Harbaugh Regime - What Stays, What Goes?

Submitted by Everyone Murders on

Jim Harbaugh's return as Michigan head coach is presumably as welcome news (as football fans) as any of us have gotten this year.  We know that we are getting a guy who will work tirelessly to rebuild and reshape Michigan into a consistent contender for the B1G title and a team in the NCAAF playoff discussion.  It's a great day to be a Michigan Wolverine.

But with regime change comes ... change, and since many of us will be dropping by the board waiting for the noon press conference, it might be fun to consider what traditions and customs we would expect or like JH to retain, those we'd like or expect to see him introduce, and those we'd expect or like JH to relegate to the dustbin of history.

I'd like to see Coach Harbaugh keep:

  • BBQ at the Big House.  This is a great recruiting event, and gives the staff a great chance to connect with recruits, their families, and coaches in a relaxed environment.  This is one thing RichRod got exactly right.
  • Greg Mattison.  I'd like to see him retained in a reduced capacity, but with a title that reflects his contributions to the team.  You'd hope that John H. would put in a good word for him as a coach, to the extent JH doesn't know how he works on a day-to-day basis.

I'd like to see Coach Harbaugh introduce/reintroduce:

  • Season-Long Captains.  I'm indifferent as to whether they're elected at the end of summer camp or the beginning of the B1G season. 
  • Maize and blue helmets and uniforms.  A full return to maize would be great, as the color combination is iconic and unique.  Watching Texas last night with their burnt orange reminded me that there is great value in having an identifiable color.
  • Open disdain for OSU and MSU.  RichRod didn't really "get" these rivalries, and Hoke was too nice about it.  It's OK to have disdain for your rivals.
  • Tyrone Wheatley as a coach (perhaps replacing Fred Jackson). 

I'd like to see Coach Harbaugh dispose of:

  • The prohibition on further visits if you've committed to Michigan.
  • Any references to Ohio State University as "Ohio".  We can leave that silliness for OSU's band (script Ohio).
  • More than one instance of Uniformz! per season.  I think once a season, for away games, is tolerable.  Many players like them, so us "get off my lawn" types should have some tolerance.  But more than once makes us look silly.
  • Fred Jackson.  The man has been a constant, and by all reports is a good guy.  If they could find a non-coaching position for him, that would be optimal.  But as a coach, he's underwhelmed for years from what I can see.
  • Highlighter Yellow.  Anywhere on the uniforms.

I'm ambivalent on helmet stickers. 

More importantly, what would you like to see retained, introduced, or disposed of?

 

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lebriarj

December 30th, 2014 at 9:48 AM ^

Just because Uof〽️ paid allot of money to get Harbaugh back to Ann Arbor ticket prices don't need to sky rocket.

I agree Jackson needs to go, bring Wheatley back home.

Hopefully Greg Roman comes with Jim and still is the OC.
Greg Mattison needs to stay on the D staff, he's a great coach. He may not want to stay there will be schools and NFL teams lining up for him.

I really like to see Roy Manning stay on the staff as a LB coach.

Joined: 02/08/2013

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Mr. Yost

December 30th, 2014 at 9:59 AM ^

Durkin, Mattison and Manning.

Mattison can coach DL because he's done both. But Durkin has only coached LBs and Special Teams. I don't think Manning has ever coached LBs outside of one year with OLBs at Michigan.

I suppose you can put Mattison on the DTs, Manning on the DEs/OLBs, Durkin on ILBs. Or give Mattison the entire DL and split the LBs between Manning and Durkin.

However, that likely puts only one person with all of your DBs, which is a lot of players for one coach.

Joined: 07/25/2011

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MGlobules

December 30th, 2014 at 10:58 AM ^

First off, we needn't have any worries about Harbaugh getting it. But "Open disdain for OSU and MSU." Really? "RichRod didn't really "get" these rivalries, and Hoke was too nice about it.  It's OK to have disdain for your rivals."

This is so short-sighted and NOT in the spirit of sport that it really bugs me. Bo came out of Ohio. He was a FRIEND of Woody Hayes. Lloyd was friends with Duffy et al. Coaching is a fraternity. You respect your opponent.

And you kick his ass.

 

Joined: 11/17/2008

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The Victors

December 30th, 2014 at 10:59 AM ^

Durkin

- Coached DE for 4 years: 2005 Bowling Green, 2007-2009 Stanford

- Coached LB for 4 years: 2006 Bowling Green, 2010-2012 Florida

- Played DE at Bowling Green

Mattison

- Coached DL for 20+ years (Cornell, Northwestern, Western Michigan, Navy, Texas A&M, Michigan, Notre Dame, Florida, and now Michigan again) either directly, or while also serving as DC

- Coached LB for 4 years (2008-2010 Baltimore Ravens, 2014 Michigan)

Manning has coached RB, OLB, and now CB, so while his playing experience was as a linebacker, he doesn't have anymore experience coaching it than he does RB and CB. Though after this last year, we need a whole new coach(es) for DB.

I would say Durkin and Mattison are actually more DL coaches that have also coached LB and Manning is more of a LB coach because of his playing position and coaching 1 year there.

You could have Durkin as co-DC/DE and Mattison as co-DC/DT or Durkin as DC and Mattison purely as DL, with Manning as LB.  There are numerous combinations you can go with, and at least Durkin and Mattison seem to be a little versatile along the front 7, but part of determining this will be determining what defense they will run--4-3 vs 3-4 over/under.

Joined: 02/01/2010

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EastCoast Esq.

December 30th, 2014 at 9:18 AM ^

I would like to see a return of helmet stickers. I'm relatively new to the Maize and Blue family (and CFB in general), so I don't know how they actually look on a week-to-week basis. However, the idea of seeing a superstar accumulate them and basically saying, "You see these stickers? It means that I'm a boss!" excites me.

Joined: 07/16/2012

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Ike613

December 30th, 2014 at 2:42 PM ^

I'd like to see them come back, and I hope there isn't a bunch of backlash about them not being pretty if Harbaugh brings them back.  I don't particularly think they look nice either, but I think there is something powerful when a player gets up in front of his team and the coach recognizes their performance in front of their peers.  I don't think it fosters an individualistic attitude at all like some think... I think it makes guys want to lay it on the line for their teammates, and those stickers are the visible and public validation of that effort and commitment.

 

 

Joined: 02/19/2009

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WolverineLake

December 30th, 2014 at 10:06 AM ^

  I would also love the see the helmet stickers again.  I'm envious of schools that have them (most regrettably, A University in Ohio) because they are somewhat intimidating.  You know who the good players are if you are the opposing team, and it provides motivation within the team because awards are front and center all the time.

 

  I'd take this flair any day over the 'Legends Patches,' which look straight up Kraft.  Now with 30% more ROAR!

Joined: 07/10/2011

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EastCoast Esq.

December 30th, 2014 at 9:22 AM ^

AGREED. Honoring players is great and all, but it's subtraction by addition in this case. Gallon should never have switched. He was a great Michigan WR (cloaking device and all), but there's no way to honor HIM in the future because of that stupid "tradition."

Maybe we could have them wear Legends patches instead.

Joined: 07/16/2012

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Everyone Murders

December 30th, 2014 at 9:46 AM ^

To all the commentors that have criticized the Legends Jerseys, AMEN!  One solution would be to honor "Legend" players who had their numbers retired somewhere visible in the stadium, in a tasteful way. 

But yes, let players forge their own identities, preferably with one number throughout their tenure at Michigan.

Joined: 12/14/2010

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MaizeAndBlueWahoo

December 30th, 2014 at 9:56 AM ^

There's a certain way to do the legends patches that would be very cool:

- Make them way smaller

- List only the last names of the people who made that number famous.  Instead of saying M - DESMOND HOWARD - MICHIGAN LEGEND - 1988-1991 it should just say HOWARD in tiny lettering.

- Hand out every number via the same process as any other.  Maybe let some of the bigger recruits - or better students in high school - get first crack at 21 or something, but once you have 21, it's yours for your career.

- If you're another Desmond Howard, you get your name added to the patch.

- Or, if you're the first bad-ass to wear a particular number, they create a patch for it.

Since they're unlikely to do it specifically my way, though, then I'd rather see them just get rid of the whole thing than the way they're doing it now.

Joined: 07/02/2008

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Frequency

December 30th, 2014 at 10:51 AM ^

Agree.

I'm biased against the legends patches, largely because I feel they were just another corporate marketing tool pushed by the previous AD. However, I agree that there is a better, more respectful way to go about it that honors the player's history, rather than market it. It could be understated and wouldn't take much, similar to what you described. 

However, I would be happy to see them go away altogether too.

Joined: 01/10/2011

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GoBlueBorderBattle

December 30th, 2014 at 9:30 AM ^

That's the only thing I want. Just win games. We don't like certain things because we associate them with losing. If highlighter yellow was worn and michigan was winning ben ten championships and 6-2 against OSU- we'd love highlighter yellow. Wear whatever they want, stickers, no stickers, I don't care. Just win.

Joined: 01/11/2013

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Ovr

December 30th, 2014 at 9:22 AM ^

on a return to maize pants and helmet stickers. Do away with clown costume uniforms of any type. That already seems like a relic of the DB bread and circus mediocracy.

Joined: 09/30/2009

MGoPoints: 227

Heinous Wagner

December 30th, 2014 at 9:24 AM ^

Out with the yellow, in with the maize.

Helmet stickers would be a welcome return.

Out with piped-in stadium music that is no different than anyone else's. 

What do we call that school down south? How about "defeated"?

Joined: 08/10/2009

MGoPoints: 768

The Baughz

December 30th, 2014 at 10:26 AM ^

Hopefully no Michigan qb wears #98 ever again. I love the recognition that DG received, it was a great honor for him, but that should have been for 1 game.  There should be no legends jerseys, I liked the sentiment, but thought it was over done.

I am in favor of one alternate uniform per year. Cant beat the real thing, but recruits eat up alternates.

I dont care about helmet stickers. I am fine either way with them.

I dont care what JH refers OSU as, just as long as they beat them. The Ohio thing was cute for a year until Meyer got hired and owned Hoke for 3 straight years. Dont care how close the games were,  they were still losses.

Hope the BBQ at the Big House stays...awesome recruiting event.

Get rid of Adidas.

How bout winning a road game against a good team...hasnt happened in a while.

 

 

 

 

Joined: 10/08/2010

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westwardwolverine

December 30th, 2014 at 9:24 AM ^

Please, please get rid of the legends jersies. If you have to bust them out, do it for bowl games or something. Its so dumb on so many levels. 

Joined: 11/26/2013

MGoPoints: 9007

MP48

December 30th, 2014 at 10:20 AM ^

Alternate uniform. I am all for tradition, however, these kids are different. They put a high premium on their "swag". It may not seem like a big deal to the fans, but trust me. These kids go "Ga Ga" over new unis. Essentially it is a recruiting tool.

Joined: 09/27/2014

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julesh

December 30th, 2014 at 9:27 AM ^

Maize cannot return until we get Nike back. They have the color trademarked, or something.

I don't get why people make a big deal out of Ohio. Who cares? It's shorter to say than "Ohio State" or "OSU." Everyone knows who you are talking about. It's not an insult to call them that. 

I would like him to stick with the commit rules. It makes sense. Why save a spot for a kid who is not actually committed to you, if he's still looking around? Doesn't mean you stop recruiting him or pull his offer. It just means that you can give his spot to someone else who will actually be committed. 

And, please, NO STICKERS. They ruin an iconic helmet.

Joined: 11/28/2011

MGoPoints: 21974

Alton

December 30th, 2014 at 10:08 AM ^

You can't trademark a color, especially if it is not associated in the public mind with your brand.  Michigan wore Maize for 100+ years before Nike existed.  Nike doesn't own it.  Heck, a court ruled that John Deere can't even trademark their green & yellow on tractors.  (also note that Crayola has a "maize" crayon in their pack of 64.  They don't need permission from Nike to do that).

As for the color itself, I seem to differ from a lot of people in that I like a bright maize.  Not the "highlighter" stuff, but a very bright yellow.  Certainly not the Iowa/Purdue gold that some people seem to prefer.  Remember Bob Ufer from the 1970s:  "A beautiful day for football--a maize sun in a blue sky." 

 

Joined: 07/05/2008

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maize-blue

December 30th, 2014 at 9:27 AM ^

Is there room to keep Roy Manning? I think he could be an asset if they can find a position for him to coach.

Joined: 01/10/2013

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Sven_Da_M

December 30th, 2014 at 9:27 AM ^

... I hope the pageviews here go up courtesy of Jim Harbaugh, so banner ads like this can go:

 

 

... sort of a compliment, though, when you think about it...

Joined: 06/30/2008

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