The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/315684
MICHIGAN FOOTBALL slow climb (and it was at both Ball State and San Diego State before Michigan). If that's not good enough at Michigan — and when is it ever? — Hoke better win right now. Not one or two years from now." AthlonSports.com, meanwhile, ranked Hoke No. 38 in its ratings. "A few years ago, Hoke would have ranked higher on this list; however, Hoke's stock has been on the decline after finishing 8-5 in 2012 and 7-6 in 2013," the site wrote. "Hoke went 11-2 in his Michigan debut in 2011 and led the Wolver- ines to a victory over Virginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl. "However, despite back-to-back top-10 recruiting classes, the Wolverines are just 15-11 from 2012-13. Considering the expectations at Michigan, Hoke needs to show the program is headed in the right direction in 2014." GAME TIME Michigan has announced its Nov. 1 Homecoming game against Indiana will begin at 3:30 p.m. U-M had previously announced start times for its Sept. 6 matchup at Notre Dame (7:30 p.m.), its Oct. 4 game at Rutgers (7 p.m.) and its Oct. 11 home game against Penn State (7 p.m.). ON HIS WAY OUT Walk-on placekicker J.J. McGrath announced in early May his intention to transfer following his freshman year. The 6-2, 233-pound Macomb, Mich., native did not appear in a game last fall. Michigan returns a scholarship placekicker (senior Matt Wile) and punter (fifth-year senior Will Hagerup), and has a scholarship commitment from 2015 prospect Andrew David. Walk-on punter Kenny Allen will also be entering his redshirt sophomore campaign in 2014. Michigan's Brady Hoke was ranked as the nation's 38th-best head coach by AthlonSports. com, while Sporting News tabbed him at No. 46. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL