A fireable Offense

First, let me preface this post - which might end up being pretty long - by noting that I have been a die hard fan of the team since my freshman year in 1994.  I haven't missed a single televised game since, regularly fly back from NY to attend games, donate $$ to the university, hold season tickets (that I donate to local AA charities for the majority of games that I cannot attend), and own / wear more Michigan-related items (clothing, office and home decor, etc.) than most professionals approaching 40.  MY fandome may not be equal to that of Wolverine Devotee, but it is pretty close.

For the first time, I am not sure that I am going to watch next week's Michigan game.  I have no interest, and quite frankly, I am not sure what to root for.  In my opinion, Hoke is gone, and he should be.  Not only are we not winning, but we look worse every single week.  Our 4-5* talent is not developing AT ALL, one glance at the sideline shows that the players have given up, there is tension between factions of players (even the commentators noticed that Devin and Shane barely acknowledged each other on the sidelines), and the team just looks like a total tire fire.  I keep waiting for this team to show some spark, some attitude, some moxie - hell, a good old fashioned fight (which I would never want to see) would at least show me that these kids give half a shit.  Instead, the team looks defeated, lost and confused.  Watching this game, it is pretty obvious that Hoke has lost the team.  Sure, the players might come out in his defense, and soe will lobby for him, but that just means that they like him as a person.  As a coach, he has lost the ability to rally this team to do much of anything. 

All of this is bad enough - hell, even putting 10 men on the field on special teams to give up a return TD - but this week's conduct in my opinion is a FIREABLE OFFENSE. 

IT was pretty obvious at halftime that Morris wasn't ready for primetime.  Now, why a sophmore (who arrived in the spring of his truefreshman year) isn't ready to step in against a crappy Minny team, is a whole different issue, but regardless, it was obvious that Morris couldn't do anything of use out there.  Thanks to our defense, the game was still pretty close.  Why the hell not go Gardner at this point to give us a chance to win. 

Then, once it became obvious to everyone in attendance or watching on TV that Morris was limping, in severe pain, and unable to put pressure ON HIS PLANT FOOT (!!!), why the hell was he left in there?  EVen the announcers commented that it was unsafe as Morris was unable to protect himself.  Yet there is Hoke, stubbornly clapping and leaving Morris in to (a) lose the game, and (b) potentially get hurt. 

Then, the hit.  Either Hoke was lying that he didn't know that MOrris was wobbly, or he is a complete moron who is unaware of anything going on.  I tend to think that it is the latter, but either way, this man does not have what it takes to lead this program.  Either way, he should be gone. 

Now, if this week was an isolated incident, this would be merely a FIREABLE offense, but not necessarily one that would REQUIRE firing.  Perhaps a public apology and a suspension?  Some charitable work with the concussion center, whatever.  But, when coupled with his tenure, I do not see what Hoke has shown that, when weighed against this incident, would lead anyone to retain him past tomorrow.  Specificially:

1.  2013 - all of it

2.  2014 ND

3.  2014 Utah

4.  His record against MSU / Ohio State

5.  His road record

6.  Leaving Bellamy in against Nebraska in 2012 when we had a real shot at a Big Championship title, when it was obvious that he was getting murdered and was completely unprepared

7.  total lack of player development (including a number of 5* can't miss types)

8.  The handling of the Lewan / Gibbons incident

9.  playing 10 guys on special teams

10.  His post game presser last night (I could not care less about any of his prior pressers - this one was over the top)

Now if this were not enough, the media has taken hold of the story.  Hoke is publicly done and will be unable recruit a 3* to come to Michigan going forward.  He is, for all intents, dead coach walking. 

So, in light of the above, I think that the only logical move that the school can do to save face is to remove Hoke effective immediately.  Yes, interim coaches rarely work out.  But, the one benefit of firing hoke now is that the media gives the team a pass for this season - the understanding is that this is all temporary and that next year there will be a new staff brought in to clean house.  It also allows the university to form a search committee early and publicly search for the best candidate out there.  Remember that OSU went an entire season with Luke Fickell as interim coach and their coaching search turned out pretty ok.