How Jim Harbaugh made Michigan a national power once again
An interesting article on Harbaugh's genius in gaining national attention for the Michigan football program, and increasing the recruiting footprint.
http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/14993834/how-jim-harbaug…
A few quotes:
According to Repucom's Celebrity Davie-Brown Index (DBI), which measures and qualifies celebrity influence and relevance both locally and worldwide, Harbaugh is unmatched by his peers. The index, which features more than 7,000 celebrities, doesn't include every FBS coach, but Harbaugh's Celebrity DBI score of 54.24 ranks higher than Ohio State's Urban Meyer (45.31) and Alabama's Nick Saban (44.37).
Hoke also signed the nation's No. 6 recruiting class in 2013, but his approach was more regional. The 2013 class had 17 prospects from Ohio or Michigan, and only four from outside the Big Ten footprint, including top-rated recruit Derrick Green (Virginia). Hoke signed only two California recruits and three Florida recruits in four classes.
Seems a little early to make this proclomation unless you believe Brady Hoke turned michigan into a national power too.
I'm really grooving on where we are. But for me we need to start beating State and OSU to really say we've arrived.
I completely agree. I have never been more confident going into a season, but the last time I was was in '07...... I do think Michigan finally has a coach and staff that can live up to the hype, but it's going to take a few years of beating our rivals somewhat regularly on the field before that sick feeling in my stomach goes away.
You are really comparing Harbaugh to Hoke as equals?
Hoke came in with a 47-50 record and took a team that was on an upward trend and had more upperclassmen than underclassmen for the first time in four years to a nice season thanks to Denard Robinson.
Harbaugh came in with a 58-27 record in college and a 44-19-1 record in the NFL with a Super Bowl appearance. He took a team that was on a downward trend to a totally unexpected 10-3 season and a bowl victory over a high quality SEC team, even though he had to find a grad transfer QB to make up for Hoke's failure to develop anyone on the team.
Harbaugh will win a National Championship with in five years and it could happen this year. Brady Hoke is a great guy and a solid coach who genuinely cares about his players, but he is never going to win a National Championship as a head coach.
next season then technically UM is back. You can be modest all you want about the future of the program if it makes you feel better inside but the truth of the matter is that UM football is coming like a freight-train. Better get the mother truck out of the way baby!
Lets pump the brakes on the national power bit until we make the playoffs and beat our rivals consistently.
We did we beat Florida by a million points. I agree that we're not fully back yet but we're partially back.
We lost to the only 3 decent teams on our regular season schedule. I will grant you 25% back, and hopefully 100% after a big year this year.
March 21st, 2016 at 11:45 PM ^
If you consider beating Northwestern and BYU as decent wins, then you are illustrating exactly why Michigan is NOT back.
I say 50 percent back because he layed the foundation for future success. Harbaugh took us from terrible to pretty good in one year. This year will elevate it to elite.
Two things on this. First, you need to change "decent" to great or elite. Otherwise, that statement is just wrong. BYU, Florida, and Northwestern were all certainly better than "decent" and three other Michigan opponents (IU, MINN, PSU) did make bowls. None of those wins make you a national power, but it's not like Michigan played Oregon State nine times.
The other thing I wanted to throw out is that you also need to look at who you played, how you played them, and when you played them. Wins over BYU, Northwestern, and Florida weren't just wins. Those were complete blowouts from start to finish. That's why Michigan was so high on the advanced stats, despite not having any huge wins.
Additionally, if you took the Citrus Bowl version of Michigan and let it play the same schedule, it probably goes 11-1 in the regular season. That's a pretty big factor when you're looking at where a program is going.
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I only see 1 horse there. Fail.
Then you are assuming that the man in the picture has already held other horses, since the caption is "Done." However, there is no evidence to suggest that multiple horses have been held.
But if said individual only owns one horse, he is indeed holding all of his horses.
is a brony....?
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I agree with all those who are saying that it is premature to call us a "national power" in terms of football results - that takes regular success over years. But it is indisputable that Harbaugh is making a splash wherever he goes, doing new, creative things, and getting media exposure (and thus recruiting exposure) that is novel. There is a "vibe" about the program that is resonating nationally, to the point that it will be a surprise if they are not competing for national titles over the next five years.
THE MINNESOTA AND INDIANA GAMES?
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"Something something selling jerseys in Ohio is a good start"
I think Harbaugh has changed the tide on the rivalry. Hell people all over the world are starting to believe him. Never in a million years I would have thought that. Selling Michigan jerseys is a good start.
March 23rd, 2016 at 12:52 PM ^
Ahh that was it. lol
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I realize hype is going to come when you have a coach like Harbaugh but I'd prefer it if his first season was more considered as a process of righting the track, not that we're already there.
I don't want to be a Notre Dame clone.
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And they wonder why we were so skitterish about that other name for "Brandon's Lasting Lessons."
Also on a side note: today is my 5 year Mgoanniversary!
If you bring up the fact that we barely beat Indiana and Minnesota, you have to bring up the fact that we barely lost to MSU.