Michigan Releases Stake Statement Comment Count

Ace


WE CLAIM THIS FIELD IN THE NAME OF COMMITMENT AND HARD-TO-SEE OBJECTS

This is a real thing.

October 26, 2014

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Below is a statement from University of Michigan head football coach Brady Hoke:

“I want to publicly apologize to Coach Dantonio as well as the players and supporters of Michigan State for our act of poor sportsmanship displayed pre-game yesterday. I spoke with Mark earlier today and expressed to him that we meant no disrespect to his team. During our regular Friday night team meeting, one of the topics presented to motivate our team was a history lesson addressing commitment and teamwork in a tough environment. A tent stake was presented to the team as a symbol of this concept. The stake was brought into our locker room as a visual reminder, and one of our team leaders chose to take it out on the field. As the leader of our football program, I take full responsibility for the actions of our team. We believe in displaying a high level of respect at the University of Michigan and unfortunately that was not reflected by this action prior to kickoff.”

We're very sorry a thing meant to be driven into a field was driven into your field.

Comments

Waters Demos

October 26th, 2014 at 2:27 PM ^

Apology accepted Brady.  You're not a bad guy.  Our coach knows that, which is why he attached liability to "the program," not to you.  

I appreciate the classy statement from Coach Hoke.  

Mabel Pines

October 26th, 2014 at 2:51 PM ^

no offense to Waters Demos, but would Mark D ever apologize for all the crap he said about MIke Hart when we owned them?  Was there any apology about the two targeters yesterday?  That was extremely violent and dangerous.  But Hoke is apologizing about a little stake. 

And what the hell does that mean, It's the "programs" fault?  I don't get it. 

Psycho AJ

October 26th, 2014 at 2:27 PM ^

I wish Brady Hoke would be successful as Michigan's coach. He preaches toughness but all I see is the team playing soft with no motivation or intensity. Now we are starting to apologize for "offending" other teams? How about an apology for offending your fanbase with poor coaching?

RedGreene

October 26th, 2014 at 2:28 PM ^

Wait until the osu game.  We're burying a fucking dog bone on the field to show how we play in a fucking pack...like a pack of wild dogs...rabid dogs...fighting for each other like a pack of rabid, wild, crazy mother fucking dogs... that'll show 'em!

All Blues

October 26th, 2014 at 2:28 PM ^

Ok, let's be blunt here: Hoke's a pu$$y. That was a pu$$y move of the first order. The attempt to fire up the team backfired. Big deal. Hoke ought to issue a press release apologizing to the fans for that piss-poor performance yesterday and all season long.

 

Jeff09

October 26th, 2014 at 2:34 PM ^

This is pathetic. This has to be the nadir. Please someone tell me this is the nadir.

This is exhibit A as to why he coaches a soft team. You don't apologize for stunts like this, you take the players who did it aside and teach them not to do this again. Can anyone imagine Harbaugh apologizing to Dantonio for something like this?

2427_Couzens

October 27th, 2014 at 1:08 PM ^

Remember Harbaugh and Jim Schwarz having words at the post game handshake after the Lions-49ers game?  Could you imagine him doing that to Dantonio or Urban?

Mind you, I'm not condoning it, but it would just be fun to see.  And while I'm dreaming, some shutouts and championships would be nice...

KSmooth

October 26th, 2014 at 2:34 PM ^

After this, I'd have to imagine that Brady Hoke is within a hair's breadth of losing this team -- of having them basically give up.  At which point we need to let him go immediately.

woosterwolverine1224

October 26th, 2014 at 2:35 PM ^

This program is a joke right now and each week it just kind of one ups itself.  I miss looking forward to the game each saturday.  Now it's just out of morbid curiousity that I follow the games.  

ESNY

October 26th, 2014 at 2:37 PM ^

Congrats Hoke. Just when I thought you couldn't embarrass us amy further you go ahead and apologize like this and totally prove otherwise. Our performance on the football field is now not the most embarrassing thing we have done this weekend.

M-Dog

October 26th, 2014 at 2:46 PM ^

I am soaked in dumb.

 

We are dumb for having done this.

Hoke is dumb for sort of noticing it and sort of not noticing it.

MSU is dumb for caring about it.

Dantonio is just dumb.

The media is dumb for reporting on it.

This press release is a dumb idea.

I need to go Google the A-11 Offense to rinse the dumb off me:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A-11_offense

 

 

dragonchild

October 26th, 2014 at 2:44 PM ^

I wouldn't put much stake in this statement.  The stakes were much higher for the game itself.  Pounding the stake into the ground was a futile gesture, as the score showed.  It's not like Mikey D is gonna stake out Hoke's place after he's just fried his team medium rare like a hot dog.

I think that just about covers it.

Jeff4179

October 26th, 2014 at 2:46 PM ^

This literally made me laugh out loud.  Every time I think that it can't get more embarrassing to be a Michigan football fan, it gets more embarrassing to be a Michigan football fan.  Putting the hedge clippers into the field was stupid, but issue a formal apology?  Geez. As if they didn't have enough to laugh at us about in EL.  

CoverZero

October 26th, 2014 at 2:48 PM ^

This could be the mis-take which puts a stake in the Brady Hoke regime at Michigan. 

Im not sure what happened to Brady, but somewhere along the way from San Diego state...he lost his headphones and his masculinity.  He is a passive shell of what a Head Coach should be.

All that is left is a clappin, back-slappin marshmellow cheerleader.

 

west2

October 26th, 2014 at 2:47 PM ^

18-23 year old kids cannot be blamed for doing stupid things particularly when there is no direction provided regarding whats appropriate and whats not.  What is wrong with the Michigan administraion?!  How many more dumb bunny episodes do they need to see?  Act now, discharge Hoke and name an interim coach.  Enough already!

BlueGoM

October 26th, 2014 at 2:49 PM ^

I'm willing to bet that Brandon forced Hoke to apologize about this thing in an effort to avoid another PR disaster, instead this makes Michigan look like a huge b-tch.

The more I think about how Hoke and Brandon and the clownshow that UM football has become the angrier I get.

Full 180 degree turn.  That's where I'm at.  From trying to be optimistic to full blown pessimism.

Mark it down - Indiana is going to come in here and roll this squad. 5th string QB and all.

Umich97

October 26th, 2014 at 2:55 PM ^

Dantonio is a tool. This was so blown out of proportion, it's ridiculous. That wasn't on the "S" and I doubt hardly anyone really noticed. Dantonio just enjoys being a prick. This is just one more reason we need to restore our program....so we can put MSU back where they belong too and shut Dantonio up.

MetricSU

October 26th, 2014 at 6:51 PM ^

I sit on the MSU sideline between the north end 35 and 40. The stake was planted at about the 30, probably 15 yards in from the sideline. I actually thought Bolden just slammed his fist into the ground, which was the signal to everyone to start shuckin' and jivin'. I'm in row 12, and could see the MSU players, who were lined up for the Anthem, looking at each other. It just seemed weird and out of place.