4 straight losses to MSU: 'We need to do something about it,' Michigan football coach Brady Hoke says
Michigan football coach Brady Hoke, left, talks with WTKA host Sam Webb during the WTKA Mott Takeover fundraising event Friday.
Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com
Michigan football coach Brady Hoke doesn't read press clippings about his team.
But he took notice last month when Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio told ESPN.com, "We've beat Michigan the last four years. So where's the threat?"
Hoke's response?
"They've beat Michigan the last four years, and we need to do something about it," he said during an interview Friday with WTKA-AM, in support of the station's benefit for the C.S. Mott Children's Hospital.
"I mean, we have to do our job. We haven't done our job."
Michigan State has beaten the Wolverines four consecutive years -- including by a 28-14 score last year, which dealt Michigan its first loss of the season.
The Spartans also knocked quarterback Denard Robinson from the game due to injury, and star defensive lineman William Gholston punched Michigan's Taylor Lewan in the throat.
Gholston later was suspended by the Big Ten for one game.
It's safe to say Oct. 20 will be a significant day for Michigan next season -- but Hoke isn't peeking that far ahead.
"We play a pretty significant football game Sept. 1," he said, referring to the blockbuster opener against defending national champ Alabama. "To be honest with you, we try and take it one week at a time, one game at a time, and we've got better things to worry about here at Michigan, and to talk about, than what other people may think or say."
Kyle Meinke covers Michigan football for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at 734-623-2588, by email at kylemeinke@annarbor.com and followed on Twitter @kmeinke.
Comments
kelly
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 7:24 p.m.
I think that part of the problem is that Michigan focused more on ohio then state. While state focused on Michigan
Tom
Mon, May 21, 2012 : 1:05 a.m.
Yeah...and the Ohio Bobcats gave you quite a whipping! This is a football Board isn't it? Where's the threat?
Tom
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 3:42 p.m.
UM fans are touting a win vs. 6-7 OSU...who lost 7 games for the first time since 1897 under an interim, underqualified Head Coach? Did you see Braxton Miller's game winning TD throw land one yard beyond Devier Posey in the closing minute? Talk about a "temporary" situation...LOL! UM fans charged the field in celebration? Nebraska? Beaten decisively by the SEC East runner-up in their bowl game. MSU beat the SEC East champs recording 17 tackles for loss. The UM offense was INEPT gaining 173 yards and 1.6 ypc vs. the ACC runnerup! LOL! The Splenda was the FIRST TIME that an ACC runner-up has played in a BCS game. The WEAK ACC is now 2-13 in BCS games. Purdue could beat VTech. MSU and UW would have POUNDED the pathetic Hokies by 3 or 4 TDs. MSU's back 7 on defense will be DOMINATING! The LB corps is OUTSTANDING! Other than "wishful thinking" explain why you think that MSU will fall to UM in October? Because the Spartans lost their starting QB, Cunningham and Martin? As a result of injury, Martin was barely a factor for the Spartans in the first half of the 2011 season. MSU has an OUTSTANDING group of young, talented WRs. The MSU defense loses 2 starters from the UGA game...and stud 6' 7" DL, Tyler Hoover (the Big 10 defensive player of the week after the MSU vs. Northwestern game in 2010) comes back from a 2011 injury to join A. R. Davis, Gholston and Rush on the D-Line. Worthy was outstanding but did not play in passing situations. Maxwell (a 4 Star, Elite 11 QB) need only be an effective game manager for MSU to dominate. MSU returns 6 starting OL from 2011 (early season injuries downed OT Burkland and OG Treadwell). Le'Veon Bell may well emerge as the #1 or #2 RB in the conference in 2012. All is VERY WELL in East Lansing! If you think that "UM tradition" will be a factor on 10/20/12 you are OUT OF YOUR MIND! In 2013-14 MSU will not play OSU or the BADgers. Where's the threat? There is no threat!
GoBigBlue
Mon, May 21, 2012 : 3:34 a.m.
Hey Tom, lets have a prediction for the game. What do you have as the score? I gotta believe you have this juggernaut spartan team as 4 or 5 TD favorites the way you flap your gums about em. I'm not so naive to believe it will be a blowout either way. I do believe Michigan will be a slight favorite do to home field advantage. But I do respect the spartan team they will be playing. Especially on the defensive side of the ball.
Tom
Mon, May 21, 2012 : 1:03 a.m.
AZ...are you serious? MSU split with the BADgers. UM didn't play them. The Big 10 championship games in both football and basketball were the BEST games played in the conference all year. MSU won their division. UGA won their division. Both played for their conference championships. Hoke described his season as a failure. He wants to play in Indy and win it all. The Splenda vs. a mediocre VTech team was a just reward. It was such a pathetic matchup that the BCS powers decided to change the system. MSU had the Big 10 conference best record of 7-1. That sends MSU to the Rose Bowl every year since 1949...but not last year. The Spartans were the far superior team in 2011 and will be again in 2012. Where's the threat?
SEC Fan
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 11:43 p.m.
no...there will be a myriad of excuses as to why they lost (just like the past 4 years)...you played too rough, sun was in our eyes, it was too hot/cold...
GoBigBlue
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 5:47 p.m.
Well you seem to be awfully confident in how this game will turn out come October. Lets hope you have the guts to post should it not go the way of this super dominate spartan team.
azwolverine
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 5:21 p.m.
Seriously Tom? You're going to bring up Nebraska? You're right, they're not that good and you guys had an overall better season then them, but they could make the same argument that Sparty makes with Michigan: They beat you. Does that change the fact that Sparty had a better season? No...just like Sparty's win over UM doesn't change the fact that UM had a better season then MSU. As for UGA, they got hammered in the SEC championship and then, just like the case with UM/MSU, the superior team (Alabama in this case) got to go to a BCS game over them despite not playing in the conference championship. Just like Notre Dame and Nebraska didn't have better seasons than MSU despite beating them, neither MSU nor Iowa had better seasons then Michigan. Michigan, like Alabama in the SEC, had the overall best season in the B1G.
Ricardo Queso
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 2:49 p.m.
Yes do something. Make it five for five! ROFL
stunhsif
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 1:51 p.m.
MSU has the better program, period. Brady took over a legend, a dinosaur, a fossil from the past. Breathing new life into those old dead bones will take more than a couple years. Calling MSU "little brother" at this point is just ignorant and childish. Go Green Go White
mmppcc
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 10:55 a.m.
Just look at the negative comments from the jealous Michigan fans, posting about little brother, all-time record, how MSU doesn't matter, etc. You're like spoiled little children who can't stand losing, so you insult the winners to make yourselves feel better. I wonder if MSU fans are laughing at you or if they just feel sorry for you.
Jed I Knight
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 2:35 a.m.
"and star defensive lineman William Gholston punched Michigan's Taylor Lewan in the throat." Taylor had it coming - sorry and stop whining about this. Guy pinned his head into the ground ahead of the retaliation. We'll leave it all on the field again this year - UM is due for a win, either way Gholston should have filed day...
Tom
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 3:56 p.m.
Engineer...that would be Narduzzi and Gholston. Robinson finished the game. Where's the beef? Where's the threat?
Engineer
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 5:03 a.m.
And what exactly did Denard do to get his head spun around???? Nothing!!! Gohllston should have been out the rest of the year and after his comments encouraging this type of behavior the D coordinator Nardozi should have been gone the rest of the year. The NFL has begun to address this situation. Hopefully the big ten will follow suit and bounce bums like this out of the league! GO BLUE!!!!
Terry Star21
Sat, May 19, 2012 : 7:33 p.m.
It's a done deal. If Coach Hoke says 'we need to do something about it', put it in the book as another Michigan win - 68th time. This one won't be very close unfortunately, as three msu football players are taken away in handcuffs, coach in an ambulance, mascot tears dress, and sparty fans exit early and cause wild havoc in the city. Things are back to normal. MgoBlueForTiM....Hoke, Michigan - Here's the Threat...
Terry Star21
Sun, Nov 18, 2012 : 12:40 a.m.
I love it when the third and fourth graders replying here have to eat their words - too funny....lol.
SEC Fan
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 5:46 p.m.
Gotta agree with Tom on this one...54.8% winning percentage isn't exactly dominance.
Tom
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 3:54 p.m.
Wild havoc in the city? Funny. If beating MSU is "back to normal" why would there be wild havoc? M Dominance? 34-26-2 since 1950. There is no threat!
stunhsif
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 1:46 p.m.
It's a done deal Terry Star21 ? I am going to remember this post of yours after MSU wins number 5 in a row. Spouting off like this will bring your Wolverinettes nothing but bad luck. Go Green Go White
braggslaw
Sat, May 19, 2012 : 7:13 p.m.
What you talking Bout Willis?
MRunner73
Sat, May 19, 2012 : 5:06 p.m.
The Brady Hoke interview by Sam Webb as good and more on point than hoped for. 1) Hoke is too smart to give Sparty bulletin board material and 2) I hope Dantonio does stay a while at MSU so he gets beaten every year...Michigan owes them a losing streak. Let's start at one in 2012 at the Big House.
braggslaw
Sat, May 19, 2012 : 7:10 p.m.
who is Sam Webb? What you talking about Willis?
JGS
Sat, May 19, 2012 : 12:53 p.m.
To all Spartan fans reading: You've been better than us the last 4 years. We can't take that away. What we as MICHIGAN can do is change the trend and win. Until then all we can do is take the heat from the Green & White faithful, as agonizing as it is. PS - Here's hoping Dantonio takes the money and runs like Saban did. That may be our only hope Obi-Wan.
Tom
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 3:51 p.m.
JGS says "That's not the Michigan fan style, because we've been there and know how it feels to win and win a lot against our rivals." I have heard nothing but bragging from M fans after a narrow victory over TOSU...who had their worst record since 1897! Now they have Urban Meyer...and you have a coach who was 47-50 at Ball State and SDSU. Advantage: BUCKEYES! Charging the field after a win vs. OSU in 2011? Was that acting like you've been there? MSU fans HAVE NOT charged the field after any of the teams 4 straight wins....GOING ON 5 ONLY 5 MONTHS FROM TODAY! Where's the threat? Terry "Michigan Man" Star...still ducking the question? Where did you go to school?
GoBigBlue
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 2:50 p.m.
JGS, "PS - Here's hoping Dantonio takes the money and runs like Saban did. That may be our only hope Obi-Wan." The quote above is why I thought you were implying that with Dantonio as the coach, state will continue to dominate. Did I misread that? In any case I'd like to point out that I respect what Dantonio has done for that program. He runs his mouth alot but he has backed it up as well. I'm not a Michigan fan who feels we are entitled to anything. I'm a Michigan fan who feels that if coach Hoke continues what he is doing in recruiting and in coaching up the talent, Michigan should do very wel going forward. If this trend holds then I expect Michigan will beat state more often than they lose to them. Just my opinion.
JGS
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 12:40 p.m.
@GoBigBlue - I'm not implying anything, why did you think that? Here are the facts 1. I am a true blue diehard Michigan fan 2. Michigan has lost to Michigan State in football the last 4 years 3. Recruiting doesn't win games, however it helps to anchor talent You have to give credit where credit is due. We as Michigan fans can't rest on our history with the Spartans. We must create new history and then reap the rewards of bragging rights for a year. I full expect all Wolverine fans to brag the same as the Spartan fans next year if there's a victory of Michigan. But you see that won't happen. That's not the Michigan fan style, because we've been there and know how it feels to win and win a lot against our rivals. Those who say OSU dominated Michigan in the 2000's quickly forgot the 90's when Michigan completely dominated the bucknuts. Now with the uncovering of the cheating in columbus, we know why they were so dominant.
Terry Star21
Sat, May 19, 2012 : 10:07 p.m.
I agree Scott, their coach can get the job done, but you have to admit - an awful lot of good luck at times ! He is hanging on to the past, and frightened what the future holds - thus, "Where's the threat".....(lol)...
umgoblue47
Sat, May 19, 2012 : 4:53 p.m.
gobigblue. . . ditto!! GO BLUE!!!!!!
Scott Laux
Sat, May 19, 2012 : 4:05 p.m.
Dantonio's time is limited. He knows with the recruiting and coaching we have- his glory days are over. He is a good coach, very hard worker (and has a heart attack to show for it). Just the tide is turning.
GoBigBlue
Sat, May 19, 2012 : 1:30 p.m.
Are you implying that if Dantonio stays at MSU that they will not be beatin by Michigan?? If that's the it's a pretty naive outlook. With what Hoke is doing in both recruiting and in coaching, it doesn't matter who the coach at state is. Michigan will get its wins over them. I'm not so naive to believe that Michigan will beat them every single year for the next 20, but I don't think Dantonio staying will mean state wins a bunch more. The tide will turn based on talent on the field and on the sidelines.
braggslaw
Sat, May 19, 2012 : 11:40 a.m.
The Michigan State game is the single most important game on the schedule. As others have said it will determine who plays (and I think eventually wins) the B1G championship. 1 or 2 game streak is an anomaly 3-4 game streak is a trend. a 5 game winning streak is a historical precedence. Michigan State will be the best team Michigan plays in conference this year. For those poo pooing the MSU team, you have no knowledge of college football. MSU might have the 2nd best defense in the country.
Tom
Mon, May 21, 2012 : 12:55 a.m.
Jed I - That was the 2004 game when "thug" Lamarr Woodley took out MSU QB Drew Stanton during the second quarter. UM rallied to win 45-37 in 3OT after the AA crowd unmercifully booed their home team. Without that thuggery, UM does not go to Pasadena. How soon M fans forget! Thuggery pays...LOL! In 2011 Robinson finished the game. No excuses!
Jed I Knight
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 2:41 a.m.
It will be a fun game this year, no doubt. We should bring a robust D, and the O will be the real question. My fav. MSU v UM game, was several years back at the big house - MSU was taking UM to the woodshed, and half the stadium emptied in the fourth quarter - and it was remarkable as i'd never seen UM fans leave in droves and literally turn their backs on their team.... and then UM came back and beat us in the end. Amazing blue.
Terry Star21
Sat, May 19, 2012 : 10:03 p.m.
AZ..I agree with your statement. It is obvious the msu hopefuls see their long nightmare coming, as they keep talking about their last four years, etc., etc., - 'their last hurrah !
braggslaw
Sat, May 19, 2012 : 7:12 p.m.
MSU has never had a recruiting class better than Michigan, including all those top 10 classes RichRod recruited. MSU had19 players on the All Big 10 team or hmention last year, more than any other team. in the Big 10. Most of those guys were three stars.
azwolverine
Sat, May 19, 2012 : 2:57 p.m.
No doubt MSU will be good. I actually think this will be the toughest MSU game in the foreseeable future, as their talent is still on par with (perhaps even superior to on the lines) Michigan's. Moving forward, though, UM will be gaining a serious edge in terms of talent with Hoke and Co's recruiting and it will become harder and harder for MSU to win. This is their last best chance to beat us...although with our coaching, talented skill players, and home field...I don't see it happening.
Hailmary
Sat, May 19, 2012 : 10:57 a.m.
I don't very often think about the spartan's regardless of the past 4 years. I will admit that I consider them pesky like a fly on occasion. It's been a good thing for them to win 4 from us as their program was in such disarray. The reason I don't give them to much consideration is that I know it's a temporary situation that will soon be over for another 10 or 20 yrs. My kids won't even know that state had a short hot streak against Mich. I say, good luck to state this coming season as I think they are about to enter another dry spell after this season, it could even start this season.
stunhsif
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 1:41 p.m.
I am laughing my guts out right now Hailmary, a temporary thing you say ? Time to get out the smelling salts and take a huge snort up the nose. That will wake you from your dream. Could I interest you in some majic pixie dust, you can sprinkle it Brady for good luck ! Go Green Go White
azwolverine
Sat, May 19, 2012 : 2:48 p.m.
Howard, Michigan went 5-1 after losing to State last year, including wins over Nebraska (remember them?), OSU, and Va Tech. In other words, Michigan did not roll over and your statement is incorrect. The roll overs occurred under our previous coach, not Hoke. "Where's the threat?" In the Big House!
Howard the Duck
Sat, May 19, 2012 : 11:07 a.m.
We've been saying this for the last four years but the way michigan has rolled over after losing to MSU I have to agree with Dantonio. Where's the threat?
D21
Sat, May 19, 2012 : 7:03 a.m.
Don't worry, those little brothers will get it's comeuppance and more. Gholston may not finish the game.
Tom
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 3:20 p.m.
Funny...check the record since 1950 when Michigan State (no longer MAC) and Michigan began to alternate games in AA and EL. Michigan leads the series 34-26-2. I agree that Gholston may not finish the game on October 20th. MSU will be able to play their second team defense late in the game after POUNDING UM AGAIN in 2012! There is no threat!
AA native, ND fan
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 3:53 a.m.
^^or this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPYueAc5XAE ^^
Jed I Knight
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 2:38 a.m.
wow - big talk from the peanut gallery. And Notre Dame is going to take people out for this? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSnGu3M5h_s Come on. Gholston will be a beast this year against UM
Terry Star21
Sat, May 19, 2012 : 10:14 p.m.
You're right Bob. 32 times out of 104 games, for 30.7% of the time - they're no little brothers......be proud !
Bob
Sat, May 19, 2012 : 1:45 p.m.
Little brother? Not the last four years.
Scott Laux
Sat, May 19, 2012 : 6:18 a.m.
With their senior QB gone and Jerel Worthy gone- this is our year. They just need to do something to contain Gholston (he's a beast).
Engineer
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 4:56 a.m.
And a thug!!! Gholston got a slap on the wrist for the way he behaved on the field. I am so glad he did not come to Michigan. He showed absolutely no class last year but then look at the leadership he is getting. Par for the course. GO BLUE GO HOKE!!!!!
Hebner
Sun, May 20, 2012 : 2 a.m.
Play Michigan football...it will contain any player in the country. No excuses, we need to pound them physically. Our coaching staff and players already started to prepare for them starting the day after the loss last year; film room, meetings, weight room, field...everywhere. Go Blue!
GoBigBlue
Sat, May 19, 2012 : 12:08 a.m.
This could be the most important game on the schedule. At least as important as the last game of the season. I say this because it will likely determine who plays in the B1G championship out of the Legends division. And of course because this 4 game streak needs to end this year.