There will never be a statue erected, a building constructed or a street named to honor the coaching legacy of Brady Hoke at the University of Michigan.
It's a shame Hoke -- who appears to be living on borrowed time now -- didn't find enormous success in Ann Arbor because Michigan needs its next Yost Ice Arena, its next Crisler Center and its next Schembechler Hall.
When Fritz Crisler and Bo Schembechler became head football coach at Michigan, they took over -- at best -- mediocre programs and lifted them up. Fielding H. Yost, on the other hand, inherited a stable program, but was a visionary who helped put college football on the map with his legendary "Point-a-Minute" teams.
Without question Yost, Crisler and Schembechler are three faces on Michigan's Mount Rushmore of football coaches. It's now time for Michigan to find that fourth face.
It's hard to imagine things being any lower than they are right now for Michigan football. For close to a decade, the program has slowly sunk into a divided mess, with too many agendas being promoted and what's best for Michigan getting cast aside.
The reason for this is complicated. Most of the individuals involved in the demise truly feel they had the best interest of the program at heart, but the problem stems from there being too many factions to carry out a successful game plan.
Unity and leadership are what's needed now for Michigan.
The university must hire a coach who not only wins championships, but can unify an eroding fan base and a splintered university community. University president Mark Schlissel and interim athletic director Jim Hackett have to find an individual strong enough to take control of the football program and send a clear message that he's in charge and will adhere to Michigan's standards of excellence -- while doing so his own way.
More than one of these types of coaches exists, and Michigan is still an attractive destination. It's now up to Schlissel and Hackett to do their due diligence and hire that person, giving him complete control and, hopefully, ending this nightmare of what Michigan football has become.
