Hoke deserves a graceful exit
Everyone is pissed. Everyone is frustrated.
I am not saying you shouldn't be, or to reconsider.
We all know what almost certainly is coming at the end of the season.
But the next time you want to pesronally insult Hoke, consider that he is a true Michigan Man that bleeds blue. He may have failed at his job, but it wasn't due from lack of effort or desire.
And in Michigan's hour of need, when our top choices used Michigan's offer just to get more money from someone else, it was Hoke who hopped on a bus before even discussing his pay.
He might not be a great coach but he appears to be a good pereson. He is losing his dream job. It sucks. If you need to vent your frustations with him, maybe we can at least not resort to such vitriol or RCMB-esque lowest common denominator personal inults?
September 20th, 2014 at 11:46 PM ^
was that the mediocrity has pretty much been ongoing at Michigan for the better part of 25 years.
September 21st, 2014 at 12:50 PM ^
If mediocrity includes a National Championship, sign me up yesterday.
September 21st, 2014 at 2:56 PM ^
I referenced, Colrado won a national championship as well. In fact, from 1990-1996 they went like 67-14-4 which is pretty damn good.
But from 1997 to last year they have gone 91-110. That makes for a record of 158-124-4, for a winning percentage of about 56%. Also, they have now not been to a bowl game since 2007, and are one of the worst teams in college football.
So, I would say that a national championship does not preclude mediocrity.
September 21st, 2014 at 2:56 PM ^
I referenced, Colrado won a national championship as well. In fact, from 1990-1996 they went like 67-14-4 which is pretty damn good.
But from 1997 to last year they have gone 91-110. That makes for a record of 158-124-4, for a winning percentage of about 56%. Also, they have now not been to a bowl game since 2007, and are one of the worst teams in college football.
So, I would say that a national championship does not preclude mediocrity.
September 21st, 2014 at 1:06 AM ^
to be fair, they're binders.
September 20th, 2014 at 11:27 PM ^
Agree with Ty. This is not the 50s and 60s. Also if teams go through down periods it's their own fault for hiring bad coaches. It doesn't help to keep saying ''all teams go through down periods'' as if it will make anything better. Hire a competent coach and things will get better.
September 20th, 2014 at 11:19 PM ^
Just like I thought about Borges- I know he's a good guy, I don't doubt his effort, but he's really quite arrogant about certain things and that is why we are in this position now.
September 20th, 2014 at 11:17 PM ^
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September 20th, 2014 at 11:41 PM ^
Everyone has been mentioning this today, I sort of assumed there was some credible rumor or something. Because otherwise, why would this even be in the realm, there are a million reasons why he will not come here. Just because his name is Harbaugh, that's the compelling argument in favor?
September 20th, 2014 at 11:20 PM ^
September 20th, 2014 at 11:49 PM ^
September 21st, 2014 at 12:48 AM ^
Yeah, How is that even possible? Everybody knows there are 14 teams in the league now. Duh!
September 20th, 2014 at 11:20 PM ^
guy ever...and he is completely loyal to Michigan. But, this is a results-oriented business (it is a business, not some amateur sport that the NCAA still tries to put off on people), and you need to be successful, especially at certain schools, to continue to be in the business.
The thing that is so upsetting to me is the seemingly endless excuses or passing of blame. From the "We are young" argument...(I am watching a young QB winning in Tallahassee right now, and I saw a young QB take Notre Dame to the national title game two years ago, among many examples) to the injuries to whatever else, there always seems to be a reason for not winning.
I feel like Hoke is similar to Luke Fickell when he took over Ohio State a few years ago...good in one area, but in over his head as a head coach at a school like that. Hoke might make a great coordinator at Michigan, or a head coach somewhere smaller, but he seems incapable of making in-game adjustments, of getting players to make the jump, and of doing more than mostly cheering.
September 20th, 2014 at 11:30 PM ^
Hoke is good in any area. There is no evidence of it. He coaches the DL for couple of years and we saw the results. In fact, I think that this the problem. He was never a DC or OC and clearly has limited creativity when it comes to managing a team. He is a nice person and I really wanted him to succeed. But you have think of the kids too. They are putting their hopes and dreams on the line too. I feel horrible for DG. I think he had a chance to make it to the NFL. But he was never properly coached and that is mostly Hoke's fault.
September 20th, 2014 at 11:28 PM ^
September 20th, 2014 at 11:33 PM ^
Nothing personal against Hoke. Again, sure he's a great guy, but loving Michigan with all his heart wasn't the only requirement on the job description. There's also the matter of winning football games, beating rivals, and winning titles, the last two of which he's failed miserably at.
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September 20th, 2014 at 11:33 PM ^
September 20th, 2014 at 11:35 PM ^
September 20th, 2014 at 11:38 PM ^
I'm really not that certain that Hoke getting canned is a foregone conclusion. Last year was atrocious and the AD pretended like every thing was fine, requested no changes, gave them the green light to run the whole thing back with no changes at all. It was only when Nuss came available when Kiffin went to Bama, but that's the only reason Borges was let go.
The B1G is bad, MICH could easily go 8-4 or 7-5, eking out wins over crap teams, and not only could I see Brandon retaining Hoke, but I think it would be more probable than not. Hoke is Brandon's guy, it would be Brandon admitting failure, and I don't think that's his strong suit, to put it mildly.
September 21st, 2014 at 4:35 AM ^
September 20th, 2014 at 11:40 PM ^
Let's not get confused: Dave Brandon deserves the personal insults, not Hoke.
Dave Brandon has taken a brand, a machine, a great franchise, and made it into a joke with HIS hire. This used to be MICHIGAN football. It used to mean something. Used to be something. Yes, we went 9-3 or 10-2 or whatever... but we didn't lose to ND 31-0 or to middling Utah 26-10. This is pathetic. Point blank pathetic.
We used to dominate State. We used to break their hearts. Even if the game was close, we knew WE had the upper hand. We had Braylon EDWARDS. We had great teams. Yes, we experienced the HORROR but we balled afterward. We beat Urban Meyer and Florida and Timmy Tebow that same year. We had talent and that talent actually got better as the year progressed.
What we are now is embarrassing and I want no part of it. I will always love Michigan but I will not support Dave Brandon in any monetary way. That means TV as well. I will not watch this crap. I will not partake in his schemes. I was planning to come up for the UMD-Mich game, but probably not anymore.
What a joke.
September 21st, 2014 at 12:03 AM ^
To be fair, when Brandon took over (spring 2010) we were already coming off back-to-back losing seasons and losses to MSU. The football program hasn't exactly prospered under Brandon's watch, but it was already in dire straits when he came.
The problems started under Bill Martin. Les Miles is an accomplished coach who wanted to come here and Martin f'ed it up. If we'd hired Miles in 2007, I bet the bowl streak would have never ended.
September 22nd, 2014 at 8:24 PM ^
Duplicate... Sorry.
September 20th, 2014 at 11:44 PM ^
September 21st, 2014 at 8:21 AM ^
i don't brandon to decide which brand of hot dogs to serve at the concession stands or toilet paper to use in the bathrooms.
September 20th, 2014 at 11:47 PM ^
I think things should be handled as professionally as possible, but this Michigan Man shit is what is putting the program behind more than it should be. We have a coach who literally refuses to adapt strategically and it is having a direct impact in his team losing games, even when they have superior talent. The team has gotten worse every year we've gotten further from Rodriguez, and instead of transitioning to modern football, we're now further behind than we were when Rodriguez took over. I really don't know how this gets fixed.
September 21st, 2014 at 9:27 AM ^
Locking ourself into one philosophy or another is just as stupid as locking ourselves into only people with a michigan background.
September 20th, 2014 at 11:53 PM ^
an honor line of fans.
3 claps and pat on the butt.
September 20th, 2014 at 11:55 PM ^
September 21st, 2014 at 12:01 AM ^
that's all I can say.
You are interested in "sticking with Hoke and the coordinators"?!? Please, seriously, other than blind hope why do you think this is a good idea?
September 21st, 2014 at 8:41 AM ^
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September 21st, 2014 at 12:18 AM ^
What makes you think he's leaving? I think Brandon gives him 1 more year - even if they should end up with 3-5 wins. Brandon is one of those guys that believe he is chosen by God for greatness - he never believes he's wrong. If Mr. Brandon speaks this week and you hear the term "young team" a time or two, I think it is a good indication that Brady Hoke is staying. And Brandon has made millions for the school, he's not going anywhere for awhile.
September 21st, 2014 at 12:34 AM ^
September 21st, 2014 at 8:27 AM ^
The tree of liberty must be refereshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
September 21st, 2014 at 12:21 AM ^
September 21st, 2014 at 12:23 AM ^
September 21st, 2014 at 9:54 AM ^
You can't really blame Hoke for getting that much money without a track record to back it up; you have to blame Dave Brandon. He probably did it for show more than anything, thinking that a Michigan coach has to get paid in the upper echelons, no matter who it is. The $4 million likely had little to with what Brady Hoke was actually worth.
September 21st, 2014 at 12:32 AM ^
September 21st, 2014 at 8:35 AM ^
Than the on field performance.
But...
It's a very real possibility that in firing him we get worse before we get better
September 21st, 2014 at 8:42 AM ^
September 21st, 2014 at 12:48 AM ^
Im not sure Hoke is such a "good person". He may be a decent person, but his actions in the Gibbons case, his near-inaction in the case with the WR York sucker punching the defenseless kid (only kicking him off after the public outcry for the video),his constant disrespect towards the media (even RR was cordial when asked tough questions)....
...to tossing Borges under the bus for another OC who is worse and then not speaking to Borges about it personally (a documented fact) and today his telling Mattison to get the Fuck off of the field shows that guy can be just as idiotic and classless as anyone else.
The only thing Hoke "deserves" is a quick bus ticket out of town.
September 21st, 2014 at 12:49 AM ^
September 21st, 2014 at 3:30 AM ^
I believe he did tell him to "get the fuck off the field". But oooh, a football coach that swears. How horrible.
September 21st, 2014 at 1:20 AM ^
September 21st, 2014 at 12:59 AM ^
September 21st, 2014 at 1:09 AM ^
The part about coming to us in our hour of need and taking the job without taking about the money is a pretty generous way to describe it. Sorry, the guy did not bring us puppies and hugs after grandma died or even help us move a couch. He took a job that was a vastly superior position in his profession to the one he held previously. His new job paid millions of dollars more per year than his old one. I don't doubt that it is his dream job or that he is a decent enough person but his choice to take the choice was hardly some charitable or magnanimous act. It was a no-brainer career decision. He was the head coach at fricking San Diego State. I mean, come on.
As far as the money, he was always gonna get paid a shit ton of money at Michigan and a hell of a lot more than he made at San Diego State. He is making $4.1 million this year. I mean, even if we assume that "aw shucks I didn't agree to the salary before taking the job" story is true, everyone involved knew at the least that he was gonna make a lot more bank than the $700k/year that San Diego State was paying him. So yeah, maybe he took the job without knowing whether he was gonna make 4 times what he made before or 5 time or 6 times. But everyone knew it was a raise that was gonna mean at least an extra million per year.
I don't really think it sucks all that much for him. He got to have his dream job for four years. He had tons of resources at his disposal to have an opportunity to succeed. He got paid, enough to never work again if he chooses. He'll be fired and that's that but overall getting his shot and $$$ is really not such a bad outcome. I am vastly more sympathetic to the players who have to go through more turmoil and to the current students who are increasly disconnected from the football program due to the emphasis on $ over loyalty and the lack of on-field success.
Whatever. Hopefully they get the next hire right and that it doesnt drag out like The Process.
September 21st, 2014 at 1:36 AM ^
September 21st, 2014 at 8:31 AM ^
We can throw a lot of money at the coaching position. We've already stated with Hoke to be honest. But it doesn't mean someone will come that's capable of turning things around quickly.
I think more and more you have to have a good coach and an athletic department/administration who will support him.
I don't know if we have that.
A super coach, like a theoretical harbaugh, might look at our AD and administration and think you can't pay me enough.
Further, I don't know that I want a
Billion dollar coach if he's a mercenary or if he's going to lead us to sanctions.
September 21st, 2014 at 2:12 AM ^
This "Michigan Man" thing drives me nuts because it's somehow become the very opposite of what it meant originally. Heck, Bo went to Miami of Ohio and started his coaching career for Woody Hayes at Ohio State, and he's pretty much the epitome of the Michigan man in the modern era. As nearly as I can tell, the origin of the "Michigan man" thing goes back to his quote about promoting Steve Fisher -- "I don't want someone from Arizona State coaching the Michigan team. A Michigan Man is going to coach Michigan."
Now, Steve Fisher did not attend Michigan -- he went to Illinois State, although he'd been an assistant on Freider's staff for years. However, at the time, he was a "Michigan Man," not because of his background, but because Bo was not about to let Bill Frieder -- a guy who had tendered his resgination and accepted a new position at ASU -- coach Michigan during the NCAA tournament. He wanted a guy who was committed to Michigan.
I never thought Rich Rodriguez would be a Michigan man, not because he was from West Virginia -- so was Fielding Yost! -- but because, in his previous positions, I always felt like he had one foot out the door, looking for his next job. By his third year, when it was clear that he wasn't going to be able to use the Michigan job to springboard into the NFL, I think he was bought in, but by then it was too late.
Hoke was a Michigan man from day one, but he does not appear to be an effective football coach. I believe he should be allowed to coach out his contract, because I don't believe that Michigan should fire a coach for results on the field. I wouldn't give him an extension unless he shows a willingness to adapt to the changing times -- for example, by acknowledging that tempo management is important and that he needs to improve at it. But, if he is let go, I hope that Dave Brandon -- or, better yet, his successor -- will understand a "Michigan man" to be someone who will be 100% committed to Michigan, and not necessarily someone with prior experience at Michigan. The latter formulation excludes any number of qualified candidates for no good reason whatsoever.
PS: John Beilein? No prior Michigan ties, but 100% a Michigan man.
September 21st, 2014 at 9:02 AM ^
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