Posted on Wed, Jan 12, 2011 : 7:56 p.m.
View from San Diego: Why does Brady Hoke's hiring leave messy questions?
By AnnArbor.com Staff
Brady Hoke was bound to leave San Diego State some day, San Diego Union-Tribune columnist Nick Canepa writes.
But why now? And why, he wonders, was the dance with Michigan so awkward?
Comments
missionbrazil
Thu, Jan 13, 2011 : 12:01 p.m.
Sour grapes for sure. Everyone knew this was going to be a possibility since early December, and BH was more upfront with SDSU than many other coaches would be about his desire to go to UM if the opportunity came about. SDSU tried to get BH to sign an extension and he never signed it. The guy may have a point IF he signed an extension, but he did not. Interestingly, here are some other things this guy wrote about BH before this last article: "As much as I like Hoke, and I like him plenty, he really hasnt done a hell of a lot. But I do believe hes a fine coach who can assemble a staff and delegate authority. Although affable, hes also media-paranoid, closing practices, limiting access to players, and that along with his never being satisfied would seem a plus at Michigan." (it seems this guy has a problem with BH because he didn't have total access like he wanted) "I have no problem with another university being interested in Hoke. In fact, its refreshing that an SDSU coach is good enough to be wooed, because every Aztecs coach (seven) since Don Coryell left for the NFL Cardinals in 1972 has been canned. Good for Hoke. In two years on the bridge hes righted his ship, his 8-4 record the schools best since 1996. If he uses this job as a steppingstone to higher-paying places, I have no problem with it... Hoke has to look out for No. 1, which is Brady Hoke, after all, and he works in a volatile business and has a family to consider." (written when Minnesota was talking to BH; he didn't like Minnesota talking to him right before the season ended, and criticized them in the same way he criticized DB)
RudeJude
Thu, Jan 13, 2011 : 9:40 a.m.
I agree, wvtroll. I wish Brandon would have done it, especially after he asked the permission of LSU's AD, Joe Alleva, to speak with Les Miles. I can understand if SDSU feels snubbed, as they were treated differently than LSU. In the end, it is a formality and not a necessity. Brandon may take flak for this, but so should SDSU's AD, Joe Sterk, for playing the fool and failing to be on top of his coach. Brady Hoke made it clear he would go if Michigan offered to SDSU. Considering the Michigan job was open, it is surprising Sterk wasn't more cautious. Again, SDSU would still be under the same circumstances either way, the difference is Sterk has a bruised ego and Brandon comes off curtly.
wvtroll
Thu, Jan 13, 2011 : 9:17 a.m.
I'm not even sure where that practice of asking permission got started. It's a nice piece of etiquette, sort of like saying "Thank you", but probably not a requirement. I think a little bit more of people who say "Thank you" when they receive something from me than those who don't say anything. It's definitely not an earth-shaking fault when people don't say Thanks.
tim
Thu, Jan 13, 2011 : 8:19 a.m.
Everybody cries about the injustice when a coach is taken by another school--- but they usually don't have a problem when they fill the job by stealing some other schools coach.
wvtroll
Thu, Jan 13, 2011 : 7:54 a.m.
There are a few differences between RR and BH, and a few similarities, in the way things might have transpired. One difference is that RR used Alabama courtship to bump his salary, swearing he was grateful and would never leave WVU. WVU was told untruths and should never have believed RR, at least that seems obvious now. BH seems to have indicated he'd love the UM job and SDSU should have been aware of the possibility. The similarities involve mostly UM's decision to hire a coach that lacks the true UM caliber of credentials. I'm not sure UM failed to ask permission to speak to BH, but regardless, it seems to be a habit of UM to avoid the practice if it indeed went down that way. In the end, keeping quiet about any ongoing discussions from another school appears to be a method to boost one's salary at their current employer while allowing rumors to spread, and both RR and BH are guilty of this. Hopefully, for UM's sake, there won't be too many more similarities between the two coaches.
XTR
Wed, Jan 12, 2011 : 11:50 p.m.
All I see in the article is sour grapes by the grandpa writer. lol! If Brady was a player and alum of SDSU, I would understand some resentment by the local folks but this time, Brady had no ties there. It was a professional job not a dream job.
RudeJude
Wed, Jan 12, 2011 : 11:42 p.m.
Of all the criticisms Canepa lobs at Dave Brandon, he fails to mention the one with any significance, that Dave Brandon broke college football etiquette and spoke with and offered Brady Hoke the position without asking the permission of San Diego State's AD, Jim Sterk, first. So what if Dave Brandon used the Domino's private jet (Using it was a provision in his agreement in leaving Domino's), or that he decided to wait until after the season to evaluate and, later, fire Rodriguez? What's wrong with his approach to his coaching search? Is there an official protocol to administering one? It seems everybody is a critic and knows how things should be done, and Dave Brandon is not exempt from this treatment, even when there are few who know, with scarcely any details given, how his search was actually conducted. Was Hoke deceptive like Canepa claims? The real question is, was Hoke naming Michigan his dream job publicly not enough of a sign for SDSU to realize Hoke would leave if offered? Canepa asks where was Hoke during the week of Brandon's search? My question is where was San Diego State's AD Jim Sterk? I wish Dave Brandon would have made that courtesy call to Sterk. Regardless, SDSU would still be undergoing a coaching change in mid-January and only a few weeks before Signing Day. So do what you have to do, Canepa. Make your mountain out of a molehill. I hope you sell a lot of papers. Go Blue
1st Down
Wed, Jan 12, 2011 : 11:37 p.m.
Is this writer originally from West Virginia? Lets see...tough choice for Hoke...he openly tells his AD that if the Michigan job ever opens, he will take it... AD says no problem, I agree and I would go too... job opens...Hoke takes it... tough choice SDSU vs. Michigan...hmmm that writer needs to go back to Apalachia
azwolverine
Wed, Jan 12, 2011 : 11:01 p.m.
There's never a perfect way for a coach to leave a school. There's always going to be some hurt feelings, which is understandable, no matter how it's done. It seems to me that Hoke was very above board with SDSU and his intentions to go to Michigan if asked. Heck, he told them he would when he was hired. He was completely honest about it and can't be faulted for pursuing his dream job, regardless of what this obviously upset writer has to say about it.
riverraisin
Wed, Jan 12, 2011 : 10:14 p.m.
Oh, cry me a river... It's sour grapes in San Diego, and sweet wine in Ann Arbor Get over it