Hackett on coaching position: "The interest has blown me away"
http://www.freep.com/story/sports/college/university-michigan/wolverine…
"Michigan interim athletic director Jim Hackett wasn't sure what to expect when he went into the search to replace Brady Hoke.
But in just a week, one where he said he's been working hard, he's seen the results.
"The interest has blown me away," he told the Free Press at tonight's Michigan Football Bust at the Laurel Manor in Livonia.
Pressed for more details, Hackett gave a wry smile, refusing to divulge his recent travel plans."
December 8th, 2014 at 7:24 PM ^
If you are trying to create a market you say these things. If true or not.
I imagine when a Florida, Bama, Michigan, USC job comes open every agent on earth also tries to get their clients "into the action" even if for nothing else to drive up the wage of their own guy. That's their job. Then you go to Cowherd or similar blowhard and he floats "Florida/Bama/USC/Michigan" is interested. Then you go meet your own coach's AD with a smile.
December 8th, 2014 at 7:29 PM ^
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December 8th, 2014 at 7:29 PM ^
I believe he is referring to the interest level of the alumni and fans.
December 8th, 2014 at 7:32 PM ^
Ah ok. I am not allowed by law to click on freep links so if that is what he meants, I interpreted the headline incorrectly.
December 8th, 2014 at 7:45 PM ^
By law? Or by your wife, who doesn't want to hear the whir of your disdain for the inferior product over at the Free Press?
December 8th, 2014 at 7:55 PM ^
But rather the sabotage of our program. They have lost me for life.
December 8th, 2014 at 8:07 PM ^
Why is it we can't have nice things, but we can have eternal grudges?
December 8th, 2014 at 8:18 PM ^
December 8th, 2014 at 8:30 PM ^
I don't know. But it is still going strong for now...
Our damage is borne from many places; stretchgate in isolation should be a mild irritant at worst. But as it has played out I cannot help but still feel an arc of pain and disgust from everything that went down with that rag's sports section.
It was unprofessional and classless with conveniently horrible timing. Anti-journalism.
December 8th, 2014 at 11:27 PM ^
You read in John U. Bacon's book that Rosenberg stated something along the lines of "I'm going to get him" right after Rich Rod's introductory press conference, I think I'd be safe in saying he pretty much disproved anyone who thought he had any tiny smidge of journalistic integrity.
December 9th, 2014 at 2:49 AM ^
December 9th, 2014 at 6:38 AM ^
December 8th, 2014 at 7:34 PM ^
He's talking about coaches and the job position.
December 8th, 2014 at 7:51 PM ^
I believe he is talking about the interest level of the alumni and fans in the coaching search.
December 8th, 2014 at 7:55 PM ^
"Michigan interim athletic director Jim Hackett wasn't sure what to expect when he went into the search to replace Brady Hoke.
But in just a week, one where he said he's been working hard, he's seen the results.
"The interest has blown me away," he told the Free Press at tonight's Michigan Football Bust at the Laurel Manor in Livonia.
Pressed for more details, Hackett gave a wry smile, refusing to divulge his recent travel plans."
- "went into the search" > "seen the results" (of the search)
- "refusing to divulge his recent travel plans"
He is talking about candidates for the coaching job. That is very clear to me.
December 8th, 2014 at 8:20 PM ^
December 8th, 2014 at 8:22 PM ^
December 8th, 2014 at 8:54 PM ^
I'm sure he's talking about candidates. Of course Michigan fans are going to be interested - that wouldn't surprise anyone. But interest level from coaches was harder to predict.
December 8th, 2014 at 8:58 PM ^
December 9th, 2014 at 2:52 AM ^
December 8th, 2014 at 8:14 PM ^
December 8th, 2014 at 7:40 PM ^
It's altogether not clear what he meant.The article is poorly structured in that regard.
December 8th, 2014 at 10:42 PM ^
Poorly written Freep article regarding Michigan football? You're kidding...
December 9th, 2014 at 9:07 AM ^
December 8th, 2014 at 7:35 PM ^
"If you are trying to create a market you say these things. If true or not."
He's not trying to market a new flavor of Mountain Dew here. It's a job position that everyone in the sport of football is familiar with. No way is this comment designed to try to stir up interest. That's almost laughable actually.
December 8th, 2014 at 7:44 PM ^
Plz lets drop the Michigan arrogance. This was a job Schiano and Fitzgerald didnt take.
It's a great job - it's a top 15 job, but saying its laughable that not everyone and their mom wants it is the laughable part. There are some major disadvantages here as well as advantages - namely things like lack of JUCOs, lack of oversigning, conference, perception or reality of sabotage or infighting the past 7 years in the athletic department.
Again circling back to point one. Guys like Schiano and Fitzgerald said no. In 2011 we went for a .500 coach who if he hadnt had Michigan ties would not be hired and I have no idea who our coach would have been.
Hackett's job is to help drum up the market then find the best candidate in that market. I am sure he is astounded dudes like Mike Shanahan are actually trying to throw their hat into this ring.
December 8th, 2014 at 7:45 PM ^
You're putting quite a lot of words in my mouth there. I maintain 100% that the idea that he is trying to make coaches interested in the position by saying there is a lot of interest is laughable. People know what the Michigan job is, and if they're interested they know by now.
December 8th, 2014 at 8:05 PM ^
if other people want it. In this case that goes both ways. Some coaches very much want it to appear that Michigan is interested. If high-powered coaches appear to be interested, the job is easier to sell.
December 8th, 2014 at 8:08 PM ^
That's true, but I think it's silly to assume that is what is going on in this case. I could be wrong, but I don't think I am.
December 8th, 2014 at 8:58 PM ^
Of course everyone knows who Michigan is. There is a difference between knowing about a job, throwing your hat into it to improve your own position, and actually being interested in the job.
Frankly I was shocked by the calibar of coaches who said no to Michigan in 2007 - I was in the fairy land some still exist in today where every coach in America would drop everything to be coach at UM but that's because I've lived here all my life, Michigan was larger than life, went to school there, and we never had to go outside the school in 4 decades to find a coach. Reality spoke differently.
And now reality shows various decent but not great candidates said no in prior searches, we settled for a .500 coach in 1 prior search, and a coach many feel is very good outside of UM's environment (RR) was undercut from inside.
So if I am Hackett I am creating an aura of holy fuck everyone is wanting this job, I'm overwhelmed, I'm beating them back with a stick and everyone will be rowing in the same direction for this next coach because we finally found religion. Even if it nots reality.
And that has zilch to do with 'educating coaches on who Michigan is.' Everyone knows who the hell Nebraska and Florida is as well - they both seemed to "settle" for coaches that would not inspire 95% of this fanbase. (Even if ultimately correct hires)
December 8th, 2014 at 9:06 PM ^
I see your point, but you mischaracterized my words entirely and are now off to the races largely on your own tangent.
I still think you're wrong as well. This was one comment in response to a local reporter's quesiton. I would hardly call that "creating an aura."
December 8th, 2014 at 9:11 PM ^
What do you mean by we can't get every coach? Of course we can't get Belichek or Saban etc. We can get a Pinkel, a Mullen etc. if Harbaugh and Miles turn us down. The people in the AD during RR are long gone. There's a current head coach that wins a lot now but just can't get the money he wants for assistant coaches, he can't convince the blue chipper to go to Mizzou over Notre Dame. Michigan can offer you that. I'm not saying we are automatically going to land whoever we want but it won't be Addazio, Schiano, etc. if we do our due diligence in the search. Arkansas landed Bret Bielema because he was pissed that Barry Alvarez was cheap on his assistants. Maybe that guy is Patterson who's pissed off at being left out of the playoff. Peterson was a lifer at Boise until he left for Boise. Then again maybe Patterson stays and is a lifer. A comprehensive search over the next 2-3 weeks will find you someone good who wants to move here.
December 8th, 2014 at 9:30 PM ^
Those 2 names you listed at the top arent the pie in the sky prizes you hear here or other places - where apparently 3-4 NFL coaches are dying to leave to come here.
I am not arguing we wont get a good coach so I am not sure what you are arguing. Hackett is going to say positive things whatever the reality and I am sure a lot of "weird names" (in Izzo terms) are reaching out. Jay Gruden and Shanahan and I am sure ones we have never heard of. Guys like Schiano 2.0 (chastened version) offering himself. This is contributing to the "demand". Along with other coaches using Michigan (or UF or UN) for nothing more than bargaining chips. Along with a few actual top end coaches who might actually be interested. I am sure Hackett is getting an entire grab bag of people with different motives.
December 8th, 2014 at 7:55 PM ^
This may not be the "plum job" that this Blog thinks it is. Comes with a lot of baggage ... as witnessed over the past 7+ years ... not to mention the issues that "alum96" has raised.
December 8th, 2014 at 8:58 PM ^
What I found laughable was the suggestion that Hackett would try to make coaches interested in the very well-known quantity that is the Michigan job by saying that coaches are interested. alum96 spun that into me somehow implying that obviously every coach would be interested... which never once entered my mind while reading the article or his comment.
December 8th, 2014 at 9:04 PM ^
Where did I say Hackett was "trying to make coaches interested". I said Hackett is trying to create a market - I am sure there are some good coaches interested, some average coaches interested, and some lame coaches interested. And a lot are self serving. And some have of these self serving ones are not truly interested. But their agents are going to work every angle to get more money - because that's what agents jobs are. Ask Hugh Freeze what "Florida expressing interest" did for him 2 weeks ago. Hell we got Butch Jones $250K a few days ago. For a guy who has done nothing at TN.
December 8th, 2014 at 9:10 PM ^
There is no functional difference within this discussion. Stop being pedantic.
December 8th, 2014 at 11:15 PM ^
Man alum you are usually solid, but tonight you're just in your own world. That whole exchange made zero sense from your end.
December 8th, 2014 at 8:06 PM ^
The Michigan job is fine. Nobody ever walks into a coaching chage with roses everywhere. The previous coach was fired for a reason. The only real negative to the Michigan job is that the recruiting base isn't solid. That didn't stop Hoke from recruiting well, ND recruits well, same for Oklahoma. The facilities and money are there. Saban walked into a situation like ours coming into a 6-7 football team.
December 8th, 2014 at 9:12 PM ^
I think recruiting is the least of our worries actually. Since 2005 UM has recruited average of 11 in the country. That is with 2 coaching changes that created derp in 2 classes. LSU by comparison averages 9.
On the other hand the facilties argument for Michigan is one that is way overblown. In the Miss State threads every time you see "Michigan has way better facilities" and then someone posts photos of their facilities and people say "oh". And Miss State is probably the 9th best facilities in the SEC. In that arms race a lot of schools have invested in the past 10 years so there is not a wide variance among 25 or so schools nowadays.
Michigan has brand, history, an easy conference (which can be seen as a positive or a negative - i.e. the Urban Meyer at UF v OSU argument), and money. Recruiting is fine. It hass some negatives too. People being offended hearing about them is myopic.
Michigan is a lot like Tenn right now - beautiful stadium, history, facilties, money, recruiting, got rid of tenured coach in 07 and wasting all those resources since. Both are excellent jobs and behind 9-10 schools and ahead of 110 others.
December 8th, 2014 at 10:34 PM ^
Strongly disagree with the notion that recruiting is not an issue. Look, the only opinion that matters on recruiting is what NFL scouts say, not what scout.com says (or rivals, ESPN, 24/7). NFL scouts have not been too kind on our players of late.
I think we really need to start recruiting the south. There's a reason why all the best teams are there. It's because they have the best players! CA is also an area we used to recruit well, but it may be a struggle because almost all the local schools there are stable. We need to start building pipelines down there and not just have one-off recruiting (VA, for example, is a good place to start).
December 8th, 2014 at 11:24 PM ^
The recruits need to be developed once they come to UM. Just because UM hasn't put a lot of players in the NFL lately doesn't mean they aren't getting a lot of quality players out of high school.
December 9th, 2014 at 12:48 AM ^
Even if Michigan doesn't develop good players, the NFL scouts would still be interested in them on raw talent alone. Many late round draft picks (like Cox, for example), are based purely on numbers players put up in the combine, irrespective of what they did or did not do in college.
I agree wholeheartedly that player development needs to improve. When you see guys like Stevie Brown, Molk, Omameh etc...making NFL teams and contributing, you do wonder about player development. However, I don't think that's the underlying issue with this program. The underlying issue is that we don't have that many difference makers who are physically superior to the competition (on the roster now, I can only think of Jabrill, who has done nothing yet, and maybe Ty Isaac, who likewise has done nothing yet). To compete with the OSUs and Alabamas of the world, you need a bunch of those guys (and preferably one at QB). We don't have that right now.
December 8th, 2014 at 8:47 PM ^
Let's not kid ourselves. This is absolutely a top 5 job in college football, and probably would be considered the 2nd best job(after Notre Dame).
Remember, Rich Rod turned down Alabama the year before he came here.
Coaches didn't turn us down last time, because there was only one candidate in mind(Brady Hoke). Brandon assumed he could find a "Yes Man" for the top, and give him money to hire good assistants and this would produce a winning fotball team.
Obviously some people aren't going to leave a situation they're already in to come here, but those guys wouldn't leave to go anywhere.
December 8th, 2014 at 10:11 PM ^
Still Blue Crabbing I see...
So many issues for an elite coach at Michigan...and 5 or 6 million reasons to deal with these.
Srsly brah.
December 8th, 2014 at 7:57 PM ^
I feel like the fans haven't been arrogant enough. The last two coaching searches we should have demanded Les Miles and Jim Harbaugh. Hiring Brady Hoke is unacceptable. It's basically an omission from the AD that Michigan is no longer elite and is now at SDSU's level of a program and they don't care. We should have gone after JH with a 6 million a year deal if he says no then you move on to Les Miles who has a couple of SEC titles. But no Lloyd Carr and others have petty grudges against Miles that are more important than our football team's welfare. So they better have some pretty damn good reasons for tanking our program 4 years ago.
December 8th, 2014 at 8:40 PM ^
December 8th, 2014 at 8:59 PM ^
Penn State got BOB when they were supposedly facing something worse than the death penalty. The sanctions were laughable but if they can get the Patriot's OC with those issues then a 5-7 season should be nothing.