Brady Hoke's message: Big Ten title or bust
Nothing new but always good to hear that this is the goal!!
Brady Hoke's message: Big Ten title or bust
From The Detroit News: http://detnews.com/article/20110814/SPORTS0201/108140325/Brady-Hoke’s-message--Big-Ten-title-or-bust#ixzz1V4CCF6RL
August 15th, 2011 at 12:06 AM ^
Damn right.
August 15th, 2011 at 12:10 AM ^
We might be longer shots than I'd like, but that doesn't bother me.
Let's go blue.
August 15th, 2011 at 12:11 AM ^
Obviously I'm a random internet dude and Brady Hoke is paid millions of dollars to coach a football team, but shouldn't we just be focused on the division for now? Get through those eight conference games and we basically have a 50-50 shot from there, compared to a 1/12 chance now.
August 15th, 2011 at 12:16 AM ^
I have no problem with Brady saying his goal is a Big Ten title because isn't it kind of a let down to his players to say "ok we're only shooting for the division."
August 15th, 2011 at 12:17 AM ^
In that case, he should be saying shoot for a national championship
August 15th, 2011 at 12:18 AM ^
stranger things have happened
August 15th, 2011 at 12:26 AM ^
This was explained when he was hired in and Drew Sharp wouldn't let this topic go. Even if you win your conference and go undefeated, you can't guarantee that you get into the NCG, so you might as well make your goal something that is 100% within your control. The B1G championship is as high as it gets within those parameters.
August 15th, 2011 at 12:45 AM ^
He could have said, "Our goal is to win every single fucking game we play!" That would be a loftier goal that is just as "controllable".
Then he could have put Drew Sharp in a choke hold. That would have been way cooler than what actually happened.
August 15th, 2011 at 11:02 AM ^
If we don't win the Big Ten championship, we've failed these kids as coaches
So he's not saying his goal is to win the division, or the Championship, or the National Championship, or every single game. Those are undoubtably goals. What he's saying is what the lower bar is..what the mark of failure. And anytime the team hasn't won the Big Ten, it's not a fully successful season. Something everybody pretty much agrees with, I'd say. It's not that they aren't shooting to win every game, just that if they don't win every game, it's not a failure. Because that's too high a standard for coaches, players....anybody this side of fans, who do expect that.
However, thanks for the Drew Sharp mental image. I can just see his eyes bugging out Looney Tunes style just before he goes under.
August 15th, 2011 at 12:19 AM ^
I'm not banging my head into a wall over it or anything, but honestly I would say something more along the lines of "we're going to get past the rest of the division and play under the lights in Indy". Why make it more difficult than you have to for now? Everyone knows which eight games they have to win, so I'd just stick to that.
But like I said, A+ for optimism. Nothing wrong with it in the slightest.
August 15th, 2011 at 12:50 AM ^
Why not say that? Because it's Michigan, and setting second-rate goals is not something we do. We're not just the "division leaders and best." If we fall short, we fall short. We'll try again next year.
August 15th, 2011 at 12:50 AM ^
There's nothing second rate about going 8-0 in conference play. My point was to say maybe we should make our goal to win every game that we have on the schedule with a name already attached, and worry about the next games as they come, even if his words are confidence inspiring.
August 15th, 2011 at 12:54 AM ^
That's an odd way of looking at it. If we win every game on the schedule, then the Big Ten Championship Game will be on the schedule. There is literally no way you can go 8-0 in league play and not make the BTCG. Head-to-head is the first tiebreaker.
August 15th, 2011 at 12:57 AM ^
But this hypothetical opponent is TBD, while the rest of them come with clear-cut goals on how to win.
Ed: I said that we should focus on making it, and yes, 8-0 obviously ensures a spot.
August 15th, 2011 at 6:49 AM ^
...very simple answer to why a Big Ten Championship is the goal, not a division title:
Championships? 42!
Years? 132!
Beat? Ohio!
August 15th, 2011 at 8:19 AM ^
First, Hoke is going back to our old tradition, where our stated goal every season is the Big Ten championship.
Second, your words sure doesn't sound like Hoke. That's a good thing because it was hardly inspiring and would lead to some obvious questions. Honestly, doesn't it sound like it's allowing for the possibility of losing to OSU twice? You're much better off keeping your message simple.
August 15th, 2011 at 9:51 AM ^
I never said anything about allowing for losses, especially to OSU. I said that the simpler message at the beginning of the year was to take care of the knowns. Obviously this didn't resonate well, whatever.
I love Hoke's enthusiasm, but if it were me coaching I would focus on preparing for opponents we know we'll face and deal with the BTCG when we get there. My first post also made it known that this is my lowly perspective, not one from a guy getting paid millions.
August 15th, 2011 at 12:16 AM ^
Getting to the B10 championship game would be great, but losing it would suck, no?
August 15th, 2011 at 3:02 AM ^
better to have played and lost then to have never played at all
August 15th, 2011 at 9:35 AM ^
Not true.... I seem to remember a game in 2007 that we probably shouldn't have played.
August 15th, 2011 at 12:40 AM ^
This is Michigan!
August 15th, 2011 at 9:29 AM ^
Hoke even mentioned this in his initial press briefing. The division gets us to the conference, and then from there -- who knows. On a side note, I'm trying to remember if I ever remember Bo talking about a National Championship either before or during a season. I don't think those words came out of his mouth while football was being played.
August 15th, 2011 at 12:22 AM ^
I like how the new coaching staff seems really optimistic about where this program is headed. I think its a smart thing for Coach Hoke to say Big Ten champion or bust cause it will motivate the team. IMO
August 15th, 2011 at 12:25 AM ^
So you are saying that you would rather not go to the championship game lest we may lose? Of course losing it would suck, it sucks to lose any game. One does not play to lose.
August 15th, 2011 at 12:27 AM ^
"You play to win the game"- Herm Edwards
August 15th, 2011 at 12:30 AM ^
Optimism is great, but failing to produce will lose him credibility in the eyes of potential recruits. I really don’t want Hoke to turn into the coach that cried Big Ten Championship.
August 15th, 2011 at 12:41 AM ^
Winning the Big Ten Championship is the goal of the program every year, only the odds vary.
August 15th, 2011 at 1:06 AM ^
This is what separates us from indiana and illinois
August 15th, 2011 at 12:43 AM ^
I don't think we're going to lose any recruits because we went 9-3 (6-2) and Iowa or Nebraska went 10-2 (7-1).
August 15th, 2011 at 12:49 AM ^
Hoke just seems especially vocal about it. I’m a fan of Hoke, and believe his is an improvement over the last regime. It’s precisely for this reason that I don’t want his credibility undermined. Realistically, our odds are less than ideal at the moment. One would think therefore that he’d keep his head down a bit. Again, I appreciate the enthusiasm. I just think it’s a bit premature.
August 15th, 2011 at 1:29 AM ^
He didn't guarantee a title, how would what he said make him lose credibility? If a coach at Michigan wanted to temper expectations and not feel like a failure for not winning the big ten, I would have a serious problem with that. I don't want a coach going into any game or season not expecting to win. I'm no historian but I don't think anyone has ever made themselves more successful by lowering their expectations.
August 15th, 2011 at 2:09 AM ^
Hmmm. I was veeeerrryyyy close to jumping up on my soapbox to rant about the reputation of the school, the future of UM athletics, AIDS in Africa, or whatever other topic occurred to me in response to the decidedly negative response I’ve received for my two posts. Then I realized that A) noone would listen/care, B) we’re all UM fans here who are just trying to get through another brutal offseason, and C) if I continue this way I’ll be shunned from this blog.
All I meant to say is that I’d like to see him kick ass on the field before he does so in a press release. That way there’s less fodder for Sparty/Buckeye fans. Unfortunately, my comment just wasn’t gung-ho enough for a fan blog. Ho-hum.
August 15th, 2011 at 2:24 AM ^
Brutal offseason? I don't know about you but I wouldn't call this a brutal offseason, with the way recruiting has gone and the way the coaching staff has filled out, it just doesn't seem brutal to me.
August 15th, 2011 at 2:29 AM ^
Brutal in that it’s time spent not watching football. Recruiting has been great. I promise I didn’t mean anything negative by it.
August 15th, 2011 at 2:37 AM ^
I'm pretty sure Sparty and Buckeye fans would come up with another excuse to make fun of Michigan. Hoke saying the goal is to win the Big Ten isn't gonna make lil bro/ Buckeye fans any less irritable than if he didn't say it.
August 15th, 2011 at 12:58 AM ^
Brady Hoke wants to win the B1G title real bad!
August 15th, 2011 at 1:05 AM ^
Like Hoke said, there isn't rebuilding. If Michigan falls short of a B1G title, no matter the odds, the season will be a disappointment. It may have highlights, but the goal was not achieved.
August 15th, 2011 at 1:19 AM ^
right?
August 15th, 2011 at 1:34 AM ^
August 15th, 2011 at 1:48 AM ^
This is awesome! I love arguing semantics!
August 15th, 2011 at 2:51 AM ^
You love watching people argue symantics. :o)
August 15th, 2011 at 3:26 AM ^
It's Michigan. We must win the B10.
August 15th, 2011 at 4:52 AM ^
This is a much better, more demanding...and more consistant message than the previous 3 years which were "we will win when we are ready to win"...blah blah blah... that may be true but there was not any apparent message of urgency.... the other thing that the previous regime did was point fingers at the cupboard being bare when they came in...that may, or may not be true... but you dont make that excuse for 3 years..... Hoke is not about making excuses... we dont win the Big Ten and its on the coaches.... this accountability is great...and trickles down to the players.
August 15th, 2011 at 10:29 AM ^
I dont know why your post is flamebait. I agree 100%. I hated "we will win when we are ready to win" Set your goals high and see what happens. I will be shocked if I ever see Hoke throw his kickers under the bus to the media. Or make comments about Lombardi coaching our defense.
Edit: Somebody must have upvoted your post back to normal.
August 15th, 2011 at 5:29 AM ^
I personally like the return to this sort of attitude - it is certainly not beyond our means to do so, even if we may quarrel over just how likely it is in a given year. It instills confidence in current players when you have a coach that wants to win, who came here to win with this team, having already said it was a dream of his to coach again at Michigan.
I think it is also good for current commits and potential recruits to see that - we mean it, damnit.
August 15th, 2011 at 8:36 AM ^
Any off season where we won less than 8 games and lost our bowl is a brutal off season. Great recruting does not change the brutality of the previous season. We need to win on the field.
August 15th, 2011 at 9:08 AM ^
I know he's cut from the same cloth as Bo, but dang if he doesn't sound like him also. "Conference Title First" should be painted in the locker room somewhere...
August 15th, 2011 at 10:00 AM ^
August 15th, 2011 at 1:21 PM ^
And Al Borges (OC of the 2004 Auburn team) can attest that even a perfect record doesn't guarantee you a national title.
August 15th, 2011 at 2:49 PM ^