Do we have to stomp on Hoke's grave?
Look, I get it. We're all fed up with this team and the regression. The past three years have been incredibly painful, and the next three years probably won't be amazing either. A very good portion of that is Hoke's fault and his inability to win games. No question.
But, as frustrated as we all are, I feel like we've all lost perspective on who Hoke is. He hasn't been a winner, but he is still the person many of us both embraced and were inspired by in his first press conference. When he talked about how much he loved Michigan, you could see that burning passion and desire. Yes we suck, but he's tried to run a good, clean program, and I do believe he's tried to take his players and mold them into good young men with strong character. I will always want that in my head coach.
Even though he hasn't won here, it's not for a lack of trying. And even though he will undoubtedly be fired for the awful performances of the past three years, I would hope we all can can just go our separate ways without stomping on his grave. He isn't an asshole. He isn't a bad guy (unlike a lot of coaches out there). He just didn't win and that's why next year he's gone.
Edit 1: Sure Hoke isn't gone yet, but come on guys. It's not unreasonable to think that there's a 98% chance he will be fired.
Edit 2: It seems, Ron Utah said it more eloquently than I did: "Good-bye to a Great Man"
October 26th, 2014 at 3:25 PM ^
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October 26th, 2014 at 3:26 PM ^
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October 26th, 2014 at 11:45 PM ^
I LOL'd!!
October 26th, 2014 at 3:27 PM ^
I see what you're getting at, but I think we're well past the tipping point in terms of frustration and the fanbase will not be able to pull back or settle for anything short of immediate regime change.
Unfortunately for Hoke, part of this anger really has nothing to do with him, but all of us are shaped in part by our circumstances. His failures happen to be combined with some pretty lousy circumstances (prior regime failures, MSU being good, Brandon creating the future) that are not his fault, but that ultimately fuel our anger.
October 26th, 2014 at 3:29 PM ^
that ship has sailed. it doesn't help the program at all. we need to stay postive and start looking towards the future. we need to keep the energy postive to salvage what we can of this team's psyche. it may seem like all hope is lost but every little bit helps. becoming bowl eligible, keeping the underclassmen motivated throughout the offseason and so on. brady wants what best for Michigan so he will understand fans wanting to win and calling for a new coaching but the petty and personal attacks will only create animosity between the players and the fans. that's not going to help any. cheer and support this team, we know that change will be coming. everyone want it. let's just make sure it's the right change <caugh> jim harbaugh <caugh>
October 26th, 2014 at 3:32 PM ^
There's a Broadway show about what should be done to his grave; it's called 'STOMP!'
October 26th, 2014 at 3:43 PM ^
October 26th, 2014 at 3:46 PM ^
October 26th, 2014 at 3:52 PM ^
Yes, you keep stomping until he is gone for sure because I am not confident at all that he isn't coming back-
listen - he has a Sugar Bowl win and this may be only his first season not going to a bowl-
the regents and President are not MGobloggers- there is a verrrrry different world out there
Hoke may seem dead.... but (in the spirit of the season) he may be more like this...
October 26th, 2014 at 4:06 PM ^
but he IS gone. I mean I was the biggest supporter of Hoke and even I am no longer in his corner. I mean seriously let's just ask, who is standing up for Hoke right now? The answer is no one. I followed sports long enough to see the writing on the wall. What justificaions are there for keeping Hoke? I like him as a person, and he will forever be part of the Michigan football family but we want better for our team. The only way Hoke stays is if there is literally no one better to replace him and despite all the doom and gloom around here, this is still seen as a destiniation job by many coaching candidates
October 26th, 2014 at 11:49 PM ^
If I had to bet, I would say there is at least a 25% chance that Hoke comes back.
Hoke is not popular anywhere, obviously, but I can see Schlissel wanting to give him one more year, especially is the replacement AD is hired in late January or February.
October 26th, 2014 at 3:59 PM ^
However, just because he is a bad coach that loves Michigan and says a lot of "campy" phrases makes him a good guy? I am not saying he is a bad guy, but what makes him a good guy?
I think the guy that demands the players be men and play that way is a good guy. A man that does that isn't always liked but definitely respected. Brady seems to want to be the players pal, and that just doesn't work out. He also, seems to look the other way and lie about it when things blow up (stake gate)
I don't know what to think about BH off the field, but I do know that he should be replaced sooner than later.
October 26th, 2014 at 6:25 PM ^
October 26th, 2014 at 4:09 PM ^
October 26th, 2014 at 4:16 PM ^
Maybe we were erecting the tent over the circus Hoke calls Michigan football. Do the honorable thing and fall on your tent stake Brady.
October 26th, 2014 at 6:14 PM ^
I am resigned to the fact that a change will be made and trust it will happen. There is a reason that he is liked by so many. I'm not sure I totally get it, but I don't know the man personally. It just didn't work our here!
October 26th, 2014 at 4:49 PM ^
I'll agree to not stomp on his grave. Heck, I'll even deliver a sportsmanship/nice guy award to him on top of his nice parting gift of several million $. In return, I simply ask he not coach my football team anymore.
October 26th, 2014 at 5:30 PM ^
If I am perceived to be stomping on Hoke's grave, it is only because I am trying to extinguish the flaming back of dog turd he ignited and placed there.
October 26th, 2014 at 5:33 PM ^
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October 26th, 2014 at 7:21 PM ^
to win football games. Hoke is absofuckinlutely horrible at No. 1. He is a great recruiter as far as stars 1-5 go. He's nice guy and a man of high character.
But he sucks as a head coach. He might be a good d-line coach, but at this point, I'm not sure he could do that very well. He is terrible at picking coaching talent because much of his staff is horrible.
So on a scale of 1-10, 10 being the best, Hoke is about a 3. A 3 is okay at San Diego State, and Miami of Ohio or EMU, but not MIchigan.
I would prefer Hoke was fired tomorrow and let Nuss run things the rest of the just to see if anything changes. Unless he won out in convincing fashion, Nuss and every other coach on the staff, especially the S & C group would get shown the door.
This program is a dumpster fire and embarasses itself more every week with actions, play and commentary from the head coach.
We are now Purdue or worse.
October 26th, 2014 at 8:12 PM ^
It's the "yes we suck" part that is the issue.
October 26th, 2014 at 8:28 PM ^
That people continue to defend this. The last 24 hours should be enough to show his incompetence. And this is just in the last day:
1. After repeating for the umbillionth time that they had a good week of practice, his team goes out, gets dominated from start to finish, and to add insult to injury, cannot stop another touchdown at the end, which was akin to the Woody Hayes "go for three" incident.
2. He says: "I think I was aware that something happened, but I'm not fully aware," after his team pulls a stupid stunt based on motivational tactics.
3. He grovels through a press release after #2 becomes another embarrassment through the media.
And that's just yesterday through today.
Yet there is still this legion of blind loyalty to a man who has proven he is in way over his head. People aren't dancing on his grave. They're venting. They're tired of losing. They're tired of bullshit excuses. They're exhausted from being owned by Ohio State and Michigan State. The program is in full disarray and it feels (because it's not seen) that nothing is being done to stop it. The only way this fighting ends between the factions is if Schilssel brooms Brandon. It's the most important step in healing becuse inevitably the arrogance begins and ends with DB. DB's sins have been listed already. I truly believe the President is finding a way to buy him out or going through the channels to end it. I'm hoping he's done his due dillegence and researched the dumpster fire that has been 2007 to now. I pray that someone will be in place, the proper moves are made, and Michigan can move forward to once again assert their role as the "leaders and best."
But a lot has to go right. And because of those last seven years, I wait with cautious optimism that those moves will be made.
October 26th, 2014 at 9:25 PM ^
Until Coah Hoke acts honorably I think he deserves all the derision he has received. He should recognize he is hurting the Michigan program and fall on his sword. And he should return the $4.5 million dollar salary he was paid (paid, not earned) this year.
There are very few jobs in America where you can be so ineffectual at our job and yet continue to get paid.
If Coach Hoke loved Michigan as much as people on this site think he would have resigned already. The fact that he hasn't suggests that he's either delusional, an idiot, or just doesn't give a crap about the football program.
October 26th, 2014 at 11:54 PM ^
He's getting 4.5 MILLION in ONE year!! Most of the people reading this blog won't make that much in their whole life!!
And yet we are supposed to feel sorry for this bumbling idiot stealing money.
Pathetic!!
October 27th, 2014 at 10:57 PM ^
We should be hating on Brandon also for hiring this bumbling idiot ...