So far Brady Hoke has done all the right things at Michigan. He’s brought back some of the old traditions, he did a good job putting a recruiting class together under such short notice and did a very good job putting a recruiting class together for 2012.
However is Hoke already on the hot seat? Does he need to have a strong first season given the relatively easy schedule?
Adam Rittenberg of ESPN.com believes that Hoke must have a solid first year since the 2012 schedule is brutal. Here is what he has to say…
Brandon will be patient with Hoke. He hired Hoke, after all. And Michigan doesn’t want to start shuffling through coaches every few seasons.
But there’s a need to show significant progress in Year 1. Here’s why: the schedule in Year 2. It’s brutal.
The Wolverines open with a neutral-site game against Alabama and make trips to Notre Dame, Nebraska and Ohio State. Although they avoid crossover games against both Wisconsin and Penn State, they host recent nemesis Michigan State as well as Iowa, Northwestern and Illinois.
If Michigan doesn’t make a big jump this fall, it could have a tough time doing so in 2012. The Wolverines could be a better team, a more well-adjusted team, and not have the record to show for it.
Two middling seasons would mean two more years of Michigan lingering outside the upper crust. Questions about whether or not Hoke can restore Michigan among the Big Ten’s elite likely would surface.
So while it seems unfair to expect Michigan to win a Legends division title this season, Hoke needs a strong start. The league race is wide open, archrival Ohio State could be backsliding and the schedule isn’t overly daunting.
Michigan has an opportunity in 2011, and a big statement from Hoke would go a long way toward maintaining the mojo before a daunting slate in Year 2.
Now Michigan fans have to be realistic, this team isn’t going to go out and challenge for the Big Ten title. They just aren’t there yet. However with this schedule there is no reason why Brady Hoke can’t go 7-5 in the regular season his first year with the team.
Not to mention Rittenberg points out a very good reason why it was important for David Brandon to implement a new head coach this season and NOT in 2012.
Source: ESPN, Mlive.com