The University of Michigan has seen its football program go from perennial power over the better part of the 20th century to Big Ten also-ran over the last several years.

U of M starting quarterbacks are no longer a lock to make it to the NFL like they once were. Same for tailbacks.

Fire-breathing defenders are few and far between. A couple of years back, the most well-regarded player on that side of the ball was Jordan Kovacs, who for all intents and purposes was just a glorified Rudy Ruettiger without the Disney backstory.

Yet, there is really only one question of importance surrounding this once-storied program heading into the 2014 campaign.

Why in the world...does Brady Hoke...NOT WEAR A HEADSET???

It was a hot topic of debate upon his arrival in 2011 and remains so to this day.

It’s not as if 50% of the country’s head coaches wear the thing. And it’s not 80%.

It’s more like 99%.

Our guy is different, and we’re still waiting with bated breath for any rational explanation as to why that is.

Keep in mind, a head football coach does not don this piece of equipment for aesthetic reasons. It carries an actual purpose.

He is tuned in to the play being called by the coordinators.

He might even suggest one himself, or heaven forbid, change something on the fly.

He can talk to the quarterback.

He can be in constant communication with said coordinators, getting up-to-the-minute information on which players are struggling and where improvements can be made.

It’s what distinguishes the head coach from the million other non-uniformed personnel on the sideline. Without a headset, what makes Hoke any different than the kid filling Gatorade cups over by the bench?

In fact, the beverage kid might be more valuable; he’s actually providing tangible in-game support.

I like to imagine Hoke, late in the 3rd quarter, Devin Gardner leading the team on a potentially game-turning drive. The maize and blue just entered the opposition’s red zone. The quarterbacks coach (wearing a headset), approaches Hoke, eager to get his thoughts on the upcoming play.

QB COACH: Whaddya think here, Brady?? You think Gardner will be able to--

HOKE: SHHHHH!! I like to go in fresh!!!!

QB COACH: Okay, just thought you might have objected since gadgetry isn’t really your thing.

(Hoke, watching, mouth agape, as a triple-reverse develops in front of him, resulting in a 17-yard touchdown)

HOKE: COOOOOL!!! Now careful next time...you almost ruined it for me!!!

Admittedly, the prior exchange is likely an exaggeration. Maybe Hoke still has some idea of which play is about to transpire and maybe he has more involvement than we are led to believe.

But when this unique approach to in-game management has led in some part to 11 losses over the last two seasons, maybe it’s not such a wonderful idea.

Granted, sometimes the best coach is the one that refuses to be a robot. He doesn’t simply run with the rest of the pack; follow the leader; revert to the norm.

Often, such independent thinking brings about the greatest innovation.

But sometimes it’s just different for the sake of being different.

And that looks to be the case with Hoke.

By now, he’s likely become attached to this little quirk. Strapping the headset on after all these years might feel like an admittance of a career-long, self-inflicted blunder.

But without a headset, you can’t listen to others. And they can’t hear you.

This is generally a problem.

Unless the coach in question just never really had anything to say.

Now it's finally starting to make some sense.