Space Coyote

November 8th, 2013 at 2:49 PM ^

Don't care what his other job prospects were, that job is an absolute dead end that can only set your career back. At least Wheatley got out while he could. Hart most likely will have to go to the high school level or smaller division and work his way back up.

LB

November 8th, 2013 at 4:14 PM ^

that have made me laugh on a regular basis through the years.

AC with a step and the ball in the air made me smile and laugh.

Woodson with position on a receiver, confusing the issue of just who the receiver was going to be. 

Denard hitting the secondary with grass in front of him.

And Mike Hart - I laughed out loud when he finally fumbled a football. Mike Hart would disappear under a pile of large bodies and the pile would move.

I Have A Gnarly Face

November 8th, 2013 at 3:31 PM ^

For the record, I never said I didn't want the best coach. I just think Mike would be a good fit as a RB coach. If there is someone better who happens to be a former buckeye or spartan, fine. Winning is clearly the most important thing.

alum96

November 8th, 2013 at 7:17 PM ^

Agreed.  Enough with bring Wheatley back, bring Hart back, get Hutchinson or Backus in as OL coach.  Get the BEST DAMN COACHES OUT THERE THAT STILL WANT TO COACH AT A FORMERLY ELITE PROGRAM and I I could care less if they are from the Ukraine or Vietnam.  Enough with recyling old players UNLESS they are considered the top 5% of coaches at their positions. 

Space Coyote

November 8th, 2013 at 3:52 PM ^

IMO, in a case like Wheatley, he probably is the best coach for that position that is even remotely realistic. That's not necessarily because of the coaching aspect itself (where there may and probably are options that are similar), but because of his connections in the area, his love for the school, his understanding of the program, and those sorts of recruiting advantages that go along with the fact that he appears to be very good at the coaching aspect of it as well.

That said, I doubt he would come back because I think for his career goals he's better off at where he is.

B1G_Fan

November 8th, 2013 at 6:39 PM ^

 Michigans is number 2 on the sports revenue list. They can spend money and get just about anyone they want but, they have to spend the money. Hoke base salary is under 2 mill a year while the top coaches in college are making 5-6 mill a year. Our assistant coaches might be making good money for the big ten but nationally they are below average.

alum96

November 8th, 2013 at 7:20 PM ^

Base doesnt matter, total does.  Hoke is making $4M+ total per USA today story this week.  He is 2nd highest in the Big 10.  For half a million more you can get Urban Myer.  He has no excuses about budget. Mattison is one of the top 15 highest paid assistants in America.  Hoke makes double what Dantonio does.

Mr. Yost

November 8th, 2013 at 4:59 PM ^

Don't penalize him because he also happens to be a "Michigan Man"

Hart would also be a great 2nd option. He'd be an incredible recruiter and team with Roy Manning to give us some life and some youth in our coaching staff. Wheatley would do the same.

I'd have no issues if Wheatley was the next RB coach. I'd also like to find a new TE/Special Teams coach. Our blocking from the TEs has been horrible our special teams blocking has been even worse.

OR, I'd let the TEs split time with Heck (WRs) and Funk (OL) and hire a QB coach.

 

MGoStrength

November 9th, 2013 at 7:39 AM ^

Because former great players are good for recruiting.  Players want to do what they did with their career so they assume they know how to get them there.  We know that coaching and playing are two different things, but young players don't always think like that.  That being said I have no idea what makes a good running back coach.  I am only assuming if he's coaching in the NFL, was a former UM great, then he's a good fit.  But, what really makes a RB coach good?

Commie_High96

November 8th, 2013 at 10:08 PM ^

+1. EMU could be a basketball school but for some reason the four dudes who run the school want a good football team. When UM was down 7 years ago in BBall, EMU could have put a lot into that program, recruited Detroit, Flint and sag and become a yearly tourney team ala Oakland U. Unlike Western and Central, Eastern is a commuter school, in a semi ghetto without a campus feel. They will never be a football school and it is useless to try. They could drop to d2 in fball and focus on being the best BBall school in the MAC, and actually succeed.

Space Coyote

November 8th, 2013 at 2:55 PM ^

It does appear EMU's primary RB has had decent success the last two seasons:

2013: 142 att - 817 yds - 5.8 ypc - 4 TDs

2012: 140 att - 905 yds - 6.5 ypc - 6 TDs

Backup is averaging 4.7 ypc as well. Of course, it's more complex than that, but not a bad rough showing for Hart as a RB coach. Still going to be difficult for him to jump to another D1 position

lilpenny1316

November 8th, 2013 at 5:52 PM ^

Only if Hoke is still as hands off as he is now.  Parrish got overruled in that 2000 collapse at Purdue when he still wanted to throw in the second half up 18 and LC wanted to stay on the ground.  Not the only time there's been conflict.  

Parrish was QB coach during the Griese, Henson, Brady years so that would be another bonus.

I Have A Gnarly Face

November 8th, 2013 at 2:53 PM ^

Good lord. Never knew it was that bad. While that job is tough for any coach to succeed at, I just don't think Ron is a head coach. I don't blame him for leaving Louisville to take that job, but sheesh, what a train wreck for a record.

oriental andrew

November 8th, 2013 at 3:35 PM ^

2011 they were 6-6, the first non-losing season since 1995.  From 1996-2008 (year before English was hired), EMU was 41-107 (0.277 win pct) and a high-water mark of 4-7.  In fact, English is EMU's 7th head coach since 1993 and only one of two that had a non-losing season.  

It's really tough to tell by his performance at EMU whether or not he is a good coach.  The last successful coach there was Jim Harkema (83-92), and he had winning seasons in 4 of 10 seasons, and was actually fired before the end of his final season.  So yeah - no exaggeration when people say it's a dead-end job.

Toasted Yosties

November 8th, 2013 at 2:54 PM ^

I was hoping he'd help Eastern turn the corner, but I don't know if that is a task even Nick Saban could accomplish.  Maybe Cal will have an opening for a DC at the end of the year.