When did Hoke lose you?

Submitted by Rodriguesqe on

Simple question. I know, timing is weird with us having one last shot at salvaging a bowl game but the situation only embigens the question.

For me, the first dent in the armor was Penn State last year where it seemed like the coaching staff lost us the game. That was the first time I wondered if we had the right guys in charge.

The final nail in the coffin was Utah, which in hindsight doesn't look quite as bad but in context was unbearable.

But I think he lost me during the bowl game last year. Again, another loss that looks a little better in hindsight. But the team that showed up at that bowl game looked uninspired and unprepared. Sort of set the tone for all of 2014. Also, was the impetus for my username (and also explanation for the spelling--alcohol).

Mocha Cub

November 18th, 2014 at 9:02 PM ^

I don't think he ever really had me to lose, but like a lot of diehard Michigan fans, that initial press conference and the way he talked about Michigan put me a little more at ease. Then 11-2 happened and the Sugar Bowl win and I thought maybe this guy was a miracle worker. "The Stretch" last year against Akron, UConn and Penn State really confirmed my initials fears. Followed up by blowing a huge lead against a subpar Iowa team and then the way they shit the bed in the bowl game.

I started to buy back in at the beginning of this year because I figured his recruits were a year older and the line would gel earlier than it did. Then Notre Dame happened. If you can't get your team up for a better performance against one of your biggest rivals in the last game of the series for the forseeable future, then you really don't belong at a major college program.

kjblue42

November 18th, 2014 at 9:04 PM ^

The moment I saw him wearing black pants with the colors of the Wolverines.. Where was his wife when he made this fashion blunder?? Then!.. He even got Jim Brandstatter to participate! I knew we were in trouble.

WolverineHistorian

November 18th, 2014 at 9:07 PM ^

Everyone has pretty much said what I feel.

It's so depressing because I never dreamed it would have gotten THIS bad. When he was hired in 2011 and the rest of the college football world was like, "Seriously? Brady Hoke is the best coach Michigan could get?" I didn't have a strong opinion either way. But I really, really liked it when Hoke said he would have walked from California to be the head coach here because it was his dream job. And I was REALLY hoping he would have success.

We all know what's happened since. And it's got to stop. Players not developing. Us constantly making awful teams look like world beaters. Getting blown out by our rivals and not seeming very embarrassed by it. No emotion, no anger on the sidelines...just endless clapping. It's been a disaster and it's time for Hoke to move on.

Felix.M.Blue

November 18th, 2014 at 9:13 PM ^

Horrible game. Especially when you drove there to see it.

I was already on the fence but that was it for me.

It wouldn't have broke my heart if they would have got rid of him after the bowl game last year.

umichshea

November 18th, 2014 at 9:23 PM ^

Without question it was PSU last year. That wasn't the first time I questioned him but it was when I knew I was done with him. That loss was completely on coaching and came on the heels of two very shaky wins.

lunchboxthegoat

November 18th, 2014 at 9:39 PM ^

When we changed OCs and the offense looks and performs nearly identically. It's clear Hoke has mandated certain things be in the game plan results be damned. This is a broken, antiquated scheme that he clings to like this phantom of a "Michigan Man" that haunts this program. We need an exorcism, a program transfusion and Hoke is part of that.




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Stringer Bell

November 18th, 2014 at 9:59 PM ^

Notre Dame. I was expecting some major improvement this year, and knew that the ND game would be very telling. Well, the game was very telling, that we were even worse than last year. That's when I knew Hoke just wasn't the answer, everything that has ensued since then has just been confirmation.

fergusg

November 18th, 2014 at 10:04 PM ^

Not yet. Not a great coach but he sticks up for the kids and keeps at it. If he is let go at end of the year I won't be sad about it. But I continue to root for him and the team while they play.




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StephenRKass

November 18th, 2014 at 10:10 PM ^

Hoke never lost me. That doesn't mean I am going to argue for him, nor does it mean that I'll stop going to games when he is fired. But he never lost me, and I still think Hoke is a good coach. I'm almost at the point where I'd like to see the team win against Maryland, Ohio State, and the Bowl Game, and Hoke still get fired. That way, the majority of the fans who think he is the problem will be satisfied with blood. Many great recruits will jump ship. And we'll get to experience what a real tire fire is.

This post of mine is stupid, and invites a negative response. It reminds me of the reason why I need to just walk away from the blog altogether. I guess I just strongly dislike the presumption of the question, "when did Hoke lose you?" The fan/blog hive mind is an incredible thing, which is beyond me to stand against.

Stringer Bell

November 18th, 2014 at 10:17 PM ^

Just curious, but how could you possibly think he's a good coach after watching this downward spiral for the past 3 years?  These 4 and 5 star players that he brings in look like they're still in their freshmen years of high school.  His in game coaching is horrendous.  His only positive attribute is that he's a personable guy.

aiglick

November 19th, 2014 at 10:29 AM ^

Again with the hive mind. It's not like these are baseless opinions. There is plenty of evidence that Hoke has incontrovertibly been a poor coach for our team. He has regressed every single year and apparently can't get out of his own way. Hoke's problem is that he is not detail oriented and can't control everything as well as other coaches at this level. People say he's a nice guy well unfortunately being a nice guy is not the only thing that matters.

I personally wonder if Hoke feels any empathy for RichRod because he is now just starting to reach the levels of antipathy that was bestowed on our former coach from almost day one.

You are certainly allowed your opinion but pretty much all the evidence seems to point to Hoke not being the guy at this level.

I sincerely hope the next guy is given the support of Hoke and is an innovator like RichRod who most certainly changed the game into something our program just doesn't seem to want to incorporate. This next hire is going to either turn us around or won't have a problem hanging on since I think another failure will break our will after this extended mediocrity in which we've been mired.

C'est la vie.

Perkis-Size Me

November 18th, 2014 at 10:13 PM ^

If I had to boil it down to one singular moment, it was probably Shane-Gate. That was coaching malpractice at its finest. Completely disregard the atrocities happening on the field. Hoke's inability to protect his own players made me not want him leading this program anymore. But my faith in Hoke has eroded ever since Notre Dame 2012.

-Hoke's inability to prepare a backup for Denard in the Nebraska game. Bellomy looked like he'd never played football before when he was out there.
-Completely taking Denard out of the OSU offensive gameplan in the second half of what was a very winnable game in 2012. Hoke and Borges single-handedly prevented us from scoring a huge upset and momentum boost in the rivalry.
-Almost adding App State versions II and III against Akron and UConn last year.
-Playing not to lose at Penn State last year.
-Getting curb stomped by MSU, this year and last.
-Getting out-coached by Bo F-ing Pelini and Kirk F-ing Ferentz last year.
-Getting shut out and embarrassed by Notre Dame in the last game of the series.
-Getting outclassed by Minnesota. Yeah, they're a good team this year, but we should still be able to beat up on them.




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Leonhall

November 18th, 2014 at 10:18 PM ^

Honestly, and I'm being honest, I doubted him SERIOUSLY his first game when he wasn't wearing a headset, I didn't lose faith in him, I just seriously scratched my head, I still don't understand how you can be a head football coach and not wear a headset....




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imablue

November 18th, 2014 at 10:55 PM ^

UM vs OSU 2012, it looked like the entire game plan changed at halftime, and we couldn't score another point. That halftime adjustment made me doubt him from then on.

mich728

November 18th, 2014 at 11:12 PM ^

Hoke lost me after the ND game this year. 
 
Unfortunately, Michigan as a program is going to lose me entirely; depending on the outcome of the upcoming coaching search.
 

Hate_anything_…

November 19th, 2014 at 12:11 AM ^

It's hard for me to say this, but I've been feeling very similar.

It's hard, because I remember the days when Michigan was awesome. And I remember watching those games with members of my family that were very important and influential to me, that are now gone.

So, it's very hard for me to let go, but unfortunately I am quickly losing interest.

wolverinebutt

November 18th, 2014 at 11:09 PM ^

First, all the posts of he never had me? That first year with the bowl win I think he had 90+ percent of us. Come on now.
I knew he would lose his job with the Minnie loss.
I watched the entire Rutgers game and knew for myself he had to go after that mess of a game.
Four things this year:
1 - QB play(I love Devin, but its been a tough year).
2 - D has not been there at critical times - Gary Nova'ed.
3 - O-line - They have been slower to develop then my facial hair in high school.
4 - Not having Peppers - I hope to see Superman Peppers next season. What a talent!!!

lilpenny1316

November 18th, 2014 at 11:09 PM ^

I'm sorry, but I never liked the hire. I thought he was a step back from where RR was trying to take the offense and was a capable D-Coordinator away from having us do what OSU is doing this year: Have an unstoppable offense with a more than capable defense.

lilpenny1316

November 18th, 2014 at 11:12 PM ^

I'm sorry, but I never truly cared for him.  I thought he was a step back from RichRod as I assumed he was a capable d-coordinator away from doing exactly what OSU has done since Meyer arrived: Have an unstoppable offense and a capable defense.  

ryanlove12

November 18th, 2014 at 11:19 PM ^

I began to question him last year. I mean, You keep the Denard offense for Denard, but then see Devin run it better and make him run man ball. Then they fired Borgrs and I thought.... Eh. Maybe. Then the Notre Dane game was brutal I thought.... Oh well, maybe we will actually buckle down and not shrink from the hype of beating an overrated ND in September this year. Then Utah happened. I had no words. I've never been that sick over a sports team. I literally would have rather fucked a cheese grater.

los barcos

November 19th, 2014 at 12:15 AM ^

the Russell bellomy Nebraska game. Odd thing about that game is we were in the drivers seat to goto the big ten championship game - I still think if denard never gets hurt we would be playing in Indy that year. Which would have completly changed the perception of the program - but alas it wasn't meant to be.

UMfan21

November 19th, 2014 at 12:19 AM ^

Some time between the 2nd half of ND and the first half of Miami.  That's when I realized what a tire fire this season was and how the team did not progress at all during the off season.

AMazinBlue

November 19th, 2014 at 1:05 AM ^

When UM had 4th & 10 from ND 26 and he chose to go for it instead of kicking the FG and preserving the shutout streak. His lack of knowledge of the record and stubbornness to try to prove a point made it clear he was not the right man to lead this program. When Gardner was sacked I said "that's it! You need to be fired!"

MGoneBlue

November 19th, 2014 at 1:14 AM ^

Minnesota game.  Three series after it's painfully obvious to all <100,000 fans in the stadium that Shane Morris can barely walk, let alone play quarterback, Devin Gardner comes in and almost effortlessly leads a touchdown drive, but it's too late to make the game competitve.  Guy just didn't know how to win when he had the tools.

Mpfnfu Ford

November 19th, 2014 at 1:33 AM ^

1. I was one of the people who got queasy when he got hired, and he never really convinced me he knew what he was doing when he hired Borges to coach Denard instead of finding some non-Rich Rod connected spread OC out there. I wanted him to be a Stoops who would hire a tough offense to defend and concentrate on the defense, and instead he hired a mediocre pro style OC and asked him to figure out how spread works while they had Denard. 
 
2. The point I was convinced he had no idea how an offense should look was when Denard got hurt and we subsequently found out that that they looked and Russell Bellomy and Devin Gardner and thought Russell was the better option.  
 
3. Kansas State was when it became clear this would probably not ultimately work out, because Shane showed nothing there. 
 
4. Notre Dame this year was the point where him being fired became a real possibility, because it was clear Borges was not the sole cause of the offense being garbage. 
 
5. Minnesota was when I knew he would not see year five. Putting aside ConcussionGate, Shane Morris looked like walk on 4th string thrown into a game due to horrible injury luck, not like a guy who could run the offense in a year. It took away the last hope for Hoke that maybe Devin wasn't all that good and that Shane could take off and save his job.