This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Don't feel sorry for Brady Hoke.

When he took over in Ann Arbor in 2011, to a swell of fanfare as the program finally bagged itself "a Michigan Man," he knew he had to win. As he told The New York Times in the fall of that year, "There are consequences for losing."

He must have known then, even as those consequences draw nearer now, that the bar was higher for college football's all-time winningest program. He knew Top 25 rankings, BCS bowl games and beating "that school in Ohio" weren't just bonuses — they were expected results.

But it's not that Hoke doesn't merit some sympathy, he just doesn't need it.

Coach Kyle Whittingham said the memories of preparing for Hoke's San Diego State teams in 2009 and 2010 aren't useful, because too much has changed. But he observes something in Michigan's game film that he noted back then, when the Aztecs gave the eventual 10-3 Utes a 38-34 dogfight.

"The style of football he likes is tough, hard-nosed, blue-collar football," Whittingham said. "That's what he preaches. That's what he's all about. You can see that in the play of Michigan."

The problem, then, might be that Hoke is blue-collar, but the Wolverines are blue bloods.

If records are the ultimate test of a coach, then theoretically Hoke shouldn't be far off. He's 28-14 in four seasons at Michigan, and even his 17-12 mark since 2012 would be one Utah fans would happily settle for after some recent struggles themselves.

But just going to a bowl doesn't cut it. Even if some fans are living in Michigan's past of 11 national championships, 42 league titles and three Heisman winners, those achievements still define the present reality.

After an invigorating 11-2 season and a Sugar Bowl win that erased bad memories of Rich Rodriguez' era, Hoke and his team have slowly rolled back. A 7-6 season last year that ended with a bowl drubbing to Kansas State increased the grousing during the offseason, and an early 31-0 bludgeoning at the hands of Notre Dame was another big no-no.

Hoke's 4-6 record against Ohio State, Notre Dame and Michigan State isn't wholly satisfying, and he hasn't beaten any of them on the road. Already, the speculation is rampant about potential replacements; some figure there's no way Michigan keeps him barring a miraculous turnaround.

Although Hoke is tiptoeing on a tightrope, he doesn't draw attention to it, just as he seemed not to hear as fans booed at halftime last weekend when Michigan led Mid-Amercian Conference cellar-dweller Miami (Ohio) by only a touchdown. As always, he's focused on what he can control.

"It was a good win for us, and we had great effort," he said on Tuesday. "I think every week, a coach can say this, but there's some things we need to do better."

In public settings, Hoke comes off as a slightly hoarse, mild-mannered guy. Not so, says junior fullback Sione Houma.

Hoke is passionate and demanding of his team. Fans and media can't always see the energy in the weight room, the practice field, the locker room as the Wolverines prepare to storm out to "Hail to the Victors." The players don't see a coach on the hot seat — they see a man they admire trying to lead them where they all want to go.

"He's a great coach, and he's been like a father to me," said Houma, a Salt Lake native who followed Hoke rather than play for the Utes, his favorite team growing up. "I've never regretted my decision to play at Michigan. It was the right path for me."

Falling to Utah on Saturday likely wouldn't be the final blow for Hoke. The Big Ten schedule, including Ohio State and Michigan State, still lies ahead, and those games control his future more than Satuday's game.

But until he's sent out the door, Hoke's going to keep fighting. And he doesn't need anybody's pity to do that.

"We're a good football team," he said on his coaches' show after falling to Notre Dame last week. "[Our team] learned some lessons but it's something that every day you can see it." —

Brady Hoke at a glance

• 28-14 as head coach at Michigan, 2-1 this season

• 75-64 overall as a head coach, with stops at SDSU, Ball State

• Assistant at Michigan for eight seasons (95-02), including 1997 national championship

• Played linebacker at Ball State, 1977-80 —

Utah at Michigan

Saturday, 1:30 p.m.

TV: Ch. 4 or ESPN2