OT - Florida fires O.C.
Listening to the phone interview provides some depth into the factors weighing on Brandon and Hoke in considering Borges. Most notably, the common sensical concern any high profile OC would have in coming into an environment with increasingly unhappy fans, where there is the potential for a clean coaching sweep in a year or two.
This helps provide some insight as to the benefits born from Brandon's public display of support for Hoke, in helping the program not only hold high profile recruits, but also provide more comfort to potential replacement OCs in the event we go in that direction.
One major difference re timing - Florida's season is over, Michigan's still have a month. Florida's travails and misadventures in managing this OC change can provide fans a glimpse of what we might be facing come January, again, again, if we go the route of firing my lovely avatar.
December 1st, 2013 at 11:17 PM ^
Penn State, 7-5, though we had a 7 point lead with about a minute left. and missed 2 game winning field goals in OT. MSU 11-1, only game we didn't have a shot. Nebraska, 8-4, we were leading with 8 minutes to go and couldn't hold on. Iowa, 8-4, again, we had a lead in the 4th and couldn't hold on. Ohio, 12-0, couldn't convert the extra point. We lost 4 games by a total of 11 points.
Last year, MSU lost 5 games by a total of 13 points, and finished 7-6. One year later they are 11-1 . The sky is not falling, we've had some bad luck combined with youth on the interior line. We don't need to fire anybody. Stay the course.
December 1st, 2013 at 10:22 PM ^
So long as we are arbitraily applying caveats.
Akron and UConn were bad because of turnovers. UM moved the ball well. The killer turnovers killed drives and scoring opportunities. The same for PSU.
Referencing scholarshio reductions in terms of PSU is crap. That doesn't make the statistics any less relevant.. Also, UM did most of its damage in regulation as they had 34 in regulation even with 3 turnovers.
It was really four games in 12.
December 1st, 2013 at 10:40 PM ^
I think the only common thread is that in the games where he has been successfull, like the three games cited above, the offense was sharp and effective from the start. Against OSU 2013, the first three drives yielded 21 points. What is frustrating are the games when things are not going great but only OK or so-so - there is a also a common thread of not adjusting or making some significant change.
December 1st, 2013 at 7:57 PM ^
I'm not so sure about a strong replacement candidate being a major factor. Can't they get into trouble if they go searching, even behind the scenes, for a replacement before firing a guy? I'm not sure how it works, but Hoke strikes me as the epitome of professionalism. I just can't see him not conducting a coaching change by the book - evaluate after the season, let someone go if he fails to meet Michigan's standards, and then look for a replacement.
December 1st, 2013 at 7:20 PM ^
December 1st, 2013 at 7:31 PM ^
December 1st, 2013 at 7:34 PM ^
December 2nd, 2013 at 1:35 AM ^
on the good seats after a successful 2014 season.
December 1st, 2013 at 8:31 PM ^
Brandon doesn't hire or fire assistant coaches in the first place.
December 1st, 2013 at 7:21 PM ^
December 1st, 2013 at 9:31 PM ^
I agree, you don't want to ruin recruiting by changing regimes close to the end of the recruiting season.
December 2nd, 2013 at 9:53 AM ^
Borges has no active role in recruiting, so replacing him isn't going to affect offensive recruiting.
December 1st, 2013 at 9:40 PM ^
December 1st, 2013 at 8:09 PM ^
Hoke stays loyal and keeps Al for next season. Don't agree with the move, but not my decision.
December 1st, 2013 at 8:58 PM ^
See you fickle fans! I am going to Gainesville. Me and the little lady are getting tans!!!
December 1st, 2013 at 9:41 PM ^
Florida has been atrocious on offense for years given the recruiting talent down there; I'm amazed he lasted this long. Again, I'm not expecting a move at OC this year, but if UM was planning it they would need to move quickly because Florida is going to be in the market at least for a new OC (if not a new coach), and I'm not sure how great the pickings are.
December 1st, 2013 at 9:47 PM ^
For whatever reason, these three critical coaching areas have apparently not meshed well (from an outsiders perspective). That fault does lie with the O.C., but you never know if a positional coaching change is all that is needed/also needed, or a full house cleaning is in order.
December 2nd, 2013 at 2:45 AM ^
December 1st, 2013 at 9:51 PM ^
So Florida gets first crack at a new OC. Make this quick Hoke, get rid of Borges so that Michigan can be in line for a top OC. There is no point in waiting for the bowl game.
December 1st, 2013 at 10:17 PM ^
And under Urban's final days. They got lucky with a great COLLEGE QB who was hard to defend. Muschamp got tired of waiting for Mack Brown to retire and went to follow a local legend. Now FSU, sans the Jameis Winston stuff, has taken back control of the state football lead.
Sounds like the Boise guy either wasn't the mastermind he was alleged to be or got caught under the same "your will run XXX schemes" that Scott Shafer had to deal with as Michigan's one-year DC under Rich Rod and the ill-faetd 3-3-5 D, only Will may want man-ball when Florida teams can run spread.
December 1st, 2013 at 10:18 PM ^
Most people don't have to wait this long and go through so many changes. Witness MSU's O-Line shuffles a few years ago when they still won 10-11 games, in spite of O-Line issues early.
December 1st, 2013 at 11:03 PM ^
MSU wins because of a dominant defense. We don't really have a dominant anything yet.
December 2nd, 2013 at 7:26 AM ^
i wish i could remember which of the recent trolls said we should hire this guy. derp.
December 2nd, 2013 at 9:38 AM ^
Al isn't going anywhere. Just saying.
December 2nd, 2013 at 9:44 AM ^