Moments before the Michigan Wolverines introduced Brady Hoke as their new head football coach in 2011, Michigan fans had lots of questions. Why not hire a national star like Les Miles or Jim Harbaugh, who both played at Michigan? Who was Brady Hoke? Was he up to the task of taking over the Wolverines, and returning the team to glory?
Hoke answered these questions by nailing his first press conference. He won over more Michigan fans in just a few minutes than his predecessor, Rich Rodriguez, had been able to capture in three years, for a variety of reasons. When a reporter asked Hoke if the Wolverines would be rebuilding in his first season, he famously replied, “This is Michigan, for godsakes” – and a star was born.
It’s hard to remember a happier honeymoon than Hoke’s. In his rookie season, the Wolverines beat Notre Dame, Nebraska and Ohio State – the latter for the first time in eight years. They won their first BCS bowl game since a young man named Tom Brady did the job in 2000, en route to an 11-2 record. From the fans in the stands to the team in the trenches, the love for Coach Hoke was universal.
But then a great senior class graduated, the schedule got tougher, and Michigan’s amazing luck finally ran out. Hoke’s second team went 8-5, but most fans gave Hoke a pass, and I believe rightly so.
But the Wolverines don’t look much better this year, and might even be worse. The Wolverines narrowly escaped losing to the lowly Akron Zips– which might have topped Michigan’s historic upset at the hands of Appalachian State. Then they barely slipped past a bad Connecticut team – which fired their coach shortly thereafter — before finally losing to a Penn State squad so hampered by sanctions, including a drastic reduction of scholarships, it was playing with one hand tied behind its back.
Still, the Wolverines were 6-1 — until last weekend. The final score said Michigan State 29, Michigan 6, but the Spartans did a lot more damage than that. They swarmed Michigan quarterback Devin Gardner all day, sacking him seven times, and held Michigan to minus-48 yards rushing. Yes, that’s right: Michigan would have been better off not running a play at all than trying to run the ball.
The Spartans are now 8-1, and playing for a Big Ten title. The Wolverines are 6-2, and playing to keep their fans on the bandwagon. It’s not the two losses that have Wolverine fans worried. It’s that the team is not getting better. Instead of looking sharp and strong – Michigan trademarks — they look sloppy and soft, and seemingly more so every week.
To Michigan fans’ credit, only the lunatic fringe is calling for Hoke’s head. His two great recruiting classes have barely reached the field, and even hinting that the coach is in trouble could scare off the next class of recruits. Further, if Michigan fires two consecutive coaches after three years, the place starts to look like a revolving door that no credible coaching candidate would even consider.
A more concrete problem is next year’s home schedule, which might be the worst in Michigan history. Instead of being served traditional rivals like Notre Dame, Michigan State and Ohio State, Michigan fans will be treated to Miami of Ohio, new Big Ten member Maryland, and yes, Appalachian State, for reasons only the Athletic Director must know.
Well, the schedule might be down, but the prices are sky high! Taking in a Michigan football game for a family of four – without restaurants or hotels — can easily top a thousand bucks, the rough equivalent of two days at DisneyWorld.
Michigan’s bean counters are worried that thousands of fans, already pushed to the limit, might finally drop their tickets. That could break Michigan’s 38-year streak of 100,000-plus crowds. A few more losses on the field in the remaining four games – none of them easy – certainly wouldn’t help.
Last year, I wrote, “It won’t be fair to judge Hoke until his recruits become his players, and that takes a few years. By then, fans will either find Hoke’s coaching style charming or cheesy, depending on one just thing: the number of games he wins.”
Former coach Bo Schembechler used to say: every day, you get better, or you get worse. If the Wolverines get better, the wins will take care of themselves over time, and all will be right in Arborville. If they don’t, no one can save them, and the future will be someone else’s to face.
And that is the last thing Michigan needs right now.
* * * * *
Also, I’ll be updating the Events link on my website soon – promise! – but until then, here are the ones coming up soon. You can also find several excerpts of Fourth and Long, simply by googling my name and the following publications.
(All times EST)
FRIDAY, NOV. 8:
-Michigan Radio, michiganradio.org, “The State of Michigan Football,” 8:50 to 8:55 a.m.
-WTKA Radio 1050 AM (Ann Arbor/Detroit), wtka.com, on live with Sam Webb and Ira Weintraub, 9:05-9:30 a.m.
-National Public Radio, “Here & Now,” live from the studio, 12:40 p.m.
-Yahoo Sports Radio, 2:30-2:40 p.m., on live.
SUNDAY, NOV. 10
-BOSTON: Back Bay Social Club. Thanks to Jason Gerdom, all Big Ten alumni clubs (and friends) are invited. Doors open at 1, I’ll talk about my latest book, “Fourth and Long” at two, and hang out as long as we like. $20 secures your spot, your appetizers, and a drink. Books will be discounted, too. http://iuaa.imodules.com/s/1377/event.aspx?sid=1377&pgid=2613&gid=2&cid=5715&ecid=5715&post_id=0
FRIDAY-SUNDAY NOV. 15-17
CHICAGO/NORTHWESTERN
Media information forthcoming.
NOV. 21-24, THURSDAY-SUNDAY
PENN STATE
Event and media information coming soon.
TUESDAY, NOV. 26.7 p.m.
ANN ARBOR, LITERATI BOOKS on Washington. Book talk and signing.
INTERVIEWS
NPR Here and Now: Friday, August 30, 2013:
http://hereandnow.wbur.org/2013/08/30/college-football-soul
-My appearance on Keith Olbermann’s show on ESPN.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQOuTs9MF4A
September 3, 7:45 p.m. Fox Business, “Lou Dobbs Tonight.”
REVIEWS:
Mark Dent’s review in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Richard Retyi’s review in the Detroit News
http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130829/OPINION01/308290002/1008/OPINION01/Fourth-Long-reviewed
LINKS:
Some of my pieces for Yahoo Sports are under this link, with the piece on how to fix college football below.
http://www.thepostgame.com/author/john-u-bacon
My Q&A with MGoBlog about UM athletics.
http://mgoblog.com/content/john-bacon-qa-college-football-crossroads
MORE LINKS (Just google my name with the following. Links to come.)
-The Wall Street Journal (Penn State)
-Yahoosports.com (Penn State)
-elevenwarriors.com (OSU),
-MGoBlog.com (UM)
-sippinonpurple.com (Northwestern)
-The Detroit News (Our love of college football)
Many more will be posted above in the days ahead, and on my website under EVENTS.
You can also follow me on Twitter to be updated on all media appearances and speeches.
Thanks!
-John
Nailed it – just like Coach Hoke’s presser. Keep the faith and Go Blue!
To be fair, I share your concern about filling the Big House and the waning loyalty. As a child of the 70’s and 80’s, I never knew a time (meaning more than a year) when Michigan was not a routine winner. The M fans of today are grown ups who only knew one thing – Michigan is a winner. Is that why our generation refers to the history, legacy and tradition when defending M’s status?
A generation of young impressionable kids now associate MSU with a winning tradition and grit (which is certainly fine), however those kids will not fill the Big House when they group up and can/can’t afford to buy the tickets. It may take a full decade of domination and a national title to rebuild the foundation of future M loyalists.
Go Blue!
John – Another great piece, my friend! Good luck with your book tour – I hear they’re SRO and buying you out at every stop! Thank you again for being a “Celebrity Guest Picker” for last week’s UM-MSU game! Thousands of UM fans loved your guest spot – a huge response to you and Greg Dooley!
Best regards and Go Blue!
Ben
John, I have heard and read (http://www.chatsports.com/michigan-wolverines/a/Exclusive-Multiple-Michigan-underclassmen-exploring-transfer-options-10-2-4469) rumors that as many as 7 Michigan underclassman and considering leaving the football team. Any truth to this?
Great column. I agree that Hoke needs more time, and think as you said that the vast majority of fans agree. The rule of thumb that I’ve heard is that it takes 5 years to completely remake a program. That said, the offensive line struggles are a concern and need to be addressed. The interior may be young and include walk-ons, but they are Michigan players. They should be better. The rest of season won’t determine Brady Hoke’s long-term fate, but it will say something about his and his staff’s ability to overcome adversity and make in-season adjustments. I’d add some more cliches to that last sentence, but I think I’ve everyone’s recommended daily allowance.
John,
There was a time when Michigan was not run by marketers and MBA’s. I was a Michigan fan before I moved to Columbus, Ohio in 1966. Until John Cooper, aka Jubilation T. Cornpone, came along, OSU was doing just fine. We all know that Ohio State and Michigan play a one game season, and both Cooper and Carr found out if you don’t beat___________, you wind up unemployed. I hope that Michigan can regain those “Hail to the Victors” days. Ohio State has managed to do very well in the win column, but I wonder at what cost.
When I saw #98 back on the field, it occurred to me that “we” and “team” had been replaced by “look at me.”
If you want to honor a number, retire it.
The only difference between a good coach and a great coach
is who the players believe is really in charge. Joe Namath may have been a challenge for Bear Bryant at times, but he knew who the boss was. He was more of a competitor on one leg than most are on two.
Thanks for taking a longer view. Fair weather fans are a dime a dozen, but after a while even the faithful decide that it’s cheaper to watch an average product on TV.
bomberjohn5