Why the players love Brady Hoke
There has been some discussion on this board about how it is that Brady Hoke can recruit so well and why it is that players think so much of him. There has even been some skepticism expressed that this is even true.
Much of this doubt comes from his admittedly bland and evasive demeanor in press conferences. In that arena, he often does not come off as a man you would run through a brick wall for.
But there is of course a whole different side of him that the players get to see that we don't. Read this quote from an article in The Wolverine about the team's pre-game routine, specifically the morning wake-up call:
"Even if he is not at your door, you can hear Coach Mattison screaming to wake up," Ryan said. "He's the alarm."Mattison is docile compared to Hoke, however, who unfurls an array of measures to make sure his players' eyes are wide open.
"Coach Hoke comes in jumping on people - he will jump on me and he will pat me on my back and my neck and he'll mess with my hair," said Clark, riled but entertained. "He makes sure he wakes you up."
"I'll land right on top of him, give him a little pop [with my forearm]," Hoke confirmed. "I always do that. I don't have to wake him up, but we have fun. It's just something I've done since I was an assistant coach."
Can you imagine Urban Meyer doing something like that? If I was a player and he did it, I would call the cops.
August 29th, 2014 at 9:43 AM ^
I think things like this are why we use words like "genuine" when describing coach Hoke. He is just an average regular dude, that they can relate to.
August 29th, 2014 at 9:44 AM ^
OR this...
August 29th, 2014 at 12:49 PM ^
.... so ...so ready to see us run onto the field and play football
August 29th, 2014 at 10:07 AM ^
August 29th, 2014 at 9:44 AM ^
put up flag sing the victors wear my game day jersey to einsteins trade insults with ohio fans watch game alone in my man cave
August 29th, 2014 at 9:45 AM ^
wrong thread, dude.
August 29th, 2014 at 9:46 AM ^
August 29th, 2014 at 9:46 AM ^
August 29th, 2014 at 9:45 AM ^
Before I read the post, I was thinking to myself "Hopefully Hoke didn't arrange a pretend murder too."
August 29th, 2014 at 9:47 AM ^
Meyer: *bangs on door * Get the FUCK UP
August 29th, 2014 at 9:51 AM ^
Close.
*bangs on door * Get the FUCK UP.........ASSHOLE!
August 29th, 2014 at 1:10 PM ^
August 29th, 2014 at 9:52 AM ^
I'd love to know what that ref was thinking as he turned around.
August 29th, 2014 at 10:00 AM ^
You don't even have to guess. It starts with "ass" and ends with "hole".
August 29th, 2014 at 10:03 AM ^
Best part of that is the bonus X-tra rage Urban gets when the ref just ignores him.
August 29th, 2014 at 11:23 AM ^
Bobby Petrino???
August 29th, 2014 at 11:23 AM ^
You cracked me up... I remember trying not to swear when I was younger and telling my older brother a story... said the word starts with F and ends in UCK, thinking I was being clever...
He simply says "Firetruck?" I'm sure the humor doesn't translate to the blogosphere, but thanks for the chuckle
August 29th, 2014 at 9:37 PM ^
Years ago on The Soupy Sales Show, Soupy said "Hey kids, what word starts with F and ends with uck?" He answered himself with "firetruck" but the network was not amused. Don't know if Soupy was fired, but he sure was suspended for a while.
August 29th, 2014 at 10:09 AM ^
Laughed.
'Follow your dream? Do something you enjoy?' She said in her high nasal voice, laughing while staring down her nose at me with those vapid empty eyes.
Just walk away, Marky.
Walk away."
August 29th, 2014 at 11:17 AM ^
Urb is thinking. He literally looks as though he's going to kill that ref.
August 29th, 2014 at 9:48 AM ^
I think most of us get it why he's bland in press conferences. Press conferences are a requirement for him. Something he has to do because it's part of the job to work with the media and promote the program. But it's not what drives him to coach or what makes him love his job. Maybe he could be a little more lively in his conferences, but I guarantee that we'll stop nitpicking him if we string together 10 win seasons with a few conference championships and playoff appearances.
I really like the man and am rooting for him to succeed here. Thanks for sharing this snippet.
August 29th, 2014 at 12:21 PM ^
Makes a nice contrast with over-the-top buddy-motivator reported above. He likes his guys, he likes coaching, he likes teaching. He's very coy with the media. You can see the twinkle in his eye when he's refusing to fall into their trap questions. Very talented guy to have both over-the-topness and sublety on tap, showing up when warranted.
August 29th, 2014 at 1:00 PM ^
when it comes to press conferences. . . but he seems to be a lot nicer about it than Carr used to be. . .
Players would do anything for him. a trainer at my gym played for him at Ball State. . . when I told him that I was hoping for Harbaugh, professional courtesy prevented him from beating the shit out of me. . . .He hasn't talked to me since, and I've been at the gym for about 5 years.
August 29th, 2014 at 9:48 AM ^
double post.
August 29th, 2014 at 10:07 AM ^
when I read this article about Hoke (wish I could embed the actual skit):
RIP Chris Farley
Long live Brady Hoke!
August 29th, 2014 at 10:11 AM ^
Ok now I can't stop picturing Frank Clark laying bed pretending to be asleep so Hoke will jump on him and they can wrestle around for a bit then erupt in laughter.
August 29th, 2014 at 10:53 AM ^
I just love Brady Hoke being at Michigan. I love his assistant coaches, I love his family, I love what he is doing at Michigan. I love that criticism largely rolls off his back like water off a duck. I love that the players who come here largely love being here. Hearing how Hoke wakes up Clark is awesome. Hoke does stuff like this because it is who he is, not because someone is looking or not looking. But I have absolutely no doubt that coaches and players and potential recruits and recruit's families and recruit's coaches are looking, and this is the kind of place they want to be part of.
August 29th, 2014 at 11:06 AM ^
Hoke does stuff like this because it is who he is
That is so incredibly true.
Meyer comes into Ohio State and starts his Woody Hayes-copycat "That Team up North" stuff to play to the locals. You just know that he would do the same kind of shtick no matter where he ended up. It's all just cynical theatre.
Meanwhile, Brady Hoke refuses to wear red because it represents Ohio State and he is loyal to Michigan . . . while he is coach at two different schools that have red as their primary color and he has no idea that he will ever be back at Michigan.
This is a man just being who he is.
August 29th, 2014 at 11:49 AM ^
You're pretty much right on in the OP - I think even recruits see this in Hoke, that this is who he really is and it is not a pitch or tactic. We sort of throw around "real recognize real" as a joke sometimes around here, but it is something of a truism throughout the culture of the program right now. This trait of Hoke's by itself bolsters the quality of the incoming talent and has while he's been here, not to mention other things about the program and staff.
August 29th, 2014 at 4:08 PM ^
And one of those schools was his alma mater which goes to show you his utter dedication to Michigan.
August 29th, 2014 at 11:03 AM ^
Hoke is a good guy. I unselfishly hope he wins 14 games this year because he deserves it.
August 29th, 2014 at 11:34 AM ^
Don't you mean 15? 12-week regular season, Big Ten Championship, two rounds of playoffs...
Unselfishly, of course. ;-)
August 29th, 2014 at 11:05 AM ^
Man, I've never pulled so hard for a coach to be successful. He's such a great dude and I believe all the pieces are in place with assistant coaches now (I'm reserving Funk judgment until after this season) and with the caliber of recruits he's bringing in. If we can show we're trending in the right direction this year we're gonna be set for years to come at this rate.
August 29th, 2014 at 11:31 AM ^
We have the easiest schedule I can think of in recent memory. We play both team 118 and Team 122 according to preseason rankings and 7 of our other contest are against teams rated lower than us - we're at 39 - with the closest being MN at 42.
Teams ahead of us are ND at 17 who lost 5 of their players, No. 8 MSU who is in rebuilding mode, and no I don't think they're at the point where they can simply reload. OSU who was at no. 5 was there due in large part to their Heisman hopeful and one of the best player in the game this season. I really don't know why the folks in Columbus aren't more concerned with their team this season. They do have an outstanding DL, but are still building the back 7, Offensively, the are building an OL to protect their new no. 1 qb. I just can't think of a better year for UM being able to circle almost 10 wins for sure on their schedule. It'll never be easier.
August 29th, 2014 at 11:38 AM ^
August 29th, 2014 at 11:32 AM ^
I'm with Mr. Kass on loving the integrity and just plain goodness that Hoke brings. I also agree with the RockinLoud one on reserving judgment on Funk until after the season. But what about Fred Jackson, as well? We haven't had a consistently solid runner since Mike Hart; so six years. It's highly doubtful that most or all of that can be pinned on the OL.
I like Jackson, but I'm beginning to wonder whether he's not suffering from a chronic case of late-stage Lloyditis.
August 29th, 2014 at 12:05 PM ^
Interestingly that drop in running back production came with a change in offensively philosophy. Under RichRod's system the running backs weren't going to get as much production. The last couple of years the offensive line play has been horrible which has nothing to do with coach Jackson.
Fitzgerald Toussaint ran pretty well last night and may make the NFL roster. He ran well in 2011 and he may have done well in 12 and 13 except for things outside of his control.
I would say the jury is still out on Fred Jackson.
August 29th, 2014 at 12:37 PM ^
..................I just said it in the Rawls thread - if the Oline is not blocking successfully, it is impossible to have running back success. I just want this season to start so they all can kick butt and take names!
August 29th, 2014 at 12:17 PM ^
I would tend to agree with you concerning Coach Jackson were it not for the fact that he's been retained despite the coaching changes -- that HAS to say something positive about the guy, no?
August 29th, 2014 at 4:42 PM ^
August 29th, 2014 at 6:57 PM ^
Hoke is probably a great guy and genuine. Hate me if you want, but I'd like to see some more wins.
August 29th, 2014 at 10:58 PM ^