Elijah Holyfield offered football scholarship by Michigan

Elijah Holyfield, the son of former heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield has built quite a reputation on the  football field.

Elijah, who is a running back in Atlanta is  big time recruit and has been offered by a number of big time programs such as Wisconsin, Ohio State, Tennessee, Ole Miss and Mississippi State. Holyfield, who plays for the Woodward Academy in Atlanta, has been offered a scholarship in the 2016 class by the Michigan Wolverines.

The Wolverines are trying to get their program back to a championship level are hoping that Holyfield's championship pedigree can rub off on the rest of the team. I'm sure Brady Hoke is hoping that Holyfield is the real deal like his father once was.

Jason Whitlock and Brady Hoke help to send Ball State students on road trip

Despite Jason Whitlock's critical piece on the Michigan football program, it didn't stop Wolverines coach Brady Hoke to join him in helping their alma mater.

They will fund a bus trip for students to support the Ball State Cardinals in a key Mid American Conference showdown with the Northern Illinois Huskies.

Whitlock, a former Ball State football player and currently a sportswriter for ESPN, reached out to Ball State officials last week asking how he could help fund a trip for students to next week’s game, which will be the biggest regular-season game of the season in the MAC, pitting 10-0 Northern Illinois against the 9-1 Cardinals. Whitlock agreed to donate $5,000, which will pay for most of the trip for 100 students, including the game ticket, the bus ride and two meals.

Whitlock then contacted Hoke's wife, Laura, and asked if they would match the donation. Both Brady and Laura Hoke are Ball State graduates, and they agreed to contribute $5,000 as well.

“I gotta give Jason a lot of credit,” said Brian Hardin, deputy athletics director at Ball State. “He called at the beginning of last week and said he would love to find a way to get as many students up there as possible.”

Hoke coached Ball State to the MAC title game in 2008.

One has to wonder if this was done prior to the article Whitlock wrote criticizing some of the Wolverines players.

Brady Hoke says Johnny Manziel would play behind Devin Gardner if he was at Michigan

Michigan head coach Brady Hoke made an appearance on the Dan Patrick Show to hype the upcoming game between Michigan and Notre Dame.

This game will be the last in the storied rivalry until further notice due to Notre Dame's ACC commitments.

During a question and answer session of the interview Hoke was asked about Texas A&M's Heisman winning quarterback Johnny Manziel. The answer Hoke gave Patrick surprised many.

Patrick:    "If Johnny Manziel's your quarterback …"

Hoke: "If Johnny Manziels's our quarterback, he'd probably be playing behind Devin Gardner"

"We try and educate the kids here that this has always been about the team, the team, the team," Hoke said. "If they're going to celebrate and they're going to express themselves, do it with your teammates. Do it with the other 10 guys who are on the field that helped you make whatever great play happen where you feel you need to celebrate. Grab a teammate. Get together with them."

Hoke isn't knocking Manziel's ability, just his character and being a good teammate.

Hoke obviously has faith in Gardner despite his relative inexperience, but any coach in the nation would probably take Manziel over their current starter unless it's Teddy Bridgewater or Tajh Boyd. If I left anyone out let me know.

This is what Hoke does. He sells his program and his players. He's all about Michigan and is intent on getting the Michigan brand into the conversation when you mention the elite programs in America. Besides, as a coach you have to pimp your own quarterback, even if he only has seven career starts under his belt.

Instilling trust in your players is part of your job, and this was the perfect answer.

Brady Hoke says Notre Dame is 'chickening out' of rivalry game with Michigan

The Notre Dame-Michigan football game is a storied rivalry. From Harry Oliver's 51-yarder to Desmond Howard's diving grab, the game has had plenty of epic memories. The Fighting Irish are one of Michigan's main rivals along with Michigan State and Ohio State. Too bad the rivalry will be put on hold from 2015-2017.

There was already a two year break scheduled for 2018-2019, so there will be at least a five year break in between games.

The reason, Notre Dame will be scheduling ACC teams in the future since their other sports teams will be a member of the conference.

Michigan coach Brady Hoke doesn't like the fact that the Irish won't be playing the Wolverines and went as far to say that the Irish are "chickening out" of their game with Michigan.

 "The Notre Dame game, that rivalry, which they're chickening out of," Hoke said Monday during the West Michigan Sports Commission Annual Luncheon at the J.W. Marriott in Grand Rapids.

The remark drew thunderous applause from the crowd.

"They're still gonna play Michigan State, they're gonna play Purdue, but they don't want to play Michigan," Hoke continued. "I don't know how they made that decision ... I really do ... But anyway, that's a great national rivalry game. It's a great game."  

I don't really care for Notre Dame but with conference realignment it just made the game more difficult to play. With a beefed up Big Ten schedule I would think Hoke might want to play a lesser team so his team can remain in the college football playoff chase.

The teams had been operating under a three-year rolling contract -- meaning, either program could cancel the series with three games' notice. Notre Dame served Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon with that notice in the moments leading up to kickoff of last year's game at Notre Dame Stadium.

Anyone that follows college sports knows Notre Dame is all about the money. That's why they have all their teams except football in the ACC so they can remain independent and keep all their television and bowl money to themselves. So now they can schedule the Dukes and the Wake Forests of the world and cancel out on Michigan. Michigan brings in more money than Purdue or Michigan State, but in my eyes I feel the Irish view those as more winnable games.

Hoke says there's no "Gentleman's Agreement" in the Big Ten

The Urban Meyer effect is up and running in the Big Ten and a couple of coaches aren’t happy about it.

This past recruiting season the new Ohio State football boss Meyer managed to flip his fair share share of recruits including Mark Dantonio’s top recruit in Se’Von Pittman. The same can be said for Bret Bielema at Wisconsin who lost prized offensive lineman Kyle Dodson on recruiting day to Ohio State.


“(Ohio State has) a new coach, and it’s different,” Dantonio told the Detroit News. “I would say it’s pretty unethical, in the end.”


Bielema echoed those sentiments after losing prized offensive lineman Kyle Dodson to Ohio State on signing day.


“There are a few things that happened early on that I made people aware of that I didn’t want to see in this league, that I had seen take place in other leagues,” Bielema said on Wednesday. “Other recruiting tactics, other recruiting practices that are illegal.


“I was very up front and was very pointed to the fact, actually reached out to Coach Meyer and shared my thoughts and concerns with him. The situation got rectified.”



According to AnnArbor.com, Bielema told Sporting News that Badgers athletic director Barry Alvarez would be talking to Big Ten commissioner Jim Delaney today in Chicago about Meyer’s tactics.

Now you may be wondering why Bielema and Dantonio are so upset in a conference that’s extremely competitive and takes great pride in their rivalries?

It all boils down to a so-called “gentleman’s agreement” amongst the Big Ten coaches.

Bielema further called Meyer’s recruiting tactics “illegal” in light of the “gentleman’s agreement” which says that no coach in the Big Ten will actively go after a recruit that is already verbally committed to another Big Ten school.


Not all Big Ten coaches though agree on this “gentlemen’s agreement” and on those coaches is Michigan’s Brady Hoke…

“As far as I’ve known, it’s always been fair game until they sign,” said Hoke, who’s been in the league one year as a head coach and seven as an assistant. “I don’t have as much a problem with that and, hopefully, we don’t get too many of those that go away from you.

“But, I don’t think there needs to be an agreement, to be honest with you. Kids are going to be kids. They’re 18 years old, 17 years old. As long as everything has been handled in an ethical manner and professional manner, and by the rules, I don’t have a problem with it.”

Now Hoke hasn’t experienced the same draw backs that Dantonio and Bielema have experienced with recruits flipping to Ohio State. In fact Hoke was able to flip five-star offensive lineman Kyle Kalis from Ohio State prior to Meyer being announced as the new head coach.

Again though in a competitive conference with top notch coaches it should be expected that programs are going to do everything they possibly can to make their teams better. This includes trying to flip rival schools recruits to their own.

In the end a verbal commitment means nothing. Hoke isn't about making excuses about anything. He knows the game and isn't going to whine about anything.

Now about those 16 scholarships OSU had open and oversigning at 25 commitments is another story.

Stonum To Be Redshirted For 2011

Michigan wide receiver Darryl Stonum was suspended indefinitely in early May after receiving his second DUI offense. Now Stonum will be redshirted for the 2011 season. This came from head coach Brady Hoke.

Even though Stonum would've been in a key contributor for a revamped offense this year, Hoke thought it would be best for Stonum to get his life in order. Now I know all the Michigan State supporters will come out and denounce the decision, but it is what it is. I hear all the howling from East Lansing right now.

Sophomore punter Will Hagerup has been suspended the first four games of the season for undisclosed reasons, and junior receiver Terrence Robinson will miss the season opener Sept. 3 for violating team rules.


This is more than a football decision. Louisville's Charlie Strong made the same decision regarding one of his own players. This is the first major decision that Hoke has made since he's set foot in Ann Arbor.

"While it would be great to have Darryl on the field this season, we feel it is in his best interest and the best interest of our program for him to redshirt," Hoke said in a prepared statement. "Darryl will continue to be an important part of our team and family. He has done everything we have asked him to do, but our number one priority is to help Darryl grow as a person."

"In order to build a championship-caliber culture, you have to be accountable to each other on and off the field," Hoke said. "There are expectations at the University of Michigan you must live up to."



Now we'll see if the other Wolverines will fall in line after Hoke has finally laid down the law.

Brady Hoke Takes The High Road

Newly minted Michigan head coach Brady Hoke refuses to engage in a war of words with former NFL lineman and San Diego State alum Kyle Turley. A good thing since Turley has went on to talking about other thins such as Dan Marino going Cheech and Chong before games.

Anyway it's a good thing Hoke refuses to be baited into something juvenile. He knows what the task at hand is an that's to rejuvenate and rebuild the Michigan football program. Hoke says he has bigger fish to fry.

Y'know what, Kyle and I really started to build a pretty good relationship," he said, "and I understand his reactions and his sentiments, but I'll reach out to him. I have bigger fish to fry with what we're trying to get set up here, but I'll reach out to Kyle. He's a proud San Diego State alum, who's a tremendous football player, and all-around, he's a good person."


Turley is also a whack job that should keep his mouth shut.


   

Kyle Turley Is A Bitter Man

Turley's finest moment

Former NFL and San Diego State offensive lineman Kyle Turley is pretty bitter about Brady Hoke leaving sunny California to take the Michigan job. Turley told radio station 1090 AM in San Diego that he sent Hoke a scathing text message.

Come on Kyle, be happy for the man. I understand this was the first time the Aztecs had been decent in years, but this was Hoke's dream job. I'm sure if someone offered you your dream job you'd go in a heartbeat. I know I would and I've been at mine for 12 years.

"I was very upset and very disappointed," Turley said. "All season long it was 'Aztec this, Aztec that.' He's trying to convince me (during the season) to come down there to San Diego State. I'm texting him all the time, 'Great job and great win.' For this to happen, it's just very disappointing.


"I texted the guy, this is exactly what I said: 'I understand what you've got to do for you and yours but just the same … I hope you lose every damn game. That was a b.s. move, brother, and you know it.'"

A b.s. move? I don't think so. It happens all the time in sports so you should understand, especially being a former player and all. As far as losing every game, it's not like he's taking over Duke or UTEP. Eventually he'll win some games. He shouldn't be all irate about the situation. Hoke is only looking out for number one. I'm sure if someone asked him to leave his current job to coach lineman for the Dallas Cowboys he would leave in a hot second.

Turley being a hothead, I would expect something like this out of him.

Brandon Says Forcier No Longer With The Program

Since the end of the Ohio State game there was a lot of news about the Michigan football team. Will Rich Rodriguez be able to survive? Is Jim Harbaugh coming home? Tate Forcier not being smart enough in the classroom. Mike Martin maybe going pro.

All the questions have been answered. And the Forcier issue, Athletic Director David Brandon gave a clear statement of Tate's status within the Michigan program. Forcier is no longer with the program. This was after Brady Hoke was named as Michigan's new head coach.

In a way I knew Forcier wouldn't last at Michigan. If you can recall, late in his freshman season he appeared to be crying after being pulled for Denard Robinson. After a fine start to his career, he regressed and his attitude screamed of a sense entitlement. Then there was the quarterback derby at the beginning of the year and the everlasting question whether Forcier would transfer or not. I'll give him credit, he did stick around and was pretty valuble as a backup. Then came the Gator Bowl. Forcier was academically ineligible and admitted that he wasn't the greatest student in the classroom boasting he had more street smarts than classroom smarts. That was dumb Tate. Now he has to look for a school that'll take him in. His dismissal, transfer, or mutual parting of the ways looked to be in the cards when Rodriguez went with Robinson as his starter.

As of now the Wolverines will go into next season with Robinson and Devin Gardner as the quarterbacks of the Hoke era.   

A Letter To All Michigan Fans

As you all know Michigan has fired head football coach Rich Rodriguez. In a way I feel sorry for the guy because, the people at Michigan and the fans did not exhibit enough patience with him. It wasn't all you guys' fault. A lot of problems he brought on himself, mainly wins and losses. Even before he set foot in Ann Arbor, you guys palced a blcak cloud over him that never left. I can understand he had a horrible 3 year run, but to you Michigan fans he was never good enough. Your complaints went beyond wins and losses.

I say you guys as in Michigan fans, who have a higher opinion of everyhting Michigan. That's what landed you Rodriguez in the first place. Lloyd Carr wasn't good enough. You wanted boring Lloyd out and he walked away. Then you couldn't get the "Michigan Man" when LSU punked Les Miles into staying in Baton Rouge. You want a "Michigan Man" so bad that it limits the pool of coaches you can go after. But then say we want a big name coach. Rodriguez was a big name coach. I understand he was hired amid a shroud of secrecy and left West Virginia unceremoniously. Remember, he had the Alabama job for about two days before he reconsidered. You guys wanted a fancy spread offense, the flavor of the month, and now you denounce it saying you need to get back to Michigan football. Didn't Bo Schembecler run the option. Yes he did. Sometimes do some history checking before speaking. True the defense was tremendously lacking, but the offense was ok. But the fact Rodriguez wasn't a "Michigan Man" was what made you dislike him.
     
Speaking of the defense, I've said it before, it was not Greg Robinson's fault. True he had the blood on his hands only because he was the defensive coordinator. The 3-3-5 scheme he was hired to run was not his scheme. But you guys only wanted him gone because he was the face of the defense. Robinson didn't bring that scheme to town with him. He's also a respected coordinator. He's won a Super Bowl and had a good run at Texas before bombing as a head coach at Syracuse. But hey, to you guys Robinson was the problem with the defense. That was a scheme Rodriguez brought in from West Virginia and swore by.

Now you guys want to hold Athletic Director David Brandon's feet to the fire. The bagman in the whole deal was former Athletic Director Bill Martin. He's the one who hired him and botched the coaching search in the first place. History check again. If Schembecler never mouthed the words "A Michigan man will coach Michigan" regarding the basketball program on the eve of the 1989 NCAA BASKETBALL tournament, Michigan's football program would never be in this position. No one wants to give a non "Michigan Man" a chance, but then say we want a big name coach. Maybe coaches outside of the Michigan family know something we don't. Or realize they could end up like Rodriguez, since they're not from the Michigan family. Get over it. Remember, Schembechler wasn't a "Michigan Man".

The pool of coaches are limited now. If you want a "Michigan Man" the best you can do is Jim Harbaugh. And that's no guarantee. In fact I doubt he comes back to Ann Arbor. Then there's Brady Hoke. If he gets hired I'll feel sorry for him too. You know why? Because that's not good enough for you guys. He lacks pizazz, but has done a credible job at Ball State and San Diego State. Also he's a Michigan man. He may not be ready for those bright lights but as far as "Michigan Men" go that's the best you're gonna do.
I don't believe Brandon will go down the Les Miles trail again. And Ron English isn't getting the job. Remember, everyone jeered Auburn when they hired Gene Chizik and his 5-22 record from Iowa State. So if Hoke is the choice get off your high horse, respect the hire and rally around the coach. Get over the fact that you won't get a high profile "Michigan Man" and just make sure they make a solid hire this time around. Besides the high profile coaches outside the Michigan family you might vilify them the same way you did Rodriguez.