Brian Cook: “If I was in charge, he’d get the ax.”
November 8th, 2020 at 10:42 PM ^
Well he’s not in charge so...
November 8th, 2020 at 10:44 PM ^
No. But a lot of message boarders have been whining that the blog won’t call for his firing.
November 9th, 2020 at 12:09 AM ^
What he could do is recruit a student leader and coax that leader into orchestrating a protest march to and in front of President Schlissel's house.
November 9th, 2020 at 6:30 AM ^
Yeah that’s classy. Sorry but you can’t fire a coach in a year like this. Every other program is doing and saying the same thing right now. Harbaugh can coach, we know that. If he doesn’t get it done next year then fine. What don’t people understand that a revolving coaching door is what set us up for years of failure. Harbaugh fixed that in one year and has had a bit of a slide, it doesn’t mean he can’t fix it.
November 9th, 2020 at 7:17 AM ^
Harbaugh openly protested to play this season and now you say he "can't be fired in a season like this"? Why will certain fans defend him until the end of the Earth?
November 9th, 2020 at 8:08 AM ^
Two out of the last three coaching hires have been, at the time of the hire, the top coaching candidate available by a wide margin. Oh, and the one before them? Just a continuation of Bo's program.
I think for some people it's hard to imagine Michigan having any clue where to go if they fire Harbaugh, myself included.
Don't get me wrong. At this point you have absolutely nothing to gain by keeping him, and so you may as well roll the dice with the next guy, whoever that is. But after witnessing the last three hires I don't have any confidence that we will go out and get a program changing coach.
The good news is, I'm almost always wrong ?♂️ if that's any consolation.
November 9th, 2020 at 8:29 AM ^
I was on the "who can Michigan get better" train until the last 2 games, but Harbaugh isn't the same guy we hired 6 years ago. The fire is gone. Not challenging calls. When a ref picks up a PI flag because it was actually a face-mask and yet they don't give the face-mask call... Harbaugh might've been arrested for assault if that happened in 2015.
Harbaugh was the right hire, he got unlucky. If no "trouble with the snap" in 2015 and if JT was actually short in 2016, his career and this program is in a completely different place. A NY6 win in year 1 and CFP appearance in year 2 would've exceeded anyone's unreasonably high expectations for when he came here and we'd probably have 5*s rolling in like OSU does now.
November 9th, 2020 at 9:36 AM ^
I have confidence they can find a program changing coach. I have zero confidence in Michigan's hidebound arrogance found in alumni and fans that they'll accept anyone not tied to the 'Michigan Man' mantra. That is, quite possibly, the most misunderstood and damaging line that Schembechler ever uttered.
He meant it as nothing more than having a coach that was invested in Michigan's success on the court. Because Bill Frieder, after having accepted ASU's offer and setting a departure date from Michigan, was no longer invested in Michigan's future - he was an ASU man at that point. People (alum, fans, media) have taken 'Michigan Man' so far out of context that it needs to be burned from existence.
I hate that fucking term.
November 9th, 2020 at 9:06 AM ^
please, by all means, explain how "protested to play" (he didn't, but whatever) and his fireability are in any way related. i'm dying to know.
November 9th, 2020 at 10:13 PM ^
I’m not going to defend Harbaugh’s performance. He has not lived up to expectations.
That said, this is the worst time for a coaching change in the history of college football.
If we change coaches now:
-we lose a great deal of talent from the roster and recruiting class
-we will have a dramatic drop-off in recruiting: national recruits aren’t exactly going to be beating down our door to relocate to Michigan without being able to visit and see Ann Arbor for themselves
-we do not know if there will be spring or fall ball. A new scheme may be incredibly limited
-we will not be able to hoard grad transfers for next year: a new coach will be too busy adjusting to his new job
Sure, we could get lucky with a home run hire, but we’d more than likely put a new coach well behind the 8-ball and set him up for a 3-9 record in 2021. This is horrible timing to look for a new coach.
November 9th, 2020 at 6:35 AM ^
Or maybe they shouldn't have banned the only message board user in the history of American sports to get an AD fired from a message board post.
November 9th, 2020 at 6:39 AM ^
WD is permanently in Bolivia?
November 9th, 2020 at 6:48 AM ^
WD got banned? I guess I haven’t followed the board pretty much at all.
November 9th, 2020 at 8:46 AM ^
Well, sad though some may find it, history cannot ultimately take precedence over what in WD's case - and I will put this politely - are noted deficits.
November 9th, 2020 at 10:06 PM ^
What did WD do?
November 9th, 2020 at 12:11 PM ^
the thing about Harbaugh is that he doesn't have to get the ax. If the romance has worn off, he can always just take a call from the Jets or the Falcons or the Lions or the Jags. At this point, the lack of an extension says a lot and it points in the direction of him wanting to go back to the pros at some point. There's nothing stopping him from accelerating that plan.
I'd wish him well and hope he succeeds in the NFL again at this point, as would most of us.
November 8th, 2020 at 10:50 PM ^
Who is Brian Cook?
November 8th, 2020 at 10:52 PM ^
+1 for Belgian Malinois
November 8th, 2020 at 10:58 PM ^
America's Top Dog anyone?
November 8th, 2020 at 11:25 PM ^
Belgian Traverns and Belgian Sheepdogs are nice as well. Kind of the same breed but kept separate as show breeds.
November 9th, 2020 at 7:30 AM ^
I had some dealings with them in Afghanistan. Serious dogs when on the job but they love to play when they arent. Beautiful dogs
November 9th, 2020 at 8:03 AM ^
Great dog gifs are always a +1
November 8th, 2020 at 10:52 PM ^
Well, the write-ups need to expand on this and start the unrelenting call for it. It's bad form to say one thing, but do another. Ace's write-up of the IU game opened my eyes - I didn't think it was that bad. But, seeing the on-field product, there's no arguing it.
My question - would Gattis be a good interim during a search? The tools are in the offense, we've seen clear evidence that he can call an excellent game. But the consistency is missing. Personally, I think JH is inhibiting the Gattis scheme in the name of old-school ball control.
None of this matters, though, because Harbaugh isn't going anywhere until his contract is up. If Warde even thinks he needs to be replaced... I'm not convinced Warde will actually do it.
November 8th, 2020 at 11:04 PM ^
I completely agree with your last point. Even if this team goes 1-7 on the season (not counting the 9th game since we will not be competing for the BIG championship), I do not expect Warde to fire Harbaugh. The buyout of Harbaugh's contract would be a tough pill for the Athletic Department to swallow during an anticipated budget shortfall. With no signed extension, it's probably a simpler arrangement for Harbaugh to finish out his contract and then exit after next season without an extension.
This way you can hold on to the pretty strong recruiting class coming in next year and spend an entire year searching for the successor. Attempting to find a replacement after this season would definitely be a rushed affair and I would not feel confident that the AD did their due diligence.
As to your point on Gattis, I still am optimistic that he can be a good OC and am willing to be patient a while longer. However, I don't know if he has the experience necessary to operate in any head coaching capacity.
November 8th, 2020 at 11:30 PM ^
This isn’t some Charlie weis level buyout
its one year. Boosters probably didn’t struggle this year (unlike the athletic department). I’m sure they’d help cover the buyout to avoid an inevitably horrible wasted season where the recruiting class implodes and our program is paying the price of it for 3 years.
November 9th, 2020 at 7:37 AM ^
Thank You...ppl act like they have to fork over $20M-$30M to pay Harbaugh if he gets canned. A couple donors can pay his last year easily. Also, Harbaugh has pride...I doubt he would even want to be here if he knows the university is just waiting to fire him at the end of next season. This is his last year, he sees it as well as everyone else. The virus does not halt business. As the old saying goes “Scared money don’t make money!” The money will have to be spent on a new coach sooner or later, might as well make it now.
November 9th, 2020 at 7:19 AM ^
Do you really think all current recruits will stay if we go 1-7 this year?
Also is it really that great considering our highest ranked receiver is #11 in his position group?
And you can forget about Donovan Edwards coming here.
November 9th, 2020 at 10:59 AM ^
Considering the early signing period starts on December 16th, which is just at the end of this season and barely a month away, I don't anticipate any decommits.
I said "pretty strong recruiting" class and that is accurate by the rankings and how some of the positions have filled out. Considering they notched a five-star QB, some highly touted LBs and offensive line prospects. The lack of another corner and any DTs are the main problems with the class.
November 8th, 2020 at 11:27 PM ^
I'd give Gattis a shot. Would at least let you know as an AD if its Gattis or Harbaugh holding the offense back. Plus, keeping Gattis around allows you to build and develop the offense more.
Defense is a lost cause, but you can at least improve the offense this season.
November 8th, 2020 at 11:53 PM ^
You can't choose Gattis as a hypothetical interim coach. You choose some semi-experienced position coach.
If you fire Harbaugh (again this is hypothetical) and you choose Gattis, what do you do if they rebound and finish 4-1? The players rally around him, attempt to make him a viable candidate when you don't want him to be a viable candidate. And he shouldn't be--there could be countless reasons the team improves under an interim coach. You need a coach who can get through the rest of the season with some organizational ability and hopefully an ability to keep recruits on board, but with an understanding the new coach is going to can the whole staff the minute he arrives.
November 8th, 2020 at 11:58 PM ^
Interim coach? Jaybaugh!
Just kidding. It'll be Warinner.
November 9th, 2020 at 12:16 AM ^
I really do not get the Gattis infatuation. He may be a good coach, but we do not have much evidence of that yet. Talks a great game and has called a few, but he’s in his first OC job and our offense is underperforming. I know people like to pin that on Harbaugh and give Gattis the credit when it works, but that makes no sense. He’s the OC. The offense isn’t very good. He would be pretty far down my list.
November 9th, 2020 at 4:06 AM ^
It has a new OL, QB, and WRs. It has been okay. Play calling has been dubious at times.
November 9th, 2020 at 7:41 AM ^
Same could be said for the guy he shared coordinating duties with at Alabama...and Maryland’s offense is doing light years better than ours!
November 9th, 2020 at 4:49 AM ^
This is what the third or fourth OC in six years? The same problems have been persisting for 6 years. You really think all these OCs are morons and want to do the same thing or maybe just maybe it's your hard-headed old school head coach that's meddling in everything. Harbaugh needs to realize this isn't 2010 Stanford anymore
November 9th, 2020 at 9:36 AM ^
No idea why anyone likes Gattis either. There is a nice package of plays there, but you can tell the defense knows what is coming, either by personnel or alignment or something defensive types get paid to know and I don't.
Minnesota didn't know, but now it's on tape, and the only thing saving the offense is the growth of Milton as a passer.
November 9th, 2020 at 9:47 AM ^
We haven't seen a game plan like Minnesota since Minnesota. Both the MSU and IU plans had no misdirection and no effort to get guys open in space, or even isolated against one opponent. Instead, they've focused on running between the tackles on PA handoff's. Every OC since Jed Fisch has eventually reverted to this same type of play calling. The only common component is Jim Harbaugh.
I asked about Gattis as an interim, I did not recommend him for the position, nor have I seen anyone call for him to be the replacement.
November 9th, 2020 at 9:58 AM ^
I don't even like him as an OC, why would he then be qualified for Interim?
I don't agree with your assessment of the game plan the last two games either.
They reverted to running between the tackles when nothing else worked. Nothing else worked because it's on tape, and State and Indiana know exactly what is happening by alignment/personnel.
It's only misdirection if the defense doesn't know which direction the play is actually going, if they do it's a tackle for loss. Lots of them if you've noticed.
November 9th, 2020 at 11:06 AM ^
I think his point is that your problems with Gattis are probably not Gattis and are Harbaugh. We have no idea, but I would agree with the poster above that Gattis probably isn't the one calling the manball run into a stacked line plays 20 times a game. Who knows for sure though.
November 9th, 2020 at 11:26 AM ^
I don't agree with the assertion it's on Harbaugh. I think that's all just speculation with no evidence to support it. I think Gattis would have been gone at the end of last year if Harbaugh interfered as much as people think.
I think Harbaugh rescued Gattis mid-year by adding back the run game that Gattis had no idea how to implement. And yes, I agree I have no more evidence than the Army game to back that up.
If Harbaugh ends up a failure here it's because he got lazy on his two latest big hires. Don Brown he hired because he saw his defenses were ranked #1 without understanding it was a gimmick defense. And Gattis he hired because he wanted Alabama's offense without understanding who made the offense work.
November 9th, 2020 at 2:36 PM ^
It's just obvious he's being micromanaged by Harbaugh. You can only change coordinators so many times only to end up at the same basic offensive structure before it becomes obvious this is what the boss man wants.
We've gotten glimmers of what Gattis wants to do and they look amazing, then suddenly that gets shelved and replaced with I formation hand offs into oblivion
November 9th, 2020 at 6:13 AM ^
Not that it won't happen, but it would be beyond stupid to keep Harbaugh around until his contract expires. He either needs to be renewed or let go this year. Lame duck coach is no good and will kill recruiting until a replacement coach comes in. This prorgram cannot afford to light a year (or two) of recruiting classes on fire.
November 9th, 2020 at 7:02 PM ^
If Gattis is completely responsible for the run game decisions, the terrible clock management and the play calling, then no.
November 8th, 2020 at 10:54 PM ^
Not that this is an original thought, but firing him only makes sense if you can replace him with someone better. And there is no one close to a sure thing out there. I would be more in the "fire Harbaugh" camp if there were an obvious replacement...Also, and despite taking the time to write this, I can't believe Manuel would push him out.
November 8th, 2020 at 10:58 PM ^
There are no surefire guarantees. If there were, Harbaugh would have won something by now.
The program is going backwards in a big way. There are better coaches out there. We don’t have to keep him for his decline.
November 8th, 2020 at 11:00 PM ^
"...but firing him only makes sense if you can replace him with someone better."
Well, if you're at the point where you realize the program is failing, then making a change is the only thing possible to change outcomes. Anyone has a chance to improve on failing, so your point is not valid.
November 9th, 2020 at 4:14 AM ^
There are degrees of "failing." Harbaugh has done better than Hoke and Rodriguez, for example.
November 9th, 2020 at 7:23 AM ^
Harbaugh HAS done better than Rodriguez or Hoke. Have you watched this team yet so far? This team is going to finish with just as bad or worse of a win % as Hoke's last team.
November 8th, 2020 at 11:03 PM ^
There is clearly someone better. Quite a few "someones" I believe. The fact we don't know who they are is irrelevant. The question is will the AD and whoever runs the search find one of them.
November 8th, 2020 at 11:05 PM ^
You don't think another coach could of beat msu and Indiana? A team with a whole new staff who barely got to practice and a team who hasn't beat us in roughly 27 years!!! And it's going to get worst!