Pros and Cons to Michigan Firing Brady Hoke Before End of Season

Brady Hoke is hanging by a thread at Michigan (3-5, 1-3 Big Ten), hoping for his team to somehow win three of its next four games to become bowl eligible. The Hoke era that began with a triumphant 11-2 campaign is ending with a whimper.

This season has been a disastrous maelstrom, one in which the lowlights include a 31-0 thumping at Notre Dame, an embarrassing road loss to Rutgers and a crushing 35-11 loss to instate rival Michigan State. Mixed in has been a controversy over backup quarterback Shane Morris’ concussion and a public apology to Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio over a misguided motivational stunt at Spartan Stadium prior to the game.

Forget Dantonio, Hoke should apologize to Michigan fans for running the Wolverine football program into the ground. Hoke’s Michigan team is fully capable of dropping the rest of its games and matching the Rich Rodriguez mark of futility (3-9) for the second time since Lloyd Carr’s retirement.

Rumors continue to swirl of private jets crisscrossing the nation allegedly carrying emissaries on missions to replace both Brady Hoke and athletic director David Brandon.

Here are the pros and cons of waiting until the end of the season to make a coaching change.

Pro: Clear the Clutter

Carlos Osorio/Associated Press

Brady Hoke has failed in his mission to rebuild Michigan football, but the larger problem is athletic director David Brandon. Brandon has angered various interests during his tenure at the athletic department, including the Michigan band, student season ticket holders, former players, alumni and public season ticket holders. It’s hard to find someone he hasn’t angered.

Hoke’s dismissal would put the spotlight directly on Brandon and allow a careful evaluation of his record and culpability in the program’s collapse. He has inserted himself in the football program and been a distraction during Hoke’s entire tenure.

His continued presence is a barrier to any coach coming to Michigan. Both Brandon and Hoke need to go for the program to move forward.

Con: Who's at the Helm?

UMGoBlue.COM/Phil Callihan

Brandon has a reserved spot at Schembechler Hall for when he drops by to watch film with the coaches.

If you fire Hoke now before getting rid of Brandon, who runs the coaching search? It’s difficult to imagine any nationally prominent coach agreeing to work for an athletic director with a pattern of interference and an uncertain future.

After public relations fiascos during the last two coaching searches, Michigan can’t afford another high-profile misfire. A strong argument can be made for letting Hoke remain coach until Brandon can be convinced to leave.

If Hoke gets fired now, Brandon may begin a coaching search hoping that UM president Mark Schlissel won’t risk a messy public spat during his first few months on the job.

Pro: End Hoke’s Agony

Leon Halip/Getty Images

Offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier and Brady Hoke

Brady Hoke is a good guy who clearly wants to be successful. It’s painful to watch his weekly press conferences, fully understanding that he’s failed at his dream job. As the losses mount, the media horde grows waiting for Hoke’s eventual dismissal.

Whether being thrown under the bus by Brandon over the Shane Morris injury or pummeled by questions about “stakegate” from the media, Hoke is in over his head. Every week he comes out and repeats his regular talking points that fall flat as the losses pile up.

It's equally difficult to hear defensive coordinator Greg Mattison’s weekly defense of Hoke.

It’s time to end the drama and make Hoke’s dismissal official.

Con: Recruiting

Alex Goodlett/Getty Images

As the losses have piled up, Michigan's 2015 commitments have jumped ship. Hoke’s dismissal would decimate the class, but let’s face it—the class will take a hit whenever he gets fired.

The important thing is to find the right replacement who can turn Michigan around as quickly as possible.

Pro: Satisfy the Fans

USA TODAY Sports

Fans are upset. This is the second time since Lloyd Carr’s retirement that the program has been run into the ground—first by Rich Rodriguez and now by Brady Hoke.

There’s a small segment of fans who point to Rodriguez's current success at Arizona (while conveniently forgetting his dumpster fire of a defense at Michigan) as proof that he got a raw deal in Ann Arbor. These fans blame Hoke for dismantling the offensive juggernaut Rodriguez had put in place and want him fired.

Many others are frustrated with the program’s diminishing success under Hoke and want a new start.

The one common thread between the two groups is disdain for Brandon, whom some blame for pulling the plug too early on Rodriguez and mishandling the coaching search that resulted in the hiring of Hoke.

Hoke's immediate firing would appeal to both.

Con: Player Development

Tony Ding/Associated Press

Jabrill Peppers

If Hoke were immediately dismissed, the player development would come to a screeching halt. The distraction of a new interim coach or a lame-duck Brady Hoke would be too much to ignore. Players would become fair game for other programs, who would take advantage of the turmoil.

What Should Happen?

Associated Press

Jim Harbaugh passes the headset test.

The best scenario is for someone (a high-profile donor) to broker a deal that eases David Brandon out the door and replaces him prior to the end of the season.

The new athletic director could then dismiss Hoke and start fresh with a new coaching search. Hopefully, a deal could be put in place quickly so that there’s not much time between Hoke's dismissal and the hiring of the new coach.

Brandon’s deliberate, systematic coaching search that resulted in Hoke was a cesspool of rumors and disappointment.

The next athletic director needs to run a brief, thorough search, hire a brilliant candidate and then get out of the way and let the new coach get to the business of rebuilding Michigan football.

Phil Callihan is a featured writer for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all quotations obtained firsthand.

Follow @PSCallihan.