Sugar Bowl 2012: Win or Lose Brady Hoke Has Proven He's Right Coach for Michigan

Brady Hoke has proven that he is the right coach for the future of Michigan football whether his Wolverines win or lose the Sugar Bowl on Tuesday night against Virginia Tech.

Hoke has taken a Michigan program that did not make a bowl in 2008 or 2009, back to the BCS. The team entered the Sugar Bowl with a 10-2 record and defeated quality teams such as Notre Dame, Nebraska and Illinois.

Before this season, Michigan hadn't won 10 games or more in a season since 2006 and hadn't been to a BCS bowl game since the 2007 Rose Bowl, which they loss to USC.

The Wolverines also beat the arch rival Ohio State Buckeyes, which for many Michigan fans is goal No. 1 each season.

Hoke has really established a winning culture at Michigan, which is so important for the future success of the program. He holds his players accountable, and his passion for the game is something players love from their coach.

Hoke's dedication to his job and making sure his players are well prepared for any challenge is a reason the Wolverines have gone from mediocre over the past few seasons to a major bowl game in only one year under Hoke.

One aspect of the game that the Wolverines were strong in this season was defense. There are a lot of quality playmakers in the Big Ten conference, but Michigan ranked No. 6 in the country in fewest points allowed, giving up just 17.2 points per game.

The Wolverines running game was also fantastic this season, ranking 11th in the nation with an average of 235.7 rushing yards per game.

Playing good defense and running the ball well consistently are two ingredients to being successful in the Big Ten, and with Michigan doing those two things well under Hoke, the program is well set up to be a perennial BCS bowl contender for a long time.

Brady Hoke doesn't demand attention or respect, he earns them with results. This season he has proven that Michigan is in good hands with him leading their football program into the future.

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