Hoke Came Off Well, Brandon Not So Much

that he was basically lying when he said he'd conduct a national search.

I am on board with Hoke and I liked his press conference, but it was very evident that DB's national search really was actually focused on 3 possible people, all of whom had Michigan connections (JH, LM and BH).

Brandon reiterated he did a national search today, then followed up by saying that it was vital the candidates had experience recruiting in the area, then made the comments about not having to teach the Victors to the coach.

If Hoke ultimately works out here, that doesn't necessarily mean that Brandon had the open mind and open search that he claimed he was going to run.

I have two masters degrees . . . What are we talking about again?

the new rocket science, yo.  I'm going to start using it the phrase liberally.

"Come on, honey, we're making PB&Js for the kids, here. Geez, this isn't adminstrating!" 

or 

"Ed, you need to CC on those emails to HR. It's not that hard to remember, is it? It's not like this is adminstration." 

LOL your argument is seriously laughable as it's based entirely on an appeal to authority/expertise....  "DB has a master's degree ergo he's right and you all are wrong".  Seriously, that's what your post amounts to.

We have the blessing of Gordon "Little Sisters of the Poor" Gee.  Rock and roll guys!

It is possible that Brandon did exactly what he said.

Amen!

Why do you care to know so much about the behind-the-scenes hiring process? Brandon hired what he believed to be the best guy for Michigan and that's all that matters. When I get a job offer I don't care if I was their first or last choice, and neither should you. Even if he had Hoke at the top of the list the whole time, he needed to be sure that he was the right guy and thus evaluated other candidates as well. We will never know the full details of his search, and that's the way it should be.

Stop trying to stir up drama. Brandon did the best job he could as a first time AD. The program is in good hands. Worry about something else. Move on.

Are you serious with this?

A Superbowl MVP, NFL defensive MVP, former coaches, and just about everyone who played for Hoke at Michigan and other schools all think he is perfect for the job, but because you wanted something else, the athletic director needs to be fired?

What little respect I had for conversations on message boards is quickly dissapearing.

The board has closed ranks behind Hoke.  It wouldnt matter if he was a third year med student that had never seen a football field before, now that DB has annointed him and the search is over the vast majority of the board is going to hold hands and sing kumbaya cause he's a "Michigan Man".

I just have one question for the pro-Hoke crowd.....who would be a WORSE hire?  Who did Brady beat out that you'd say "man am I glad we dont have THAT guy coaching us."?

I'm curious as to the relevant evidence that Brady Hoke was his man all along? Again, I'll reiterate a point I thought of before the dismissal of RichRod and the press conference comment, if you are in the business world, you are constantly considering your succession plans. So yes, I'm sure Brandon had a list of potential contacts in mind.

Now, when you stop thinking that this search HAS to have been like most other coaching searches, most hiring processes involve assembling candidates and actually interviewing all of them first. This process gives you a chance to actually use data, interviews, and recommendations to select the best coach, not just the flavor of the week. I think he was high on Hoke, but again, why even reach out to Fitzgerald. Outside of this blog (of which I was one of many that advocated for before and after the firing) no one was talking about Fitz, so it's not like asking to interview would be appeasing anyone (like Harbaugh/Miles). Also, I'm actually applying for a coaching job right now, had my second interview today, but during the initial interview, I was told that I was probably the strongest candidate out of all four initially interviewed. But that doesn't mean I was going to get the job, they are doing their due diligence. I might not click with some of the current staff that would be working under me. 

Finally, what is your evidence that some of those who have defected might have stayed with a Hoke hiring anyhow. Would more time help - possibly, but not guaranteed. DB played under Bo Schembechler. He has a degree from UofM. He was a CEO of Domino's Pizza. He's a former regent, and now an athletic director. I think he's earned a bit more respect and our patience. 

He *had* to pursue Harbaugh to the depth's end. And I'm sure that was his plan. Everybody, including me, would have disavowed the program if he had hired Hoke a month ago.

And I'm not buying the argument that all these flights take a week to get lined up; they don't. At any rate, don't you think everybody that showed up today would have been thrilled with JH as well? Or Miles? If I Were DB, I'd have them lined up no matter who the coach was. It only makes sense.

Bottom line is, you can have your theories that this was all a charade to dupe you, and sure some of that necessarily goes on with something very public that one is trying to keep private, but you can't objectively judge a guy on what you don't know.