In Your Opinion: If Harbaugh leaves...what's his legacy?
February 2nd, 2022 at 12:41 AM ^
He bailed as soon as he was on the cusp of fulfilling the promise of him coming in the first place. It's nothing but what could have been. Dude won once against OSU in 6 tries. He's below Lloyd Carr and it isn't particularly close.
February 2nd, 2022 at 2:49 AM ^
I'm gonna go ahead and take cuts here and use just one word to describe his legacy here:
MEH!
February 2nd, 2022 at 6:37 AM ^
I’m calling him John Cooper.
February 2nd, 2022 at 9:16 AM ^
Logged in just to like. This is the perfect analogy. Except Cooper had a better win % in bowl games. Cooper just didn't choose do go out after his best year.
February 2nd, 2022 at 12:51 PM ^
Apples and oranges. There's a lot more to a legacy than W-L.
His legacy is the Michigan Man who sacrificed his NFL coaching career to right and fix the Michigan ship after it was sinking and breaking apart.
We forget that he gave up the prime of his own career to step "down" to a college-level dumpster fire whose recovery was impeded by his own institution's policies and approaches to things.
Legacies aren't made out of hypothetical futures that could have happened. They're made out of what actually happened. And the above is what actually happened.
February 2nd, 2022 at 8:02 AM ^
I really hate the “what do YOU think” conversational posts. Of course its what I think. I’m not posting on behalf of someone else. But I’ll bite.
I think it depends on what happens after he gets hired and the staff shakes out. If he takes a bunch of assistants with him and leaves us scrambling while players transfer left and right, we’ll hold his name in the regard of Voldemort.
If he goes about his way and builds his own staff of NFL friends and we keep the ship afloat for a year before landing a big catch, I assume we’ll view him as a good coach who is just ultimately an NFL-kinda guy and finally got his OSU win and B1G championship. People might dwell on his record vs rivals but 42-27 is going to live on for a while. I’m indifferent and right now I honestly care more about the players than JH and the coaching staff.
February 2nd, 2022 at 8:19 AM ^
I agree. I also now think if he would have beat OSU and won a BIG championship in his first 3 or 4 years, he would already be gone. I think he has been jonesing to get back to the NFL well before now.
February 2nd, 2022 at 10:00 AM ^
Funny thing is, had he won earlier he would've had a lot better options in the NFL. Now he gets to rebuild the Vikings. I've never wanted the Lions to win more than I do now.
February 2nd, 2022 at 12:07 PM ^
People are assuming the Vikings will hire him. Maybe they will... maybe they won't. I'm more concerned we end up with a coach that we all know would prefer to be somewhere else, and that really sucks.
February 2nd, 2022 at 12:45 AM ^
Mark Richt. Solid floor but never really met expectations and clearly had a lower ceiling than what fans wanted. MSU losses were ridiculous.
I’ll miss his passion, but by his own standards, he failed. Michigan can do better.
I am a little disappointed on a personal level. I always figured Harbaugh for a guy who would sacrifice ambition for loyalty, especially to a school he claimed to worship. I guess everyone has to climb the ladder now. Fair enough.
February 2nd, 2022 at 1:07 AM ^
This. Let's just hope our rebound is the Kirby Smart to his Richt.
February 2nd, 2022 at 6:52 AM ^
+1 on Mark Richt. Mack Brown at Texas would be another one. Had one awesome year, but other than that it was rather underwhelming for the resources available.
February 2nd, 2022 at 8:45 AM ^
From 2001-2009 Mack Brown went 11-2, 11-2, 10-3, 11-1, 13-0, 10-3, 10-3, 12-1, 13-1. Won 2 conference titles, played in 2 BCS title games, won a NC and went 4-1 in what would now be considered NY6 bowl games. Harbaugh's accomplishments at UM don't even come close to that.
February 2nd, 2022 at 4:19 PM ^
Coaches since Mack have a combined record of 53-99 (.535), and the two coaches prior to Mack had a combined record of 72-54-2 (.571), so his career record at Texas of 158–48 (.767) is all the more remarkable.
February 2nd, 2022 at 8:56 AM ^
How much "better" will Harbaugh's years be than how we remember Hoke?
Numerically, Harbaugh certainly has more wins and a much better record, but how many of those wins are meaningful? Harbaugh's Bowl record, record against MSU, record agains OSU, record against ranked teams, and ranked teams on the road can't be that much better than what Hoke did. Or at least I wouldn't think they would be drastically better.
February 2nd, 2022 at 9:41 AM ^
Ya but the program was falling off a cliff by Hoke's last year. The Big Ten championship and the quality of the Ohio State team he beat put Harbaugh far ahead of Hoke.
February 2nd, 2022 at 10:19 AM ^
The season that Harbaugh had prior to this year was the worst season I can remember in 40 years of being a Michigan fan. If it weren’t for this miracle outlier season that we just experienced, which was glorious and I am grateful for, we would remember Harbaugh eerily similar to Hoke in his departure.
February 2nd, 2022 at 10:37 AM ^
Apparently you slept through rich rods first year 3 wins in 12 games and losing to Akron was it?
Give me a fucking break last year was the worst in 40 years
February 2nd, 2022 at 11:08 AM ^
To be fair, MSU was practically Akron-level last year, and we still managed to lose to them. It was hard to watch, and (as evidenced by this year) the cupboard wasn't totally empty even after opt-outs and injuries.
February 2nd, 2022 at 11:55 AM ^
Remember that last year was Harbaugh’s sixth year at Michigan. Not the first year of Rich Rod. Massive difference.
February 2nd, 2022 at 12:40 PM ^
Also remember that last year is collectively referred to as the COVID year, where we had several key players opt out, and even the NCAA decided not to count the entire season with regard to eligibility. Take away last year's wins and losses, and Harbaugh has the best W/L percentage since Yost.
February 2nd, 2022 at 10:46 AM ^
If Harbaugh had been forced out a year earlier as many wanted, the ending would have looked a lot like Hoke's.
FWIW, I am a fan of both Hoke and Harbaugh. In Hoke's case, he had a terrible boss. In Harbaugh's case, he made some very poor assistant coach choices for far too long.
February 2nd, 2022 at 6:54 AM ^
But we don’t (have to climb the ladder).
“The day you stop racing is the day you win the race.” –Bob Marley.
February 2nd, 2022 at 10:02 AM ^
Damn, that is a hell of a quote. Thanks for sharing that. +1
February 2nd, 2022 at 8:53 AM ^
That’s a good take. I feel he did a good job. Program was a mess and he righted the ship. Still felt he could’ve done better and if this is how he leaves then the end was very disappointing
February 2nd, 2022 at 12:47 AM ^
He gave us the greatest most wonderful season since 1997.
And now he can go fuck a rolling doughnut.
The Team.
I’ve hit the I don’t want him back stage and I never came close to wanting him fired.
February 2nd, 2022 at 2:14 AM ^
Me too. And, how exactly does one fuck a rolling doughnut? This is a serious question . . .
February 2nd, 2022 at 7:07 AM ^
I am afraid the only answer is unserious.
February 2nd, 2022 at 7:07 AM ^
Very carefully
February 2nd, 2022 at 8:04 AM ^
With aggression
February 2nd, 2022 at 8:20 AM ^
With an enthusiasm unkn... blah blah blah... In zero g is the correct answer. I think that was a deleted scene in the Expanse.
February 2nd, 2022 at 8:56 AM ^
Glazed.or cream filled?
February 2nd, 2022 at 9:13 AM ^
Depends if you’ve had a vasectomy
February 2nd, 2022 at 8:11 AM ^
I wanted him fired and even do more so now if something happens to his NFL job. i hope most of the staff (the best recruiter part) stays.
his legacy will be viewed as weird....perfect.
February 2nd, 2022 at 8:11 AM ^
I wanted him fired and even do more so now if something happens to his NFL job. i hope most of the staff (the best recruiter part) stays.
his legacy will be viewed as weird....perfect.
February 2nd, 2022 at 12:50 AM ^
That he coached Aiden Hutchinson that glorious 2021 year
February 2nd, 2022 at 8:00 AM ^
I'm not so sure it wasn't the other way around-Aidan coached him.
I am in the previous "Meh" camp. Did okay...coulda/shoulda done better.
I'm okay with him moving on. Though, I continue to believe he would do well as the CEO of Michigan Football.
February 2nd, 2022 at 12:51 AM ^
He leaves Michigan in much better shape than the mess he inherited when he got here. As has been said by others, this past season was the best since 1997. Bittersweet legacy for sure but definitely a positive one.
February 2nd, 2022 at 6:37 AM ^
I wouldn’t make this assumption yet. We have no idea what will be here when the team reports for fall camp.
February 2nd, 2022 at 7:50 AM ^
Exactly... this was as bright as the future has been for Michigan in how long? Then he decided to head to the NFL and kill any momentum the program had. I understand he cannot control the timing but there's no doubt the month long saga has put the program in a tough spot with both recruiting and finding his potential replacement, plus anyone he takes with him.
So to me, that will be his legacy... one fantastic season followed by what I can't help but feel as betrayal, especially after all the "this is just the beginning" and "I'd coach for free" talk.
February 2nd, 2022 at 8:16 AM ^
The Ruddock year was pretty good. Probably better than Hoke’s first year despite the worse record and the OSU “loss.” It showed promise of greatness. The promise wasn’t fulfilled until this year after a year where the wheels came off (COVID or not.). If Harbaugh leaves he is pulling a George Castanza; leaving on a high before he screws it up again. He doesn’t have a tradition of greatness or a head coach in waiting. Leaving now is cowardly.
If he stays and produces some 11+ win seasons, beats OSU 50%+ of the time and gets Hart, Elston, Bellamy, Clinksdale or another assistant the experience to take over in 5-6 years he’ll be a legend.
I love just about everything about JH, but if his heart isn’t in it F him.
February 2nd, 2022 at 10:29 AM ^
This is my feeling too. Jim is free to go wherever his heart desires, but don't say that you love Michigan so much that you would coach for free, and then leave and decimate the staff (if indeed that happens). He has a fondness for Michigan, but clearly Michigan is not as important to him as his personal ambitions. That's fine, but call it like it is. Kind of like when he was at Stanford, he had no problem taking shots at Michigan to benefit his team there.
Anyway, we have seen what teams look like with a low-key, disinterested Jim, and if that is what we would be getting next year or thereafter, then it is best that he move on. I used to believe that he really wanted to be at Michigan for the long haul, but if he will always have one eye on the green grass on the NFL side of the fence, then we will always be getting something less than we could have, even if what we got was occasionally very good.
February 2nd, 2022 at 12:52 AM ^
I think he put the ship on calmer more consistent waters and brought integrity to the program again, especially this year. He was a good coach and I am happy he was here. I'm thankful for what he tried to do here especially with the willingness to change to always try and get better (coaches, etc). He loves this University and the program. I did not see this coming personally and thought he would stay and retire here. We all wanted him to achieve more overall and I truly believe he did as well. I was happy for him being hired to coach here at Michigan. I feel a bit burned if he leaves now but maybe he wants one last shot at the NFL and felt this last year here is the best he could do, which really was a pretty damn good season.
February 2nd, 2022 at 10:47 AM ^
I appreciate that you are able to take the adult perspective. I'm not at that point yet. Anger, denial, acceptance...
February 2nd, 2022 at 2:54 PM ^
I totally get it .... I was mad long ago about some of the season we had and had major offense issues with him. All in all I know, or at least I feel, he loves this place and tried to the best of his ability to make things happen when he could and he never stopped trying to find the key. I am happy with what he has done here and like many just wish he would of beat the people we ALL wanted him to beat far more often.
February 2nd, 2022 at 12:53 AM ^
Rarely wanted him gone but wasn't expecting regular returns to the playoffs either. He brought stability at a pivotal time when the wrong hire after Hoke could have sent us into a death spiral. If we come out on the other side with another successful coach, I'll appreciate that and remind folks he had a solid record. If we don't, it'll be a little tougher to remember him for anything but his foibles and failures and going out on a sour note.
February 2nd, 2022 at 12:53 AM ^
He was a great Michigan player and a mediocre Michigan coach
February 2nd, 2022 at 1:00 AM ^
Mediocre isn’t fair. He was good. Not great, but good. Whether Michigan does better than good is now up to Warde Manuel.
February 2nd, 2022 at 1:16 AM ^
He’s way better than mediocre but certainly had his flaws. His narrative was effected by a series of unfortunate events some of which he owns. But he rebuilt a relatively downtrodden program.
I’m just pissed because it changes everything I believed Harbaugh to be. He finally has line of site to his and certainly an entire fanbase perennial goals. And now he quits.
February 2nd, 2022 at 6:53 AM ^
One championship game appearance. Yes he won it, but just one appearance, losing record to Sparty, OSU, and 1 game better than PSU and 3 - 3 against Wisconsin, losing record in bowl games, That's not very good guys.