This thread is not 200 long yet; continue arguing here
Come on...you know you want to.
I'll start: Glen Steele likes Brady Hoke more than you do-
"Coach Hoke has a defensive mind-set, he's a defensive guy, and he loves to coach — he loves what he's doing and being around the guys," said Glen Steele, a defensive end on Carr's 1997 national championship team, which had Hoke as its defensive line coach.
"I'm a huge supporter of Coach Hoke. When you're looking for someone to come in and address where this team is and where it could be, I don't think there's any better guy."
"It's hard to characterize him because he's such an overall good guy," Steele said. "But he knows when to kick it up, and he also knows when to say to a player: 'Hey, we've got to re-focus and get this done.'
"With coaches, there's always a point where screaming and yelling and getting guys fired up is important, and then there's the time when you say: 'Hey, we're all in this together and we've gotta pick it up.' With a coach like him, you don't have to throw fuel on the fire. Players wantto play for him."
(From the dreaded Henning article that Brian linked from the DetNews)
Don't feel you have to talk about Hoke. Open CC/Brandon/everything ever other thread is.
Anyone subjecting themselves to the GoDaddy.com Bowl with (nt)Miami and MTS?
January 6th, 2011 at 9:44 PM ^
January 6th, 2011 at 9:48 PM ^
Gruden has a very impressive NFL track record, but the complete lack of meaningful college experience (yes, I know he was an assistant for a few years way back when) really concerns me. There's such a big difference between being an NFL X's and O's success and being able to develop college kids -- just ask Charlie Weis.
I'm not saying Gruden is Weis, but I would much, MUCH rather have a guy who's been successful as a major college coach.
January 6th, 2011 at 9:56 PM ^
Assistants with lots of college experience, who can handle the recruiting, and Gruden can be the closer. If a few of them (not all), that could smooth over things with the department, alumni, and help guide Gruden around the block (which Rich didn't have).
January 6th, 2011 at 9:57 PM ^
Especially on the offensive side of the ball and he had zero college experience and resembled a beached walrus. Wannstache did too, and neither of those guys has Gruden's resume. I don't see Gruden having any problem landing talent. From just a leader/figurehead standpoint Gruden also seems like a great choice. He seems to have looked into the college game a lot recently as well and I doubt he'd have any trouble adapting from an X's and O's perspective.
I can't imagine he would have a hard time finding coordinators to come join him (could even keep Magee possibly). He's also walking into a situation totally set up for success next season if departures are avoided.
Still feels like a pipe dream, but I would be thrilled with the hire.
January 6th, 2011 at 9:55 PM ^
It's a LOT harder to go from college to the pros than vice versa. He's a widely known name that would bring ferocity and, by my estimate, he'd be an awesome recruiter too. I just don't think that if his old stomping grounds in SFla can't bring him back to the coaching fold, he'll probably not be coming to Michigan.
January 6th, 2011 at 9:56 PM ^
Jon Gruden is the name people throw out there when they believe you're headed down the Notre Dame path.
Don't take the bait.
January 6th, 2011 at 10:20 PM ^
Why's Gruden not a player? All I've read says he's part of the conversation. Not sure if it makes sense or not but it's a big name that would seemingly require big money and that's what DB wants. Although he also wants a good recruiter and wtf do we know about Gruden and recruiting?
January 6th, 2011 at 10:28 PM ^
It is much more fun to just roll with it and believe anything is possible until you end up with the fat guy that hasn't done anything to deserve the job.
January 6th, 2011 at 10:54 PM ^
Gruden is not a player dude. He has denied all other college offers. Believe it or not, Michigan is not the best job in the football world. Sorry for being a prick, but come on. I've heard people mention Stoops as well. Hell, why not call Mack Brown while we're at it.
/rant
January 6th, 2011 at 10:39 PM ^
ironically, Gruden's father was an assistant coach at ND.
January 6th, 2011 at 10:01 PM ^
He has NFL experience (which they prefer) and word is the 49ers will not match the dolphins offer. (source inside SF HQ)
Not saying Jim wouldn't take the offer but it's lower than Ross's. It's day 2 with Ross & Jim holding DB by the balls. Now back to our regular scheduled programming - what the F#$% are we gonna do now? Drink...yes, keeeeeeep drink'in.
January 6th, 2011 at 10:22 PM ^
Gruden is my absolute number one choice right now. The thing that clinches it for me is that about a year ago he considered becoming an assistant at Oregon to learn Chip Kelly's offense -- talk about someone who's willing to adapt. Tons of experience with pro-style offenses, yet enamored with the spread, and has presided over amazing defenses. Yes, please.
January 6th, 2011 at 9:44 PM ^
OMG Pelini likes us too? SIAP...I'm not scrolling through all of those threads and it doesn't seem to have its own.
January 6th, 2011 at 9:48 PM ^
I worry about his temper and how he would do under pressure, but he's racked up a lot of wins...
January 6th, 2011 at 9:51 PM ^
(Legit question, not trying to be an ass) But does Pelini actually lose his temper outside of that one incident? Or does everyone just portray him as a horrible hot-headed person because of his one incident with Martinez. I can't imagine he's that much worse than RR or most coaches out there
January 6th, 2011 at 10:00 PM ^
The first time I ever saw Pelini was at halftime of the Sparty-Nebraska Alamo Bowl back when he was named the interim coach for the bowl game. He was interviewed at half-tiime, and gave some fuming, spittle-laced rant, which was totally incomprehensible, other than it was clear he thought Nebraska could be playing better, and I think his team was up a few touchdowns at the time. Duder gets pretty wired.
January 6th, 2011 at 10:02 PM ^
Well. I'd still rather have an angry coach than a douchey coach (lookin at you, Les)
January 6th, 2011 at 10:28 PM ^
Me too. Plus he waxed Sparty in the Dant-alamo Bowl.
January 6th, 2011 at 9:50 PM ^
I met Pelini's daughter at Quickie Burger. She was a UM student the same time I was, so depending on how old she is, I guess she could still be there which may be a big influence. I asked her why she went to UM and not Nebraska and she said that her dad wanted her to have a better education than Nebraska could ever offer. I thought that was cool.
January 6th, 2011 at 9:52 PM ^
So he's a smart'n too
January 6th, 2011 at 9:58 PM ^
Since he went to OSU.
January 6th, 2011 at 10:05 PM ^
Scratch that. I just checked to see what his daughter's name was (on husker's website), but none of his kids are old enough to be who I talked to. Maybe it was his niece lol. This conversation definitely did happen though. I feel like the Detroit media with my questionable sources. Good thing you guys can't neg me... yet.
January 6th, 2011 at 10:05 PM ^
That's pretty awesome. Makes me like Pellini more.
January 6th, 2011 at 9:51 PM ^
I thought this was a gem:
"Pelini reportedly turned down the Miami (Fla.) job this offseason, which could be an indication he's willing to leave Nebraska."
Talk about rumor mongoring. He turned down another top job, that's an indication that he IS willing to leave nebraska? To me it is an indication of the opposite.
January 6th, 2011 at 9:53 PM ^
That made no sense to me either, but I ignored it
January 6th, 2011 at 9:59 PM ^
Yeah, but that still means he entertained the offer.
Many coaching offers are completely ignored.
January 6th, 2011 at 10:10 PM ^
Yeah, plus there's "[s]omeone with knowledge of the situation believ[ing] Nebraska coach Bo Pelini will likely entertain the thought of coaching the Wolverines should school athletic director Dave Brandon approach him." The article has more than the free-association reference to "interest" in the Miami job.
Question is whether this is an attempt to leverage a better deal from Nebraksa now that the school is joining the big ten and, ipso facto, has deeper pockets...
January 6th, 2011 at 10:11 PM ^
That's like Patterson's quote earlier today that he'd "cross that bridge if he gets there," referring to the Michigan position. Certainly seems like the door is at least cracked for both these guys.
January 6th, 2011 at 10:29 PM ^
We should fear all of these "feelers" that are announced through the press. Occaisonally, a leak happens, but more often than not it's a coach's agent who wants to re-negotiate a contract.
January 6th, 2011 at 11:03 PM ^
You have to be offered the job to turn it down. You generally have to do an interview to receive an offer. If you do an interview, it generally means you are interested in taking another job.
Not to mention that you are basically implying that the only way to have interest in taking another job is to accept it.
January 6th, 2011 at 9:52 PM ^
He has a hell of a lot better resume than anyone else I can think of on the list other than Patteron.
January 6th, 2011 at 9:52 PM ^
But against way better competition...
January 6th, 2011 at 10:07 PM ^
Barnett won the Big 12 North 4 out of 5 years and it got him fired. To me Pelini is a great DC and a not-disastrous head coach who inherited some pretty good players from a guy who was a great recruiter and a disastrous head coach. Not saying he isn't good, but I'm not all that impressed just yet.
January 6th, 2011 at 10:52 PM ^
i don't think it was barnett's record that got him fired. more like the hookers and off the field issues, iirc.
January 6th, 2011 at 10:57 PM ^
and 70-3 against Texas in the Big 12 title game. Fans wanted him out. The outside shit only pissed them off because it made recruiting damn near impossible with Barnett too.
January 6th, 2011 at 10:58 PM ^
would be an outstanding hire. He's a great coach. Just look how's he's brough Nebraska back to relevance. Only thing is...would he want to coach at Michigan since he's an OSU guy? Here's to hoping!
January 6th, 2011 at 9:44 PM ^
is from the future!!! The Future....
January 6th, 2011 at 9:45 PM ^
Meh, I am sure he is a good coach and all but he is a fatty. /s
Like I said before you don't talk about how you are going to pay top dollar for a coach if he is number one on your list. You send him a singing telegram and a bottle of Riunite and tell him to get his ass to Ann Arbor on the next train.
My first choice would have been to keep RR, but since DB fucked that up, Mullen or Patterson would be great. Maybe even splash the pot and bring in a big time defensive coordinator. Throw money on this mess at all costs because if this happens again in 3 years this program is proper fucked. So go big or go home. God speed Dave Brandon. God speed
January 6th, 2011 at 10:01 PM ^
How long Mullen and Diaz had worked together? Were they tight, or just working together a short time? Because if he could work for his buddy at an equivalent school, maybe we could pry him away from Texas. (No, I don't think it's likely...but we're all grasping at straws),
January 6th, 2011 at 10:07 PM ^
It was his first year there. And previous to that he had one year of DCing at Middle Tenn.
January 6th, 2011 at 10:29 PM ^
January 6th, 2011 at 9:45 PM ^
... I still think Dick York made a much better Darren than Dick Sargent. And, I know people like the underdog, but I'm taking Ginger over Mary Anne 7 times out of 10.
January 6th, 2011 at 10:34 PM ^
This is the real debate. I'm with you on Dick York, unquestionably a better Darren. I tried to +1 you, but voting is still screwy. Glad some people are tackling the real issues here.
January 6th, 2011 at 9:46 PM ^
what the hell's this all about? http://phinphanatic.com/2011/01/06/breaking-news-number-2-sparano-fired/
Sparano has been recently rumored, although I believe them to be unfounded, to possibly be heading to Michigan to coach the Wolverines. One of the reasons they say he has been hanging around. My source doesn’t believe it but stated he didn’t know one way or the other. He has also been rumored to have interest in UConn as well.
My other source has yet to confirm this information…so stay tuned.
January 6th, 2011 at 9:51 PM ^
Not that I don't think "phinphanatic.com" isn't credible...but.....yeah....
January 6th, 2011 at 9:57 PM ^
Now shades? Oh my.
January 6th, 2011 at 9:58 PM ^
If that happens I'll eat my hat
January 6th, 2011 at 10:05 PM ^
Fucking trading coaches with Ross.
January 6th, 2011 at 10:14 PM ^
nor would I.
I would however trade net worth
January 6th, 2011 at 10:16 PM ^
I'd even give him a percentage/ratio discount.