favorite moments of the Hoke Era

Sat in the S end zone. Was a "college visit/trip" for our then-high school daughter. She's now an MGoFreshman.

That game where he clapped and then pointed.  And clapped some more.

All of 2011. I think you'll find a lot of people that have the ND and OSU games up their with their all time favorites. I know I do. Nebraska is up there too. 

It was great because it seemed like everything went our way and Hoke actually was agressive in terms of going for it on 4th down and such. 

I can't speak for everyone, but that first press conference. I'll never forget that because I definitely wasn't sold on him and the way he spoke about the school and football program really made me forget my skepticism. Then that entire first season happened with an end to OSU's streak and a Sugar Bowl victory. The next year when they beat State at home. Too bad it didn't work out, it would have been a hell of a story to tell my kids. I'll still probably tell them about how there was this great guy who bled for this school and its students, but sometimes life doesn't give us a story book ending.

It was mostly sunshine and rainbows for me with Hoke until Akron 2013. Harder to find cherished memories after that point, but the tackle-over drubbing of Minnesota is one.

OSU win and Sparty win

Michigan beating Notre Dame in 2011 (although that really was all Denard).

 

2011 night game vs Notre Dame

Since my first ever game at the Big House was against OSU in 2011 I'm going to go with that. The Sugar Bowl is up there too. We were a 2 point conversion away from it being OSU '13 though.

• The final quarter of UTL 1 was the most exciting 15 minutes of football I have ever seen in my life.
• Ohio 2011
• Devin Funchess hurdling a Ohio player in 2013
• Every time Denard Robinson smiled

No question

The offer to Stephen Loszewski and the "recruiting trip" is one of those moments that gave us a good idea of the type of caring person Brady Hoke has been throughout his tenure as Michigan's head football coach.

Say what you will about the lack of championships, the on-field struggles, the non-development of certain players' football skills, the reluctance to wear a headset, the refusal to wear anything but short-sleeve shirts, the off-field incidents, the testiness during press conferences and the disappointing results . . . but this was one of those moments that showed me why it's best to remember Brady Hoke's positive image and why THERE IS A MICHIGAN DIFFERENCE.

I cant believe they fired this guy!

M00N

The whole season. Man it was good seeing Michigan win like that again. 2013 OSU was pretty great too, even though we lost.

2012 MSU. Came up from Florida and went to the game with my brother, a MSU fan. Although the game was not a high scoring affair, it was my first trip to the Big House since 2004, and ended in pretty exciting fashion.

where he hosted that family from Ohio.  The kid with cancer who hated Michigan so much that he named his cancer "Michigan."  Putting those things in proper perspective, he invites them up, gives them tickets, and welcomes them as if they were Michigan fans.

And little demonstrations of respect where he removed his sunglasses to directly speak to the family.

Could you imagine Urban doing that?  Definitely not Dantonio.  

Could you imagine the OSU fanbase having that kind of proper perspective? Of course not.

Brady Hoke is the quintessence of character.

 

2011 Notre Dame. My dad had passed in April and I had transferred his seats to my name. 42 years worth of Joy with Denard to Roy.Lots of tears between wife and I and seat mates. I will NEVER forget that night.

2011 Notre dame, no question and when we beat OSU

Soon after he was hired I recall Brian writing a piece where he referred to the press taking turns tickling Brady's belly.

I still laugh when I think about that.

I suppose UTL I would have to be a close second.

...and yesterday.

2011, recruiting Green and Peppers, and the Fergodsakes interview

the time-out-time-out-kick-is-good-welp-shrug. and it's not even close.

UTL 1 and 2012 Northwestern stand out because I went from total despair to freakish excitement in one play. Plus, I was at the Northwestern game and Roundtree caught that pass right in front of me. I can see myself in the crowd on the replay. Last years Notre Dame game was the last time I was truly happy football wise. I woke up at 2:00 in the morning and was too excited to sleep. But then Akron happened and it's been a total shit storm ever since.

My favorites were

UTL 1-basically the pregame honoring Desmond and the 4th quarter.  Let's not kid ourselves.  The first 3 quarters of UTL 1 sucked watching ND kick us all over the place, but it certainly made the 4th that much sweeter.

UTL II: Though I remember saying to my wife after Gardner threw that horrible pick in the end zone that "He'll never do *THAT* again."

Ohio State 2011: Seeing everyone run on the field chanting "It's Great To Be A Michigan Wolverine" reminded me of '97.  It was great to have that feeling back for a while.

Off the field had to be the Borges-Heiko exchanges.  Those were so entertaining.

Ending the streaks against OSU and MSU

Both UTL games

Nebraska 2011

Sugar Bowl

Finding new and hilarious ways to beat Northwestern

The day he was fired, so we could all move forward

That hack Jason Whitlock column that helped bring me around to the view of, "OK, he's got to be at least competent...right?" This smoothed the "Welp, it is what it is. Let's do this...'Brady'..." acceptance phase of January-February, 2011, which I had to go through before recruiting news started to get me thinking I'd been wrong about the guy... 

Drew Dileo slides in for the game winning field goal hold.

1. Beating OSU in 2011
2. UTL I
3. UTL II

Beating OSU 2011. The only things that eclipsed the joy of that day have been the birth of my daughters.

OSU 2011 a close second.

 

But I will remember the close calls, the flat out miracles to beat Northwestern and numerous other near miss embarrassing losses.  Brady's tenure could have been so so much worse if not for a few fortunate moments.  For me Brady's years were nearly identical to Lloyd's last 3 or 4 (save for 2006)  a team that underrachieved and was really fortunate to win as many games as they did.  It could have and maybe should have been worse.

 

On a positive note, nearly pulling off the miracle win over Ohio State last year was something.  A rare moment to enjoy a Michigan underdog fighting so hard and nearly pulling it off.

UTLII - best sporting event I've ever been to

Last couple games of 2011, back when the team was really clicking

Heiko-Big Al

Any pregame hype video from 2013

"Fuck it, I'll just throw it to Gallon"

Yesterday at about 3:15 pm.

Hands down