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Don't try to out-happy, Happy. [Marc-Grégor Campredon]

Ono: Jim Harbaugh is Returning Comment Count

Seth January 16th, 2023 at 5:31 PM

You don't have to rouse those who asked to be woken when this round of Harbaugh to the NFL is over, but this makes it sound like it's about to be. Michigan's new president announced Harbaugh assured him he'll coach here in 2023, and Harbaugh reciprocated:

And...uh...Santa is making MGoBlog jokes in response.

I think this new president might work out. Also:

We're all still waiting for word that Harbaugh's signed an extension to his contract that is more in line with his recent performance. It does seem from this exchange that they are close enough that the Harbaugh side no longer needs the threat of the Broncos job as a negotiating tactic. It also seems that Michigan's new president and old football coach are very much having this conversation without Michigan's sitting Athletic Director, with whom the negotiation over the terms of Harbaugh's employment are supposed to be taking place.

The details of that contract renegotiation will matter much. While nothing will stop NFL reporters and rival coaches from reporting Harbaugh-to-the-NFL stories, the term of the contract, and the severity of the buyout, will determine whether Michigan can dismiss future rumors out of hand, or expect two weeks of head coach limbo every new year to become the norm. Insiders have suggested the sides were close on a deal that makes it all but impossible for Harbaugh to leave for at least three seasons, and in return pays him like a top-five head coach, with a competitive assistant pool, strong support for players through NIL programs similar to those of peer institutions, and support for Harbaugh as they shoo away violations from a feckless NCAA that hoped to find a sentient being in 2023 who still takes them seriously.

Comments

BlueInVA95

January 16th, 2023 at 6:12 PM ^

Exactly. This feels more like “the AD wasn’t doing his job so the President had to step in and save the situation.” Seems like any competent AD would think that they would never have let the situation come to this, so the President’s intervention is something that wouldn’t apply to them if they took the role. 

Joined: 02/05/2015

MGoPoints: 1072

rc90

January 16th, 2023 at 6:39 PM ^

I guess, but the numbers in this contract are big enough that the president and the regents need to be heavily involved anyway. The AD can't just go to the summit and come back to drop a 100 million dollar commitment on the university. That is probably pushing boundaries for the president. 

Joined: 02/15/2016

MGoPoints: 8534

blueandmaizeballs

January 16th, 2023 at 5:36 PM ^

Seems weird that it was Jim and Santa talking and Santa had to tell Warde what was going on.   This is just speculation on my part but Warde must have pissed Jim off pretty bad and their relationship is not what it used to be.   

Joined: 01/10/2013

MGoPoints: 3802

Wendyk5

January 16th, 2023 at 11:19 PM ^

I get that but let's get some perspective on the years 2016 - 2020. Harbaugh was a vast improvement over his predecessor. But let's be honest: he didn't dominate Michigan State and he couldn't beat Ohio State. I think a lot of people are forgetting how we all felt in 2020. Some wanted him fired. I did not but wasn't sure if he'd ever live up to expectations that he could deliver a win like he did back in 1986 against Ohio State (probably what people remember most about him as a player). Offering a pay cut might not have been the best tactic but by the same token, he wasn't the same coach he is now. So we can all clutch our pearls over that now but back then, it was a different story. 

Joined: 11/20/2008

MGoPoints: 68478

BlueHills

January 16th, 2023 at 5:38 PM ^

I realize that 'Harbaugh to NFL' is perceived as a bad thing at times.

On the other hand, recruits might want to play for a coach who's good enough for the NFL, and most college coaches aren't.

Even the great Saban failed in the NFL, where Harbs made the championship game 3 times and the Super Bowl once.

You're a recruit whose dream is the NFL. Harbaugh has taken Michigan to the playoffs two years in a row.

Who ya wanna play for? 

Joined: 10/31/2010

MGoPoints: 7468

micheal honcho

January 16th, 2023 at 9:58 PM ^

Don’t underestimate the provincialism of these young men. Saban knows it’s a hardship for a player and his family to be 20+ driving hours or expensive flights from him. IMO it’s so different for lower income families to provide support from long distance that it’s rare to see a kid make the risky leap into a far away world. Saban never built anything. His greatest coaching accomplishment was what he did at MSU and that was nothing compared to what Harbaugh did at Stanford or San Fran. Winning championships when your team has 8 better players than your opponent on both sides of the ball is easy. Kirby & Brian Kelly will eat Nicks lunch till he quits. His days of stacking 5*’s on the bench to keep them away from his opponents are over. 

Joined: 10/27/2010

MGoPoints: 2769

snarling wolverine

January 17th, 2023 at 7:48 AM ^

Not that I care to defend Saban, but the LSU and Bama programs he inherited were not in good shape.  LSU had not won it all in 40+ years, and Bama had gone through something like four coaches in 10 years.  He made them both national title contenders.

You can argue that what Harbaugh did at Stanford was even more impressive (given their admissions requirements) but can’t say that Saban hasn’t built anything.

Joined: 12/14/2011

MGoPoints: 98747

alum96

January 17th, 2023 at 2:06 PM ^

If you are talking high end skill players in B10 its OSU.  Other parts of the team UM can stake a claim.  Reality. 

I don't think it has much influence - when he first got here from SF that was the time you'd think all these high end 5 stars would be coming here as it was fresh and new and his NFL experience was immediate in that time.  It didn't  happen.  

I was scanning mock drafts and its remarkable seeing Clemson Clemson Bama Bama Bama Georgia Georgia Georgia all over the 1st round (like most years) and not a single UM player.  In a way what they accomplished without elite NFL talent like OSU plastered in every nook and cranny is a bit eye opening.  Granted it was a pretty shitty B10 this year aside OSU, PSU. 

Joined: 04/28/2012

MGoPoints: 82787

MJ14

January 16th, 2023 at 7:25 PM ^

Harbor sounds like an SC/Oregon battle now. Strong likelihood he doesn’t end up at Michigan. That could change, but that’s how the staff feels currently. They’re doing everything they can but it was SC/Michigan and now it’s trending SC/Oregon. 

Joined: 01/09/2011

MGoPoints: 16453

Blue Vet

January 16th, 2023 at 5:40 PM ^

Don't try to out-sneezy Sneezy.

Don't try to out-bashful Bashful.

Don't try to out-sleepy Sleepy

Don't try to out-grumpy Grumpy.

Don't try to out-dopey Dopey.

Don't try to out-doc Doc.

But above all, don't try to out-happy Happy!

Happy now?

[EDIT: I just noticed Seth beat me to the joke.]

Joined: 05/08/2012

MGoPoints: 71962

I'mTheStig

January 16th, 2023 at 6:02 PM ^

Why is this university so weird now?

Now?

Barnacle Bill effing up the coaching search.

Carr, in retirement, expecting his ring to get kissed .

Hiring Brandon... who cut the nets down and broke down film with Hoke.

Hiring a complete asshole as president.

Then bringing back MSC as president.

It's not "now"... but Michigan has had a history of poor leadership and dubious decision making on very public display for a while now.

Ironic considering "leaders and best" and all.

Joined: 11/02/2018

MGoPoints: 11373

jmblue

January 16th, 2023 at 5:43 PM ^

Having a university president who 1) knows what sports are; 2) cares about them; and 3) can actually achieve positive things with them is incredible. 

He's even dropping our inside jokes!

Joined: 11/07/2008

MGoPoints: 103061

I'mTheStig

January 16th, 2023 at 6:04 PM ^

But I can't imagine any U-M President before him pulling that tweet off. 

Ditto. 

We're talking like since Duderstadt... 

err, does Bollinger get credit because he removed the "halo"?

Even if Santa is really Oz and someone is controlling him from behind the curtains, it's still a million times better than having a sexual harassing, power abusing, sports loathing, president.

Joined: 11/02/2018

MGoPoints: 11373

cKone

January 17th, 2023 at 8:46 AM ^

From my experience when he was at University of Cincinnati while he was president he is very active with his own accounts.  He does have people who do socials for him, but from what I heard from classmates, students that held student worker positions in the admin office they all start with him, and it wasn't unusual that he just grab his phone and fire off a tweet. 

When I would see him around campus (and he was very visible on campus) he gave off the smart, cool uncle vibe. It wasn't uncommon for students to be sitting around in a study group on a nice day and see Santa walk up to the group, strike up a conversation and ask if he could sit with them for a few minutes to discuss sports, class loads, campus activities, what they were working on, clubs,  favorite professors, etc.

The man was loved and there was a lot of people who were truly sad to see him go, even in the student body, which to me is unheard of. When I got my first degree, I couldn't have even told you what the president's name was. 

Joined: 03/23/2017

MGoPoints: 1262

Wolverine 73

January 16th, 2023 at 5:45 PM ^

Hallelujah!  Now let’s land a star QB in the next recruiting class and overall upgrade from what the last couple classes have been.  Jim is an odd duck, but he’s our odd duck, and happy to have him sticking around.

Joined: 08/03/2009

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