Let's all give Hoke a chance to prove DB right
I love the work of Brian Cook. MGoBlog is something that has filled my life with joy and wonder, bringing my level of Michigan fandom to a level that is both wholly satisfying and terribly unhealthy at the same time. But right now I can't support Brian's views in regard to the coaching search and eventual hire of one Brady Hoke. This is no way to begin the era of a new coach, regardless of what Brian's personal feelings on the matter are.
I get that many fans, especially those who frequent MGoBlog, are less than pleased with how the coaching search went. Brady Hoke wasn't my favorite candidate either. I do respect David Brandon for how he conducted the search though. I think Brandon showed that he is a man of integrity in several ways, many of which were frustrating to fans:
- He gave Rich Rod every opportunity to show progress that would warrant keeping him on as head coach. I think the results of the bowl game really illustrated how much that game mattered in the evaluation of Rich Rod. Without that data point, Michigan fans are even more divided about the need for a new coach. The Gator Bowl embarrassment cleared things up, and thus had value. Had Rich Rod managed to win and get Michigan to 8-5 with a bowl win over a ranked opponent (would have only been RR's second in 13 tries), I think it would have strengthened the case for keeping him almost as much as the embarrassing loss killed it.
- He didn't interfere with the season of any other program. I think this is one of the most glaring differences between this coaching search and last, it felt more respectful towards others and therefore more Michigan. No coach considered was interfered with before his teams' bowl game, including Mr. Hoke. Considering the outcome, would it have been better for the program to have had Hoke sign up and come over a month ago? Of course. But I am glad that SDSU and Hoke got to get that bowl victory, and that their players got to have proper closure to their impressive season. Pulling Rich Rod before WV's BCS game always seemed a little shady to me.
- He stuck to his guns throughout the process. I never got the feeling that he was out of touch with the search, despite the lack of leaked info. He wasn't off sailing his boat, and if I believe that he was pretty busy following possibilities. Harbaugh wanted the NFL; I don't consider this DB's fault. Miles decided to stay at LSU; this may be for the best as Les had a bit of baggage anyways. Michigan couldn't afford to wait much longer to sign a coach and whether we like it or not, DB had a set of criteria in mind and Hoke met the requirements.
The bottom line is that none of us know how things went down. Also none of us is any more qualified to judge the coaching search than we are to judge the decisions of our football coach. There is a reason David Brandon was hired to be Michigan's AD, and we will have to wait and see if his decision is a good one. The proof, as they say, is in the pudding. The pudding has not been served yet.
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I am excited for a new era of Michigan Football to begin and I am 100% behind Coach Hoke. People keep bringing up Hoke's record of 47-50 as a head coach as if just under .500 football has been his consistent result throughout his career. Reality paints a different picture though: a progression from Head-Coach-That-Never-Was-A-Coordinator (HCTNWAC) learning on the job at a loser program, to Head-Coach-That-Turns-Shit-Around (HCTTSA) that wins conference Coach of the Year honors.
What I see:
Ball State 2003 (HCTNWAC)
Goes 4-8 (3-5) in first year with Bill Lynch's players (6-6 in 2002). Does not look competitive if the scores are any indication. Ended season on a 4 game losing streak.
Ball State 2004 (HCTNWAC)
Bottoms out, going 2-9 (2-6) in his second year. Whether because of personel, or lack of HC experience, Hoke appears in over his head at this point. 2 wins come against teams with a combined 1-21 record.
Ball State 2005 (HCTNWAC?)
In his third year things start to show improvement. Record improves to 4-7 (4-4) with three wins against teams that would finish with winning records. Won three of final four games and took final game against CMU to OT.
Ball State 2006 (HCTTSA?)
More improvement, going 5-7 (5-3), his first winning record in conference. Didn’t beat anybody of note, but put a scare into a very good Michigan team.
Ball State 2007 (HCTTSA)
Continues to build the Ball St program, going 7-6 (6-2) for his first winning season and bowl bid. Beats talented Navy team in overtime. Comes within 51 seconds of knocking off Nebraska, losing by 1 point on a long touchdown in the final minute.
Ball State 2008 (HCTTSA!!!)
Undefeated regular season, including a second straight win against Navy and a victory over Indiana. Peaks at #12 in the polls before faltering in the conference championship game, finishes 12-1. Ball State would fall off a cliff in 2009 after Hoke's departure, going 2-10.
SDSU 2009 (HCTTSA?)
Takes the reigns of a program that hadn't had a winning season in a decade. Takes his lumps, going 4-8 (2-6) with victories coming against the dregs of the MWC.
SDSU 2010 (HCTTSA!!!)
Has an outstanding season, ending at 9-4 (5-3) and taking Coach of the Year honors for the MWC. Closer inspection of his season reveals that the 4 losses were all to teams with winning records and a cumulative record of 40-12. The 4 losses were by an average of < 4 points per game as well, with the worst a 5 point defeat @ undefeated TCU. 3/4 losses were away games. This season is easily better than the final record indicates. Hoke gets his first bowl victory, stomping Navy 35-14.
This is not the same as merely spouting 37-40 implies.
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The bottom line is that Brady Hoke deserves our full support as a fan base. He seems like a class act and served Michigan in the past, producing NFL quality D-Linemen and helping to form the 1997 defense. He remembers what it is like to coach a winning team against that team down south. He legitimately has turned 2 smaller programs around and is walking into a Michigan program that is on the rebound. I expect that he will have a good/great season next year and be a great representative of the University of Michigan.
This is Brian Cook's blog and he will post what he sees fit. MGoBlog and its community will continue to be a cornerstone of my passion and obsession as a fan regardless. I just urge that Brian, and all those that frequent this corner of the interwebs, realize how MGoBlog influences public opinion. Comments about the coaching hire being "stupid" and calling our new coach "average" before the new coach is even formally introduced will have a very real effect on how many people view Michigan Football. Recruits and current players, all of which we are trying to retain, no doubt read these statements and form opinions based on them. Positive thoughts and comments lead to positive opinions and the feeling that the fans have Michigan players' backs (and their new coach's back as well).
If MGoBlog is going to be so obviously anti-Hoke, how is it any better for Michigan Football than the Freep?
January 13th, 2011 at 7:04 AM ^
Everyone is gonna stand behind Hoke. It's just that every move he makes will come under scrutiny. He's being watched very carefully, make no mistake about it.
January 13th, 2011 at 7:19 AM ^
Fans definately will be watchin him carefully because they all think they know best...
I think the University already is at ease compared to RR because they know what they have and don't have to hold his hand explaining MICHIGAN.
January 13th, 2011 at 9:13 AM ^
You waited all this time to make this your first post? I'm all for moving on, but there's no need to bash the outgoing coach in the process (especially when you're wrong in the process). Bashing Rodriguez further alienates those who supported him, which, judging from the poll done last week, was approximately 50% of the MGoCommunity.
January 13th, 2011 at 10:09 AM ^
have never followed this site till now. Don't ruin it for me...Did they let you jump from zero to 10,000 MGo's? All good, someone had to ride me.
I'm not dissing RR at all. My comment is about how the fans feel and how the administration feels. I love RR and know he will make it somewhere. I just think that everyone always felt that they had to explain everything that Michigan is. Anywhere from the #1 jersey, captains, to boosters. We thought we wanted change, but we weren't ready.
January 13th, 2011 at 11:21 PM ^
so how many more 8-5, 9-4 seasons will it take to leave stone age football ideas behind?
January 13th, 2011 at 11:26 AM ^
Ed--Comment Redacted. I misunderstood the above poster's intentions. Further reading has clarified, making this comment unnessecery. neg me.
January 13th, 2011 at 10:39 PM ^
can anyone here drop that trash? urban meyer came from ohio and did just fine at utah and obviously florida. les miles is doing fine at LSU and harbaugh had a good run at stanford. do you really think that these coaches would have failed miserably if they would have "missundestood" those programs more? football is still played on the field, not in history books. hokes best season at his alma matter was an anomoly at best, so now that he "GETS MICHIGAN", its instant and unstoppable success. prove me wrong brady, but i'll stick to facts until then if you don't mind.
January 13th, 2011 at 7:11 AM ^
I find it incredible that Brandon didn't at least offer him the job. If Hoke doesn't work out, Brandon's refusal will come back to haunt him.
January 13th, 2011 at 8:25 AM ^
None of us know what transpired during the interview/meeting between Brandon and Harbaugh. It seems clear from Brandon's public statements that he wanted someone with a passion to be Michigan's coach. If Harbaugh told Brandon that he wanted to go to the NFL then there was no reason to offer him the job. Even if Brandon worked magic and got Harbaugh to come to Michigan do we think that would have been the end of his aspirations to become an NFL HC?
January 13th, 2011 at 1:01 PM ^
I think alot of people here are getting hung up on that word, which IMO is being used by DB to sell Hoke as his first choice.
Truth is, it's not uncommon for an employer to only make an "offer" until a handshake agreement has been made, and they know it will be accepted. Some of us have probably experienced that first hand. In this case, sounds like they couldn't get past the "handshake" stage.
January 13th, 2011 at 7:49 AM ^
Great post - really appreciate the year by year detail on Hoke's teams as a HC. Time to focus on the positives.
January 13th, 2011 at 7:57 AM ^
I don't think anyone was thrilled with how the coaching search went down, but Brady Hoke deserves the full support of the fanbase right now. He has turned around programs before and may well do it again at Michigan. Brady Hoke is a Michigan Man, and until he proves he doesn't belong there, he is my coach.
January 13th, 2011 at 10:29 PM ^
Rodriguez turned around programs, won BCS bowls and was crucified. these comments about "turning around the program" don't make sense.
January 13th, 2011 at 8:14 AM ^
Hoke has a bit of a reputation now of being a guy that turns around programs. So, I hope that continues. The staff absolutely needs our support. There's rarely slam dunks in coaching searches anymore these days, and it seems like no-names have just as much success as established names. I hope he can bring some fresh energy and perspective, while at the same time find a way to keep the recruiting and offensive momentum going from the old regime.
The choice is what it is now, so let's show some support. GO BLUE!
January 13th, 2011 at 9:09 AM ^
Support, yes, undying love, not yet. I'm no expert just a fan. Much like I questioned some of RR's moves (scrapping the entire offense, firing virtually every coach) I am questioning some of the same moves Hoke is making. It just seems like history is repeating itself. I supported RR until the end and will support Hoke (as I did Carr). But I won't provide blind loyalty and unvarnished praise for someone who in my made has made some questionable decisions so far (OC hire and Barwis firing). If he brings on an assistant or two who have some spread background and can maybe help the transition that would help.
I'm sure he will do fine but it seems like we picked up the ugly chick from the party and are trying to tell everyone what a great personality she has. From a superficial exterior perspective this does not seem like a great hire but a good hire. Until we see results on the field people should be able to question his decisions without everyone on the bandwagon getting pissed.
Good hire, and I will support him. But let's stop drinking the coolaid, eating the cornbread and take off the rose colored glasses - this transition will not be easy and painless. I want wins right now not another 3 years of transition while he gets his system in place and recruits his style of players.
January 13th, 2011 at 11:00 AM ^
I was a supporter of RR, and like many I was upset when he was let go. I believe Hoke has the opportunity to be a good head coach for us. I would not expect any miracles on the defensive side of the ball. I was at Ball State during his two best years. The defense was the weakness of those teams. Most games seemed to be shootouts and scoring over thirty was a must each game. I believe Hoke has a great chance to succeed, but I hope he makes the right choice for DC.
January 13th, 2011 at 9:10 AM ^
This is something that I cried about for weeks leading up to today. The negativity and pure hatred surrounding Rodriguez no doubt turned off numerous recruits. Now, some may say that it will turn out okay because Hoke may not want several of the kids that Rodriguez recruited. But the fact remains that many of us are jaded from the past several weeks of having to defend Rodriguez and try to calm people down and/or change the subject. Now its time for the new coach to show us something. Blind support is no longer an option for many of us as it once was, and the craziness of the past few weeks are the main culprit.
That said, I will always be a Michigan fan and support the team and cheer for the team. But please excuse me if I am not immediately and outwardly on-board the Hoke bandwagon. It has to start moving before I'll be ready to jump aboard.
January 13th, 2011 at 9:43 AM ^
I am all in for Brady Hoke! Go Blue
January 13th, 2011 at 9:48 AM ^
I have just listened to BC on WTKA.
I listened and read all of the commentary from this site regarding the concept of "supporting the team" by being all in for Rich Rod - only it is now clear that this was, as suspected, the "MGORichRod" site. Even today this site continues to post the tired old mantra that Rich Rod didn't get support, the cupboard was bare and a hundred other little complaints.
And now Brady Hoke's potential has been capped by BC at "winning the Big Ten" since BC will not be able to recruit nationally and therefor Michigan will never be an Elite program.
I believe the articulate and thoughtful analysis that was done on this site was instrumental in building traffic and attracting guys like me.
Clearly BC is more about dissing Lloyd Carr and supporting Rich Rod. Now near the end of the hour Brian says "had concluded Rich Rod had to go before the bowl game", well if that is so quit making excuses for the failure that was his tenure at Michigan.
I suggest that wherever RR lands he will need a cheerleader.
I will look forward to hearing that mgoblog.com has returned to providing the best football analytics and commentary on the interwebs.
I offer a sincere thanks for all of the valuable information that you have shared with me via this blog.
January 13th, 2011 at 9:57 AM ^
You have no credibility, please go back to posting on Mlive. Brian, unlike most people actually uses facts to support his suppositions. He strikes me as a bight person who generally gives a good analysis of the facts. I think we can all disagree on things but saying Brian was a RR cheerleader is just plain wrong.
January 13th, 2011 at 10:28 AM ^
Reading comprehension is essential. Try it once in awhile. I too have had great respect and appreciation for BC's work. I think this current path hurts him. So you may just have to deal with that. Have a good day there "woody".
January 13th, 2011 at 12:02 PM ^
that all of a sudden there are a ton of guys new to the site this past week and that somehow they are all bashing Rich Rod? Makes me wonder if it is a Michigan Man Mafia social media guerrilla warfare tactic to swarm the boards with newbies bashing Brian. It seems that 99% of the Brian criticism on the site the past two days comes from someone with less than 10 mgopoints. Strange...
January 13th, 2011 at 9:51 AM ^
Whatever Brady Hoke does will reflect upon himself: not David "pay attention to me now, vote for me in a few years" Brandon. Brady Hoke deserves the same four years many of us wanted RR to get; not to "prove DB right," but to do the job as the head football coach at the University of Michigan.
By the time Brady Hoke "proves" anything either way, David Brandon will have probably already moved on to his true passion: running for office.
January 13th, 2011 at 10:10 AM ^
for a new banner on the site? Let's put this coaching carousel issue behind us and give Hoke a chance to show what he can do. When many of the guys who actually played the game at Michigan speak up for him, I for one am willing to give him a few years to turn things around. Maybe we can start that process this year by not playing the worst defense in the history of the school? That would be a step in the right direction.
January 13th, 2011 at 10:12 AM ^
Sometimes things don't work out the way you want them to. I came to this website before RR, and loved Carr. I grew to love RR, and really believe that under the right circumstances, he will thrive. I do feel he wasn't given a fair chance, but that's old whiney news and water over the dam.
I also believe that Hoke will do pretty well next year -- anyone but a moron would do well with 20 returning starters, including the B10 POY and beast Martin.
I will wait and see what Hoke does 3 & 4 years from now. I am not against him, but right now, I'm more "all in for Michigan" than "all in for Hoke." Because Hoke apparently has far more love and support from the MSM, MSC, DB, & former players at Michigan, he likely has the skids greased to return us to 9 wins a year. I have severe doubts about any more than that. Well, I guess it's ok to lower expectations, and settle for being competitive with tOSU. That's what mattered most to Bo & Mo & Carr & others, so I shouldn't expect more.
January 13th, 2011 at 10:51 AM ^
He gave Rich Rod every opportunity to show progress that would warrant keeping him on as head coach.
I don't understand this argument. What did you really expect to happen in the bowl game? Looking at MissSt's rankings, they were very similar to OSU and Wisconsin. A similar result occurred. We didn't have a kicking game, and still had a secondary consisting of true freshmen and walk-ons. Did you realistically expect a major turnaround in 6 weeks (actually 2 weeks of practice)? I think this argument basically boils down to "it would have taken a miracle to save his job at this point."
No coach considered was interfered with before his teams' bowl game, including Mr. Hoke.
I hope that isn't true. I'd like to believe that Brandon was on the phone after the OSU game, judging reactions from every coach he could get in touch with. That should have show him that Harbaugh was a non-starter (although I don't doubt the Harbaugh faction will start making noise again on January 1, 2014). Once it was established that there wasn't anyone available with a better resume than what we had, the decision should have been made to keep RichRod.
He seems like a class act and served Michigan in the past
I don't think anyone is doubting Hoke's character or Michigan background. What's being questioned is his ability to bring in recruits and the ability to make the best use of the talent that he has. One of the major complaints about RichRod was that he got a majority of 3 star recruits, instead of the 4 and 5 stars we were accustomed to. What makes you think that Brady Hoke will be able to do that any more effectively than RichRod?
Comments about the coaching hire being "stupid" and calling our new coach "average" before the new coach is even formally introduced will have a very real effect on how many people view Michigan Football.
Comments about a coach being "average" are what make MgoBlog different than most of the "team-can-do-no-wrong" blogs out there. I agree with Brian that hiring a guy based on his pedigree over record to appease unhappy boosters is not the best way to build a team to win national championships. If Hoke didn't have the Michigan pedigree, would he have been in consideration for the position over, say, Todd Graham or Mike Haywood? Hoke's record so far has been "average." Look at the top 10: how may coaches can you name? That's what separates a "great" coach from an "average" one.
It's not Brian's job to spin everything to be good, it's his job to tell us the facts. He doesn't pick Michigan to win every game, nor do I want him to.Criticizing the decisions of the program based on the facts at hand is far, far different than manufacturing a story about secondary violations like the Freep did. Saying "there are better candidates out there, if you want to win" is not detrimental to the the program any more than "if Vincent Smith was bigger, he wouldn't get knocked down so much."
Since the actual hiring, Brian has been pretty handed. I agree that Hoke could be great, and needs time to prove himself, but current evidence indicates that he was brought in for pedigree, not record.
January 13th, 2011 at 10:52 AM ^
I harbor no ill will past or present. I enjoy the fact based approach of Brian and his commentary. Unfortunately, I am not sold on the new hire and there is not much that will convince me otherwise.
Regardless the number of former players and coaches lining up to provide accolades, what we have is a coach with three winning seasons, an overall losing record from a weak coaching tree. Is he a likable, hard working guy, I suppose so. Will he give you everything he has, I suppose so. Will it be enough to compete for Big Ten Titles and NC's, not in my lifetim( I am old).
Had the coaching trunk Lloyd been a good enough manager/leader to establish a solid, results oriented coaching tree, Rich Rod would still be flourishing in WV. He didn't and hiring the best of a worst lot has never been a prescription for success. Let's hope Hoke is at least is smart enough to surround himself with a quality staff, capable of taking the next step in a few years.
I will continue to support the young men and women who participate in Michigan athletics, but please don't ask me to blindly follow the chorus of former players and coaches saluting this hire as a wonderful thing. Where were they three years ago?
January 13th, 2011 at 11:06 AM ^
I'm disappointed, and I'd by lying if I was to say my "FIRE HOKE" reflex wasn't on a hair trigger at the moment BUT I'll let this play out. I'll give hoke the chance to convince me.
Assuming Denard stays, it'll take at least 6 wins, with very VERY obvious improvements** in the defense for me to go "all in" for Hoke. If I see that? Groovy. If not, I'll probably slide quickly into the anti-hoke camp.
**Given our schedule and the defense being one year older I don't feel these are even all that difficult.
(Ed-If he fails to talk Denard into staying at Michigan, I will immedietly purchase firehoke.com and then hang myself.)
January 13th, 2011 at 11:30 AM ^
I think it would be a mistake to necessarily blame Hoke if Robinson leaves, because ultimately he has no control over that. If Hoke says and does all the right things but Robinson leaves for Oregon because he'd like to see what he could do in Chip Kelly's system, how is that Hoke's fault? On the other hand if Hoke needlessly alienates Robinson, that would be a strike against him. The point is that you have to judge Hoke based on the things he does and not on results that are largely out of his control.
January 13th, 2011 at 3:41 PM ^
January 13th, 2011 at 11:09 AM ^
Why are so many people making Hoke's success contingent upon everyone getting behind the cause and singing the fight song? This isn't Santa's sleigh needing Zooey Deschanel to sing Christmas carols to get off the ground. The fans didn't fire the last coach and our support or lack thereof will not get the new one fired.
January 13th, 2011 at 11:24 AM ^
I don't agree with the way Brandon handled this matter. I would have given RR another year, but notwithstanding that if Hoke was his first target all along, he should have offered him after the OSU game and given him a chance to recruit.
In any case that's moot now. Hoke is the coach and I'll support him until and unless he shows that he isn't up to snuff. I think you almost always have to give a coach at least 4 years and in Hoke's case it should be 5 because we're changing the offensive philosophy again and because he was unable to recruit in this cycle. By the end of his 4th year, his first recruits will still be only true juniors or redshirt sophomores. I hope that M fans will have realistic expectations going forward.
January 13th, 2011 at 1:06 PM ^
My guess is that DB contacted JH after the OSU debacle and JH told him he was interested but wanted to wait until after the bowl games to proceed. Of course, the 49's fire their coach after week 15, basically hanging out the HEAD COACHING POSITION OPEN sign. Combine JH's desire to coach in the NFL with a venue that is in his backyard, and the perfect storm materialized. I think DB was planning on JH sitting down and having a sincere discussion in early January, and it seemed like that never happened...JH had NFL fever! This is not DB's fault...he was not about to tell JH "sign or screw you" in late November/early December.
January 13th, 2011 at 1:14 PM ^
he gave RR. If you dont' have us back on top in three years, you're out of her mister, and btw, you can take Brady Carr with you. I'm taking a year off, minimum, as Michigan fan. This is not the same fan base I recall under Bo.
Fuck a bucn of DBrandons. If he does for M for what he did for Dominos, we'll make a lot of money, but everyone will know we're an inferior product, using inferior ingredients. Good luck Brandon. Hope to c ya out of here in three years minimum.
Suggested readings for Brandon? Lasting Lessons, author: Bo Scembecluuuuuuuuuuur.
January 13th, 2011 at 11:24 AM ^
Lordfoul -
I absolutely, 100% agree with your sentiment.
My issue the past couple of days has not been my support for the team, or for Brady Hoke. My issues is: "why can't we seem to land a premier coaching candidate, at this premier institution?", and short of that "is Brady Hoke really, really the best fall back choice? He sure seems unproven."
So, that said, in 1995 when Gary Moeller stepped down, and Lloyd Carr was ushered in, I sarcastically quipped that "Great, we gone from Coach Bo, to Coach Mo, to Coach Schmo ...
Well, as luck would have it, Coach Schmo turned out to be a pretty damned good coach, who won Michigan's first National Championship in a very long time, and had a great 13 year run as head coach.
So, I am not enamored with Brady Hoke, but I am really hoping he is the next Coach Schmo.
Go Blue!
January 13th, 2011 at 11:27 AM ^
...just like everyone gave rr a chance to prove bm right. it is all a bunch of arrogant uofm self entitlement attitude that ran rr, his family and coaching staff out of town. the only reason people are now saying give bh a chance is because he is a so called "MM." nope, i used to be a uofm fan but i saw how rr was treated and bh deserves the same crap treatment that rr received. uofm showed its true colors to the whole college football world and it was a disgrace. who in the hell would want to coach at uofm if not ever associated with uofm. ur behavior was immature, ignorant, fear based and just plain awful. very few gave rr the help he needed to become a "MM." way to go aa / detroit / media / etc...way to run a good guy out of town who only wanted to bring uofm football into the current century!
January 13th, 2011 at 1:52 PM ^
the performance by the M team last year was embarrassing. Worst defense ever. About the most inept special teams in the country. An offense that often looked great, but turned the ball over a lot and couldn't score against good teams. Three years is time enough to show improvement in the defense and special teams. Rodriguez was, after all, in charge of the entire team. Any coach whose team performed as his did last year deserved the criticism leveled at him. I am as sorry as anyone that it did not work out, but I don't buy the notion that Rodriguez had done a thing at M to suggest that the team would play any differently next year. And I don't buy the injuries excuse either. Ohio State had plenty of injuries in the secondary this year, but they still played competently back there.
January 13th, 2011 at 11:28 AM ^
Frankly, I think the "ZOMG BRIAN COOK HATEZ BRADY HOKE" meme is now far more preposterous than the "ZOMG BRADY HOKE IS THE SUX" meme. Not that Brian needs defending, but essentially what Brandon did is promoted a coach from two shitty conferences with two non-shitty years to one of the top 10 jobs in the country simply because he used to be a position coach here. Brian is questioning that decision, as am I, and as are a lot of other board posters.
Ask yourself this: if Brady Hoke had had the identical pedigree but had been a position coach at any other university in the country, including the Floridas, Texases, and Alabamas of the world, what is the probability that he would have been promoted to HC of Michigan?
My estimate: 0.00000000001.
So then why was he hired? Because he had experience coaching M? Guess who else had experience coaching M? RICHFUCKINGRODRIGUEZ!!!
In the end, I guess I don't blame the firing of RR, given what he was up against. But I simply cannot talk myself into believing Hoke was a good hire a priori. He may rise to the occasion and prove me wrong; I certainly hope he does, and I certainly will support M and Hoke as much as when RR was coach. But I don't see why my or Brian's questioning the wisdom of the hire and supporting the team, coaching staff, and university are mutually exclusive.
January 13th, 2011 at 11:39 AM ^
Does anyone else find it ironic that Brady Hoke's name was mentioned the day BEFORE RR was fired? Not only mentioned but the "reporter" said he will be the next coach. How in the world could a guy that hardly anybody has ever heard of be mentioned and then ultimately get the job? So, to the OP, do you really think it was the bowl game that got RR fired and that there was no contact between DB and BH before hand? To me thats a little too convenient of an excuse.
January 13th, 2011 at 11:52 AM ^
It is possible to support Coach Hoke and still like RR I for one think he will do very well at his next job.
What Hoke said at the press conference got me fired up on the guy. He seems to have a huge love of Michigan Football and all that it entails, and IMHO he is going to do great things here. But that does not mean all Michigan fans need to have the same opinion. I'm new here but the reason I joined was because of the way all opinions are expressed, I think we need that. Only time will tell if Hoke was the right choice or not. He now has his dream job and knows what is expected of him to keep it. GO BLUE!!
January 13th, 2011 at 11:57 AM ^
Also to the OP, in your mind, what will it take from BH to prove DB right? How will you measure his success?
January 13th, 2011 at 6:23 PM ^
I will consider Hoke a success when I get that old familiar feeling back, the one where I wake up most fall Saturdays and expect that Michigan will win.
January 13th, 2011 at 10:16 PM ^
we're in for a step backwards right off the bat. I'll be very intrested what the bandwagon fans have to say after that.
January 13th, 2011 at 12:22 PM ^
Its all about the team at this point, which I think Hoke gets. I've got tons of concerns about Hoke, his record and his ability to lead a premier program, but we've got to get behind this hire and see if he can make it go. To me, Hoke clearly understands the Michigan tradition and expectations, but we will have to wait to see if he can deliver. We will only truly be able to evaluate DB at this same point in time, when some results are put forth on the field.
I truly believe RR will land somewhere and do a good job. Watch out for him being at Clemson in 2012, a place he knows and where he could find success again. Good luck to him and his staff, they were in a tough spot and in the end, did not deliver the hoped for results.
January 13th, 2011 at 12:45 PM ^
When viewed as a whole, "average," "under-whelming," "pedestrian," "mediocre" are all suitable adjectival descriptions of Brady Hoke's coaching accomplishments in the context of current BCS football programs. That is the reality of the record we have been presented, as Brian and so many others have made clear, like it or not. Indeed no hard evidence has been produced to support using "outstanding" as an appropriate descriptor for any category or objective metric - let alone several of them - in Mr. Hoke's coaching resume.
It is extremely doubtful that a comparable record of academic accomplishments would have gotten a Mr. Hoke-like candidate past the initial screening committee for any academic department at the U of M seeking to fill a faculty vacancy (at any level), let alone to #1 on the interview list and then hired at what is widely acknowledged as one of the top 3 public universities in the country! Such a comparable professional record certainly would not have secured University President for MSC, nor even AD for DB. So why should any of us - alums, fans, Michigan men and women - be comfortable with - never mind optimistic and enthusiastic about - the result from the apparent application of much lower professional standards in the search and selection of BH as the Head Coach for Michigan football?
I'm of course very pleased to know that this is BH's "dream position, but that can scarcely have been (I hope!) the primary objective criteria or sufficient condition for his having been hired. I have 3 earned degrees from the U of M, and throughout my graduate studies residency, I never met another doctoral student for whom the U of M also was not their "dream position," as it was mine. At the end of the day, that did not translate into reality for anyone in our respective disciplines despite most having records of professional accomplishment in their fields that significantly exceeded BH's comparable coaching record.
I'll give Mr. Hoke his chance, to be sure; does a life-long Wolverine have any alternative? But don't ask me to give DB a pass on the process he followed that led to this result. It's impossible for me to believe that a similar approach would have been permitted when filling a similarly high profile position on the academic or executive/administrative side of our great university.
January 13th, 2011 at 6:28 PM ^
When viewed as a whole, "average," "under-whelming," "pedestrian," "mediocre" are all suitable adjectival descriptions of Brady Hoke's coaching accomplishments in the context of current BCS football programs.
Thinking this is completely reasonable. Saying it on a well regarded blog where, like it or not, it is bound to be viewed by recruits, is IMO detrimental to the program.
January 13th, 2011 at 10:12 PM ^
DO NOT POINT OUT FACTS. it cost me over 100 points this week. no one here can face up to the truth.
January 13th, 2011 at 1:23 PM ^
I have to say that I wasn't that fired up when I first heard we hired Brady Hoke. But after I watched his press conference I am elated! I literally got goose bumps watching him speak about how he was going to run the program. And I love the fact that he refers to tOSU as "That school in Ohio"
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