Benoit Balls

January 13th, 2024 at 9:27 AM ^

Rapoport tweeted that "sources say Harbaugh will meet with the Chargers next week". But in his linked article he says;

"The Chargers, who fired Brandon Staley and Tom Telesco on Dec. 15, have been running expansive, parallel searches for their next head coach and general manager. Harbaugh is certainly a candidate of interest, but sources say the sides have not yet spoken."

Rapoport has nothing and its from a "source" who could be the janitor from Billy Madisons school. But everyone else in NFL-dom (like PFF) is going to see Rapoports clock bait headline tweet and run with it, because Rapoport is generally well respected. 

However, they also overlook the fact that he is A- engagement farming and B- a humongous OSU homer

 

Joined: 11/27/2010

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The Harbaughnger

January 13th, 2024 at 12:27 AM ^

I could not want Jim Harbaugh more than I do. He should have a lifetime contract.

If there is anyone at Michigan who does not show Jim he’s wanted, they need to resign or Ono (who’s very clearly a Harbaugh supporter) should fire them ASAP.

Think about what it takes for Jim Harbaugh to even have to wonder this in the first place…it means someone has some seriously bad priorities/values to not understand what Jim means to Michigan, to the point where it’s not clear to Jim if he’s wanted.

Mind-boggling.

 

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PopeLando

January 13th, 2024 at 1:22 AM ^

My bet - based on absolutely nothing - is that Harbaugh didn’t feel the love during the B1G’s response to the bullshit sign stealing scandal.

He had to hire his own attorney, he had to defend himself, and - again, based on nothing - it certainly LOOKED like he was out there on his own.

It’s fucked up that the conference doesn’t have Michigan’s back. That means the school needs to step up.

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J. Redux

January 13th, 2024 at 2:06 AM ^

I’m not sure I agree with that.  Hiring your own attorney is always sound legal advice; in fact, even Michigan’s lawyers would (should?) have told him that they represent Michigan’s interests, and he should consider having someone to represent his interests, to whatever extent they may differ.

Certainly both Warde Manuel and Dr. Ono were on his side more than any previous Michigan administration ever has been w.r.t. the NCAA.  The narrative only changed when it turned out that Chris Partridge appeared to have been advising players on what to say.  I suspect both his own lawyers and Michigan’s came to the conclusion that they weren’t likely to prevail in court, and that a vindictive Big Ten could have added additional penalties, perhaps including a postseason ban.

If Coach Harbaugh is upset, I suspect it’s probably about the cheeseburger thing.  I don’t think he thinks he did anything wrong, and I don’t think he liked seeing the school agree to punish him.

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Wendyk5

January 13th, 2024 at 10:39 AM ^

Warde put out a strongly worded (for Warde) statement in support of Harbaugh during that time. I think people want him to be somebody that he's not -- a different personality. And that's fair. They want someone who publicly fights. But Warde being the way he is doesn't mean he doesn't do his job. He just doesn't do it where everyone can see every move he makes. And I think the assumption that Warde and Harbaugh are at odds is just that -- an assumption. They may not be the best of friends, but that doesn't automatically mean they're adversaries, either. 

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njvictor

January 13th, 2024 at 1:19 PM ^

If Bacon is correct and he just wants the university to stand by him if the NCAA punishes him more, then it's really not that big of an ask and Warde should be fired for not giving him that backing. Jim has already been suspended 3 games for the sign stealing by the B1G and it likely won't be that much more punishment

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Bill22

January 13th, 2024 at 12:32 AM ^

As someone not on Twitter/X, I appreciate this post.  That said, what are we talking about!!?!  Do whatever it takes to keep this man!!!!  He is a living legend and his statue needs to go right next to Bo in 15 years, AFTER he retires!

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Magnum P.I.

January 13th, 2024 at 8:10 AM ^

Yeah it doesn't make any sense, so I'm reluctant to believe it. If it's as simple as "showing Harbaugh he's wanted" then how could anyone relevant to the decision (which would just be Warde, Ono, and the board, I would think) not be doing that? Especially after this season? Doesn't add up. 

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Tunneler

January 13th, 2024 at 2:33 AM ^

I would have been a good match for Jim. About the same age. Played hockey. Mainly a baseball player tho. Who am I kidding, he would have kik'd my ass.

Loved Ty Cobb. He sharpened his spikes. This is as passive/aggressive as I can get. If Harbaugh was listening,  I would probably askim... What was your dad's favorite baseball player? And be genuinely interested to know.  With stories, of course. Would be music to my ears to hear what Jack Harbaugh could talk about. 

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Chaco

January 13th, 2024 at 1:00 AM ^

I think this gets to the heart of it….what does it mean to “be wanted”.

the money is seemingly not the issue.  I think Coach H wants a fair/market amount and he ultimately seems less motivated by money than most of his peers.

is being wanted money for his assistants?  Money for his players? Aggressive support for NIL?  Aggressive support to enable moves in the portal? Unwavering support through bs scandals?  Unwavering commitment language preventing any kind of firing for cause should a non-bs scandal emerge?

lots of stories and words but absent contract language I’m not precisely sure what it would take or how near/far UM is from satisfying the need..,

but I hope it can be worked out and he is retained.

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J. Redux

January 13th, 2024 at 2:14 AM ^

Unwavering commitment language preventing any kind of firing for cause should a non-bs scandal emerge?

I hope that’s not his demand, because the university could never agree to something that broad.  You can’t make somebody untouchable. Think back on the various scandals that have cost other coaches their jobs; you can’t give Coach Harbaugh carte blanche to pull a Woody Hayes and strike an opposing player, for example.

I’m sure they could come up with language that would immunize him w.r.t. the current investigations, and even proscribe or prescribe certain university responses to certain types of future infractions, but that’s about it.

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GLORY

January 13th, 2024 at 3:26 AM ^

Yeah, that'd be silly.  I think the hurdle is the university agreeing to provisions that provide some sort of protection for cause termination clause, given existing facts and if there are no new relevant facts that could rise to cause.  Harbaugh wants that in writing so there's minimal ambiguity in case the NCAA throws the book at him.  Sounds like a reasonable ask, if there's nothing more. But, is M counsel pushing back?

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jdemille9

January 13th, 2024 at 7:49 AM ^

If Michigan can't put this in his contract it either means they think the NCAA does in fact have damning information that could lead to having a reason to fire him or (as others have said in other threads) the university's contract format has some morality clause that is standard and they aren't changing it for one employee (my read of what that means is that the board of regents would need to vote to change it and then they'd have to change it for all their employees and they aren't gonna do that).

Given everything we've seen and heard, I feel like it is the latter and if that's not changing, he ain't staying. 

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jdemille9

January 13th, 2024 at 8:03 AM ^

I meant "fire him for cause", not the show cause violation - I just worded it wrong, edited it for clarity.

Why would he care about a 'show cause'? He can stay at Michigan under that, but if another school hires him they'd need to explain why. No other school is gonna get him, and the NFL doesn't give a shit about NCAA rules. So I don't see how the 'show cause' would be an issue for him.

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AlbanyBlue

January 13th, 2024 at 12:36 AM ^

As said in other topic(s), this has to be about how the University will react to NCAA punishment coming down for BurgerGate and how the University handles it with respect to Jim and his job security and contract. 

In other words, it seems like Jim wants assurances that the University will back him rather than hanging him out to dry, and he wants those assurances in writing, presumably because he doesn't trust Warde, who clearly has people like Stapleton in his ear already.

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rc90

January 13th, 2024 at 9:03 AM ^

My guess is the sticking point is broader than this. The NCAA has had a couple of BS complaints against Michigan and Harbaugh, and it's a running joke here that if one of the assistants commits some minor faux pas, like using the wrong fork at a 5* Michelin restaurant (TINSTAA5*MR), then Harbaugh will be served with a 3-game suspension. It must take some work getting the legalese just right so that UM can fire him if Harbaugh does something in the realm of slugging an opposing LB but will fully support him through the next round of NCAA BS, whatever that may be.

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RobM_24

January 13th, 2024 at 12:39 AM ^

I really don't think Jim wants to leave this situation -- especially with his parents in their mid-80's and them being so involved in his life in Ann Arbor. If he doesn't stay, it'll probably have less to do with him and more to do with Michigan getting in its own way yet again. 

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bdneely4

January 13th, 2024 at 12:39 AM ^

I can’t help but remember this time last year where all the reporters, Michigan Insiders, and anyone else that had a nugget to chime in on the Jim Harbaugh saga pretty much knew nothing that was actually going on in Jim’s head. I believe that is the case now too. I want Jim Harbaugh back as our coach but I also don’t care as much as I did last year. He brought us a championship. That is good enough for me and will be for a while. Go Blue!

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