Hoke On Booing: 'Hopefully Those Boos Were At The Coaches, Me, Not The Players'
By Ashley Dunkak
@AshleyDunkak
CBS DETROIT - When the Michigan Wolverines headed to their locker room at halftime Saturday, the crowd at the Big House booed. Through the first half, the Wolverines had managed only a one-touchdown lead over Miami (Ohio), a team that finished the 2013 season with a record of 0-12.
Michigan head coach Brady Hoke disagreed with the notion the Wolverines struggled in the first half, but he did not seem surprised by the fan reaction.
"We didn't struggle in the first half; we had five minutes in the second quarter that we'd like to take back," Hoke told Stoney and Bill of 97.1 The Ticket. "[Booing] goes with the territory. I think hopefully those boos were at the coaches, me, and not at the players."
This Saturday the Wolverines take on Utah. The Utes have racked up 115 points in their first two games. Hoke said Michigan does its best to practice at a high tempo that mimics teams they will face during the season - the Utes no exception - but admits that game speed is always different.
Michigan defeated Miami (Ohio) last Saturday in spite of committing three turnovers, but giveaways have consistently been a problem for the Wolverines this season. Michigan has committed eight turnovers and forced just one in its first three games. The Wolverines will obviously need to make some serious improvement in both areas to have the kind of season they desire.
Against potent offensive team like Utah, creating turnovers becomes more of an emphasis than ever.
"That's one of the things from a defensive standpoint where we really hadn't done as well as we have in other years," Hoke said. "We've absolutely got to make sure we come up with the football.
"The quarterback Travis Wilson is second in the NCAA in pass efficiency," Hoke continued. "They're a well coached football team, they will be physical on both sides of the ball ... They'll really cause some havoc ... It's going to be a heck of a football game."
Hoke, as he has throughout the season, has declined to talk at all about injured players, including wide receiver Devin Funchess, one of the team's most valuable weapons. He gave a few reasons why Thursday.
"Everybody heals differently ... to give incorrect information, I wouldn't want to do that," Hoke said. "There are some things that we're not allowed to talk about ... [and] I don't know why we'd want someone else to know who's playing and who's not."
Looking past Saturday - way past Saturday - for a moment, Hoke praised Wednesday's announcement of a home-and-home series between Michigan and Texas. The games will take place in 2024 and 2027, but nevertheless, the meetings represent collisions between two of the most venerable programs in the country.
"I think that's great," Hoke said. "I think it's great for Michigan, great for Texas, I think it's great for college football ... You always want to compete at the highest level."
