TheEditor

January 6th, 2011 at 1:06 PM ^

I'd root for Trgovac, simply because I like saying "Trgovac". Over and over.

If I were DB, I'd demand that all recruits change their surnames to something like "Trgovac". Except the RBs, who would need to pick a name like "Shuttlesworth".

Joined: 04/07/2010

MGoPoints: 18

Gameboy

January 6th, 2011 at 12:45 PM ^

This is the only objection to hiring Hoke.

Does he have enough goodwill around Michigan that he can withstand two poor years of football?

Whoever comes I think following facts are against them from the getgo:

  1. Next year will be brutal as there may be significant roster turnovers and recruit decommitments
  2. 2012 will be brutal as well with the schedule that we have

That means that whoever is the coach, the next two years may not be very pretty and that person must have enough goodwill to endure those two years.

I am not convinced that Hoke would survive after those two years with 7-5 records or worse. And if that is the case, we should never hire Hoke in the first place. The next coach must have enough cache to endure through those two years and I am not sure how many of the candidates that we are throwing around really can.

Joined: 11/28/2010

MGoPoints: 9656

ijohnb

January 6th, 2011 at 1:18 PM ^

that the roster right now cannot produce a much improved season next year.  RR was not fired because he was losing with bad players, he was fired because he was losing with good players and highly sought after recruits.  If the current players, or a significant portion of the current roster, remains, what Michigan needs is a reorganization, a Chapter 13 so to speak.  Speed - check; Capable quarterbacks - check; Young talent in the secondary - check; Talent on the defensive line - check.  Linebacker and offensive line appear to be a problem, but neither Furman or really Robinson have seen the field yet and Kenny Demens showed signs. Get the offensive line to the buffet and perhaps Will Campbell can find his true calling. 

I think RR was mismanaging this team to a "holy shit" degree, and I am not at all convinced that they cannot win right away if the current roster returns with anything resembling a kind-of decentish incoming class.

Joined: 09/21/2009

MGoPoints: 69986

Blue in Yarmouth

January 6th, 2011 at 2:34 PM ^

I don't agree with your analysis of RR but I do agree that he has assembled a talented team. If we get a coach that runs a simlar variation of the spread I don't think there is any reason we couldn't still be somewhere around ten wins next year.

If we go to a prostyle coach I think the next two seasons are going to be long ones.

Joined: 02/18/2009

MGoPoints: 6528

jmblue

January 6th, 2011 at 1:56 PM ^

I had the chance to watch SDSU play twice this year and I was impressed with their play.   It seems like everyone who has actually paid close attention to their program lately is very high on Hoke.  I don't think he'll end up getting the job because he's not a sexy enough name, but we may end up regretting that.  We're going to have our hands full against his team next season. 

Joined: 11/07/2008

MGoPoints: 102885

PurpleStuff

January 6th, 2011 at 2:20 PM ^

Everyone who actually follows their program, as jamiemac pointed out above, realizes that Chuck Long inherited a thankless rebuilding job and got canned after only three years, leaving behind a fantastic base for Brady Hoke.  The natural maturation process of the guys he had gave him Ryan Lindley and two senior WR's who just had thousand yard seasons in addition to a defense and offensive line full of guys recruited by Long. 

Acting like Hoke did something special doesn't reflect the totality of the situation at all.

Joined: 04/21/2009

MGoPoints: 15969

BlueHills

January 6th, 2011 at 2:41 PM ^

Not sure I agree that Brandon knows what he's doing. He's obviously a bright guy, but the corporate world is a different world from the sports/entertainment world, and the norms and expectations encountered are different.

Brandon did a nice job with the NCAA thing; well, that was to be expected, it's more like corporate damage control. Find the best lawyer, take a reasonable approach, etc.

This is a project with very different realities swirling. Brandon's a rookie in this world. I'm not saying he doesn't know what he's doing, but it is certainly possible that he's in for a rude awakening. Watching him yesterday, compared to a savvy guy like Don Canham, he looked like a boy scout who was out of his depth.

Joined: 10/31/2010

MGoPoints: 7468

jsquigg

January 6th, 2011 at 2:57 PM ^

I love it when rumor becomes fact in fantasy.  The media at large are so desperate to be in the know and in control of a story that they eat up whatever any source tells them, even if that source is a douchebag like Drew Sharp (who thinks Michigan is a regional program...).  What I'm getting at is that Dave Brandon is playing it close to the suit (not vest for obvious reasons) and I'll believe Brady Hoke is coach when I see him walk through that door.  Until then, I hope it's someone with a decent resume at worst. 

Joined: 09/06/2009

MGoPoints: 9621