Michigan coach Brady Hoke's reunion with old team loaded with emotion, regardless of what he says
You know who San Diego State is?
The smart girl with a nice personality who loses her guy to the next-best thing. And no rejected lover goes to an ex-lover's house without some kind of emotion.
Michigan football coach Brady Hoke has maintained throughout the week there will be no extra emotions at play Saturday when his No. 22 Wolverines (3-0) face San Diego State (3-0) — which features several Hoke recruits who were sold on his long-term vision, only to have him leave for Ann Arbor after two years.
But there has to be. It's human nature.
No emotion when San Diego State faces former coach Brady Hoke eight months after he left? Of course there will be emotions.
First of all: There's nothing wrong with what Hoke did, nor how he did it. Not one thing. He told San Diego State upon his hire that Michigan was his dream job, and he'd leave if he ever got his shot with the Wolverines.
Hoke built the Aztecs into a winner in just two years, and helped them earn their first bowl win since 1969 last year. There were some nice things going on there. Nothing wrong with the program.
But it wasn't sexy like Michigan — not to Hoke, anyway, who fell in love with this place as a boy and later served a seven-season stint as an assistant here.
The problem is, he got his shot to return a lot sooner than he anticipated. He didn't even wait to hear how much he'd make before accepting the job in January, later saying he would have walked to Ann Arbor from San Diego to take the job.
Revenge might be too strong of word for what the Aztecs will be seeking, but they will be clamoring for affirmation and respect from the man who scorned them.
What about all those players whom Hoke recruited with his long-term vision for the Aztecs who are now sophomores and redshirt freshmen? Hoke left them prematurely, and there's no way to get around that.
This was supposed to be their year, with a fifth-year senior and top NFL prospect at quarterback, one of the country's best sophomores at running back and games against BCS-members Washington State and Michigan, as well as new Mountain West Conference-member Boise State, with which to prove themselves to pollsters and pundits.
Now, players will look to fulfill that vision without the man who conceived it.
Its OK Hoke left, but it's a sticky situation without resolve — especially since he left during semester break, had no way to meet with his players and departed without so much as a phone call.
They broke up via text. When was that ever a good idea?
Prediction
With so many intangibles between two quality, yet flawed, teams, it's anyone's guess who wins this one. But who is most likely to win it?
The Aztecs. They are the real deal, with Ryan Lindley at quarterback and Ronnie Hillman at tailback, and that pair should feast on the Michigan defense. The Wolverines will keep up, and it's hard to discount the ultimate X-factor in Denard Robinson, but the Wolverines' two biggest bugaboos — inconsistent defense and slow starts — finally will do them in as they play their toughest opponent to date.
San Diego State 38, Michigan 35
Comments
cutty240
Fri, Sep 23, 2011 : 9:02 p.m.
When are they going play sombody with a winning record.Anybody.Maybe Dave Brandon can find Univ.Of Pizza Hut they Can play,and I'm sure they would have to come to Ann-Arbor.What is there Schedule Ranked 136th in the Country.Horse Head Hoke better at least win 8 games with these Cup Cake Teams.Its really Pittful who they play.
WWBD?
Fri, Sep 23, 2011 : 5:49 p.m.
Face it. San diego deserves to win this game. They are on rightous ground AND they have proven themselves worthy of being called a "good team". Any Michigan team, Lloyd's best, would be ripe to lose this game. The only thing favorable is home field advantage and that's mostly because is isn't there. Denard must throw very well and the backs have to carry the load- and no penalties! Otherwise the team and especially Denard, will be hurting for the opener. Devin Gardner needs to play regrdless of the score early, and throw some passes too. This game is still a tune up for what's ahead.
mark mumford
Fri, Sep 23, 2011 : 2:49 p.m.
The good news for many of the Michigan fans frequenting this site is that, win or lose, you still reside in Ann Arbor, one of the best "college towns" in America... GO AZTECS!
Kade
Fri, Sep 23, 2011 : 2:34 p.m.
Maybe it's just me, but when your offensive TOP is barely in the double digits, I think you should stop complaining about the defense and fire up the boilers under the offense. We have no idea how the defense can really play because they haven't had a chance to rest before the offense goes 3 and out and they're back on the field.
missionbrazil
Fri, Sep 23, 2011 : 2:20 p.m.
SDSU is a good team, but I do not agree that they are the best team we have seen. IMO ND is more talented and better than SDSU ... they just beat themselves in their 1st 2 games. This will be a tough game, but we will exploit SDSU's D and our D will adjust and stiffen as the game goes on, and we will win. Michigan 31 SDSU 21 Go Blue !
mark mumford
Fri, Sep 23, 2011 : 2:02 p.m.
A little dose of AZTECS-induced humility is coming your way...
riverraisin
Sat, Sep 24, 2011 : 1:48 a.m.
I predict we will never hear from you again, after the game.
RJ12688
Fri, Sep 23, 2011 : 2:10 p.m.
We'll see..
chiro19
Fri, Sep 23, 2011 : 1:33 p.m.
I am getting tired of these articles belittling michigan every week! In how every overachieving team is dominate in every aspect and superior than michigan. Once again, Michigans roster from top to bottom is superior than SDSU's. This is the same type of article that said Carder should feast on Mich. and what happened? He got beat up so bad they called the game at the end of the third (make no mistake, that is why the game was called). Michigan is not sexy to Hoke, it is Home to Hoke. I feel like I am reading a Lou Holtz piece on ND after Michigan just played Oklahoma "well OU was a good team but ND will be the toughest test for Michigan". ND was the toughest test so far for Mich., then WMU, then SDSU, then Eastern. How can you say they will score more points than ND against Mich with a straight face? What specifically is inconsistent about Michigans D? That they make adjustments at the end of the first quarter and dominate teams defensively (minus ND)? They have been dominate in the turnover battle? Is it that they are 24th in scoring defense? 27th in Passing D? 53rd in total D? What is inconsistent about those things? Or is it that they bend on the first drive of games? Is it that the D has only given up 14 points in the second half this year? Is it that the Offense makes adjustments and dominates teams after the 1st quarter? This D is getting better every game, young men are learning how to play the right way and you can see it as the weeks and games go by. The only inconsistent thing is your lack of logic behind this article. XTR- according to these articles and authors michigan loses every game this year! Why? Who knows their arguments are not based on facts but feelings and thats how you get SDSU winning 38-35. Prediction: Denard has more rushing yards and passing yards than Lindley and Hillman! Michigan is motivated to destroy this team and does!
RJ12688
Fri, Sep 23, 2011 : 2:06 p.m.
I kinda agree with the fact that many games are talked up to seem like a bigger challenge than they are, especially this year. However, I think SDSU will play better than any team UM has played so far. Im not saying they are more talented than ND, because they aren't. But neither is UM. ND killed themselves with stupid mistakes, and i dont think SDSU will. I think UM wins, but this game is far from a gimme.
RJ12688
Fri, Sep 23, 2011 : 1:17 p.m.
MIchigan just needs to get going early. The aztecs seem pretty solid and i dont think taking the first quarter off again is going to bode well for UM. Denard needs to make some plays with his arm. Its the 4th game of the year and he should be able to complete some passes when they need him to. If he cant, this game could very well be a loss, and a rough Big Ten season might be in store for UM. However, if he does starting regularly completing passes, the sky is the limit with Denard and UM. I think the "x factor" gets it done. UM 35 SDSU 24
Jojo B
Fri, Sep 23, 2011 : 12:51 p.m.
Well this football season definitely has more DRAMA than any season in recent memory and that's good, win or lose. Coach Brady is playing against his former vision. Who will win? His current or former legacy? Classic!
Rufus
Fri, Sep 23, 2011 : 12:32 p.m.
Couldn't agree more with this article. This is the Aztec's "big" game of the year no matter how anyone tries to downplay it. To me Michigan's offense is the same (and ineffective when Denard takes snaps under center). Michigan rarely scores when Denard isn't Michael Vicking it. The D seems about 25% improved. It's a transition year. The D will gradually get better, but the O will only get worse if they move too quickly into the west coast offense.
mark mumford
Fri, Sep 23, 2011 : 2:16 p.m.
actually, I have to go to a sports bar to see this game here in san diego, because my cable provider only offers up the big games. This is a nice pre-MWC tune-up...
XTR
Fri, Sep 23, 2011 : 12:21 p.m.
Those hatred jilted lover stories makes matchups interesting but this game is not between apples and oranges. Notre Dame with Michael Floyd and Cierre Woods WR-RB combo was the real thing, this one is not. They maybe good, but not that good. Yeah, the players hate Hoke! But Hoke and Borges know every player and their capabilities and they already told Mattison. lolz But since the author says UM loses this game, might as well predict UM loses to majority of the B1G teams in the sched.
heartbreakM
Fri, Sep 23, 2011 : 11:48 a.m.
I think this will be a close hard fought game not because Hoke left SDSU but because of what he left on SDSU. Hillman, Lindley, and defensive play are strong suits for SDSU and they will give Michigan fits. I do think that if DR can hit a few passes early, that'll open things up and allow Michigan to control things, but SDSU plays the type of ball that HOke wants Michigan to play and we will see what that does to a struggling defense. I predict a close game but can't pick against Michigan. My heart won't let me. But I would not be surprised at all if Hillman has 150-200 yards and SDSU wins.
golfer
Fri, Sep 23, 2011 : 11:10 a.m.
first quarter will tell it all?
Hebner
Fri, Sep 23, 2011 : 10:51 a.m.
I disagree, we will win. Michigan has been improving the past couple weeks and it wont stop now. Blue by 10 or more.