Brian seems to think Harbaugh is experiencing mental decline

This is a silly, stupid and irresponsible take.  Anyone that even remotely believes this or has posted in this thread that has suggested it should be ashamed and take a long look in the mirror.  If Brian really said this and meant it the way many in this post are interpreting it, he needs to put forth facts supporting his claim ASAP.  If not, he is needs to set the record straight and be man enough to admit that he was shooting his mouth off.   

I am ashamed of many of those that have been posting on here lately and I am moving on from this once very good blog.  I suggest many of you should do the same as it is clear that this place has jumped the shark.  

Serious question:  Was Harbaugh in mental decline last year during the 10 game winning streak or did he catch CTE during the OSU game?  

That comment was something else and it makes you wonder what Brian knows that he didn’t say. Like, the comments about the way Harbaugh treats his offensive staff, linking those two together made me come away feeling real bad man. 

I don't think Brian is right, but these are the kinds of things that make me think Harbaugh might be reaching the point of no return. Add this to the comments from Woodson, Long, and others... And I'm just not sure he can survive if he doesn't turn things around right now. 

There are rumors of CTE.  It would not surprise me.

Someone should be ashamed.

Would you blame Brian?

He has built up a very nice business.  He definitely has the talent for it, writing, expounding, analyzing.  Why would Brian give it up?  Brian has been BPONE'd like the rest of us but he shouldn't quit.

Let the business run and if it doesn't make enough money, well, then, he can go do something else.

BS

Look, he's 5 years into this job and 5 years older than he was when he started.  He's not old but also not 42 years old anymore.  The excitement and luster of a new job (Michigan) have likely worn off, especially after 4 straight losses to OSU.  As each year goes by the pressure dome increases as more and more of his fingerprint covers the program and every big loss gets scrutinized to death.  He works non-stop trying to convince the most talented teenagers to come to Michigan.

I see a man that is reacting to all of these things while trying to maintain order and calm over 85+ kids, a large staff and one of the richest and storied programs in all of college football.  It's gotta be exhausting.  I'm exhausted just typing this.  And oh, BTW, he's got like 7 kids.  I have a 2 year old and I am 47.  I can't imagine being in his situation.  Yes, he's paid a ton of money but damn I would venture to guess that his life is far from a cakewalk.

I believe that JH's downfall has been pure hubris.  Believing his own hype.  His lack of effort in the Gattis hire was proof of this.  He believes that all of his decisions are great ones...even to the point of the important ones where he barely puts any thought in to it. 

Remember JH arguing with Ditka on the sidelines after he called a stupid audible and threw a pick?

That is the JH we see now...overconfident in his own ability....not the grinding JH who built up Stanford and SF from rubble. 

My opinion ... He's probably got some mental fatigue bc he looked around one day and realized the football he grew up with isn't winning Championships. He swallowed his pride by hiring Gattis, which was a huge step forward in terms of being open to change, but also a pretty big concession. The style of football has changed, the balance and relationship between player and coach has changed, recruiting has changed ... I think he just kind of realized he doesn't have the answers.

The Michigan job is just much harder than anyone realized.

When Wisconsin goes 10-2 with a loss to Ohio State, as it did in 2016, it’s a solid year that they build on for the next one. When Michigan does it, it's soul-crushing. They question the entire operation. They jettison their OC. They wipe out any continuity edge they might’ve had with a senior QB and veteran OL by starting anew.

And beyond that, all the program hears is that the year was a failure. What effect does that have on player morale and offseason effort?

I thought he could have explained that take more/better. I think it’s reckless for anyone on this board to say he’s “on meds” or losing his mind, but I think it would be fair to speculate that coaching at a major level for as long as he has with the competitive disadvantage that he has had to do it at (recruiting) has taken its toll and he doesn’t have the stamina to continue to do it. I personally think he attempted to be more mature after the 2016 OSU game, but that this strategy doesn’t suit him and is reflected in the teams lower energy.

Its about as serious and responsible as it would be to say its because Jim Harbaugh is struggling to overcome the secret disappointment of his son being gay or that its because hes a closet Trump supporter who has to put up with an environment that is now far more liberal than he had remembered it before coming back. Crazy speculation with little basis in fact.

In truth coaches sometimes have difficult situations. The same Klopp that is now the toast of the soccer world left Dortmund after his championship caliber team had lost just about every match in a six month span. The same guys who had won championships for him couldnt do anything to save his job. His “magic” had run out. No need to explain it with brain damage or personal problems. It just happens.

I still prescribe to a theory that JH thought it would be much easier than it's turned out to be to turn UM into a National power. 

I don't believe that he intended to be here for life. I think he always had intentions of returning to the NFL but only after he's accomplished big things at UM. He now realizes that that is going to take much longer than anticipated or even if it's possible at all and it is grinding on him.

I think my brain has been deteriorating faster than Harbaugh's.

Just listened to that part of the podcast - not sure how else it can be interpreted.  A real low point for the blog. 

Someone needs to take time out, gather themselves, and rethink how they're approaching their job--and I'm not just talking about Harbaugh. 

Brian has no idea like the rest of us.  We are all just drawing straws here.

jesus man if football effects you this much maybe find a new hobby

Harbaugh had to calm down on the sidelines and it had nothing to do with his behavior on them. He allowed his ego to take control and actually think he could get away with calling out refs in his PCs. He did it a ton in his first year. Harped on these "missed calls" in blowout wins when there was no need to do it. So he got taught a big time lesson in his second year. You don't get to do that without consequences. He got the message and went full blown different person. 

I got the impression after the first couple years Harbaugh dialed back the sideline antics because it wasn’t doing him any favors with the Ref’s. 

Also, he may have made his own judgement call and decided that looking like a purple-headed Brian kelly on the sideline could affect recruiting.  

I dunno. It definitely does appear that he is less intense. Does it mean he can’t be effective or be a raging spaz behind the scenes when the doors are closed? No. 

Could he have seen a Dr and got on meds for something that took he edge off anxiety or ocd or something?  Maybe. But it is incredibly speculative on our behalf. I do have friends who have gone on such meds and they definitely dulled their personality.  The problem I have with this theory is...most division I coaches got where they are today because of their hyper-intense ocd personalities.  It’s what drives them further and harder than most people can imagine.  It’s what makes them successful in such competitive environments. To take that edge off doesn’t seem like something a guy like Harbaugh would be willing to sacrifice.

Who knows...maybe he just isn’t into it. Or doesn’t care as much. Or wants to spend more time with his wife and kids. I’m not sure we’ll ever know. 

I do wonder if him hiring all these high dollar assistants doesn’t give him the inclination or the feeling that he can sit back and let them do the work.  Like maybe he feels like with all the “coaching talent” he’s just the ceo and can sit back and let them do the dirty work.  My thing here tho...is that harbaughs drive is what has always set him above the rest. I think we need his intensity and fingerprints all over the program. 

Im not sure we will get an answer on any of this. I hope for his sake he can pull some magic out of his team and coaching staff and I hope he does it soon. Because it could be a really embarrassing season if he doesn’t.  

You all are like a pack of teenage girls crawling over the last Twilight book, just making facts up where there are none.  You don't know Harbaugh, and you sure as shit don't know about the mental condition of Harbaugh.  The only thing that seems reasonable is Brian, from his last post, seems to be fucked up.