[tps_title]We think Desmond Howard meant “New Coke” … just sayin’[/tps_title]
[tps_header]By Mike Baldwin[/tps_header]
At Michigan’s postseason banquet in 2011, after the Wolverines posted a 10-2 record with most of Rich Rodriguez’s recruits under Brady Hoke, former Heisman Trophy winner Desmond Howard took a jab at the former coach.
Howard is one of the analysts for ESPN’s College GameDay crew that is coming to Tucson.
At issue for Howard, an ardent Michigan supporter, is how Rodriguez tried to revolutionize the program by going from the typical three plays and a cloud of dust to a wide open zone-read offense.
“It’s a brand,” Howard said. “It’s like Coke. So, some people in the board room at Coke made some crazy decisions in the past to make Cherry Coke. But then the consumers didn’t like it too much. So, they had to go back and bring in some brilliant mind to get this thing back on track.”
Howard was probably referring to the failed New Coke experiment but his point is taken.
“That’s like Domino’s Pizza saying we’re going to put out pineapple pizza, and then they realize the consumer isn’t buying that,” Howard continued. “So, what Michigan did is we brought in some brilliant mind, (athletic director) Dave Brandon, and he got this thing back on track.”
Brandon has since resigned under pressure after Hoke couldn’t maintain what Rodriguez’s recruits first brought him. Hoke is gone and Jim Harbaugh is now coach.
Arizona is just fine with Cherry Coke, thank you.
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ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com publisher, writer and editor Javier Morales is a former Arizona Press Club award winner. He has also written articles for Bleacher Report and Lindy’s College Sports.[/tps_footer]
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