Brandon and the Headset (or lack thereof)
This is not an apology of Dave Brandon's actions as AD. Raising ticket prices with this 2014 schedule was a bad idea and I doubt he plans on keeping them the same price next year with both MSU and OSU coming to Michigan Stadium. Changing the student seating policy from assigned seating to general admission to super fan assigned seating over the last three years was a bad idea. Brandon should have made the change to general admission and stuck with it IMO. Bad ideas have consequences in the corporate world so they should in Athletics as well.
Brandon has to realize the terrible optics of the situation when you say you are going to "improve communication on the sideline between the coaching staff and medical staff" and your head coach refuses to utilize a coaching tool used universally at all levels of football for the past 30 years.
We hear about how Brandon sits in on film review sessions and gets a copy of game plans from coaches. To me these are signs of an obessive AD who is micromanaging those he chose to work beneath him.
If Dave Brandon has so much control over Hoke and the football program, how come he can't get Hoke to wear a headset?
October 6th, 2014 at 4:13 PM ^
why????????????? this nightmare has to end. Right?
October 6th, 2014 at 5:13 PM ^
........but this is a very dedicated bunch
October 6th, 2014 at 4:13 PM ^
i just don't see him sucking up his pride and putting one on -
why does he need one? what could he add on saturday that he couldn't have added over the past 4 years?
if he could have improved the team with a headset years ago he would have put one on
October 6th, 2014 at 4:29 PM ^
What if... Hoke put a headset on this week and won... What's the narrative going forward?
October 6th, 2014 at 4:34 PM ^
I doubt anything he does now can change the narrative going forward,
but if he puts on a headset and the team wins out - beating OSU and MSU and going to a bowl game - then DB could have all the room he needs to bring him back for next year
he could say - look he changed - he is willing to do new things
also - did anyone notice that the O would line up and then look to the sidelines to change plays? That looked like a nice new wrinkle
October 6th, 2014 at 4:14 PM ^
It's a medical condition. When Hoke wears a headset for more than 5 minutes, his ears sweat profusely, which then leads to clogged sebaceous glands inside his ear canal. These clogged sebaceous glands then turn into inflamed and very painful cysts which can only be dealt with surgically. There's no manually popping these babies.
October 6th, 2014 at 4:28 PM ^
I'm worried that if Hoke wears a headset, we might have 13 guys on the field for punt coverage, instead of 10. Isn't it 2X the penalty yards for every extra man?
October 6th, 2014 at 4:17 PM ^
What does it matter, it's not like he has anything to add to what's being discussed during the game. He doesn't call plays and going for it on 4th down is a pretty quick judgment call. He says he has someone behind him FWIW with a headset on giving him information. He's a bad coach at this level of competition and wearing a headset isn't going to change that.
October 6th, 2014 at 5:01 PM ^
You are right. He has nothing to add. He doesn't even coach a position anymore. I would think he wears a headset so he doesn't look so incredibly disposable each Saturday.
October 6th, 2014 at 4:21 PM ^
Hopefully Brandon isn't around next year being in a position to do anything with the ticket prices. If he is, Michgan football has seen the last of me buying season tickets
October 6th, 2014 at 4:23 PM ^
The whole headset thing is terrible PR for Hoke. It advertizes that he is doing nothing during the game. It makes him look just like some average fan.
But I guess it might also get him out of responsibility for calling certain plays that go wrong.
On balance though I think the negatives outweigh the positives PR wise.
He really is very stubborn and strongly set in his ways. My guess is that Brandon doesn't always get his way with him.
Terrible PR following the concussion thing but it would seem to admit guilt to start wearing them.
If you have any more questions about this post I ask you to refer to my lawyer's statement for more details (he is at the Bar right now)
October 6th, 2014 at 5:14 PM ^
He's clearly ABOVE average! Do you see all the clapping he does?
October 6th, 2014 at 4:24 PM ^
I've got a fever and the only prescription is more headset.
October 6th, 2014 at 4:30 PM ^
I can think of several delay of game penalties (some game-changings ones at that) that could have been prevented if there was a grad assistant yelling in hokes headset to call a timeout.
October 6th, 2014 at 4:38 PM ^
FEELINGSPOST #3 IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR YOUR VIEWING PLEASURE
It joins "No Maise - just Blue" and "A case for Positivity"
Gonna have to go some tonight people to hit 10.
October 6th, 2014 at 4:43 PM ^
HOW IS DAVE STILL HERE?
October 6th, 2014 at 5:35 PM ^
Somehow it makes it more concrete that Hoke needs to go. I like his loyalty to and love of Michigan. Still, not wearing a headset in the face of rampant miscommunication is exhibit A of what he's lacking.
1) Why wear a headset if you're not adding any value?,
2) Why help with strategy during the game when you are not a strong strategic thinker?, and
3) Why do something that exposes 1 & 2 above?
October 6th, 2014 at 9:19 PM ^
Neither coordinator is in the booth. No need for headset
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
October 6th, 2014 at 4:53 PM ^
The headset is worthless when you realize Hoke is an incompetent in-game manager.
I would actually pay to view the episode of "Mic'd Up: Brady Hoke"
October 6th, 2014 at 5:26 PM ^
I was trying to edit it or delete it but someone else posted and now I can't So, apologies.
BTW, for those with their heads in the gutter, it is a sound effect of someone CLAPPING. Geez.
October 6th, 2014 at 5:59 PM ^
started randomly trying to twerk...
October 6th, 2014 at 8:17 PM ^
You might want to use some fapping oil or lotion or something or else you're gonna chafe the hell out of yourself.
October 6th, 2014 at 7:17 PM ^
Damn you! I'm in my room alone and that scared the shit out of me.
October 6th, 2014 at 7:26 PM ^
Yeah, took me a while to actually figure out where it was coming from...funny
October 6th, 2014 at 5:03 PM ^
Seriously guys, you all make me feel very popular since you're always talking about me...
October 6th, 2014 at 6:16 PM ^
Now all we need is for the Brady Hoke account to start some kind of dialogue and we'd be all set.
I love parody accounts.
October 6th, 2014 at 6:24 PM ^
He never dialogues directly with me. We only deal with each other through intermediaries. About 10 or 15 years ago he was wearing me and all was good until...aww nevermind this story is way too long.
October 6th, 2014 at 8:11 PM ^
and told you never to show you're earpieces around here again
October 6th, 2014 at 5:19 PM ^
Brandon should have been canned a week ago.
October 6th, 2014 at 5:28 PM ^
All he can do is clap encouragement. He is a $4,000,000 a year cheer leader.
Regarding Brandon, its been over a week since Morris gate and the memo from the school. As I predicted nothing has happened or will happen. This matter is being buried. Hoke and and staff will be retained for at least another year.
Brandon is having the last laugh. It is what it is.
October 6th, 2014 at 5:56 PM ^
I do agree that this will never be talked about again. And I truly believe under no circumstances will Hoke be fired during the season. But after the "evaluation of coaches", After the season, I hope Dave comes to his senses and cans Brady.
October 6th, 2014 at 5:37 PM ^
dude
October 6th, 2014 at 5:38 PM ^
he would interrupt plays being called when he continues repeating physicalness and well.
October 6th, 2014 at 6:23 PM ^
This post is stupid. Give it a rest.
October 6th, 2014 at 6:51 PM ^
changes involved the medical staff...you know the people actually responsible for spotting and responding to injuries.
October 6th, 2014 at 7:14 PM ^
Brady is refusing because he wants at least 4 hours of his life where he doesn't have to listen to Brandon over the headset.
Hope you understand and never ask this again in this board.
Drop your headset and kick it as hard as you can. You will feel better.
October 7th, 2014 at 10:29 AM ^
He'd probably like to start wearing one now just to make it all go away but it's too late - he'd get clobbered even more for trying to look engaged. He should just get an ipod and listen to some tunes.
October 6th, 2014 at 8:46 PM ^
They actually have a picture of Hoke wearing a headset.
October 6th, 2014 at 8:53 PM ^
They think Saban has the hottest seat in the country? Wha...?
October 6th, 2014 at 9:20 PM ^
I notice Pete Carrol is wearing a headset ....
October 6th, 2014 at 10:34 PM ^
This. Come on damn it, the headset shit is ridiculous.
October 7th, 2014 at 12:26 AM ^
Two claps for No.
October 7th, 2014 at 1:17 AM ^
Kindly go jump off a building.