2 weeks of mixed emotions (formerly a comment to the 20/20 hindsight blog)

 I did not anticipate this comment being so long. I know it's basically a blog in itself but i've had a lot of feelings bottled up the past 2 weeks. I am from S Carolina and am the only Michigan fan i know so know one around here cares about how i feel abou all this. Hell, yall may not even care and if so you aint got to read it. But this is my first comment so i figure i better make it a good one. I'll try to keep my future comments 3 paragraphs or less...
       I knew half-way throug the season Harbaugh was going pro, didnt ever get my hopes up about that, altough he was the man i wanted to see leading Michigan.
       I had mixed feelings about firing Rich. I agreed with what you wrote in a blog the other day, yes things were looking bad but i could see promise for the future. The offense was on course to be the best in the country in a year or 2. The defense wouldve been better this year if Demar Dorsey wouldnt have F'd up and we wouldnt have had a plague of injuries. And contrary to some opinions, i thought Rich was a good man and was doing a good job recruiting.
       Everyone talks about finding  the "New Bo". I thought Rich was going to be the new Yost. He was from WV and had an offense that would soon be scoring a point-per-minute. This, along with renovations that made the Big House even bigger and more importantly louder, and top of the line facilities like the Glick Indoor field, I knew that we were destined to be the top program in America for years to come. I knew it may take one more year to get the offense exactly where it should be and to get our defense at least respectable. We even had the stage set to debut the nation's new Powerhouse in 2012, in JerryWorld, Primetime for recruits to watch us demolish one of the top teams from "the best conference in the nation". Yes, the future looked good.
     But it just seems like there was some cosmic force that didnt want to see Rich suceed at Michigan. I honestly think (sometimes) that ohio state has an Anti-Michigan task force set up to discredit and destroy anything promising at UofM. I came to this belief back in 2008 when herbstreit anounced Les was Michigan's new coach, only to find out later he was staying at lsu. I believe (sometimes) that herbie leaked this info to make les the new saban and influence him to want to stay as to not damage his rep. But i am a crazy conspiricist (sometimes).
      So, although i wanted to see Rich get another year at the helm to prove things were on the right track regardless of how they seemed, i wasnt totally opposed to a regime change. Especially if it was going to get us back to good ol' Michigan football. I liked the new era and thought it looked promising, but it was somewhat of a relief to know we would be returning to the Michigan i grew up loving and was comfortable with.
      Regardless of what i think herbie did or didnt do to influence les' decision in 2008 i still felt spurned by the former Michigan man. I felt that if he loved this University as much as he put on andif it was really his 'dream job', he would return to the school he loved and save us. But it seemed like he cared more about  lsu and his image than making sure Michigan stayed at an elite level. After that decision I didnt hate him, but i didnt think he should be associated with Michigan again, or ever considered for another job there.
      But it is amazing how desperation can change your mind. As i stated before, i believed Harbaugh was the perfect man for the job, but i knew without a doubt that he would not be coming to the rescue. This only left one "Michigan Man" that i could think of to return us to glory. (Other than this Hoke guy who some were talking about whom i had never heard of. C'mon, he's not a serious candidate. It's les all the way)
      I suddenly began subconscious rationaliztion of why he didnt return in 2008 and began subconsciously convincing myself that he was coming back this time. I even convinced myself that he may be better suited for the job than Harbaugh because his offense would create a smoother transition. He liked smaller speedy players and had QB's like Jamarcus Russell, Perillioux, and Jordan Jefferson who were similiar to Devin Gardner. Although things didnt work out in 2008, this WAS his dream job and Dave Brandon had the checkbook to make it happen. Yes, the future looked good.
     Then, while watching the National Championship game, Breaking News goes across the bottom line that Brandon is meeting with Les tonight and that Joe Schad is reporting les is set to accept the job if offered. I put a bottle of champagne on ice and sat back in anticipation of the official announcement. Fooled again.
      Tuesday morning comes and what was for sure a done deal was now "Miles stays at LSU part 2". WTF has happened??!!! Ecstasy and joy had in a matter of seconds become doom, gloom, and rage. The 'Les miles Era' was now, 'Gruden...ehh...I'll even settle for Mike Hart right now...all i know is that if we end up with this Hoke nobody I am putting Dave Brandons head on a stick...'
      Then it happened. Brady Hoke named head coach at Michigan. I had spent the previous week sitting at home tracking a plane for this??? I wonder what it would take to get Rich Rod back??? Is it too late??? Dave Brandon is THE worst AD ever!!! It was his arrogance and stupidity that let Les slip away...He cares nothing about Michigan. We are doomed!!! I popped my bottle of champagne and drowned my sorrows.
      Then Wednesday's press conference came and, hey, maybe things arent as bad as I thought. Brandon says that a lot of candidates he talked to seemed to care more about them selves than Michigan...Hmmmm...Les??? Sure sounds possible. Maybe Brandon spurned the man who spurned Michigan 3 years ago (maybe. i kinda hope so). Maybe Les was sent back to  baton rouge with the same feeling he left me with 3 years ago. I know it's wrong to hope for but damn it would be poetic justice.
      Then Brandon talks about how almost everyone he talked to referred him to Hoke. How all the former Wolverines endorsed him and gushed about how much they loved him. How even Hoke's former opponents endorsed him. How he accepted the job without even discussing money. Maybe this guy IS the right man for job. Maybe Dave Brandon was competent at his job. Maybe instead of just signing the biggest name he could get to satisfy the fanbase he actually did his homework and hired the best candidate for the job. Maybe things are looking bright again.
      Before the press conference started i was still feeling bad about the situation. I thought the only way i could possibly feel better about the situation was if Hoke somehow blew me away with his speech, if it contained some nugget of info that convinced me he knew the key to turning around our program. Well, i wasnt blown away. He didnt reveal some secret formula to sucess the assured me he would win. But i was impressed. He loves football and he loves Michigan. He wants to create champions on the field, in the classroom, and in life. That is rare nowadays with a win at any cost mentality taking over college athletics. But that is Michigan Football and it seems to me that Michigan Football is back.
      For 24 hours I had an impending feeling of doom, a bowling bowl in my stomach weighing me down. I wanted to go into hibernation and sleep away the next 8 months. Now, after seeing and hearing the man (and just seeing the breaking news that Denard is staying), I am full of complete ecstatic anticipation for this years spring game.
      Congratulations Coach Hoke, I wish you the best! GO BLUE!