With Year Winding Down, Hoke Talks Overall Season, Dismissal Of Frank Clark
By Ashley Dunkak
@AshleyDunkak
CBS DETROIT - For the Michigan Wolverines and head coach Brady Hoke, the 2014 season has presented one hurdle after another, some on the football field and more than usual outside the game. The latest incident was alleged domestic abuse by senior defensive end Frank Clark, who was quickly dismissed from the team.
Hoke told Stoney, Bill and Sara of 97.1 The Ticket he felt disappointed in himself as well as in Clark.
"I got into coaching to help kids grow and mentor and teach them how to be young men," Hoke said. "It's always been one of the things that can get you disqualified or dismissed is anything with a woman - domestic abuse, sexual abuse, that's not going to be tolerated in this program ... It breaks your heart a little bit, and you feel like you've failed in what you want to do as a coach. That's what hurts you as much as anything.
"You feel like you've let them down," Hoke added. "That's how I'm wired ... A guy gets a bad grade in a class, you feel like you've let him down ... what could you have done in your messaging or anything else to make sure that doesn't arise?"
The coach declined to discuss how Clark and his girlfriend are doing, calling their situation a private matter, but he said the program would support Frank the best it can because he has been a part of the team.
As for the program as a whole, Michigan has only two games remaining - its final home game, against Maryland, and the season finale on the road against rival Ohio State. Hoke characterized the season as disappointing in terms of a lack of execution early but said he has seen significant growth as well.
"The resiliency of this group of kids has really made it a year that you have a lot of respect for them," Hoke said. "This is truly one of the hardest-working teams I've ever been around."
The Wolverines started the season with a record of 2-4 but have now won three of their last four.
