Hoke deserves a graceful exit
Everyone is pissed. Everyone is frustrated.
I am not saying you shouldn't be, or to reconsider.
We all know what almost certainly is coming at the end of the season.
But the next time you want to pesronally insult Hoke, consider that he is a true Michigan Man that bleeds blue. He may have failed at his job, but it wasn't due from lack of effort or desire.
And in Michigan's hour of need, when our top choices used Michigan's offer just to get more money from someone else, it was Hoke who hopped on a bus before even discussing his pay.
He might not be a great coach but he appears to be a good pereson. He is losing his dream job. It sucks. If you need to vent your frustations with him, maybe we can at least not resort to such vitriol or RCMB-esque lowest common denominator personal inults?
September 21st, 2014 at 3:05 PM ^
Or it's possible the same person can succeed in one situation and fail in a different one.
September 21st, 2014 at 10:55 AM ^
IMHO, 2011 was what Rich Rod should've been. We were very successful when we deployed the spread 'n shred on offense, combined with good/great defensive coaching we did a 180 on D that year. If RR would've just hired a good D staff and not tried to meddle with it, 2011 was exactly what we wanted to be under RR in many ways.
September 21st, 2014 at 12:07 AM ^
September 21st, 2014 at 9:52 AM ^
You, like the poster above, are missing the point, my intention is not to bash RR, we know the story there. I'm not even trying to blame RR for what's happening now (it's beyond OL recruiting at this point). It just annoys me that people try to discredit Hoke for 2011, probably like how people trying to discredit the difficulties RR had to deal with annoys you (and me).
You don't go from 7-6 to 11-2 by just getting a year older, you don't go from one of the worst defenses to one of the best by just getting a year older. You have to develop in that year, which happened under Hoke and Co. You have to have a coherent scheme and coaching, which also was provided by Hoke and Co. Like I said, there's plenty to bitch about, let's not try to reinvent the past and take away Hoke's legitimate accomplishments.
September 20th, 2014 at 11:27 PM ^
imagine if denard would have bolted. hoke probably would have been a .500 coach.
September 20th, 2014 at 11:57 PM ^
until in year 3 we had a defense against which Wisconsin threw the ball, what was it, twice in the 2nd half?
September 20th, 2014 at 10:47 PM ^
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September 20th, 2014 at 11:12 PM ^
Well, you may get what you wish for.
September 21st, 2014 at 12:52 AM ^
you could have made your point more crudely.
That said, I agree. If Hoke is the stand up guy many portray him, he would immediately start negotiating his resignation so that a transition to a new HC and staff can proceed as quickly and smoothly as possible.
September 20th, 2014 at 10:48 PM ^
In the sense that the whole "Michigan Man" bullshit can't possibly survive this.
If you're qualified, you can coach here.
If you're not qualified, having a Michigan connection doesn't make you qualified.
End of story. We needed this kind of fiasco to finally slay this dragon.
September 21st, 2014 at 10:41 AM ^
"End of story. We needed this kind of fiasco to finally slay this dragon."
I desperately hope this is true.
September 20th, 2014 at 10:47 PM ^
Whatever is best for the program. Period.
September 20th, 2014 at 10:47 PM ^
somehow bad people. I think all of the BIG coaches (perhaps except Urban) are pretty decent people. Being nice is nothing special.
September 20th, 2014 at 10:54 PM ^
September 20th, 2014 at 11:07 PM ^
I am not saying he is not a good person. He is doing what he is getting paid to do and so do other coaches. Is there a coach that you can say is bad person? Other coaches are graduating their kids too.
September 21st, 2014 at 10:43 AM ^
I've given plenty of respect to MSU regarding how well they play football, but Dantonio doesn't seem like a good guy to me. Brian Kelly might be in there too.
September 20th, 2014 at 10:51 PM ^
I've removed a few of these already tonight, but as a reminder, ad hominems towards the coaches and players will not stand. You can criticize strategy, plays, execution and things which are not personal, but you will not personally insult people in the program if you wish to remain active on the blog (and assuming we catch you). This might be a good thread for that reminder.
September 20th, 2014 at 10:51 PM ^
I'm sure I'll get neg banged for this but he's not going to be fired. It's way too early in the season and I think if he at least makes it to a bowl game he keeps his job for another season. Also, there aren't any "Michigan Men" head coaching options out there that could replace the man. Just accept it already...the next few years are going to be painfully miserable.
September 20th, 2014 at 11:00 PM ^
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September 20th, 2014 at 11:14 PM ^
September 20th, 2014 at 11:33 PM ^
This is not to say that there isn't a chance for things to turn around. I think it's a slim chance (they've already lost to a team less talented than them and it wasn't close) but it's theoretically possible for our new OC to spur enough growth in the offense to allow Michigan to steal a game in Columbus.
Don't laugh. I didn't say that it was a big chance, but such a result could hypothetically save Hoke's job. Assuming there aren't a few more losses first.
September 20th, 2014 at 11:53 PM ^
If recruiting goes off the cliff, so do Hoke's chances of sticking around for another year.
September 20th, 2014 at 11:33 PM ^
The premise that being a 'Michigan Man' is a prerequisite for coaching Michigan is part of the reason why we're all melting down tonight
I doubt he stays if we win 8 or less and I really doubt he stays if he loses to MSU and OSU this year
September 21st, 2014 at 8:56 PM ^
to NOT go the Michigan Man route again and to let that idea fade into the past, where it belongs. The program needs to be modernized and put back on the path to being relevant. We need to find the best coaching option to make that happen, only now we have run off one innovator before he had a chance to succeed and then one Michigan Man because he didn't.....we are hardly going to have out pick of candidates.
EDIT: sorry for multi-posts below, using Android app to post apparently has issues
September 21st, 2014 at 8:57 PM ^
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September 21st, 2014 at 8:58 PM ^
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September 21st, 2014 at 8:59 PM ^
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September 20th, 2014 at 11:45 PM ^
September 21st, 2014 at 12:29 AM ^
What was the point again?
September 23rd, 2014 at 8:01 PM ^
will be more careful in android app when posting, it errored and said 'Didn't post', so I tried a few times....apparently it posted
September 20th, 2014 at 11:45 PM ^
September 21st, 2014 at 12:29 AM ^
Ahhh. Thanks.
September 20th, 2014 at 10:52 PM ^
If I parallel our bball to football - he is football's Tommy Amaker. A good man over his head at this level. He did make UM stable to a degree although that depends on how the season goes I suppose. A terrible tailspin wouldnt put us any different from where we were post RR other than a more mature pipeline of talent.
I know where you are going but generally $24M for 6 years of work, 2 of which he will spend sitting on a couch is a good parting gift. He needs to go away for 6-8 years after this season, and come back then to celebrate the 1997 team and he will receive his just polite applause.
But most of us with this job performance in our real lives would be facing an empty box and orders to empty our desk in 10 minutes and leave. Without income and worried about how we are going to make it. Hoke is not suffering like that.
September 21st, 2014 at 10:44 AM ^
So this means we'll get our Beilein next, right?
September 20th, 2014 at 10:52 PM ^
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September 20th, 2014 at 10:52 PM ^
I respect the hell out of Coach Hoke as a person. It's a damn shame that he just couldn't get the results on the field. There are a few player interactions that really capture him as a person: reassuring Hagerup after biffing the snap, smacking Devin in the chest and telling him to "be yourself," even this game when Norfleet got hurt and Hoke came out on the field to comfort him.
At the end of the season, if the team still looks lost, he'll be fired. Like I said, it's a shame and you feel bad for the guy, but it is what it is. No man is bigger than the team and if the team needs a better coach, so be it. In the meantime, I totally agree with OP, the personal insults and low blows are completely uncalled for, not to mention the toxic atmosphere is conterproductive to the program.
September 20th, 2014 at 11:04 PM ^
September 20th, 2014 at 10:52 PM ^
It works both ways. He should accept - as other leaders with integrity have done - his failings and exit stage left. Bill Ford Jr., sitting atop the company his great-grandfather founded, did so and hired Alan Mulally.
September 20th, 2014 at 10:56 PM ^
At the end of the season, if it comes down to it, I don't doubt that he will. If you're expecting him to do it mid-season don't hold your breath. Quiting mid season would send a terrible message to the players and it's not in Hoke's character.
September 20th, 2014 at 11:02 PM ^
No, I wouldn't expect him to do so and nor do I believe that would necessarily be the right thing for the program. However, at the end of the season, he well could - and should - step aside.
It is a terribly difficult thing to admit you're not up to a task despite your best efforts. I would hasten to guess that many - perhaps all of us - on this blog have had to do so at one time or other. But if he values The Team above the individual, then he must know it is the right thing to do.
September 20th, 2014 at 10:54 PM ^
He's paid millions to do a job he's doing very badly. About all he deserves is his last paycheck. I'm not about to extend Hoke any extra grace I'd never be extended in the real world if I was spectacularly failing at my job the way he is.
I'm not condoning name calling or anything like that, but I'm not about to say he deserves to coach out the season or anything like that either.
Sure, he shouldn't be drug through the mud as I do think he truly is putting his heart into it, but he's a failure and needs to go. Nothing is owed to him for being nice or loyal. Not to mention, who wouldn't jump at this job from a mid-major? That was a no brainer and Hoke gets no brownie points from me for that move, even "without discussing pay" as it was obviously a substantial pay increase even without knowing exact numbers.
September 20th, 2014 at 10:55 PM ^
September 20th, 2014 at 10:55 PM ^
Want to defend Hoke.
Can't.
Want ot imagine a short term solution after firing Hoke.
Can't.
Want to imagine Michigan returning to relevance.
Hard to do...as it involves one of two current NFL coaches opting to return to the college ranks (did John coach in college?).
Again, I would love to defend Hoke. I like him very much. Can't defend him.
September 20th, 2014 at 11:16 PM ^
Fer God's sakes. But we know the talent is there, but somehow it isn't there under his leadership. Fix it now, it will be way more painful to fix it next year, yet again. How does Dantonio routinely kick his ass with way less (rated anyway) talent? Bight the bullet now, before it becomes a grenade.
Or, blame the whole thing on an under-achieving QB. (Not my choice)
Those who are compensated greatly deserve the accountability. DB and BH. Just do it.
September 20th, 2014 at 11:21 PM ^
September 20th, 2014 at 10:56 PM ^
I hate Brandon.
September 21st, 2014 at 10:30 AM ^
hate both, just to different degrees?
September 20th, 2014 at 10:57 PM ^