San Diego State coach Brady Hoke has made it pretty clear that if Michigan comes calling, he'll answer.

More evidence arrived Thursday in the San Diego Union-Tribune, which reports that Hoke's new contract with San Diego State, announced Dec. 6, still hasn't been signed or otherwise formalized.

Hoke received a salary bump and two more years on his contract (taking him through 2015) with the new deal. His buyout will either remain at $1.5 million or drop to $1 million, figures that Michigan wouldn't have trouble paying if it wants Hoke.

From the U-T story:

Neither buyout -- $1.5 million or $1 million -- is likely to keep Michigan from hiring Hoke if it wants him. Having a signed new contract also is not going to prevent Michigan from hiring Hoke as long as the buyout is paid. But just like the announcement of his new contract on Dec. 6, the lack of documentation of that new contract potentially becomes a symbol of Hoke’s commitment to SDSU while speculation runs wild about Michigan. ...

Often when a school agrees to a contract with a coach, the parties have a memo of understanding in place to document general terms and bind them together while a full detailed contract is written in the meantime. For example, when SDSU announced the hiring of Hoke on Dec. 16, 2008, Hoke signed a three-page memo that same day outlining his salary, incentives and buyout. He later signed a full detailed seven-page contract on Oct. 8, 2009. The San Diego Union-Tribune asked for any documentation outlining Hoke’s new contract terms and was told by the university that no such documentation yet exists.

San Diego State's president said last month that Hoke informed him Michigan was his ultimate dream job when he came to San Diego State. Hoke was on the recruiting trail earlier this week.

It certainly sounds like if Michigan wants Hoke, it'll land him. Hoke certainly isn't the most expensive candidate out there, and Michigan AD Dave Brandon indicated Wednesday that money won't be a problem for Michigan.