ThadMattasagoblin

November 27th, 2013 at 10:26 PM ^

Who has RR landed besides Denard, Lewan, Gallon, and Ryan and everyone knows that Jake ryan would be giving up 600 yards of offense a game with RR's defense. RR sucked here but I agree that he wasn't given a chance. We can't make the same mistake again. Brandon isn't going to fire Hoke this year. Either he makes a Belein like improvement in year 4 when he has more than 6 scholarship OL or he'll be canned. We have months to bitch and moan about stuff but only 3 days until we play in college football's biggest rivalry. Be there or forever lose your Michigan fan card.

Bilg2.0

November 27th, 2013 at 11:27 PM ^

This notion that Casteel's 3-3-5 would have slowed down Wisconsin or OSU or any B1G running team is laughable.  Worked in the Big East....would not work against competent Manball teams.  Let's stop with the...if RR just had Casteel schtick.

ThadMattasagoblin

November 27th, 2013 at 10:39 PM ^

I don't know how good Gardner is when the OL gives up a sack on every play. He does still have a 60 percent completition percentage. I went to a HS hockey game with an all state goalie that gave up 7 goals because his defensemen suck this year.

pdxwolve

November 27th, 2013 at 11:00 PM ^

Raw deal or not, he was an embarrassment. Probation was unforgivable, along with the desperate recruiting. No way in hell he wind 11 games and goes to the Sugar Bowl that year.

ThadMattasagoblin

November 27th, 2013 at 11:02 PM ^

Yeah, I'd rather discuss the omission of Borges than caring about RR or Carr or anyone else. I'd also rather get hyped for the game but I've been told to go hide in my closet for the entire day on Saturday because we have no chance of winning against the great Ohio State.

GMHW2

November 27th, 2013 at 11:07 PM ^

"Rich Rodriguez isn't going anywhere!!!"

-Dave Brandon

 

I ain't saying Hoke is gone after this year... all I'm saying is: here is your grain of salt.

Tater

November 27th, 2013 at 11:10 PM ^

As predicted by many here, Borges will be THE sacrificial lamb for this season.  David Brandon will continue to gouge season ticket-holders and demand that the next OC coaches MANBALL.

CalifExile

November 29th, 2013 at 5:59 PM ^

If that statement wasn't clear enough for you try this from today's MLive:

"This is a program in transition, this is a program that's going back to hard-nosed, big-boy football," Brandon said. "Which is what Michigan is used to playing. And we're in the process of putting the pieces in place to afford us to do that consistently and effectively."

uminks

November 27th, 2013 at 11:27 PM ^

The former AD's coach but not your coach. Like it or not Hoke is here for the long run. I hope he can turn things around but that may depend how loyal he is to Al? Only time will tell but my guess is that not many changes will be made through next season. They may hir a QB coach! I have a feeling that Hoke's loyalty may cost him his job. Al will run his predictable offense next year and we will see at least 4 losses. Will this be good for enough for DB?

Section 1

November 28th, 2013 at 12:15 PM ^

Don Canham famously wanted to hire Bo from Miami, but keep all of the Michigan assistants.  Bo refused.  Bo got his way; he got Hanlon, Moeller, Chuck Sobart, Larry Smith, etc.

In a story that doesn't sound at all like Don Canham, it is said that Canham told all of the assistants that their hiring at Michigan had been Bo's idea, but that if Michigan didn't produce, they'd be fired.  That sounds so unlike Canham, that I have a hard time believing it.

But in a story that sounds so much like Canham that I feel it has to be true, Bo asked Canham how the Michigan loyalists who could not imagine an unknown guy with a funny name from Miami of Ohio ever replacing the golden hero of Michigan football, Bump Elliott.  Bo wondered if he'd be fired.  Canham replied that if Bo didn't win, they'd both (Canham and Schembechler together) be fired.

Wading into the realm of assistant coaches is something that all AD's like to do.  Bill Martin, as reported by John U. Bacon, wanted Rich Rodriguez to retain most of the Michigan assistants.  Mary Sue Coleman stepped in and said, "Bill, you can't ask him to do that."  We know that Canham tried to do it (that much is not rumor; everybody confirmed it).

And -- for sure -- it was a lot easier for Brandon to fire Rodriguez, than it will ever be for Brandon to fire Hoke.  Exactly as you suggest.

My guess is that Brady Hoke will be Michigan's football coach longer than Dave Brandon will be Michigan's AD.

BlueMan80

November 27th, 2013 at 11:27 PM ^

He's the only guy that can squash any rumors and he did fire the previous coach after 3 years, so that's out there as ammo for those that care to throw FUD. He did fire RR, so why would you expect him to even mention the guy. Yes, he is looking backwards to a happier time and I believe a lot of people around here do the same thing. We would like things to be like that again...as it traditionally has been. The use of the phrase "hold people accountable" is probably why Al was sweating bullets at his Tues. presser. Everyone around here is clamoring for that, so while the phrasing may not have met your personal tastes, I'd say the core message is what needed to be said.

Now, resume your self flagellation. "Domino is requiem" - thwack!

TheDirtyD

November 27th, 2013 at 11:31 PM ^

Nothing is going to happen until the people in charge of the team and AD take a look in the mirror and realize this isn't 1990. This is 2013 and Michigan isn't Michigan anymore. It's going to take a lot of work to get back on top. Work I'm not sure anyone currently in the University is willing to do. We didn't fall because we stopped playing Michigan football we fell because we failed to advance, failed to evolve. The SEC might use shady tactics and other what not’s but top recruits continue to flock there and the teams continue to excel. This isn't the good old days of college football the country club attitude that many fans and former players around here have is the reason we're here. Rich Rod was labeled as a failure before he got started. Rich Rod was an attempt to shift into a new era, I don't mean the spread offense necessarily. I am talking about an attitude. State out coaches us and develops talent better than we do. Ohio is willing to do whatever it takes to win and they WIN. Every time I watch Michigan State play they play with a chip on their shoulder blue collar style of play. When I watch Michigan the majority of the time it feels like they're just happy to be there. I'm just tired of people thinking oh it's Michigan we will win. Those days are gone. We're all tired of hearing Brady Hoke say well the kids played hard and we failed as coaches, we will try better next week. Or were still so young. Or we failed to execute. This has gone on since the Notre Dame game. No changes nothing in fact things have been worse. It's time they start turning the table. I don't know what the answer is but Hoke deserves his fair chance and he will get it I just hope a blue collar anywhere any place anytime mentality and work ethic comes to on of his teams. 

Black Socks

November 28th, 2013 at 12:00 AM ^

I commend Brandon for this.  It had to be said.  Yes some feelings will be hurt - but you HAVE to steady the ship.  Michigan is a threat to many programs so they try to tear M down.  Go Blue!

Kilgore Trout

November 28th, 2013 at 12:58 AM ^

Hoke hasn't said anything that has given me any faith that he was willing to do something with his staff to address what is happening. If you're the boss and you don't think your employees are handling their staff correctly, sometimes you have to step in. I'm not in love with Brandon, but I don't have a problem with him putting this out there.

If Peppers is thinking that there's an issue, I'm sure he isn't the only one. I don't see anything to be gained from pretending this isn't a trainwreck. All signs point to this team getting pounded at home by its biggest rival and the light for the future is flickering. It's a trainwreck and if Brandon putting this out helps steady things, that's the right thing to do.

CLord

November 28th, 2013 at 1:06 AM ^

how many other #2 ranked recruits has this train wreck ever gotten?  brandon knows the sharks are swirling around peppers unlike any other recruit in michigan history. I am very happy he is attending to this matter not only for peppers but for others considering michigan like mcdowell.

Autostocks

November 28th, 2013 at 9:54 AM ^

What was "weird" about the blog post?  It's a blog in support of a head coach, and encouraging fans to be patient and support the team.  And do you honestly think it was in response to a single tweet?  Or maybe more accurately it was in response to the thousands of posts here and elsewhere, and endless media speculation, about the future of Brady Hoke?  Probably best to just let that fester, huh?  IMO, it was exactly the right thing to do, and gives me hope that we WILL hold people (read Borges, Funk) accountable after the season is over.

S4H

November 28th, 2013 at 12:28 AM ^

I hope that the decision to let Borges go initially came from Hoke and not Brandon. If Hoke will indeed be one of the best Michigan coaches ever, he has to be able to evaluate his employees independent of whatever friendship they might share.

CLord

November 28th, 2013 at 1:04 AM ^

who knows man.  in truth who cares.  competent coach vs competent AD, 6 of half dozen.  preferably both, but this season makes you wonder.  this letter was a good start. so long Al.  thanks for two decent years and one shit one.

CLord

November 28th, 2013 at 1:01 AM ^

As I predicted.  As we get older we tended to get things right more often.  Knew there was zero chance Hoke would go, but I'm almost certain my good buddy Al is a goner.  That Brandon letter is all you need to see.  No mention of Borges in the least.  Thanks for the effort Al.  Your offenses might have been something before electricity but not any more.  Your paycheck is too large to garner any sympathy.  And the part where you probably cost us Hand and a few other recruits this year.  When you're gone I can reinvest into Michigan football, and change my avatar.  Until that day comes, Henry the Otter for me.  Brandon's letter was very encouraging.  Great day.

mGrowOld

November 28th, 2013 at 10:36 AM ^

I love your new avatar BTW - it's hilariious.

Now, if I'm Al I see the hand-writing on wall too so I'm going out in blaze of Borges-glory.  Each and every time I see Brady without the headset I'm calling a tackle over stretch play out on an I set.  Every time.  I dont care what the down or distance is, I'm calling it.  And I'm making sure that I keep Fitz in the game at all costs too.  When the headset comes back on I'll go back to calling other plays but just to fuck with Brady & Brandon I'm doing that.

Oh yes....play action?  Baby it's coming on every pass play we run.

yzerman19

November 28th, 2013 at 1:25 AM ^

First, I love that he wrote this.  But multiple excalmation points and ALL CAPS are high school shit.    Maybe that's his audience.  And this on Borges:  much like Jimmy Johnson and Barry Switzer, he has always excelled when his personnel rocked, and suffered when it didn't.  Ebbs and flows, bros, ebbs and flows.  I was around for AC and Wrangler I, and john Cooper and Gary Moeller and RR.  I will be at The Game Saturday with my Columbus, OH uncles, and my UM student younger brother and sister and my 12 year old kid.  Life is so fucking good it's not fair.  We are privleged to have such an awesome program to root for, and no matter what current perception is, the people runnign the offense are not stupid.  They are human.  How about we all take a deep breath,thank God we are not fucking orphans living on the streets of some subsharan african nation sucking dick to eat, and enjoy these last few weeks of college football?  fuck me.  The trolls are killing this site,compelling even DB to respond.  Wow. 

Red is Blue

November 28th, 2013 at 6:03 AM ^

To the extent Brandon felt he needed to give Hoke a vote of confidence, it seems like it should have been way shorter. Along the lines of:

"Hoke is the right guy for the job. We're not doing as well at this juncture as I, or M supporters, would like. But getting this program to where it belongs is a process that takes awhile. A big part of that is recruiting and we've done a great job there from California to Peppersville, err,e I mean NJ. Brady Hoke is the right man for the job and will ultimately be remembered as one of the great coaches at Michigan."

Throwing RR and Borges under the bus by omission was, imo, was unnecessary and classless.

Leonhall

November 28th, 2013 at 7:50 AM ^

For all we know Hoke will fire Borges. Brandon responded this way because he uses social media, this isn't the 1980's. As far as not including RR, why should he? The guy was TERRIBLE, was making ZERO progress, the offense was good against terrible teams and HORRIBLE against good defenses. The guy was responsible for us being on probation, whether it was right or not, it happened. Our best season was one like this season, beating bad teams and for the most part, winning against bad opponents.

Never

November 28th, 2013 at 8:33 AM ^

By continuing to e-mail compliance asking for clarification and they kept slow-playing him? By having newspaper reporters take statements from players and completely redefining the context? Stretch it to make it fit, I guess.

And LOL @ "zero progress." Beautiful piece of revisionist history.

Don

November 28th, 2013 at 10:35 AM ^

I have no love for Brandon, and I've criticized some of his decisions many times here. However, some of the reactions to his statement are fainting-couch hysteria.

It might be classless and petty, but it shouldn't be a surprise that he omitted RR when mentioning the 2011 team, considering that he fired RR. His statement could have been one-third of its length and said all the stuff that was necessary, but this is a guy who has a blog.

If he hadn't pointedly omitted Borges, or had praised Mattison and Borges both, or hadn't mentioned assistants at all, a large contingent here would be howling in outrage that Brandon doesn't care about how bad Borges is.

If Brandon never attended practice and never attended coaches meetings, there would be a sizeable number of people here who would be getting the vapors over his "lack of involvement" in the football program.

If Brandon had not issued a statement in support of Hoke at a time when one of the prime recruits appears to be wavering because he's being told by opposing coaches who are still recruiting him that Hoke's demise is imminent, then Brandon would be accused of not supporting Hoke at a critical juncture.

If Brandon had issued a short, one-paragraph statement in support of Hoke, then people here would have interpreted it as terse sign of non-support, and would have gone apeshit accordingly.

David Brandon did exactly the same thing that hundreds of GMs and ADs have done over the decades: fire the guy he inherited who was struggling and unpopular with many of the fans, and brought in his guy, who he's now defending. What a fucking shock.

What all this boils down to for me is that when the team is struggling, there is literally nothing that an AD, head coach, or assistant can say that won't be attacked with throbbing-vein, bulging-eyed rage filled to the brim with self-righteous entitlement by some portion of the fanbase. That's exactly what happened while RR was here, and the same thing is going on now with Hoke.

mGrowOld

November 28th, 2013 at 10:46 AM ^

My only issue with it Don was this:

We have the right leader, and despite the fact we have lost three very close games (and WE ARE ALL feeling the pain that comes from it!) the consistency will come. There have been speed bumps along the way and unforeseen obstacles that have hindered our progress this season, but the resiliency of this team has been remarkable."

And only because the style of writing coupled with the use of ALL CAPS reminded me ot this (without the comic sans font of course):

You simply don't deserve this kind of cowardly betrayal. 

You have given so much and deserve so much more. 

In the meantime, I want to make one statement to you tonight: 

"I PERSONALLY GUARANTEE THAT THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS WILL WIN AN NBA CHAMPIONSHIP BEFORE THE SELF-TITLED FORMER ‘KING’ WINS ONE" 

You can take it to the bank.