CC: Chill the heck out, JH is NOT the only option

Submitted by DesHow21 on

and NO, I do not mean Brady Hoke. Hells to the No on that. 

There are plenty of up and coming D1-coordinators we could hire to be our next coach. We tried the whole, lets-hire-the-guy-who-is-hot-right-now thing and it did not work. The big east sucked balls when RR was there and is no different now (Case in point the 2010 Uconn Huskies). I suspect the pac-10 is nominally better than the Big East but not by much. JH does come with some bonafides that make his probability of success here high but he is by no means our ONLY SAVIOR.

I for one would want a careful search conducted by DB even if we can't get JH and not just some panicked declaration of RR being retained because "OMOMG there are no other options out there".

Chill out, yes we will probably suck football dongs in 2011 but that is not going to change one little bit even if RR is kept around (unless of course NCAA changes the rules such that offensive yardage decides the winner of football games, in which case RR will win MNC's from now until the end of times).  

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GATO

January 3rd, 2011 at 12:07 PM ^

People will just have to get over their disappointment and ANGAR.

 

How well did that work out the last three years?  People may be able to get over it but the Michigan fanbase isn't people anymore it's this out of control mob full of histerics and overreaction.  We have proven as a fanbase the we are so used to front running that we can't handle an iota of adversity.  I think the notion of people getting over anything is wishful thinking at this point given how fractured the fanbase has become and how devisive the rhetoric has been.  In my opinion this is a slipery slope at this point, whatever decision gets made had better be well thought out and planned because we are on the edge of becoming catching the Notre Dame coaching disease for the near future.

Joined: 11/22/2009

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bighouseinmate

January 3rd, 2011 at 11:42 AM ^

The anti-RR crowd has become increasingly enamored with the possibility of JH being UM's HC. The RR supporters, as I am, have somewhat resigned themselves to the near certainty of RR not being here next year, and agree that JH seems the best option at this point.

If not JH, and RR is gone, and unless the hire is Gruden(0.0001% probability) or Cowher(0.001% probability) or Dungy(0.001% probability), then the fanbase will most certainly be fractured to a point that makes ND's fanbase look downright sane in comparison. 

On the flip side, Hoke COULD come in to UM and be very successful, but much of the fanbase would be questioning the hire from the start.

A point of fact about Bo when he was hired. Bo was HC of Miami(OH) for six seasons, with a 40-17-3 record and two MAC titles. His other coaching experience came by way of tOSU and NW(with Ara Parseghian). Miami(OH) was 5-5, 6-4, and 8-2-1 in the three years prior to Bo becoming their HC(SDS was 3-9, 4-8, and 2-10 prior to Hoke becoming HC who took them to 4-8 and 8-4 with a bowl win).

Whoever the next HC is, I would hope that the fanbase gives him the support he needs to succeed.

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snowcrash

January 3rd, 2011 at 11:30 AM ^

There will be infighting as long as a good number of fans think the team isn't winning enough. There was infighting from 00-07 under Carr. If JH is hired the offseason will be quieter, but once the season starts it will depend on how the team is doing, not who the coach is. If we lose to ND,  MSU, or one of the weaker teams on the early schedule it will start up again even if JH is here. If we win those games it will die down for a while even if RR or some other not-JH is here.

So even if infighting is your concern, the big question is the appropriate one: who gives us the best chance to win without giving the university a black eye?   

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thesauce2424

January 3rd, 2011 at 12:01 PM ^

Yes, there will be infighting no matter the coach. But we have a problem, here's why.  I think that we have a generally unique situation( I could be wrong haven't researched). There is immense pressure from our fanbase to have a "Michigan Man" at the helm. This seems to be unique to our school. Think of all of the "traditional" powers in college football. Now, think of one who only really really really wants someone who has connections to some legend in the past. This again seems to be only us. It's almost like this "cut your nose off to spite your face" type thing. And it is more divisive than it should be.

This is where the RR supporters have a point. He never really had support. Nor would the next guy, especially now, who isn't JH or at the very least somehow connected to Michigan and even then (Hoke) connection isn't enough. Really it seems like the only way to do this thing right is to have the "hot" coach who is also homegrown. Which narrows the list of candidates to almost 0. The real question is this: How do we have our cake( "michigan man") and eat it( also a winner) too?

Joined: 03/11/2010

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snowcrash

January 3rd, 2011 at 12:32 PM ^

I think you're right that we have an unusually insular fan base as a result of the 40-year House of Bo dynasty, but I still think that those issues are dwarfed by wins and losses. I suspect that if RR were winning consistently we wouldn't be hearing much at all of this "Michigan man" stuff and that a number of fans have latched onto it because they don't want to believe (or want others to think) that their dissatisfaction with RR is just a function of impatience. 

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neoavatara

January 3rd, 2011 at 11:06 AM ^

It depends who the coordinator is.  That said...many of those guys that were worthy are gone;  for one, Muschamp.  

Can anyone name even one coordinator that they would like to have as HC now?  I can't really think of any. 

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tenerson

January 3rd, 2011 at 11:18 AM ^

Brent Venebles is the only one I would accept. EVen that's a little bit of a stretch for me but he has worked for a big time program and I think understands how ot conduct business there. Gus Malzahn, to me, is such a wild card. We could hire him and it could be gold, or we could him and it could be one huge embarrassing failure. I'm not willing to take another risk. One more bad hire hire and we are Notre Dame. Seriously. I would rather keep RR for one more disappointing year than take a chance on hiring someone sketchy.

Joined: 10/04/2009

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CRex

January 3rd, 2011 at 11:10 AM ^

If we're going to hire some amazing coordinator, why take the risk of making him a HC?  Hire a great up and coming DC and clean house on that side of the ball.   

Joined: 09/28/2009

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DesHow21

January 3rd, 2011 at 11:23 AM ^

He is flat out one of the best O coordinators in CFB right now, BUT......

His problem is one of being the top man in the totem pole. 

1. His hiring skills are poor ( meh assistants and terrible multiple choices for coordinators)

2. His inability to influence students to stick with the program has no doubt hurt us (this applies to transfers and NFL).

3. His judgement of risk when recruiting marginal athletes is not a good sign of a CEO. You can't tell me the no shows haven't hurt us. 

Joined: 07/29/2008

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CRex

January 3rd, 2011 at 11:25 AM ^

For #1:  Have Carr and Moeller lead a search for a new DC.  They pick the guy and that guy gets to run the D side of the ball.  I trust them to know good d talent when they see it.

2 and 3 are issues that could be issues with any other coordinator we hired.  We could very easily get someone like Charle Weis, good coordinator but subpar HC.   I don't see the value in disrupting the offensive side of the ball just to roll the dice.

If JH is out, I'd rather see what RR can do with a junior Denard and absolutely no control over the defensive side of the ball than rolling the dice on 100% new system.  Run that experiment for a year or two and then reconsider Hoke if it fails.  

 

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CRex

January 3rd, 2011 at 11:42 AM ^

What the hell is with people foaming at the mouth over Hoke?  He's not right for us now, but our next attempt at a coaching solution doesn't work and we're now at a point where Hoke has 10+ years as a HC, we're at least going to give him a look.  If he has SDSU doing well in the MWC and winning good Bowls next time we're hunting for a coach he'll get a look.

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jackw8542

January 3rd, 2011 at 11:13 AM ^

Does anyone really think that with Harbaugh's team playing Virginia Tech tonight that he would have made up his mind to take the SF or Denver job over the weekend?  If he has made a decision, it would be much more likely to be Michigan, IMO.  But, I really think that a decision is more likely to be made tomorrow or the next day than today (or yesterday), unless the decision is to come to Michigan.  FWIW, has anyone compared the cost of living in SF to the cost of living in Ann Arbor recently?  Less money in AA, with the added money from camps and TV shows, would probably be equal to quite a bit more money in SF.

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SC Wolverine

January 3rd, 2011 at 9:04 PM ^

I agree with all this.  But what has me worried is the idea that JH's wife may not want to come to a frozen tundra like Michigan.  I know nothing about her at all.  But if she is from California, then that 's a pretty big shocker, moving from Palo Alto to A2.  I'm hoping she is such a good sport that whatever Jimmy wants is fine.  

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NYCJHGoblue

January 3rd, 2011 at 11:15 AM ^

Thank you for saying that. The fans are the ones who have been assuming that JH is the only option. DB will consider multiple candidates should he decide to fire RR. Also, RR may get to see out his contract with the stipulation that the defensive staff will be overhauled. I expect that DB may choose the next DC with RR but DB will tell RR that the new DC will pick his staff and be able to control the schemes. This seems to be the most likely scenario unless DB had already began a coaching search after the Ohio State game.

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goblue20111

January 3rd, 2011 at 11:18 AM ^

There's so much wrong in this it's not even funny. 

The Big East did not suck when we hired RR.  They did win their BCS bowl that year.  Yes, they're down now but that wasn't the case when we hired him.  Off the top of my head WVU was really good that year, USF was good, Pitt was good, UConn was decent and up and coming (could be wrong with that one).

Gary Patterson has turned down offer upon offer.  He loves it at TCU and something tells me it has to do with the school's religious afflilation.  Gruden is not coming here.  Mike Bellotti is done coaching. 

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jb5O4

January 3rd, 2011 at 11:20 AM ^

It has to be Les Miles if not Harbaugh. He can recruit well. his current staff is loyal to him and would likely follow him to Michigan. 

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mackbru

January 3rd, 2011 at 1:23 PM ^

Interesting suggestion. But wasn't Sark in some way linked to the USC scandals? If so,  M wouldn't go near that in a million years. I'm not even sure they'd go near Les Miles anymore, given the redshirt situation. The last thing M wants is even the slightest whiff of corruption. We're on probation, for crissake. Thanks, Rich!

Joined: 09/01/2009

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los

January 3rd, 2011 at 11:29 AM ^

If the rumors are true and JH is indeed heading elsewhere (seems to be the more likely scenario now) then RR should get his 4th year. I think too many people have jumped on the "Get a New HC Now at all Costs" Wagon and I personally think that's unwise. RR is not only as good (on paper) as all those other names floating around but keeping him will avoid the transition phase the program would have to endure again.

I am pro RR but would've supported the Harbaugh hire of it took place. Harbough wasn't the only option... we still have Rodriguez and he wants to be here. Give him his cycle. Most of the other names out there (except for Harbaugh) won't be going anywhere anyway. And if they did, the jobs are not as BIG as Michigan would be. If things don't work out next year... make the move.

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UAUM

January 3rd, 2011 at 11:46 AM ^

I kind of think that JH is the only option, given the panic and division among the UM Faithfull.

I'm personally hoping that JH pulls an Edsall* on Tuesday.

* Edsal (v.)  1. to coach in a BCS bowl game and then, instead of taking the return flight with your team the next day, take a flight to your new coaching gig to be announced as the new head coach there.

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Don

January 3rd, 2011 at 11:36 AM ^

100% cosign. He's one of the more overrated ex-NFL coaches around, and he has zero recent experience in the college game. There are plenty of other candidates who have recent track records of success in college; there's no reason to consider him if you're Michigan. Let some program like UConn or UCF take Gruden.

Joined: 06/30/2008

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Don

January 3rd, 2011 at 11:32 AM ^

he would have informally contacted JH long before he even took the AD job. First, getting the AD position was hardly a surprise to him; it's not like on Monday he never gave thought to the possibility and then on Tuesday accepts the offer from MSC. He would have known for at least a few weeks in advance that he was going to get the job.

But going back even further than that, as a UM regent and alumni player, he would have had plenty of conversations with true insiders about the job RR was doing back in 2008 and 2009, as well as what kind of job an obvious candidate like JH was doing out in Palo Alto. It would have been an easy thing for DB back in 2009 to privately call up Harbaugh—as one UM alum player to another—and casually determine if JH had any interest in coming to Michigan at some undefined point in the future. If Brandon has just very recently had his first conversations with Harbaugh, I'd be shocked and disappointed, from a basic managerial competence standpoint.

It's also implausible to me that DB truly needed the bowl game to arrive at a decision; I think he knew what he wanted to do by the end of the OSU game, if not sooner. If his decision was to retain RR, he's now in a really tough spot due to how badly the Gator Bowl went.

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Talcelm

January 3rd, 2011 at 12:14 PM ^

There is no way the we will hire the mad pirate!! Right now his whole lawsuit with ESPN is the reason why he hasn't signed with anyone. It would be a death blow to any program that would want to be seen on TV. Even the Big 10 Network can't televise all of our games, especially now with ESPN having a majority of the large bowl games!!

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befuggled

January 3rd, 2011 at 12:18 PM ^

Hoke has taken two different teams to bowl games. Both of those teams had been struggling for several years prior to hiring Hoke. He wasn't able to turn them around instantly, but he was able to get them to bowl games.

Ron English, on the other hand, has averaged one win a year at Eastern.

Does this mean Hoke is a good choice at Michigan? Probably not. After the last couple of years, though, I'm not convinced he's the disaster that I would have thought in 2007.

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