Express Your Opinion Without Fear of Retribution

Submitted by profitgoblue on

I want to try something different here:

I want people to express their opinions on the Hoke hiring without any fear of replies and having to defend themselves. To do so, PLEASE DO NOT REPLY TO ANY POSTS HEREIN! Simply express your initial gut reaction to the hiring and then bite your tongue and simply read the others.  For what its worth, I'll be awarding +1 to all "real" responses and giving a big -1 to any replies to posts.

I'll start: My initial reaction is one of disgust. Not necessarily unhappiness about the man that is Hoke but in expectations having not been met. After finally coming to terms with the Rodriguez firing, I had high expectations about who the next coach would be. Gruden! Petersen! Patterson? No Harbaugh or Miles! To come to this final result is so much more depressing - it's disgusting. And the blame falls squarely on Brandon.

dennisblundon

January 11th, 2011 at 9:57 PM ^

I wanted a big name hire as well but alas it had to be a Michigan man. If we were going to hire a fat guy that met these credentials it should have been James Earl jones. Just fucking around. It is what it is and if the players are all staying that is all that matters. Good luck coach hoke and go blue!

orobs

January 11th, 2011 at 9:58 PM ^

After harbaugh was off the table, I wanted hoke no question. Rich rod showed a big name doesn't equate to success. Love the hire and am excited to see what he can do.

artds

January 11th, 2011 at 9:59 PM ^

I think 2 years from now everyone will be very happy with this hire. Michigan doesn't just need someone who can coach and recruit (and Hoke can do both) but someone who can turn around a struggling program. He's done that at two different places recently, both places where it was very hard to win football games before he arrived. Everyone in the coaching world speaks highly of him and he's young enough where he could coach here for another 15 years if he's successful.

wlubd

January 11th, 2011 at 10:05 PM ^

Nothing against Hoke. He wasn't who I wanted but if he's succeeding, the team is too so I'll support him without question.
<br>No comment on Brandon. Only going to make me mad...

MGoShtoink

January 11th, 2011 at 10:07 PM ^

I was extremely disappointed because It seems as though DB fell under the "Michigan Man" spell.
<br>Instead of going after top names and top records from across the country he went after only guys with Michigan ties.
<br>
<br>That said, I will be very disappointed if the fans, especially those here on this blog that are some of the most passionate do not rally behind him. Let tonight and maybe tomorrow be the time to air your frustrations, but after we need to support him and the team 100%.

KC Wolve

January 11th, 2011 at 10:10 PM ^

I think Hoke has pictures of the pizza man doing some awful things or he is just the luckiest person on earth. I keep hearing about him recruiting Tom Brady which is great, but that was not when Michigan was a mess and it was when the recruit could go, cool, I heard Lloyd is nice, can't wait to play for him. Now recruits are going to go, who is this again?, and probably hang up because some guy they have never heard of keeps calling pretending to be the coach at Michigan.
<br>
<br>As far as DB goes, he had made this a million times worse for Hoke by waiting around a month twiddling his dingy and crippling a recruiting class in order to hire Brady Freaking Hoke, who he could have hired in November by yelling out his office window.

Argyle

January 11th, 2011 at 10:12 PM ^

But I really feel that the UM community is plagued by a misguided commitment to his so called lineage. A football program shouldn't be run like a dynasty. We pride ourselves on our tradition but so do all fallen empires.

aaamichfan

January 12th, 2011 at 3:40 AM ^

Although the whole "Michigan Man" thing pisses me off sometimes, I think the vast majority of college programs would kill to have a program run by a dynasty like ours. If we didn't have this system in place, it would take years after each coaching hire to return to stability.

FreddieMercuryHayes

January 11th, 2011 at 10:16 PM ^

I'm behind Hoke. Not my first choice, and It's not sexy, but I think he can get some results as long as his basketball on grass comment was just posturing. It will be seen in years to come if he can achieve the success that we all want on a national level. I do find it interesting that some say he is the guy to rebuild our program after we just fires a guy who got us halfway there. Anyway, I really feel that as long as we don't go completely backward in our football philosophy, we will succeed. Do I have my worries? Yes. Is all hope lost? No. Far from it.

MichiganExile

January 11th, 2011 at 10:23 PM ^

I will reserve full judgement until I see his staff. Honestly though I'm not blown away. I really do think a head coach's success is very dependent on the quality of his coordinators. I think Al Borges will be a good OC so a slam bang DC would do well in convincing me this was a good hire.
<br>

bronxblue

January 11th, 2011 at 10:28 PM ^

I want Hoke to succeed and I think he will definitely have some at UM. But I wanted UM to take a real chance and let this team evolve; instead, Hoke represents an attempt to do it the "Michigan way." I have no Ill will toward Hoke, but more what he represents-the idea that UM can walk on the field and just out talent the opposition. That hasn't worked for over a decade, and won't get any easier moving forward. With the spread, I felt this team had a chance to beat anyone. Under the Bo model of thinking, I worry it will lead to a return to being blitzes with the Oregon-USC-SECs of the world.

beangoblue

January 11th, 2011 at 10:54 PM ^

I wanted RR to stay. Never wanted Harbaugh, got excited about Les, Hoke was always in the back of my mind. I don't know much about him but my full support is behind the team, coaches and players. Go Blue!!!

swamyblue

January 11th, 2011 at 10:56 PM ^

Based on a previous post listing 'Hoke as Plan A' I have the following criteria as requirements
<br>to Coach the team:
<br>
<br>-Familiarity or experience with the Program
<br>-Approval or endorsements from former players
<br>-A Public & Private endorsement by the previous Coach
<br>-Knowledge of the Ann Arbor Community
<br>
<br>I believe Rodriguez was fired for reasons other than the his 3yr record. He didn't fit the part.
<br>In casting, if you don't look the part you are not given a chance to act it...(well unless you want to stoop to some
<br>unscrupulous deeds for a tryout or reading). The administration viewed RR as a bad casting decision.
<br>I can handle this. It's not fair but at least I understand what they were looking for.
<br>
<br>I believe it's fair to say that Brandon came to see RR's hiring as a bad decision from
<br>the start. He then implemented a process (a rather slow one I might add) to correct the hiring process and requirements.
<br>Bare in mind, I came to this conclusion after reading the AP News Story quoting DB directly. Make sense?

STL Wolverine

January 11th, 2011 at 11:06 PM ^

When I heard it was Hoke, I had that feeling of utter disappointment similar to when you think your getting a great present and you get socks and underwear. Based on Brandon's comments about pay and defense I expected a proven top quality coach. Clearly Brandon only cares about the coach being a Michigan Man (Bo man). I hope Hoke is successful because there are no other Michigan Men after him.
<br>
<br>I am most upset with the way RR was treated. I realize he made a lot of mistakes, but to give him only three years is not classy and not in the Michigan Man way. Regardless of what Brandon wants we should have honored the contract we gave him (6yrs.) especially since he was asked to reinvent the program.
<br>
<br>Just as DB said that football runs Michigan athletics, this hire will decide his success. The lights, Alabama, etc. won't mean anything if we have another losing season or two and don't win the Big Ten within 3 years.
<br>
<br>Hoke's first tell will be if he can win back some of the recruits that were high on Michigan. We should be able to get back into it with the defensive recruits.
<br>
<br>I am beginning to think that Dave Brandon does not realize that running an athletics program is not like running a business. I think he thought he could through money at coaches and they would come (which is the case in corporate), but after you fire the previous hire at 3 years, who would want to leave a safe and successful program for what we were offering. I don't think many successful coaches would take that gig.

bobrease227

January 12th, 2011 at 3:52 AM ^

My first instinct was that anything is better than rich rod. I was sadly mistaken. I hope uofm is happy they got their michigan man. Brady joke this guy has a sub 500 record with ball st and san diego st. People if you thought rich rod was bad prepare for eternity michigan football will never return. A no recruits will come play for this loser. B all of the little talent we had will transfer. In closing so long michigan football you are now a laughing stock of the big ten. No more go blue for me GO GREEN

jaspersail

January 11th, 2011 at 11:18 PM ^

I look at his recruiting classes at Ball State and SDSU and wonder if he's up to the challenge, but I'll reserve judgement until he hires assistants and starts talking to recruits. If he can flip a Zettel or otherwise make an immediate splash, I could start to get excited.

Plankton

January 11th, 2011 at 11:33 PM ^

First time I ever hit this low as an m fan. Hate to see all the bitter Carr players tweeting their approval. Where was this the past few years? Good luck hoke... Brandon did you no favors.

Fhshockey112002

January 11th, 2011 at 11:33 PM ^

Thanks for this board, I think it's productive to give people a forum to express without fear of being killed.
<br>That being sad my gut feeling is "skeptical" for multiple reason. First, was Hoke the first, second, third, forth, fifth choice for HC? Second, do I really believe he will win the 9-10 games I truly felt RR would have produced next year? My gut says NO! And finally, can this guy coach and recruit in the B1G? Once again I feel like no (reserving the right to see his staff).
<br>
<br>Thanks again Profit!

seattleblue

January 11th, 2011 at 11:57 PM ^

I remember reading a good diary before the OSU game comparing portions of the Michigan fanbase clinging to the past and the idea of the Michigan man/ cloud of dust Bo ball with the Detroit auto industry's unwillingness to change. For me, this is a case of "who killed the electric car?" RR's product at Michigan was far from perfect or complete, but it was the future. By the bowl game I accepted that RR was on his way out and I was ok with a new coach coming in provided he was familiar enough with the spread to make the most of our current players and enough of a name/ reputation to salvage this recruiting class. All was not lost and the past 3 years of rebuilding and 7 straight OSU losses were not for nothing. The decision to hire Hoke today firmly puts Michigan on a depressingly regressive track. Instead of staying the course or at least finding a happy medium we are going back into a past that wasn't half as great as we remember. I think we just went "all in" on the SUV.

Bodogblog

January 12th, 2011 at 12:37 AM ^

because it's valid. And not to be political either. But the American consumer killed the electric car, more specifically the Southern California car buyer. I sold them back in 1996. Saturn dealerships only, and we were trained extensively. The car was was very quick and had few trade-offs in terms of performance. But you did have to have a special electric charger installed in your garage/home. Sold only in SoCal (and maybe AZ?) because in northern climes the batteries didn't perform well in the cold.
<br>Advertising was everywhere, we were waiting and had them on our lot. Few came, and those that did only looked. Nobody bought them. Again not a statement of any type, but the reality. Whether by cost or convenience or other, California consumers didn't want them.
<br>Reading what I've added here, maybe in an odd way it does have some corollary to M football over the last 3 years.

seattleblue

January 12th, 2011 at 2:45 AM ^

I'm curious did you ever see the documentary "who killed the electric car?" focusing on the GM EV1.  They seemed to come to the conclusion that it was a combination of california consumers, car companies unwilling to really go "all in" on the product marketing and eventually Dick Cheney and the US Government who all conspired to kill it.  Anyhow, definitely an aside although parallels to M football exist.

Bodogblog

January 12th, 2011 at 9:39 AM ^

Dick Cheney?  Hah!  They must have worked pretty hard to move the story that way

I've never seen the documentary, but have read summaries.  Never really saw the need to because I was right there.  I believe there were factions in GM that didn't support it - the program lost enormous $, as all electrics do today by the way (GM will lose a fortune on every Volt it sells) -, but that happens with many new products at every company.  The guys who voted against it root against it so they can say they were right (another M football parallel?). 

But sales rule all - if the consumers wanted them in large numbers, GM would have gladly provided them.  Nobody did

JamesBondHerpesMeds

January 12th, 2011 at 12:08 AM ^

Direct quote in a text to my friend:
<br>
<br>"fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck shit fuck fuck fuck fuck".
<br>
<br>Now....Hoke is starting to grow on me. Are these a few of the grief stages? Not sure.

quakk

January 12th, 2011 at 12:09 AM ^

best of all, I'm incredulous at all the hatred from the past three years are now saying how important it is to get behind our coach. the players seem happy...
<br>
<br>withholding judgement, but afraid of large amounts of fail...

Zone Left

January 12th, 2011 at 12:33 AM ^

I think the spread is awesome, but the team had given up on Rodriguez and needs to try something else. Everyone projected Harbaugh as a panacea, but I see Hoke as someone who can have serious success here.
<br>
<br>Brian wants us to brace for a media warming to Hoke because the record may immediately improve. I don't read newspapers that discuss college football or watch ESPN. That said, I expect an immediate improvement from the two worst defenses in school history and a minimally competent offense behind a serious group of lineman--Rodriguez's best unit.
<br>
<br>I think the Rodriguez era, for all it's supposed promise, was an abject failure. Even the stars seemed to turn the ball over 3+ times a game, and I'm excited for new blood. Go Blue
<br>
<br>I'm drunk.

MgoblueAF

January 12th, 2011 at 12:39 AM ^

Ok, so I know I was the one harping on all the RR haters because he never got a fair shot from the beginning, but I really hate what this program has done to itself here.
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>3 years ago this guy broke up w/ his boring, but reliable, gf in order to date the new, hot girl. Although she came w/ drama from time to time and emotional baggage, he grew to appreciate her because she was on the up-and-up and flashed brilliance when she walked by other guys. At a certain point, we became arrogant and felt we could find a new gf who possessed the reliability of the first and the brilliance of the second. Once we broke up with that 2nd girl, though, we realized that ideal-state girl only wanted us in order to feed her thirst for "the chase." With both of them out of the picture, he decided to take the girl to the Prom who was the unpopular, boring little sister of the first gf.
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>This has been an amazing leap forward for the most storied program in NCAA football..

maximus_spaniard

January 12th, 2011 at 2:17 AM ^

... I was all in for RR, but just as I wished he had gotten more support, I will be open and embrace Hoke as the coach, and hope for the best.
<br>
<br>There is something that would really get me excited: that in the Ohio State at Michigan game, he gives a speech where he basically tells OSU that their days of dominance over UM are over. It would set the intention and the tone of what will be and that would get people excited. I remember when Tressel addressed the fans that basketball and stating how he would make everyone proud "31x days from now in Ann Arbor", and how the crowd got wild, and I was laughing thinking "how arrogant! we will give him a rude welcoming". Little did I know that in 10 years we would only win 1 game against Tressel?
<br>
<br>It's time to return the favor!