The Baughz

January 10th, 2011 at 12:42 PM ^

Ok I found the excerpt on in his book called, "All It Takes Is All You Got." On page 42 there is an article written by Dough Hauschild who was a Sports Information Director at the Univeristy of Dayton where Gruden played qb at.

He states this: "My most outstanding memory of Jon would be his comment, going into his senior year, that his career ambition and dream job was to be the head coach at the University of Michigan." He then mentioned how this suprised him that a kid so young had aspirations of coaching one of the top programs in the country, espeically with no ties to the univeristy.

Phil Davison

January 10th, 2011 at 12:48 PM ^

It seems a stretch, but then again the RR hire was a whirlwind that came pretty much out of left-field, as well.

If it did happen, I don't understand how any UM fan could disapprove. The guy thrives on energy - running hard, hitting hard, making the perfect read. Kids who play football want to play for that type of coach. He's a true student of the game and obviously knows his stuff. Just watch his 1-on-1's with the NFL QBs for MNF. You can even see it on those pros' faces, they'd love to work with this guy.

Go Blue Eyes

January 10th, 2011 at 12:43 PM ^

Gruden is my personal favorite and would be a huge get for recruiting puposes.  My guess is his arrival brings back some of the ones we lost and attracts a few more that would never consider M in the first place. 

Does he live in Baton Rouge?

TSimpson77

January 10th, 2011 at 12:43 PM ^

Please be Gruden, please be Gruden, please be Gruden!

Gruden + Denard = Amaizing!! I think Gruden could keep Denard and develop him even further as a qb, I think he makes him into a 2006/2010 Mike Vick without the dog fighting of course.

BlueRoom269

January 10th, 2011 at 12:45 PM ^

If Brandon wanted to make a big splash with this hire Gruden would do it.  He certainly would have an element of unknown as far as HC at the college level so that would be the obvious negative.   But I don't think you can argue the intangibles he would bring to AA.  A lot of energy, positive publicity for the program and  positive momentum overall.  Something we really need at the moment.   Jim Harbaugh would have brought it without a doubt and I think thats a major reason most of us wanted him.  That being said I never thought Jim would be a for sure saviour of the program, but he was the best pick obviously.  But he was the right pick for this time in Michigan Football.  Gruden would not be as positive but would accomplish a lot of what we need right now.   That being said, I think its a pipe dream and I doubt its happening.  I would welcome the decision if it did come true.

My pipe dream candidate was history yesterday as I watched the Ravens dismantle the Chiefs.  JOHN Harbaugh would have been the best hire other than Jim IMO.   Wasn't going to happen even if they lost yesterday, but its not even a pipe dream possibility any longer. 

Its going to be Hokeamania, after everyone else turns us down. 

mackbru

January 10th, 2011 at 12:44 PM ^

The point is to hire the guy who gives you the best odds of winning. You really think Gruden is the best bet there? Over guys with long experience in college? Gruden is a gamble. Short-term? Maybe helps this year's recruiting. Long-term? Unknown. This is not a time to gamble.

bighouseinmate

January 10th, 2011 at 3:19 PM ^

.....are so fickle in who they desire as HC that even a coach like Lombardi wouldn't satisfy them.

I like Gruden as a first choice, even above and beyond JH if he was still available.

I also like the idea of Miles as HC, even with the supposed baggage he might bring.

I also like the idea of Hoke as HC.

WolverineRage

January 10th, 2011 at 1:11 PM ^

DO IT NOW!  HIRE HIM!

 

Seriously, I would be like a kid at Christmas if they hired him.

 

What is it we want in our coach:

 

1) A winner --> He has won a super bowl and as was noted, turned around the Raiders

 

2) A Uniter --> I see far less griping about him than many of the other supposed candidates

 

3) Someone who won't put up with the Detroit Sports Media crap --> I refer back to the Oakland example.  This is a guy who succeeded with Al Davis breathing down his neck (assuming Al Davis was still alive at that point...to steal a Bill Simmons joke).

 

And the thing is, he's football smart to an amazing degree.  He may not have coached in college but something tells me he'd make it work.  And as for assistants, do we know if the "tyrant" stuff has been said by his coordinators or are they generally OK with him.  I haven't been able to find much in that dept.  I'm guessing he could get a decent crew together quickly.  I Imagine phone calls to top flight coordinators or rising star coaches as something like this: "Hi, it's Jon Gruden, how'd you like to come be my O/D - Coordinator at Michigan?...Yes?...Great, see you tomorrow!"

 

Yes, my manlove for Gruden is reaching disturbing levels but one last bit evidence...I'm still trying to wrap my head around the comments after the DB meeting with the team where "One anonymous player: "It was like a weight was lifted off my shoulders." It sounded like there were plans bigger than "one of the usual suspects," but if it was a usual suspect it would be because he's earned the job."  Could Gruden be the "bigger than one of the usual suspects"?

ChiefLB

January 10th, 2011 at 1:56 PM ^

DB getting Gruden as a HC would be an absolute home run.  But reports indicate Indi is after Gruden.  And I don't see us pony'ing up enough cash for Gruden.  This is bs -- if all we end up with is Hoke, after all of this crap, what a joke... I am so mad.

IPFW_Wolverines

January 10th, 2011 at 2:21 PM ^

is serious about uniting the fan base again then this is the guy to hire. If he wants another three years of RR style bickering among fans, get Hoke or Miles. 

Davidgoblue

January 10th, 2011 at 2:27 PM ^

Gruden seems like a perfect fit

 

He is good with the media and would be great for recruiting on name alone. Also as an ex NFL coach he would be good a letting an OC and DC do there job while he does the other things that a needed as a Michigan coach. 

 

Did you watch Gruden work with the QB's last season before the draft? It was all the buzz at my son's school.

Don

January 10th, 2011 at 2:35 PM ^

If Jon Gruden looked and talked like Andy Reid but otherwise had the exact same resume, none of you would be giving him a moment's thought. It's only because he's a blonde pretty boy with a combustible demeanor that he's so popular.

IPFW_Wolverines

January 10th, 2011 at 2:46 PM ^

Hoke, a guy who has little to support his resume. 

Miles, who screws over recruits, eats grass, mismanages the clock on a regular basis, and has a team violating NCAA rules. 

Gruden, blonde haired pretty boy with a combustible demeanor, and a super bowl. 

 

Ya I'll take the pretty boy. 

smwilliams

January 10th, 2011 at 2:50 PM ^

Except for the fact that coaching in the NFL is completely different than coaching in college. Doesn't matter how good of a coach you are, if your team is hampered by the salary cap, no draft picks, aging roster like a lot of Gruden's Tampa Bay teams were, then you're fighting with one arm tied behind your back.

Dude had a .500 record or better in 8 out of 11 seasons. Won 1 Super Bowl. Made it to the AFC Championship Game. Lost the "Tuck Rule" game. A couple of other years, his team came close but fell short.

A former NFL HC who was successful as Gruden was shouldn't have an issue recruiting. The biggest challenge will be surrounding himself with the right coaches.

Gruden would be a home freakin' run.

Compare that to Brady Hoke he of the 3 winning seasons in 9 years as a college HC.

Gustavo Fring

January 10th, 2011 at 6:48 PM ^

1.  Jon Gruden has a Super Bowl ring.  Andy Reid doesn't.

2.  Andy Reid has had Donovan McNabb, Brian Westbrook, Desean Jackson, Michael Vick, Jeremy Maclin...and when he didn't have a great offense (and sometimes even when he did) he had beasts on defense like Trotter, Dawkins, Troy Vincent, Bobby Taylor, Lito Sheppard, Sheldon Brown.  The GM decisions in TB were a lot worse, and Gruden never had the kind of players Reid had.  He won a SB with Brad friggin Johnson!

3.  Andy Reid doesn't believe in running the football.  Ever.  He gave Lesean McCoy (who led the league in yards per carry against an 8-man front) exactly 12 carries last night.  This has caused some problems in the NFL, but would lead to absolute disaster in the Big Ten.

Jon Gruden is the antithesis to Reid in these ways. 

uminks

January 10th, 2011 at 2:39 PM ^

I would be surprised if he would take our job. But if he wants to coach here and I were DB, I would hire him!  Gruden would be ahead of Miles or Hoke in my book!

TSimpson77

January 10th, 2011 at 2:42 PM ^

Read Gruden wikipedia page about his hire at Tampa Bay it's eerily similar to Michigans. Some examples;

 

many fans and sports commentators began to openly question if the Bucs had made the right move by dismissing Dungy

"Only a big splash hire could quiet the storm, and this may have been the primary motivation for the Bucs to give up as much as they did to acquire Gruden."

skwasha

January 10th, 2011 at 2:45 PM ^

Many have stated that Gruden has named Michigan as his "dream job" in the past. As far as I've been able to find, the quote below is the only thing that comes close to such a statement. And when read fully, looks more like a desire to be NDs coach than ours. It's from his book Do You Love Football?!

In the Dayton football media guide, players had to list their 
ambition in life. I put down that I wanted to be head coach at 
Michigan by the time I was thirty-nine. Don’t think I’m going to
reach that one. Why Michigan? Because at that time I was still 
that divorced-from-Notre Dame, pissed-off kid, so I wanted to 
go to Michigan and kick the hell out of Notre Dame. I really wanted to be the head coach at Notre Dame, but at that time I just couldn't make myself state that as an official goal.

Don

January 10th, 2011 at 3:03 PM ^

Skwasha, you have committed the unpardonable sin at MGoBlog of going to an original source to verify an internet claim.

Don't you know you're supposed to rely on your brother-in-law's co-worker's friend who will assure all of us that UM is Gruden's "Dream Job?" Just like Michigan was Jim Harbaugh's "Dream Job?"

Rasmus

January 10th, 2011 at 5:39 PM ^

It is, however, a very clear indication that he wanted to be head football coach at a major NCAA program. Mike Holmgren took him under his wing and he went down the NFL road, but that desire might still be there. 

It shows he might be interested, and if I'm Brandon, it's something I have to consider.

Big Red Dog

January 10th, 2011 at 3:18 PM ^

So at least we don't have to listen to him as an announcer any more. He just effusively praises everything and everyone in the NFL, and doesn't seem to have any interesting insight.

seegoblu

January 10th, 2011 at 3:57 PM ^

He's never recruited, he's never had to deal with boosters, he's never had to deal with homesick kids...other than a mastery of X's and O's, why is he a qualified HC candidate? Wouldn't we run the risk of him jumping to the NFL when a good job opens up...every off-season?