September 4th, 2011 at 12:55 AM ^
Maybe because of the rain?
September 4th, 2011 at 12:56 AM ^
Confidence in his coordinators, who wouldn't have it. He doesn't feel as though he has to micromanage the game.
September 4th, 2011 at 12:25 PM ^
what did you say to people when people are taking points away from you for what seems like a valid and most likely correct answer.
September 4th, 2011 at 12:34 PM ^
seriously!
September 4th, 2011 at 1:30 AM ^
A headset is far more primitive than Hoke's finger and its infinite bandwidth.
September 4th, 2011 at 12:57 AM ^
He doesn't call the offense or the defense. He is a figurehead and a recruiter. And it looks like he is very good at his job.
September 4th, 2011 at 12:59 AM ^
So, really, he just stands there and watches like a guy in the tv section of circuit city.
September 4th, 2011 at 1:02 AM ^
He is a motivator and the face of the program and sets a tone for practice and what not. But yeah, on gameday he will be a big, wet, sexy cheerleader for the most part. That is also totally okay. He hired good guys to do the other parts (and he probably wouldn't be good at it anyway). It is also the one part of the job that his predecessor actually wasn't any good at.
September 4th, 2011 at 1:08 AM ^
Watching Brian Kelly on the sidelines I had a grim moment of certainty that he was going to have a stroke right there on the football field. Brought back some bad memories.
September 4th, 2011 at 12:48 PM ^
I watched college game day final last night and they showed a tweet from someone who said Brian Kelly is the new Rich Rodriguez. Both should have never left their former programs."
Regarding Kelly, I'm SO glad Michigan did not hire him. That guy's temper is unbelieveable and I just think he makes a lot of questionable coaching decisions.
September 4th, 2011 at 1:25 AM ^
PurpleStuff, you're definitely one of my favorite posters, but you calling Hoke a "Figurehead" is erroneous and a slap in the face to him. There are nomerous videos of him physically engaging with his players--shoving and getting shoved--showing that he cares about the nuances of the defensive line. Unbalance...maybe...but a figurehead...not in the least.
September 4th, 2011 at 1:31 AM ^
BRCE's "program manager" probably fits my definition better than "figurehead." It was definitely not meant as an insult.
Just explaining why he wouldn't want/need to have a headset and how it would have zero impact on the team if he chose not to wear one.
September 4th, 2011 at 2:16 AM ^
Hoke is not a "figurehead" he is just Old School.
September 4th, 2011 at 5:30 AM ^
Finally we have an old school guy who respects tradition (and doesn't need a headset to coach :D )
Go Blue
September 4th, 2011 at 10:44 AM ^
but the shirt I wore yesterday had the iconic photo with "Bo with headset" on it. Every coach has their own method and style and we can appreciate all of them, assuming they are successful with it.
September 4th, 2011 at 10:57 AM ^
I understood what you meant, or was hoping I did, but using the word Figurehead means that the person is just there for appearance. The word comes from the figure that was carved out of wood on the head of a ship. And from a nautical perspective it was a very important and distinctive symbol of the ship, very important to the crew, but still was not considered anything human or part of the crew.
Hoke doesn't have a headset on because isn't directly calling the plays. Also headsets are heavy, and it would be very easy to grab one of the grad assistants with a headset if he wanted to get a message to Al about the offense. Greg is on the field, so talking to him about defense, if needed, would be pretty direct.
Now with that said, I do think Hoke is very aware that he is on TV and is trying to provide a specific image of who he is as a head coach. Exactly like Patton's "warface" which Patton practiced in the mirror every morning. The liveblog noticed right away that he also wasn't wearing a hat. So I defnitely understand if you were trying to make this statement with your use of Figurehead, but that word still has the wrong definition and connotation to be the best choice.
Of course your other metaphor of a big wet sexy cheerleader just made me think, "ewwwww" and I wished you had just stuck with Figurehead.
September 4th, 2011 at 1:00 PM ^
That over-simplifies things a bit. In terms of the offense, you're totally on point - Hoke doesn't really know what's going on, and to his credit he admits as much.
I think he's probably fairly on top of things on the defensive side of the ball, but he doesn't really need a headset to walk over and talk to Mattison.
Also, per newspaper reports he occasionally did put a headset on to chat with Gorgeous Al.
September 4th, 2011 at 10:12 AM ^
Bear used to rock a fedora, not a headset and he seemed to be a decent head coach.
September 4th, 2011 at 1:08 AM ^
I think "program manager" fits better than "figurehead."
September 4th, 2011 at 1:19 AM ^
seems more like JoePa's job.
September 4th, 2011 at 1:32 AM ^
I would consider him similair to Vito Corleone acting as Consigliare after he got shot
September 4th, 2011 at 12:29 PM ^
...seems more like JoePa's current title. Penn State has vastly underachieved the last few years. If you get a real coach there, you could see a FSU type resurgence: fast and potent
September 4th, 2011 at 11:45 AM ^
Lloyd didn't call the Offense or the Defense either. his headset kept him in touch with his staff in the booth.
I realize hoke doesn't call the O or the D. and Mattison is on the field...but it seems odd that hoke and borges wouldn't have a constant and direct line of communication during a game...
September 4th, 2011 at 1:00 AM ^
I don't care about the headset thing but why is he not pointing?
September 4th, 2011 at 1:04 AM ^
else find that ^^ slightly erotic?
September 4th, 2011 at 2:26 AM ^
Drinking too lol?
September 4th, 2011 at 1:12 AM ^
He's pointing with his mind.
September 4th, 2011 at 11:11 AM ^
I was going to say with his face. But UFR I think he's just staring at someone, ready to point as soon as they move, like a gunslinger at high noon.
September 4th, 2011 at 12:30 PM ^
It's more potent!
September 4th, 2011 at 1:25 AM ^
I think he is just trying to see through the downpour what to point at.
September 4th, 2011 at 1:31 AM ^
Hoke may be wet, but his points arrive dry at their destinations.
September 4th, 2011 at 7:33 AM ^
His pointing with his nose. This a very special point, used for very special occasions.
September 4th, 2011 at 8:20 AM ^
Lightning bolts need to be coming out of his eyes!
September 4th, 2011 at 1:01 AM ^
Why is it that D coordinators, unlike O coordinators, prefer to stay on the sideline?
September 4th, 2011 at 1:03 AM ^
Defense is more about emotion. You need the DC to be on the sidelines to hype the guys up. The OC can be a more remote type up in the box.
September 4th, 2011 at 1:01 AM ^
I went to a local high school football game yesterday, and this town is kind of Dylan East(football field is in the middle of a cornfield) and the head coach was rocking a headset...And I had the sneaky suspicion that the coach had the tigers game patched in...
September 4th, 2011 at 1:02 AM ^
Hoke is still waiting on Kansas to ship Mangino's old headset.
September 4th, 2011 at 1:04 AM ^
Is it weird that our coordinators are flirting with obesity?
September 4th, 2011 at 1:06 AM ^
Rather, our head coach and 0 coordinator.
September 4th, 2011 at 1:06 AM ^
you are flirting with idiocy?
September 4th, 2011 at 1:10 AM ^
You're flirting with poor spelling.
September 4th, 2011 at 1:52 AM ^
The return of Chet!...thought you got banhammered.
September 4th, 2011 at 10:59 AM ^
Except after C, and the word "weird". Weird...
September 4th, 2011 at 1:12 AM ^
As long as they are prepared with worrying about getting the team in a position to win rather than being on the treadmill I am fine with it.
September 4th, 2011 at 2:25 AM ^
It's a good night to drink.
September 4th, 2011 at 12:26 PM ^
Flirting?
<br>
<br>If a chick blows me in the parking lot is she flirting with me?
<br>
<br>I think we're past the flirting stage.
September 4th, 2011 at 1:05 AM ^
Not all coaches wear them. Those who don't call the plays on offense often don't, though they'll have a headset available to chat with the coordinators before a key decision, like a 4th-down call.
September 4th, 2011 at 1:11 AM ^
Because this is Michigan!!!