How Two Simple Words Almost Killed Football At The University Of Michigan And The Man Who Might Save It?

Two simple words from a phrase legendary Bo Schembechler used over 20 years ago have almost ruined the program he built and loved so dearly, "Michigan Man". For the last three years fans and alum have been throwing this term without knowing the true meaning of it. In 1989, before the start of the NCAA Men's basketball tournament Bill Frieder then coach and Michigan alum announced he was leaving for the Arizona State vacancy after the tournament. Schembechler, now the AD of the school was going to have none of it. He proclaimed at the press conference promoting assistant coach Steve Fisher to interim head coach that, "a Michigan man is going to coach a Michigan team."

Now what Bo meant or what one who can understand this knows he meant that the only people to coach a Michigan team are people who are fully committed to Michigan and the team. Someone who understands the traditions at Michigan, they don't need to necessarily know them at hire but should be able to understand them once explained. This was Rich Rodriguez's first mistake when he came into the job. He tried giving away the jersey number 1 to anyone, a jersey which has been held for a wide receiver who has earned the right to wear it. He also did away with team captains which he later restored.

This caused a rift with former players and the then current staff. The main culprit is Braylon Edwards who has gone out of his way to introduce himself as "Braylon Edwards from Lloyd Carr's Michigan". Rodriguez's few early mistakes lost the support of former players who never bothered to stand behind him. Rich Rodriguez wanted to be a "Michigan Man", he wanted that title so badly that he cried at the last team banquet which he was still the coach of. Those mistakes weren't what cost Rodriguez the "Michigan Man" title, instead it was he refusal to adapt to Big Ten play. His lack of recruiting on defense and his 3-3-5 defensive scheme were setting him up to his ultimate firing.

Now on to the "Michigan Man" who might just be able to unite the Carr and Schembechler groups who have split the ties to this program. Brady Hoke isn't the sexy hire that everyone wanted to see but Hoke is safe hire who could be around for the next 15-20 years if he wins. Hoke worked under Lloyd Carr as an assistant coach from 1995-2002. He then went on to be the head coach at Ball State and in 2008 took them to a 12-1 record. He then spent two years at San Diego State where this year he led them to a 9-4 record and their first bowl win since 1969. Hoke has also been a great recruiter for years in the state of California, something which he'll need to continue if he plans on winning at Michigan.

How did Michigan get to Hoke? Well it's simple really, Jim Harbaugh didn't want the job because he was headed to the NFL which Dave Brandon pretty much told everybody the day after the Orange Bowl. This led many people to think that Les Miles who passed on the job three years ago would take the job if offered. But like Harbaugh, who was never offered the job neither was Miles but for different reasons. Harbaugh wasn't offered the job because it was believed he would always entertain thoughts of leaving for the NFL and Brandon wanted to hire a guy who would stick around for quite a long time. Miles was never offered the job presumably because of the seven self-reported violations LSU just made to the NCAA, this might have been enough to scare off Brandon seeing how Michigan is on a three year probation period.

Thus leading Brandon to Brady Hoke, the man with Michigan ties. This job was his all along and he was really the only guy who interviewed for it, which is somewhat disappointing. Disappointing because this is the University of Michigan, they should have been able to pluck anyone they wanted from any school in America. Bob Stoops, Chris Petersen, Gary Patterson, etc. Now they might have said no but you have the money and the prestige to rightfully think no one was untouchable. Anyone of those guys would have been the sexy hire many fans and alum at Michigan were hoping for, someone who could have turned things around quickly.

Instead the hopes are that Brady Hoke will unite and unify the program among its players both current and former and the fan base too. While I reserve full judgment on the hire of Hoke until he brings in his full staff I do like the hiring I just don't like the run around fashion it was done in. Hoke will recruit, make no mistake about it but it might just take him a couple years longer then it would have the sexy hire many hoped for. One thing is for sure though, this hire should stop idiots from introducing themselves as being from "Lloyd Carr's University of Michigan".