Mattison's defense of Hoke
Per all the twitters, Mattison apparently gave a pretty passionate defense of Hoke in his presser:
Kyle Bogenschutz@KyleBogie2h2 hours ago
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Greg Mattison on why Brady Hoke is man for job: Mattison says graduation rate is "the most important thing. We're in college, not the NFL."
I have always thought highly of GMAT, but I personally find these comments to be over the top, and a blatant attempt to appeal to Schlissel's stated academic concerns. Now I do think that graduation rates and the like are very important. But, at the same time, so is actually playing good football. If we only care about graduation rates, then we don't need to pay Hoke $4 million and Mattison and Nuss almost $1 million each. We can have a staff of professors and guidance counsellors who know enough about football to coach, and treat it like a club sport. to quote Brian, "cumong, man!!"
side note: If we are going to talk about all of the molding of men that Hoke is doing, we should at a minimum mention Frank Clark I, Frank Clark II, C'sonte York, the handling of Gibbons, Lewan's fight, Hagurup's issues, Stonum's 2nd DUI and a host of other off the field crap relating to this team. Not saying that this is all Hoke's fault or that it is uncommon, but if you want to take credit for the good, then you need to share in the negatives, as well.
Also, there's this:
angelique retweeted
Dan MurphyMattison: "Why should [Hoke] be here? Because he's a winner. He's won everywhere he's been. What's the timetable?"
Not sure if Mattison knows this but prior to coming to Michigan, Hoke had a sub-.500 winning percentage. Also, there are a lot of people who have won at other, lower-tiered levels of competition (many of whom could also focus on graduating their players), but that doesn't make them qualified to coach at Michigan.
By the way, I know of another coach who "won everywhere he's been" before coming to Michigan (and apparently since) and that standard - coupled with a record that improved each year - didn't exactly save him.
I know that GMAT is Hoke's close friend, and that he is supposed to defend him, but this is just crap.
November 24th, 2014 at 3:36 PM ^
Why are you surprised? What other defense is there at this point? Everyone connected to the program is deemphasizing wins at this point because the wins aren't there. The only thing Hoke has going for him right now is that he cleaned up the APR and graduation rate that was a mess before he got here.
The quote from Angelique sure sounds like there is a resignation press conference coming in the next seven days...
November 24th, 2014 at 3:39 PM ^
I'd have been mored bothered if Mattison had thrown Hoke under the bus.
Hoke seems like a good guy; he just isn't a very good coach. He's had his chance, and it didn't work out. He'll be okay, but Mattison knows it's over but he's a competitor and a friend and will go to bat for Hoke. I don't blame him.
November 24th, 2014 at 3:40 PM ^
... is a salesman. Recruits love him because of his passion. This is him selling a dud.
November 24th, 2014 at 5:49 PM ^
I could see him selling a ton of used cars:
Okay, I know that the Pinto has gotten some bad press but lets look at the good side:
1) gas miliage
2) It does a great job of teaching teens how to drive carefully
3) It has a proven safety... over 80% of fender benders do not end in fatal explosions
November 24th, 2014 at 10:57 PM ^
I finished typing my used car reference and looked at the next post. This is exactly what he is doing.
I remember a friend of mine telling me that he interviewed for a job selling used cars, the interviewer told him he needed to have larceny in his heart to be good at it!
November 24th, 2014 at 10:54 PM ^
He is selling me a clunker and asking me to pay 100 times its value.
November 24th, 2014 at 3:44 PM ^
Mattison left a stable job coaching one of the best defenses in the NFL to come work for Hoke at Michigan, so of course he's going to defend his boss in public. Privately, he might be kicking himself for leaving the Ravens (though one of the reasons he took the Michigan job is to be closer to his daughter who lives in Ann Arbor, so there's that). Though Mattison may not be ready to retire, he could be forced to if/when Hoke is let go since he's 65 and that's a tough age to find a new job in a profession that's trending younger.
November 24th, 2014 at 4:09 PM ^
''Left''
Just like Nussmeier ''left'' Alabama to come here.
November 24th, 2014 at 4:31 PM ^
I haven't read anything indicating that Mattison was forced out of the Ravens. He did well there and he got along with John Harbaugh. Nussmeier didn't mesh with Saban's personality and the writing was on the wall for him when Saban brought in Lane Kiffin mid-season as an "offensive consultant".
November 24th, 2014 at 6:00 PM ^
Which is amusing because Nuss's offense at Bama was blowing it's competition away all season.
November 24th, 2014 at 4:33 PM ^
I don't think there was any pressure for Mattsion to leave Harbaugh's staff.
November 24th, 2014 at 4:26 PM ^
Not sure how stable that Baltimore job was - there were rumors that he was wearing out his welcome there at the time. Four years at a coordinator job, at the salary we've paid him, really isn't that bad.
November 24th, 2014 at 8:54 PM ^
November 24th, 2014 at 3:46 PM ^
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November 24th, 2014 at 3:47 PM ^
Can we just fire Hoke already and move on?
As for Mattison, the dude is probably going to retire after this job anyway. At least that was my understanding (that this was a end-of-the-line job because he loves Michigan).
November 24th, 2014 at 4:16 PM ^
I think that your comment hits on a very important point. I know that mid-season firings are not the norm, and that many people thing that there is no advantage conferred by firing Hoke midseason, but the "moving on" factor is important from a fan perspective.
I never rooted against Michigan, even during the darkest days of the RR era. But, as this tire fire of a season has progressed, I have found myself actively rooting for losses in these meaningless games, to snuff out any possibility that Hoke comes back and unintentionally inflicts further damage on our program.
This weekend is Ohio State. Our biggest rival. I am going to try may hardest to root for Michigan with everything that I have, but I know that a part of me will fear that every touchdown makes it slightly more likely that Hoke returns. If we play well by some miracle, I know that a part of me is going to worry, and not be excited.
If Hoke is given the Earl Bruce before the game, every fan out there - and, while most will not admit it for fear of being negged, there are many who think this way - will be able to root for Michigan anf Hoke 100%, and not feel conflicted.
November 24th, 2014 at 4:31 PM ^
as something that can keep him. If he is gone either way, I am fine with him finishing the regular season and getting to coach one last game against our biggest rival. Hey, maybe he will get a win, get carried off, and on Monday get to leave with a smile and great memory.
November 24th, 2014 at 5:30 PM ^
I also don't see a win saving Hoke, but again, that's because we are viewing the question through the lens of logic. We have no idea what the hell is going on behind the doors of the Fort. Hell, Schlissel may be so happy with the 100% graduation rate, that he is pressing to keep Hoke. Perhaps Hackett is part of the former players group that is also enamored with Hoke? We just don't know. And if that is the case, it is hard to say so affirmatiely that a win will absolutely not save Hoke.
November 24th, 2014 at 3:48 PM ^
November 24th, 2014 at 3:55 PM ^
what Maritime Law has to do with all this.
November 24th, 2014 at 10:44 PM ^
Be loyal, but don't say ridiculous things! It suggests contempt for the fans and insults peoples intelligence!
November 24th, 2014 at 3:49 PM ^
November 24th, 2014 at 3:50 PM ^
I'm pretty sure that's just about every off-field incident under Hoke except the Will Campbell Dukes of Hazzard thing and the Glasgow DUI. I'd bet most teams have had more legal issues than Michigan since 2011 and outside of some questionable press conference answers about Gibbons and some thinking the first Clark suspension was light, it seems like Hoke has made the right call in each case.
November 24th, 2014 at 4:38 PM ^
Big Will sliding across that ole' hood
YEE HA!
One of the greatest days in MGoBlog history.
November 24th, 2014 at 4:02 PM ^
Coaches always defend their own regardless of their record or what they've done. Added to that is the fact Mattison and Hoke are good friends.
November 24th, 2014 at 4:03 PM ^
November 24th, 2014 at 5:24 PM ^
Graduating a senior once they've finished their senior year isn't all that impressive - they're already SENIORS, they're going to graduate. If you actually look at the TRUE GRADUATION RATE FOR FOOTBALL, you'll see that Michigan is 2nd to last in the Big Ten at only 66% - quite low.
http://stanford.scout.com/story/1399111-the-bootleg-s-2014-graduation-rate-analysis
November 24th, 2014 at 6:18 PM ^
My initial thought was, "well is the low rate even that bad?" If a student's goal is to get into the NFL, is it bad that they got drafted as a Junior? I mean, if a comp sci got a 200k a year job at Apple after her 2nd year at michigan, would you consider that a failure?
With that said, it's crazy that we're significantly lower than MSU and OSU... which signifies to me that we actually suck.
November 24th, 2014 at 4:07 PM ^
to not defend Hoke. His job is tied to Hoke's job. I would defend him if I were in his position as well.
The idea that we are going to hire some other coach and he is going to want to keep Mattison is somewhat of a pipe dream. Sure it COULD happen, but it is not likely.
November 24th, 2014 at 4:13 PM ^
I was told by a football player that my opinion doesn't matter because I'm not part of the team so... I guess me and my season tickets probably should go have a nice life because they dont need us or whatever.
I'm a fan of Michigan Football but I'm not really a fan of this particular team. Not even because of the losing because I was a fan of the guys on the team that went 3-9.
In my opinion this team just doesn't have it. Not sure exactly what it is, but they certainly are missing it.
November 24th, 2014 at 4:23 PM ^
I could not agree with this more. I love Michigan and Michigan football, but I am just not a fan of this team. They don't play with any passion. Other than Devin G and Jake Ryan, I just don't feel strongly about most of the players on this team at this point. I too loved the 2008 team, including our QB (Sheridan, who was probably the least talented M QB ever). But this team just bothers me for some reason. I have met a number of fans who feel the same way.
Note: During the late Richrod years, you were probably the poster with whom I most disagreed on a daily basis. This time around, I am surprised by how much I agree with every one of your posts.
November 24th, 2014 at 7:06 PM ^
Apologies to you and the board because I definitely lost my shit when RR was fired.
I still have plenty of resentment (maybe not the right word...) over the whole thing, but I've let it go because there's little else I can or could do.
I just wish I could find anything about this team I can get behind. I've searched and tried. I'm going to be a season ticket holder for life no matter what happens. I just know I will remember this team as being a bunch of guys who could care less about the fans or about a lot of things really. Obviously that's not a quality I look for in a football team I root for.
It's really sad.
November 24th, 2014 at 10:34 PM ^
It is pretty clear to me by the comments we have heard from some of the players, that the coaching staff has been playing the us against everyone card to try to motivate the team. Unfortunately they don't realize or care about the damage being done with the fanbase.
At some point the players will become fans too. Someday they will be announced as a member of this team after their playing days and I really think they should consider if they really want their legacy to be about ripping on the people that support the program.
November 24th, 2014 at 10:22 PM ^
If the team mentality truely is as you stated above, then all this support the team crap can go by the wayside. It's obvious this narrative doesn't resonate that much with everyone on the team, because they make the same mental mistakes week in and week out.
Even the coaches can't seem to manage 4th down decisions without calling timeouts. The attention to detail is terrible and it is on the coaches. We continue to see the same types of failures as the season progresses and this has gone on each of the last several years.
The trajectory never improves under this staff!
November 24th, 2014 at 4:14 PM ^
November 24th, 2014 at 10:18 PM ^
I find it interesting how Big and Bold the narrative was when they came in. Anything short of competing for B1G Championships was failure. "This is Michigan".
The goal has now eroded to the point of it being about graduating players. I swear Mattison is just screwing with us. He can't possibly believe what he is saying!
November 24th, 2014 at 4:16 PM ^
That second tweet is embarrassing.
November 24th, 2014 at 10:11 PM ^
Both Tweets are embarassing. It's so ridiculous it makes me wonder if Mattison is having some fun on the way out responding to the mgobloggers!
The emphasis on graduation and he's a winner are reactions from this Blog. Maybe he has a day job as a comedian.
November 24th, 2014 at 4:16 PM ^
When an administration decides to build a stadium with over 100,000 seats. They decide whether they meant to or not that winning and filling seats is the most important thing. Michigan could have chosen to be Duke or Northwestern in football but they didn't. They choose to compete with OSU and Notre Dame. Giving kids that normally wouldn't qualify at Michigan a chance to get an outstanding degree is an amazing side effect of the football program but not the reason for it.
November 24th, 2014 at 4:46 PM ^
held 66K in 1922 and expanded to 79K in 1948
Notre Dame Stadium held 59K in 1930 (modeled on M Stadium) and expanded to 80 K in 1997.
M Stadium was 85K in 1928 and up to 97 K by 1949.
I'm pretty sure ohio and ND decided to compete with us.
November 24th, 2014 at 5:02 PM ^
needs to make a lot less than $800,000 per year. Professors make much less than that and they actually educate the kids.
The number one requirement is to win and to win in an ethical manner. Number two is to graduate players. This is the reality of major college football. You don't invest tens of millions of dollars into a football program to "graduate players".
Yeah, it's an university and the number one thing ought to be education. But we all know that this is not the case for many players. They look at the program as a means to an end and the university looks at the program as an advertising tool. It's a transaction really. You render your services for the opportunity to hone your talents before 100,000 people in a program blessed with all the training methods and coaching one needs(ideally anyway) to become a NFL draft pick.
November 24th, 2014 at 4:37 PM ^
Sorry Greg. The job is to win football games while graduating seniors. Take the PHD salary scale if your boss cn only do half the job.
November 24th, 2014 at 4:41 PM ^
These guys know the score and how it works. And if you don't win, you don't get the opportunity to stay beyond your coach's privilege. If you are good in spirte of the team's output you may get a reprieve. Mattison left Michigan when it was his choice. And now, he may have to go again when it isn't. And I would be disappointed to see him go.
November 24th, 2014 at 4:51 PM ^
I will say that I would be shocked if the staff did not have Hoke's back, but also none of them seem like the type that would throw one another under the bus even in times like this when their jobs may not be for much longer. If nothing else, the family atmosphere Hoke wanted with this staff definitely shows in the manner in which adversity like this is dealt with. I may not agree with what Mattison said entirely, but it isn't at all a shocking thing for him to say. That, and this is a guy he's known for over 30 years.
November 24th, 2014 at 4:59 PM ^
Cent 1: I have no problem with GMAT defending Brady. That's part of the deal of being a friend - sometimes, you have to drive the white Bronco. And frankly, no one doubt's Hoke's ability to inspire loyalty - that's part of what made him a great recruiter.
Cent 2: With that said, I don't think this particular argument stands up.
If I thought swapping coaches would materially change the graduation rate, that would be a concern, but my guess is there is a coach out there who can keep the graduation rate solid but still do a better job developing players and calling games.
November 24th, 2014 at 5:58 PM ^
Um..I think not.
November 24th, 2014 at 6:11 PM ^
Didn't mean to offend anybody, or to derail this thread, but . . . My impression always was that Cowlings drove the car and negotiated a surrender, but looking at Wikipedia, I guess it's possible that he was trying to assist a flight from justice.
I was trying to say that it's perfectly reasonable to do (non-criminal) things for your friends such as stressing the positive things they've done at press conferences, not that Hoke is a murderer or anything like that.
November 24th, 2014 at 6:16 PM ^
Let me go on record as anti-murder, but your imagery worked for what you were trying to get across, at least for me.
November 24th, 2014 at 6:34 PM ^
not offended, really..just more like I couldn't read anything else. but I get your point.
November 24th, 2014 at 5:01 PM ^
If graduation was the big metric, there would be no reason to pay these guys the salaries they make. Most of these kids don't come primarily to graduate, they come to make the league and the big bucks.