ak47

January 19th, 2022 at 11:17 AM ^

He clearly has NFL interest, if he gets an offer he likes better than the Michigan offer he is gone. Anyone making any sort of prediction at this point is making something up because Harbaugh hasn't decided yet and we haven't seen what sort of offer he will get from the NFL yet if any.

Joined: 05/05/2011

MGoPoints: 33614

St Joe Blues

January 19th, 2022 at 11:18 AM ^

Can someone point me to any statement from Coach Harbaugh or Warde Manuel where either one says that Harbaugh wants to go back to the NFL? I did a search yesterday and couldn't find any news story.

I've seen a lot of "sources" in ESPN or other articles. Is it possible that Harbaugh and Manuel haven't said anything because they don't feel they have to? Harbaugh has a contract with Michigan and plans to honor it (with a pay decrease that he himself asked for). Meanwhile, Manuel says to him, "Good job this year, we'd like to reward you. Check out the new numbers. We can announce something after you've had some down time from a long season. Get back to me when you can. No hurry." Maybe those two are just going along with business as usual, laughing at the rest of the world that's working itself into a tizzy over unsubstantiated quotes in ESPN (hardly the bastion of journalistic integrity anymore) articles.

Joined: 01/08/2017

MGoPoints: 34028

BlueTimesTwo

January 19th, 2022 at 11:47 AM ^

There could be such a plan in place, which would provide fuel for negative recruiting, but I am not sure why they would do that.  If there is a new agreement and it is not being announced, it seems like the goal is to let the fans bite our nails for a little longer.  They may not "owe us an answer," but sitting on such info would be a bit of a middle finger to the fans.

The likely answer is that Michigan is in consideration, but he is absolutely willing to consider and accept the right NFL offer.  We will just have to wait and see.

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 13503

blue in dc

January 19th, 2022 at 12:42 PM ^

Does a coach or AD usually announce that the head coach is looking for another job?   Did Brian Kelly announce that he wanted to go to LSU?   Did Lincoln Riley announce that he wanted to go to USC?   
 

There are consequences to the uncertainty and neither Harbaugh nor Manual are likely to find those consequences worth the chance to laugh at the rest of the world.

Joined: 01/22/2011

MGoPoints: 20401

UWSBlue

January 19th, 2022 at 11:26 AM ^

Each time I see one of these posts I try to make the consternation make sense. Why would people like Elston and Campbell move their families to A2 without assurances JH would be there? Harbaugh is a dedicated family guy plus he's barnstorming on the recruiting trail across the US.

 

Joined: 08/11/2012

MGoPoints: 7017

AlbanyBlue

January 19th, 2022 at 11:40 AM ^

First, as this drags on, I think it's more and more clear than Jim wants to go to the NFL and is hoping for the right -- that is coach + GM, full control -- offer. He will probably get that from the Raiders in the next couple of days. If not, Michigan is his fall-back. By what has been said here, Michigan has put a quality offer on the table, but Jim has not signed. He will do so if he doesn't like what the NFL offers him. If the NFL comes through, he gone.

Through that lens, everything else makes sense:

Recruiting -- yeah, he's doing his job. The one he's currently under contract to do. 

The hockey game stuff -- He may have wanted one more fun time at Yost before leaving town.

Hiring coaches -- Again, this is his job. The coaches that have been brought in probably have been given assurances that they will be retained / promoted should Jim leave. That shouts "internal promotion" should Jim leave. Get ready for Gattis as HC, Weiss/Moore/Hart in some sort of OC combination, and Macdonald (or Elston if he leaves) as DC. 

TL;DR -- If Michigan was Jim's first priority job, he would have signed the offer sheet / contract already. He's waiting on the NFL, because he wants to go back there. Opinion -- he probably figures he maxed Michigan out this year and figures he hit the ceiling. Now, he wants another challenge. If Gattis is promoted to HC, the team's performance will depend on OC promotions and whether Macdonald stays.

Joined: 09/11/2010

MGoPoints: 22254

BlueTimesTwo

January 19th, 2022 at 11:56 AM ^

I hate to say it, but this is my thinking as well.  I was previously in the "no, he loves it here" camp, but it feels less and less like that each passing day.  His love of competing and trying to win a Super Bowl is greater than his love for coaching at a Michigan school that is willing to compete with one hand tied behind its back (transfers, NIL/"NIL", etc.).

That would be disappointing, but I hope we get an answer sooner rather than later.  It feels like Michigan asked for his hand in marriage, and his response was that if he doesn't get any hits on Tinder in the next couple of weeks then he would consider it "for now."

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 13503

MacMarauder

January 19th, 2022 at 12:14 PM ^

AlbanyBlue nailed it above but I'll also add that while Harbaugh is a dedicated family guy and his home is AA, he's also a football coach. Moving around is part of the deal with these guys and I don't think he would have any issues moving to Las Vegas or anywhere else. It's kind of like being in the Army, just comes with the territory.  

Joined: 01/22/2016

MGoPoints: 6251

jmblue

January 19th, 2022 at 11:27 AM ^

Could mean various things:

1.  They told him he is a strong candidate, he indicated his interest, and they are going to set up an interview.  

2.  They told him he might be a candidate and if so, they'll call back again.

3.  They indicated their interest but he declined.

4.  They actually aren't pursuing him, but asked him his opinion on one of their candidates.

That it was "brief" perhaps makes #1 less likely?  I feel like that wouldn't be too quick of a conversation.  We'll see.

Joined: 11/07/2008

MGoPoints: 102954

uferfan

January 19th, 2022 at 11:35 AM ^

The last time I was in Chicago, I was in the same pizza place as Richard Marx. He was standing and talking to some folks, and my initial thought was, "now there's a guy I need to hang out with, because for once in my life, I feel really tall."

Joined: 02/04/2015

MGoPoints: 24594

Kolesar99

January 19th, 2022 at 11:52 AM ^

Jim: just leave.  Stop the NFL flurting. You're hurting UM's reputation and its recruiting, by the day.  Enough.

 

Warde: if/when Jim leaves, don't be stupid and hire Mike Hart.  Its not amateur hour at UM.  Get a legitimate coach.

Thanks. 

Joined: 11/29/2021

MGoPoints: 317

snarling wolverine

January 19th, 2022 at 12:17 PM ^

Do you realize how fucking insane you sound?

We’re not going to find a more “legitimate coach” than Harbaugh.  Our 2022 class is basically done.  Telling a coach who just won the Big Ten and went to the CFP to leave because of a couple of days of uncertainty in January … if you’re not a troll, you need to take a break for a little while.  Watch Days of Our Lives.

Joined: 12/14/2011

MGoPoints: 98630

Kolesar99

January 19th, 2022 at 4:49 PM ^

Its been 47 days since the Big Ten championship game.  Not "a couple".  UM and Harbaugh have had plenty of time to get a deal done.  Its crystal clear that Harbaugh has a genuine desire to leave UM (and even his close friend Todd Anson acknowledged that), and this occurs almost annually, to UM's detriment.  There is no way to quantify how much damage this does to recruits that are considering committing.  And speaking of "insane", your comment about a more "legitimate coach" than Harbaugh is completely offpoint.  I'm not making that argument (even though myriad coaches exist that are equally or more "legitimate").  I'm just making the point that his yearly antics hurt the university and the football program.  Those two entities, not Harbaugh, are my primary concern,and its obvious to me that they aren't yours. I'm not going to brush them aside and give Harbaugh unlimited deference because of 1 good year.  Nor should anyone. 

 

 

Joined: 11/29/2021

MGoPoints: 317

1WhoStayed

January 19th, 2022 at 5:31 PM ^

Kolesar99 - Harbaugh has a contract. He hasn’t said ANYTHING about leaving. He has made hires that would leave me to believe he plans on staying. And so what if he listens to other offers. I always encouraged my employees to shop around. Once you know the grass is NOT greener you’ll be happier with your job!

Joined: 09/07/2015

MGoPoints: 12146

bighouseinmate

January 19th, 2022 at 12:20 PM ^

I’m laughing at how a post about a report that Harbaugh spoke to the Bears somehow became a lengthy talk about pizza. Does it mean that nobody believes Harbaugh to the Bears could ever happen? Or, does it mean that pizza is a more serious topic?

Joined: 12/19/2008

MGoPoints: 5003

uofmchris2

January 19th, 2022 at 12:25 PM ^

Two things:

1.) I ABSOLUTELY love how quickly this spiraled into a pizza conversation.

2.) Should he elect to be the next Bears coach, it's going to be absolutely glorious watching Dan Campbell's Detroit Lions whoop they ass.

 

 

Joined: 10/31/2020

MGoPoints: 12981

CincyBlue

January 19th, 2022 at 12:55 PM ^

Bears: Hi Jim, this is the Chicago Bears.

Jim: Hi, do you want to retire my number?

Bears: Being a former player, we wanted to make a special offer to you for one of our hospitality suites for next seasons exciting NFL action.  If you remember, we paid Andy Dalton $10M last season and tried to ruin a 1st round QB from Ohio.   

Jim: Please take me off your call list 

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 6718

SF Wolverine

January 19th, 2022 at 1:02 PM ^

If he wants to go the NFL route, Vegas seems like a better option than Chicago.  The Bears are an organizational tire fire, and that does not seem likely to change under current ownership.  Hard to see the McCaskey's giving him real GM-level authority.  This continues to be their toy to wreck, and as long as the NFL money keeps coming their way, not much incentive to change that. 

Joined: 10/04/2010

MGoPoints: 24916