Exerpts from JUB on WTKA this morning

Submitted by Erik_in_Dayton on

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. 

 

http://www.wtka.com/page.php?page_id=87

Ben v2

November 7th, 2014 at 2:40 PM ^

The real problem:  No AD wants to fire Hoke and miss on Harbaugh.  All the factions will turn on the AD at that point.

I personally think that Bob Stitt should get a long look as a #2 after Jimbo.  With the right AD support, Stitt may become our football Beilein.

michgoblue

November 7th, 2014 at 3:42 PM ^

Look, maybe Stitt is a great FB mind, but he is absolutely NOT ready to lead a program like Michigan at this point in his career.  There is a huge difference between doing well at the Colorado College of Mines in D3 and doing well leading a historically premier program in a Power 5 conference.  Even RR, a great, accomplished coach, struggled to adjust to Michigan, and he had at least been on a relatively big stage for years.  Stitt is currently coaching at one level above texas high school fb.  He has never had to recruit at any real level, which is unfortunately a huge part of being a successful HC. 

If Jim H doesn't want to come to AA, there are about 20-30** coaches that I would take ahead of Stitt.  Most would be disappointing to this board (including me), but they would all be relatively safe hires.  This program CANNOT afford its third straight failed coaching change, and Stitt represents a risk of that.

**My top few are Harbaugh, Miles, Stoops, Other Harbaugh, Mullen, Teryl Austin, Tom Herman, and Cam Cameron.  If we can get one of those, I would make the move and can Hoke.  If not, and if Hoke wins out, maybe you give it one more year. 

Ben v2

November 7th, 2014 at 5:25 PM ^

Excellent point.  

One side of me thinks that "Hoke + new position coaches" for 2015 may be a reasonable plan B if Harbaugh punts on our offer.  However, I am really not sure if Hoke sees the big picture clearly enough to let Nussmeier and Mattison hire their own position.  Hoke seems to have a blindspot regarding his assistants.

Bob Stitt has the potential to be a Joe Tiller / Randy Walker type of hire.  Bob Stoops or Dan Mullen are definitely more experienced in big time college football, but Stitt's system is so different than the rest of the Big 10 that 2 or 3 additional wins are gained until the rest of the league catches up.  If Michigan has the right AD in place, he and she can take on the different factions to allow Stitt to make up time for the off-the-field responsibilities.

bighouse22

November 7th, 2014 at 10:41 PM ^

You have to move on from Hoke at this point.  The key with Harbaugh is making an honest effort to land him.  If he chooses not to come, there is nothing that can be done.  I would then be ok working down the list of options.  There are plenty of great coaches that would be a significant improvement over Hoke.

Miles, Peterson, Mullen, etc.

bighouse22

November 7th, 2014 at 10:34 PM ^

This is a key point in time for Michigan Football.  The last time Michigan had an opportunity to make the home run hire, they wiffed on Miles.

We are at that point again.  Let's see if they are smart enough to recognize it this time.  I really hope that Hackett is not another Bill Martin "sailing" story that we will talk about for years to come.  No more lost opportunities please.  

My position on Hoke is that we move on regardless of the new coach.  As long as the AD goes all in and an honest attempt to get Harbaugh is made, I could live with Jim choosing a different path.  I don't want to hear how he was not offered this time or was given a number everyone knew would be rejected.  

Swing for the fences.  If not Harbaugh, then move on to the next best option.  Hoke coming back is a non-starter!

MGoUberBlue

November 7th, 2014 at 2:50 PM ^

JIst IMO, but.......

I think that he will have some long discussions with Hackett about the various issues that seem to be his downfall.  If Hackett concludes that Hoke is not the long term answer, then I think that they will negotiate a friendly "moving on to other family interests" departure with Hoke being paid a very nice so long package. 

UM does not desire the Hoke matter to be messy even if Hackett concludes that he is not the answer.

Cope

November 7th, 2014 at 3:04 PM ^

From all I've heard as leaked unsubstantiated rumors, my great fear is that Schlissel will not be willing to shell out the big bucks necessary for a Jim Harbaugh. As a guy for whom football is not his thing, I'm really afraid he won't get it -- namely how much it is everybody else's thing, and how much the top dollar and the top coach are an absolute necessity.

Stringer Bell

November 7th, 2014 at 3:18 PM ^

He just saw his AD "resign" over football related issues.  He saw a mass of students protesting on his lawn, again over football related issues.  I think this perception that the prez doesn't "get it" when it comes to athletics is incorrect.  If he wasn't willing to accept overseeing athletics as a major part of his job, I'm sure he would've stayed in the Ivy League.  He doesn't seem like the type of guy to preach excellence in all facets of the university and then balk at the opportunity to hire a great football coach.

Gucci Mane

November 7th, 2014 at 3:10 PM ^

50/50 chance we get Harbaugh, yet he would bet against it ? So is it less than 50 then ? These comments all seemed pretty dumb.

Jevablue

November 7th, 2014 at 3:18 PM ^

The golden goose is close to shitting something besides golden eggs.  The incremental cost of paying what it takes to right the ship will be a pittance compared to the cost of the ship going down for an even longer period of time.  

Even someone who does not consider football their thing, can get that one.  If not, then.....

JoFree

November 7th, 2014 at 3:21 PM ^

Say espn's fric 'n frac's Mike & Mike on this morning's show. At the gym this morning on the treadmill when I hear dome-shaped Golic says Harbaugh's not going to UM, but to Oakland proffering the "his wife loves the Bay Area" red herring.  

And of course this little dumb-ass MSU grad bimbo (can't recall her name) on the set with them chimes in with an insightful - Hoke or Harbaugh doesn't matter we have a good thing going in East Lansing and we will continue to inflict hurt.

Geez, I can't wait to beat that classless SOB Dantonio and see him slither back into the sewer. Have no use for Meyer nor OSU, but for tomorrow I hope OSU serves the EL team a dose of reality.

BIGBLUEWORLD

November 7th, 2014 at 3:30 PM ^

Hoke is not fit to be coach. He lacks the drive and determination that's required. His own physical condition betrays a low level of discipline. He does not have the knowledge to prevail against the competition. His strenth and conditioning coach is doing a poor job. He failed to watch out for the welfare of his players.

This should all be obvious by now.

mjf34g

November 7th, 2014 at 3:33 PM ^

Neg me if you want but thats why i've said all along, when you hope for ANY victory this season and you get one, thats another step to Hoke returning. Sorry to say thats why i'll be pulling for NW tomorrow, Maryland next week and even the damn Bucks to put the final nail in the coffin. You CANNOT allow this buffon and staff to return. Unless the U just has made th e decision to allow the FB progarm to slide into the sunset and become Purdue and NW and not even try to be relevent. I could see it happening.

gremlin

November 7th, 2014 at 3:46 PM ^

LOL.  

What a fraud Bacon is.  He tells everyone that Harbaugh won't come if DB is still here.  Now, after he got what he wants, he tells everyone he would bet against Harbaugh coming here.

Nicely done.

While your at it, Bacon, can you please write another book that has excerpts in it slamming our last football coach to win a National Championship?  Thanks.

dcasslem

November 7th, 2014 at 4:10 PM ^

Who is this 'Michigan' that JUB is referring to?

"4. He thinks Coach Hoke will be back if he manages to beat OSU and finish 7-5.  He believes MICHIGAN [my emphasis] would prefer not to make a change ...

...

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 ..."

Who is 'Michigan'? It's so difficult to predict what will happen because there is no single 'Michigan' -- the university is a collection of many people with widely different ideas about the state of the program and its future.

Does JUB mean Hackett when he says 'Michigan'? If so, I'd guess it's too early to make any predictions about what Hackett will do at season's end, assuming a new AD is NOT hired yet. All this prognosticating is such BS. No one knows what will happen. And I'm preparing myself for the worst.

alum96

November 7th, 2014 at 4:33 PM ^

While Hoke returning is frightful the fact his best road victory in 4 years is 7-6 Illinois does not make me worried about OSU.  OSU is not great this year, it is above average.  They have played almost no one and played "even" with PSU on the road.  Teams just play a lot better at home in general than on the road.  A similar version of PSU lost by 50 or so in Columbus last year.

Most major upsets by the underdog happen at home, not on the road.  Combined with Hoke's ability to win on the road it would be a Stanford over USC like upset of epic proportions. 

But yes it is scary there is any thought of this, Hoke has lost a large part of this class and would be neutered in 2016 recruiting as well.  We'd have 2 mediocre classes back to back and Hoke would be leaading the charge with an inexperienced QB taking us into Utah next year and then hosting BYU and its dual threat QB in game 4.   I see 2-2 for almost any coach next year unless a miracle arrives at QB for any coach.  Just as this season was done by week 1 of October next season would be done in week 4.  The pressure on him would be so ridiculous if he carries a 2-2 record next year, I cannot even imagine.

We'd be setting off celebrations in EL and Columbus if this happened. It is truly unfathomable.  If let go today Hoke would not have any demand by any other Power 5 conference team - even a kansas level program.  But he is good enough for Michigan?  Absolutely boggling.  If I did a CC thread/diary of this guy and removed his name and only showed his stats everyone would laugh me off the board... and yet he is good enough for Michigan?

We've been embarassed by every team on our schedule who is top 30-40ish - Utah, MSU, ND, and hell throw in Minnesota who is not even in that realm.  There was real debate last week if we could beat Indiana....at home... on their 18th QB.

People need to forget the W/L and just look at the big picture - this is a team that does so many little things wrongs and attenton to detail is lacking almost everywhere.

bighouse22

November 7th, 2014 at 10:21 PM ^

I have faith that our interim AD will make the necessary changes.  Brandon's actions were definitely devisive, but there is not doubt in my mind that he would probably have survived if not for the poor performance on the football field.  It is unthinkable to me that Hoke will be around.  Your points are on the mark.

I will say that it is concerning to me that there seem to be a growing number of people hanging out in Ann Arbor with this opinion.  I do believe in the where there is smoke there is fire notion here.  What is more troubling still is that the measuring stick for Hoke keeps getting moved.  Now all he really needs to do is beat OSU?  

So we just forget the last few years because he is able to beat OSU this year?  If true, then I know that Michigan is devoid of true leaders.  They are comfortable extending and rewarding poor performance rather than making hard choices.  It will be very clear that Michigan will not be challenging for National Championships in Football anytime soon until the mindset changes.

blueday

November 7th, 2014 at 4:32 PM ^

I basically stated the same and was begged. You want the AD and HC out .... ol however it may not necessarily work out with what the new President feels are priorities.

BluByYou

November 7th, 2014 at 4:43 PM ^

is what your doctor tells you if you have cancer.  In other words, with all due respect to JUB, he has no clue.  It seems someone close to JH would have a clue, but I understand why it would not get out.

My Name is LEGIONS

November 7th, 2014 at 7:14 PM ^

JUB has just proven to me that he isnt connected as we think. There is zero chance Hoke returns, and if there were? My gosh.

uminks

November 8th, 2014 at 2:00 AM ^

Would OSU just throw their game in Columbus to keep Hoke as our coach.

Talk about a nightmare scenario. Hoke winning out and beating a listless OSU team in Columbus. Then when Harbaugh takes the NYJ job he tells reporters that he wanted to go to Michigan but they never asked because Hoke was never fired! Then of course Hoke will go 6-6 in 2015!

gustave ferbert

November 8th, 2014 at 2:56 AM ^

especially on this board.  He even pokes fun at it while being interviewed.  After the one year from now prediction of "JH as HC and Brad Bates as AD" I think he is dialing back on the rhetoric.  He noted the number of posts on this board after he made that call.  He doesn't want his opinions to garner the kind of attention to the point that people (on here especially) accept his prognostications as gospel.  

 It's indicative of the idea that people on this board perceive what they want to perceive and criticize those who say things they don't want to believe. . . 

team126

November 8th, 2014 at 6:42 AM ^

He is a great guy but definitely not a great football coach for Michigan.

If for whatever reason he is retained, lets change the team's name to

Michigan Lions!