Hackett: Hoke will be evaluated at the end of the season

Submitted by ckersh74 on

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/college/university-michigan/201…

Nothing shocking in the headline, or the article for that matter.

However, the quote at the end appears to tip Hackett's hand:

Brady's a man of extreme integrity. … And he knows more than any of us that we're not performing at the level we should as a Michigan program.

My personal, amateur reading of things: Hoke's cooked, and he knows it. 

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Sam1863

November 14th, 2014 at 5:13 AM ^

I agree: Hackett is letting him down easy. At my first real job a long time ago, my boss taught me something important that I've never forgotten: when you have to fire somebody, you do it privately, professionally, and you never trash him in public. You're taking the man's job away, and that should be enough. You don't have to take his dignity, too. Whatever his failings, Brady Hoke is a good man who has tried his best to be successful at his dream job. His best just hasn't been good enough. If Hackett decides to fire Hoke and clear the decks for the next AD (and FWIW, I think he should), he'll do it the right way.

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kingblue

November 14th, 2014 at 5:26 AM ^

well, i wonder if thats means after the ohio game or if they win one more game after the bowl game..  if hes going after harbaugh it might be after a bowl game . if harbaugh says  no. then you do it after the ohio game and get miles 

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chatster

November 14th, 2014 at 6:12 AM ^

It will be saddening, painful and shameful for Brady Hoke, the man who would’ve walked from San Diego to Ann Arbor to take the Michigan head football coach’s job, to be given his “walking papers” at the end of this season.  However, IF Brady Hoke is coaching Michigan Football Team 136, then I suspect that no reasonable replacement either was (a) interested in the job or (b) available to take it.
 
IF that occurs, then, in effect, Hoke might become Michigan’s “interim head coach” in 2015, working to be given one-year extensions until either (a) a suitable replacement has been found or (b) Michigan’s performance becomes so bad that the university will be left with no choice but to fire him in order to avoid further embarrassment.
 
So, what will there be to "evaluate?"
 
Michigan Football Team 135’s final record could range anywhere from 5-7 to 8-5.  At the low end of that range, people will argue that Brady Hoke should be given a fifth year, despite his 31-20 record at Michigan; at the high end, after pulling off one of the greatest upsets in the history of THE GAME, people will argue that he should be fired, despite his 34-18 record at Michigan.
 
There’s little dispute that Brady Hoke is a nice guy who’s devoted to the University of Michigan, who loves each of his “115 sons,” whose players love him, whose seniors all graduate from Michigan, and who struggles a bit with public speaking.  There is NO DISPUTE that, as of now, his career record as a head football coach is 78-68 (a .534 winning percentage.)  In his twelve seasons as a head coach, his teams have won more than eight games only three times. Before Michigan, his career record as a head coach was 47-50.
 
Brady Hoke’s immediate predecessor as Michigan’s head football coach was terminated after leading Michigan to a 15-22 record in three seasons. His career head coaching record at that time was 120-84-2 (a .587 winning percentage if the two ties are treated as half a win and half a loss); and if only his record as a Division One coach were considered, that record would’ve been 75-48 (a .610 winning percentage.)

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OkinawaGoBlue

November 14th, 2014 at 7:37 AM ^

The timing just doesn't look like it will be good for getting an AD in time to then get a new HC in time to get salvage a recruiting class, etc....  I have a suspicious feeling Hoke will stay another year.  I will change "he is recruiting top classes" to "he was recruiting top classes."  I don't see those who decommitted returning if Hoke stays though.  If the feeling is he can't develop players, why go to UM?

Joined: 07/27/2009

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TenThousandThings

November 14th, 2014 at 9:12 AM ^

You're not alone in thinking that Hoke would get another season, even in this thread.

But, as someone who has consistently thought that, I can't say I still do. I still think Hoke has more support than people here recognize, but I no longer think there is much evidence that he can turn things around next year. This season would have to have gone very differently for that to happen, and I don't mean wins and losses.

Sure, yes, Rutgers was a bad loss -- the whole trip to NYC was a complete mess, not just the game -- and now Brandon is gone. But the other losses are to decent teams that are all having good if not great seasons -- so it isn't that -- it is the way Michigan lost those other games, none of which were remotely competitive. That's what matters.

There has been improvement -- the OL looks good for next year, IMHO. The defense will be fine. I always thought that would be enough -- keep the course and Michigan will win a lot of games in 2015. But the spankings against good opponents this year just don't support that way of thinking any longer.

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DCGrad

November 14th, 2014 at 8:09 AM ^

Think he will be fired without a replacement lined up or if it would be wise to do so? If we beat Maryland does he keep his job to the end of the bowl game? If we push Hoke out with one game left we might lose our D Coor. as well.

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OkinawaGoBlue

November 14th, 2014 at 8:27 AM ^

in my opinion.  Mattison came to UM because of Hoke...so he says.  If they were to let Hoke go before a bowl game, Mattison or Nuss would be the odds on interims.  I don't see Hoke leaving early though.  I also see all coordinators going out the door with Hoke if/when he is gone.

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MGoBlueChip

November 14th, 2014 at 8:38 AM ^

Anything Hackett says publicly wrt Hoke or his job status is pure PC PR. Home is done. The only thing to figure out is when does he go and that comes down to the Maryland game and if they become bowl eligible. IMO best case they make the bowl for the extra 15 practices, but Hoke is told he is done immediately after Urbz hangs 40 points on him. The Hoke can decide when he wants to go and whom he wants to tell.

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ChiBlueBoy

November 14th, 2014 at 9:14 AM ^

Hackett could have given a "vote of confidence" or noted that the players are still playing hard. Instead, by saying that Hoke is a man of integrity and that the team is not performing to expectations, it's a strong signal, in my mind, that unless something unexpected happens, Hoke is gone. It's also a signal that they intend to handle the process in an organized and thoughtful way. I hope that they pull it off.

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Indiana Blue

November 14th, 2014 at 9:17 AM ^

what are the odds, he stays as a Dline coach under a new regime?  He certainly can recruit and LOVES the University of Michigan.  Is this a problem with anyone ?   Not me.  Dline seems to be pretty effective ...

Go Blue!

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michgoblue

November 14th, 2014 at 9:29 AM ^

It would just never work to have the former coach stay on as a position coach. It would come rely undermine the new coach, even if (I expect he would be) Hoke is a 100% supporter of that new coach. Players in the team would still see hoke as "their" head coach and would still come to him on that capacity. It is just not a healthy dynamic.

And by the way, I wish that were not the case, as I would love to keep Hoke around for his DL proficiency, his passion for our university and his recruiting.

Maybe there is some other capacity in which he remains (as associate AD?) to smooth out the transition and prevent fracturing of the base, but I still doubt it.

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Don

November 14th, 2014 at 9:45 AM ^

In that time Michigan went 38-5-3 and shared the conference title with OSU three times. In the year they finished second—'75—a pure freshman was at QB, and Michigan played eventual national champion Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl and gave them one of their toughest games of the season. In 1976, Michigan went down to Columbus and pounded the #8 Buckeyes 22-0, their worst loss to Michigan since 1946.

Even though Hackett was a career backup, you would think the experience of being on those teams formed his identity as a Michigan player and set his standard for on-the-field excellence. The contrast between the program then and what it is now has to be glaring to him.

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Go Blue in MN

November 14th, 2014 at 1:33 PM ^

I believe Ohio did that in Dec. 2011 with Fickel coaching the bowl game and Meyer leading recruiting.  I doubt this would work for us though, because which of the coaches we are looking at will not be playing football in Dec/Jan?  Meyer was in the broadcast booth.

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uncleFred

November 14th, 2014 at 10:07 AM ^

he has a record of making his own decisions based on his own judgement. He also has a record of being very fair. 

Interestingly this part of the comment was left out of the original post:

"I've had really good discussions with him about what it's like to play through adversity and coach through adversity" He then goes on to say the line referred to above.

In my opinion, Hackett will make his decision after a full evaulation of the state of the program when the season is over. His statement was intended to show that he respects Hoke and will not allow the current fury among the fan base to force a premature decision. It was also intended to reassure the fan base that he is prepared to make a decision to relase Hoke should that be in the best interest of the program. 

You all may want to consider that Brandon is consulting with Hackett to assist him in managing the athletic department during this transition. The notion that Hoke is already gone and can't save his job by a good finish to this season is probably premature. 

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maize-blue

November 14th, 2014 at 11:32 AM ^

I think they are giving Hoke every opportunity to earn/keep his job. But simply, the expections are high with a $4+million/year salary. Those expectations are not being met. If there was a clear and definitive answer that told everyone that this team was going to be great next season and beyond, I think Hoke would have a chance. But given the trend of the team over the past few seasons, I don't think there is much confidence to say for sure that that will happen.

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TheBoLineage--

November 14th, 2014 at 12:03 PM ^

dependent on Win H-Mry.  Dependent on Nuss-O getting W for H-Mry.  Dependent on GMatt-D NOT giving up 80-yd TD passes H-Mry  . . . 

 

dependent on Bowlgame-W  . . .  dependent on  . . .  dependent   . . .  Too Many Dependents.

 

And really--  the Entire Staff is on trial.  Players too.

 

But at this point, its about--    One Game at a Time  . . .

 

Joined: 09/20/2014

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TheBoLineage--

November 14th, 2014 at 1:32 PM ^

I am--  The NUSS  . . . 

 

look at my record--  I did This, N That.  Did some more of this  . . .

 

Joined: 09/20/2014

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VenerableBede

November 16th, 2014 at 11:40 AM ^

...but I doubt he will be.  For whatever reason, being too nice to him   Somehow it is not all his fault that he is a bad coach, was a bad hire, and is now killing the program.

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