After taking a leave of absence from work in order to watch several Hoke-coached SDSU and Ball State football games repeatedly over a span of weeks, I came to the conclusion that Brady Hoke does not wear a baseball cap on the sidelines. Thus, there is a chance he will not wear a block M baseball cap on the sidelines this fall. This is a stark break from tradition from a coach who claims to value tradition.
I know we all want to see Hoke in the block M baseball cap; this is what we’ve expected from our coaches for generations.
And I realize we shouldn’t draw hasty conclusions from his previous teams, but what we’ve seen from this year’s Spring practices and game does not fill one with hope on this issue. I see Mattison and other assistants with the cap on. And I see Hoke in shorts pointing at things--while practicing with the defense(!!?)--perversely foregoing an M baseball cap.
If this is an indication of things to come, this fall will be the first time in over fifty years the Michigan football coach does not wear an M baseball cap on the sidelines.
Thankfully, this possibility does not seem to be scaring off recruits (yet).
Anyhow, I felt like this issue has been the “elephant in the room” since his hire in January (Brian, for example, has not even addressed the possibility of Hoke not wearing the cap, presumably just crossing his fingers and hoping for the best come fall). I wanted to address this now so that this site doesn’t have a meltdown in September when Hoke walks out of that tunnel w/out a baseball cap on.
If so, alas; but Go Blue regardless.
<--Bump Elliot
<--Mike Murphy
Hoke doesn't "get it."
For today, goodbye. For tomorrow, good luck. And forever, Go Blue.