Michigan football coach Brady Hoke on Joe Paterno: 'It's just sad and unfortunate on all levels'
Brady Hoke said former Penn State coach Joe Paterno's role in the Jerry Sandusky scandal is "just sad and unfortunate on all levels."
Michigan football coach Brady Hoke understands the fleeting nature of success, which is why he remains guarded even after guiding the Wolverines to an 11-2 record in his debut season.
He's cited the reported rampant drug use at UCLA and array of misconduct at North Carolina as examples. And now, he has another after the spectacular fall of former Penn State football coach Joe Paterno.
Paterno played a key role in concealing the child sexual abuse of former Penn State defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky, according to a report released Thursday by former FBI director Louis Freeh.
That one hits home for Hoke, who coached against Paterno while a Michigan assistant from 1995-2002.
"It’s so sad and unfortunate everything the victims, the Paternos and family, everything on all levels,” Hoke said Friday during an interview with Jason Whitlock on the Dan Patrick Show.
“It’s one of those things I know there’s a lot of emotion on all sides of it and a lot still to be found out about all those things. It’s just sad and unfortunate on all levels and really is something that takes you back a little bit.”
Hoke, who knows Whitlock going back to their days at Ball State, also addressed a few other topics:
On the passing of his father, John, in March: "He was obviously a guy who loves the game. He loved talking the game, he loved going to the games and he was a football guy, he played for Coach (Woody) Hayes at Miami of Ohio. It was an important part, with my brother Jon coaching with the (Chicago) Bears and myself being in the coaching profession. We are a football family. He right now is watching every move we make and making sure that we’ve got guys doing the right things during the workouts, that we’re providing the leadership and the commitment and everything we need to do to go get those great degrees from the University of Michigan and play their best football. So we’re always held in check by somebody. He just is on a bigger scheme, holding us in check.”
On why he doesn't tailgate outside the stadium after games, as he did at Ball State: “I don’t think there’s a place around there to be able to do that. Our families all get together and they have a great time and that’s the best part about it. It’s such a great stadium, a great place, a great atmosphere for college football at the Big House and around the Big House.”
On the season opener against defending national champion Alabama: “It’s a great opportunity. We’re going to play the reigning national championship football team in Alabama. Coach (Nick) Saban’s done a great job of coaching, recruiting and everything that they do. It’s a great opportunity for us to see where we’re at as a team because that’s something we’re all looking forward to, to see what kind of football team we’re going to be. We’ve got some guys who played awfully well as seniors a year ago, fourth-year and fifth-year guys that we’re going to be missing. Now, it’s time for guys to step up and really understand what playing in big games like you want to do. That’s why you go to Michigan, why you coach at Michigan to play in those type of football games.”
On being seen smiling and eating with Ohio State coach Urban Meyer at a recruiting event last month in Southfield: "I tell ya what, the ribs were great, I can tell you that. Maybe I was smiling because of the ribs."
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
G-Man
Sun, Jul 15, 2012 : 3:46 p.m.
Sad and unfortunate? Come on, Coach, It's a crime! Covering up a sex scandal in your own program! Let's hope we never hear any "sad and unfortunate" sex crime stories coming out of the UM programs!
Tru2Blu76
Sun, Jul 15, 2012 : 9:22 a.m.
Hoke: " It's just sad and unfortunate on all levels and really is something that takes you back a little bit." --- "fortune" had nothing to do with this, Coach. Jerry Sandusky, the Penn State officials and Joe Paterno himself have shown us the dangers of too much respect for "institutions" and for "success in football." And doesn't it anger you at all to see a colleague who was one of the most respected figures in college football being found guilty of cover up? What about your belief in "trust and honesty??" We had tons of trust in the honesty of Joe Paterno and the Penn State institution but they stomped all over that ideal, didn't they?? Coach Hoke says he's "taken back a bit" by this news: that's strange because the rest of the country is both stunned and outraged. I'm "taken back a bit" by Coach Hoke's casual reaction; because he's spoken out so strongly about Michigan's peerless standards and about "accountability." Will he be "taken back a bit" if one of his players commits a major violation or if one of his assistants starts abusing young boys in the shower room? Fans: may consider boycotting any game in which Penn State plays. Michigan should seriously consider the consequences of having Penn State on the schedule in any sport - for at least a year or two. You'd think that Michigan's own pedophile scandal would cause the leadership (Coleman, Brandon, et al) to take stronger measures. And - one sports writer points out: the players at Penn State can be allowed maximum freedom to transfer to other schools w/o penalties. That's up to the Big Ten and NCAAF and I'm sure they're considering what to do to avoid punishing innocent players. I'LL have a lot more TRUST once I see more HONESTY in efforts to hold everyone involved accountable in this debacle.
FRED
Sat, Jul 14, 2012 : 10:17 p.m.
When we were children, we were asked to be honest to save our morality. When we were adolecent, we were asked to tell white lies to save our friendships. When we are in the workplace, we are asked to be quiet to save our livelihood. When we become old and gray, we have to lie to save our legacy. Why do we have to make our life so complicated?
Goober
Fri, Jul 13, 2012 : 10:38 p.m.
Not sad and unfortunate.....criminal! Don't mince words or required actions.
#58ontheroster
Fri, Jul 13, 2012 : 10:24 p.m.
Many of you weren't around in 1968-69 when AD Canham was looking to replace Bump Elliott who resigned as football coach at Michigan. He finally got his 3rd choice< Bo Schembechler. I was a senior on Bo's first team at Michigan. Thank God we got Bo, because Canham's 1st choice was Joe Paterno. Joe decided to stay at Penn State. Because of that, the only time Sandusky was in the Big House was for a game.
Scott
Sat, Jul 14, 2012 : 1:52 a.m.
Thanks for that info. Bo was a great one. Just before he died I saw Bo and his wife eating at a restaurant down on Gasper island in Florida. There was only four of us in the restaurant and I was going to say hello. But Bo and his wife were smiling and chatting. I didn't want to interrupt them. There was so much warmth and happiness between them. My opinion of the crusty coach rose sky high. A man who loves his wife like that and can coach great football is my idea of a real man.
Scott
Fri, Jul 13, 2012 : 9:43 p.m.
Hoke has to say nice things and feel sorry for Joe poop and his family. It's that coaches fraternity thing. Hey! Isn't that what got Penn State into this in the first place. partly they wanted to be nice to poor Jerry. So they give him access to kids and a $168,000 goodbye bonus. If Joe had have really cared about the program (and the children as well) he should have called some of his childhood friends (from the 30's and 40's) in little Italy - Brooklyn, asked for a favor- have them take Jerry out fishing on the ocean. A win win for all.
HomeTownBlue
Sat, Jul 14, 2012 : 12:51 a.m.
You're wrong Scott! Joe did call his childhood friends, what do you think happen to District Attorney Ray Gricar?
Goober
Fri, Jul 13, 2012 : 10:40 p.m.
Coach rah rah and the brotherhood thing is totally unacceptable. If it were me, I would sell Joe down the river!
boo
Fri, Jul 13, 2012 : 9:57 p.m.
agree totally!
RedSchwinn
Fri, Jul 13, 2012 : 9:36 p.m.
A master of understatement, Hoke also characterized the cannibalism of Jeffery Dahmer as "misguided and almost certainly wrong". He went on to opine that "Bernie Madoff most likely abused the trust of many."
Billy Bob Schwartz
Fri, Jul 13, 2012 : 8:19 p.m.
Brady: try the salad.
umgoblue47
Fri, Jul 13, 2012 : 7:51 p.m.
penn state is a great university with lots of tradition and it's sad that JP's coaching legacy will always be tainted by this tragedy. but, my heart really goes out to the victims and i hope they get any and all help available to them to overcome this tragedy.
boo
Fri, Jul 13, 2012 : 7:30 p.m.
would have been good to hear Brady stand up and say something with conviction about this penn state issue. "it's unfortunate" is kinda lame..... Why are people so afraid to stand up and be men. Say Joe Paterno is a fraud. Everything he did and stood for was a fraud. To allow and enable this to happen under his watch is pitiful. I hate when I hear people say Joe Paterno made a mistake. He didn't make a mistake, HE COMMITTED A CRIME! Unfortunately, he is gone and wont have to face the music. But he is definitely facing it somewhere else right now. And if you thought it was hot around hear last week. Joe Paterno is feeling a a different kind of heat. As for the other losers who allowed this to happen, they will get theirs in prison. I hear they don't like child rapists very much in prison.
william rhoads
Sat, Jul 14, 2012 : 3:08 p.m.
Boo theres enough hate in this world and your bias is obvious the whole story has come out yet so give joe a break theres is really nothing but here say and he did report university president and nothing was done he was in his 60s at the time the mind and body our not as sharp and I am not saying he was right or wrong! but one thing for sure this henchmen mentality has to go wait to all has been released all has been said!
unclefred
Sat, Jul 14, 2012 : 2:19 a.m.
"He committed a crime" Perhaps. Perhaps that is even likely. However at this point in the investigation, Paterno has not been convicted. This is an ugly situation, but Hoke would be imprudent to make definitive comments before the criminal investigations are COMPLETE. As such, at this point, his comments are both accurate and appropriate.
a2citizen
Sat, Jul 14, 2012 : 2:01 a.m.
Jerry, I can understand your opinion of Paterno.
Scott
Sat, Jul 14, 2012 : 1:57 a.m.
my name is Scott. I fell Paterno sold his soul to a demon named Sandusky to not tarnish his reputation. Now he has none.
a2citizen
Fri, Jul 13, 2012 : 11:03 p.m.
No, I'm not name calling. You want everyone to stand up give YOUR opinion, yet you don't even stand up and give your opinion.
boo
Fri, Jul 13, 2012 : 10 p.m.
And a2citizen covers about 110,000 people? So maybe your just as lame...... so we play the name calling game or respond to the fact that a high profile coach was asked a specific question about a horrific tragedy, and responded with a weak, good ole boys response. maybe I'll change my username to MIcitizen, would that make you happy? Or is it possible that you identify with the folks at penn state, Jerry?
a2citizen
Fri, Jul 13, 2012 : 7:43 p.m.
"...Why are people so afraid to stand up and be men..." Probably the same reason your rant anonymous? It would be nice if you used your real name instead of a login ID. "boo" is kinda lame...
D21
Fri, Jul 13, 2012 : 7:14 p.m.
On being seen smiling and eating with Ohio State coach Urban Meyer at a recruiting event last month in Southfield: "I tell ya what, the ribs were great, I can tell you that. Maybe I was smiling because of the ribs." My take: Am somewhat relieved to see that :)
15crown00
Fri, Jul 13, 2012 : 6:06 p.m.
it is very unfortunate but if you make your bed a certain way it's only fair you have to lay in it.Could he,should he,would he have done things differently if he had a 2nd chance?I'M sure he would have.But sometimes you don't get to rewind decisions.
Billy Bob Schwartz
Fri, Jul 13, 2012 : 7:28 p.m.
If the same Paterno running the same football program met the same situations, why would he have done it differently? Promote and protect the program. That's it.
actionjackson
Fri, Jul 13, 2012 : 3:55 p.m.
The most unfortunate are the victims. PTSD and a whole slew of emotional problems for these young men today are the center of this entire debacle.