JUB: Contract talks with Harbaugh are at an impasse over "what should be covered by immunity"
Presumably, Bacon is referring to disagreements over the the types of adverse NCAA findings that would entitle the University to fire Harbaugh for cause or perhaps withhold certain incentives.
Take it FWIW. I don't think any of the insiders has had a great track record lately, so 'no one knows anything until we all know something' is probably not a bad rule to live by. Having said that, John U. Bacon is among the few journalists whose reporting is worth paying attention to.
January 16th, 2024 at 1:56 AM ^
Get Harbaugh.
Don't blow it.
Screw NCAA and Big 10.
January 16th, 2024 at 3:47 AM ^
Exactly, the administration better have Harbaugh's back, give him whatever protection he deems necessary.
The whole burger thing and sign stealing is a bunch of exaggerated bullshit, the ncaa and B1G can go fuck themselves.
This better not be the reason we lose him, get it the fuck done, why is this even an issue FFS!!!
January 16th, 2024 at 6:38 AM ^
The administration should have Harbaugh's back, and give him whatever protection he deems necessary against the existing known violations.
They should not (and will not) promise never to fire him for future violations.
January 16th, 2024 at 6:53 AM ^
"The administration should have Harbaugh's back, and give him whatever protection he deems necessary against the existing known violations and any other "violations" from the past that are clearly bullshit (specifically, ones that pale in comparison to what Alabama, Georgia, OSU, etc. have been getting away with for years)."
FTFY. :)
January 16th, 2024 at 7:11 AM ^
Nah they’re allowed to get a kid killed and a staffer while egregiously breaking recruiting rules AND major laws. Like DUI homicide. Cool cool. But those cheeseburgers - GTFOOH
January 16th, 2024 at 7:53 AM ^
But those things don't affect "competitive balance" like buying a committed recruit a cheeseburger does.
January 16th, 2024 at 8:17 AM ^
I'm not a Warde apologist, but I think anybody claiming this is his fault is probably misguided (with the caveat that I have no knowledge above what the average fan knows on the situation).
Jim said last year the NFL flirtation was not going to be an every year thing. Jim is brutally honest, and this makes me think he's going to the NFL. I don't think he would continue to interview with NFL teams based off that statement.
Jim has way more job security at Michigan than in the NFL, where we routinely see coaches fired in shorter periods of time. I really find it hard to believe the only holdup is about 'what should be covered by immunity.' The University has to cover itself from the unknown NCAA, but they've also made it clear that they would make a huge commitment to Jim.
Personally, I just think he wants to win a Super Bowl, which is fine.
January 16th, 2024 at 8:24 AM ^
Exactly. I think there is a whole heap of wish casting going on here about why Jim may or may not stay and it makes Michigan fans feel better to say "Warde fucked this up" instead of "Jim wanted to move on".
I do not like Warde but at this point, I don't think this is accurate.
Guys, we got a Top 5 AT THE TIME NFL coach to come back to college and resurrect our dead-ass program. We won a ridiculous 3-year run that ended in a National Championship. In a lot of scenarios, we wouldn't think twice about that coach going to the next level. This is normal stuff.
January 16th, 2024 at 8:59 AM ^
This is exactly what warde is counting on. That people will just think Jim wanted a Super Bowl. He will point to him saying he was trying so many times. He’s not.
See @michigannation2 on x - it’s not one person. And I know one is a high school friend of harbaugh and “trusted friend and agent “.
one tweet here. See x for more
January 16th, 2024 at 12:04 PM ^
January 16th, 2024 at 10:07 AM ^
A year ago, Jim’s program wasn’t under NCAA investigation. Everything we’ve heard from the “insiders” suggests that this is what’s throwing a wrench into things.
Is this Jim Stapleton’s revenge? He joined the committee of infractions a year ago to “make a difference”…
January 16th, 2024 at 7:28 AM ^
Well, they should. If Harbaugh deliberately kills someone or commits manslaughter while driving intoxicated or something equally egregious he should not have immunity. If the NCAA trumps up charges on cheeseburgers or what not, in the future, he should definitely have immunity.
Warde needs to address(fight) the selective prosecution on all of this. Harbaugh is getting suspended for ticky tacky stuff while OSU openly tampered with Cam Ward before he was in the portal and was in public bidding wars with Miami for Jeremiah Smith, Justin Scott, (Jordan Lyle) and it turns out Cam Ward. FWIW they went 1-3.
I'm not in the Fire Warde crowd, but if he screws this up...
January 16th, 2024 at 8:14 AM ^
The items you're describing are covered by the actual law. You shouldn't need to prohibit vehicular manslaughter in a contract, right?
January 16th, 2024 at 8:58 AM ^
No, they should not.
There are plenty of non-criminal actions, as well as long term show cause for future violation that Michigan cannot (and will not) sign up to be on the hook for.
It will not happen.
January 16th, 2024 at 11:35 AM ^
Well then we won't get him. Surely he wants protection for the future hypocritical cheeseburger type violations while other schools are all doing it. He cannot keep up in recruiting unless he does so... Some ha e called.him a liar to investigators for that, I applaud him for playing the farce system. If he didn't we would be a crappy team.
January 16th, 2024 at 7:04 AM ^
So if he wants a guaranteed contract, even if he's done Paterno or Mel Tucker stuff...you get with that?
Give him whatever he wants, right?
Obvious exaggeration, but you said it.
So if he is found to knowingly set up this entire operation and more comes out that all of us would scream, "FIRE DAY!" about if it was happening in Columbus.
You want Michigan to enter into a guaranteed 10 year contract when that is on the table?
Devil's advocate...if Harbaugh is "innocent," why does he want unprecedented terms in his contract?
January 16th, 2024 at 7:35 AM ^
What do you not get about NCAA? They are an organization that selectively enforces it's rules with literally no oversight. Doesn't matter what Harbaugh did.
January 16th, 2024 at 9:03 AM ^
It may even matter more that it’s Harbaugh.
January 16th, 2024 at 8:01 AM ^
You're last sentence lost me... These terms are because the NCAA and B1G have unfairly targeted him in the last two years alone. Look back further if you want, the evidence is there and it seems pretty conclusive based on burgers and signs alone...
January 16th, 2024 at 10:53 AM ^
Harbaugh is not an idiot or unreasonable. These “ if he murdered someone “ comments are stupid.
It’s very easy to construct a contract that protects against known facts to the university and protects harbaugh. It’s not easy if you don’t want him.
if he is suspended a year it costs $10 maybe $15 million. You move sherone and hart and hire an analyst for a year.
winning the natty and signing harbaugh will bring in much more than whatever the costs will be. He has already brought in many times his costs in donor dollars to the university during his tenure. Having jim has made the university money.
January 16th, 2024 at 6:02 AM ^
If this report is true then it sounds like they already blew it
January 16th, 2024 at 8:04 AM ^
This whole thing has nothing to do with cheeseburgers, Covid dead period recruiting violations or sign stealing. It's all about the powers to be (or already exist) doing whatever it takes to take down Jim Harbaugh. Now the University is in a very difficult position. They need to back Jim. However, my frustration at this deal not getting done is shifting away from Warde and towards the NCAA, B1G and people whose names we don't even know.
January 16th, 2024 at 9:09 AM ^
I’m afraid this may be true eyb.
You have a chance to lock up five years of stability with your program on top of all college football.
You get to mentor your head coach in waiting and make sure your coaching roster is being groomed for the future.
You have a chance to gain on recruiting.
I am frustrated to say the least and yes I do think Warde will bear some responsibility. Also hope Stapleton has been moved away from the program.
Jim is very calculated in his words. His comments will be interesting.
January 16th, 2024 at 8:10 AM ^
Your haiku doesn't work. Try this:
Screw the B-1-G
Get Harbaugh and don't blow it
Screw NCAA
January 16th, 2024 at 10:14 AM ^
Attitudes such as this are ridiculous and counterproductive. The University of Michigan is a voluntary member of the NCAA and the Big Ten Conference.
What are you and the others who are so mad that they want to disregard and screw each organization going to do ... start a GoFundMe to start a new governing body and athletic conference?
I'm sure your assertion makes you feel good but it's so unrealistic as to be just silly. Enough of this nonsense already.
January 16th, 2024 at 2:41 PM ^
Especially the B1G. I still think we should leave for the ACC and let Ohio tell the remaining B1G they want proportional TV revenues.
January 16th, 2024 at 2:00 AM ^
It's quite simple. There should be "immunity" for everything prior to the execution date of the contract. Does the university want him, or not?
January 16th, 2024 at 2:13 AM ^
So if the NCAA decides to go full asshole and give Harbaugh a year or more show-cause, Michigan should just go ahead and precommit to paying Harbaugh his full contract even though he won’t be able to coach the team?
That would be almost as dumb as guaranteeing Tucker $95 million for winning the Walker lottery.
January 16th, 2024 at 2:18 AM ^
Yes, see, e.g., 6 games this year.
January 16th, 2024 at 4:29 AM ^
The NCAA changed the rule now so that you can not be with the team during the week. A suspension means no coach.
January 16th, 2024 at 5:25 AM ^
So what? Sherrone Moore will follow his lead while he's gone. I really don't care if NCAA gives him a 1 year suspension, Harbaugh should get s 10 year contract and if the NCAA insists he takes a sabbatical, that's totally fine.
January 16th, 2024 at 9:32 AM ^
Then give him one year guaranteed salary as a buyout if he’s fired over any 2023 stuff. Not “immunity”.
January 16th, 2024 at 10:56 AM ^
Please let us know which publicly trades company you serve as CEO so I can avoid investing in it.
January 16th, 2024 at 11:56 AM ^
Or, we could simply move Sherrone to the big seat now if Jim decides to go hunting a Superbowl. This may not be an option if we manage to keep Jim now, and Sherrone takes an offer to be a HC elsewhere.
I understand why you want to keep Jim for the rest of his professional career; I feel the same way. However, the recent past suggests he's truly interested in the NFL, regardless of whether Michigan sufficiently "has his back." If he wants to go, let him go; now he has as much leverage as he likely to get with NFL teams. Fortunately, now we also have as good of an internal candidate to replace him as we are likely to get. Like another poster said, due to a fluke of timing, we got a top 5 NFL coach to come and fix our moribund program. Mission accomplished; let's part as friends.
January 16th, 2024 at 2:44 PM ^
That's all good until a capricious and arbitrary B1G or NCAA suspends Sherrone, 'cuz he was part of the organization and went along with Harbaugh's shenanigans.'
January 16th, 2024 at 6:41 AM ^
What if it's a 6 year show cause like Pruitt? Just pay him to not coach for 6 years?
January 16th, 2024 at 7:23 AM ^
Who cares? Just pay him. if the ridiculously unlikely event that you have to shell out for a guy who won the natty and 3 straight B1Gs for 6 years of not coaching is the sticking point for anyone, we’re a braindead program.
January 16th, 2024 at 8:28 AM ^
I know someone that could take care of the money so we can afford to pay Moore or Minter to coach in his absence.
January 16th, 2024 at 9:33 AM ^
Dear god. We’ve turned into TAMU so fast I didn’t even notice it.
I’m sure you all will be the first emptying your pockets to fund two elite coach salaries if Jim gets sidelined.
January 16th, 2024 at 10:19 AM ^
TAMU doesn't win championships and their coaches aren't targeted by the NCAA over bullshit. The inability of people on this board to parse that is hilarious. He's a great coach, the players universally love him, he is high character and embodies the program as a living legend. "buh buh, what are we TAMU, sheesh?"
January 16th, 2024 at 2:38 AM ^
My guy, he's delivered 3 straight Big Ten titles, 3 straight wins over OSU, and a national championship...yes he should be paid no matter what if he's somehow forced to not coach for a year. If we're talking something ridiculous like multiple years, then no.
January 16th, 2024 at 9:36 AM ^
Show cause means “you eat the penalties if you employ this man”. Do we take a postseason ban to keep Harbaugh?
Plus if he’s suspended for a year or more, he probably bails for the NFL, which he clearly wants to do anyway, and then we’re paying $100 million for a guy who’s not here.
January 16th, 2024 at 10:37 AM ^
If he voluntarily leaves, Michigan wouldn't be on the hook for his contract. If the NCAA somehow levied an unprecedented punishment for this bullshit that would have a significant deleterious impact on the program, I think Harbaugh is honorable enough to at least offer to resign.
January 16th, 2024 at 5:22 AM ^
Yes. Give him a sabbatical in that case, I think the fanbase 100% would agree. (100% - 1, you perhaps?)
January 16th, 2024 at 9:37 AM ^
Show causes can be 5 years long. We owe Harbaugh $50 million plus for a 5 year sabbatical for him to return at retirement age?
January 16th, 2024 at 10:21 AM ^
Holding up a contract to protect against some absurd hypothetical is ridiculous. If the .001% happens, we'll eat the loss, oh well. But you idiots are ready to 100% relegate the program to obscurity again over this .001
January 16th, 2024 at 6:11 AM ^
Not sure why you're getting negged, other than it's an unpleasant message. But you're right. The NCAA could very well go full vendetta and bar Harbaugh from not only game day coaching, but even from weekday coaching, for multiple years. Would it be justified? Obviously not. But that's a huge risk to ask the university and AD to take on. They need some assurance to protect the institution in the worst case scenario.
The only other option would be for the university to commit to simply ignoring any NCAA sanctions. Which I'd personally support doing because fuck 'em, but would also be tremendously risky for the broader institution.
January 16th, 2024 at 6:28 AM ^
Is that you Warde?
January 16th, 2024 at 6:54 AM ^
Where there is a will there is a way. They can just announce that they are going to share 5 percent of their TV revenue to all student athletes. They can file a pre-emptive lawsuit against NCAA for picking and choosing which cases to investigate and their partiality in delivering verdicts. They can write a clause that says they will fight NCAA in courts. I don't know why Harbaugh needs to be fired at all. If NCAA goes after him without any proof or even with proof, they should fight because NCAA acts as an asshole organization that does nothing to many cases that were outrageous. Personally, I don't think being passive against NCAA was the best course of action. Fight for setting NCAA straight. Treat everyone equally or dissolve the organization.
January 16th, 2024 at 9:02 AM ^
It's like people don't understand that the NCAA is a voluntary organization that Michigan voluntarily joined, can leave at any time, and contractually agreed to their rules and procedures for adjudicating them.