Bluewolverine

Tue, Jan 25, 2011 : 6:56 p.m.

Wins and losses are important but the building of this team is more important. We have the right guy there to do this along with the staff he is putting together. Did it ever occur to anyone that some of the nay sayers could be OSU fans! In fact from this point on I will consider anyone that says anything negative in this forum about this program an OSU fan. The RR error is over we have new and exciting things to talk about, embrace them and be positive. Don't be to surprised if you don't hear much out of spring practice. I expect this to be a closed program again like it should be. Watch the action on the field and enjoy. This is Michigan for God sake!

Blu n Tpa

Tue, Jan 25, 2011 : 5:55 p.m.

LS Thanks for your feedback. We will have to disagree about any positive "leftovers" from the WCiMFH. I guess learning from 'negatives' is still learning. As far as recruiting, even with the late start, this COACHING staff has done well. I am already on record for a Top 25 recruiting class for 2011. At first I was ridiculed as a "koolaid drinker" or something similar. I'm not hearing that anymore, and that's a testament to COACH Hoke and his highly skilled band of recruiters. As far as completing the staff, remember how DB did it, and how well that's worked out, so far. It's just the start but it's a great first step. BH has coaches in mind who might not be "available" yet. So we wait to get it right. TiM Go Blue!

Edward R Murrow's Ghost

Tue, Jan 25, 2011 : 5:05 p.m.

diskgolfgeek wrote: "we just might surprise and go 9-3 or 8-4 but if we don't, please be patient, these things take time." I have a prediction for you, discgolfgeek: If the football team goes less than 10-2 this year, the loudest critics of Coach Hoke will be those who were most willing to put up with the the sub-mediocre record acquired by whatshisname. In this regard, note Lorraine Steelman's post about midway through this string. One of whathisname's biggest supporters despite the sub-mediocre record (6-18 in the Big Ten, etc....), Lorraine has clearly set the bar at 10-2 and has declared that anything less will be a failure. Bizarre logic, to say the least. Good Night and Good Luck

Lorain Steelmen

Tue, Jan 25, 2011 : 4:54 p.m.

Blu N Tpa........Hoke will benefit from whatever work RR's staff did last year. And that is as it should be. RR's D was young, but these are still great kids! And they WILL, benefit from both coaching staffs. I've always believed, that those that stay, WILL be champions. Similarly, on offense, DRob made a huge statement, by staying @ Michigan. (unlike Mallet & Boren). I am encouraged so far, by what I hear, second hand, from the kids. I will be VERY interested to see, if Hoke & Co., can land any 4 stars in the next week., I understand now, that he may have a decent shot at a couple. We may all be pleasantly surprized on signing day. Perhaps the thing that I am most encourgaed by, is Hoke's propensity to deflect all comments from HIMSELF, back to the 'THE TEAM'...I like that, a lot! He reminds me of Bo and Mo, in that regard. It has been a long, long time. This will be an interesting Spring & Summer. You ARE right...Hoke may be waiting on some coaches...for reasons beyond a his control.

discgolfgeek

Tue, Jan 25, 2011 : 11:47 a.m.

Michigan fans, please please please give this man a chance to establish his program. Please show more class than you did with last coach -- you were a national embarrassment. Brady Hoke will get the job done but 2011 is a transition year and 2012 is just plain brutal. Can you be patient and wait for 2013 for the breakout season? I sure hope so. Ps 2011, we just might surprise and go 9-3 or 8-4 but if we don't, please be patient, these things take time.

appledated

Tue, Jan 25, 2011 : 7:29 a.m.

As much as I hated watching UM lose big games to teams with more speed and advanced passing games, RichRod's spread was never the answer. Seems like any decent defense could shut it down, one-dimensional as it was. What I always wondered was how someone can expect to recuit pro-caliber players without a pro-style offense, or without any offense that can compete in its own conference. Oh, and man alive I'm sick of the word "crystal".

Bluewolverine

Tue, Jan 25, 2011 : 5:08 a.m.

If you were to meet Brady you would quickly understand why these coaches want to work for him. I can assure you that the people he is putting on his staff are quality people and understand the tradition Michigan is known for. Discipline and team work will return and it is going to be fun to watch them play again. You will not see the blow out losses and the long faces on the fans next year. I couldn't be more excited than I am right now for this football team and what they have to look forward to. It will be hard but the results will be much more satisfying. It's great to be a Michigan Wolverine again.

Mick

Tue, Jan 25, 2011 : 3:03 a.m.

BTW, Looks like Theo is just being Theo again. And I notice his comrades are out in full force the last couple of days, i.e., Tater, Portage, Lorain, Dusty. This would be RR's version of the Fab Five. Go Blue! b/c TiM (in honor of Blu n Tpa)

Mick

Tue, Jan 25, 2011 : 2:55 a.m.

I hope that our special teams will play like incredible hulks, period! I'm just so glad that we have coaches who are so psyched up to be in AA. Looks like Antonio Poole, LB from Cincinnati is going to Go Blue!! Because This is Michigan!!!

mgoblue48348

Tue, Jan 25, 2011 : 2:52 a.m.

I am not sure how easy will be to out Ohio State Ohio State, but at least you can say realisticly when we say beat M State, Iowa, Wisky, and PSU. Lets see how many games and or how long it takes for those games to be won. Ohio State, Notre Dame, Nebraska, are not gonna be easy as much as I would like to win those games they more than likely will be a couple years away IMO. That is a fair measuring stick and I will stand by them unlike these so called Michigan fans who wanted Rich Rodriguez out before his moving van pulled in. At the same time Brady does need to beat 3-9 his first year the team just seems somehow better than that and I can't explain why but I would think this team falling back to 3-9 would be an unmittigated disaster.

tulsatom

Tue, Jan 25, 2011 : 1:32 a.m.

I'm glad he's happy to be in Ann Arbor but more importantly I hope he knows his stuff and can improve the team's special teams.

Keith

Tue, Jan 25, 2011 : 1 a.m.

Having a special team coach is like music to my ears. The kicking game will be improved and be competetive this year. We have 2 guys with experience plus 1 new recruit, look what denard looked like as freshman vs his sophmore year. This will translate to Defense Morale that will create oppertunities for the offense. This is already becoming a more balanced Team.

Theo212

Tue, Jan 25, 2011 : 12:34 a.m.

Ferrigno needs to teach Haugerup how to punt with both legs. Since we'll be running the pro set, he'll wear out his right leg by the 4th or 5th game. Let's hope this doesn't happen. Go Blue.

DonAZ

Mon, Jan 24, 2011 : 11:30 p.m.

Brady Hoke should absolutely be held to the same standards as Rodriguez with respect to progress and time given. That means that this fall if Hoke goes 3-9 or worse he should be subject to a great deal of scrutiny. That means if the defense continues to be woefully inadequate at fundamentals like tackling, then he should be subject to a great deal of scrutiny. That means if he does well against weak teams early in the season but falls apart later in the season, he should be subject to all the scrutiny Rodriguez received. Certainly if he follows up a 3-9 season with a 5-7 season where they start 4-0 then go 1-7 for the rest of the season against both good teams and bad. I'm reading here and elsewhere that Rodriguez was never given a chance to prove his system. That is complete and utter nonsense. As has been hashed over time and again, there are measurements of improvement that aren't *just* victories. And in every single one of those measurements Michigan under Rodriguez came up woefully, pitifully and shamefully short. And Theo -- as Dusty told me, "Stop using the term pro set." It is a specific formation, not a general category of formations. Dusty's post to me wasn't deleted for violating conversation rules, so I would expect this post to be honored by the censors as well.

Blu n Tpa

Mon, Jan 24, 2011 : 10 p.m.

LS I understand you are trying to bridge the last guy to Coach Hoke. Your loyalty notwithstanding, I still see effort from you to look forward and not dwell on the past. I, for one, am willing to see change in direction and wish you, and us, all the best. I have found that humor, even bad humor (ie t212), helps others to tolerate an otherwise difficult opinion. Coach Hoke, go get us our fill of Wolverines, both players and coaches. PS (LS, Just like the DC, Coach Hoke might be waiting for other coaches season's to end.) TiM Go Blue!

Blu n Tpa

Mon, Jan 24, 2011 : 9:38 p.m.

DVB You got the same replies I did. Those two might be twins. Maybe they can explain if the coaching was so great last season how come this season results will be better without those coaches being here? The players didn't improve until after the last game was played but before Coach Hoke and his merry band of experts had a chance to work with them. Talk about bad timing for the WCiMFH? Who knew? TiM Go Blue!

Blu n Tpa

Mon, Jan 24, 2011 : 9:26 p.m.

P N Lk If you lost your Krystal Boll how come you replied to me that Coach Hoke should win 8 games with the WCiMFH's players? Is it a "one-way" krystal bull? I'm confussed by the all you're contradictory comments. Please clarify. TiM Go Blue!

heartbreakM

Mon, Jan 24, 2011 : 8:41 p.m.

@portage: You were a great defender of the former coach, and when we criticized him for actual on-the-field (and off-the-field) results, you did not want to listen. You said that we should wait to judge the new coaches until actual results occur, and I agree. But when we critics complained about them, you still called us out. Well, even you have to admit that re instituting the captaincy, getting a dedicated special teams coach, getting a proven great D-coordinator and O-coordinator with good track records.... all of this bodes well. plus, the emphasis on OSU and rivalries? All of Hoke's actions so far have been very positive, much more than the last coach. But alas, the season beckons and then we will know more. But being back on the right track is enough to warm the freezing cold temps outside.

Lorain Steelmen

Mon, Jan 24, 2011 : 8:05 p.m.

I will say, there is no doubt that the new staff has 'great chemistry', in the words of Dave Brandon. And, as I did when Rodriguez, Carr, Moeller, Schembechler, and Elliott were here, I will support the head coach. I will caution everyone, however, that the exisiting players, were recruited for a different offensive and defensive scheme. So let's be patient with the 2011/2012 teams, please. As was the case, when RR came in, when the existing players were NOT suited for the fast paced O an D. The fans here, and the media, to a large extent, were NOT patient, and became very 'negative' on a personal level. That was embarassing, and counterproductive. In short, they acted like spoiled two year olds. Remember, these new recruits are HS seniors. It will take a while before they can contribute, and there still are at least two, possibly three, coaches to be hired. D-line, D-backs, and possibly a QB coach. (Loeffler). Hoke & Co. have their hands full in the next two weeks, and will be working like dogs, during the spring and summer. From a player's standpoint, guys like Martin, Roh, Kovachs, Woolfolk, DRobinson, Moch, and Roundtree, must assume the roles of 'leaders' as yet another transition is thrust upon them. As fans, we sometimes under-estimate, the work and effort these kids go through. Had RR stayed, he would have likely produced a 9-3 year, so now, we are asking these kids to be better than that...10-2, or better. Sure it's possible, until injuries start piling up.... There have been way too many negative posters on these boards. Without mentioning the usual names, I just hope they don't fall back into the same old, same o... But lets' assume that Hoke DOES survive. He must begin to set up a succession plan, so that we don't experience the same problems that Carr left us. A plan that maintains intensity and recruiting. In the meantime....Go Blue!

Theo212

Mon, Jan 24, 2011 : 8:01 p.m.

Kids, we can talk until we're Blue (pun intended) in the face about special teams, tradition, et cetera ad nauseum. But if our all-world offensive weapons are not properly utilized, then, well, oh heck......cue the cheesy '70's brass quartet. Here's a storyyyyy; Of a coach named Bradyyyyyyy. Who was runnnnning a boring pro set of his ownnnnn. On Our King's men, He put helmets of leather. Crystal hopes were blown. Till this one day when ol' Brady met DRob's motherrrr, And they knew that it was much more than a hunch. She'd come get him, if he wasn't used right. That's the wayyy ol' Big Blue was fed its lunch. Was fed its lunch Was crunched and crunched, That's the wayyyyyyyyyyyyy they were beaten to the punch. Let's hope this doesn't happen. Go Blue!!!

PortageLkBlu

Mon, Jan 24, 2011 : 7:48 p.m.

The rhetoric all sounds good but I'm waiting till game time to expand my pearls of wisdom to all of you about this coach, assist. coaches and the coming year. I lost my crystal ball so I can't predict with this new coach, is he is any good or not, see me after the Nebraska and Ohio State game I might have a more realistic viewpoint.

heartbreakM

Mon, Jan 24, 2011 : 7:41 p.m.

A special teams coach? I can't believe it!! Like a breath of fresh air!!

NoBowl4Blue

Mon, Jan 24, 2011 : 6:19 p.m.

Staff is coming together now get out there and recruit some DT's and Linebackers

michboy40

Mon, Jan 24, 2011 : 6:03 p.m.

There is no doubt the special teams will see an immediate improvement. I would not be suprised if Gibbons emerges next year...he was a top 10 prospect out of HS, and I think the previous coaching staff handled the kickers very poorly. He could be good. As for kickoffs, the new kid (Wile) kicks many of his kickoffs into the end zone...that will be a big difference from last year. Hagerup is a year older, so I would expect a big step forward from him as well.

David Vande Bunte

Mon, Jan 24, 2011 : 5:57 p.m.

I am still waiting for the sky to fall. After Michigan fired RichRod, there were many "fans" who said that Michigan would not be able to get recruits, would not be able to get good assistants, etc. That Michigan was no longer a top tier program...And every day, annarbor.com has stories about recruits committing after talking to Hoke, coaches who jumped at the opportunity to be on Hoke's staff, and similar content. The doomsayers appear to be 100% wrong. When you have guys leaving one of the elite defenses in the entire NFL to take the same job with Michigan, when you have guys who "couldn't say yes fast enough", you must be doing something right. I was skeptical about Brady Hoke too, I wanted Harbaugh in the worst way...but everything Hoke has done so far has worked to strengthen Michigan football, not weaken it.

Jim Pryce

Mon, Jan 24, 2011 : 5:48 p.m.

Any relation to Lou Ferrigno(the incredible hulk) if so he could be a huge plus in the weight room. Minus the green color.

Jim Knight

Mon, Jan 24, 2011 : 3:38 p.m.

Tater: This information is from a video the Michigan sports information staff produced, not from a press conference or any type of open access interview.

tater

Mon, Jan 24, 2011 : 3:36 p.m.

C'mon, guys: how about a little more "meat?" Four one-sentence paragraphs doesn't get it. I'm hoping this gets expanded later.

Blu n Tpa

Mon, Jan 24, 2011 : 3:36 p.m.

The quickest way to show improvement from the coaching staff will be with special teams. The better the special teams play the better the coaching staff is. And, as we have seen recently, so is the opposite. The "D" is helped a great deal by how effective the punting/kicking game is. And, no, it's not just the punter, it's the coverage also. You can punt 50 yards every time but if you allow the other team to run it back 25-30, what's the point. Missing field goals set the other teams offense up for a shorter field to score on. Unfortunately, some of this years recruits may have to see action on special teams due to lack of depth and lack of previous success. Hopefully a lot of current players, with vastly improved coaching will find untapped and unused skills to help. I continue to see and hear things that make me think these guys know what their doing. TiM, Go Blue!