You can demand Brady Hoke’s dismissal for his inept record. You can say Michigan needs to make a change because of the Wolverines’ dismal performances that keep getting worse, losing back-to-back games at The Big House to Utah and Minnesota that have created apathy in Ann Arbor, empty seats and Mickey Mouse promotions to try and fill the great Michigan Stadium.
Under his watch, Michigan has gone from proud to pitiful, a laughingstock that enters October with three losses for the first time in the program’s mostly glorious 135-year history.
Both are understandable and fair. But neither is the actual reason Hoke should be out of a job.
He should be on the unemployment line right now — not tomorrow, next week or after the season ends — because of how he handled quarterback Shane Morris in Saturday’s joke of a performance against the middling Gophers.
In the fourth quarter of the 30-14 rout that dropped Michigan to 2-3, Morris absorbed a brutal helmet-to-helmet hit from Minnesota’s Theiren Cockran, a vicious shot that left the quarterback woozy and wobbling after taking a while to get up. He nearly collapsed, needing to be propped up by an offensive lineman. What did Hoke do? He left the kid in, for an additional passing play. A few plays later, after Morris was taken out, starter Devin Gardner’s helmet was knocked off during a play, forcing him to come out of the game, and Hoke reinserted Morris, who handed the ball off and then limped off the field.
Worse, here is what Hoke told reporters afterward, after Morris reportedly left Michigan Stadium on a cart:
“I don’t know if he had a concussion or not, I don’t know that,” the fourth-year coach said. “Shane’s a pretty competitive, tough kid. And Shane wanted to be the quarterback, and so, believe me, if he didn’t want to be he would’ve come to the sideline or stayed down.”
Is this still the 21st century? A coach admitted he wasn’t sure whether his quarterback had a concussion after seeing him absorb a blistering shot to the head, and kept him in the game.
Sunday night, Hoke released a statement defending his staff’s actions, and said Morris was only removed because he aggravated a preexisting leg injury. There was no mention of the obvious head injury Morris suffered.
“The safety of our student-athletes is always our top priority,” he said.
Clearly, the pressure is getting to Hoke. He knows he has to win, knows his job is in danger. Which is why he needs to be replaced immediately, because he’s not thinking of his student-athletes’ best interests, despite the canned statement.
Maybe Hoke suffered a concussion through osmosis. That’s the only explanation for this decision and his comment he still believes Michigan can win the Big Ten title. Hopefully, he was referring to years down the road, when he’s gone and another coach — Jim Harbaugh, perhaps? — has restored pride to Ann Arbor, and doesn’t risk his players’ health.
SEC West is best
Some have dubbed it the Group of Death. Others have opined for Cadre of Cannibals. However you want to describe the SEC West, it’s an absolute minefield. The seven-team division is scary good. Arkansas, at 0-2, already has nearly upset Texas A&M and Alabama. LSU, a perennial power, is 0-1 and has defeated Wisconsin, arguably the best team in the Big Ten.
Of the seven teams, only Arkansas isn’t ranked, and the top five — Alabama, Texas A&M, Auburn, Ole Miss and Mississippi State — are in the top 12. This group is going to have us glued to our televisions Saturdays the rest of the year.
Must see TV
The holidays come early on Saturday. We have seven games featuring two ranked teams, highlighted by Stanford visiting Notre Dame, Alabama heading to Ole Miss and Michigan State facing Nebraska. It’s about time we get some excitement, after the last two weeks of boring blowouts and bye weeks.
Performance of the week
This usually goes to a player who puts up eye-popping numbers. This week, however, we recognize Ohio State strength coach Anthony Schlegel who body slammed a fan running on the field during the Buckeyes’ win over Cincinnati. Schlegel, a former linebacker, may want to explore his options during the offseason in mixed martial arts or professional wrestling.
Top 10
1. Florida State (4-0) (Last week: 1)
The Seminoles aren’t going to win a national title — that’s a guarantee — unless the porous defense improves dramatically. Championship teams don’t allow 520 yards of total offense to N.C. State.
2. Oregon (4-0) (2)
Sure, Marcus Mariota can make most receivers look good, but redshirt freshman Devon Allen has been one of the biggest surprises in the nation, leading the Ducks in receiving yards (299) and touchdowns (5).
3. Oklahoma (4-0) (3)
We advise the Sooners not to have a bye-week hangover or TCU, top 10 in the nation in points scored and allowed, will pull the upset.
4. Alabama (4-0) (4)
Nick Saban’s teams tend to blossom now, and this group better, considering the brutal schedule that awaits.
5. Auburn (4-0) (5)
Somehow, a year after reaching the national championship game, Auburn and quarterback Nick Marshall continue to fly under the radar.
6. Texas A&M (5-0) (6)
The Aggies better have gotten their “C” game out of the way against Arkansas with Mississippi State, Ole Miss and Alabama on the horizon.
7. Baylor (4-0) (8)
Lost amid our criticism of the Bears’ joke of a non-conference schedule: They’re pretty damn good. Nov. 8 against Oklahoma can’t get here soon enough.
8. Notre Dame (4-0) (7)
The record looks nice, but coach Brian Kelly knows better. Notre Dame will have to raise its level of play significantly to get by Stanford Saturday in South Bend.
9. Michigan State (3-1) (9)
Something has to give Saturday when the Spartans — with the nation’s seventh-best run defense — host Nebraska and Heisman Trophy candidate Ameer Abdullah, the leading rusher in the country.
10. UCLA (4-0) (10)
Now that was the UCLA team we’ve been waiting for all year, thrashing Arizona State in the desert behind a sensational performance from quarterback Brett Hundley.
New: None
Dropped out: None
On the bubble: Stanford (3-1), Georgia (3-1), Ole Miss (3-0)
Heisman Watch
QB Jameis Winston, Florida State
Maybe avoiding the media during the week is the magic elixir. With the new Florida State policy, we saw a throwback Winston performance — 365 yards passing, four touchdowns — in a come-from-behind win over N.C. State.
RB Todd Gurley, Georgia
See what happens when you actually give Gurley the rock consistently? Two touchdowns and 208 rushing yards.
QB Kenny Hill, Texas A&M
Do they even remember Johnny Football in College Station anymore? Hill’s hero status grew yet again Saturday, when he led the Aggies back from a two-touchdown, fourth-quarter deficit against Arkansas.
QB Marcus Mariota, Oregon
It just doesn’t feel like a college football weekend without another masterful performance from Mariota.
RB Ameer Abdullah, Nebraska
With seven games left and a Division I-most 833 yards to his credit already, 2,000 yards is in the cards for the dynamic senior.