Hoke: captains to be named after The Game

Submitted by Wolverine Devotee on

Kind of interesting. Per the twitters.

There will be 4th and 5th year seniors at the coin toss.

So, pretty much the apostle system RR did from 2008-2009, but with seniors only. 

This could be my last thread for awhile. 

EDIT: After my first class today and taking my online, I'm not filled up with work. Yet. It won't be my last thread for awhile. You just won't see a 1000% percent chance of me posting 20 times a day like normally. 

Space Coyote

August 25th, 2014 at 12:05 PM ^

Each class has picked guys that represent that class for them. There are leaders for each class. There are also guys that will step up and simply be leaders.

Leaders will rise to the top, they don't need an appointed title to do that. Going to a team vote to give people a title that is little more than just that changes little. As long as there is consistent communication between leaders and the coaching staff, it's fine (and that's why Hoke made this change, to have better communication and rid entitlement).

But we'll over-react to it anyway. 

1464

August 25th, 2014 at 3:54 PM ^

I would argue that while many great leaders rise to the top, that is not always the case.  I've met a lot of people who if gently prodded, would fill that role admirably.  I've also met a lot of people who have no business leading their way to a deep fryer that have inserted themselves into a leadership role due to agressively vocal demeanor.

Does that mean Hoke needs to name leaders in public?  No.  But he should certainly have an idea of who HE wants to step into that role.  Just because you talk loud, doesn't mean you're preaching the gospel.

(There's a Ray Lewis joke in there somewhere...)

Gulogulo37

August 25th, 2014 at 9:04 PM ^

I always thought being captain was pretty meaningless frankly. Different guys have their own qualities, and it's not like some senior thinks, "Well, I'm not a captain so no need to lead or help my teammates."

It's more interesting for what it says about last year, not that there seemed to be any doubt left that Lewan wasn't the greates leader ever.

Bando Calrissian

August 25th, 2014 at 9:45 PM ^

Isn't a big deal? Say that to the guys who were captains for Michigan and see what they say.

I had one show up at my tailgate last year (from an early 90s Rose Bowl team). It was a pretty big deal for him, and the couple of his teammates who were there. Hell, it was the first thing his buddies mentioned about him.

RockinLoud

August 25th, 2014 at 12:29 PM ^

That's brutal; I did everything I could to avoid 8am classes, especially since I was in sunny California and stayed up way too late most days. Of course, now that I'm in the "real world" starting work at 6am everyday, 8am start time would be a dream. Funny how that works.

chatster

August 25th, 2014 at 6:46 PM ^

I honestly had no idea that young Wolverine Devotee does not attend the University of Michigan, and still don't know the name of the college where he has enrolled.  Yet Another MGoBlog Lesson Learned:  Don't Assume!

 

Wolverine Devotee:  Wishing you good fortune in your college endeavors

NewYorkWolverine

August 25th, 2014 at 11:37 AM ^

Basically, you're keeping guys on their toes all year, and the post-season naming of captains is really just an honor to recognize those guys who were team leaders all year long.

 

Hopefully, it works.

readyourguard

August 25th, 2014 at 11:40 AM ^

Hoke is taking a different approach.  I'm good with that.  If he feels a guy has to earn it during the week, so be it.  I honestly hope guys use it as another tool to lead by example Monday through Friday.

BRBLUE

August 25th, 2014 at 11:44 AM ^

Hoke has said that the team has a "Leadership Council" that has four representatives from each class, so everyone has a voice on the team. He also said he made the decision for this back in Feb. 

Bodogblog

August 25th, 2014 at 11:58 AM ^

He's talked about that quite a bit.  But the general assumption was that there would still be captains named before the season - end of season is the new wrinkle.

I think it's fine.  In fact I was worried that DG wouldn't be named a captain and it would cause the drama.  I believe he'll earn it over the year.

Funny the calmness in this thread, vs. the losing of shit when RR did the same.

CalifExile

August 25th, 2014 at 4:44 PM ^

"Funny the calmness in this thread, vs. the losing of shit when RR did the same."

My thoughts exactly. I thought RR made a mistake when he substituted his WV practice of naming captains for each game instead of captains for the season. Captains are supposed to address problems within the team and act as a go-between with the coaches. They are supposed to be a stabilizing influence. But I could see the logic behind RR's approach: push guys to excel each week. It's unfortunate he didn't combine the two approaches.

Hoke's abandonment of our tradition makes no sense to me. I'm surprised there isn't more outrage.

Space Coyote

August 25th, 2014 at 5:13 PM ^

And, frankly, I don't have a huge issue with the way RR handled it either. But a significant difference is that Hoke has consistent representation between him and the team with his "leadership council". He has players that the team knows they can go to to have communication between them and the coaching staff. The game time honor of being a captain is nice, but it's just a title that means little else. Use it as motivation from game-to-game, alright. But there is consistent communication and consistent faces of each class. 

Don

August 25th, 2014 at 11:46 AM ^

If you can't figure out who the captains should be at the beginning of the season, naming them after the fact at the end of the season is silly.