Support for Brian and for Hoke

Submitted by bklein09 on

I think everyone out there who is up in arms about Brian's response to the Hoke hire needs to step back and take a deep breath. 

Brady Hoke became the next coach at Michigan only two days ago now. I know that when I first heard the news I was less than thrilled. But since that time I have really warmed up to him, and now I'm all in. But for others it may take more time.

More importantly, we all need to realize that Brian is entitled to his opinion on this matter. That guy works tirelessly to make this the best blog of any kind that I have ever been a part of. And guess what? I get to log on to this site and be a part of it for FREE! So despite my disagreement with Brian's perspective at the moment, I'm still all in for him and this blog as well. 

I know that the Michigan fan base needs to be united in order for the program to be successful. And it is my hope that Brian eventually warms up to Brady Hoke. But the one thing I will never question is that Brian is ALL IN FOR MICHIGAN. Michigan is that guy's life. And this blog is the product of that. 

To Brian, I'm sure my vote of confidence doesn't mean much, as you've no doubt developed tough skin over your time running this site. But most of us are still behind you. So keep up the good work that we get to enjoy every day.

Go Blue!

BlockM

January 13th, 2011 at 10:50 AM ^

All I want is what I'm sure we'll get from Brian after his ragegasm dies down: fair and objective analysis of Hoke's performance at Michigan.

I can live without all the personal attacks on the board simply because someone things Hoke will succeed/fail and someone else disagrees.

If we try not to get all "Oh no you di'int!" when having some reasonable discussions of his merits, we'll all be better for it.

phork

January 13th, 2011 at 10:52 AM ^

After the decision to dump RR was made, what did you guys expect? You all knew that Harbaugh was NFL bound. Miles turns out was an ego that Brandon didn't want to deal with. Think about this now.. IMO Hoke was the only serious target from the OSU loss going forward. Yes these other guys were given their fair shake phone call, Harbaugh could come back if Hoke doesn't work out and I think Miles has burned his last bridge to ever coach at UM. I think you guys are going to be really happy with how this all shakes out.

This hire should have taken place right after the OSU loss. The recruiting class in all probability would have been satiasfactory for a transition year.

Mi Sooner

January 13th, 2011 at 11:23 AM ^

Or rather the farce that the search became. It seems DB made the decision to let RR go after the OSU game, but he could not pull the trigger at that time. By waiting he did neither RR nor BH any favors. I diagree with DB about sacrificing recruiting; this was a challenge that BH or any coach did not need. Hiring BH in December makes recruiting a lower risk item.

Braylon 5 Hour…

January 13th, 2011 at 11:24 AM ^

Brian's passion and dedication to Michigan football is not in doubt.  He's frustrated because he's observing this move several steps down the road, and doesn't want Michigan to fade into Bolivian.  Brian doesn't WANT to be right in his feelings about Hoke, and about our ceiling being lower with this higher, etc.  But hey, for a guy who puts as much time into analysis of our football team, his opinion is certainly a valuable one. 

Even so, as we see what the remaining carnage/attrition is with our current players, our recruits, and what Hoke does going forward, Brian will change his tune on Hoke if there's reason to do so.  He's not being unreasonable, he's just a little bit depressed and exhausted from the last 3+ years (and maybe more) that we've withstood.  I think he certainly deserves to be cut a little slack. 

WolveJD

January 13th, 2011 at 11:27 AM ^

I think we can all agree with that (if not, please devote your working life to running a blog on Michigan athletics, then re-evaluate).  But we may want to think about changing the banner to the neutral MGoBlog banner that we all know and love.  The coaching search is over, Gruden ain't here, and Hoke is.  Plus, recruits (and their parents) read this site, and we may want to tone down the "OMG DOOM!!!" meme, if only to show that we're a reasonable and fair fan base.

(We are a reasonable and fair fan base, right?  Right?)

white_pony_rocks

January 13th, 2011 at 12:03 PM ^

my gf made a good point, the only reason people are saying the coach needs alumni support is for their own selfish reasons so they feel connected to the program.  They think that "this coach isnt going to win unless he has my support".  The coach makes millions of dollars to do one thing, the create a winning program, and he'll either do it or not do it, regardless of alumni support

white_pony_rocks

January 13th, 2011 at 12:12 PM ^

do you really think college football players # 1 reason to come to a school is to represent that school and play for that student body?  They are there because their #1 goal in playing college football is to make it to the nfl and the fact that players leave early proves this point, they wouldnt leave early if they were here for the university.  And the university reaps the benefits by revenue from merch, tickets sales, bowl game payout, its a huge money maker.  Why do you think they hired dave brandon, someone with a business background if it isnt a business?  this fan base needs to get realistic.  Michigan is a good school, not the best, and whatever michigan may have done in the past in football is important, but this isnt Bo's college football anymore, this is a business

white_pony_rocks

January 13th, 2011 at 12:19 PM ^

not sure how many people have taken managment classes, but havent you learned that complacency is a bad thing and you always need to be evolving to stay relevant?  yets the fan base here goes against that and seems to think that while other teams are evolving, using the same ideals and thoughts that worked 30 years ago still work

M-Wolverine

January 13th, 2011 at 1:46 PM ^

Or schools that sent them there? Because by your reasoning, that would be their only motivation for transferring.

Now, on the other hand, there may be a whole boatload of other reasons for a transfer. Almost all that have nothing to do with the NFL. So your logic is messed up. 

Bighousemike84

January 13th, 2011 at 12:17 PM ^

I wasnt so much surprised with Brians take on the hire, mostly because I tend to agree. I was more surprised by the callers who wasted no time in bitching out Cook for his dissenting opinion. I mean within a few minutes of the start of his segment the first caller was all up his shit about what he was saying.

 

I think its a very valid point that Michigan has regressed with this hire. Rich Rodriguez might not have produced the results we all wanted or expected but the reason for hiring him has not changed. In the last decade we have seen a major shift in college football away from that more traditional smash mouth football approach. The spread offenses that are employed are important factors in allowing teams like TCU and Auburn to dominate nationally while teams like Ohio State and Oklahoma can only dominate in conference.

 

Besides the last 2 years, Ohio State has traditionally struggled out of conference under Jim Tressel. Now Tressel ball does win games by reducing mistakes to a minimum and avoiding any unnecessary risks. But that style cannot compete against more athletic and speedy teams that are designed to circumvent the inherent strengths of a more traditional offense. Under Tressel the buckeyes roll through the B10 looking like a top 5 team. Then in the bowl game, against competition that does not play to the strengths of Tressels design, the weaknesses of the system are magnified.

 

I argued this right up to the end of the Rodriguez era. Michigan may have been getting 9+ wins under Carr but the system was outdated and needed changed and I think that hiring Rodriguez was a huge step in making that change. Unfortunately the program and its fanbase were not ready for that change. So now we go back to what we had before. A team that looks good and wins most every game but loses to more athletic, speedy teams. I was willing to suffer through a few bad seasons if it meant we would never have to deal with this kind of philosophy again but I am only one person and am obviously in the minority.

jsquigg

January 13th, 2011 at 2:36 PM ^

It's going to take time for this to sink in on a personal note.  All the hypocrisy that was let slide from the freep, from Carr and more importantly many of his players, from some alumni and the poor excuse for an athletic department is especially tough to stomach now.  Hoke has all the tools to succeed and I hope he does, but Ican see us drowning in the pool of mediocrity because of our "Michigan Man" standards which mean jack shit to the teams killing us.  I will be upset about this for as long as things continue to be blamed on Rodriguez no matter what Hoke does.