In Hoke I Trust
We are still transitioning into the program we will ultimately become under Hoke. We are a Manball team. That is the underlying philosophy and once we get some contiunuity going and the kids are in the program for 2 or 3 years you wil see a big difference on the field. The big take away from last night is that Stanford' s version of Manball (i.e. controlling the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball and imposing shear physicality) worked very well against an explsoive and nationally heralded spread offense. Going into this game Oregon had probably staked its claim as the #1 offense in the country. Standford showed everyone what good a O-Line and D-Line can do against the elite spread teams.
November 8th, 2013 at 5:45 PM ^
There was that debacle last year when Denard threw 5-6 INTs and we couldn't replace him because our best backup QB was playing wide receiver. Hoke signed off on that brilliant move.
It that winning percentage came from playing in the SEC or even Pac-12, it would hold more weight. But winning % is paper thin considering the competition so these three years. We've been able to win the pillow fights, not the heavyweight bouts.
OSU hasn't lost a game with Urban Meyer. That's impressive. And Meyer is shredding the B1G with the spread, something that we went away from because of the "spread can't work in the B1G, we're Michigan fergodsakes, MANBALL" garbage.
I'll give Hoke and his staff credit for one thing. They are doing a better job in recruiting top talent and players that seem to want to stick around. I would've loved to have seen Drake Harris, George Campbell and others spread out all over the field playing catch me if you can. Now I'm just hoping the system we're running will allow them to use their talents.
November 8th, 2013 at 5:54 PM ^
Hoke has won over 70% of his games but your stats are inaccurate. 2-1 vs Notre Dame, 1-2 vs MSU (how many TD's in those 3 games) and 1-1 vs OSU. With a few exceptions, during the last three years even when the team has won they haven't looked intimadating. I think the problem that most are having with team 134 and Hoke & Co. in general is the eyeball test. Hoke led teams have been abysmal on the road. This team has not shown a tangible progression as the season has unfolded. There are a lot of apologist and prognoticators on why this is, but I'm dissappointed. There are coaches doing more with less.
There are still wins to be had this season. Being a fan for the last 30 years I can only name a few losses that were worse than the beating we took last weekend. I hope the leadership on this team steps up and shows some pride in finishing the season strong wins or losses.
November 8th, 2013 at 7:03 PM ^
November 9th, 2013 at 1:00 AM ^
Sorry guys. I'm wrong. We are indeed 2-1 against ND with Hoke. I was blocking the game last year out. I'm not worried about our record against MSU and I'm just not that upset that we lost to a great defense on the road.
We need to get better, however, if you are disappointed this year then you just were not being realistic going into the season. This team has a long way to go, however, I have seen enough to believe that Hoke is the right guy.
November 9th, 2013 at 9:41 AM ^
about this season's expectations. I don't think many people expected much more than 9 wins at most this season. But as usual, we played a crazy, hyped often-above-our-heads game vs Notre Dame that always boosts otherwise realistic expectations.
Then Akron & Uconn
Then PSU
and the thing is, it really is about context and trajectory (for me at least).
I would have been ok with a loss to ND, dominant -if-not-blowout wins against Akron,Uconn.
some better D against Indiana, and at least for the 7th game of the season a significantly closer score (higher or lower) against an instate rival after a bye week.
It's not the record that has people so down, it's the skin-of-our-teeth wins, & WTF/ embarrasing losses.
I'm not seeing a season that baring injury should see any team with quality players and coaches slowly improve from the beginning of the season to the end.
Look at last year. Of course Michigan is overmatched by Alabama, but then we see the following games and scores in a pretty predictable fashion. turnovers costing us a game vs ND, blowing out Umass, expected wins, close defensive battle vs MSU, injury/catastrophe vs Neb, and a reasonably decent game against an undeated OSU.
The utter inconsistency this year is simply maddening.
November 8th, 2013 at 7:01 PM ^
Go Blue
November 8th, 2013 at 7:38 PM ^
What worries is more is how many coaches have turned us down the past 2 searches. Miles I guess was not a "Carr man", and Harbaugh was never coming here as he had bigger ambitions but seeing guys like Schiano not at all interested is a pretty strong statement. Many people say Hoke was the 3rd choice but frankly what other choices were there that were viable? And what does that say about the lens other people view Michigan?
November 8th, 2013 at 7:44 PM ^
November 8th, 2013 at 8:00 PM ^
November 8th, 2013 at 9:12 PM ^
A Vols fan asked me about this, as it has been lighting up their forums. I didn't see anything about it and can't start a topic yet.
Any truth to the rumors of players transfering out because of our less than stellar year? I mean, a close loss to a key opponent is one thing, but a close win to a UConn or getting whooped by State are different things.
http://www.chatsports.com/michigan-wolverines/a/Exclusive-Multiple-Michigan-underclassmen-exploring-transfer-options-10-2-4469
OMG Please let this be rumors. I'm not sure I could handle it.
November 8th, 2013 at 10:00 PM ^
November 9th, 2013 at 8:37 AM ^
Hoke's been recruiting well but like many other on the board I am not sure Hoke will ever get this turned around. The ineptitude of the line is not reassuring. Perhaps I expect too much but I would think that with the multiple highly rated freshmen and sophomores Hoke has he could find at least a couple who could be somewhat competent starters on the interior of O-line. I have not even seen that, and I don't think that bodes well for the future. I don't believe that some of these kids are not ready physically.
In God I trust, all others will disappoint.
November 9th, 2013 at 8:37 AM ^
Hoke's been recruiting well but like many other on the board I am not sure Hoke will ever get this turned around. The ineptitude of the line is not reassuring. Perhaps I expect too much but I would think that with the multiple highly rated freshmen and sophomores Hoke has he could find at least a couple who could be somewhat competent starters on the interior of O-line. I have not even seen that, and I don't think that bodes well for the future. I don't believe that some of these kids are not ready physically.
In God I trust, all others will disappoint.
November 9th, 2013 at 8:54 AM ^
as are the SF 49ers in the NFL.
November 9th, 2013 at 2:05 PM ^
Hate to say it but I bet we would have been better off with Jerry Kill and his staff at Minn.