D. Howard with scathing indictment
When you've lost Desmond Howard, have you lost your job as Head Coach of the Michigan football team? Today, on Gameday, Howard ripped into the Michigan team saying that after attending a practice he saw maybe one player, Jabril Peppers, that wanted to be great. The rest were just pretenders.
Without stating as much Howard, a Hoke supporter from the word go, has removed that support. As a team is a reflection of its leader we should all feel comfortable knowing that the vast majority of the players are good guys just like their coach. But also like their coach, they have become at best a .500 team.
September 27th, 2014 at 2:06 PM ^
Hoke recruited them. He has coached them -- some for four years. Whose fault is it? Not the kids. Most of them were very good players before coming to UM. Clearly, their talents are not being used properly. By the way, our team is horrible.
September 27th, 2014 at 1:54 PM ^
Jim Harbaugh at the time was a FCS coach, and then a coach who only had a winning record after going12-1 in his last season at Stanford. He turned out to be great, but his resume at the time wasn't head and shoulders higher.
September 27th, 2014 at 2:03 PM ^
he became the HC of Stanford. Also, Stanford improved each year. Hoke had an average record before coming to UM and has been downhill ever since. Very nice man, at best an average coach.
September 27th, 2014 at 3:41 PM ^
He was a FCS coach before stanford, and besides for one slip up Brady had improved every year before getting here. And that's in 8 seasons compared to Jim's 4.
September 27th, 2014 at 1:58 PM ^
Like most here I am extremelly frustrated. But I'm also disappointed with Desmond and his comments earlier this morning. It's easy to take a shot at people when they are down. Desmond's commentary adds nothing to this debate. It only serves to agitate. Even if he believes what he is saying we are all better off discussing the matter behind closed doors as opposed to airing it all out in public.
September 27th, 2014 at 2:00 PM ^
His point was that this is not about X's and O's. It is about the character of the team, which is a reflection of the coaching abilities of Hoke. He is just not a good coach. period.
September 27th, 2014 at 1:57 PM ^
Newspapers, magazines, TVs, websites, etc are all laughing at UM football. For God's sake, even NPR had a short piece on UM football. Unless, Hoke and company go on a really hot streak and the team shows real improvement, I just cannot see how Hoke can survive this.
DB is not going anywhere. DB is all about money and construction of bigger buildings. Once the cash cow, that is the UM football, is not generating the cash, then DB will fire his own mother let alone Hoke.
September 27th, 2014 at 2:04 PM ^
At this point I'd rather have a coach like Brian Kelly who yells at his players all the time than hoke who coddles them and pats them on the back regardless of what they do, I think this is the biggest issue with hoke and this coaching staff
September 27th, 2014 at 2:14 PM ^
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September 27th, 2014 at 2:22 PM ^
September 27th, 2014 at 2:24 PM ^
hes a football coach, not a life counselor, hes there to make them into football players and to win games. Are you watching the games only for the purpose of seeing the players act respectful? why even have a football team, just give the guys scholarships and have them do 4 years of community service and volunteer work. seriously, people like you make no sense
September 27th, 2014 at 2:08 PM ^
September 27th, 2014 at 2:13 PM ^
September 27th, 2014 at 2:14 PM ^
September 27th, 2014 at 2:14 PM ^
September 27th, 2014 at 2:27 PM ^
Honestly, you don't need to sit in on practice to see the results on the field. When he said there was one player that wanted to be great I was expecting it to be one of the following with significant Sunday appeal:
Devin Funchess - could be Minitron in the making if he you know block and maybe attempt 110% effort on every play whether or not its coming his way.
Frank Clark - could be a monster. Flashes it sometimes, but I just don't see that max effort wow factor.
Jake Ryan - could be a great LB. I to a certain extent blame the move to MLB - he has to think on every play and just can't let muscle memory takeover YET..
Those guys should be approaching Sunday through Friday as if they are preparing for the NFL combine. Improve your technique, work harder, work faster, just when you have nothng left in the tank give it another rep. When you aren't doing this as a the STUD(s), its the coaches job to light a fire under your ass unless you are Jadaveon Clowney at SC last year waiting for the NFL.
Its pure condemnation of a lack of intensity and acceptance of mediocrity. A failure across the coaching staff. Hoke said "they are getting it done the right way." Wrong wrong wrong....
A) You are not getting it done - period. Accepting 7-6 as getting it done is not getting it done.
B) If you ain't getting it done, then it sure as hell ain't the right way.
C) Oh you mean academics and raising good men. Oh you mean Gibbons & Lewan cover-up. Last time I checked that was the opposite of the "right way".
Whew ok rant off.... But Desmond is spot on... its a coaching issue through and through.
September 27th, 2014 at 2:40 PM ^
alleged "cover up" occurred. I really don't understand how you can hold that against him.
September 27th, 2014 at 3:26 PM ^
September 27th, 2014 at 4:27 PM ^