Brady Hoke: Step-By-Step Guide to Surviving and Succeeding at Michigan

Brady Hoke—maybe he wasn't the giant splash hire or the sexy hire or the home run hire some were wishing for at Michigan. But he is a solid hire.

Here's a little guide for Hoke, call it the Survival Guide and the Guide For Success in Ann Arbor:

1. Get Denard Robinson to return.

Check this one off under "Done!"

2. Salvage the recruiting class:

Hoke needs to hit the trail hard and save as many recruits as he can and perhaps "poach" a few commitments from elsewhere. Recruiting is his lifeline. And yes, get back into Ohio and knock down that roadblock that Ohio State has had in place.

3. Hire a really good staff:

This one is self-explanitory. It's going to take a team effort to get the Blue and Maize machine tuned up the way most expect.

4. Shore up the defense:

Goes without saying. This will start in the spring, need to pay special attention to that side of the football.

5. Get full alumni support:

Rich Rod never had it and Brady needs it. Dave Brandon needs to help with this part of the equation, after all, it's his butt on the line with this hire as well.

6. Put Denard Robinson's talents to good use.

Now that No. 1 has been checked off, devise an offense that will allow DR to become a nightmare for opposing defenses. This may be one of Hoke's biggest challenges.

7. Beat Ohio State:

Easier said than done but if Hoke's a long-term player at Michigan, he'll have to beat "those guys."

8: Win nine games in 2011:

Again, easier said than done but this would go a long way to making everyone happy that wears the Big M.

It's certainly not a short list and this is no easy task but if enthusiasm is part of it, Hoke's ahead of the game. This is his dream job. He was on Lloyd Carr's staff so even though he didn't "go" to Michigan, he's still part of the family.

Now the family needs to help him and give him some support.

Simple enough, isn't it?