When did Hoke lose you?
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).
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.
November 18th, 2014 at 9:04 PM ^
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November 18th, 2014 at 9:10 PM ^
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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.
November 18th, 2014 at 9:20 PM ^
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November 18th, 2014 at 9:29 PM ^
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November 18th, 2014 at 9:54 PM ^
Honorable Mention- PSU last yr, Akron.
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November 18th, 2014 at 9:59 PM ^
November 18th, 2014 at 10:04 PM ^
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November 18th, 2014 at 10:05 PM ^
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.
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.
November 18th, 2014 at 10:28 PM ^
November 19th, 2014 at 9:15 AM ^
Have you ever just thought you are wrong?
That your opinion isn't based on reality, but things you've just made up?
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.
November 18th, 2014 at 10:13 PM ^
-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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November 19th, 2014 at 5:01 PM ^
Your first paragraph represents a lot of what's wrong about this place.
November 18th, 2014 at 10:18 PM ^
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November 18th, 2014 at 10:40 PM ^
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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.
November 18th, 2014 at 11:56 PM ^
U know Michigan screw RR. Ask yourself this, How does a former Michigan coach goes 15-22 and 6-18 at Michigan in Three season to Arizona 24-12 and 13-12 currently rank in top 15 in Three season. Something is wrong with that picture.
November 18th, 2014 at 11:12 PM ^
Minnesota pushed me over, not starting devin over Shane was not giving the team an actual chance to win
November 18th, 2014 at 11:19 PM ^
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November 19th, 2014 at 12:50 AM ^
What the hell were you doing in Yakima?
November 18th, 2014 at 11:49 PM ^
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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.
November 19th, 2014 at 12:19 AM ^
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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.
November 19th, 2014 at 1:33 AM ^