Presser React: Kovacs, Lewan, Beckmann, Moeller
Quotes from a few people of note at Brady Hoke's introductory presser.
Jordan Kovacs
"Obviously, we had a tough year defensively this year. I think it's important that he comes in and establishes a strong defense."
"I just wanted him to be passionate about the game and passionate about this University. I've obviously loved this University my whole life, and I can tell this guy has as well." Hoke is passionate and intense, and that's important.
"He realizes the importance of the front seven, and I think that's where he's going to establish... that's where our team is going to be made, and we're excited about that."
The team had a brief meeting and lunch at the stadium with Coach Hoke. "The first thing he talked about was championships." Michigan has 42, and they want to make it 43 soon.
The coaches will make their pitch to Denard, as will the players. "He's a great quarterback, and he'll fit any system." Kovacs doesn't know what Denard plans to do.
Obviously, we've got a heavy heart for our past coach, for Coach Rod. He's a great guy and a great coach, but at the same time we've gotta pick it up, we've gotta move forward, and focus on next season."
Kovacs researched Hoke a little bit when he heard that he'd be a candidate. Looked into his coaching history, but never met him until today. "I like what I've seen."
Taylor Lewan
Everybody has only nice things to say about Coach Hoke. "Nobody has bad things to say about this guy." Everybody needs to support him, whether he was their choice or not.
On Ohio State: "Everybody's seen Harry Potter, right? That one guy... Voldemort or whatever? It's kinda like that." Everybody knows what a big deal the rivalry is.
Hoke brings a fresh start: "The sky's the limit. We have the opportunity to do so much." Though the players haven't had a chance to meet him one-on-one, they're excited.
"This is not a usual University. They expect so much out of you and what you do." There's a lot of pressure here, and Coach Hoke is already handling it well.
On getting all the players to stick with the team: "I think that's the biggest thing possible." The seniors have impressed upon everyone else the importance of sticking together as a team. They've gone through a change before. Last time, "not everybody bought into the whole thing," but now the team is closer because of it.
Coach Hoke has a personality that grabs everyone's attention when he walks into a room.
Frank Beckmann
Hasn't had a chance to talk to the players yet: "From what I hear, they're all excited about it, and I look forward to chatting with them too."
Gary Moeller
"That is a good, good fundamental football coach... He's a worker. There's no question about that." Moeller remembers when he was around the Michigan summer camp.
Photo Gallery
January 12th, 2011 at 4:53 PM ^
OSU = Voldemort. God bless you Lewan.
January 12th, 2011 at 4:58 PM ^
That was truly awesome.
January 12th, 2011 at 5:24 PM ^
to start identifying certain people as Death Eaters at local drinking establishments. (Apparently Indianapolis is not that far from Columbus, or put another way, it isn't far enough.)
January 12th, 2011 at 4:58 PM ^
Great to see that they're focused on moving on. It can't be easy to go through such a huge transition.
January 12th, 2011 at 5:32 PM ^
They bounce back from adversity pretty fast. Faster than people on blogs at least.
January 12th, 2011 at 6:11 PM ^
Not that my opinion makes much of a difference (and I'm still their age) but I've bounced back from being a staunch RR supporter for a put-up-or-shut-up-year to being very hopeful about Hoke after this press conference.
Still don't like the way he was hired, and might change my mind about him after his staff hires, but I was as impressed as the players sound with him today.
January 13th, 2011 at 12:49 PM ^
You can think the "process" sucked (it did). And you can even think that Hoke isn't the world's greatest hire. But you're taking the sensible path in realizing that it may not be the end of the world, and lets see what happens. We go 3-9 again, and there will be more than enough time to complain about things.
January 12th, 2011 at 5:00 PM ^
Like Kovacs said, Hoke has a lot of passion. I really think the players will buy into his energy and enthusiasm.
January 12th, 2011 at 5:00 PM ^
Anyone else see Kovacs coaching for MIchigan down the line sometime? This kid talks like a coach.
January 13th, 2011 at 10:09 AM ^
I very much like the idea of Kovacs as a DB coach.
"OK, do it like I did, but with 4.4 speed. Atta boy."
January 12th, 2011 at 5:01 PM ^
"That one guy... Voldemort or whatever? It's kinda like that."
Awesome.
January 12th, 2011 at 5:03 PM ^
I love this team.
January 12th, 2011 at 5:04 PM ^
I hope passion and old guard support can compensate for average to below coaching credentials.
January 12th, 2011 at 5:05 PM ^
this argument again...let it go already.
January 12th, 2011 at 5:31 PM ^
It's day two. This argument is going to last for awhile.
January 12th, 2011 at 6:35 PM ^
I, for one, welcome our new Cap'n.
Aaaaarrrggggggh
January 12th, 2011 at 5:57 PM ^
The only record that matters is the one that happens while he coaches at Michigan, and he's undefeated right now.
January 12th, 2011 at 5:07 PM ^
Hoke
beefy
January 12th, 2011 at 5:36 PM ^
Like your avatar.
January 12th, 2011 at 6:38 PM ^
as i like yours
January 12th, 2011 at 5:11 PM ^
I dare you to stand in front of them and tell them. I feel great about this. Just get those recruits back and a tough DC.
January 12th, 2011 at 5:11 PM ^
Is Lewan wearing a rug AND sporting a diamond stud in his ear?
January 12th, 2011 at 9:40 PM ^
I thought he was in drag.
January 12th, 2011 at 5:16 PM ^
that I said he is a tier two coach. I like the intensity, the screw that school in Ohio attitude. I never once saw RR get excited about The Game. I was a RR supporter from day one. It's time to move on. Go Blue
January 12th, 2011 at 6:41 PM ^
saw your original post saying this, but way to man-up and welcome to Hokeamania.
I was a HUGE Rrod supporter. I don't agree with the firing, or the process of the hiring, but I fully support the new leader of our program going forward, and today's presser went a long way with me. I don't have to be a supporter of the AD and the process to be a supporter of Hoke. I don't have to hate RR to love Hoke. I just wish other people (not you) could separate these issues.
"I was a RR supporter from day one. It's time to move on."
Well said.
January 13th, 2011 at 11:48 AM ^
You said it perfectly. I was also a big RR fan, hated the whole firing/hiring process, and am as worried as the next guy about the future (just like I was when RR was hired). I also now have doubts about our AD. But that won't stop me from figuring out how to love and support Hoke 100% now that he's the coach.
Hopefully once the funeral is over everyone can take off the black, stub out the clove cigarettes, and get back in the game.
Go Blue!
January 12th, 2011 at 5:18 PM ^
News Flash Lewan hates donkeys and Voldemort!!!
January 12th, 2011 at 5:25 PM ^
If there's nothing else to love about Hoke it's that he's so jacked to be Michigan's coach it's ridiculous. That alone will bring guys in here. RR didn't come here to be Michigan's coach. He came here to coach at Michigan. There's a difference. I may not like the fact that there could be a lot more run off left tackle like in the LC days, but I like his passion for this school and this program.
January 12th, 2011 at 5:54 PM ^
Brady was sharper than Drew.
January 12th, 2011 at 6:42 PM ^
what you did there...
January 12th, 2011 at 5:25 PM ^
After seeing the press conference I can now say that I think Hoke is going to awesome for this program! He gets it!
January 12th, 2011 at 6:13 PM ^
I always thought t was stellar offense, stellar defense, and stellar special teams. A good pep rally never hurt.
January 12th, 2011 at 5:25 PM ^
start getting people to really support this team and be patient. There are definitely going to be some ups and downs but I like the coach and believe that he will surround himself with the right people. Isnt that what it boils down to anyway? Would Tressel, Carrol, Meyer or anyone else be as successful as they were if they hadnt put the right pieces in place first? Lets give Hoke some time and a chance and Michigan will once again be on top.
Go Blue!
January 12th, 2011 at 5:32 PM ^
The passion was absurd he got me pumped. The only thing that continually bothers me is that DB or hoke in this case keep saying they want to win big titles and not national titles. I understand one leads to the other. But would it really hurt to say we want to win it all?
January 12th, 2011 at 6:10 PM ^
This whole argument is silly. Why stop at national championship? Shouldn't our goal be to be the best college football team that ever was or ever will be? The point of choosing goals is so that you can strive for something concrete and you have a bar by which to measure your progress. In order for your goals to be meaningful, you need to have a realistic chance of achieving it and it has to be in your control. Problem with saying the NC is your goal is that you don't necessarily control it given our current system (ask TCU). Winning the Big 10 championship is the highest goal that we can achieve and we control. And, if we're winning Big 10 championships, we're necessarily going to be in the NC hunt. Trying to impart some deep significant deficiency in our program because of this goal is a stretch. Let's move past this.
Welcome Coach Hoke and Go Blue!
January 12th, 2011 at 7:26 PM ^
100% - i couldn't have said it better, so thanks for saving me the time
January 12th, 2011 at 6:10 PM ^
No reason for that to change. How many coaches have made the leap from mediocre at best to champion?
January 12th, 2011 at 7:02 PM ^
Who's won the top prize at every level so far? Certainly not Hoke, who has never been the head coach of a conference (never mind national) champion.
I will stand behind Hoke, but I retain the right to actually speak in truths instead of falsehoods.
January 13th, 2011 at 12:48 AM ^
I thought the same thing. But then I thought about Tressel. He usually talks only about winning the Big Ten championship. They've been doing pretty well with that goal.
Small point nonetheless. We ain't there yet and have a lot of work to do. Once we are, and start winning the Big Ten again, the NC hunt will fall into place.
January 12th, 2011 at 5:57 PM ^
is not going to have a problem recruiting, he had me ready to come to Michigan and I've been there already.
January 12th, 2011 at 6:07 PM ^
They seem to be realists and less impressed with the hype. They are voting with their feet. Signing Day looks to be a sad day. He could bring those 5 star recruits with him from SDSU unfortunately he didn't have any and we don't offer JUCO classes.
January 12th, 2011 at 6:58 PM ^
to suit up for this man and hit someone. I have a great feeling after watching this and hearing him speak. His passion for this University just seems to jump out at you and if that rolls over into his recruiting I think we are gonna be better than okay.
January 12th, 2011 at 6:02 PM ^
It has been often said that this is a close knit, good group of guys. This is further evidence of that. Obviously, that will be key to limiting transfers and moving forward with a good attitude. Dare I say-give RRod credit for that.
January 12th, 2011 at 6:33 PM ^
now feels like it's in good hands.
January 12th, 2011 at 7:07 PM ^
On getting all the players to stick with the team: "I think that's the biggest thing possible." The seniors have impressed upon everyone else the importance of sticking together as a team. They've gone through a change before. Last time, "not everybody bought into the whole thing," but now the team is closer because of it.
Sounds like a close knit group of guys. They're happy to stand up and say "he's our coach now, get with the program." Thanks for the great thread --I'm pumped.
January 12th, 2011 at 7:27 PM ^
January 12th, 2011 at 8:01 PM ^
but if that's what you are looking for, Brady Hoke is a "Michigan Man" straight out of central casting.
He hit all of the hot topics . . . toughness, the team, winning the Big 10, taking OSU personally. And it all came natural, none of it was forced.
Tonight we're going to party like it's 1997.
January 12th, 2011 at 8:39 PM ^
I feel better now.
January 12th, 2011 at 9:17 PM ^
All that glitters is not gold...
He is clearly a player's coach, unlike some other coaches it is not about him
January 13th, 2011 at 10:20 AM ^
Harbaugh
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