Feldman reporting Harbaugh may be exploring NFL return
https://theathletic.com/news/could-jim-harbaugh-return-to-the-nfl-i-think-its-real/fp7uejcUpuzW/
Baumgardner also says he hears the same rumblings
January 4th, 2022 at 3:37 PM ^
January 4th, 2022 at 3:45 PM ^
I know many of you believe that Nick was/is a good little, innocent reporter-just doing his job. Otherwise, Jim not talking to Baumgardner-imagine that. Tell me Nicky boy, why should he give you the time of day??? NB is a snake in the grass.
January 4th, 2022 at 3:48 PM ^
He explicitly says Harbaugh doesn't talk about it to anyone. If you listed to Baumbgardner/Quinn podcast, he always calls out people that throw shit against the wall and doesn't speculate himself.
January 4th, 2022 at 4:11 PM ^
Nick went to MSU - The only time he really gets animated is when he is insulting Michigan directly or in a passive aggressive way. I think he does a heck of a job with his writing, but birth order is a lifelong thing that cannot be changed.
January 4th, 2022 at 4:22 PM ^
I like Nick and I think he’s a good reporter. But his most recent article comparing Mel and Harbaugh makes way more sense knowing he’s an msu fan. Felt a little desperate.
January 4th, 2022 at 4:35 PM ^
He would constantly talk overly negative about Michigan’s 2018 & 2019 seasons, which were the exact same as MSU’s 2021 season—beat the in-state rival, get annihilated by OSU (in a much worse ass kicking than Michigan has lost to OSU under JH), lose 2 regular season games, finish 3rd in the B1G East, go to a meaningless bowl game—and wonder whether Michigan should extend Harbaugh or not. MSU has the exact same season with Tucker and he doesn’t stop beaming with positivity about how great Tucker is and will be. I used to think he was objective but finally seeing him during a decent MSU season and a terrific U-M season yet act like both seasons were equal and both programs are in the same place right now clinched the fact he does in fact have a bias.
January 4th, 2022 at 4:38 PM ^
One could argue that the bias was clinched when he got his letters from the respective admissions departments. I admit, this is just speculation, but I’m also not a paid sports journalist.
January 4th, 2022 at 4:52 PM ^
For what it's worth, Nick absolutely crushed state after their OSU game. He also crushed the refs for UM/state game. State won 11 games and Tucker has them farther along than basically anyone thought was possible in 2 years. Should he pretend they suck when Tucker is 2-0 vs. Harbaugh?
Was the Peach bowl meaningless when Florida killed us in 2018? The board didn't seem to think so then.
January 4th, 2022 at 5:00 PM ^
Is that you Nick? Here are your two most recent posts before this one (you seemed pretty fired up as these were posted right after the MSU game in your typical fashion):
If they win out...hahaha. Did you get dropped on your head?
So cool that you're taking about preseason basketball after yesterday. Let me guess: you became a huge Michigan fan the day you got your acceptance letter. Previously never thought about sports. Go fu** yourself all the way back to New Jersey.
January 4th, 2022 at 7:32 PM ^
You got me. Subscribe to The Athletic for more content!
January 4th, 2022 at 11:25 PM ^
Upvoted for having the highest shooting % in the nation for a title winning Michigan squad
January 4th, 2022 at 5:02 PM ^
MSU likely loses that bowl game by a similar score if Pitt's BACKUP finishes the game. They needed a 4th quarter comeback against a team featuring one of the worst QB performances I have EVER seen. He gave up a bunch of sacks by just standing there frozen until falling backwards whenever defenders started closing in on him. Legitimately looked like a middle school QB that sneaked onto the field before being thrown into the game.
January 4th, 2022 at 5:17 PM ^
We played in the Peach Bowl after the most embarrassing loss for the program since App State. After the shot of going to Indy and the CFP were taken off the table, I don’t think any of our players wanted to be there. Bush and Gary didn’t even play. It was literally a meaningless loss in the grand scheme of things.
January 5th, 2022 at 11:15 AM ^
That Peach bowl was so meaningless that it was one of maybe 5 Michigan games I didn't watch in the past 25 years
January 4th, 2022 at 6:08 PM ^
He would constantly talk overly negative about Michigan’s 2018 & 2019 seasons, which were the exact same as MSU’s 2021 season
Not exactly, MSU won their bowl game. MSU also beat several teams with more talent. UM lost to everyone of equal or better talent in 2018 and 2019. So, MSU did more with less.
January 4th, 2022 at 8:02 PM ^
You try too hard
January 4th, 2022 at 8:18 PM ^
Don't me wrong, I don't like arguing in favor of MSU. But, last year MSU beat Miami, Neb, Maryland, UM, & PSU who were all more talented than them according to 247s Team Talent Composite. In 2019, UM lost all 3 games to teams more talented (Bama, OSU, PSU) than them. In 2018 UM lost games to the 3 most talented teams on their roster (OSU, FLA, & ND), two of which UM was more talented than (FLA & ND). And, of course both seasons UM lost their bowls. So, MSU was 5-1 versus teams of better talent this year and UM was 1-6 versus teams of similar or better talent in 2018 and 2019. So, when you compare the team's talent MSU had quite a bit better season relative to expectations.
January 4th, 2022 at 8:20 PM ^
You’re comparing a trash miami team, nebraska and fucking maryland to ohio, alabama and psu? That’s just asinine
January 4th, 2022 at 11:32 PM ^
This is exactly what I was thinking. Dude just tried to compare Maryland, Miami, and Nebraska to those three? I mean if you put the best players and staff from those 3 teams on or team you might be able to beat Penn State 3 out of 10 times. Bama and OSU would destroy them both. And the gap between Bama and OSU in recruiting to almost anyone is massive.
January 4th, 2022 at 9:25 PM ^
You guys are crazy. Michigan State was like -35 yards per game this season. Don’t have exact numbers in front of me but UGA / Alabama / Ohio State were in the +180 to +200 range. Michigan slightly lower around +150. No team in the CFP era has won a national championship under +170 or so (Bama 2015).
It’s a good indicator of true strength of a team through 12-13 games. MSU put up Maryland type numbers and won 11 games. Good fortune, took advantage, good for them. Now sit back and wait and hope vegas posts a win total of 8.5 or higher for Sparty in 2022 and smash the under. They add Wisconsin, Minnesota to their schedule, travel to Washington as well. They will struggle to make a bowl next year.
End rant.
January 4th, 2022 at 9:15 PM ^
Ha! “birth order” — I see what you did there ?
January 4th, 2022 at 5:04 PM ^
When he first started on MLive taking over the wolverine football reporting, he would not waste a chance to take a dig at Michigan in the comments section or his opinion articles. It was bad. He was very raw in those early years and brought a lot of unprofessional behavior into his opinions and writing. After getting called out multiple times for these digs, he cleaned it up a lot. As the years passed, his writing and analysis improved, and he became probably the best source besides the mgoblog staff for Michigan football content or football talk in general. I haven't read his articles since he left MLive; I wouldn't be surprised if he is still taking digs at Michigan though, just based on his past.
January 4th, 2022 at 5:14 PM ^
Steven Godfrey has also tweeted that the rumor has been there since shortly after Gruden left basically. I am sure he is a top candidate for the Raiders and I am sure there are people in that organization who think they have a real shot to get him which is all this report is saying.
People can blow it off and it likely won't amount to anything but stranger things have already happened this year in terms of coaching changes.
January 4th, 2022 at 5:50 PM ^
Nick Baumgardner and Brandon Brown are the same level of "journalist"
January 4th, 2022 at 6:14 PM ^
Well, he doesn’t talk to Baumgardner, that’s for sure.
January 4th, 2022 at 3:37 PM ^
I don't know how legit these rumblings are, since they happen every single year with Harbaugh, but I think I speak for the entire fanbase when I say I'd be more than fine with giving him a big fat raise to stay in Ann Arbor
January 4th, 2022 at 4:02 PM ^
yeah its called L E V E R A G E !
January 4th, 2022 at 4:10 PM ^
Fuck the raise. It's being overpaid is what made him fail. Underpaid and you saw what happened.
January 4th, 2022 at 4:26 PM ^
Being overpaid made him fail??
I'm gonna have to go ahead and disagree with you on that one.
The lack of expectations maybe played a part -- but even that can't be tied to the money because even if they paid him the same amount this year as they always have, this team had ZERO expectations.
January 4th, 2022 at 4:50 PM ^
That's one of the stupidest fucking things I've ever read on MGoBlog, and I've read a lot of stupid fucking things here since 2008.
January 4th, 2022 at 4:58 PM ^
Totally. We should keep scaling back his pay to ensure success!
January 4th, 2022 at 6:11 PM ^
"Fuck the raise. It's being overpaid is what made him fail. Underpaid and you saw what happened."
This is probably the most non-sensical collection of words I have read on this blog in the past month. Just stunning. Being overpaid caused JH to "fail"? And being underpaid caused, I`m assuming, "success"? Wow. Just wow.
I could have just downvoted your post but that just was not a strong enough response to your nonsense.
January 4th, 2022 at 8:03 PM ^
You must be a scientist. Can spot 'em from a mile away. Strict causality and nothing less for you.
January 4th, 2022 at 8:24 PM ^
Ok Boomer lol
January 4th, 2022 at 4:15 PM ^
This man just donated how many millions of dollars back to the AD for furloughed workers. Why do I feel like money is not important to him
January 4th, 2022 at 4:40 PM ^
probably because of his sweet $520k 1st round signing bonus
...and them's 1987 dollars
January 4th, 2022 at 6:14 PM ^
I've heard him say he likes to "make a buck as much as the next guy". I've also seen him wear the same clothes every day for years and make the most generous donations I've ever seen by a CFB coach. He's human. I'm sure he likes making money. I doubt it's as important to him as some others. For many of these established HCs that have made millions for quite some time, money is probably less about money and more about recognition I'd guess.
January 4th, 2022 at 6:15 PM ^
It's not the money. It's the amount.
January 4th, 2022 at 6:30 PM ^
Respect is very important to him. When your employer demands that you take a pay cut to keep your job, it’s not a sign of respect. It’s the opposite. After this season, he’s going to demand that he be respected. He deserves it as well. Michigan is going to need to make it right. If they don’t, I wouldn’t be surprised if he looks elsewhere. Would any of us be ok with making half of what our competitors were making?
January 4th, 2022 at 5:29 PM ^
1. The rumors are legit (according to someone inside Schembechler Hall). Not a fait accompli but he's definitely still interested in the NFL and open to talking to suitors.
2. It's not about money. It's about succeeding at the highest level of competition and a level playing field in terms of talent (at least in theory).
January 4th, 2022 at 9:53 PM ^
Yeah, if I was a great football coach but not the type of guy to get down in the muck and pay $25-$30m for a recruiting class I would so everything in my power to get out of college football and into the NFL
January 5th, 2022 at 12:58 PM ^
Who inside Schembechler Hall? Otherwise, kindly fuck off
January 4th, 2022 at 3:38 PM ^
Like fucking clockwork. There's no way he didn't tweet this with a smirk on his face
January 4th, 2022 at 4:06 PM ^
Speaking of smirks... I can imagine what's going on down in the worst state ever:
January 4th, 2022 at 4:13 PM ^
Their win percentage against Michigan is definitely going down, below .500 and declining.
January 4th, 2022 at 8:42 PM ^
Yeah, about that - I've seen his name connected to the Bears job, too.
January 4th, 2022 at 3:38 PM ^
Of course, he finally has this team headed in the right direction, now he leaves..
January 4th, 2022 at 3:47 PM ^
Eh, the team has been consistently very good (but not great) with occasional down years his whole tenure. Just because he got to play OSU at home with this team and we were healthy doesn't mean it was that different than the 2016 or 2018 teams (both with OSU on the road and with more impactful injury issues).
January 4th, 2022 at 3:39 PM ^
Hopefully just an agent doing his job here to drive up the price during extension talks.
January 4th, 2022 at 3:43 PM ^
What agent?