CC: The Case for Brady Hoke as #2 Candidate

93 posts / 0 new
Login or register to post comments
Last post
January 4th, 2011 at 11:12 AM
#1
Bill
Joined: 06/30/2008
MGoPoints: 147
CC: The Case for Brady Hoke as #2 Candidate

As much as everyone seems to throw Brady Hoke under the bus, he is a legitimate candidate for the hypothetical coaching vacancy.

In 2008, he took bottom-dweller Ball State to an undefeated MAC record and national ranking

In 2010, he turned around a mediocre San Diego State team into a solid season including a bowl win with completely understandable and close losses to TCU, Utah, and Mizzou.

In 2011, he would unite the fractured fan base which has created huge program perception problems.  

Although Harbaugh is clearly the #1 option, I think there are too many influential alumni/former players who would not support any candidate without ties to the Bo-tree. This vaults Hoke over the Randy Shannons of the world.  

"True loyalty is that quality of service that grows under adversity and expands in defeat. Any street urchin can shout applause in victory, but it takes character to stand fast in defeat. One is noise --- the other, loyalty."

Top
Tags:

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.
January 4th, 2011 at 11:14 AM | Has everyone gone fucking (Score:1)
His Dudeness
His Dudeness's picture
Joined: 11/24/2008
MGoPoints: 13560

Has everyone gone fucking crazy?

or uh, Duder, or El Duderino if you're not into the whole brevity thing.

January 4th, 2011 at 11:15 AM | Thaaaaaaat's (Score:1)
thesauce2424
thesauce2424's picture
Joined: 03/11/2010
MGoPoints: 376

Affirmative

Donny, you're out of your element!

January 4th, 2011 at 11:35 AM | when the case for a coach is (Score:1)
Geaux_Blue
Geaux_Blue's picture
Joined: 01/26/2009
MGoPoints: 20378

succeeded in shitty conference and kinda succeeded in less shitty conference and hiring him would "reverse shittiness," you know the site's gone to shit.

January 4th, 2011 at 2:06 PM | I would also much rather have Harbaugh (Score:1)
harmon40
Joined: 05/02/2009
MGoPoints: 467

but if we can't get him...weren't the criteria that you mention applicable for Harbaugh when he was hired at Stanford?

Also, Tressel was a D2 coach pre-OSU. 

Hoke's offense lit it up against a pretty good Navy squad.  I'd MUCH prefer Harbaugh but if he doesn't come Hoke wouldn't be a disastrous hire.

Harmon40 "When the 'ol season is over, you and I know: it'll be Michigan again...MICHIGAN!"

January 4th, 2011 at 11:17 AM | Yes (Score:1)
virgilthechicken
virgilthechicken's picture
Joined: 11/12/2008
MGoPoints: 613

Have you not been to the site lately? It's a mad, mad, mad, mad world.

"... bitterness is no fun, faith is rewarded, the kids on the field are more resilient than we are, and sometimes they can let us borrow some of that."

- Brian Cook

January 4th, 2011 at 11:26 AM | Awesome. (Score:1)
htownwolverine
htownwolverine's picture
Joined: 09/02/2009
MGoPoints: 3362

Dude, that made my morning.

I 'subscribed' to Rivals just so I could read the morning meltdown. Hopefully DB has this cleared up before my free 7 days is over. No way I'm paying those jokers.

Who is Jon Falk?
January 4th, 2011 at 11:27 AM | I blame Brandon for all of this crazy. (Score:1)
MichiganFantana
MichiganFantana's picture
Joined: 11/22/2010
MGoPoints: 140

He is giving the angry mob to much time to sharpen our pitchforks.  This might turn out to be his greatest failure.

"They've done studies, you know. 60% of the time it works, every time."    Brian Fantana

January 4th, 2011 at 11:46 AM | Greatest failure? (Score:1)
Maize and Blue ...
Maize and Blue 4 Life's picture
Joined: 03/15/2009
MGoPoints: 3516

It will have to go a long way to beat the taste of Dominos pizza while he was CEO.

January 4th, 2011 at 11:55 AM | Dave Brandon is in a pickle (Score:1)
maizenbluenc
maizenbluenc's picture
Joined: 07/21/2009
MGoPoints: 2678

So, he waited and the gamble put him in a really hard spot:

1) Rich and team were blown out in there bowl game, and only reminded us why we can't stand this anymore. If anything Rich lost more fence sitters willing to go Harbaugh or if not, then retain Rich. If this is what DB ends up doing, he has an extremely hard sell to make. (If I were Rich I'd go find myself another job anyway.)

2) Harbaugh and team reminded us last night of what that ideal "Michigan Football" is that many want to get back too. It looked really convincing. (You don't think Harbaugh has more recruiting cache right now? Jim is going somewhere, because he has never said he is staying. And Elway aside -- Jim didn't play for Stanford, so the heart strings don't connect -- the NFL is a true threat.)

If DB lands Jim, then he is the man, if he misses ... well, what then. Rich, even with a radically revamped staff will be totally hamstrung. Brady Hoke (French car horn sounds here) would be a total let down with equally as much divisiveness undermining him. So, I believe, would be Les Miles. These "big names" we have been hearing about are more likely looking for contract re-negotiation leverage, than stepping into this mess.

The key is DB has to land someone, everyone can believe in. Fans on both sides, former players, current players, and recruits ...

This is it, this is DB's moment of true leadership. There is no greater a test of leadership is his post, and we are going to witness his skill.

Good luck to David.

January 4th, 2011 at 11:29 AM | Yes. (Score:1)
psychomatt
Joined: 08/25/2009
MGoPoints: 3440

Yes.

"I didn't do it. Nobody saw me do it. You can't prove anything."  B. Simpson

January 4th, 2011 at 11:40 AM | Anyone who would throw out RR for Hoke is insane (Score:1)
Communist Football
Communist Football's picture
Joined: 09/18/2010
MGoPoints: 3958

Hoke has done a decent job in recent years -- but that pales in comparison to RR's resume when he came here from WVU. 

I get that many of you are emotionally invested in a coaching change, no matter the end result. But Brady Hoke will unite the fanbase? COME ON!!!

While I'm on the subject, FWIW, Harbaugh won't unite the fanbase either.  RR supporters like me aren't on board with Harbaugh (though I realize that we're the minority).

There is only one thing that will unite the fanbase: winning.

"I call that Communist football. I'm so tired of it. Good, red-blooded Americans snap the ball, hand it to the guy and have a normal run game or pass game."

—Steve Szabo, Michigan linebackers coach, November 2007

January 4th, 2011 at 12:07 PM | Not that I'm blown away by (Score:1)
Callahan
Callahan's picture
Joined: 06/30/2008
MGoPoints: 1958

Not that I'm blown away by Hoke's resume, but please stop referring to Rodriguez's record at WVU as a reason why he should be retained. It's like your college transcripts: once you work for a few years, it doesn't mean as much as what you've done recently.

January 4th, 2011 at 11:48 AM | (No subject) (Score:1)
Firstbase
Firstbase's picture
Joined: 09/30/2009
MGoPoints: 3120

January 4th, 2011 at 12:07 PM | This is a rhetorical question (Score:1)
cjm
cjm's picture
Joined: 11/17/2008
MGoPoints: 4867

This is a rhetorical question right?

January 4th, 2011 at 2:16 PM | Yes (Score:1)
KC Wolve
Joined: 10/09/2010
MGoPoints: 632

People have completely lost it.  I have been a Michigan fan since I can remember and I didn't even know who the hell Brady Hoke was until last year.  People are going to make fun of us.....a lot.  Not a lot of people, but everyone is going to make fun of us a lot.  I don't really care if people make fun of me, but people shouldn't be making fun of Michigan for who they hire.

January 4th, 2011 at 11:15 AM | more info (Score:1)
dahblue
dahblue's picture
Joined: 11/09/2009
MGoPoints: 1484

As one who hasn't followed Hoke closely (or at all), can someone please drop a few nuggets of info as to his style (offensive v. defensive mind, spread v. pro, big v. small, etc.).  I see he gets bashed here plenty, so if anyone could explain why that is, it'd be appreciated.  Many thanks.

January 4th, 2011 at 11:26 AM | sure (Score:1)
blueheron
blueheron's picture
Joined: 03/26/2009
MGoPoints: 2303

Ha -- I'll volunteer for that task.  I've done it numerous times already.

* Hoke is 52 years old.  (That makes him different from, e.g., the 2001 version of Urban Meyer.)  He has less "age" upside.  Not a deal-breaker by itself, but something to consider.

* His lifetime record is 47-50.  Oh, my.  Most definitely not Urban Meyer 2001 (who _immediately_ took BGSU to high places in the MAC).

* He has been at SDSU only two seasons.  He has done very well, yes, especially when their history as an underachieving school is considered.  Good for him.  But, Charlie Weis did just fine at ND for a couple of years.  In case my point isn't clear, it would be nice to see sustained excellence.

* He's coached only in the minor leagues of college football.  MAC & WAC.  That doesn't mean he isn't a good coach, but he hasn't proved himself at a high level (like, say, the Big East).

In summary, Hoke may be (probably is, actually) a good man and a good coach.  I believe he could have modest success at Michigan.  But, a program of this stature (pardon the arrogance) can, I believe, do much better than him.  It's that simple.

- - -

Aside: Is "Bill" (the OP) yet another magical Athletic Department gnome that's pimping Brady Hoke?  Is there an endless supply of them?  Did Brady bring them boxes of Twinkies when he worked here?  I'm speechless.

"..."

January 4th, 2011 at 11:32 AM | You had me (Score:1)
DrewandBlue
DrewandBlue's picture
Joined: 11/11/2010
MGoPoints: 982

 

at "He has been at SDSU".  I'm not saying he is a bad coach.  I just don't think he is at the level we need for recruiting.  Unfortunately, recruits are looking for the big names calling their coaches a la Dick Satan; not Hoke.  Not to say he couldn't come back and make us better, but the immediate impact on recruits would set us back.  Quite frankly, we can't afford to regress in that area.

 

No JH, keep RR.  Let him continue what he started.  I vote RR with a new DC/Staff.

Knowledge without wisdom is a load of books on the back of an ass.

January 4th, 2011 at 11:34 AM | Thanks. (Score:1)
dahblue
dahblue's picture
Joined: 11/09/2009
MGoPoints: 1484

I'm not sure why I got negged for asking the question, but thanks for the reply.  He certainly sounds like a giant step down from JH.  The only note I'd have is that the Big East, despite is AQ status, is minor league as well.  C'mon Jim!  C'mon Jim!

January 4th, 2011 at 11:15 AM | posted from iPhone (Score:1)
artds
artds's picture
Joined: 09/04/2009
MGoPoints: 2790

I agree. Harbaugh fever is causing Hoke to get some unfair treatment from the fanbase.



He may not have a very coach-sounding name, but the man knows how to coach!

Every time an MGoBoard poster complains about a thread topic, God kills a baby panda.

January 4th, 2011 at 11:43 AM | Don't doubt that... (Score:1)
DrewandBlue
DrewandBlue's picture
Joined: 11/11/2010
MGoPoints: 982

I'm just concerned about his ability to recruit the big names.  Not the small names that are coachable and can win in lesser competition.  Unfortunately, those guys won't help us too much against B1G and Alabama (2012).

If you ask an undecided recruit, without ties to a specific place, if they want to talk to Hoke, RR, or Saban; I can tell you what their answer will be.  In order!

Knowledge without wisdom is a load of books on the back of an ass.

January 4th, 2011 at 11:16 AM | Why Brady Hoke?  There has (Score:1)
maznbluwolverine
maznbluwolverine's picture
Joined: 02/09/2009
MGoPoints: 883

Why Brady Hoke?  There has got to be somebody out there better than him and with more experience.

cheat, cheat, and cheat some more, and when you get caught, do the right thing, lie!

January 4th, 2011 at 11:23 AM | after Carr retired, we had to (Score:1)
kind of a big deal
kind of a big deal's picture
Joined: 11/13/2009
MGoPoints: 483

after Carr retired, we had to settle on our 3rd (possibly 4th choice) and hire RR.  What makes anyone think that someone better is out there and would want to come to this mess?

 

Oh yea, "Cuz we're Michigan, rah rah rah"....  We're actually a joke right now, and if Harbaugh doesn't come we'll be in the middle of yet another drawn out coaching search.

I love scotch. Scotchy, scotch, scotch. Here it goes down, down into my belly...

 

- Ron Burgundy

January 4th, 2011 at 11:48 AM | Sorry, but (Score:1)
michimoby
michimoby's picture
Joined: 04/13/2009
MGoPoints: 4288

the contention that RR was low on our totem pole, and even that he was an unattractive hire, is pure horsepucky.  

"Rodriguez is everything a Michigan fan could want in a hire; to get him after the month-long disappointment train that was the coaching search is manna from heaven." -- MGoBlog, 17 December 2007 (

http://mgoblog.com/content/profiles-heroism-rich-rodriguez

 

Let's not be revisionist here.

--------------------------------------------

"I cannot think of a better person to guide our university's athletic strategy than the inventor of The Noid."

January 4th, 2011 at 12:07 PM | Who were the other coaches? (Score:1)
thisiscmd
thisiscmd's picture
Joined: 12/01/2010
MGoPoints: 731

Serious Question, I didn't follow the coaching hunt very closely last time around...

That's just like your opinion man...

January 4th, 2011 at 11:16 AM | I'm warming up to the idea. (Score:1)
big10football
Joined: 01/03/2009
MGoPoints: 778

I'm warming up to the idea. He has been very impressive in his last two head coaching jobs. Can't argue with that. He will just need to bring in a top notch staff and I'll be content with Hoke.

January 4th, 2011 at 11:22 AM | He has been very impressive (Score:1)
Blue2000
Blue2000's picture
Joined: 01/06/2009
MGoPoints: 2649

He has been very impressive in his last two head coaching jobs.

He was 34-38 at Ball State (with exactly one impressive season out of 6) and is 13-12 at SDSU. We must have different definitions of "very impressive."

If he's the next coach, so be it, and I hope he does great, but let's not kid ourselves into thinking that he's done anything to legitimately merit him being even considered for the job.

"Come on, you Wolverines!"

January 4th, 2011 at 11:59 AM | Ball State record (Score:1)
FGB
FGB's picture
Joined: 09/24/2009
MGoPoints: 1732

For some perspective on what consititutes "very impressive", Hoke took over a 6-6 Ball State team and spent the next 4 years under .500.  It wasn't until Year 5 that he had as many wins as the year before he got there.   

To compare, Urban Meyer took over a 2-9 Bowling Green team and went 8-3 and 9-3.  

Everyone on here is not satisfied with incremental improvements from Rodriguez in 3 years, so you want the guy who took 5 years at a small MAC school to improve to the same record RR had this year. 

Hoke is not some undiscovered gem.  He seems to be a "good" coach.  I think there is very little evidence that he is a "great "or even a  "very good" coach. 

 

January 4th, 2011 at 11:22 AM | Agreed... (Score:1)
umfan
umfan's picture
Joined: 06/30/2008
MGoPoints: 130

Agreed.

UMfan. GO BLUE

January 4th, 2011 at 12:14 PM | I'm warming up to the idea. (Score:1)
bringthewood
bringthewood's picture
Joined: 09/07/2009
MGoPoints: 445

I'm warming up to the idea of blowing chunks if Hoke is our next coach.  It's not like he is a brilliant up and comer.  He is a fucking Michigan Man retread.  Maybe we can get the old band together? Where are all of the other old Michigan retreads we can find coaching linebackers or tight ends in the NFL?

"I knew Bo Schembechler and you sir, are no Bo Schembechler!"

January 4th, 2011 at 11:16 AM | posted from iPhone (Score:1)
Swazi
Swazi's picture
Joined: 08/13/2010
MGoPoints: 2558

It also took Hoke SIX years to get that underrated season. And they got sent to Bolivian in the bowl game. Hoke is third maybe fourth option.

If you need drugs to be a good writer, you're not a good writer.

-Rod Serling

January 4th, 2011 at 11:17 AM | posted from iPhone (Score:1)
Swazi
Swazi's picture
Joined: 08/13/2010
MGoPoints: 2558

Undefeated...god damn I hate autocorrect...

If you need drugs to be a good writer, you're not a good writer.

-Rod Serling

January 4th, 2011 at 11:19 AM | Hoke (Score:1)
michgoblue
michgoblue's picture
Joined: 11/16/2009
MGoPoints: 11211

Didn't coach the Bowl game, I believe. 

January 4th, 2011 at 11:16 AM | Who said anything about Randy (Score:1)
HttV Wolverine
HttV Wolverine's picture
Joined: 08/02/2010
MGoPoints: 7363

Who said anything about Randy Shannon? I don't remember hearing anything on him as a potential candidate. I don't know though, I still don't think Hoke is a proven coach yet. Nothing against him, but he is not #2 on the list.

“What the mind can conceive, the mind can achieve and those who stay will be champions.” - Bo 

][V][

January 4th, 2011 at 11:17 AM | We have met the enemy... (Score:1)
neoavatara
neoavatara's picture
Joined: 08/01/2009
MGoPoints: 1581

...and he is us.

If Brady Hoke gets hired, this board should be shut down, immediately, to prevent mass hysteria and violence. 

neoavatara.com/blog

January 4th, 2011 at 11:18 AM | The "fractured fanbase" doesn't (Score:1)
jblaze
jblaze's picture
Joined: 08/29/2008
MGoPoints: 3177

include 90% of MGoBloggers, apparently (see any and all of Brian's Hoke comments).

"They're stuck with that quarterback (sophomore Braxton Miller) for the next two or three years, that's fine with me. He throws worse than (Tim) Tebow. - Steve Everitt

January 4th, 2011 at 11:18 AM | In 2008, he took (Score:1)
Blue2000
Blue2000's picture
Joined: 01/06/2009
MGoPoints: 2649

In 2008, he took bottom-dweller Ball State to an undefeated MAC record and national ranking

You're aware that he started coaching at Ball State in 2003, correct? And that prior to 2008, he was an astounding 22-37. He presided over that bottom-dweller for quite some time.

"Come on, you Wolverines!"

January 4th, 2011 at 11:24 AM | Pssssh, you an your "facts." (Score:1)
NRK
NRK's picture
Joined: 02/20/2009
MGoPoints: 797

Pssssh, you an your "facts."

January 4th, 2011 at 11:43 AM | so you want (Score:1)
mxair23
Joined: 09/03/2009
MGoPoints: 402

so you want Michigan to go 22-37 in the next 5 years? This was the MAC!! GREG could be the head coach and we could do better than that in the MAC!! HOKE IS A JOKE

January 6th, 2011 at 2:09 PM | Let's not say things we can't (Score:1)
Dreisbach Turne...
Dreisbach Turner Overdrive's picture
Joined: 06/30/2008
MGoPoints: 6788

Let's not say things we can't take back.

GERG went 10-37 at Syracuse.  Brady Hoke is the second-coming of Vince Lombardi compared to that.

Syracuse '03, Michigan G'05

Space bitches, space.

January 4th, 2011 at 11:19 AM | Not sure about this point (Score:1)
Moe Greene
Moe Greene's picture
Joined: 08/01/2008
MGoPoints: 2133

In 2011, he would unite the fractured fan base which has created huge program perception problems.

 

I think at this point any new name in the job would help - but don't see Hoke as a panacea here. Brian would be on suicide watch for one.

No radio. Nothing of value.

January 4th, 2011 at 11:19 AM | No ..No..No and NO (Score:1)
Wolvie3758
Wolvie3758's picture
Joined: 12/12/2010
MGoPoints: 367

Please Dear god NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

January 4th, 2011 at 11:19 AM | Nothing against Hoke, but (Score:1)
BlueintheLou
BlueintheLou's picture
Joined: 09/13/2008
MGoPoints: 3472

Nothing against Hoke, but with all this CC stuff, I think my lungs are filling with fluid and my eyes are turning into goop. If I make it through this, it will be a miracle.

"Those who stay will be champions."
"As an online discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches 1."
January 4th, 2011 at 11:23 AM | Hoke (Score:1)
CRex
CRex's picture
Joined: 09/28/2009
MGoPoints: 8737

Hoke isn't the end of the world assuming we also pony up big bucks for some skilled coordinators.  If you did some variation of the "Getting the Band Back Together" and called the best of the Carr home plus threw major money at some hot young names you'd get a staff that wouldn't make me cringe.  If Carr says Hoke is qualified to coach in the B10, I'll trust Carr.

Although if you're doing that, throw major money around on the D side of the ball, get a Special Teams coach and give a grad assistant a tazer.  The GA's only job is follow RR around and if he tries to tamper with the D or a kicker he gets zapped.  Have Carr and Moeller lead the search for the D-Coord and make it clear to RR that he is not to touch that side of the ball.  If that fails I guess you go with "Dump truck full of cash" and "Urban Meyer's driveway".

Personally I'd take Hoke over Fitzgerald.  Hoke did time on Carr's staff (up to the level of assoc head coach) and clearly wants to be here (whereas we'd be ripping Fitzgerald away from his alma mater if he came).  Bo's assistants worked out damn well for us (despite Moeller's shitty record at Illinois) so I'm willing to try hiring off the Carr tree.  

January 4th, 2011 at 11:25 AM | Carr thought Mike DeBord was (Score:1)
maznbluwolverine
maznbluwolverine's picture
Joined: 02/09/2009
MGoPoints: 883

Carr thought Mike DeBord was qualified to coach, to hell with that.

cheat, cheat, and cheat some more, and when you get caught, do the right thing, lie!

January 4th, 2011 at 11:32 AM | I wouldn't trust Carr for my (Score:1)
CRex
CRex's picture
Joined: 09/28/2009
MGoPoints: 8737

I wouldn't trust Carr for my offensive hiring needs, but I trust that man to know defensive talent when he sees it.  At this point I'd say he's much more qualified to interview potential D-Coords than RR is.

January 4th, 2011 at 11:33 AM | Pulling Bo away from his alma (Score:1)
wahlmc
Joined: 10/21/2009
MGoPoints: 49

Pulling Bo away from his alma mater (Miami University) ended up working out pretty well.

January 4th, 2011 at 12:12 PM | Hoke (Score:1)
snowcrash
Joined: 07/22/2008
MGoPoints: 1569

I think Hoke is qualified to coach in the Big 10, but so are dozens of other guys out there. The issue is whether he'd be better than RR, and I don't see any reason to believe that. RR' s overall track record is much more impressive even given his bungling with the defense here, and that's correctable if the new DC is given dictatorial power.

January 4th, 2011 at 11:20 AM | JH would be the obvious #1 (Score:1)
kind of a big deal
kind of a big deal's picture
Joined: 11/13/2009
MGoPoints: 483

JH would be the obvious #1 choice, but since it doesn't look like it will pan out, Hoke seems to be a solid backup plan.

Just about any coach will be a vast improvement over the current albatross of a coaching staff and the complete shambles the program is in.

Just wish our AD would get on with the "process"  and end all of this freaking drama.  Show RR the door so we can get someone in and move on with recruiting.

I love scotch. Scotchy, scotch, scotch. Here it goes down, down into my belly...

 

- Ron Burgundy

January 4th, 2011 at 11:21 AM | Look, I don't get some of the (Score:1)
FreddieMercuryHayes
Joined: 12/29/2010
MGoPoints: 4903

Look, I don't get some of the Hoke bashing, but realistically, I don't think he is a real option right now.  He just doesn't have the BCS level credentials that Harbaugh has.  I really still think it's Harbaugh or Rodriguez.  As frustrated as I am right now, I still wouldn't want to give up on 4th year of continuity under RR for the complete unknown quantity, that is Hoke.

Theme provided by Roopletheme; sidebars adapted from Chris Murphy.