Greg Matisson has changed my mind....
I just finished watching today's press conferences. At one point Matisson almost broke down in answering a question about Hoke and the jawing on the sidelines. Matisson really went to bat for Coach Hoke today. I encourage everyone to watch the full video on the Mgoblue website. Previously I had professed that I was done with Brady Hoke but in listening to Mattison's responses today I have to say that I'm willing to go along a little further.These guys are certainly working hard. Let's see where we are at the end of season...
September 22nd, 2014 at 4:30 PM ^
...we are in Year 2 of Hoke.
September 22nd, 2014 at 4:31 PM ^
It's a normal human reaction to an unpleasant situation.
September 22nd, 2014 at 4:33 PM ^
Can we blame it on Hoke? I don't know. Our demise right now is definitely related to the offensive woes. Poor offensive line development, poor QB play, and turnovers.
What should hoke do different? He hired a new OC.
I don't know. Maybe he is just "too nice". I actually think Richrod "coached" more on the sidelines than hoke does. Even Nussmeier is all over the place. Animated. In the players faces. So much of coaching is having the ability to motivate. Maybe that's where he's lacking. I don't know. He seems to fit perfectly at michigan....except for in the W-L category.
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September 22nd, 2014 at 4:51 PM ^
I would agree with your point, but for one thing: there is clear evidence of Michigan's coaches, particularly the head coach, continuing to do things that are simply, objectively, wrong. For the best example, today's game column re: punt formation. Michigan has been playing with fire in the punt game, and predictably, got burned. Another example is tempo/lack of urgency when trailing.
If we were in the position where the coaches were clearly doing all they can, and the players were consistently put in a position to succeed but for one reason or another did not, it is a different conversation. Likewise if there was clear evidence of player development (the degree of which can be laid at the coaches' feet is debatable).
However, given that the talent on the team, especially on the OL, was going to make this season a dicey proposition to begin with, clear and easily correctable errors which can, with 100% certainty, be laid at the feet of the coaching staff are simply not excusable.
September 22nd, 2014 at 4:52 PM ^
Bo used to rip into any player who screwed up when they came to the sideline and he saw it - even if Michigan scored a touchdown on the play. Lloyd used to bench guys too for a while after they fumbled. And he had his well-known "dog house". All I've ever seen Brady do is pat guys on the back or clap his hands when they come off the field. I know there's different ways to motivate people but right now Michigan needs a fresh approach to instill more toughness into the team.
September 22nd, 2014 at 4:55 PM ^
Fear of being "the next Notre Dame" is invalid.
ND just whooped us, is undefeated, won their bowl game last year, played in the National Championship game the year before. 39-15 under Kelly.
September 22nd, 2014 at 5:06 PM ^
It only took like twenty five years for that to happen. We've already burned eight. I'd like to skip the other seventeen years.
September 22nd, 2014 at 5:08 PM ^
2-3 versus UM, and one BCS appearance in four years. Not overly impressive if you ask me.
September 22nd, 2014 at 4:39 PM ^
Nope not convinced. Their dead to me.
September 22nd, 2014 at 4:39 PM ^
Get used to it
September 22nd, 2014 at 4:40 PM ^
Here is more insight into the thinking at Fort Hoke.
http://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/columnists/terry-foster/2014/09…
Foster is spot on. Pretty sad that in order to defend the current administration, Stapleton (a Michigan booster and EMU regent) attacks the "culture" of the Rodriguez program. Four years into the Hoke era, his record speaks for itself.
But what really comes through are the comments related to how Hoke supposedly understands the culture at Michigan. I bet you a number of the U of M Regents look at it the same way.
September 22nd, 2014 at 4:50 PM ^
But I have to begrudgingly agree with his point of view. He is not up to the job of HC at the University of Michigan. "Culture" and "integrity" are assumed, but so too should winning after four years on the job.
September 22nd, 2014 at 4:51 PM ^
"Hoke...understands the culture at Michigan."
Maybe we should hire an anthropologist as the next head football coach?
September 22nd, 2014 at 5:08 PM ^
I am afraid this view (the "culture fit") is rather firmly entrenched among the Regents and vocal boosters. The truth of the matter, and it's ugly, is that these people would rather listen to someone tell them how great and presitigous Michigan is. It's passive-aggressive self-flattery, bordering on the delusional.
September 22nd, 2014 at 9:44 PM ^
Apparently all you have to be is a person of character and willing counsel young men on graduating from the University to be qualified for what is supposed to be one of the most highly regarded jobs in the country.
September 22nd, 2014 at 5:07 PM ^
We suck at running the ball, the offensive line is smaller now under Hoke (3 guys under 300 pounds), and record setters and high draft picks like Denard, Gallon, Lewan, and Schofield were apparently a fucking mirage.
And people wonder why there may have been fractures in the locker room last year? The Hoke apologists continually insulted our best players and acted like the new kids coming in were the key to a fantastic future. Then it turned out a lot of them sucked at playing football and somehow that was Taylor Lewan's fault for not infusing them with his own ability to be awesome. But you have to realize you have to start from scratch and can't run a pro-style offense with Lewan, Schofield, Omameh, and BWC (guys who all got drafted or are playing for PRO FOOTBALL teams). What a load of horseshit.
This guy is everything that is wrong with Michigan football and why we are where we are.
September 22nd, 2014 at 5:15 PM ^
I agree. And Rodriguez is cut ZERO slack for having similar transitional issues.
My fear is that there are many Stapeltons out there (just not on this board), and they occupy powerful positions in and around the University of Michigan.
September 22nd, 2014 at 5:26 PM ^
As this continues to unravel over the next year or two, I wonder if these people will ever see the error of their ways. It seems like the bar is continually moved to cushion any criticism of Hoke and Co. and the nitpicking of Rodriguez's past accomplishments and his impressive rebuilding job so far at Arizona continues no matter what.
The fact remains, we are three games worse than UA since RR took over there and the trend ain't going Michigan's way. I really wonder what it would take for certain people to ever admit they were wrong. If Rodriguez takes Arizona to their first Rose Bowl ever, would he still be viewed as a bad fit who wouldn't have worked out here? And will those same people continue to deflect any credit for the 2011 team away from him?
September 23rd, 2014 at 2:24 AM ^
I always wonder what the team would have been like if RR had stayed.
September 22nd, 2014 at 7:51 PM ^
Hell, the current AD is one.
EDIT: Shoulda been a reply to an earlier post.
September 22nd, 2014 at 5:13 PM ^
Stapleton is a moron. He is the guy that cried racism when Ron English was not hired as head coach at Michigan. The clique culture is what destroyed michigan. Two cliques (Bo/Lloyd era) and Rich Rod fighting over each like high school girls at the prom.
September 22nd, 2014 at 9:40 PM ^
The egos and cronyism is what is killing the program! These people are out of touch with reality!
They really are so simple minded that they think that Michigan is so big it can't fail. They just need a steward for the program and it will virtually run itself because of the quality of players they get.
I don't know, maybe this program is so inbred it can't be saved!
September 22nd, 2014 at 5:11 PM ^
"If Michigan wins nine or 10 games a year and plays within the rules, Michigan fans should take a deep breath and accept that, and now and then they might get into the College Football Playoff."
That statement depresses me. That's what they say at Iowa. I don't want to be Iowa. We already have an Iowa.
September 22nd, 2014 at 5:23 PM ^
Is a twat.
September 22nd, 2014 at 9:27 PM ^
My biggest fear is that this is the mindset of the people in charge of making the decisions. You don't become a legendary coach at a school like Michigan by being ok. The Egos are way too big here!
September 22nd, 2014 at 4:45 PM ^
We should be checking Greg Mattison for a pulse. He probably regards Brady Hoke as a friend, confidant, fellow traveler on Life's road, whatever.
It doesn't matter. I have had many bosses who I regarded as princes among men but were completely unsuited to their jobs.
September 22nd, 2014 at 4:48 PM ^
... or, for the love of god, just look competent. If you can't, you shouldn't be the leader of a D1 football team.
September 22nd, 2014 at 4:50 PM ^
September 22nd, 2014 at 4:54 PM ^
Some Coaches are we just haven't had one in some time.
September 22nd, 2014 at 4:52 PM ^
He is getting emotional because he is friends with Brady and Brady is his meal ticket. He realizes that the program is crumbling and that makes him sad. He undoubtedly sees all of the vitirol pointed at Hoke since Saturday and feels bad for the guy.
Nothing about this speaks volumes of 'wait, is this a good thing?'. It's just like Rich Rod's saline river post-Groban. It's a death knell.
September 22nd, 2014 at 5:02 PM ^
September 22nd, 2014 at 5:07 PM ^
Think whatever you want. But when you leave a job to take a step down (but likely a step up compensation wise - was he ever earning roughly $1M/year as the Ravens DC??) to be there for an old buddy / friend... and they fail.... that feeling as they are in the midst of failing cannot be a good one.
September 22nd, 2014 at 5:16 PM ^
Pay scale between the two doesn't matter. The NFL has way more prestige than the college ranks. Harbaugh could get paid more by Michigan than he could by the 49ers, or probably any NFL team. But if he has a long term contract offer by any NFL team, he will stay in the pros, no matter how much Michigan offers.
September 22nd, 2014 at 5:14 PM ^
Was just going to say that.
He left an NFL coordinator position to be with Hoke. He believes in Hoke's message/vision.
Personally, I do not think the coordinators are at fault. Especially on the defensive side of the ball. And for Nuss, I think he should've at least had a say in what happens to the rest of the offensive staff. And for the defensive side of the ball, they need a CB coach who has actually played CB or has coached it in length in the past (Hoke's brother on the Bears comes to mind, or even Woodson if he retires after this season). Roy Manning is a dynamite recruiter. He needs to be in a position where he can actually go recruit and not have to worry so much about actual coaching. Which is why the first move, if Hoke stays, should be to announce Fred Jackson has retired, and announce that Roy Manning is returning to his RB coaching position that he assumed at Cincy. Hoke should then evaluate the rest of the defensive staff with Mattison and make changes where need be.
I would then allow Nuss to evaluate the offensive staff and replace people with guys he wants. This would most certainly spell the end of Funk in Ann Arbor.
Hoke has extremely smart coordinators to win at Michigan. Two of the brightest minds in the nation. I'm not sure I can say the same thing about many of the other assistants on the team.
September 22nd, 2014 at 7:54 PM ^
True. He doesn't need any meal ticket. That's just dumb to claim otherwise. Guy could retire today and live like a king the rest of his days.
September 22nd, 2014 at 5:11 PM ^
September 22nd, 2014 at 5:34 PM ^
It is spelled, "moran". NOW WHO IS STUPID?
September 22nd, 2014 at 6:16 PM ^
A fine retort.
September 22nd, 2014 at 6:15 PM ^
September 22nd, 2014 at 4:55 PM ^
September 22nd, 2014 at 5:20 PM ^
fuck that. Fire Brady's ass. If everytime I changed my mind when a student got emotional with me when they fuck up in class, then I would be a millionare. The data shows that Brady couldn't develop the offense of a middle school football team.
September 22nd, 2014 at 6:42 PM ^
September 22nd, 2014 at 5:11 PM ^
If you haven't then you have no idea what you're commenting on.
September 22nd, 2014 at 5:15 PM ^
September 22nd, 2014 at 5:19 PM ^
Michigan's offense is huddling still?
Is this Nussmeier or is this Hoke?
Do we seriously believe Brady Hoke is standing right behind Nussmeier going "Hey new guy, where's my fucking huddle? I specifically told you we must huddle!"
I can't believe it's Hoke, who uses such generic terms like "power play" to describe like 40 derivatives of a 34/36 belly or 34/36 dive off guard play.
Isn't Nussmeier driving them UM offense? If so, then WTF?
I can't believe Michigan doesn't have a 2 minute drill offensively at the very least.
September 22nd, 2014 at 6:59 PM ^
You need a competent QB to run a 2-minute or even hurry-up.