trussll12

January 14th, 2011 at 6:07 PM ^

Actually, based on watching some of the San Diego Community Credit Union something Poinsettia Bowl, the word is "toughness" or "tough."  Apparently, Hoke believes football players should be tough, whereas virtually all other coaches teach their players to be soft, weak, ineffectual, or cowering.  I expect we will get a lot more discussion of how tough Hoke's players are.  Personally, I think everyone from Taylor Lewan to Vincent Smith and Tay Odoms was tough, but I'm crazy, and needed a map to the campus when I first came to UM.

Mitch Cumstein

January 14th, 2011 at 5:29 PM ^

blah blah accountability. 

He attributes his belief in those things to his Dad and the lessons Woody taught his dad.  Also, says Bo and Moe and Carr strengthened those beliefs while at UM

Mitch Cumstein

January 14th, 2011 at 5:30 PM ^

Hoke: This is Michigan, these kids are great!  Energy and their awareness of expectations are positive.  He is more concerned with building these kids into winners for life (something like that)

Mitch Cumstein

January 14th, 2011 at 5:33 PM ^

Hoke: First of all, what a wonderful kid.  Denard wants a Michigan degree and we want him to lead our football team.  As coaches, its more about guys that can make plays and letting those play makers make plays.

joelrodz

January 14th, 2011 at 7:07 PM ^

Agree. I think its a bit too early for Coach Hoke (or any other coach taking over a new program) to get into specifics on day 3. In terms of priorities I would think assembling his coaching staff is 1st with recruiting tied or a close second (presuming some recruits are waiting on position coaches to be announced and see where they would fit in their scheme). What formations or how he will use a current player is fluff at this point - and the majority of what I have heard on that issue has been to placate those who feared Denard leaving, including Denard himself.

macdaddy

January 14th, 2011 at 6:13 PM ^

mes amis. He needs to do this and do it well to avoid a RR media implosion if things don't go well on the field right away. The more goodwill he generates now, the more slack he'll be cut later. I'm quite sure he knows the importance of trying to salvage this recruiting class. A few brief interviews with the local media won't detract from the main task and will probably bring significant benefit down the line.

Brodie

January 14th, 2011 at 6:08 PM ^

I'm sure Hoke is doing absolutely nothing besides these interviews. Recruiting? Hiring a staff so he can actually get the recruiting going? He isn't even aware of those things! After all, those 5 minute radio interviews preclude him from doing anything else. 

mGrowOld

January 14th, 2011 at 5:35 PM ^

Can somebody let me know of a HC anywhere......at anytime...for any sport at any level that said that not giving effort was ok?

I would love to hear that interview........

Media guy "So how about that loss coach.....the boys tried their hardest but it just wasnt their day right?"

Coach: "Oh hell no.  They half assed it from beginning to end.  But I'm ok with that...really i am"

Mitch Cumstein

January 14th, 2011 at 5:38 PM ^

Interview is over and they didn't cover that topic. It was a pretty short interview.  The way they billed it before it started was like it was going to be a 30min sit down. I probably wouldn't have started the thread if I knew it was going to be 5 questions already asked at the press conference.

ssuarez

January 14th, 2011 at 5:37 PM ^

Hoke keeps on saying that he is going to be the "Center of the offense" and that he'll "lead the team", "Be a major factor", and how he design the scheme to let the "playmakers make plays" but he rarely directly says that Denard is going to be the QB. Borges' comments were much more focused on Denard playing QB. 

Am I just being paranoid here, or are others not so sure about his commitment to Denard as a QB? He clearly loves Denard (how could you not?) and wants him to be heavily involved in the team offensively, but I'm just nervous that it may be in some other capacity. At a minimum, I'm sure that he'll give him a shot to win the job.

Fuzzy Dunlop

January 14th, 2011 at 5:45 PM ^

That's ridiculous.   He's said numerous times that Denard can be Michigan's starting QB.  (No coach, including Rich Rod, would ever guarantee that a player will be starting QB before the season starts, because it's supposed to be a competition).  Borges said that they will build the offense around Denard as QB.  Obviously, the plan is to build around Denard as QB.

People are looking for hidden code words to find some nefarious intent that doesn't exist.  "Oh my god, he called Denard an amazing 'player'!!!  He should have said QB that time!  I don't care if he called him a QB fifty other times, calling him a 'player' that one time means he wants to make him a defensive back!!!!!"

GratefulBlue

January 14th, 2011 at 6:21 PM ^

I understand getting the public behind you is important, and you don't want to start off snubbing the local media, but I wish Hoke would spend the little time he has between now and signing day calling recruits, not talking with the press. Reading on another board thread that Jack Tabb tried to get ahold of UM coaches but couldn't makes me anoyed that Hoke didn't have time to give him a call back, but does have time for Mitch F'ing Albom. If I were him I'd be on media blackout for the next two+ weeks.

NateVolk

January 14th, 2011 at 6:22 PM ^

When he talks about guys who know how to work at a high level year round, he is talking about guys that played for Rich and his staff. He ran a hard practice and a difficult conditioning program.  Hoke will not have to worry about guys bringing it. Credit the prior coaches for establishing that culture.

Section 1

January 14th, 2011 at 11:42 PM ^

But fuck Mitch Albom and everybody at his stinking newspaper.  Coach Hoke, your team is on probation because of the malevolence of Mitch Albom's newspaper!