San Diego State coach Rocky Long says players hold no ill-will toward Brady Hoke, former coach is 'ancient history'
For San Diego State, Michigan football coach Brady Hoke is history.
In fact, he's "ancient history."
SDSU coach Rocky Long said Tuesday that he doesn't believe his players will have trouble harnessing their emotions Saturday when they visit Ann Arbor (Noon, BTN) to play their former coach. Simply because Hoke won't be wearing a helmet.
"Coaches don't play," Long said firmly. "And we're approaching this game just like we've approached all the rest of them.
"I don't think there's any animosity by any of our players that he left here for his dream job, and it's players against players. He has nothing to do with it."
San Diego State coach Rocky Long has the Aztecs off to a 3-0 start.
Associated Press
During his initial news conference, Long, who served as Hoke's defensive coordinator at San Diego State, said that he held no ill-will toward Hoke for bolting and urged others to feel the same way.
Not everyone agreed.
Former SDSU offensive lineman and longtime NFLer Kyle Turley followed Hoke's rapid text-message departure with a text of his own. It read, "I hope you lose every damn game. That was a b.s. move, brother, and you know it."
In addition, San Diego State athletic director Jim Sterk said that Michigan did not offer a courtesy call to the university prior to speaking with Hoke about the job.
"I'm thankful for what Brady did, but I'm not happy it happened," he said at the time.
Hoke would later brush off Turley's anger and Sterk quickly began to sing the praises of Long, who has the Aztecs off to a 3-0 start for the first time in 30 years.
As for the Aztecs? Long says they're over it as well.
"I know that our players know that all the hype around the coaching change and all of that is just that, it's hype," Long said. "They respect Coach Hoke, I'm sure some of our guys really like Coach Hoke and are disappointed that he's gone. But that's ancient history now to this team."
If Long's story about Hoke's absence not mattering seems thin, consider the numbers.
San Diego State sophomore running back Ronnie Hillman doesn't seem too worried about it, as he's the nation's second-leading rusher with 497 yards and eight touchdowns through three games. Senior quarterback Ryan Lindley has appeared to be just fine, throwing for 622 yards, seven touchdowns and one interception.
Defensively, the Aztecs are tied for 22nd in the country with nine sacks and 20 total tackles for loss. As for Hoke's new squad? The Wolverines have three sacks this season, and have tallied 12 tackles for loss.
Hoke said Monday that he and Long have stayed in contact since January, but don't get into anything overly football related. Long agreed, saying that he considers Hoke a "really good friend," but there has been no discussion between the two about Michigan or San Diego State football.
Hoke even said that he asked Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon if the game could be bought out, furthering the notion that the current Michigan boss isn't thrilled about having to play his old friends. Long, however, takes the opposite approach.
"I think our team's excited about playing in the Big House, and our team's excited about an opportunity to play against a really good football team," he said. "I think we're all for the game."
Both coaches have also claimed that the opposite side has a larger advantage Saturday.
Hoke says that SDSU knows the thought processes of current Michigan offensive coordinator Al Borges (who followed Hoke from San Diego to Ann Arbor). Long counters with the fact that Hoke knows the SDSU players, as well as all of the team's signals.
But again, Long says he's not sure how much any of that matters.
Players wear helmets, coaches wear headsets. On Saturday, that fact will remain the same.
"How big of an advantage (will Michigan have Saturday)?" he asked. "I don't know. It's players against players."
Nick Baumgardner covers Michigan basketball for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at 734-623-2514, by email at nickbaumgardner@annarbor.com and followed on Twitter @nickbaumgardner.
Comments
Rufus
Wed, Sep 21, 2011 : 5:06 p.m.
San Diego State is the better team and highly motivated. If Borges and Hoke spend the first quarter or half having Denard work on the new pro style offense, Michigan will lose. Rich Rod's time showed us one thing, that you have to do everything possible to win now at Michigan with what you have. There won't be a Notre Dame miracle a second time this year. Denard is lousy as a drop back QB. It's like trying to turn Michael Vick into Tom Brady.
1st Down
Thu, Sep 22, 2011 : 11:34 a.m.
troll
eagleman
Thu, Sep 22, 2011 : 2 a.m.
San Diego State is not the better team. At least not talent wise. They almost no talent on defense and their offense consists of two really good players and little else. SDSU is a challenge because UM has a suspect defense, if this was a typical UM defense they would be favored by 18.
1st Down
Wed, Sep 21, 2011 : 8:51 a.m.
<a href="http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/dec/10/sdsu-coach-hoke-michigan-career-goal/" rel='nofollow'>http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/dec/10/sdsu-coach-hoke-michigan-career-goal/</a> San Diego State President Stephen Weber said he anticipates that Brady Hoke still will be his head football coach next season but also knows that if the University of Michigan comes calling, Hoke almost certainly will leave SDSU. Weber said Hoke told him in 2008 that the Michigan head coaching job was his ultimate career goal. "If he were offered the opportunity, I have got to believe there is no way we can compete with that," Weber said Friday. "And I kind of like the fact we have a coach who (would be) in play for a place like the University of Michigan. C'mon, this is a good thing."
1st Down
Wed, Sep 21, 2011 : 8:49 a.m.
Well...it is self-serving for the SDSU AD to say that UM never contacted him for permission... particularly because in the weeks prior to RR being fired, the SDSU AD came out and publically stated "Brady Hoke told me from Day 1 that Michigan is his dream job and he would take it if offered...and I agree with that"... and Michigan paid SDSU a cool 1 Million buy out, no questions asked. Secondly regarding Turley... the NFL has an issue with concussions and brain damage...and perhaps mr Turley is a victim of that... he should know better than to criticize the ONE HC who brought his program back from the depths of college football... shame on Turley for being such a mindless, steroidhasbeen chump... Hoke is it. He made his intentions to SDSU upon arrival. Michigan is his final destination.
D21
Tue, Sep 20, 2011 : 9:07 p.m.
Don, Yes, Hoke had an opt out clause (for Michigan only) according to the SDSU president who was happy for him. You can look it up online. Hoke, relish that oppty to play against your old team. GO BLUE!
Mike
Tue, Sep 20, 2011 : 8:19 p.m.
I wouldn't be too worried about San Diego State coming Ann Arbor in a game that to their players will feel like is being played at 9am. SDSU has played Cal Poly, Army, and Washington State - and they barely beat Army. They've given up more than 20 points a game to a cupcake schedule so far. I'm not sure if we're supposed to be impressed by their offense or defense, but let's lend some perspective to all the stats that are being thrown around in this article. Nine sacks and 20 tackles for loss, while sounding impressive, I'm guessing many came against Army since all they do is run around behind the line of scrimmage in triple option and barely ever pass. If there's any concern right now with this game, it's not whether UM can pass or run against the SDSU defense, it's whether or not they can execute this pro style attack and passing offense successfully against air.
DonAZ
Tue, Sep 20, 2011 : 7:41 p.m.
Did Hoke have an "opt out" clause in his SDSU contract if the Michigan job came up? I can't recall. If so, then nobody should have been surprised he'd go when the job opened up and it was offered to him. Beyond that ... let's just play the game. It'll become clear enough who came prepared to play ball.
XTR
Tue, Sep 20, 2011 : 10:40 p.m.
There was an "opt out" for 1 Million Dollars. They called it a "Buy Out". Dave Brandon the business executive saved 1.5 million when he fired RR after Jan 1, so instead of a 4 Million buyout, RR got 2.5 million (that is how UM lost big with RR). Then DB paid SDSU 1 Mil.
heartbreakM
Tue, Sep 20, 2011 : 7:38 p.m.
The defensive numbers for SDSU sound like Michigan will be in for quite a challenge. I hope our team is prepared. I'm certain that Hoke will have them mentally prepared because I can't imagine he could tolerate a loss to his old team. There is never a really good time to leave but Hoke did leave the program in good shape and never hid the fact that he wanted to be back here. I feel bad that the players had to endure a quick change, and feel bad that he never got a chance to get his team together, but it looks like the transition there was smooth with Long. A much different transition than the last coaching transition associated with Michigan.