Norfleet Interview
Saw this pop up on twitter:
http://www.mlive.com/wolverines/index.ssf/2014/09/dennis_norfleet_passi…
While I think it is great that the players support Hoke, I am very surprised that the program is allowing them to talk to the media.
If given the chance, I'm sure we would all like to reassure the kids that we aren't criticizing their play or effort. And maybe ask them to talk to someone like Devin who was here when RR got canned. I'm sure Devin thought RR was a great guy who supported him, and all of the players. That doesn't mean he was the right coach, at the right time, for Michigan.
September 24th, 2014 at 11:40 AM ^
September 23rd, 2014 at 8:44 PM ^
September 23rd, 2014 at 8:52 PM ^
"I took it to heart this morning, they were really talking down on coach Hoke, saying his time is coming," Norfleet said. "Coach Hoke does a lot. For me and the team. There have been times when I needed to see my family at a critical time, or I needed to see my daughter and he was there by my side throughout the way. It's more than (just) football. In life, he's a good coach. And right now, the way people are talking about him I don't feel -- and the team doesn't feel -- that it's right."
I pull this out as an example of something - we can quibble (and rightly) about game management and the record and so forth, but there is an overarching idea here which is the right one, I think, regardless of our own evaluations of Hoke. That is to say, that the family culture and family atmosphere is pretty much installed as a cultural value and I would be a lot more worried if players weren't saying things like this. If Norfleet's words are representative of the prevailing feeling in the locker room then clearly Hoke has got what I think is a key cultural component to team success spot on, at least in my opinion. Obviously, there are plenty of examples of teams which are successful where the coach isn't quite so likeable.
September 23rd, 2014 at 9:00 PM ^
It should be pretty obvious by now that there is no real correlation between the personal feelings many people have about Coach Hoke (pretty much universally positive) and the success of the football teams he coaches, as defined by wins and losses, which I'm pretty sure is what you mean by the term "team success".
"The likeable coach is well-liked" is pretty much a tautology.
September 23rd, 2014 at 10:33 PM ^
September 23rd, 2014 at 8:57 PM ^
Most importantly, it looks like Dennis isn't seriously hurt from the game, which is great. It looked like he maybe separated his shoulder there.
Secondly, I don't think this is a concerted effort by Hoke or Brandon or whoever to drum up support. The media is regularly given access to certain players every week, so nothing new there. I think Mattison and his players genuinely care about Hoke and when prompted by the media about criticism, the jump to defend him is organic and authentic.
September 23rd, 2014 at 9:02 PM ^
I guess I'm just used to them being interviewed while sitting at a table in the press conference room. I'm not saying it is a bad thing these guys are talking to the media, just that it was surprising because it looked so informal.
September 23rd, 2014 at 9:10 PM ^
The post games are usually at a table, but a lot of the interviews are just off to the side. The players often all do their interviews simultaneously so reporters go interview and listen to whoever they're interested in doing a story on any given week, so the spread out and set up where ever there's room.
September 23rd, 2014 at 8:59 PM ^
September 23rd, 2014 at 9:12 PM ^
LOL...the hypocritical grammar error was totally expected too
Me personally, I find run-on sentances more annoying.
September 24th, 2014 at 8:35 AM ^
September 23rd, 2014 at 9:17 PM ^
Speaking in proper English is as important, if not more so, than the formal classes that the players are taking. They may forget what they learn in classes or it may be outdated in the future but the ability to speak proper English will stay with them in their everyday life.
September 23rd, 2014 at 10:19 PM ^
Did it dawn on you that when criticising somebody's grammar it would probably be best to do it with correct grammar?
September 23rd, 2014 at 9:41 PM ^
Someone should have proofread your post. "I cringed" everytime you used phrases like "have had as good of education as me". I would further recommend completely removing the comma key from your computer.
September 23rd, 2014 at 10:37 PM ^
September 24th, 2014 at 8:52 AM ^
Agreed.
September 23rd, 2014 at 9:49 PM ^
I agree. I'm usually not one to criticize grammar, but that was deplorable. Embarassing.
September 23rd, 2014 at 9:52 PM ^
Well he's not writing a paper, is he? He's talking casually to the media, so shut the hell up. Btw, only a narcissistic a-hole puts his year and degree in his account name.
September 23rd, 2014 at 10:30 PM ^
Your comment reads like a thinly veiled shot at one of our esteemed mods/resident brony. Is it?
September 23rd, 2014 at 11:35 PM ^
No. LSA is a huge, nonspecific field with thousands of graduates. DDS is just trying to be douchey.
September 24th, 2014 at 9:19 AM ^
Thanks dick. He is talking to the media and representing the university. "So shut the hell up." BTW, the account name is who I am. It is what I do. The picture is of me. There are many other people on here who designate who they are. For example : Mgolaw, alum96, umgradmsudad, mgodoc, finance-PhD, and I am sure others. I am not hiding behind an avatar and a psuedonym. You have the audacity to call yourself Lord Grantham? That's rich.
September 24th, 2014 at 11:51 AM ^
Is almost undoubtedly a douche.
That is all.
September 23rd, 2014 at 10:20 PM ^
September 24th, 2014 at 12:53 AM ^
Just guessing that not every MGoBlogger will recognize or understand your Professor Higgins reference.
September 24th, 2014 at 8:44 AM ^
I usually like your posts and find them thoughtful, UofMDDS96 (so I did not neg you). But when you criticize someone's grammar, you probably should not do so with this sentence:
I am sure I will get negged for being hard on someone who may not have had as good of education in high school, and that may be how their friends talk, but as an employer, it would be hard to hire anyone with such poor grammar.
September 24th, 2014 at 9:24 AM ^
It is obviously very difficult to critique grammar when I screw it up. My point still stands, albeit on shaky legs supported by commas.
September 24th, 2014 at 12:19 PM ^
It's not all bad. An angel got its wings when user Mat responded to your post with "(m)e personally, I find run-on sentances more annoying."
I sincerely admire your taking the towel snaps like a gentleman. That stated, I disagree with your original point. So long as a player is speaking naturally and not coming off like a jackass, I'm OK if he's not speaking the Queen's English. Norfleet did just fine by my lights, and I'm happy to have him representing the team.
September 23rd, 2014 at 9:15 PM ^
It's good to see a player (and hopefully the team) fired up about something. I'm happy to see they're taking responsibility. Now they have something to fight for. Let's see if it translates on the field. . .
September 23rd, 2014 at 9:36 PM ^
September 23rd, 2014 at 9:43 PM ^
When you get to year four and beyond, the coach is responsible for the players he brought in. If they are the problem, the coach is still the problem. We'd have to wait one more year for a team that is 100% Hoke's, but I'm not optimistic about the results improving.
September 23rd, 2014 at 9:42 PM ^
Not actually, the way we're playing. But he will finish the season here. And I am cheering for a miraculous turnaround and a 9-3 finish so we CAN keep him and feel good about it. He's a great man. Maybe not a great coach, but he has 8 games left to prove otherwise.
Go Blue, Beat Minnesota.
September 23rd, 2014 at 9:46 PM ^
has insinuated that Hoke isn't a great guy or that the kids don't like him.
September 23rd, 2014 at 11:10 PM ^
September 24th, 2014 at 12:22 AM ^
At this point in a lot of these discussions I can't tell when someone is saying something that really reflects what they would truthfully convey versus when they are expressing snarky humor. When I have been able to tell, then some of the truth has been good, and some of the snark has been just plain excellent.
September 23rd, 2014 at 9:52 PM ^
He's the right guy for the program, all the way. I just really want him to be the right coach, as well. That would help.
September 23rd, 2014 at 9:53 PM ^
But college football, sadly, is a business. Especially for him, considering the exorbitant amount of money he's getting paid. And in any business, if you don't get results, you get shown the door. Good character and the ability to get along with people only get you so far.
I have zero say in the matter, but Hoke needs results and he needs them now. I want Hoke to be the guy. I really do. But he's shown close to nothing that convinces me he should be the guy. Here's to hoping you prove me wrong over the next 8 weeks, Hoke.
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September 23rd, 2014 at 10:10 PM ^
September 23rd, 2014 at 10:38 PM ^
September 23rd, 2014 at 10:59 PM ^
September 23rd, 2014 at 11:28 PM ^
September 24th, 2014 at 12:01 AM ^
Beat the fucking 5 win team at home. This team is not good at football. Would you rather the fans ignore that fact, pack the stadium to the brim, and cheer like soccer moms while they get fucking pummeled by a team that, again, won 5 games last year and is breaking in basically an entirely new defense?
I would fucking LOOOOOOVE if people did that at my job. I would love if I got to fuck up that badly and people would just say "well, it happens. I'll keep purchasing from you in the hopes that you eventually stop fucking up!" But that's not how life works. You fuck up enough, people get mad, and you lose your job.
You want the fans to support the coaches? Get them to stop being so bad at their jobs
September 24th, 2014 at 1:11 AM ^
September 24th, 2014 at 9:20 AM ^
Speak for yourself. As someone who has spent years playing music in front of people for money - yes, sometimes when I fuck up there are spectators to boo me. ...and getting boo'ed is pretty much a guarantee of never seeing that gig again, so spectators do functionally have the ability to fire you. Of course when I first started getting boos I wasn't a full grown man like Brady Hoke, or even an "18-22 year old kid"... I was 15. I also wasn't getting $4 million a year or a full-ride scholarship, just $50-$100.
September 24th, 2014 at 12:41 PM ^
September 24th, 2014 at 6:54 AM ^
September 24th, 2014 at 12:13 AM ^
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September 24th, 2014 at 3:03 AM ^
September 24th, 2014 at 3:09 AM ^
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September 24th, 2014 at 5:47 AM ^
September 24th, 2014 at 9:54 AM ^