Greg Mattison Appreciation Thread

Submitted by Eskimoan on

I started this thread without even checking to see if there was already one because it doesn't matter if there already is, Coach Mattison deserves one every week.

   This is a guy who stepped down as D-Coordinator of the Baltimore Ravens to come  coach defense at Michigan. This man helped rejuvenate a fan base and program that had seen the worst defenses in program history the few years before, and right now, has helped build one of the, if not the best D line rotation in Michigan history. While under Hoke he  fielded pretty darn good defenses whose numbers were hurt because of offenses that were inept and  he still stayed.  When coach Hoke was fired he still stayed even at a lesser role,  then when Durkin left he stepped up to the plate to coordinate the D in the bowl game only to step back down for coach Brown. The man is a master recruiter, genius at coaching the D line and I couldn't be happier that he is on our side. So heres to you Coach Mattison, were lucky to have you ! 

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Parkinen

October 19th, 2016 at 7:04 AM ^

I would suspect that JMFH had his eye on Mattison from the git-go and that is why he required that Hoke's departure from the program was handled the way it was. (besides it being the right way to do things.) He wanted Mattison to stay in his current capacity but realized that the transition needed to be handled carefully so as not to lose Mattison. maybe.




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raleighwood

October 19th, 2016 at 12:07 PM ^

I think that John Harbaugh was a GA on that staff, too (and Joanie Harbaugh was in my tennis class).

My suitemate in my freshman year at WMU ('83) was a walk-on OL from Pioneer High School.  He and JH were buddies growing up so Jack got him a shot at making the team. 

 

corncobb

October 18th, 2016 at 10:13 PM ^

Say what ya want, but I wanna hug that guy. He reminds me of my Grandpa in looks and demeanor, and even though he could probably stomp a mud-hole in you to make you play great football, he seems like the type of guy that would be the first to give you an attaboy. Love that dude.




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stephenrjking

October 18th, 2016 at 10:19 PM ^

Stepping aside to work as a DL guy when he was the DC and could be somewhere else if he wanted? That's huge. One of the great examples of selflessness for the program. Glad you posted this, we don't recognize how big of a deal this is enough.

BTW I'm not sure there can be much debate about the caliber of this DL in program history right now. Barring disaster it is one of the best groups in any position in any phase of the game that the school has ever produced.

grumbler

October 18th, 2016 at 10:27 PM ^

I agree that his lack of ego and love for his guys goes largely unappreciated.  He's not hurt financially by staying the DL coach, but, if he weren't the character guy he is, he'd seek equal compensation with more responsibility and satisfaction elsewhere.  He just seems one of those guys that can take the salt with the sweet and be happy being the best he can be in his current job.

It probably helps the Harbaugh runs much more of a brain trust staff than a bureaucracy.

Formerly Yoda

October 18th, 2016 at 10:19 PM ^

i think, based on brady hoke's showing at oregon, that mattison was clearly the reason for the dramatic turn around from rich rod to hoke regime. guy wasn't an NFL dc by accident. lucky to have him.




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CorkyCole

October 19th, 2016 at 12:19 AM ^

While definitely possible, I'm not sure you can take one half season at Oregon to determine he was a terrible coach altogether and had nothing to do with our defensive success either. His position group was pretty dang good when he was a defensive coach in the 90's for Michigan. Oregon was a tire fire defense waiting to happen. He is forced to go with guys that he most likely never would have recruited and most likely aren't fit to play the defense he wants to run.

He's a good defensive coach. Oregon might just not be the right fit regardless as spread offenses were never his forte, but yeah. I rest my case.

Mattison is still awesome regardless. Hope he stays at least a few more years.

PopeLando

October 19th, 2016 at 9:26 AM ^

I hear you, but Oregon's defense was kinda a dumpster fire before Hoke arrived. In one early press conference, Hoke even said something like, "we're a long way from any kind of defense."

So as much as Hoke isn't making them better so far, it's hard to say whether he's making them worse. Of course, if the HC gets fired, Hoke is probably gone too...

rob f

October 18th, 2016 at 10:37 PM ^

this past spring, just a few days after the Spring Game when I went to see the Michigan @ ND baseball game. Talked with him for just a couple minutes and it was easy to see immediately why he's such an effective recruiter. Just such a nice down-to-earth friendliness about him that quickly puts one at ease.

Indonacious

October 18th, 2016 at 10:27 PM ^

Saw a funny story that his wife actually bakes cookies exclusively for the dline based on their sacks and tfls. The rest of defense is definitely jealous of this....just to add to this post.




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evenyoubrutus

October 18th, 2016 at 10:38 PM ^

I'm trying to think of an assistant coach (who never became head coach here) who deserves more praise or fanfare than Mattison. Jerry Hanlon? Bill McCartney? The list is really short if there are any.

1VaBlue1

October 18th, 2016 at 10:44 PM ^

Good point!  I'd put Hanlon above both McCartney and Mattison, but only because he ran Schembechler's OL's for both decades Bo hung around.  He was Bo's confidant above all others.  But other than that, those three stand in a class of thier own.  Great assistants, and great coaches in their own right.

Ronnie Kaye

October 18th, 2016 at 10:34 PM ^

I like how you say "you" like he's reading this. That's why appreciation threads are bad. Express your admiration in an email or letter. In this format, people just come across as sychophants.

Bo Glue

October 18th, 2016 at 10:33 PM ^

In my lifetime. Born in 88, and honestly, I like him better than Lloyd Carr or almost any other coach we've had except for HARBAUGH (obviously) and Fred Jackson, but that's really for other reasons.

Greg Mattison is the man. Lucky indeed that he came back to A2, and hopefully he doesn't leave one year before getting his team to natty level this time around.

1VaBlue1

October 18th, 2016 at 10:47 PM ^

So question for those more expert than I - I know Mattison is one of the best DL coaches in the game, but where would he rank if DL coach rankings were a thing?  Certianly top 5, but where in that list?  Who are the others at his level?