Exerpts from JUB on WTKA this morning
John U. Bacon talked to Sam on WTKA this morning. Here are some of the more interesting things he said:
1. The administration's timeline for picking a new AD may be very different than the fans' timeline. He referenced athletics/football as being "not Schlissel's thing."
Neither JUB nor Sam have heard anything about having a new AD by the end of this month. JUB referred to "very good sources" who haven't mentioned this...Note: JUB was not saying that Michigan won't have a new AD by the end of the month. He just hasn't heard that it will.
2. He mentioned that, in his opinion, it's easier to hire a new AD quickly than it is a coach. He also said that it might be more important for the new AD to have Michigan ties than the new coach, because the new AD will have to unify various factions.
3. Hackett, not Schlissel, appears to be running things as far as finding a permanent AD.
4. He thinks Coach Hoke will be back if he manages to beat OSU and finish 7-5. He believes Michigan would prefer not to make a change. EDIT: Let me add one thing: He was talking about this in the context of saying Michigan is conservative (in a non-political sense) when it comes to making changes with regard to any issue.
5. He thinks there's a 50-50 chance of landing Jim Harbaugh if Michigan fires Coach Hoke. He said it's "far from a done deal" and said Harbaugh wouldn't come back to college for any other program.
6. He thinks an experienced AD will be important if Michigan can't land Jim Harbaugh.
7. He would "bet against" Michigan landing John Harbaugh.
8. The "Michigan Man factor" will be an issue when hiring a coach but not an overwhelming one. He thinks Michigan learned from hiring Coach Hoke that being a "Michigan Man" is overrated.
November 7th, 2014 at 11:49 AM ^
November 7th, 2014 at 1:19 PM ^
Repeat.
November 7th, 2014 at 1:18 PM ^
I like Hoke. I was a Hoke supporter. But for whatever reason, its just not working here. The team looks disorganized and lackluster. Scratch that, the Defense is good enough (not great) if the offense wasn't a complete tire fire.
Again, I like Hoke, but according to what he wanted to do:
Player Toughness: I don't see a team ethos of toughness, or our players being tough (not thugs)
Player Development: Hoke mentioned Ryan and Clark. Okay but what about Gardner, the RB's, half the OL's, Morris.... Gardner has *re*gressed.
B1G title: We've never been seriously in it.
He's kept this team together, and I'll grant him that. He's done a good job of recruiting, though that appears to be done now due to circumstances.
Were we to go 7-5 but stumble our way there, and win an emotionally fueld game against OSU... well then so what. The team *still* doesn't look better.
If, however, they were to magically snap into place and the line started working and we stopped throwing the ball into the ground... and magically started to look like an honest to God football team where everything was really developing... then maybe.
But the chances of that happening are nil.
November 7th, 2014 at 11:50 AM ^
If Michigan doesn't fire Hoke after this season, there is something rotten in Ann Arbor. Hoke shouldn't have even been hired in the first place. They're going to keep Hoke for a 5th season after two consecutive 7-5 seasons when they fired RR after only 3 seasons, the final season being 7-5???? That is ridiculous.
If Hoke is coach after December 1st, I'll no longer be a season ticket holder. HOKE'S GOT TO GO!!!!!!
November 7th, 2014 at 12:28 PM ^
Maybe you want to find another team to root for then...we don't need you. I'll be more than happy to walk down to the ticket office and personally take care of that myself.
Have a good life.
Dave Brandon
November 7th, 2014 at 11:52 AM ^
November 7th, 2014 at 12:16 PM ^
November 7th, 2014 at 1:24 PM ^
I really fucking hope that's not the case. That would be absolutely pathetic. Unfortunately, I wouldn't put that past a good chunk of our fanbase.
November 7th, 2014 at 11:55 AM ^
President Schlissel: we all really like you right now. This is a big ol softball heading your way. Hit it out of the park and you have years of goodwill built in Ann Arbor. Wait to hire an AD till Spring and retain Hoke and people will be rightly frustrated
November 7th, 2014 at 11:55 AM ^
Has any player actually gotten better under Hoke ?
I cant think of anyone whos actually progressed with Hoke at the helm
November 7th, 2014 at 1:40 PM ^
Seriously? There seems to be this sentiment among M fans that every player we have who is good is either good solely on their own merits or isn't as good as he should be.
Hoke turned Will Campbell from a total bust into a solid starter and guy NFL teams took a long look at. He also coached the last 3 years of Lewan's and Schofield's careers and made them into high round draft picks. Both Jake Ryan and Frank Clark were no name recruits that have become NFL prospects under Hoke and you could argue that the majority of guys on our defense have either lived up to or surpassed their recruiting hype.
November 7th, 2014 at 2:54 PM ^
November 7th, 2014 at 4:16 PM ^
Every team will have kids who either don't improve or don't live up to expectations. You can't say "Hoke doesn't develop any players because look at these three that he didn't develop." And of the guys you mentioned, I certainly think both Taylor and Jarrod Wilson have improved. Countess was very good early and has plateaued a bit - but it's hard to know if his injury had anything to do with that.
I disagree about the DL comment. We have't exactly had one star DL guy but we've had a number of very solid D linemen. Frank Clark is a standout, and we had guys who came in very raw (Wormley, Taco, Glasgow) who have turned into great young players.
November 7th, 2014 at 5:48 PM ^
November 7th, 2014 at 5:48 PM ^
November 7th, 2014 at 11:56 AM ^
that he believes Jim Harbaugh to Michigan is 50/50 this morning. I never heard him say he would be against it....but I'm at work and couldn't listen to it all. 50/50 isn't bad...
If Hoke is retained not only will this class suck, so will next years class. Michigan must fire Hoke or this is just going to get worse.
November 7th, 2014 at 12:31 PM ^
He would bet against John Harbaugh coming to Michigan.
November 7th, 2014 at 12:40 PM ^
yea- apparently I didn't read! Thanks E!
November 7th, 2014 at 11:57 AM ^
Michigan would prefer not to make a change?
I'd prefer to watch and enjoy Michigan football next season.
November 7th, 2014 at 12:07 PM ^
Short term- fans literally are scared of wins. We love to see our team do well, but we are affraid that a wins could lead to more time for Hoke.
Long Term- If Hoke is retained we are all going to become less invested. We'll watch Michigan Football, but we just won't be as fanatic about it. Less people in the stands, less people who really care.
Hoke's a great guy, but win or lose these last 3 he needs to be sent packing.
November 7th, 2014 at 11:58 AM ^
#4 and #8 make me sick
November 7th, 2014 at 11:59 AM ^
With regards to #8. The whole Michigan Man thing is only overrated because the Bo coaching tree withered away with Carr. Les Miles is the continuation of the Bo line.
November 7th, 2014 at 12:07 PM ^
Hear me out, if they lose to Sparty they are DONE as far as playoff is concerned. Why not deny your arch rival the chance to hire a A+++++ level coach by throwing one game (and basically guranteeing 8-10 wins over the next decade?
I would do it if I was urbs.
November 7th, 2014 at 12:10 PM ^
Zero chance he deliberatly loses. Calls off the dogs and doesn't cover the spread is a maybe.
November 7th, 2014 at 12:11 PM ^
I see where you are coming from, but I think he is too confident in his abilities for that
November 7th, 2014 at 12:36 PM ^
Sure, Harbaugh went to the Super Bowl and rebuilt Stanford, but Urban has won 2 national titles and 2 other undfeated seasons. He has lost a grand total of one regular season game at Ohio State. If anything, Urban Meyer wants Harbaugh at Michigan because when both teams are dominant it will help the winner of The Game get into the playoff.
Urban Meyer is about as afraid of Harbaugh as Pete Carroll is.
November 7th, 2014 at 1:09 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
November 7th, 2014 at 1:43 PM ^
November 7th, 2014 at 3:29 PM ^
join the club. we have jackets
November 7th, 2014 at 3:01 PM ^
When Hoke still gets fired and we suddenly look more attractive to prospective coaches.
November 7th, 2014 at 11:34 PM ^
I have the exact same fear. There is no plausible reason that Michigan should lose the next two games to bad teams. If OSU gets beat handily, they may not be as motivated and a Michigan upset could be possible. If that happens, it would be all smoke and mirrors and lead to a false sense of progress.
November 7th, 2014 at 1:35 PM ^
I'm scared as shit that Hoke will be here next year. I can't enjoy the rest of the games at all, worried that any good play will increase Hoke's chances of staying. This sucks. Just fire him already so the fans can be relieved. This is sports torture....
November 7th, 2014 at 12:12 PM ^
I really hope we don't end up with another corporate CEO type, I've had enough of those guys ruining athletic departments.
November 7th, 2014 at 12:13 PM ^
call for all season ticket holders to not renew, boycott the program in general (don't buy gear etc.)
November 7th, 2014 at 12:17 PM ^
People should rise up and have their voices heard BEFORE it's too late, before Hoke is retained. Write, call, post, protest, whatever it takes to ensure Hoke isn't here. I need real MICHIGAN football back, for my sanity, please.....
November 7th, 2014 at 12:22 PM ^
of Schlissel's house. Make him so sick of this shit that he gets this done.
November 7th, 2014 at 12:46 PM ^
If Hoke is retained then I will be done with Michigan football. I watched the game last week and literally didnt care who won or lost. That nervous/anxious feeling I used to get on saturday mornings when Michigan plays is no longer there. I usually try to attend 1-2 games a year, I wont even think about buying tickets if Hoke is still around. The thought of him even possibly being back next year is making me quiver. Michigan football and the University as a whole does not deserve mediocrity. It's time to bring in a winner...
November 7th, 2014 at 12:58 PM ^
Dichotomy between post and sig is telling.
November 7th, 2014 at 1:53 PM ^
You win.
November 7th, 2014 at 12:13 PM ^
Sounds to me like JUB is out of the loop right now and has been since a little before Brandons firing timeline got moved up. His people in the AD may not have nearly as much information as they did before and Hackett may have contacted people personally without anybody knowing. It might not be likely but it sounds to me like he is taking a slightly more educated guess than we are based off what he is not hearing rather than him having information from hearing specific things.
November 7th, 2014 at 12:17 PM ^
In regards to Hoke, I think I have an email you guys might want to see.
/WD'd
November 7th, 2014 at 1:07 PM ^
November 7th, 2014 at 12:31 PM ^
Jack Harbaugh saying JH would take the job if offered. Anyone have that? The level of optimism around here seems to be getting a boost from that phantom soundbite. Short of that, I think JUB's "50-50" is the most optimistic assessment I've actually seen/heard.
If we end up 8-5 and can't get Harbaugh or Mullen (meaning, we won't get them next year or the next) then I say ride with Hoke, Nuss and Mattison under a better AD. That kind of finish which would obviously include a road win over OSU and a bowl opponent would wash away at least some of the bad taste of the ND-Utah-Minnesota stretch and the MSU beatdown. I think there would be enough optimism to sell some tickets (this is OSU-MSU @home year) and have a full house for the first few games and see how it goes.
Anything less than that kind of finish and obviously fans will be so disappointed that things like ticket sales and the 100,000 streak will suffer, even with a new AD. This includes a 6-6 record with OSU win + bowl loss or vice versa. And I don't think under any circumstances, now that DB is gone, Hoke survives with no bowl invite and a losing record, regardless, even if we lose the next two and the fifth win is OSU.
Whatever Hoke, Nuss and Mattison would pull out of their hat to make 8-5 happen, I think that's enough to trump most of the second-teir coaches and lower.
November 7th, 2014 at 3:31 PM ^
November 7th, 2014 at 11:24 PM ^
Henson posted a comment to the effect that people he was in contact with that are close to Harbaugh indicated to him that Jim would be interested in the job if available. The main comments were it needed to be handled correctly. He is still coaching his team and could not talk during the season.
November 7th, 2014 at 12:36 PM ^
If Hoke wins out and is not fired, that would be the most infuriating instance ever of recency effect. Any rationale analysis would look at what Hoke has already done up to this point and conclude that, regardless of how the season ends, he's done more than enough to lose his job. Full stop.
Imagine yourself in January, 2011. All self-righteous that you were right about Rich Rod. All imbued with hope. Imagine someone told you that Hoke would get annihilated by MSU in 2013 and 2014, by Notre Dame in 2014, by Utah at home in 2014, by Minnesota (!) at home in 2014. Imagine they told you that Hoke would lose to R-U-T-G-E-R-S in 2014. That we would go a calendar year without winning a road game. That he would go his entire first three and a half years without winning a road game against a team with a winning record.* That we'd lead the nation in 2013 in tackles for loss allowed. That we'd have negative rushing yards in a game. Nay, two games in a row! That we almost, arguably should have, lost to Akron--the worst team in college football--at home in 2013. You probably wouldn't have believed these things they are so preposterous for a coach in his third and fourth year at a school like Michigan.
Whatever happens between now and November 30 is negligible. Hoke's failings long ago crossed the threshold of fireable.
*Illinois, who Hoke beat on the road in 2011 had a 6-6 regular season record and then won their bowl game to finish 7-6.
November 7th, 2014 at 1:03 PM ^
History aside, we were all still right about RichRod. He failed at M, for crappy reasons perhaps, but he still failed. And it was not going to get better given the problems he was running into with recruiting.
There's no "What could have been?" with RichRod, but there sure as hell is with Brandon actually conducting a search instead of half-assing it while concentrating on Hoke the entire time.
November 7th, 2014 at 1:10 PM ^
I agree with you completely. I was that self-righteous, hopeful sap in 2011.
November 7th, 2014 at 1:07 PM ^
November 7th, 2014 at 1:58 PM ^
He would be 0-5 with a five game losing streak. Twice humiliated by MSU, worst loss in history against ND(shut out for the first time in 30 years) and three straight losses to OSU. How can anyone justify keeping him?