CC: One reason to keep Jim Harbaugh???
We have read tons of posts over the last few weeks about firing Jim Harbaugh. Within these posts are hundreds of views on hiring Matt Campbell... seemingly the only plausible coach available right now.
I want to highlight a solid comparison reason to keep Jim Harbaugh that I have not seen heavily discussed, especially if Matt Campbell is our only other option.
Brian Kelly's first 7 years at Notre Dame was almost identical to Harbaugh's first 6 years at Michigan.
- Brian Kelly 59-31 (.656)
- Jim Harbaugh 49-22 (.690)
Brian Kelly went 4-8 in that 7th year. Notre Dame decided to stick with him... his record since then... 43-8 (.843).
We have been average for every bit as long as Notre Dame was prior to Kelly. Considering our current coaching choices, Harbaugh is the right answer and I think we should stick with him. That is if he still wants to be our coach!
Can we talk about this and any other compelling reasons to stand behind Jim Harbaugh instead of sending him packing?
January 5th, 2021 at 7:43 PM ^
Ask yourself this: would any other Michigan AD (save for Bill Martin) keep Jim Harbaugh under these circumstances? Don Canham would have kicked him out immediately upon learning that Harbaugh was delaying signing a contract extension to explore NFL opportunities. It is amazing to me how Warde is letting Harbaugh do this damage to the program. Pillaging the university for $8 million per year is de minimis compared to the recruiting damage Harbaugh has done.
January 5th, 2021 at 8:12 PM ^
We really don't know what's going on, and "sources" have been all over the place. There is no reason, based on previous events, to assume that Warde is completely inept at his job. It seems plausible to me that Jim is planning on exiting and Warde knows this and already is working behind the scenes on his replacement. Perhaps the replacement is already in place. Perhaps the replacement is already planning on bringing some staff with him and that's why nothing is happening with the DC position. Or maybe Warde Manuel has gotten to this position, the Athletic Director at the University of Michigan, by being completely incompetent.
January 5th, 2021 at 8:08 PM ^
I'd be ok with giving Jim Harbaugh one more crack at this thing, but not if that version of Jim Harbaugh had staying at Michigan as his "Plan B."
January 5th, 2021 at 8:13 PM ^
Please. Just let him go. Move on and hopefully upward for everyone involved.
January 5th, 2021 at 8:29 PM ^
To be honest Harbaugh's tenure has been more Charlie Weis than Brian Kelly. Early success with nothing to show for it, but falling down quickly toward the end.
January 5th, 2021 at 8:40 PM ^
What if I told you that prior to his current post at Ann Arbor, Coach Jim had never held a head coaching gig for more than five years before moving on to his next job, seemingly to the mutual relief of his former employers and himself?
We just ended year SIX at Ann Arbor (badly), with indications subtle and otherwise that he isn’t particularly anxious to continue on, and this with year SEVEN under contract yet to begin.
I don’t think keeping him around is in anyone’s best interest, Harbaugh included. Long term relationships just don’t seem to be his thing.
January 5th, 2021 at 9:22 PM ^
That 4-8 Kelly team was competitive in all but one of their games, continued to fight, and hadn’t checked out on their coach. That team was quite different than the disorganized, take 6 minutes to run a 2 minute drill, unmotivated, confused mess we saw after the opener this fall.
January 5th, 2021 at 11:27 PM ^
3 of those competitive losses were to teams that finished below 500. I don't know how you can say Notre Dame was not disorganized after losing 8 games, 3 to losing teams and 1 more to a team one game over 500 with a huge talent advantage over all those teams.
It was a terrible year and everyone thought Kelly was guaranteed to be fired. We all laughed when they announced that he was staying.
January 5th, 2021 at 9:33 PM ^
One reason? One reason? Hell, I can give you several!
Oh I forgot I have zero because I want him gone
January 5th, 2021 at 9:39 PM ^
I don't ever recall Brian Kelly turning into a zombie without passion. Also, they lost their games close, not looking lifeless while getting their ass kicked.
January 6th, 2021 at 9:30 AM ^
So here we are, Wednesday morning, no sign of an extension being announced. Every time they say one will be coming, we go right through that deadline.
This lends credibility to the fact that Harbaugh is in fact listening to NFL offers.