Chargers complete interview with Harbaugh

I am quite conflicted. I am tired of this “show me the love” game Jim plays every year. I don’t understand how being Michigan’s coach isn’t good enough for him. That being said, I have no idea what’s going on behind the scenes and why he isn’t “feeling the love”. If I had to choose who to believe, regents (politicians) and the AD or Jim Harbaugh, I believe Jim. This university cannot help making dumb decisions so I would not be surprised if they are doing something stupid *again*. So yeah, I could see them balking at demands that the “for cause” clause of new contract be modified. I look at such a modification as low risk. If the NCAA does indeed overreach and do something stupid like ban Jim, then I think it’s time to part ways with the NCAA. Are you just gonna wait for them to go after the next coach that dares to challenge their stranglehold?  Are they that cowardly?  At that point you are dealing with open corruption on a massive scale and it’s time to look at alternatives. 
And I’ll admit that if JH leaves under such circumstances I will greatly lose enthusiasm for Michigan football. I’ll take the joy of the NC and move on. 

Adam Schefter’s take on the DP show was a good one. The Spanos family has to be willing to shell out for every Harbaugh demand. It’s much bigger than just offering him a contract.  

If you want to go, go. If you want to stay, stay. But national championship or no, I’m getting pretty tired of this dance he’s doing with the NFL every single year. 

How many difference-making recruits have we probably lost out on because they otherwise wanted to come, but weren’t even sure Harbaugh was going to be there by the time they showed up on campus for the first time? Much less that he’d still be there in 3-4 years. 

I’m thankful for everything he’s done, and I wish him the best whatever he decides. If he wants to scratch his NFL itch, he’s earned the right to go do it. He took Michigan to the mountaintop. But please Jim, shit or get off the pot. 

What a stupid tweet 

FWIW there were some reports that his interviews and conversations with the Vikings last time around ranged from odd to bizarre -- to the point that he wasn't seen as a legitimate candidate. 

I listen to Chicago Sports Radio 670 a lot, and the Bears beat guys had information stemming from the Kevin Warren connection. Kevin Warren was with the Vikings for a long time and still has ties to the front office. The information was shared about Harbaugh's interview. That was rumored to be a reason that Harbaugh wouldn't be pursued if Eberflus was fired, despite the Bears-Harbaugh connection from his playing days.

My main point being -- a Harbaugh interview could go a lot of different directions. 

Simply put a possible NFL team that wants Jim is a better gig than UM. More $$$, no recruiting, no NCdouble fucking A, no Warde and the portal vs free agency is a wash. He came. He conquered. I will be surprised if he stays if there’s a team willing to give him control.

Dean Spanos, owner of the Chargers, is a control freak and has undermined two of his head coaches in the past - Coryell, by hiring another associate head coach that reported directly to him (Spanos) only when Spanos bought the team, and Schottenheimer after his 14-2 season (that admittedly ended badly).I have a hard time believing that Spanos is going to sign off on a maverick like Jim, who he can't easily control. Much easier for him to hire a younger coach

Kill me now

If you look at the list of Chargers HCs, they have not had a guy stay long term since way back to Coryell. Most are two, or three years, a couple survived four years.  This is the way the NFL works.  Long terms coaches are super rare.  John Harbaugh's long tenure with the Ravens is very rare.  But...I guess JH wants to give it a shot, so...

Sherrone to replace him with co-OC's Hart/Campbell. Newsome over O-line. Jaybaugh TE's and ST's. Sherrone dabbles in all. Bellamy WR's.

Clink/Elston co-DC's. Re-hire Partridge, lessons learned/redemption. 

Have Orji throw bombs interspersed with 7 man line jumbo runs/Orji RPO's. Hire another Ravens analyst to maintain Baltimore D tenets with little deviation.

Hire someone from the Naval Academy for Analytics/Signals intelligence. Conduct any Investigations necessary to assuage perceived shortcomings. Use nepotismic cutouts where possible.

Develop uncomfortable romantic relationships with influential, but morally challenged, Media members so as to encourage competitively favorable rumors. Not judging.

I hate this. I still don't think he's leaving, but I hate this.

On a twitter feed that is also giving away Hot Wheels. Amateurs. Go Chiefs!

Harbaugh betting odds on Draftkings had Harbaugh at -350 to not be coaching an NFL team next year 2 days ago (Jan 13) after climbing for a few days.  Over the past couple of hours that line has dropped to -130.  It's still the favorite according to them, but definitely dropped quite a bit.  

Why do I get the feeling that 12 months from now we can just copy/paste this entire thread with a different NFL team name.

We live in interesting times.

By winning a national championship, Harbaugh has likely earned enough job security to last another decade and have a Bo-like tenure. He loves raising his kids here.

Still ...

The allure of the NFL and another shot at a Super Bowl is powerful, especially to someone who once got as close as you can get without actually winning.

But ...

I'm not sure the Chargers are the most appealing option out there. I really think Washington would be the ideal landing spot.

I’m basically numb to it this year.  Just wake me up when he decides.  
 

If he leaves, I really prefer Moore as HC as opposed to a job search.  I will lose my mind if we do a search, lose a bunch of players and recruits, and then hire Moore after a month or more.  Holy crap . . . that’s totally what’s going to happen, isn’t it? 

We'll see what happens with this - looking at available spots it seems like LV and the Chargers are the most logical spots due to familiarity (LV) and talent (LAC), but both have issues that might turn Harbaugh off.  The thing with Harbaugh is that he's a weird guy, and as he's gotten older and been successful he's less likely to listen to people tell him what to do.  GMs and owners want their coaches to listen to them, and Harbaugh probably won't to a degree they expect.  So we'll see if anyone takes a a shot with him.

Here is my hot takes on Harbaugh, not that anyone really gives a shit:

1) Jim doesn’t owe anyone anything. He came here to bring Michigan back to prominence and he did that, and more. 
2) His annual dance with the NFL is annoying as a fan and I’m sure has hurt recruiting along the way. 
3) We don’t know what has gone on and is going on currently within the AD and University. It is pretty clear that Santa and at least a few of the regents love Harbaugh. What is not clear is where Warde really stands on Jim. Who is behind poor NIL at a University with so much money and resources? Fix the academic transfer shit asap. 
4) Jim is a players coach but seems to wear on organizations at the too level. That is the AD, the Bigten, the NCAA  and most recently the tv networks. He was known that way in the NFL as well. Michigan knew what they were getting when Jim came back and they were willing to put up with it for him to bring Michigan back to the top. I’m not sure they thought it would take this long. Jim is unapologetically who he is and will not change. And he shouldn’t. 
5) Jim did what he set out to do here, I’m kind of in the mind frame of whatever happens happens, but let’s move it along to the conclusion and quickly. The team the team the team, no one person is bigger than the team or the program itself. If Jim wants to move on, let him go and let’s get whoever is the next person in so we can move along. If Jim wants to stay, let’s wrap this shit up for 10 years and stop this annual NFL crap. 

One week!  That’s how long our unity and joy lasted.  Now we are back to bickering and blaming.  Only Jim knows what Jim wants.  The fans love him.  Five years ago  the fans wanted him fired.  His lack of commitment hurts recruiting.  No it doesn’t say many.  It is useless to speculate only Jim knows the answer… does he stay or leave.  

This seems like the best shot for Michigan to lose him.  SoCal, history in the community and with the team, top5 QB? Underperformed of late (i.e. quick fix).

Young coaches seem t be the rage in the NFL these days.  Not  implying ageism (I am older than JH) but could be a factor.

For those upset or bothered, I channel JJ McCarthy:

"I recommend everyone take three deep breaths ad realize that Warde Manuel is about to commence working on Jim's contract -  right about now."

Unless harbaugh is okay with retiring early from coaching, the nfl seems like a huge risk. He could coach here into retirement or be looking for a job at 65 (after winning a Super Bowl 😜)

Isn't this there where I can hear the complete interview :)