February 2nd, 2011 at 1:39 PM ^
It wasn't awkward at all.
It seems that Hoke and RR have had a few conversations. In fact the last thing Hoke said was that he was going to call RR very soon.
February 2nd, 2011 at 1:39 PM ^
I thought that both Rich Rodriguez and Brady Hoke made the best out of an awkward situation.
February 2nd, 2011 at 1:40 PM ^
Yes, Brady Hoke told him to "suck it, ho" while Rich Rod responded with "I guess that means I will see you in hell, Brady".
February 2nd, 2011 at 1:40 PM ^
Video clip?
February 2nd, 2011 at 1:43 PM ^
Someone needs to get that on youtube, stat.
February 2nd, 2011 at 2:22 PM ^
BoyzndaPahokee will be on it shortly, you can rest assured. BKfinest it.
February 2nd, 2011 at 1:43 PM ^
Some of you are wishing bad "juju" on us. Karma is real!
February 2nd, 2011 at 2:03 PM ^
hoke said the current players denard, PATRICK, and devin, helped in the recruiting..... who is patrick?
February 2nd, 2011 at 2:06 PM ^
omameh
February 2nd, 2011 at 2:06 PM ^
Patrick Omameh?
February 2nd, 2011 at 4:06 PM ^
I'm sorry, but you make me think you're porking sparty the mascot.
February 2nd, 2011 at 2:30 PM ^
It sure seemed to me that Hoke took a few thinly veiled shots at Rodriguez (the "no excuses" line, and "got the character we wanted"), it looked like Rich contained his ANGAR very well, but the whole thing made me uneasy.
February 2nd, 2011 at 2:51 PM ^
everytime I see RichRod, I think he represents Michigan so well and is a true Michigan man. All class, all the time. Wish him the best the rest of the way.
February 2nd, 2011 at 4:42 PM ^
Why would he want to take a thinly veiled shot at RR? He wouldn't and he didn't. "Got the character he wanted" is NSD coachspeak 101. I think the "no excuses" line was something he would have said to anyone and maybe just didn't realize how some people would take it saying it to a team that included RR.
Hoke does not seem like some coy, calculating guy to me.
February 3rd, 2011 at 9:35 AM ^
But I disagree.
February 2nd, 2011 at 2:40 PM ^
Man, that first look on RR's face said it all. I felt bad for him. I would have told Lemming, DB, and the other dude to all shove it up their ass and walked out to get a drink of lemonade.
Seriously, why would they make him do that?
February 2nd, 2011 at 4:25 PM ^
to sit there and endure one of the most awkward moments in recent sports history. How do you describe something like that? It was like interviewing the guy who is now sleeping with your wife or gf.
February 2nd, 2011 at 1:50 PM ^
How can this not be awkward?
February 2nd, 2011 at 1:58 PM ^
I am very impressed by the grace with which these two men handled that situation. RR was gracious to Hoke, and Hoke implicitly complimented RR on the quality of individuals RR brought to M.
February 2nd, 2011 at 1:59 PM ^
I would be surprised if CBS did not rehearse the interview first - big ratings upside for them not to have scripted this -- RR and Brady knew about it
February 2nd, 2011 at 1:59 PM ^
Yes, it was super awkward. Yes, it seemed like Rich was fishing for a compliment or two. Yes, Brady probably should have mentioned that Rich did a good job of laying the foundation for the class (he made a similar comment but didnt mention RR but name) but overall these two were absolutely professional and cordial towards each other. I would imagine that when you are in the business as long as those two gentlemen are you learn that its not personal. Brady Hoke never advocated RR to be fired, that decision was DBs decision alone. I wouldnt imagine that an interview with RR and DB would go over as smoothly.
February 2nd, 2011 at 2:31 PM ^
What Brady Hoke did, or didn't advocate?
February 2nd, 2011 at 4:44 PM ^
Why the hell do you seem enamored with the idea that Hoke didn't/doesn't like RR?
February 2nd, 2011 at 2:01 PM ^
Here's an exclusive look at Brady Hoke doing an in home visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcR7hr4LLQg&feature=related
February 2nd, 2011 at 2:01 PM ^
I thought it was pretty awkward as well, but it was clear that both coaches were trying to make the best out of a bad situation. However, this wasn't the only awkward part of the day. It seemed to me that RichRod was showing the lingering effects of his firing for the entire day today. He constantly mentioned transitions, young talent that needs to be developed, and just a lot of subjects that applied to his situation here at Michigan. When talking with a correspondent in Texas who was talking about the cold weather there, he said something along the lines of "We wish it was 19 degrees in Ann Arbor in February", and although he still lives around there, it just felt like a weird statement to make as you're corresponding from somewhere else (Unless CBS is shooting in AA?).
When it came to Hoke, I thought the most awkward part was the question RR asked about the upgrade of the facilities--seeing as how he was largely responsible for the weight room upgrades, etc.... Nonetheless, both coaches kept it classy as always
February 2nd, 2011 at 2:03 PM ^
Both handle themselves well. RR may not go back to coaching just yet. A little nervous but I thought he handled himself well. Good for him.
February 2nd, 2011 at 2:04 PM ^
ah...this one hurts. you can almost feel RR's pain watching him ask about his old team.
February 2nd, 2011 at 6:00 PM ^
"So um... how's Denard doing? Does he ever ask about me?"
February 2nd, 2011 at 2:05 PM ^
anyone catch the Justice Hayes- 5 star recruit on the screen at some point?
February 2nd, 2011 at 2:06 PM ^
Hoke was gracious, and RR will always be a cool cat in my book.
February 2nd, 2011 at 2:16 PM ^
...I cringed. As the interview went on, I ended up liking both coaches even more. What class acts they are.
February 2nd, 2011 at 2:16 PM ^
RR's questions were good. After all, it is his job to provide insight, and a lot of the national audience may not have known about the facilities upgrades. If anything, RR may have helped Hoke by helping to promote more awareness of the upgrades to the part of the football community that doesn't live in Michigan, Ohio, or PA.
As for Hoke, he came off as Joe Everyman of the Midwest. That will probably play very well in recruiting the midwest. Whether or not it will play well in other states remains to be seen. Here's hoping it plays very well in the projected recruiting feast in the state of OH for next year.
February 2nd, 2011 at 3:26 PM ^
Some guy from Youngstown State who sure came off like Joe Everyman of the Midwest has been pretty successful in terms of recruiting both on a regional and national basis for the past 10 years since 2001.
February 2nd, 2011 at 2:17 PM ^
Kudos to Rich for agreeing to do this interview. I would venture to guess that many (if not most) coaches in a similar situation would refuse to do the interview, or would simply decline the assignment altogether knowing that the interview would be part of it.
February 2nd, 2011 at 2:21 PM ^
Someone mentioned in another thread that Fulmer was in the RR position a few years back and refused to interview his successor, Lane Kiffin.
February 2nd, 2011 at 2:21 PM ^
any else catch RR's face twitch a little bit when Hoker says "there are no excuses"?
February 2nd, 2011 at 2:22 PM ^
It was awkward, but we have some classy coaches. Both Rich Rod and Hoke come off as being very classy individuals. I hope Rich Rod finds a solid place (out of the Big Ten) next season.
February 2nd, 2011 at 2:33 PM ^
Actually didn't think that was awkward at all. RR and Hokester were both classy.
February 2nd, 2011 at 2:45 PM ^
Shortly after this, they started talking about the situation at West Virginia and coaching instability in the Big East. An all-around awkward half hour for Rodriguez.
February 2nd, 2011 at 2:57 PM ^
Here's a brief clip of RR on the transition:
February 2nd, 2011 at 2:57 PM ^
RR remained informative and classy. Sincerely wish him and his crew the best in their next job.
February 2nd, 2011 at 2:55 PM ^
just one more little ball tap for RR
February 2nd, 2011 at 3:18 PM ^
in a 10 ft high chain-link octagon. I'd pay to see that.