Why Putting 'Michigan Man' to Rest Is Right Thing to Do for Wolverines

Rest in history, "Michigan Man." 

The definition and application of that nagging term has long been twisted, turned, warped and misconstrued—but Michigan interim athletic director Jim Hackett set the record straight Tuesday evening when announcing that Brady Hoke had been relieved of his Wolverines football coaching duties.

Upon his arrival, Hoke had been lauded for his love of the program’s rich tradition and pageantry. In fact, he was a part of it as a defensive coach from 1995-2002. Back in 2011, he said that he would have walked from San Diego State, his prior post, to Ann Arbor just to accept his dream job.

Hoke, at that moment, was—at the very least—a "Michigan Man" in the eyes of the general public. The next coach doesn't have to be, though. 

“I want to get rid of the word ‘Michigan Man.’ Maybe today you could write about that,” Hackett replied when asked about the tired cliche—then, in a let’s-not-live-in-the-past-tone, he delivered three reasons why the media should refrain from using "Michigan Man" when speculating about successors.

“One is we live in a world where no business would just talk about men in it, so that’s the first,” he said. “Second, the guy who said [Michigan Man], Bo Schembechler, one of my mentors and heroes, said it when he was being challenged about a coach [former basketball coach Bill Frieder] being recruited somewhere else. He meant he wanted the person who was at Michigan to be the coach.”

Hackett’s third reason was the most striking—it quickly dismissed the notion that a future coach must have ties to the school, instead suggesting that a personal quality is more important than a rah-rah, dyed-in-the-wool connection.

“If you cut open the soul of the people that are ‘Michigan Men,’ so to speak, you find, first, selflessness,” Hackett said.

Sure, LSU’s Les Miles, a former Michigan player, probably possesses “selflessness.” He’s regarded as one of the game’s top coaches; he’s won a national title (2007) and a pair of SEC crowns (2007, 2011). And yeah, he's a "Michigan Man," according to fans. 

Jim Harbaugh, current coach of the San Francisco 49ers and former Michigan star quarterback under Bo, probably has some of the qualities that Hackett seeks. And again, he's another "Michigan Man."

Considering their experience and resumes, not necessarily links to Bo, either one could be an ideal fit.  They’re the two most popular candidates, but they’re not the only options.

Jamie Sabau/Getty Images

“We want to build on what’s been established by Brady,” said Hackett, who plans to “immediately” work on finding the best available coach who holds similar educational values as Hoke, who graduated an outstanding 69 of 69 seniors in three years. 

However, Hackett plans to privately communicate with potential hires until they're comfortable, or whenever their seasons end—whichever comes first. “My message to the student-athletes [is] that we’ll work to put them in the best position to win and reinforce that their daily effort is contributing toward being champions.”

He later firmly added that Michigan “does not need to cut corners to win”—a bold statement from a man who’s new to running an athletic department, especially a juggernaut such as Michigan. However, one thing is clear: Hackett knows that he must nail the next hire, not make the popular choice, or witness the once mighty-and-proud college football giant struggle for several more seasons.

That’s why he put “Michigan Man” to rest Tuesday. That’s why the university must open its eyes and see coaches based on performance, not emotion. That’s why Hackett got it right—burying "Michigan Man" was a necessary move on all fronts.

The Wolverines gambled the formidable years following the disastrous Rich Rodriguez, who was named Pac-12 Coach of the Year, for one of their own. As it turns out, that was the worst possible move, as Hoke trended backward—the opposite of Rodriguez, who is now having a ball at Arizona.

In his first season, Hoke went 11-2 with Rodriguez's players, followed by 8-5 with more than a handful in 2012. The next year, with more of his "own" than not, Hoke went 7-6. This year, he posted a 5-7 record with nearly an entire team of his guys, with the exceptions of Devin Gardner, Jake Ryan and Brennen Beyer. 

Losses on the field contributed to a poor approval rating from a rabid fanbase. 

Generally speaking, Hoke didn't appear comfortable under pressure, either; nor was he always "fully aware" of the magnitude of certain situations. Along with Dave Brandon, the former AD, Hoke grossly mishandled Shane Morris' concussion. That was almost certainly a factor in his dismissal.

Hoke often appeared like a deer caught in headlights, unsure how to answer piercing questions from the media regarding player suspensions, arrests or even topics as simple as injuries. He just wasn't equipped for the boom that was lowered on his team each Saturday. 

"I believe that the head coach of Michigan football is one of the finest jobs in American sports today—and we will have great options," Hackett said confidently. "The University of Michigan remains one of the top programs in the country.

"Now it’s true that the pendulum has swung into a negative. However, one truth in physics is that when the pendulum is in the negative state, it’s always building energy for its eventual move back to a positive arc.

"My objective is to find the right coach."

And the "right coach" doesn't have to be...well, you get the picture. 

Follow Bleacher Report's Michigan Wolverines football writer Adam Biggers on Twitter @AdamBiggers81

Unless otherwise noted, quotes were obtained firsthand by the writer