Grantland Q&A With Coach Hoke

Senior leadership, Fitz?, hard work, motivation, win B1G, well, physical, point of attack, well, seniors, captains, well, kovacs.

Did that cover it?

You know what drives me nuts? When a guy drops a pass or misses a tackle, how some fans respond like the young man tried to drop the ball, or tried to miss that tackle. These aren't pros - these are 18- to 23-year-olds, and you may have some players who will move to that next level, but still, these are kids. And they're still developing. It's hard to believe the impatience people have for mistakes and imperfections. They can say whatever they want about me or our staff, and be as critical as they like. But to be critical of 18- to 23-year-olds, something's mixed up.

everytime he speaks .... i fall in love again!

That is an awesome interview. I love the part about him talking about going to a Lynyrd Skynyrd concert and being a music fan.

Quick take: he's very much a guy who learned to be a coach under Lloyd (not strategy, but attitude toward what a good college football coach is).

-Football matters, because when you dedicate yourself to something, you should try to do it to the absolute best of your abilities, but it's not the be-all/end-all of life for either coaches or players.

-Relationships and education/development are eventually more important than what happens on the field.

-Coaches shouldn't be watching film at 3 in the morning. They should make sure to be involved in their kid's lives and head coaches should a priority of allowing their assistants family time.  

-Players should be shielded from excessive public criticism, from both coaches and fans, for physical errors on the field. 

-Players need to attend to all realms of their young lives: football, family, education.

I'm a big fan of his view on playoffs and glad to see him expressing concern about additional wear and tear on the players' bodies.  

 "Coaching involves sacrifice, but you don't want to overwork someone and have them in the video room at 3 a.m. when they could be home with their children."

This rather repeats the essential message of Meinke's article on AA.com the other day, but it is worthy of being underlined in this interview as well - part of the chemistry of this team and staff is trying not to have scenarios like this happen. I think actively making family a part of what goes on at Schembechler reinforces the idea that you're not really here for the sport, but for your family.

It seems that Hoke can do something that a lot of people can't do very well - look at his life as a spectator. He mentions his walk through the stadium in 1983, and the article on Monday told us just how much sacrifice went on in the 28 years between then and his arrival here as head coach (his stint here in the 90s under Carr aside for a moment).

Trying to make work-life balance part of the program's basic operating procedure keeps players and staff sharper and more fresh, I would say - you're probably more apt to make more intelligent football decisions if you have not spent the night breaking down film only to go straight from there to practice on a power nap. If you want your staff making better decisions at game time, allowing them to compartmentalize football as much as possible.

"You know what drives me nuts? When a guy drops a pass or misses a tackle, how some fans respond like the young man tried to drop the ball, or tried to miss that tackle. These aren't pros — these are 18- to 23-year-olds, and you may have some players who will move to that next level, but still, these are kids. And they're still developing. It's hard to believe the impatience people have for mistakes and imperfections. They can say whatever they want about me or our staff, and be as critical as they'd like. But to be critical of 18- to 23-year-olds, something's mixed up."

I can't be the only one who pictured Hoke in a suit & sunglasses pointing at people as he escorted the President through a crowd. (That might be a good t-shirt actually)

Totally agree that every time I read/hear his thoughts, I find a new reason to like this guy.

I heart hoke.  That is all.

There is so much I resonate with in this article.Thanks for posting it.

I am 52, so generationally, I identify with a lot of things that Hoke does. You can debate whether the music is good or not, but I remember dancing with my girlfriend to Hall and Oates while a student at Michigan. REO Speedwagon, Aerosmith, the Stones, Lynyrd Skynyrd, are all bands I listened to. Brings back good memories. Those, and Queen, and Linda Ronstadt, and Fleetwood Mac and a bunch more. I guess we do get stuck in a rut with music, but I loved those days, and putting on a record.

I'm glad Coach Hoke cries. Not all the time, but for the important things. My dad is 86. He's my best friend, and is in good health, and I see him every week. I'm not looking forward to the day he goes. It is great that Coach Hoke had such a good relationship with his dad.

I'm glad Coach Hoke is honest about his time at Ball State. I remember chugging pitchers of beer in Dooleys and innumerable keggers. We grow up, but to be honest about the past and poor choices is great. It is wonderful that Hoke had a coach pull him aside and give him direction. I am sure that Toussaint is a great kid, and that all Coach Hoke wants to do is to give Fitz some good direction too. But being honest about your faults, learning from them, and sharing that with the next generation? It doesn't get better than that.

I remember being in Michigan Stadium when it was empty. Back then, everything wasn't so tightly locked down. It was awe-inspiring, as is so much at Michigan. I am so thankful and appreciative of my time at Michigan. I wish I could go back in time, and had appreciated that opportunity even more than I did. I completely get how there is no other place Hoke would rather be.

I am in a job where I am in control of my own schedule. The reality is that my schedule can too often control me. I have worked too many long days, and missed too many games and events with my children, spending time with other people and other kids. I'm so glad that Hoke has a sense of this loss, and wants to do all he can to make it right for his assistant coaches and staff and their families.

My 6th grade son is playing tackle football. It is his third year, and is a great experience. I'm so glad he is playing. But his team is limited offensively, and I think this season will be rough. I love that Coach Hoke is so behind his kids, win or lose. That he wants to teach them, but that mistakes happen, and you still care for the kids, because they're leaving their heart on the field. What a great coach Hoke is . . . I can understand why parents would want their sons to play for him.

Average of my admiration for Hoke:

1. Leadership: 10/10
2. Recruiting: 10/10
3. Attitude toward kids: 10/10
4. Humility: 10/10
5. Appreciation for Hall and Oates: 1/10

Total: 8.2

Gotta bring that one score up...

I originally passed on this interview because the OP said it was more of the same. This was completely different and more personal, though, than all the other typical interviews of Hoke.

You should probably change the post.

I had forgotten about Hoke's law enforcement background. But not just specifically law enforcement. Federal probation and parole. He was originally trained basically to help people who are getting a second chance. Secondly, he himself was given second chances from his times at Ball State. I think these two foundations have a lot to do with how handles discipline on the team, and how he manages his players in general. He's not a strict disciplinarian like some people might believe him to be. He's probably much more likely to nuture a relationship with a troubled player, because he believes they're all worth the effort. I bet it explains why the Fitz and Frank Clark situations tend to be drawing out. And it's probably why Stonum still spoke kindly of the University and Hoke even after he was dismissed from the team. Hoke must have bent over backwards for him hoping he'd make things work, but it just didn't happen for him.