CC: A case for Hoke

Submitted by QuarterbackU on

Let me start by saying I was really hoping Harbaugh would be the guy in Ann Arbor.  My undergrad bridged the transition between Carr and RR, and it was tough to live through the rough few years...suffice it to say, I was frustrated and I thought JH might be the man to bring us back.

However...in an effort to be fair to Brady Hoke, I did some research on some program history.  By all accounts, we're looking for someone to be the guy for a while, someone like a Bo, who remains the benchmark of M Football coaching.

Bo only had one head coaching job before Michigan, he was assistant at a few bigger schools before landing the head job with Miami (Ohio, NNTM), which is, for the record, a MAC team.  Let me say that again: his only job before Michigan was at a MAC school.  In six seasons, Bo was 40-17 with Miami, which of course will cause the inevitable RABBLE, RABBLE of "Hoke had some bad seasons in the MAC!"

Hoke was 34-38 in six seasons with Ball State, and is 13-12 in two seasons with SDSU.  However, here is where the scene was a bit different between Bo and Hoke's first jobs: Bo took over a Miami program which had not had a losing season in 21 years, winning multiple conference championships in that time.  Hoke took over a Ball State program from Bill Lynch (current IU coach), which had not had a winning season in 8 years, and during that time went 1-10 and 0-11 in consecutive seasons under Lynch.  By his last season at Ball State, Hoke went 12-1 and won the MAC conference before leaving for SDSU.  

When Hoke arrived, SDSU had not had a winning season since 1998, going 39-78 in that time.  In 2010, his second season, Hoke led SDSU to 9-4, and a win in their bowl game.  SDSU had not won a bowl game since 1969, and their last appearance was 1998.

Seems like he has been able to turn around several programs which were in the cellar.  I, like many, Brian included, was pretty indignant at the idea of Hoke being the next Michigan coach when rumors started swirling, but after doing this research, plus several ringing endorsements, plus his Michigan connection, plus his great love of M football and desire to coach here, have me thinking...

So, not saying he should be next in line, but some food for thought...

MGoBoard

FGB

January 8th, 2011 at 7:05 PM ^

If you're saying the main argument is that he wins on a lower level, then listing games he lost doesn't really help.  Also, they were down by 10 in the BYU game with 7 min to go, and down by 19 in the TCU game with 7 min to go.  Those weren't quite as close as they seem. 

Again, if people are being honest, it's not that Hoke is a bad coach, or that SDSU wasn't pretty decent this year.

It's that we ought to be setting our sights higher than a guy who's had decent success.

Joined: 09/24/2009

MGoPoints: 3192

mackbru

January 8th, 2011 at 6:47 PM ^

The longer this drama drags out, the worse Hoke's odds become. DB knows there's a huge time-element here. And he knows he's testing patience and raising stakes. He's basically setting himself up. Presumably, he thinks the delay is worth it. And what would make it worth it? A pay-off hire. Otherwise, he's telling us "Ladies and gentlemen...Brady Hoke!"

Wouldn't make DB look good. Or Hoke, for that matter. Hoke would be more palatable if sold early and hard. Not late in the game. After everyone else seems to have passed. Plus, DB knows a name coach won't need a ton of time to win back recruits. But Hoke would. So he'd be putting Hoke in a really bad spot.

 

 

 

 

Joined: 09/01/2009

MGoPoints: 34069

KinesiologyNerd

January 8th, 2011 at 6:47 PM ^

It could turn out like Chizik! All it takes is a perfect storm of genius coordinators and heisman/all american players. Lightning could strike twice, and we're Michigan, so we're awesome and it'll happen here...!!!!

Joined: 02/10/2009

MGoPoints: 7739

SanDiegoUmFan

January 8th, 2011 at 6:49 PM ^

First Corona cracked, I'm feeling better already after having taken clumps of my hair out hourly.  To say this is consuming me would be an understatement.  I have a great wife, three beautiful kids, live in San Diego, but without a coach I am empty.  I have some issues to deal with!

Joined: 01/06/2011

MGoPoints: 38

tUOS is OSU

January 8th, 2011 at 7:17 PM ^

The only coach who can succeed here is the coach with the most support. It can be anyone. Shoot, I still believe Bo coached the team when he was still alive with coach Carr.

Joined: 11/09/2009

MGoPoints: 206

UMxWolverines

January 8th, 2011 at 7:26 PM ^

People saying Hoke hasn't done enough is an idiot. He turned teams that completely sucked to winners. Les Miles's first HC job went like this at OK State: 4-7 , 8-5, 9-4, 7-5 Three seasons before they went 5–6, 5–6, and 3–8. He turned them around to at least over .500 teams, but who would have thought at LSU that he would kick ass? Probably not LSU fans. Brady Hoke really wants this job, if he gets it I know he will put his life into it.

Joined: 03/01/2009

MGoPoints: 65366

Ernis

January 8th, 2011 at 7:48 PM ^

His biggest crime is a lack of charisma, apparently. Doesn't have a sexy name or appearance, so people write him off. I'm not sold on the guy but wouldn't have a problem with him.

And frankly you can't just look at someone's resume to make a decision. All we know about the guy is his resume and how he's perceived in general. Spend some time with him, see how he relates to his players and staff, listen to his ideas on how to run things -- this is what matters, more than anything we have been exposed to, when it comes to a hiring decision.

Joined: 09/23/2008

MGoPoints: 11441