BBrown: Statement From Jabrill Peppers
I am still 100% committed to the University of Michigan and that is the place where I want to go to college. With the rumors about Coach Hoke possibly not being there I need to make sure that I have options and have seen other places in case the University of Michigan decides to go in a different direction. For the sake of my future I need to make sure I have other options. No need to look into it any further! Go Blue and beat TDS
November 26th, 2013 at 4:36 PM ^
It's absolutely ridiculous to fire a coach in his 3rd season unless he's just completely tanking the program.
November 26th, 2013 at 4:38 PM ^
Umm, RR was comletely tanking the program. Unless, of course, you asked him. Or, perhaps you might like the statement rephrased as 'the program was completely tanking under RR.' Either way, the ball coach has to go.
November 26th, 2013 at 5:04 PM ^
3-9, 5-7, 7-6. Then Hoke took his players and had his best and only good season. Coach Rodriguez has continued the upswing in Arizona by beating multiple top-10 teams, including a win against what looked to be a NCG caliber Oregon team.
November 26th, 2013 at 9:25 PM ^
Then there'd be no hot seat for a good, long time.
Underpromise and overdeliver.
And if you can't do that, underpromise.
November 26th, 2013 at 10:04 PM ^
One RR, trending upwards, with the support of a $600K DC coordinator and a few more recruiting classed, plus a senior Denard and smooth transition to a well prepared DG, who knows how high he would have gone?
Other, Hoke, trending downwards, whether he can arrest that and coach the players he has into a better unit is yet to be seen, next year with Borges could potentially be make or break, a repeat of this year would likely be grounds for making a change at OC, if nothing else.
November 26th, 2013 at 10:08 PM ^
Another two years of RR's recruiting and we wouldn't have any offensive linemen at all. It'd be Miller and four walkons next year.
We can argue about exactly why that was happening, but it wasn't hard to see that the wheels had come off.
November 26th, 2013 at 5:42 PM ^
Weis: 9-3, 10-3, 3-9, 7-6, 6-6.
Hoke: 11-2, 8-5, assume 7-6 or 8-5.
So slightly better by total win count; but unnervingly close, esp. if you think about how close Akron and N'western games were.
November 26th, 2013 at 11:39 PM ^
So the two close wins could be losses....but the three close losses couldn't be wins?
November 26th, 2013 at 6:52 PM ^
The solution to the problem is simply win some games. If they pull off an upset of OSU the trajectory of the program changes. Just stop the bleeding and these problems go away. If this game is close, but a loss and then they go on to a nice bowl win it will probably help. If they lose out, none of this will improve.
This is all a result of poor play! It's that simple. I believe this team can beat OSU if they play the way they did against ND. For that to happen, they need to convince Gardner to let loose. No more worrying about turnovers. They are going to happen, but he is better when he is improvising.
You just have to take the good with the bad to have a shot in this game. Constraining him to avoid turnovers is not resulting in wins. Take the good with the bad and be ok with the outcome.
November 26th, 2013 at 4:48 PM ^
While I agree that calling for the firing of Hoke, before we see if he makes any offensive staff adjustments is premature (just like calling for Rich Rod's head and not allowing him to bring in Casteel), there are people out there who did not feel that Hoke was the right hire to begin with, or perhaps do not now.
So, I think a rational fan could make an argument that we should move on - and still be a real fan.
I agree that the "fans" lobbing hand "fire Hoke" hand grenades, and shouting for Devin Gardner to get pulled - are not acting in the best interest of the fan base right now.
Personally, I wasn't impressed by the Hoke hiring, but it was done (and I was subsequently impressed by the Mattison hiring), so I believe it is in the best interest of the program to keep Brady Hoke until his guys are Juniors and Seniors at this juncture. That said, I believe it is time to seriously question whether we should continue to retain Al Borges, especially at the rate we are paying him.
The question I ask myself is do I believe Al Borges will produce the next Tom Brady, and the next Anthony Carter. Al doesn't recruit, and it seems the biggest names in those two positions are waiting to see and choosing other schools.
I think it is pretty obvious if you take the time to read this blog, that the believe we are young and improving on defense (and are ranked more highly there), and young in places but a predictable tire fire on offense (ranked at the bottom of BCS schools). Thus masses are upset with the offense - in spite of the youth - and that is where change for the better needs to happen. There is a fringe calling for Hoke, and saying Mattison and the defense sucks too.
You know - ESPN and other MSM are rumbling about Hoke's hot seat for the hype at this point. Then there is Chat sports ....
UNDERLYING MESSAGE FOR JABRILL PEPPERS: the internet is an interesting place. There are a lot of emo yahoos posting irrational opinions. It's OK and wise to consider fall back options if there is a change. I would bet that Hoke and the defensive coaching staff are a lock to stay for a while. There isn't any indication that the offensive staff will change. If they do, it will be a move for the positive. Stay the course and Go Blue young man!
November 26th, 2013 at 3:32 PM ^
fickle?
November 26th, 2013 at 3:33 PM ^
whoops...I messed up. I meant the whole being a "fairweather" fan. Was trying to say complaining when things are bad doesn't make you fairweather. No longer being a fan/following the team when things are bad does.
November 26th, 2013 at 3:22 PM ^
Negative recruiting is very real, from everything I've gathered over the years. Could just be the internet too, but I'd be shocked if opposing coaches aren't trying to undermine Hoke.
November 26th, 2013 at 3:28 PM ^
...post in the ESPN B1G blog that talks about Hoke being on the hot seat, or at least should be in their opinion.
November 26th, 2013 at 3:32 PM ^
So you must have been away from here the past 6 weeks were at least once daily someone posts a "Fire....." thread.
November 26th, 2013 at 3:20 PM ^
Recruits actually think Hoke might not be at Michigan in the near future?!?! It must be to take one of the NFL jobs that opens up this year. /s
November 26th, 2013 at 3:41 PM ^
Hoke was going to the NFL, now it is Hoke is going to get shit canned! All to have recruits lose confidence in signing with our team. Other rumors in the past did not spread as much as they do now. Like LC with a terminal disease and he wold be retiring in the the 2002-2006 era!
November 26th, 2013 at 3:21 PM ^
Fuck that is not good
November 26th, 2013 at 3:21 PM ^
November 26th, 2013 at 3:22 PM ^
Agree. Hoke has a long and expensive contract. Borges... on the other hand.... no comment.
November 26th, 2013 at 4:02 PM ^
I remember AnnArbor.com got a .pdf of the Borges contract via FOIA way back when. I don't recall any buyout clause.
November 26th, 2013 at 4:16 PM ^
Borges gets $650k annually. His contract is through 2015. Seems like the remaining $650k would be the parting gift, but I haven't seen his underlying contract posted.
November 26th, 2013 at 7:58 PM ^
November 26th, 2013 at 4:10 PM ^
Buyout clauses come with a double FIOIA indemnity. Everyone knows that. You have to FOIA the contract, then FIOIA the FIOIA in order to reveal the buyout clause. Perhaps you should get on that.
November 26th, 2013 at 4:26 PM ^
btw, I was mistaken; it was the Freep that FOIA'ed the Borges contract. AA.com reported on the Freep report.
Here's the funny part, which I'll mention just because you seem like a real prick with that post. You can see that Borges contract .pdf, if you pay the Freep archives. If I had FOIA'ed the contract, I'd have given it to Brian and you'd be able to look at it now.
November 26th, 2013 at 4:40 PM ^
I just like giving you a hard time, because you get so worked up. Yes, that probably makes me a prick. I apologize.
November 26th, 2013 at 5:34 PM ^
Actually, it makes you a Troll. Textbook definition of Troll.
November 26th, 2013 at 5:38 PM ^
We all troll Section 1. Not knowing that makes you an idiot. Textbook definition of an idiot.
November 26th, 2013 at 3:22 PM ^
Good enough for me.
November 26th, 2013 at 3:22 PM ^
Honestly, if I was a high caliber recruit like that, I'd be taking all of my officials. I'd also make sure that if I was taking them after the season, I was taking them in the middle of the school week.
Just saying.
November 26th, 2013 at 3:32 PM ^
to give Ball State a look
November 26th, 2013 at 3:24 PM ^
I can't believe we are even discussing bullshit coaching rumors.
The ND game feels like it was 8 months ago.
November 26th, 2013 at 4:24 PM ^
If I had gone to sleep after the ND game and woke up today I'd be like WTF? Who am I kidding, I'm saying WTF anyway. As bitter as I am about the fizzling of this season, I have no real yearning to dump Hoke. I can forgive a lot if he makes the kind of big boy (no visual pun intended) decisions that Beilein made when his staff wasn't cutting it. If he keeps Borges because he's grateful for Al giving him a ride to work, all bets are off.
November 26th, 2013 at 3:23 PM ^
First it was NFL rumors, now I suppose it's possibly being fired.
November 26th, 2013 at 3:24 PM ^
Thank you for posting this and allowing me to go back to being annoyed by my family up until Saturday.
November 26th, 2013 at 3:24 PM ^
Front page this.
November 26th, 2013 at 3:24 PM ^
Who's saying Hoke will not have a job here next year? Oh wait, probably every other team out there trying to recruit Peppers. Brandon needs to get out in front of this now.
November 26th, 2013 at 3:39 PM ^
Except in the world we live in, a public "vote of confidence" in a coach is interpreted as a kiss of death. Nothing Brandon can say will appease the public... unless its announcing Borges' canning immediately after the OSU game.
November 26th, 2013 at 3:25 PM ^
...a very important change in what it would mean to be a Michigan football player would cause him to re-think his commitment? That's...so...reasonable.
November 26th, 2013 at 3:25 PM ^
I'm thinking that this is more to do with other schools negatively recruiting. There is a 0.0% chance Hoke gets fired this year so I'm not sure where he's getting his info from.
November 26th, 2013 at 3:32 PM ^
You and I may think that there is a 0.0% chance that Coach Hoke gets fired. However, the young man is about to make one of the biggest decisions of his life. I can't blame him for trying to protect himself in case things change when he hears the rumors.
November 26th, 2013 at 10:11 PM ^
not just next year, so he has to assess what might happen in 2-3 years if the current results persist. Having Hoke stay only 1 more year and then leave would the worst case scenario for him, depending on who replaces him.
November 26th, 2013 at 3:26 PM ^
With the rumors about Coach Hoke possibly not being there I need to make sure that I have options and have seen other places...
Well, that's reassuring.
November 26th, 2013 at 3:26 PM ^
As a guy who talks to recruits often, do you hear a lot of negative recruiting disinformation about Michigan, other schools from these kids? I'm shocked that there is even a hint out there that Hoke's job is in jeopardy after this season and can only conclude some schools are spreading rumors to get him to break his commitment.
November 26th, 2013 at 3:30 PM ^
No I don't hear that from them. I honestly don't really ask about it though either. I try to avoid bringing up negative topics for obvious reasons.
I have heard it from people who know some of the coaches though that it takes place A LOT.
November 26th, 2013 at 3:47 PM ^
Do you know if he reads this blog? I know if I were a 17-18 year old kid reading this on a daily basis I would be convinced that not only will the entire staff be fired but that the sky above Ann Arbor is crashing down to earth at any moment.
November 26th, 2013 at 5:45 PM ^
just in case Brandon doesn't answer, I have it on good authority that Space Coyote is Jabrill Peppers.
So yeah, he reads the blog.
November 26th, 2013 at 4:55 PM ^
"Coaches" saying Hoke may be on the block, and we'd make a run at Les Miles. Wonder who these "Coaches" are, and if they've been talking to our recruits. (Casts an eye toward Urban Meyer who has recently offered one of our commits ...)
November 26th, 2013 at 7:07 PM ^
I seem to recall Sam Webb mentioning on the radio that one of the criteria for Hand was coaching stability. Sam seemed to think it was in reference to Saban leaving for Texas, but maybe it was about Hoke. I wonder if he was getting the same feedback in the form of negative recruiting that Peppers is getting?
Pull out all the stops in this game and get the W.