Brady Hoke comments on Harbaugh, Brandon & tenure at Michigan

Submitted by UMProud on


"The former Michigan head coach appeared on Detroit Sports 105.1-FM Friday with host Matt Dery, touching on a variety of topics. And, of course, he was asked about the man who replaced him -- Jim Harbaugh."

Source:  Mlive.com, 8/14/15, Nick Baumgardner

http://www.mlive.com/wolverines/index.ssf/2015/08/brady_hoke_talks_jim_harbaugh.html

evenyoubrutus

August 14th, 2015 at 4:11 PM ^

"But he's obviously a guy who loves his school, seems to love it. That's all you can ask for." Apparently Hoke has not learned that it takes more than that to be a good coach.

FrankMurphy

August 14th, 2015 at 4:16 PM ^

This interview is quintessential Hoke. Not answering the question that was asked, responding to questions about his screwups with "welp" and a shoulder shrug, not actually taking responsibility for anything, saying that he won't make excuses just before reeling off a string of excuses, managing to be both folksy and aloof at the same time, etc.

What was interesting is that it doesn't seem like he's too crazy about Jim Harbaugh. He avoided mentioning Harbaugh's name, and the only point at which he said something that even remotely resembled praise of Harbaugh is when he said Harbaugh loves Michigan, which he then qualified by saying that Harbaugh "seems" to love Michigan.

SpikeFan2016

August 14th, 2015 at 6:32 PM ^

A man with any sense of competence and dignity can admit his own failings. That takes real maturity, courage, and intellect. 

 

I'm not saying Hoke should've ridiculed himself or gone crazy over Harbaugh, but this interview screams that he does not think he was justly fired, which makes him ignorant, not having "self-worth."

jericho

August 14th, 2015 at 4:19 PM ^

"For anyone to think that Dave didn't do it the right way from a brand and development (standpoint),"

 

Aaaaaaand....Bam!  You just lost me.

Ray

August 14th, 2015 at 7:06 PM ^

what do you mean? If you mean revealing, I agree, though it'll be in a pathetic, cruel kind of way. While I don't think he's a bad guy, it sounds like he's got a chip on his shoulder and will probably indulge in a good deal of airing of the grievances. But beyond that he strikes me as a terrible choice for a radio show. I've never heard him say a courageous thing ever (see "aware, but not fully aware" as Exhibit A) and the guy has a hard time putting a noun and a verb together, especially without an "umm" or "uhh" in between. In a business dominated by the bold and articulate, putting Brady Hoke on the radio is like making hunting licenses valid for the petting zoo.

JamieH

August 14th, 2015 at 4:30 PM ^

Brandon was the ONLY AD in American who was willing to hire Hoke to a multimillion a year deal.  He basically threw bags of money at a guy who wasn't really a hot commodity to come take one of the most desirable jobs in the country.  Of COURSE Hoke has loyalty to Brandon.

WHICH IS EXACTLY WHY BRANDON HIRED HIM.  He wanted someone who would be "beholden" to him, who would "owe" him.  That's why Harbaugh was off his list.  Brandon couldn't have someone here that was in charge of things the way Harbaugh is. 

Leonhall

August 14th, 2015 at 4:31 PM ^

Wow, pretty odd interview. He gave a lot of coach speak answers however his responses about Dave Brandon and Jim Harbaugh are scratchers. He of course isn't going to throw DB under the bus on the radio...his response about Harbaugh was weird too. I kind of thought he and Jim knew each other, Brady basically says he knows Jim the least. Brady also starts talking about player development and how he helped Taylor Lewan, Schofield, and Mike Martin turn into NFL draft picks...I thought that was odd since he brought up the whole player development, not Dery. He also basically says that he left the program in good shape but didn't sound too confident they would do well this year, stating it takes time...also seems chummy with Dantonio, saying Mark has had time to build up his program. Again, I'm not sure what I expected, maybe it's too soon for an interview like this, he definitely seemed slightly bitter, which I again, I suppose is normal...I guess.



Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad

winterblue75

August 14th, 2015 at 4:44 PM ^

Odd really? he gave general coach speak answers that didn't throw anyone under the bus. Of course he's going to say he left the program in good shape, he wants to coach again some day I'm sure. He knows the W/L record wasn't where it needed to be and he said that, but kids graduated, the police blotter was relatively clean, and even Harbaugh said himself on the CBS Signing Day Show when he was on with Hoke that the rules are in place and there was a good foundation there. Jim and Brady do know each other, Brady coached with Jack...so what if he does know Jim the least, that's not some huge revelation. Because he doesn't slam Dantonio (no reason to anyway) he's chummy with him? I think you went out of your way to continue to crap on Hoke for some dumb radio interview.

AZBlue

August 14th, 2015 at 4:43 PM ^

Related note(?) -- saw a USA Today story today about Jim Tomasula today that to my eyes shows a ton a similarities between between he and BH. It was an actual paper version so no link-y.

Still not sure if I wish the Niners too much ill as we owe them for Harbaugh.

bluebots

August 14th, 2015 at 4:50 PM ^

I have to say I was kind of disappointed.  I used think that even though he couldn't win at the end, you couldn't question that he was trying and that he loved the school.  So obviously he's a person and it's hard to love a school that canned you ... but it was still disappointing that he seems to think that the school gave him some kind of a raw deal, and he doesn't seem to really be on board with Jim being a "home run hire".  I can understand that it's hard to love your successor when you've been booted out.  But.... still kind of disappointing. 

MGozer

August 14th, 2015 at 5:47 PM ^

is just a bad question.  Everyone knows Harbaugh is the best hire Michigan could have gotten -- trying to make Hoke publicly say so, too, is just demeaning.  A pointless grab for headline fodder.

"Sorry your wife left you.  But isn't her new husband fantastic?  Won't he do a swell job raising your kids?"

west2

August 14th, 2015 at 4:55 PM ^

situation or awkward you might say.    His explanation for last year's poor record was turnovers.  What do you say to that.   I cannot see Hoke really drawing a following on sirius radio.  My guess is next year once the last year of his M contract is done, he will get hired at a mid major type school. 

Stringer Bell

August 14th, 2015 at 5:26 PM ^

He has a history of these kinds of incidents though.  IIRC, one of his players at Ball State had to go to the hospital after one of Brady's practices.  At some point, it goes beyond incompetence.  I think Hoke takes the idea of "toughness" and goes way too far with it to the point that it becomes dangerous.

Everyone Murders

August 14th, 2015 at 6:13 PM ^

Why do we have to blame the amorphous culture when we have a flesh-and-blood leader of the football program to point to?  I would absolutely expect 1970s-1980s Bo to have a different view of toughness/concussions/training than a modern coach.

Put another way, Hoke "simply doing what he was taught to do" is part of the problem.  The sport change, science and medicine changes, and it's incumbent on a coach to keep up with the times - not just keep doing things the same way.

Everyone Murders

August 14th, 2015 at 6:57 PM ^

My point is that in the 1970s and 1980s a concussion was known as "getting your bell rung" and it was a badge of honor to stay in the game while the cobwebs cleared.  Now we know better, and expect our coaches to know better.

So if Hoke was trained in an era where "you get up and get back after it - you just got your bell rung" that's one thing.  If he doesn't pay attention to current science and adjust his views, that's another and it's on him, not some amorphous culture. 

(Bear in mind this is in response to SQ's assertion that we should be blaming the culture of football rather than the coaches - my view is I expect my coaches to continually educate themselves on these issues, and redraw the line between "toughness" and "recklessness" with some regularity.)

Also, to call the guy who earlier this week wrote the article about Harbaugh and injuries at camp a "writer" may be technically correct, but the word "hack" is more accurate!

PopeLando

August 14th, 2015 at 6:21 PM ^

BEYOND bad. I think Hoke never understood the difference between "lack of toughness" and "truly and honestly injured." I remember him saying something along the lines of 'if Shane didn't want to be our QB he could have come out.' Gardner played with broken bones (IIRC) because Hoke didn't want to know he was hurt. This is a man who should not be in charge of athletes. I have no doubt that he is a decent person (and an excellent recruiter) but his incompetance is dangerous.

LostOnNorth

August 15th, 2015 at 7:50 PM ^

completely disagree here. He's not a good person if he's stubborn to the point of hurting others. In fact he's the worst kind of person because he acts like a lovable teddy bear but when it comes to critical situations he sacrifices the health of those who depend on him to appease the allmighty good of toughness.

Hoke is the Nice Guy (TM), that wonders why girls won't go out with him and only date "assholes" then once he lucks into a relationship with an all star babe, he treats her like personal property. I think hoke is a far more sinister person than we want to admit. Then again im a cynical ass