallet? Yes, he did, however nobody saw that kid staying from the second that Rodriguez was hired. Hell Carr alienated him...
Did he alienate Boren? I sure as hell don't think so. All rumors and all rumblings from sources and inside the team all stated the exact same thing. Boren did nothing but bitch about practice from the time practice started. He quickly transfered.
Newsome decommiting wasn't that big of a shock, and didn't have much to do with Rodriguez. McGuffie's possible transfer seems to be more about being homesick than any issues with Rodriguez also (however, we won't know until he does transfer... if he does).
A season this bad was completely possible, and not shocking to anybody who really follows michigan football. Unfortunately, the local (and national) media keep jumping up and down about how much of a travesty he is and how horrible of a hire he was. When the majority of Michigan fans truly do understand.
Now if next year we are 4-8 or 3-9 again... well that's a different story.
He is not a journalist, and Buckeye roots run deep...
I hope you're happy with screwing WVU, Richer Rodrigiuez!
Whatever Speilman says is harmless, benign, brain-dead, too many hits to the head, jock, machismo. Enjoy getting destroyed in another bowl game, Chrissy.
DISCLOSURE: Not a fan of either team but I love to hate both schools.
Spielman coached the Columbus Destroyers of the AFL in 2005. He was 2-14.
As a fan of the Cleveland Gladiators, let me say I loved seeing them beaten down, man. It's great.