Wolverines Q&A: Hoke on Bye Week, Maryland
11/17/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
By Steve Kornacki
Michigan football coach Brady Hoke and Steve Kornacki will talk Michigan football each week on MGoBlue.com. On Sunday night (Nov. 16), the two discussed the bye week coming off the win at Northwestern and Saturday's (Nov. 22, 3:30 p.m.) game with Maryland.
Q. Senior Day is Saturday, and that's a special time for you to share with those players and their families. What do you enjoy most about the on-field ceremony?
A. It is definitely one of the special days, when you get a chance to thank the families and thank the young men who have dedicated themselves to Michigan and the team. And as a coach, I get a little emotional about it because even guys who were (with us the first year at Michigan) like Junior Hemingway and Mike Martin and Ryan Van Bergen -- who we only got to coach for 11 months. Those guys all have a place in your memories and your heart. So, the longer you're with guys, it seems to be an even more personal and emotional moment. And as an old player, you remember your last game.
You constantly tell your team that there are only so many opportunities, and you tell the freshmen that they are going to be down in front at the team meeting sooner than they think. So, I think it's a realization and a real emotional day for everybody.
Q. You told me once that the emotions your father showed you -- the kiss on the cheek -- are something that you do, too. The players become family to you, don't they?
A. Yeah, I spend a lot of time with these kids in the season and during the offseason, and a lot goes along with it. There are good moments and bad moments. But this is a way to really honor them.
Q. What does this senior class -- many of whom were in your first recruiting class -- mean to you personally?
A. First and foremost, we'd all liked to have been in a little better position when you look at the Big Ten race (3-3 and tied for third with Maryland in the East Division). We'd have liked to have been more successful, but I can tell you that this group of seniors has really given leadership. The neat thing is the growth that you see from three and a half or four years ago to now.
Q. They become men here, don't they?
A. Well, they really do. And that's what this is all about.
Q. This is Michigan's first game with Maryland as a Big Ten opponent. What impresses you about the Terrapins?
A. No. 1, I think they've got players who are very skilled -- their receivers and their secondary. Their skill position guys are really, really good. I think Randy Edsall, who has been there four years now since he left UConn, has done a nice job in recruiting the (Washington) D.C. area, which has a lot of players. You look at their kickoff returns and they're first in the league, and they are third in punt returns. They've got guys who can do a lot of things with a football in their hands.
And they play physically -- especially defensively. They are going to take their shots at you, and they are a physical football team. (C.J.) Brown, the quarterback, is dangerous because he can do so many things with his feet. If he drops back and doesn't like (his options), he can get first downs from running the football.
Q. What were you able to accomplish with the team during the bye week?
A. We got a lot of health, No. 1. We kept our timing and that's a big thing with the speed you want to play with. We had a shorter practice tonight, but we got a lot accomplished in that short time. The big thing was to be going at game speed.
Q. You made some adjustments from the way you handled tonight's practice compared to how you did it after the previous bye week this season, didn't you?
A. Right. We gave them a little more time, and we didn't hit them today like we did the last Sunday. You want to be fast on Saturday and fresh on Saturday, and so I tried to take some of that off them. And I think that will help.
Q. You decided not to elect captains this year until after the season. What do you like about the leadership shown by the players on Team 135?
A. Not only with our seniors, but in every class, there's been really good leadership. We have a leadership group that we talk with, and there's a really good group of guys in those under classes that have been really positive.
Q. Since the win at Northwestern, defensive end Brennen Beyer (Wuerffel Trophy) and quarterback Devin Gardner (CLASS Award) have been named finalists for national awards honoring players for on-field, off-field and academic impact. What makes you proudest of those two seniors?
A. Well, when you have a chance to get to know those two guys they are very selfless in what they do.
Look at what Devin has done in the community, and he's graduated in three years (in Afro-American and African Studies) and he's going to have his masters (degree in the Social Work program) at the end of the year. It tells you a lot about him. And then he gives himself to Mott (Children's Hospital) and the different things he does.
And Brennen is one of those very silent, quiet guys -- but really is a giving guy. And his family, his background -- he might be going to seminary school when he's done. And he is just first class all the way.
Q. Your team is one win away from bowl eligibility with two games remaining. Do you need to address that point with them?
A. You know, we haven't. We went into the last three games -- Indiana, Northwestern and Maryland -- as a three-game season and taking care of our business, working hard and coming into this building with an attitude for what we want to get done. And playing with a lot of energy and playing for each other, and being unified. And that's what they've done.
Our thought process and all of our work is on Maryland. And then the greatest rivalry in football and in sport is coming up. So, you know we'll be excited about that.
(Michigan visits Ohio State at noon on Nov. 29.)
Q. Senior Matt Wile has made 11 of his last 13 field goal attempts. What has his consistency meant for the team?
A. Matt, since the Notre Dame game, has been awfully, awfully good and very consistent. I think the two non-makes were blocks. And that wasn't really on the kicker. One was a great play, a great effort by an opponent (on a 56-yard attempt at Rutgers). And we needed a little bit better protection on the other one.
Matt, with the consistency that he's had, he's really figured it out. So, I feel really, really good about him.
