Harbaugh's Response to Santa's Tweet

Jim's response is vanilla. As long as Santa ono wants to do everything to keep Harbaugh, there is a little more hope than there was earlier today.

Buckle up this ain't over with yet.

This is getting good. I need popcorn.

Seems like the kind of thing to ignore until it's all done. In the meantime, Nyckoles Harbor highlights! jk

I have to say, I am coming around to the "Warde is the problem" position.

Warde is done

Santa Ono leaned forward across the table and looked up at the two men on either side, his eyes twinking behind his round wire-rimmed glasses.

"I'd like to thank both of you for coming here.  First of all, I think we're all on the same page here so we're all here to crystallize that."  He nodded at the hulking bald man to his left.

"Well, um..... well, Jim, I think we would all love for you to stay at Michigan as the J. Ira and Nicky Harris Football coach.  We're prepared to offer you a lucrative new contract that's highlighted by renaming the head football coaching position to be the J. Ira, Nicky Harris, and Jim Harbaugh Football coach.  That is, to me, a truly transformational experience."

Santa suppressed a grimace and looked at the lean jut-jawed man to his left in khakis and cleats.

Jim Harbaugh stared ahead blankly.  After a few minutes of awkward silence, he took a burger out of a brown bag and started eating it.

Warde Manuel continued. "Um... if you read the fine print, you'll see that we obviously want to do right by both you and the University, in keeping with our mission statement to be the Leaders and Best."

Harbaugh continued munching the hamburger.  A spritz of mustard squirted out onto the table.  All three men ignored it.

"...and obviously," Warde stammered  "We'll pick up the tab for your lunch there if you'll sign this expense report."  He fumbled in the inside pocket of his suit, produced a form, signed it and slid it over the table to Harbaugh.

Harbaugh put down the burger and signed it.  He then took the cyan sharpie dangling from his lanyard and circled the other man's signature while looking intently at Santa Ono.

Ono favored Harbaugh with a slight nod and clasped his hands together with the faint hint of a smile.  "Well, gentlemen, I think we're done here."

Santa's involvement suggests some displeasure with how Warde is handling the negotiations, and Harbaugh's statement acknowledging Santa but not Warde suggests that Harbaugh would bounce if it wasn't for Santa. I can't think of another instance in which the university president had to get directly involved in the AD's contract negotiations with a head football coach coming off a wildly successful two-year run. We wouldn't be hearing from Santa if there weren't problems. Not a good look for Warde.

This reminds me of how Mary Sue had to get involved when it became clear that Bill Martin was mismanaging the search for Lloyd Carr's successor.

If the president of the university wants to get this done, it will get done, one way or another.  Santa seems too smart to get out on a limb where he would likely be trashed for not getting the deal done after interjecting himself into the situation.

It’s interesting harbaugh didn’t mention Warde. 
 

I wonder if this is setting up Warde to be the fall guy if Harbaugh leaves. 

I don't think he enjoys Warde these days!

Can't wait for this dalliance year after year until he leaves for the NFL.  I guess that's the price of success, but man it's annoying. 

You guys are like a bunch of girls watching the newest season of "Housewives of Ann Arbor." 

Reading between the lines, I'm going to go out on a limb that this is very positive news. 

This latest statement from Harbaugh isn't cryptic, it's pretty straight-forward.

Could that be a sign of maybe Santa telling Jim "Hey, we are so close. Can you just release something to our students, alumni, fans, etc. etc. that doesn't leave them questioning things even more?"

Maybe I'm overthinking it, but this latest message from Jim tells me things are going in the right direction.

Warde's name being completely excluded from Jims statement is Jim's way of saying "This conversation was for men only" (IYKYK)

I just wish they would have discussed it over a couple breakfast burgers at the Brown Jug.

Was this really necessary to post when this response was linked in the first few responses on the other post?