Maryland 23, Michigan 16
Bryan Fuller/MGoBlog
Which remarkably apropos moment to use here?
Should it be the innovative "running two-minute drill" that miraculously netted an end-of-half field goal?
How about when the Michigan Marching Band recreated the extinction of the dinosaurs at halftime?
Perhaps Dennis Norfleet's incredible punt return touchdown getting called back?
Could I see the argument for Mike Weber announcing his decommitment the precise moment Maryland's Wes Brown ran in the go-ahead score? Of course.
Same goes for Darryl Stonum's tweets just before and after Devin Funchess dropped another pass, this one to seal the loss on fourth down.
All of them, I guess.
As far as I know, Brady Hoke hasn't been informed he's fired, but he knows. We all do. With bowl eligibility on the line—unless you're holding out hope for a miracle in Columbus—Hoke's squad couldn't get out of its own way.
Even considering a few impressive Devin Gardner scrambles, including Michigan's lone touchdown of the game, the team's best offensive play came on a 52-yard fake punt run by fullback Joe Kerridge; Kerridge couldn't quite get to the goal line, and after Gardner's third-and-goal pass bounced off Freddy Canteen's chest, Matt Wile kicked a field goal.
The game played out in similarly bumbling fashion for most of the duration, with both teams seemingly unable to catch the football. Maryland had three drops in the first half; Gardner recorded a pick when a throw well behind Bo Dever bounced off his hands and into those of Maryland corner Will Likely.
The special teams were a mess. The flag on the punt return, however questionable, cost Michigan a touchdown. Jourdan Lewis roughed Maryland kicker Brad Craddock, leading on the very next play to a CJ Brown touchdown run; there's another four points. Matt Wile missed a 39-yard field goal that would've given M a 19-16 fourth-quarter lead.
It was a Brady Hoke loss, through and through.
[Fuller]
It's sad, of course. Devin Gardner mustered 82 yards on the ground, scrambled for a vintage DG touchdown run (above), and put most of his passes on target, only to see several go right through the hands of his intended receivers. He went down fighting in his last home game, and it sucks to see his efforts go unrewarded. Same goes for all the other seniors out there.
For the sake of Michigan football, though, this may have been for the best. There's little, if any, doubt now that Hoke won't be retained, and a loss in The Game—meaning no bowl game—is all but guaranteed. Unless the athletic department royally screws up the coaching search, the next team will have more competence at the top, a better opportunity to succeed. The bowl practices will be missed, but expediting the much-needed rehauling of this program may make up for it—and then some, when recruiting is taken into account.
We'll see how it all unfolds. For now, though, this felt like an all-too-fitting finish for Brady Hoke; whether he's present on the sideline for Ohio State—which I expect he will be—is almost besides the point.
November 23rd, 2014 at 1:32 AM ^
From the AD and the rest of the admin at the top all the way down to the positional coaches has just been a disconnected unorganized sloppy clusterfuck! No emotion or passion from Hoke(our leader) and simply kids looking out of place and regressing with every snap. From the legend uniform horseshit to all the goofy alternate uniforms to the press conferences, it just seemed like Hoke never really had a firm handle on things and everything was unstable. Kind of always seemed like Hoke was DB's little Bitch. As we watch urban Meyer take one on the chin with the loss of miller and then losing to Va tech then to just continue to get better and players progress with each game it really magnifies Hokes shortcomings as a high level D1 football coach.
I feel bad but now we look to te future and hope and pray that the university makes logical decisions here in the next month and beyond.
Need an experienced AD who will do the logical day to day duties while bringing the univ members and community together not push them away. And one who will hire a solid proven coach. One who leads by example, has passion, knowledge, and fosters a winning, competitive environment. It has to get better but this is a very critical time right now for UM football. I hope they get it right!
November 23rd, 2014 at 4:50 AM ^
So who do we hire?
1.) Jim H ( if possible )
2.) Kyle Shanahan
3.) still thinking on this one!
Go Blue! From Akron Ohio (but born in Monroe MI)
November 23rd, 2014 at 6:39 PM ^
As we watch urban Meyer take one on the chin with the loss of miller and then losing to Va tech then to just continue to get better and players progress with each game it really magnifies Hokes shortcomings
We don't like to give Meyer credit because he's at Ohio Stata, but what he and his staff did down there this year is phenomenal. You could never see Hoke and company doing that. They need everything to be perfect and they still struggle.
November 23rd, 2014 at 7:52 AM ^
I thought it was funny that he never mentioned the miserable weather, but easily spotted the miserable football.
November 23rd, 2014 at 8:18 AM ^
Brady Hoke's cadaverous "body of work" justifies his immediate dismissal. Do what Florida did: announce the vacancy now and get going with the coaching search, especially given that the season's over with no post-season bid in the offing. Oh, I forgot --- one game left. But like I said, the season's over with no post-season bid in the offing.
November 23rd, 2014 at 9:57 AM ^
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November 23rd, 2014 at 10:19 AM ^
Upvoted for "cadaverous". "Moribund" for a long time, for sure.
November 23rd, 2014 at 10:08 AM ^
November 23rd, 2014 at 11:47 AM ^
November 23rd, 2014 at 4:39 PM ^
November 23rd, 2014 at 11:35 AM ^
Michigan literally left 15 points on the field just on special teams. The block in the back and the roughing penalty have already been discussed (although when I'm king, diving and rolling around like you've taken a sniper's bullet through the knee will result in an offsetting unsportsmanlike conduct penalty), but if Chesson finishes his block on Kerridge's fake punt, then the big guy rumbles into the end zone.
November 23rd, 2014 at 12:25 PM ^
and that's just what this team needs. A big kick in the ass and then get down to real coaching.
November 23rd, 2014 at 2:43 PM ^
Alabama Man here. You Michigan Men are emarrassing yourselves. Please stop.
November 23rd, 2014 at 4:18 PM ^
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November 23rd, 2014 at 6:08 PM ^
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