Brhino

January 31st, 2022 at 9:15 PM ^

Wednesday does not look to be a good day for flying out of Southeast Michigan, if the forecast holds.  You guys can't do a zoom interview?

Joined: 09/08/2009

MGoPoints: 19549

pfholland

January 31st, 2022 at 9:16 PM ^

Interesting that this came out at the same time we learned that DeMeco Ryans turned down a second interview with the Vikings.  It at least implies he's not a top choice.

Joined: 01/07/2011

MGoPoints: 4093

Rabbit21

January 31st, 2022 at 9:17 PM ^

Honestly, isn’t this the reason they restructured his buyout?

Just cut him loose to do his thing.  Raise up Gattis and then try to keep as much of the staff together as possible.

Yes, he doesn’t owe anything to anyone but the University just needs to go ahead and call it a day at this point.

Joined: 11/12/2009

MGoPoints: 30387

I Like Burgers

January 31st, 2022 at 10:04 PM ^

I would. Coordinators were the biggest key to last seasons success along with great leadership from the players. It’s tough to see a lot of buy in from the team to commitment and everything else Harbaugh would try and sell knowing he’s one foot out the door.

Gattis or another head coach at least gives you a fresh start and forward momentum to build off of. Harbaugh gives you none of that. Whatever momentum there was after last season is dead now.

Joined: 10/06/2012

MGoPoints: 30575

Kilgore Trout

January 31st, 2022 at 9:31 PM ^

It seems like at this point any damage is done, so the only thing firing him now does is make it so UM pays the buyout instead of Harbaugh paying UM. 

Baumgardner has made a good point on his last few podcasts that if he ends up staying, this can't happen again. It'll be interesting to see how realistic enforcing that would be.

Joined: 02/20/2009

MGoPoints: 13206

MightyMatt13

January 31st, 2022 at 9:19 PM ^

As of yesterday the Vikes were down to 3. Today they added 2 new interviews which was surprising... until just a few moments ago it came out that Ryans withdrew his name from consideration.

As I posted yesterday, I truly believe he was their #1 candidate. I fully expected his interview today or tomorrow and an offer the same day.

It's now O'Connell post-Super Bowl, Harbaugh, Raheem Morris, and Giants DC Pat Graham.

Joined: 02/26/2012

MGoPoints: 5791

Indiana Blue

January 31st, 2022 at 10:39 PM ^

Warde showed Harbaugh that he doesn't have his back.  It was a fucking covid "doesn't mean shit year" ... yet Warde went batshit crazy about a 2-4 season (as did plenty of MGoBloggers).   Well, here's Harbaugh giving it back to ol' Warde ... first B!G title in 19 years, first ever BCS "final four", first thrashing of the Buckeyes since last century.   This is solely Warde's doing - so Warde thinks Harbaugh doesn't know how to Coach, yet the NFL has always wanted him back.  This is sickening.  Michigan football makes more money than any school in the B1G and Warde goes public about cutting his pay.  I don't blame Harbaugh ... his "boss" has no loyalty to the most important athletic program at the University of Michigan.  

Hey Warde ... it's much easier to replace the Athletic Director than a very successful football coach.

Go Blue!

 

Joined: 09/19/2010

MGoPoints: 5677

Mpfnfu Ford

February 1st, 2022 at 11:46 AM ^

You're getting negged to death but I don't think you're totally wrong either. I was a guy who thought they should have moved on from Harbaugh, but it's obvious that Warde trying to split the baby put everyone in this position.

He had two options last year: 1. re up Harbaugh for the going rate in his profession that reflected what Harbaugh has accomplished over his career and the sacrifice he made leaving a successful NFL career to come back to Michigan or 2. Let him go because the results at Michigan weren't good enough.

Instead he split the two choices and kept him but did so by giving him by forcing a humiliating pay cut that is unprecedented in the sport right now. And now we see the results of that decision, because it clearly fucked Harbaugh off. Warde's triangulated himself into an outhouse.

Joined: 05/19/2012

MGoPoints: 6469

Indiana Blue

January 31st, 2022 at 10:39 PM ^

Warde showed Harbaugh that he doesn't have his back.  It was a fucking covid "doesn't mean shit year" ... yet Warde went batshit crazy about a 2-4 season (as did plenty of MGoBloggers).   Well, here's Harbaugh giving it back to ol' Warde ... first B!G title in 19 years, first ever BCS "final four", first thrashing of the Buckeyes since last century.   This is solely Warde's doing - so Warde thinks Harbaugh doesn't know how to Coach, yet the NFL has always wanted him back.  This is sickening.  Michigan football makes more money than any school in the B1G and Warde goes public about cutting his pay.  I don't blame Harbaugh ... his "boss" has no loyalty to the most important athletic program at the University of Michigan.  

Hey Warde ... it's much easier to replace the Athletic Director than a very successful football coach.

Go Blue!

 

Joined: 09/19/2010

MGoPoints: 5677

NJblue2

February 1st, 2022 at 12:45 AM ^

You say he accomplished all this stuff purely because Warde disrespected him and he wanted to get back at him, then I'm glad he was disrespected because he didn't do any of those things before. People wouldn't be nearly as upset if Harbaugh did this after he lost to MSU, lost to OSU again and finished 3rd in the conference again. Unless you're assuming all this stuff would have definitely happened with the fans turning on Harbaugh or Warde lighting a fire under his ass. He was paid handsomely to beat rivals and win a title. He didn't do that so they paid more in line for what his performance was and he met the challenge and over achieved. Now after one year, they're offering him good money as a reward, that all makes total sense.

Joined: 08/08/2010

MGoPoints: 30991

UMForLife

January 31st, 2022 at 9:20 PM ^

Well, just decide and let the university know ASAP. Don't drag this on. But can't fault the guy for trying one more time. He doesn't have too many more years left in him to try NFL. Vikings is a good team and he will be going into a good team. If he does go, hope UM lands someone good or promote within. Hope we don't have deal with someone like the last two coaches. 

 

Joined: 11/04/2013

MGoPoints: 63392

bronxblue

January 31st, 2022 at 9:48 PM ^

The Vikings really aren't a good team; they're something like $11M over the cap, are paying 33-year-old Kirk Cousins $45M next year, and while they've got some nice pieces in Justin Jefferson they still have a bad offensive line, an aging back who wasn't as explosive this year as past seasons (Cook), and an average (and aging) defense.  They absolutely look like a team heading toward a multi-year rebuild and I can't imagine that's super-appealing to a 58-year-old HC trying to make a run at winning the title he missed out on in SF.

If Harbaugh goes to the Vikings it's because he wants to coach in the NFL and there was nothing UM could do to change his mind.

Joined: 11/22/2008

MGoPoints: 172057

MightyMatt13

January 31st, 2022 at 10:01 PM ^

Cap really isn't the issue here. They need to rebuild the D, but that's full of aging vets who can be traded or more likely cut. I don't expect much regression from the 30th ranked D - new GM/HC will cut ties with a number of them and rebuild.

Kirk will be extended or traded, both of which will probably come with 20-25m cap savings. Top 7 offense last year will add a great young TE and while the oline is young, they showed a ton of development. Offense needs to be opened up but is in perfectly fine shape.

Joined: 02/26/2012

MGoPoints: 5791

MightyMatt13

January 31st, 2022 at 10:07 PM ^

Ok I'm a fan we know I have purple shaded glasses. But take this as my point - do you really think there's an NFL job out there that can't be rationalized by an extremely successful coach with an ego? The narrative that this is worse than the Raiders or Dolphins because those connections are more palatable is dumb. He knows the GM and he clearly is interested in an NFL gig. He's talked to 3 supposedly, all 3 of which he has professional connections to.

Joined: 02/26/2012

MGoPoints: 5791

bronxblue

January 31st, 2022 at 11:18 PM ^

I don't follow the Vikings much beyond general NFC Norris division fandom but their offense was #16 per DVOA and seemed like the type that had issues with Cousins and Cook that aren't going to be fixed by a new TE.  I'm sure they can cut some of their defense and reload to an extent but I thought their line looked overwhelmed the couple of times I saw them and PFF thought they weren't great either.  They'll improve a bit I'm sure but again, doesn't seem like a quick fix on either side of the ball and you're asking a 58-year-old guy and a new GM to make that type of turnaround.  And if you do trade or extend Cousins then you're either saying he's going to improve from the guy who's helmed a bunch of .500-ish teams or you're going to take a swing with a new starter who is either unproven or looking for a new home (with attendant baggage).  Neither option necessarily looks super-appealing to me but YMMV.

Could Minnesota turn it around?  Sure, and my guess that is what Harbaugh is selling/being sold.  But at the same time, Minnesota isn't like the SF team he stepped into years ago and there's a very good chance that he walks into a team that maybe wins 9-10 games but isn't a real contender for a couple of years, if ever.

Joined: 11/22/2008

MGoPoints: 172057

whidbeywolverine

January 31st, 2022 at 9:23 PM ^

I don’t think this will be every season.

Look, we almost cut him loose last year.  This is his best chance if he ever wants to go NFL.

Plus with the December early signing day it doesn’t hurt us that bad this year.  I believe that if he stays the new contract will allow him to get higher paid assistants and have a bit more transfer portal flexibility (not perfect with UM admissions but better)

I agree we don’t need this every January but I’d like to give JH some grace this time - he’s earned it.

Joined: 04/04/2009

MGoPoints: 1267

lilpenny1316

January 31st, 2022 at 9:25 PM ^

The next tweet says that DeMeco Ryans declined a second interview. Of the four finalists for the job, two are coaching in the Super Bowl.

How bad can this job be if the supposed front runner turns down the second interview?

Joined: 11/19/2009

MGoPoints: 61956