CC: ESPN's Rittenberg on Hoke

Submitted by michgoblue on
I generally like Rittenberg. Sure, most of his pieces are fairly surface stories, but he is pretty even in his coverage and usually fair to Michigan.

Here's his take on hoke. I have to say that he nails it. Doesn't trash hoke, doesn't impugn his character and doesn't spew indignation. Just a fair and, I believe, very accurate take on Hoke.

http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/108234/michigan-job-just-might…

The summary: Hoke Ida good coach, a great guy and passionate about coaching D line. But, he may not be suited to handle being CEO of a major football program like ours. Nothing groundbreaking, but a fair and short read. The national consensus is pretty uniform that hoke is gone after the season if not sooner.

ckersh74

September 29th, 2014 at 10:45 PM ^

October 27th. The Monday after the Michigan State game. Just file that away for now. 

No, I'm not going to wander into every thread to post this. Just this last one. 

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Roc Blue in the Lou

September 30th, 2014 at 12:25 AM ^

TheKNOWLEDGE, obviously aware of what would befall Hoke and the Mighty Wolverines by this date, must be awaiting the precise moment to reveal the name of the next J Ira Go Bite Me Head Coach at UM.  Just give us a hint, oh wise one, does his last name also begin with an "H"?????

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Wolverine91

September 29th, 2014 at 11:05 PM ^

To be honest, I don't know any more than u do. But, from what I've read on this blog and heard from other people, it looks as if he's not happy here. I mean I don't blame him. He was promised a bad ass program. However, I do think he's not one to run when times get rough. He loved/s Michigan but who knows at this point.

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Wolverine Devotee

September 29th, 2014 at 10:50 PM ^

So, Rosenberg wrote a LULZ piece today on Hoke. I wouldn't dare to post the link to anything that jackass writes. 

But, he suggested that Michigan should give Hoke more time. 

 

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goblue2008

September 29th, 2014 at 10:55 PM ^

I believe Hoke is a great guy, great recruiter, and a great d-line coach. I would bet my bank account that he wouldn't ever intentionally put a player in harm's way. He genuinely cares about his "sons". 

The part that bothers me is NO coach on that sideline was paying attention to Shane clearly being woozy and being held up by Ben Braden. This coaching staff seems to lack the attention detail necessary to be an elite team. This was not just evident by this incident, but the overall performance of the team over the last couple years. Ultimately, the buck stops with the head coach, fair or not. My 2 cents. 

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meatchoke

September 29th, 2014 at 11:00 PM ^

I think this is a very valid take on hoke.. If I was being honest, I want hoke gone as I'm just not convinced he will lead the team to being truly elite, I'm not hellbent on him out to ruin Shane's career.
I just hope whoever it is that comes in, Michigan man or not, everyone just gives a fair shake and just... chills out a bit... Pipe dream, I know. But maybe after richrod, the leash will be a little longer for an outsider.

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MaximusBlue

September 29th, 2014 at 11:11 PM ^

"At his core, Brady Hoke is a defensive line coach. Looks like one. Talks like one. Acts like one." Spot on. I've worked side by side with good people who were poor at their tasks and couldn't handle too much. I have also had supervisors who were good people, but just couldn't handle everything that overseeing a operation entails. It's life. Hoke is clearly in over his head, and it doesn't matter how great of a person he is. It's sad because I truly believe he loves Michigan and is trying his best, but he's just not ready.

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LSAClassOf2000

September 29th, 2014 at 11:17 PM ^

But his performance, not only with wins and losses but with an ability to oversee a high-profile program and all that comes with it, including handling a crisis, should be scrutinized.

This is the part that sort of hits the problem in a nice, concise way, I believe. To me, it's clear that he loves this program and does his best to manage it, but the trials and tribulations of a top-rung FBS program seem to elude him on many critical levels, in my opinion. Worse, his support - if it is that - comes from an AD that is demonstrably incapable of effectively managing a crisis such as this. 

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UMxWolverines

September 29th, 2014 at 11:36 PM ^

One comment on that story by a Nebraska fan is interesting: 

''This reminds me of the Bill Callahan era at Nebraska. Fire the AD mid-season. New AD fires coach. Then nobody talks of those bad years and pretends they never happened.''

I almost forget that the Callahan era at Nebraska happened as well. Then again I almost forget about Nebraska completely because they're always okay but never good enough to be a legit contender for anything, but never bad enough to point and laugh at. 

I really hope we can become neither of those after this season.

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steve sharik

September 29th, 2014 at 11:36 PM ^

...here's where I'm losing the logic by the coaching staff.

If Shane was not concussed and cleared to play, and Shane is the one who decides if his ankle is okay, then why did the staff put Gardner in the game?  If it's b/c Shane was ineffective, that should've happened a long time before it was 30-7 with 4 minutes left.

And if Shane was truly okay, then why--when Gardner lost his helmet--was it necessary to get Bellomy in the game?  Why was everyone trying to avoid like the plague Shane going in to hand off for one play?

Just doesn't add up.

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steve sharik

September 30th, 2014 at 8:22 AM ^

...they continued to play him after the ankle sprain.  They even continued to play him on an ankle sprain that (in their minds) caused him to collapse. How many snaps did he play on the bum ankle before this? And then he can't come in and hand off for one play while Gardner sits the required one play? Sorry, obvious LordGrantham is not obvious.

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Muttley

September 30th, 2014 at 7:10 AM ^

He hesitated in pulling Shane immediately after the hit.  Even if it's "just" a leg (ankle) injury, there is still reason to pull him, even if it's just for a physical inability to perform.  And so maybe it takes a play for it to sink in to Hoke/Nuss that Shane needs to come out.

Then still unaware that Shane may have been concussed, Hoke/Nuss allow Shane to go back in for Gardner when Devin's helmet comes off.  Extremely bad judgment, even if they aren't aware of the possible concussion.

Remember, Brady didn't intend for only 10 men to take to the field on the punt team against Utah, either.

Now the stonewalling and deceit that was put forth by Hoke (and Brandon by his silence) for the next two days until the 1AM statement reflects badly on the honor and credibility of the University.

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Tater

September 30th, 2014 at 12:22 AM ^

Is there anyone here who doesn't think Rich Rod and a real AD who supports him and lets him spend $1 million on a DC wouldn't be at least 4-1 with this team right now and matybe 5-0?

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