Hoke's letter to the fans
http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/011411aaa.html
Looks like player retention was on tap this week, and recruiting will begin next week.
January 14th, 2011 at 6:56 PM ^
To All Wolverine Fans,
We want to take this opportunity to tell you how excited we are to represent you and this great university. We are equally excited to be back in Ann Arbor with so many familiar faces from the past. There is nowhere else we'd rather be.
Tuesday, we made the decision to return to Michigan. It was a special day for our family, but the enthusiasm and support that we received Wednesday was overwhelming and put into perspective how great and special Michigan really is. It was a memorable day for our family.
We have always said our goal was to lead the Michigan football program. It was great to meet and have lunch with our current players and to have such great support from so many former players and coaches at the press conference and reception. When we received the standing ovation and show of support at the basketball game, it made that dream come to life in a way we never imagined.
We have had some great meetings with our players over the past two days and expect many more over the weekend before heading out recruiting. We have a lot of work to do between now and the time we walk down that tunnel on Sept. 3, but we are all up to the task of playing championship football. We can't wait to get on the field and start practicing with these young men who represent you and this great university.
We want to thank everyone -- former players and coaches, alumni and fans -- who has embraced our family and this current TEAM. You mean a lot and we look forward to an exciting future.
Thank you so much and Go Blue!
Brady, Laura and Kelly Hoke
January 14th, 2011 at 7:54 PM ^
"stop writing letters and call Tabb back"
January 14th, 2011 at 8:10 PM ^
Gonna hold you to that, coach.
January 14th, 2011 at 6:58 PM ^
That has to be rough to be a coaches kid. I never really thought about it, but they are probably moving around all the time, kind of like a military family.
January 14th, 2011 at 6:59 PM ^
"Like a military family" with much better pay.
January 15th, 2011 at 1:00 AM ^
just a little bit.
January 15th, 2011 at 9:26 AM ^
I can personally vouch for that!
January 14th, 2011 at 8:31 PM ^
Hoke's daughter has actually graduated from college and will not be moving to Ann Arbor. Although, she will probably be coming up for quite a few games. Not a bad deal.
January 14th, 2011 at 11:14 PM ^
people vilify your dad and call him horrible things all over the media
January 15th, 2011 at 12:29 AM ^
January 15th, 2011 at 12:42 AM ^
It seems to me that he will finish the staff this weekend and tlak to the rest of the kids on the team and make sure they are comfortable before hitting the recruiting road. Have to make sure you get the players you have already to eb comfortable before adding to the base. Just my take on things.
January 14th, 2011 at 6:59 PM ^
I know (some) people were not very excited with this hire, but I have to say he has done everything right so far. We have an important 3 weeks in front of us, but if he continues to display his passion and love for the program, I have no doubt he will bring in some solid recruits.
January 14th, 2011 at 7:05 PM ^
it may be easy to nitpick the guy (size, not a marquee name, manner of speaking, etc.), but there's no doubt his heart's right.
Bring it home Brady.
January 14th, 2011 at 7:12 PM ^
...and who is still not "sold" by any stretch of the imagination, I have no issues whatsoever with how he has conducted himself so far.
January 14th, 2011 at 7:20 PM ^
lots of time to sell me on the product.
January 14th, 2011 at 8:09 PM ^
No selling will help if he loses.
That's the beauty of sports. You win or you lose, you can't hide it. It's pure.
Bo used to say he had no use for the media. When asked why, he said "If I'm winning I don't need them. If I'm losing they can't help me."
January 15th, 2011 at 12:27 AM ^
January 15th, 2011 at 12:59 AM ^
it has been absolutely perfect. I was in the same boat, was sold on harbaugh and when realized he wasn't coming was sold on Miles was a pro-no hoke. but now that he is here and how he has conducted it all i am 100% pro-hoke...ALL IN
January 14th, 2011 at 8:18 PM ^
This is an all out blitz for hearts and minds.... and it is working.
January 14th, 2011 at 7:05 PM ^
Give em hell coach!
January 14th, 2011 at 7:12 PM ^
I liked that the letter was signed by Coach Brady's entire family. His priorities are in order - family and team. Go Blue.
January 14th, 2011 at 7:14 PM ^
If I'm going to donate another cent to this program I at least feel better that the guy in charge has the same pride and affinity for my school as I do!
January 14th, 2011 at 7:21 PM ^
I think he is the perfect coach for Michigan. He loves this place and that excites me about the future of Michigan!
January 14th, 2011 at 7:21 PM ^
I for one am pretty excited that we haven't heard anything about transfers yet. The guys are buying in for now.... We could be good next year!
January 14th, 2011 at 7:22 PM ^
It's getting easier as days goes by to seperate this fiasco of a hiring process from the actual coach, he's doing a good job off the field so far.
January 14th, 2011 at 10:16 PM ^
The proof will be in the pudding come Western Michigan.
January 14th, 2011 at 10:36 PM ^
But I think the proof will come further down the road. All we can learn from Western is likely bad.....
January 14th, 2011 at 7:26 PM ^
I am still in the process of warming up to this guy, and I hope he can keep all of this goodwill/momentum going throughout the spring, summer, and into next season.
January 14th, 2011 at 7:35 PM ^
See you in Arizona Bay.
January 14th, 2011 at 7:39 PM ^
Very nice. So far he has been everything we could want, except he doesn't have the big name. I am hope he will soon enough. Love his presser, especially when he thanked RR and staff. Very classy.
January 14th, 2011 at 7:57 PM ^
Cosign. Even the most hardened member of the Rebellion or In Rod We Trust clans shouldn't have a problem with Hoke's actions and words. He was given an opportunity that he's worked very hard for, and you can't hold it against him that he accepted it. Whether he was the very best choice is functionally irrelevant at this point. He deserves support as much as RR did.
January 14th, 2011 at 8:08 PM ^
I agree, it's just at this point I've invested so much time and emotion (as a fanatic) of Michigan football. If this decision for Hoke sets us back yet another 3 years...the blame falls squarely on Mr. DB.
January 14th, 2011 at 10:34 PM ^
be sure to give him all the credit.
January 16th, 2011 at 12:46 AM ^
I will not be giving DB all the credit if it works. I will struggle just to give him some.
Dude's as arrogant as it gets.
January 14th, 2011 at 8:22 PM ^
I agree coach Hoke deserves our support and a fair shake to get this team back on the winning track. Hopefully RR has the cupboard full enough that we will not have to suffer anymore sub .500 seasons.
January 14th, 2011 at 9:04 PM ^
That the guys all appear to be staying. Certainly Hoke deserves credit for making quick bonds, but rr clearly taught these guys to stick together.
January 14th, 2011 at 9:19 PM ^
One of my favorite items from the last couple days was how the senior class was doing their all to hold everyone together.
I do like the players on this team. We have Rich Rod to thank for the men in the Senior class.
I was expecting 9 wins from Rich Rod (new DC) and if Hoke can keep all the current players on board, now I'm hopng he can win 9 too.
January 15th, 2011 at 9:31 AM ^
He deserves support as much as RR did.
Why in the world would you wish that on Hoke??? He deserves far more support than RR got (as did RR).
January 17th, 2011 at 9:28 AM ^
Yea...not sure that statement makes much sense.
January 14th, 2011 at 8:04 PM ^
I really like how he constantly uses "we" instead of I, and our instead of my... clearly a good guy, with great values. I just hope he gets the results we're looking for on the field.
January 14th, 2011 at 8:11 PM ^
certainly does seem to have a game plan and he is certainly putting it into action. Hopefully his game plans will be this effective during the Big 10 season.
January 14th, 2011 at 8:50 PM ^
So apparently because he's able to read from a sheet of notes at a press conference, send out an athletic department proof-read letter and handle all the easy questions, he's now the right man for the job. People should save all the rah rah "He's the right man for the job" stuff until September. Right now, he's doing what PR machine wants him to do.
January 14th, 2011 at 9:06 PM ^
I just can't be that cynical. The guy's heart is in the right place: Ann Arbor. I take him at his word that this is his dream job. I can see his appeal to Brandon, especially compared to the Bright Lights Big City-bound Harbaugh and the SEC Sleaze Merchant Miles. All the gushing from former players, colleagues, etc., seems even beyond what you'd expect.
When this process started, I hoped we wouldn't have to settle for Hoke. Now I'm thinking we could wind up glad we did.
January 14th, 2011 at 9:16 PM ^
But at least 50% of the people on this board would say the coaching Michigan is our dream job. That doesn't mean we can do it. My personal feeling is that he will be our Ron Zook (Florida era) or Matt Doherty (UNC Hoops). They were great recruiters but the on field results were subpar. I think his love for the school will make him a great recruiter. He'll do a great job selling the school to kids. But I'm still concerned about the coaching side of things.
I just have the gut feeling that he'll get some great classes in here, but someone else will have to come in to take us to that BCS Championship level.
January 14th, 2011 at 9:27 PM ^
No way to say that isn't a valid concern.
However, you don't go from 4-8 to 12-1 without knowing something about coaching. Whether it's at an elite level or not we'll have to wait and see.
I can't listen to a Michigan coach who sounds like Bo and not be all in for Brady Hoke.
January 14th, 2011 at 10:42 PM ^
A big part of being a successful head coach is getting good assistants. Just like major league scouts have to be able to assess talent and potential in young baseball players, a good head coach must be able to assess potential assistant coaches. If BH can put together a good team of assistant coaches, and in particular get a good DC, he will do just fine. That is what cost RR more than anything else, at least IMO.
January 14th, 2011 at 11:06 PM ^
I'm not going to get all excited about a guy who goes 12-1 after going 23-37 the first five years. Especially when they got smacked down in their conference championship game. Teams get lucky all the time. I remember when Bowling Green and Northern Illinois pulled had remarkable years in the mid aughts as well. And they quickly faded into obscurity.
I feel like if you're coaching at Michigan, there shouldn't need to be a "wait and see" approach to see if the person can be a head coach at an elite level. That's what Florida did with Ron Zook. That's what schools without the tradition and resources Michigan has will do.
January 15th, 2011 at 12:11 AM ^
Dude we just went through the roughest period in modern Michigan history. Waiting and seeing sounds like a great plan to me instead of throwing Brady Hoke in the fire before he's even coached one game.
What the heck do you want us to do? Be like, you know what I effing hate this hire of Hoke? We went through this with Rich Rod.
Who would you like to hire?
January 15th, 2011 at 12:54 AM ^
I'd like him to stop doing all these freaking interviews, fill out his staff and recruit. All this going on radio shows and doing interviews is great if you have a full staff out there recruiting kids. We have only a few weeks until NSD and we don't even have a recruiting weekend this weekend. So him and whatever staff he has needs to be burning up the phone lines as much as allowed by the rules.
And I'm cool with waiting and seeing. But I think it's fair and valid for me to be concerned about a coach who does not have a proven head coaching record.
He's the coach and I'm okay with that. I'm just not about to go overboard like we hired Urban Meyer or Jon Gruden. We made an okay hire. Let him recruit and coach to show everyone that he was a great hire.