Michigan football coach Brady Hoke on his old team, Vincent Smith starting and more
Michigan football coach Brady Hoke and the Wolverines are 3-0 and ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 for the first time this season.
Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com
Brady Hoke didn't dwell on the topic of San Diego State after the Michigan football team thumped Eastern Michigan, 31-3, on Saturday.
It was a hot topic today at his weekly press conference. San Diego State, the team Hoke coached for two seasons before taking the Michigan job in January, is at Michigan on Saturday (Noon, BTN).
"I tell you, we've got our hands full," Hoke said of San Diego State after the Eastern game. "That's a very good football team, a well-coached football team and a talented team. We're going to try to get by the next 12 hours and then focus on that one."
Hoke then was asked, "Are you glad you scheduled it?"
Hoke paused.
"Uh, no."
San Diego State is coming off a 42-24 victory against Washington State. The Aztecs are 3-0 for the first time in 30 years.
We'll update this file throughout the press conference.
Brady Hoke has left the building, players will soon arrive. Below are highlights from Hoke's comments to the media. Scroll below to read comments from senior defensive end Ryan Van Bergen.
BRADY HOKE: Said he doesn't care about the rankings. "It's not a big deal."
BRADY HOKE: Area that needs most improvement before Big Ten season: "Our front seven needs to play better."
BRADY HOKE: On why he wanted to buy out game: "They're good."
BRADY HOKE: On why backup QB Devin Gardner didn't play more against Eastern Michigan: "I never felt comfortable in where we were in the game."
BRADY HOKE: On running back Vincent Smith: "He might be smaller, but he's put together." Said he doesn't see Smith's size as a hindrance to him being an every-down back.
BRADY HOKE: "Vince (Smith) has been a tremendous pass protector. ... He does a lot of things very well."
BRADY HOKE: On SDSU quarterback Ryan Lindley: "He's got a very strong arm. ... He has a lot of the intangibles. ... He's a tremendous leader."
BRADY HOKE: On playing the team he coached last year: "I told Dave Brandon, let's buy that game out." Said rearranging teams' schedules and finding another opponent that late would have been too difficult.
BRADY HOKE: On telling players at SDSU he was leaving "There's no right way." Said because of the timing of him taking the Michigan job had to text some players that he was leaving. "It was tough."
BRADY HOKE: Said when he was coach at SDSU he wanted to schedule the game against Michigan because it's a great place to play a football game and he thought the Aztecs would be competitive.
BRADY HOKE: On starting running back situation: "I think Vince (Smith) has earned that right."
BRADY HOKE: On playing against players he recruited at SDSU: "They're great kids, it's no question, but we've got great kids right now."
BRADY HOKE: "It's San Diego State playing Michigan, that's all it is. ... It was the right opportunity at the right time."
BRADY HOKE: "Craig Roh probably played his best football of the year."
BRADY HOKE: "We need to complete a couple more balls if they're going to load the box and play an coverage like they were."
BRADY HOKE: "I thought the kids played fundamentally more sound (on Saturday)."
RYAN VAN BERGEN: On why senior offensive lineman David Molk hates the media. "Molk just hates people, it's nothing against you guys."
RYAN VAN BERGEN: On getting double teamed, "I take a lot of pride that I'll take on two guys, and I'm not going backward."
RYAN VAN BERGEN: "If anyone watches Crag Roh's film, they'd see he plays with an unbelievable motor. ... His stats and stuff aren't indicative of how well he's played."
RYAN VAN BERGEN: "I think as a defensive line, we're developing depth." He says he prefers to play end if they're passing, and prefers to play tackle if the other team is running.
RYAN VAN BERGEN: "I feel like teams are are more motivated to play a top 25 team."
RYAN VAN BERGEN: On beng ranked: "I think it's a curse. ... I'd rather not be ranked until the end of the season."
RYAN VAN BERGEN: "Right now we recognize that we're 3-0, but haven't played well yet."
RYAN VAN BERGEN: On what he credits the positive turnover ratio to, particularly in the red zone. "I would say emphasis in practice, we're constantly going after the ball in practice."
RYAN VAN BERGEN: "A lot of what coach Hoke and them expect out of us are not shown in the stat column."
RYAN VAN BERGEN: On if he was playing a coach that had left the program he was playing at to go somewhere. "It'd be extremely motivating. ... We expect them to be motivated, not just because of that, but because they want to come in and beat us in our house."
RYAN VAN BERGEN: "Coach Hoke made it a point to tell us (SDSU) is a good team. ... It'll be an awesome challenge."
Comments
mark mumford
Mon, Sep 19, 2011 : 10:42 p.m.
By the way, I'm still a fan of Coach Hoke! His leaving was a win-win situation. Michigan got a much better coach and so did San Diego State...
mark mumford
Mon, Sep 19, 2011 : 10:40 p.m.
It appears that Michigan's Shoelace is about to become untied...
RJ12688
Tue, Sep 20, 2011 : 5:40 a.m.
There already untied. But thanks for playing.
mark mumford
Mon, Sep 19, 2011 : 10:36 p.m.
I believe that most AZTECS fans are just hoping that the Wolverines bring their A-game to the Big House on Saturday, so that we can benefit from a challenging victory, in anticipation of a tough MWC schedule looming just ahead...
ironmouse12
Mon, Sep 19, 2011 : 9:29 p.m.
Or maybe "San Diego" is the University of California San Diego... Or maybe San Diego is an alcoholic monk who did something really special a long time ago...
Fishtec
Mon, Sep 19, 2011 : 7:42 p.m.
" Also, if San Diego plays well win or lose it gives us a visual idea of what coach Hoke is trying to accomplish" O.K. let's get this clear Michigan isn't playing San Diego! San Diego is USD, the Toreros a Catholic University. This game is against SDSU The AZTECS. Try to keep the two separate. Thanks! GO AZTECS!
Hailmary
Mon, Sep 19, 2011 : 6:49 p.m.
It will be interesting to see which Brady Hoke team shows up ready to play this Saturday, San Diego or Michigan. I think Michigan better show up ready to play some serious football. One school of thought is, if Michigan loses this game and concidering that for the most part Brady recruited and coached those kids, (San Diego) shouldn't Brady be a wee bit proud of his former Aztecs, I would be. When was the last time you saw two opposing football teams coached by the same coach within a 1 yr. span in Mich. stadium? My opinion, this is so cool and in a strange way it's a victory regardless of which team wins. If Mich. gets clobbered then we lose to a much smaller division school which has had a losing history forever but to a team that was built by our very own coach Hoke. We need a challenge by a well coached team, BTN play is next and we're not going to be ready playing cupcakes. Notre Dame has potential but the night they played Mich. they played horrible mistake filled football and that is the only reason Notre Dame lost to us. If we run over San Diego it's a win but it does not help us get ready for BTN play. Also, if San Diego plays well win or lose it gives us a visual idea of what coach Hoke is trying to accomplish at Mich. Yes, I'm excited about this matchup for many reasons win or lose. Now don't get me wrong, I'd prefer a win.
RWBill
Mon, Sep 19, 2011 : 5:45 p.m.
Stand By for another frustrating game watching our D unable to get the ball back from the other team as they put up 400 yards. Maybe we'll make a quantum leap. If not, Denard will carry the weight of 112,000 on his shoulders again. SDSU's defense has given up tons too, so if we can get started in the first quarter for a change we won't have to come from behind.