QUESTION: Could you see Hoke helping to recruit Harbaugh?

How would that work with Hoke as DL coach? So, we would pay him his huge buyout and then turn around and put him back on the payroll as the DL coach?

I guess there's always a chance that Brady loves Michigan that much.  Maybe he wants to continue living in ann arbor, maybe he would stay on as DL coach.

But I can't see that being the case.  The guy was a former football player, and as a coach he has to be a competitor at heart.

You could point to Luke Fickell returning to OSU, but that was a completely different situation and should be viewed as an outlier.

no

Would need some time to pass for Harbaugh to have Brady come back to help with recruiting.  Probably not impossible, but probably not going to happen.

He could use a pair of Bose Bluetooth headsets similar to like some coaches wear and call Jim.

I could see Hoke doing this for a number of reasons. The first reason is his live for all things Michigan, he is still being paid and he has made a lot of money while coaching Michigan. I think he likely would endorse a Harbaugh hiring. We must keep in mind that Hoke built a nice foundation and would want what's best for the kids. So if Hoke really thought Jim was the guy I could see him calling him and filling him in on the roster. Hackett has been masterful with this. He likely asked hoke to help in the process. This can help Hoke when it comes down to him wanting a different coaching gig. Hell I hope Hoke stays in Ann Arbor for a few years and takes the Eastern job when it's available again.

So, kudos on first thread. Anyway, I not only think it's likely but I think it has or will have to happen before Jim potentially comes. In fact, if Hoke doesn't do it, Jim will. Guaranteed. Their families are very close and some have speculated (I agree with them) that if John were the brother we were targeting so hard he'd refuse out of not wanting to be the guy that replaced Hoke. Jim is close as well but he's Jim so he'd do it but a definite talk will (or has) take place before the job is potentially taken. As far as Hoke goes, he's a good guy in that he isn't spiteful. I doubt he "recruits" Jim as much as insists that he is not offended by it. Remember, Hoke is being paid more money to not coach next year than he'll likely earn in the next 4-5 total. At the end if the day Hoke knows the game and he failed on the field while being paid handsomely. He didn't try to fail but did. Most coaches play the "not bitter at place that fired them" simply for professionalism. The ones that say "no hard feelings" are very angry inside most of the time. I don't think Hoke is. He's not happy but he doesn't hate Michigan. I guarantee when/if that call takes/took place, Hoke is Hoke. Yet, I think the call comes from Jim's side. I don't see Hoke recruiting him but being very gracious, insisting & accepting.

Yes.

No

I hope that Brady Hoke has a bigger set of testicles that some of you are attributing to him.  

He just got fired.  From his dream job.  That hurts.  I hope that he has more pride than being the pushover who'll do *ANYTHING* the University or this fanbase wants him to do.  He may not be hostile to Harbaugh taking over the job but I doubt he'll actively recruit Harbaugh.  I think he's polishing up his CV and mulling his future options rather than worry about how his ex-employer is trying to find his replacement.  

I found this hard to fathom myself. But there is recent precedent. Andy Reid spoke glowingly of Philly to Chip Kelly. And it really helped.

So I guess I'm saying there is a chance.

What if I told you, Hoke's first phone call after being fired was to John Harbaugh.  His 2nd, to Jim.   

Absolutely, at least in a small way. I would be the talked to Jim and gave him his blessing and said he would be honored for Jim to follow him

This likely won't happen simply because it doesn't need to. At a high level of football, in which frequent turnover amongst coaches is the norm, it probably goes without saying that Harbaugh would not feel the need to get Hoke's blessing to take the job, nor would Brady expect to be asked for it.

However, if hypothetically the Hoke/Harbaugh family friendship were actually making Jim reluctant, I don't think Brady would hesitate to encourage him to come to Michigan. Hoke cares about his players first and foremost; at the end of the day, he's going to want what's best for those guys and hope for their success, rather than perhaps having a slight desire to see the team continue to stagnate out of ill-will.

conference remarks on Hoke were for the Harbaughs and the players. He said Hoke had a mastery over some aspects of the job and added that he wished he had been there earlier to help on other aspects. Besides being true it helps everyone who likes/respects Hoke to come to terms. It recognized where he was great and whatever bs Brandon saddled him with or failed at. Had Hackett stood up at the podium and spewed some of the pure hatefulness of some fans or otherwise marginalized Hoke it would have been a big fuck you to those who admire and respect him.

Welllllll......

...that the single most important question on Harbaugh's mind, or anyone else that's thinking of taking the job, is probably this: what's broken there? and is it getting fixed? Am I walking into a toxic situation or is the AD change resolving the problems?

And nobody can speak to that more directly and openly than Hoke. It would shock me if they haven't spoken, and I wouldn't expect Hoke to be anything other than candid--which probably helps, unless it really is still a toxic situation in which case we've got bigger issues to solve than finding a head coach.

JH calling Hoke and asking him about the job.  Maybe not so much asking for his blessing/permission, but just to get a general feel for what he's getting himself into.  Maybe ask if many of Brady's issues were due to DB being a sub-human POS, things like that.

I think Brady would take the call and answer honestly.  But no man is calling another man to recruit him for a job that he was just fired from.  That just doesn't happen.  Ever.