Harbaugh-JJ Recruiting Story in the Athletic
The Athletic had an article today with some interesting recruiting stories from high school coaches. This was the one from JJ's coach when Harbaugh came to visit:
Meditating with Harbaugh
The first (story) that comes to mind would be Jim Harbaugh. He came obviously for J.J. (McCarthy), and we had a huge game against a rival and he sat in my office. And I’m the type of coach where … you want to get locked in. I’m not loose. I’m nervous all the time. And I didn’t know he was gonna stay that long. But I grew up, I was born in Michigan. We moved to Illinois when I was 3. So I was completely starstruck (by Harbaugh) and nervous about this big game at the same time.
I’m catching myself looking at my watch because we had team events leading up to the game. Coach Harbaugh was so down to earth and so nice and we’re having this great conversation and then I had to cut it off and say, “Coach, we have a visualization period.” It’s a period where we go in the theater — we have a nice theater — and I take the team through a meditation by reading a script and then talking to them about leadership. And Coach Harbaugh asked if he could join us.
He stayed for the game and he stayed all the way up until kickoff and then he went up and sat with my wife and the administration and had pizza. It was just a surreal moment.
I thought, “Usually, the top guys come in, they’re in and out.” And I thought he’d go and have other things to do. And time was going by and then I’m like, “Ah gah I can’t believe … I have to tell Jim Harbaugh that I have to be excused.” And so when he said, “Oh do you mind if I join you for whatever you guys are (doing)?” I’m like, “Sure!” My palms start sweating. Great. I’m nervous enough for this game, now I’ve got Jim Harbaugh sitting in on my pregame talk. So it was something else. But it was a funny story. — Tim Racki, JJ's head coach at Nazareth (Ill.) Academy
(Note: Nazareth won the game.)
https://theathletic.com/4005949/2022/12/16/college-football-recruiting-visits/
December 16th, 2022 at 2:34 PM ^
I went to Lyons Township High School (LTHS), the rival public high school 2-miles down the street from JJ's high school, Nazareth Academy. I always scoffed at those privileged private high school fucks, but I find myself being more amenable to them. I wonder why.
December 16th, 2022 at 2:46 PM ^
Class resentment is a real think, nowhere more prevalent--possibly--than in our high schools. I think that it's in high school where all of these class differences--and a certain essential unfairness about American life--begin to impress themselves on you. Depress the f out of some kids. Some of the impetus for fundamentalists to bail on public schools may have as much to do with such resentment as religion.
December 16th, 2022 at 3:44 PM ^
Lives and lifestyles across the globe can be described as unfair. It’s curious you made it a uniquely American experience in your statement.
December 16th, 2022 at 4:48 PM ^
Income levelling taxation rates, universal health care, and quality public schools have a way of preventing these feelings, so the magnitude of class envy could be considered uniquely American among western democracies.
December 16th, 2022 at 5:08 PM ^
Evidence? Or conjecture? Feel free to give your money to whomever you choose and I’ll do with mine what’s best for my family. But I don’t think high school kids give a shit about taxes, or private vs universal healthcare.
December 17th, 2022 at 12:22 AM ^
Perhaps check a dictionary for the definition of "could" and then maybe you'll be able to answer your own question.
You could also try re-reading my comment to tell if I advocated for any policy position, or your “fuck you, I’ve got mine. Keep your greedy socialist hands out of my pocket” position was pure projection.
December 16th, 2022 at 5:04 PM ^
You know it’s interesting; I grew up on a farm around a lot of migrant Hispanics, and my dad made good money and paid his help well, but he was always afraid to build the house he and my mom always wanted, and they never drove too nice of vehicles, because they always assumed their employees would envy and resent them.
It was assumed they lived the migrant lifestyle because they were too poor, or uneducated, or unskilled, but after decades my parents finally did build a house and dad did buy a new truck, and the long time employees asked him why he always waited so long to spend his money. He was honest and said he was afraid of what they would think of him. Turns out, they told him that while a house is nice and a new truck is fun, but they’d much rather spend their money on their daughter’s quinceanera- a pig and a band and a cooler full of beer for all their family and friends. All the material things to them were just more work; they’d rather take the winter off and live an easier life for a few months than have to work all year to afford all those extra responsibilities.
LONG story short, attitude changes your desires, and perspective can make a poor man rich, and a rich man very poor. My dad assumed they wanted to live the way he did and felt guilty they didn’t. They were truly grateful to be able to live the lifestyle they did and never envied him at all.
And I agree, it’s not uniquely American, but haves vs have nots is a feature of the American experience, no doubt. And I’m not saying that’s good thing or a bad thing; I’m just saying it’s fascinating how differently different cultures view life.
Thanks for coming to my Ted talk.
December 16th, 2022 at 5:11 PM ^
Nah man I actually enjoyed reading that perspective it was measured and a good point to keep in mind what is success to one person might not be to another.
December 16th, 2022 at 5:16 PM ^
Very well said.....judgement is hard thing for people to admit and acknowledge. We all do it without even knowing it. My father in law said something to me about spending money when i first started dating his daughter almost 30 years ago. He said its not so much about the cost of things but the "value" you get out of said things and what that value means to you. I think your story sums that up. Happy Holidays and Go Blue!
December 16th, 2022 at 5:38 PM ^
I really loved the story. Your dad seems like someone that I would love to talk to. Growing up in not so perfect situations both socially and also domestically, I found myself longing for a better life. We moved around like 13 times as a kid and not because of the the armed forces, but because of substance abuse and the subsequent bad choices. Found it hard to connect with people. One thing I realized was that it was up to me and nobody else to change my life. So I did what many do and that was get to working on the life I wanted. Used connections and hard work to get where we are. Seen so much divorce growing up it was sickening. Been married 31 years to my sweetheart and have 2 amazing kids that have awesome spouses. I certainly am thankful I didn’t wait until my “ship came in” and I got after it. Made a lot of mistakes and had a few regrets but overall, I am blessed! Thankful for the opportunities to live in a country where you can rewrite your story. Sorry for the mini biography.
December 16th, 2022 at 4:53 PM ^
Agree. I really resented math class.
December 16th, 2022 at 2:47 PM ^
Maybe it's a function of age, but it seems to me that too few people are open to sit with and work through what might appear at first blush to be competing internal values/viewpoints. Maybe it's just a facade we put up most of the time. *shrug*
December 16th, 2022 at 2:58 PM ^
Nazareth’s rise to being a talent factory is all kind of BS. Glad we got JJ out of it, but in terms of good ole IHSA ball they’re as bad as the catholic leagues with the cheating and what not. So it makes sense why you may still have some hard feelings (I do as well lol).
December 16th, 2022 at 3:06 PM ^
Well, fuck Hinsdale Central too!! (the public high school across the expressway)
December 16th, 2022 at 5:45 PM ^
Lol I took my ACT there and scored well so I harbor no ill will!
December 16th, 2022 at 4:13 PM ^
Because 80% of the student body makes has no qualms about thinking they're better than you because of their socioeconomic status. It's not all of them, but goddamn do CCL kids with a comfortable upbringing think they're gods gift to everything.
December 16th, 2022 at 5:50 PM ^
For sure. I’m a former Loyola Academy football player from a working class background.
I still remember we played our rivals New Trier High School and the Loyola kids would chant “that’s alright that’s ok, you’ll be working for us someday” every time New Trier did anything good. That sounds bad independent of context, but in context it is particularly insane, because New Trier is one of the richest high schools in America. But the unjustified sense of superiority in those Loyola kids ran so deep, that even New Trier kids were part of what they considered to be the unwashed masses!
I feel confident my current quite left wing political leanings are a direct byproduct of my enmity towards the spoiled ass holes I shared a school with (I hope I’m not breaking the no politics rule, I’m not trying to be controversial, just being descriptive).
December 16th, 2022 at 6:41 PM ^
My son goes to a private school, but he started in a public school. For him, the thing that works is he's a part of both worlds. Where we're not rich like the rest of the families in private school, he can still relate and get along with his old friends, but he's at the same time able to fit in with the rich kids just by being himself.
December 16th, 2022 at 11:36 PM ^
The majority of my wife’s salary goes to pay for our 2 kids to attend a private school that’s 30 mins from our home. It’s a tremendous financial sacrifice for us and not just a drop in the bucket. Our decision is for the safety and solid education for our kids. My wife taught in public and private, she saw the difference. We both attended public school all our lives, so it’s not at all some rich family generational thing. It was important to us and the decision has been a wonderful benefit for our children.
most of the families at our kid’s private school are middle class. They’re all just choosing to make less money to send their kids to the school.
December 17th, 2022 at 11:03 AM ^
That's kind of how it with my ex wife and our kids. We sacrifice for the better education and safer environment. My son even mentions how boring it since no one ever gets into a fight. He was in one during his public school time, but since he's been doing MMA, boxing, and jiu jitsu at the gym I go to since he was little, wasn't much of an issue for him. Put one guy to sleep easily and no one tested him again, but I don't want him to be in that environment at all.
December 17th, 2022 at 7:04 PM ^
I don't know the specifics of your situation it may be the case that your private school is great and your public school is terrible. However, as another person who is a teacher, I can tell you with very little doubt, that the average public school offers a better quality education than their average private counterparts. That is not to say they have equal outcomes, they often don't. However, that has everything to do with many elite private schools testing for admissions, charging tuition (therefore weeding out disengaged parents), and expelling for academic reasons. If public schools could do all those things, their outcomes would be radically different as well.
No, the real draw of private schools is deeply interconnected with racial anxiety on the part of many white parents. Their local public schools are "unsafe," because they are unwhite and their local private schools are entirely "safe" because they are overwhelmingly white. I had parents who made the same sacrifice you did, largely because the public school district I was in was one of the only schools in the area that wasn't majority white. That this impacted their decision was entirely unconscious of course, but I remember the way our local public school was discussed, and only now in hindsight do I understand the subtext.
Again, let me reiterate that this is not a personal attack, because I know nothing about your personal situation. I am simply talking about statistics. Statistics say around 50% of public school students in America are white, but 75% of private school students are white. Facts say that private school attendance increased dramatically after Brown v Board. So it may have been the right choice for your family, but as a general rule, it is usually a choice deeply interconnected with American racism and classism.
December 17th, 2022 at 1:12 AM ^
That resentment thing in Chicagoland area is real. My sophomore year of high school we played Providence in the playoffs, and ended up winning the game. Nobody thought we’d have a shot. I don’t know if it’s still considered a huge deal when a public school beats one of the Catholic schools, but at that time it was. Then our rival taking down JCA my senior year was considered a huge sea as well. They’ve totally redeemed themselves in my book!
December 16th, 2022 at 2:35 PM ^
Thanks for posting.
December 16th, 2022 at 2:39 PM ^
Have we come all the way to the point that we all (no All jokes) can agree that there isn't any coach better for UM than Jim Harbaugh?
December 16th, 2022 at 2:49 PM ^
Monorail???
Monorail!
December 16th, 2022 at 3:03 PM ^
That reminded me of the clip from Mel Brooks' "History of the World" movie:
December 16th, 2022 at 3:22 PM ^
I was thinking more Blazing Saddles;
”Harrumph!”
December 16th, 2022 at 5:25 PM ^
Amazing difference 18 months makes.
Well, more like "what a difference winning makes" regardless of time passed.
December 16th, 2022 at 2:41 PM ^
These stories just show that the dude loves football. Everything about it. And he's learning all the time. You can tell who is there for the love of the game and the players and coaches and who is just punching a clock until they can get home or to a party or to an event. Harbaugh just wants to be around football.
December 16th, 2022 at 2:53 PM ^
I love reading accounts of people first getting to meet and get to know Harbaugh. The perception of him comes off that his personality might be a front, or act, and that it makes him insufferable. Then people come to realize he just might genuinely be the most excited person on the planet when it comes to all things football.
He never really stopped being that kid that couldn't help but celebrate with Rick Leach.
December 16th, 2022 at 3:47 PM ^
I wish I made a living doing something I was in love with and enthusiastic about all the time, Jim’s got it figured out.
December 16th, 2022 at 3:02 PM ^
Harbaugh is a better coach than Nick Saban, and is the polar opposite end of satan as it relates to caring about his players and his team. If he cheated like Saban, Harbaugh would win every championship from now until he retired.
December 16th, 2022 at 4:03 PM ^
There are still some things in sports to believe in. Not many but some.
December 16th, 2022 at 4:15 PM ^
Harbaugh is a phenomenal coach, but let's not pretend like Nick Saban isn't the greatest coach of all time, no question. And as for the cheating, do people think we pulled Aubrey Solomon out of Georgia with just pure academics? Did we flip Daxton Hill back because of tradition?
Michigan has never been opposed to playing in the mud a little bit.
December 16th, 2022 at 4:50 PM ^
I resisted the neg, but you don't think the depth chart had something to do with Dax coming here?
December 16th, 2022 at 2:44 PM ^
Early signing day is 12/21/2022, one day before the darkest day of the year.
Jim needs some magic here.
December 16th, 2022 at 2:58 PM ^
When I taught at Harrison High School Harbaugh came to recruit and sat in my chair. I was not there that day :(
December 16th, 2022 at 3:13 PM ^
Man… that hurts me to hear that.
December 16th, 2022 at 3:22 PM ^
HHS Class of '85 here!
Go Hawks!
December 16th, 2022 at 3:00 PM ^
Saban flying around in a chopper to chat up coaches. What a douche.
Amirite?!
December 16th, 2022 at 3:01 PM ^
Stories like this are strong evidence that missing on a particular recruit is not an indictment of the program or staff. Teenagers gonna teenage, and boy howdy do they have a cloud of influences around them with conflicting interests.
December 16th, 2022 at 3:04 PM ^
Wild story about Saban, as the HS coach he just visited is driving him to the airport in the rain, he gets a call about Julio Jones and Saban asks him to pull over and give him privacy to talk. The HS coach complies, gets out of his own truck to stand in the rain getting soaked while Nick stays inside and talks about Jones entering the draft early. I doubt Harbaugh would do that.
PS: Passing on the good advice someone posted - use Reader mode on your phone to read it
December 17th, 2022 at 4:40 AM ^
Just curious. Would Saban be dependent upon a local HS coach to pick him up at the airport. Get him to the recruit to visit and back to the airport? That appears to be putting a lot of faith in someone whom Saban doesn't have control over.
December 16th, 2022 at 3:17 PM ^
Someone beat me to this upthread: It wasn't about appearances or trying to land a 5* - he just wanted to be around an important football game.
edit: heads-up...this is a paywalled article for some of us.
December 16th, 2022 at 4:32 PM ^
Coach Harbaugh is a different kind of guy. By all accounts very genuine. We've known this for a long time, but evidence keeps coming. Glad he coaches Michigan.
December 16th, 2022 at 4:41 PM ^
This truly fits in the category of Cool Story Bro!
I'll bet he helped clean up the paper plates and empty pizza boxes afterward, too.
December 16th, 2022 at 5:28 PM ^
Sounds just like our Coach. Thanks for sharing.
December 16th, 2022 at 5:32 PM ^
I'm not super knowledgeable about Chicago-area recruiting, but IIRC there was a pretty good basketball player who made some hay there:
December 17th, 2022 at 1:13 PM ^
Gotta love Jim. There’s literally no layers to peel back with this guy cause what you see is what you get.