Yes, this season didn't go the way wanted it to. However...

Submitted by MGomaha on

This season was disappointing, on so many levels. Injuries to some promising young guys, guys getting kicked off the team, losing... lots of losing.

But, there were a lot of bright spots. Yes, the point of playing football is to win football games, and Brady Hoke did not do that well enough and will lose his job for it. However, I will applaud coach Hoke for the types of guys he has recruited and the types of values this program (for the most part, i.e. Gibbons) has had under him.

I'm going to user Devin Gardner as an example: 59.5% completion percentage. 42 touchdowns. 31 interceptions. 15-14 as a starter.

These are not great statistics for a quarterback here. They are not the standard, nor will they ever be. But these statistics are vastly more important:

Graduate of the University of Michigan in 3.5 years. Soon to be a TWO TIME graduate of the University of Michigan. Countless hours of helping around the community. A finalist for an award recognizing on and off the field excellence. 

There are a lot of people who criticize Devin's performance on the field, and rightfully so.  But there is much, much more to life than Michigan Football. This is something 95% of Michigan fans understand and doesn't really need to be repeated, but there are always a few bad apples.

I'll always root for Devin Gardner in whatever he does because I truly believe he embodies everything that is right about Michigan. And what he embodies is the whole reason I care so deeply about that program and school.

Thank you Devin, Jake, and the rest of the seniors who did so much for this team and this program.

Go Blue.

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cklawblue13

November 29th, 2014 at 7:59 PM ^

But, every coach mich has had has done well w academics & has had success stories like Devin Gardner. For ex, RR had shoelace & Mealer. Hoke hasnt done anything extraordinary that shld make him stand out as a nicer guy compared to prior mich head coaches so why is everyone giving him so much praise? He wanted this job, lloyd wanted him to have this job. He took this job while not being as qualified as other candidates & he knew what he was getting into. He put himself in this position & his tenure had been a complete disaster at Michigan & shouldve never happened. I hope in a decade we can all forget about the coach whose record got worse each year. I dont feel any sympathy for a coach who was compensated as he was and underdelivered as he did & nor should anyone else. Hopefully the AD doesnt screw this up for the third time. Go Blue!

Joined: 09/27/2014

MGoPoints: 134

NewYorkWolverine

November 29th, 2014 at 8:06 PM ^

Michigan won 5 and lost 7. Forget that they showed flashes against Rutgers, Maryland, Ohio State, etc. 5 wins, 7 losses. That has to improve. 

At this point I wouldn't worry about recruiting. I think a lot of recruits will bail if Hoke is fired, and a lot of recruits will bail if Hoke is retained. This wasn't a good year, and it won't help things. 

That having been said, there is talent on the roster, and it's perfectly conceivable that the right coach could turn things around pretty quickly. 

All we can do is keep rooting, and wish the seniors well. 

Joined: 01/04/2012

MGoPoints: 303

jdon

November 29th, 2014 at 8:15 PM ^

he lost games here. that is what he did.

he threw picks

he lost fumbles

he held the ball to long and ate sack after sack after sack

 

Gardner killed Hoke's carreer as much as anyone outside of Brady himself.

jdon

 

Joined: 09/28/2009

MGoPoints: 5988

lmgoblue1

November 29th, 2014 at 8:35 PM ^

Even I can up vote you on that response. Seriously I blame Hoke for destroying Devin Gardner. Devin is not a loser. Hoke is. Square peg in round hole. Gardner would have been GREAT in a true spread offense. He should have transferred.

Joined: 10/27/2012

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