January 7th, 2011 at 10:44 PM ^
I think you can say goodbye to most Pahokee kids (and a bunch of other recruits and players) if an unknown (not to mention anti-spread guy) like Hoke is our new coach. Say hello to rebuilding all over again.
January 7th, 2011 at 11:00 PM ^
you need to get with it. Hoke ran the spread as SDSU...
January 8th, 2011 at 1:34 AM ^
... the spread, according to Brian's post. I frankly did not mind Hoke, until I read those comments. I don't necessarily buy the "We deserve better" argument; for all I know he may be a good coach that just needs a chance. But if DB said he was looking for a coach able to adapt his approach to the talent available, I don't think Hoke is that guy.
January 7th, 2011 at 10:53 PM ^
to see what the Buckeye fans were saying when Tressel was hired. There were no blogs or message boards back then. They would probably eat him alive like many people are eating Hoke alive. Les Miles may be a good coach but I feel he is an embarrassment waiting to happen again and again.
I think DB is too classy to even consider Les and I think Les knows DB doesn't like him so he goes on national tv saying he has no interest to save face.
January 7th, 2011 at 11:17 PM ^
They were saying much the same things...fanbases always tend to go for huge names, thus all the calls for Gruden and even Dungy here...tOSU fans were convinced that Tressel was small-time, and when they were 6-5 and heading to Michigan as underdogs, there were already calls for firing him and hiring Woody reincarnated...
January 7th, 2011 at 11:17 PM ^
They were saying much the same things...fanbases always tend to go for huge names, thus all the calls for Gruden and even Dungy here...tOSU fans were convinced that Tressel was small-time, and when they were 6-5 and heading to Michigan as underdogs, there were already calls for firing him and hiring Woody reincarnated...
January 7th, 2011 at 11:05 PM ^
new coach is no different than the "search" for a new AD. In order for a search to occur, one must first try to find what is not already found. Carr wins.
January 7th, 2011 at 11:10 PM ^
I don't know where to put this, but Bob Nielson from Minnesota-Duluth (Division 2) would sort of be the equivalent to Tressel. UM-D (NT UM-D) has won 2 of the last three DII championships.
He's relatively young (51, I think), and he seems like he's got it pretty together. It's completely out of the blue, sure, but so was the vest. There's a silly little fluff video about him:
January 7th, 2011 at 11:16 PM ^
It's more properly "Ye Olde Tyme Footeball, " otherwise known as the Hokacalypse.
January 7th, 2011 at 11:21 PM ^
We're going to end up with Wannstache. and Gerg stays at DC.
January 7th, 2011 at 11:22 PM ^
nothing to see here
January 7th, 2011 at 11:28 PM ^
How about some love for Gary Pinkel?
January 7th, 2011 at 11:29 PM ^
ESPN said that Patterson and TCU had agreed to the contract before the Rose Bowl. I don't think he's completely out of the picture yet.
January 7th, 2011 at 11:41 PM ^
The one thing I find kind of funny about this whole search is that no one ever seems willing to take Brandon's words at face value. He said he would wait until after the bowl game to evaluate Rodriguez, and he did. He said he thought Harbaugh was going to the NFL, and he did. All the conspiracies about a secret deal with Harbaugh before the firing, and all the theories about how Harbaugh still might come after the firing were created out of nothing by an obsessed fanbased. Our dislike for the way he is going things is not a reason to assume he has ulterior motives.
On that note, while I'm not thrilled with things now (as a mostly 4th year for Rodriguez guy), I'm not panicking yet. For one, there is no concrete that any of the candidates proposed here - Hoke, Miles, Patterson, Peterson, etc.- other than Fitzgerald were/are even on Brandon's list. They are all just assumptions by the media and fans. Nobody knows what he's thinking. I would guess that the announcement will come pretty much out of the blue and that it will be a surpise. Maybe a DII guy or someone who was considered and rejected. My hope is that since recruiting is already screwed up for this year that he takes his time and picks a guy that will stablize things for the next decade or so.
January 7th, 2011 at 11:45 PM ^
I agree with most of this, though we've only lost one recruit so far. It's isn't screwed up yet. Brandon has kept this bottle tight but people can't help but speculate. We aren't going to hear anything but secondhand rumors until an announcement is made. I'm also not worried yet.
January 7th, 2011 at 11:49 PM ^
Yeah, on recruiting, what I meant was that the most significant damage has likely been done at this point. At least, I don't think another week is going to dramatically change things. This is addressed to the argument that we have to hire a new coach within the next five minutes or we're doomed. Also, I think the real damage is making it difficult to fill the rest of the class (lost opportunities), rather than losing current recruits.
January 7th, 2011 at 11:50 PM ^
No need to panic. There will be plenty of time for that later.
January 7th, 2011 at 11:56 PM ^
Actually, I am impressed by how little is leaking out from this search. IIRC it has been written on this site that Brandon has said in the past that he has a list of candidates since he was hired that is fluid with names being deleted and added based on arising circumstances. Clearly, he is working hard at this. Coaches HAVE been contacted by someone. That is what a search firm is for, so UM and potential coaches have plausible deniability. Brandon has said in the past that his daily routine is working from 7am to 9pm. I am sure he is working even longer in this situation. All will be fine. Be patient. We will have a great coach with a long and successful future.
January 8th, 2011 at 12:10 AM ^
Hoke....one day he might be a good coach, but at this point with U of M losing out on Jim Harbaugh Michigan will look like the ultimate faliure. I can handle Les Miles, after watching the Cotton Bowl tonight, I would take the aggressive defense, and surprisingly the offensive play calling was top notch. Regardless of some of Les Miles short falls, I think at this point he is the man to get it done at Michigan. A proven winner in a tough conference, another 11 win season in dominant fashion, what is not to like? I'm sure Brady Hoke is a "Nice guy" as Jason Whitlock profiled in his article, but right now he is not the right "Michigan Man". We would be the laughinstock of college football if we fired Rich Rod, lost out on what everyone perceived was the guaranteed fit in Jim Harbaugh, only to settle for Jim Belushi's look alike. Right now, my mantra is anyone but "Hoke". Can you imagine the boos in Crisler arena if they tried to introduce him as the head coach? Seriously, one good season at Ball State versus horrible competition doesn't qualify you to be the coach at "Michigan"! This is "Michigan", not MSU.......Brandon better deliver, and deliver in a big fashion, I'm not a season ticket holder but average going to about 4 games a year, if Brady Hoke is the named the head coach I will seriously reconsider my purchases, I love Michigan and as a 1999 alumnist will support anyone as I did with Rich Rod....but please not Hoke....not now, we can't afford another "3" years! Go Blue.....I'm still holding out hope that Brandon has this all in hand....
January 8th, 2011 at 7:29 AM ^
So, Jim Harbaugh has gone to the Forty Niners. Delaware’s K. C. Keeler probably has blown his audition.* The preferred coaches with head coaching experience and years of winning ethically – or at least showing considerably improved performance – at other colleges (Chris Petersen, Gary Patterson, Pat Fitzgerald) seem to be out of the running.
Les Miles apparently never will be acceptable to Michigan’s power brokers, and supposedly he doesn’t want the job, anyway. None of the former NFL head coaches (Tony Dungy, Bill Cowher, Steve Mariucci, Brian Billick, Mike Singletary, Dave Wannstedt, Herman Edwards, Josh McDaniels, Jimmy Johnson, Mike Ditka) appear to make much sense. Vince Lombardi is still dead.
Bringing back Rich Rodriguez with a defensive staff that knows something about (1) teaching fundamentals, (2) devising sensible schemes, (3) playing strong defense and (4) helping coach special teams doesn’t seem to be a realistic option.
Is Dave Brandon left only with offering Brady Hoke a short-term contract that would pay him as much as he’d make over the length of his SDSU contract?
Or is there some other available and interested candidate who has had experience as a head coach of winning teams, is a good recruiter and who could unite the Michigan fanbase? Detroit-born Bob Ladouceur of De La Salle High School (Concord, CA) and Purdue grad George F. Smith of St. Thomas Aquinas High School (Fort Lauderdale, FL) probably are too old. Greg Toal of Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, NJ) and Tony Heath of Pearland, TX High School have no Michigan connections.
*He can get his teams to championship games, but he usually loses them (1-7 record when going for a national championship at Division III and FCS).