FB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[Raider 68]

All these multi-colored turfs turns me off.  At least lets PRETEND it is grass by keeping it green!   

Walking out on a nice grass football field has that smell and feel that brings me back to the days when my neighborhood buddies and I used to gather at someones house and play football in the back yard.  If you didn't have grass stains and dirt ground in, you weren't playing. 

There are 100 reasons why turf is better to play on, but the smell of a grass playing field still brings me back.  Right after the very last game that Trine played on grass before putting the field turf in, I cut a small section out and planted it in my front yard.   Probably the greenest little patch of sod in my whole yard! 

The approximate cost of new field turf is $800k to $1 million depending how much ground work is required. Most schools look to their alums for the majority of the cost as a special drive program.

Wow! 

Setting the proper drainage in the entire area takes some time and money, in additon to the turf build-up and the turf itself and painting.

[OC_SID]

Raider68 -- I am curious ... What painting do you mean? There was no painting involved when Olivet installed turf. Our end zones are red with Olivet in one end and Comets in the other. At midfield is our interlocking OC logo. All of the colored areas are actual colored blades of turf. The end zones came on a red roll and then the letters were cut out and replaced with white and red turf. The OC was the same way -- cut out of green turf and replaced. NO PAINT was ever applied to the green turf. Somewhere on our website, I have pictures of the process.

[Raider 68]

Raider68 -- I am curious ... What painting do you mean? There was no painting involved when Olivet installed turf. Our end zones are red with Olivet in one end and Comets in the other. At midfield is our interlocking OC logo. All of the colored areas are actual colored blades of turf. The end zones came on a red roll and then the letters were cut out and replaced with white and red turf. The OC was the same way -- cut out of green turf and replaced. NO PAINT was ever applied to the green turf. Somewhere on our website, I have pictures of the process.

OC_SID,

Most all new turf fields have all lines, numbers painted. Color turf for logos and some end zone letters. I have not seen the "new turf" fields where the yard markers are inserts (white turf). You are correct on the end zone cutouts, but older new turf fields did not have them like the new turf at Olivet for example.

[sac]

For those who have speculated on Scott Loeffler returning to Michigan, I have this for you.......

    Hoke Announces Seven Staff Appointments

    ANN ARBOR – University of Michigan head coach Brady Hoke announced today (Tuesday, Jan. 18) the hiring of seven staff members to his Wolverine coaching and support staff. Hoke named six of the nine assistant coaching positions and the appointment of his strength and conditioning coach.

    Six members of the San Diego State staff joined Hoke in Ann Arbor. Al Borges will coordinate the offense and work with the quarterbacks, Dan Ferrigno will coordinate the special teams and coach the tight ends, Darrell Funk will coach the offensive line, Jeff Hecklinski mentors the wide receivers and Mark Smith has been appointed linebackers coach. Aaron Wellman also joined the Wolverines' staff as the strength and conditioning coach.

    Hoke rehired long time Michigan running backs coach Fred Jackson to the same position on the staff. Jackson will begin his 20th season as a member of the Wolverine coaching staff in 2011.



The most pertinent part is where it lists Al Borges as OC/QB coach.  I think this signals Loeffler isn't coming back to Michigan.


In slightly more amazing, yet not amazing news.......pretty heavy rumors that Baltimore Ravens DC Greg Mattison is returning to Michigan as the DC.  Mattison was at Michigan in the mid 90's, and was brought into UM by Moeller.  His 2 years as DC at UM were 95 and 96.....they were pretty good on that side of the ball.

Actually:  this isn't a rumor because John Harbaugh the Ravens coach basically confirmed it by naming a new DC and wishing Mattison the best at UM.  UofM just hasn't confirmed it.


......also if we got Ray Lewis in the deal, or 1/10th his awesomeness there might be hope for the defense yet.



resume your MIAA discussions.

[formerd3db]

sac:

Yes, I saw that also.  It is too bad that Loeffler wasn't rehired - IMO, I think he would have been a great selection.  He did a very good job when he was at Michigan (and as I recall, I thought he was there when Hoke was previously as well - I could be "mis-remembering this").  Yet, these selections of a new staff is the new head coach's perogative, obviously and it doesn't surprise me that Hoke is bringing some of his former SDSU staff with him (although I'm not a great fan of those "California" guys!!).  As with any assistant coaching staff, some of these guys have "been around the horn" almost everywhere, which is the usual MO (mode of opperendi ) for most (although not all) journeyman/veteran assistant coaches.  Indeed, being an assistant is a tough/demanding job, especially when uprooting families, as some of these guys have to now do and as you can see from their bios now posted on the U of Michigan website, many have several children.  But...that is the nature of the business.

As to Mattison, I hope he can get Michigan back to their "traditionally" strong defense.  He is also, however, a journeyman as well - after leaving Michigan the first time, he was at Notre Dame for several years, then left there to go to Florida and, of course, then at Baltimore as you mention.  It is interesting - why do you and our other colleagues here think he left Baltimore?  Was that his choice or John Harbaugh's decision or mutual?  It wasn't made clear by any of the press releases (uh, I mean "stories" - and we all know all too well that you can't trust everything you hear or read in the media regardless of the type it is. ).

I do hope that Loeffler lands somewhere at a good school - I think he will - and, again, IMO, whoever ends up offering him a job will get a very good coach and (from what I know in general) a good man.

Yes...now we can go back to more MIAA discussions, but since this is football and Michigan, I think we can be allowed some latitude here.

[Raider 68]

How common it is to bring 6 coaches with a new head Coach for a total of 7 in D1? U of M cannot have more than 12-13 in total, just asking?

[D306]

Good question ion what normal change over is

D1 allows 9 asst coachs
2 GA

6-7 new sounds normal to high
I would expect every coach wants organizational coach whom knows the ins and outs of the school on the staff.
2-3 stay with program for this reason., or the relationship they have with students on team.

[sac]

How common it is to bring 6 coaches with a new head Coach for a total of 7 in D1? U of M cannot have more than 12-13 in total, just asking?

I don't know that answer, but I'd say its pretty uncommon for a head coach to be fired and most of his staff to stick around.  That just doesn't happen.

Rich Rodriguez brought about half his first staff with him from WVU and hired about 4 guys from outside the program, with the exception of Fred Jackson  (who seems to be a permanent part of the decorations around Schembechler Hall.)   Tall, Schaeffer and the LB coach who got canned all came from different programs.



Better question, how many coaches and staffs get such a big promotion from meddling WAC program, to Big10 elite?

Urban Meyer is about the only guy I can think of right now, and I don't think he took too many Utah coaches with him to Gainesville.

[Raider 68]

How common it is to bring 6 coaches with a new head Coach for a total of 7 in D1? U of M cannot have more than 12-13 in total, just asking?

I don't know that answer, but I'd say its pretty uncommon for a head coach to be fired and most of his staff to stick around.  That just doesn't happen.

Rich Rodriguez brought about half his first staff with him from WVU and hired about 4 guys from outside the program, with the exception of Fred Jackson  (who seems to be a permanent part of the decorations around Schembechler Hall.)   Tall, Schaeffer and the LB coach who got canned all came from different programs.



Better question, how many coaches and staffs get such a big promotion from meddling WAC program, to Big10 elite?

Urban Meyer is about the only guy I can think of right now, and I don't think he took too many Utah coaches with him to Gainesville.

IMHO, For a D1 program to maintain its elite status, the HC must surround himself with top notch assistants. Bringing so many from a not so great program, raises doubt in my mind that U of M will see a quick turnaround.
Coach Hoke did not take much time to interview candidates etc. 

In D3, I could see a quick process, but not at a top D1 school!

[Mr. Ypsi]

How common it is to bring 6 coaches with a new head Coach for a total of 7 in D1? U of M cannot have more than 12-13 in total, just asking?

I don't know that answer, but I'd say its pretty uncommon for a head coach to be fired and most of his staff to stick around.  That just doesn't happen.

Rich Rodriguez brought about half his first staff with him from WVU and hired about 4 guys from outside the program, with the exception of Fred Jackson  (who seems to be a permanent part of the decorations around Schembechler Hall.)   Tall, Schaeffer and the LB coach who got canned all came from different programs.



Better question, how many coaches and staffs get such a big promotion from meddling WAC program, to Big10 elite?

Urban Meyer is about the only guy I can think of right now, and I don't think he took too many Utah coaches with him to Gainesville.

IMHO, For a D1 program to maintain its elite status, the HC must surround himself with top notch assistants. Bringing so many from a not so great program, raises doubt in my mind that U of M will see a quick turnaround.
Coach Hoke did not take much time to interview candidates etc. 

In D3, I could see a quick process, but not at a top D1 school!

Bear in mind that Hoke and these assistants just got through engineering a turnaround - from perennial doormat to 9-4 in two seasons!  And with signing day two weeks (?) away, he did not have much time if this recruiting class was not to be a total disaster.  I would doubt that many elite recruits are gonna sign if they don't even know who their position coach will be.

I know essentially nothing about the assistants he brought along, but do have great faith in Hoke and Mattison.

[Mr. Ypsi]

I think UM will still be a top 20 offense, and jump all the way to a top 40 defense.  We'll see in (quite) a few months.

This is wildly wishful thinking.

While it may be optimistic to predict that big a rise in the first year, with the hiring of Mattison do you still think it is "wildly wishful thinking"?!

[formerd3db]

Raider68:

Well, as you can see, many of Hoke's staff that he has brought to Michigan have several years experience coaching in the Pac 10 at several of those universities as well as in the NFL.  However, I agree with you that doesn't translate whatsoever into "quicker success" at Michigan.  As you pointed out, they didn't exactly set the college football world "on fire" at SDSU, although granted, they were only there two years.  

From what I've heard, most of the sports pundits in the media are saying also that Michigan fans will need to be patient as this will not be an "overnight turnaround" such as did Miami of Ohio or Nevada this year, to use examples.  Also factored in there is the fact that Michigan's recruiting class will only be 17-18 players now (few, if any, "blue chippers"), in part, due to the delay in how the head coach selection process went down.  Yet, also, IMO, even if the recruiting class had been bigger (regardless whether Rodriguez was kept on or not), I still think Michigan will have a slower process for the turnaround - I do think a turnaround will happen, but it will take a couple of years or more I believe.

So the bottom line here, is that my personal opinion is that Hoke brought too many of his own staff, but again that is his perogative and he knows those guys obviously, and those coaches are who he thinks will provide the best chances for an eventual Michigan turnaround.

BTW, interesting comments today by Tate Forcier's dad about how his son's leaving Michigan went down.  I hate to say this, but I am not fully yet "won over" by Brandon - my own personal "jury" is still out on him - however, admittedly, we need to give him a chance.  I will say, though, that he has to be better than Martin was - I will be surprised if he isn't.

[formerd3db]

I think UM will still be a top 20 offense, and jump all the way to a top 40 defense. We'll see in (quite) a few months.

This is wildly wishful thinking.

While it may be optimistic to predict that big a rise in the first year, with the hiring of Mattison do you still think it is "wildly wishful thinking"?!

Well, he exactly didn't have the greatest results at Notre Dame, although didn't do bad at Florida and good at Baltimore in the NFL - although we all know the latter is an "entirely different animal"!   I think he will be better than Robinson was though (although the latter didn't exactly have stellar talent in the defensive seconday as we all know).

[Pat Coleman]

How common it is to bring 6 coaches with a new head Coach for a total of 7 in D1? U of M cannot have more than 12-13 in total, just asking?

I don't know that answer, but I'd say its pretty uncommon for a head coach to be fired and most of his staff to stick around.  That just doesn't happen.

Agreed. I just had lunch with a friend of mine from college who was an assistant coach for the past four years at Minnesota and they were, of course, all fired at the end of the season.

Bringing with you from the previous job? Maybe 6-7 is unusual, but then again, San Diego State to Michigan is going to be an attractive jump for most everyone. If SDSU promoted from within (and I have not followed, so I apologize if that's the case) then you might see some coaches sticking around there in improved roles. But the opportunity to go to a program in a BCS conference is a step up for most guys at SDSU, I'm sure.

[sac]

SDSU hired its defensive coordinator to take over, I don't remember how much time had elapsed but I'm sure Hoke had a couple days to talk some SDSU guys into coming to Michigan before SDSU made its decision.


But then I'm in the camp that believes these coaching change preparations have been going on much longer than AD Dave Brandon wants people to believe.   So...