Hoke On Brandon: 'It's Just Amazing To Me The Criticism That He's Gotten'

By Ashley Dunkak
@AshleyDunkak

CBS DETROIT - The statement released at 1 a.m. Tuesday by Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon made head coach Brady Hoke look like a liar at worst or uninformed at best.

Hoke maintained Thursday, however, that he and Brandon have a great relationship.

"There's no question," Hoke said, "and I think it's funny. People think Dave's making all the decisions in the football program. No, Dave and I are very, very close, and we have a great relationship that's built from respect, trust and character. We value the leadership that both of us have and the responsibilities that we have and we understand the demands and the expectations that we both have when it comes to Michigan football, so it's all nonsense. If you were sitting in my seat, you would see it and you'd probably laugh about it a little bit. People think Dave made the change when we hired [offensive coordinator] Doug Nussmeier and all that, so he's running the program. It just is amazing to me the criticism that he's gotten when it comes to this whole deal."

To a comment that the new offense under Nussmeier has been worse than the old offense, Hoke replied, "That's an opinion."

Just as he did Wednesday, Hoke declined to address the discrepancies between Brandon's statement Tuesday and Hoke's own remarks Monday.

Hoke said Monday that quarterback Shane Morris, who took a late hit under the chin and was noticeably woozy afterward, would have practiced Sunday if not for a high ankle sprain and said that, to the best of his knowledge, Morris did not suffer a concussion. Brandon's statement said Morris did in fact suffer a concussion.

Hoke also said Monday that he had not spoken with Brandon about Morris's situation. Brandon's statement said the athletic director had talked to all parties involved in the process that allowed Morris to remain in the game after the late hit and even return for another play later.

"The statement itself really reflects everything because I know the work that went into that and making sure it was well detailed and the timeline and all that," Hoke said.

The coach reiterated he would never put a player in a game if he suspected a head injury, and he gave an explanation, as he did earlier in the week, for why Morris ended up back in Saturday's game after initially leaving a play after the late hit.

Quarterback Devin Gardner lost his helmet, which meant he had to stay on the sideline for at least a play. When that happened, Hoke talked with officials to see if taking a timeout would allow Michigan to keep Gardner in the game, but Hoke was told he could not, and by the time it got straightened out that Hoke could do that, Morris was back on the field.

Third-string quarterback Russell Bellomy should have gone into the game instead, but video showed he struggled to find his helmet.

"Here's what you guys don't know because you're not on the sideline," Hoke said. "You always have the second's helmet, so whoever the second is, you have their helmet. Someone has it ... You usually don't have the third. That's usually on the bench somewhere. So when you talk about confusion and all that, that's where that came from, and it all stemmed from the discussion about buying a guy back in and not being able to buy him in."

Morris, a sophomore, had taken the field Saturday against Minnesota in place of Gardner, a fifth-year senior, who had struggled throughout the season. Hoke said he still believes starting Morris was the right decision.

"Shane earned that opportunity," Hoke said. "I think it was good for Devin because number one he was a great leader on the field, he had Shane's back the whole time, he was involved and engaged, and he got an opportunity to watch a little bit, and sometimes you need that. I talked to Brian Griese, and Brian was saying, 'You know I got benched at Michigan, and I needed time to reflect and look and figure it out.' Then obviously Tom was another guy, Tom Brady, who got sat down, and he reflected on it."

Hoke said he feels badly about the attention Morris has received in the wake of the concussion and Michigan's handling of it.

"I feel bad for Shane," Hoke said. "I feel back that his family, there's reporters at their front door, there's people calling them because that's what the media does. I feel bad for him. But as far as an attitude and a teammate and everything, he's awesome."