Balas expects "positive news on Jim Harbaugh" contract extension
Gonna get real awkward for a lot of the media out there
October 31st, 2023 at 11:34 AM ^
I'm waiting for 3 SEC schools to screw up with a clause "average of 3 highest CFB salaries + $100,000" and have an out of control positive feedback loop.
October 31st, 2023 at 10:26 AM ^
I just hope all the people who support making him the highest paid coach right now are still supporting him if we take a step backwards over the next couple years. We are losing a ton of talent, facing a tough schedule and merger with the Pac12...there are going to be bumps ahead.
If you are on the Harbaugh Express, there is no getting off. At this stage in his career this is a lifetime contract and that's what we are signing up for as fans.
October 31st, 2023 at 10:29 AM ^
I'll take it any day over what we had for the 10 years that preceded him.
Plus, I'm sure he'll set up his successor, like he did at Stanford when he finally rides off into the sunset.
October 31st, 2023 at 10:47 AM ^
I do.
Next year will be tough, no doubt, but the best thing we can hope for is consistency with the program.
If we have to bring in a new coach next season, have a terrible record during that schedule, have players transfer out, and our recruiting class blown up; it'll set the program back YEARS.
October 31st, 2023 at 10:53 AM ^
If Harbaugh does decide to leave Michigan for NFL, who would be on your wishlist for a replacement?
October 31st, 2023 at 11:35 AM ^
Though I would prefer not to think about this situation Succession Planning is a critical aspect of every organization. And, based on where this team is - maintaining the culture - direction - etc., is a paramount concern - SO, I would definitely "hire from within".
My view is Sherrone Moore would be a very good candidate - and, interviewing Jesse Minter would also be part of the process.
Maintaining continuity is the most essential thing to do.
October 31st, 2023 at 11:00 AM ^
It's not the schedule -- we're not going to roll through perfectly next season, and I don't think anyone expects us to.
Nope, I'm staying on the Harbaugh train. He's come a long way as a coach and has corrected a lot of what I saw as issues in his coaching philosophy as compared to pre-2021 Harbaugh. The next step is improving CFP prep, and I'm hopeful he will do that, too.
October 31st, 2023 at 10:57 AM ^
nailed it. Sign up Jim for a fat contract. Call the lawyers. Tell the NCAA to suck it. MOVE THE F&^K ON. This is such a nothing story drummed up for REASONS, and the faster Michigan shows it's not going to take it seriously the better. This isn't some grand conspiracy. It didnt give Michigan much advantage, if any. It's a part of the game. This Stallions dude is a little nuts. The end.
October 31st, 2023 at 9:21 AM ^
I'll go ahead and say it. If this actually happens, after I'm done shitting my pants, I will personally deliver an entenmann's cake with the words "I'm sorry" frosted on it to Warde Manual.
October 31st, 2023 at 9:27 AM ^
Change your pants first.
October 31st, 2023 at 9:50 AM ^
especially if they are khaki's
October 31st, 2023 at 12:08 PM ^
But that's why he is wearing the brown pants....
October 31st, 2023 at 9:30 AM ^
Go with a Sanders bumpy cake. Fat guys can't resist them. You'll probably get a sideline pass out of the deal.
October 31st, 2023 at 9:33 AM ^
You don't need a pass. You just need a bunch of Michigan gear and some shades.
October 31st, 2023 at 9:39 AM ^
for a CMU game
October 31st, 2023 at 10:28 AM ^
Hatter, I'm a skinny guy...and I can't resist Sanders Bumpy Cake.
We had one left over from a party. We put it in the freezer to keep us from eating it in one day. That strategy was mostly a failure...as you can still get a knife and fork through a frozen Sanders Bumpy Cake.
(for further reference, the "B" and "C" should always be capitalized)
October 31st, 2023 at 1:00 PM ^
Can confirm that cutting/eating a frozen Bumpy Cake is not very difficult. Now where's my damned metformin???
October 31st, 2023 at 9:35 AM ^
I can't speak on your pants, but I can promise the OSU fanbase and their tough talking coach will have issues with their pants (physically and figuratively with the gold pants) when this news breaks. Having Harbaugh coach Michigan longterm is the worst case scenario for them moving forward. Go Blue!
October 31st, 2023 at 9:45 AM ^
Know this, OSU. He will not stop. He will not rest. He will beome a plague on Columbus until everything in your once proud program is consumed down to the last blade of field turf.
October 31st, 2023 at 9:57 AM ^
you are such a showman....
October 31st, 2023 at 12:10 PM ^
Well, tough talking....Just for Men... Ryan Day can start wearing brown pants...
October 31st, 2023 at 9:48 AM ^
If you shit your pants, don’t just sit in it and when someone asks did you poop your pants, don’t say “no” or blame your sister like my toddlers.
October 31st, 2023 at 10:11 AM ^
Pics or it didn't happen!
... the cake, not the pants.
October 31st, 2023 at 9:24 AM ^
Journalism is effectively dead. What do you think will happen to the so called journalist that reported the contract was pulled? I know what will happen. NOTHING.
October 31st, 2023 at 9:31 AM ^
Why would anything happen to him? This is literally how it works throughout the news right now. FBI friend sends a few journalists some information to publish, they publish it. Terrorist organization puts out a statement, publish. Is it right? Who cares!
Made deadline, get paid, go to lunch.
October 31st, 2023 at 9:38 AM ^
Just not the FBI. Look up Project Mockingbird
October 31st, 2023 at 10:25 AM ^
Oh, it's everyone. Every PR statement gets published as if it's real news, when everyone, especially journalists should know PR bears only a tangential relationship with reality.
Not just company PR. Governments, quasi-government organizations, NGOs, Non-profits, they all do the same thing. Because it works. Publish!
October 31st, 2023 at 1:09 PM ^
The Paris Review...
October 31st, 2023 at 9:33 AM ^
In an age of instant news, accuracy will naturally take a back seat to immediacy. Errors in reporting don't have to wait for a calendar day for a published correction because another source will jump on the error with better sourced info.
October 31st, 2023 at 9:34 AM ^
Correct. You know why? Because he actually did his job which was to generate CLICKZ!
the idea that the job is actual journalism is a myth.
October 31st, 2023 at 10:47 AM ^
So, because I was pissed, I looked at who wrote the WSJ article about the contract being rescinded. Two authors were listed, one of whom is a michigan grad. And the wall street journal is one of the last bastions of reasonable American journalism.
So... They're not all hit pieces.
October 31st, 2023 at 11:13 AM ^
That said, they either got bad info or they are really stretching the meaning of "rescind." This suggests that a new contract was on the table, but was pulled and no longer valid.
This contradicts the closing statement that there was a "pause on his raise in recent weeks" which conveys something entirely different.
The "rescind" language is bombastic and inflammatory, the "pause" language is more measured.
October 31st, 2023 at 2:27 PM ^
WSJ is owned by Murdoch. It has been suspect journalism for a while.
October 31st, 2023 at 11:08 AM ^
I think it's somewhat unfair to real journalists - some of whom still remain in this world, thankfully - to call these sports shit writers by the same name
October 31st, 2023 at 9:26 AM ^
Hell yeah! Keep Jim till he wants to retire. He came in and immediately changed the MSU rivalry back to where it should be. He now is beating OSU and winning the games they should by large amounts. He still needs the University’s support to finally capitalize on high profile recruits!
October 31st, 2023 at 9:27 AM ^
He was just fear mongering a few hours ago.
October 31st, 2023 at 9:27 AM ^
This looks like a clickbait opinion to generate traffic to his message board, not news reporting.
October 31st, 2023 at 9:34 AM ^
Balas (despite Brian's disdain of him) is usually pretty reliable and has some pretty solid sources inside the hall.
October 31st, 2023 at 9:54 AM ^
Sometimes Balas has good info. sometimes it seems like he’s just guessing. I sure hope he’s correct about this.
At the very least, with the talent on this team he and Skene are a lot easier to listen to than they used to be. They are still a little too “bro” when they are together but they have a lot less to complain about and thus make better observations generally about games.
October 31st, 2023 at 10:39 AM ^
was not aware Brian didn't like him
October 31st, 2023 at 10:56 AM ^
October 31st, 2023 at 12:43 PM ^
This is an accurate Balas take. He’s an original westsider and lots of connections over here. He is not as connected as he wants you to think.
October 31st, 2023 at 5:52 PM ^
Balas wasn't wrong about this though. The GM did want Harbaugh and Harbaugh did want the job but the owners nixed it at the last minute.
October 31st, 2023 at 9:27 AM ^
The meltdown amongst OSU/MSU fans if and when this happens will almost make the whole saga worth it.
October 31st, 2023 at 9:45 AM ^
Almost?
October 31st, 2023 at 9:32 AM ^
Don't know whether this is accurate or more clickbait, but to me, the only way to show support for Jim is to announce the extension ASAP.
Do it Warde.
October 31st, 2023 at 9:33 AM ^
I hope it comes out that instead of making him the highest paid coach in the B1G, he's the highest paid coach in all of CFB.
October 31st, 2023 at 9:34 AM ^
Great news. Hope this is true. I don't want to assume something based on tweet even though Balas is connected. This will make things better for Harbaugh and UM to deal with this scandal.
October 31st, 2023 at 9:37 AM ^
To bad Sports Illustrated and the WSJ didnt break this, then maybe I would believe it.
Seriously though, if Michigan does this...thats a big boy move on their end and I respect that.
Also - how well connected is Balas anymore? I havent followed him in years.