Just pissing in the wind

Submitted by MGrad on

First of all, yes I am over "it", and fully supporting the program.  Maybe the right way of expressing my feelings are that I am too exhausted by following the process, and am disconnecting from it as a coping mechanism.  It's not ambivalence, but an act of will.  Nonetheless, I think it's fair to have a discussion about Brandon, the recruiting impact that is unfolding from his timeline and ultimate choice etc.  Yes, it's not the first time this has been put out there - it's probably the hundredth.  This is not about RR.  If you don't want to read any more about Brandon, please move on now.

D.Brandon, the legal pimp that shined during the NCAA investigation has shown a limited ability to think outside the family.  He limited the talent pool available in his search through this artificial "Michigan man" filter, and it cost the program.  I think he made this choice because he was unwilling to do a critical part of his job; working the political angles behind the scenes to "true up" the support of the program from various internal and external factions.  Said pimp hand is now looking shriveled like Voldemort's.  I think that, regardless of one's like or dislike of the the Hoke hire, we all agree on that.  At a minimum, his timeline has led to issues that will surface about 2-3 years from now in the team's available ready-to-contribute talent pool.

Not to belabor it, but why can't Brandon execute a HC and staff change as competently as Florida?  Are the fans of the Michigan program asking too much?

Turning to recruiting, I think that the TVH updates clearly show that recruits are not very excited about the new coaching staff (or lack thereof on the D side).  This aligns with Brian's vocal concern about bringing in someone less proven to take the reins: this year's recruits seem to agree: the initial impression is that the program didn't exactly advance with the change.  At a minimum, to bring some credibility, they had better bring in a star DC who is a recruiting beast to save this important facade.  I don't know if Brandon and Hoke's egos can stand for anything out of the ordinary, but I know that the board contributors have floated many great names for DC, all with the "not going to happen" tag.  The limbo and general lack of excitement is unhealthy for a program like Michigan.  Florida did the HC change properly, and they didn't even go the hypothetical (I know it's done, yes I am over it, move on) path that I suggest below.

Personally, while I can't prove it, I suspect that a head coach hire of an NFL profile like a Gruden, Dungy or even a McDaniels  (I know, any of these may or may not have been feasible) would have saved the recruiting year.  I think that existing recruits would have "stuck", and new recruits would have been excited.  With the current timeline allowed to Hoke until signing day, and the initial stature of the staff itself, this recruiting year is going to create a void similar to what the program experienced in Carr's last season. We all painfully know that there are still many holes that needed filling that will go unaddressed (LB, secondary, big outside receiver come to mind).  A NFL head coach generally has a wider "network" to pull their staff from due to the progressive experience that led to their pinnacle.  Add the NFL background as an obvious attractant for the HS kids, in particular for those with Super Bowl experience.

Sorry to babble on.

JBE

January 17th, 2011 at 1:54 PM ^

The limbo and general lack of excitement is unhealthy for a program like Michigan.

I am excited as a freckled kid with a magic marker.  To me, anything is possible.  

JBE

January 17th, 2011 at 2:13 PM ^

Oh, sure, Mr. BlueDragon, I will be your MGoNeighbor. Perhaps we can watch a liveblog together, and marvel at the new ways in which Denard and the running backs and the tight ends are used.  But remember that no matter what happens it's important to stay positive. Nobody likes an angry fan, because after all it's only football, and even though many of us align a large portion of our identities with Michigan sports, especially football, a loss of a recruit or a loss of a game doesn't make the sun explode.  

MGrad

January 17th, 2011 at 2:02 PM ^

He would be a reach, for sure.  But if you know his background, he would simply own Ohio recruiting, and despite his HC challenges in the NFL, is still thought of highly on the offensive side of the football.  His days and rings with the Patriots would probably add luster in the minds of recruits.

BlueDragon

January 17th, 2011 at 2:04 PM ^

We have to get Ohio recruiting back on-line ASAP.  This is where I think RR really dropped the ball as a recruiter, snake-oil notwithstanding.  If Hoke can get us the next Woodson or Desmond to go along with our Denard, I'm all in.

bluenyc

January 17th, 2011 at 2:03 PM ^

I am guessing that Coach Hoke does not have an ego.  At the SDSU's bowl game, the annnouncers said that he was coaching the D-line and taking orders from the DC.  DB, well, that is another story.

I think it will be tough to bring in a big name for DC at this late stage.  And Shannon may not want to leave the state of Florida. 

bluenyc

January 17th, 2011 at 2:11 PM ^

Mattison, I don't have any ossues there.  What do you think?  I am a worried about Coach Hoke finishing his staff.  I wonder if there is a problem.

Did Coach hoke ever coach under Mattison?

firemedic383

January 17th, 2011 at 2:06 PM ^

Not to belabor it, but why can't Brandon execute a HC and staff change as competently as Florida?  Are the fans of the Michigan program asking too much?

 

Two recent national championships and a program thats in very good shape all around.  And yes .. we are asking too much.  We will get there .. but it wont happen tomorrow.

dieseljr32

January 17th, 2011 at 2:16 PM ^

Why speculate right now about the recruiting class?  Let's just wait and see what unfolds these next couple weeks before signing day.  We may be pleasantly surprised to see who we get. 

BlueInClearwater

January 17th, 2011 at 2:20 PM ^

Although I agree with much that you stated in the OP, I think recruiting has more to do with the ability to create personal bonds with recruits and to have them trust you and like you more than it is being a big name with a large "network". With the internet nowadays, everybody knows who the recruits are and Hoke just needs to establish rapport with these kids and from what everyone says he is great at that. Even Desmond said after speaking to him he wanted to play for him, that means more to me than having a large NFL "network". Don't get me wrong, the "network" would not be a minus but I don't think it is what makes you able to pull in recruits. As far as the rest of this recruiting class, I don't think any of our realistic coaching candidates had a shot at saving everyone. I know you were mostly stating that it's on DB and not Hoke, but any serious candidates (Dungy and Gruden were not coming here) that would have taken the job wouldn't have done any better IMO. Give Hoke the next 15 days before we judge, we don't even have a DC yet. Hopefully Hoke can prove DB made the right call.

S.G. Rice

January 17th, 2011 at 2:22 PM ^

MGoBlog:  Come for the snark, stay for the emo

I'm starting to hope that Hoke hires a complete "WHO DAT" for DC, just because of the inevitable internet meltdown.  Because I want the team to succeed it better be a Who Dat that can actually, you know, coach and recruit and stuff, but still.  Internet meltdowns FTMFW.

jfox

January 17th, 2011 at 2:40 PM ^

I bet one of the things you love about Michigan is the amount of integrity that it has shown over the years, and dealing with internal problems the right way.

You cant have this and also demand David Brandon not live up to his word on how he would conduct the search. He treated Rich Rodriguez like a human being and I respect that over getting some big name by sleazy standards.

Your Florida CC analogy is stupid. Meyer retired, Rodriguez was not retained. Big Difference.

Unfortunately more coaches would rather have the Florida job than the Michigan job right now, I hope that changes soon.

bluebrains98

January 17th, 2011 at 2:48 PM ^

The assumption that different coaches would have had different levels of recruit retention are unfounded. So far, it has seemed that people have left due to changes in the system, not necessarily the coaching personnel*. The speculation that Gruden or whoever else would have caused more of our guys to stick around is not justified. Guys who want to play in a spread offense will go find one (even at the expense of a good education). Maybe other guys would do better in the final weeks of recruiting, but that is yet to be seen. Just keep in mind, most recruits are already committed (to some degree), so pickings are slim no matter who you are at this point.

*The one exception being Matt Goudis, and who the hell knows what his deal is?

cadillacjack333

January 17th, 2011 at 3:07 PM ^

Some momentum would be nice.  Also how about offering all 7 4 and 3 star recruits from Glenville.  Package deal and we can send the U of M bus to pick up everyone's families.  As an added bonus we will give the rest of their graduating seniors preferred walk on status.

LSAClassOf2000

January 17th, 2011 at 3:25 PM ^

"Turning to recruiting, I think that the TVH updates clearly show that recruits are not very excited about the new coaching staff (or lack thereof on the D side).  This aligns with Brian's vocal concern about bringing in someone less proven to take the reins: this year's recruits seem to agree: the initial impression is that the program didn't exactly advance with the change. "

 

I don't think that's quite true, even with the awkward timing of the hire and the relative proximity to NSD. It wasn't going to be a huge class, but it is shaping up to look like we'll get a few people at positions of dire need. I won't expect all the holes to be filled right away, and really, I think there was more of a worry about how the incumbent players would react, and that should be the case anyway. It seems like they'll hold a team together plus a few  more from recruiting, and that's a decent start for Hoke and an as yet incomplete staff.

jmblue

January 17th, 2011 at 4:35 PM ^

D.Brandon, the legal pimp that shined during the NCAA investigation

Out of curiosity, how did he "shine" during the investigation?  We nominally won our appeal of one of the five violations, but the NCAA still tacked on a third year of probation.

lilpenny1316

January 18th, 2011 at 4:38 AM ^

He was willing to show his displeasure towards the Freep and their "reporting" so that earned him some cool points with fans.  He did what he was supposed to do related to the actual dealings with the NCAA behind closed doors and showed a pulse during press conferences.