It’s that time of year again, but…
So the annual Harbaugh to the NFL clickbait has started.
I am pretty sure I saw video of Harbaugh declaring simply that he will be coaching Michigan in 2023. Does anyone here have that clip? My recollection is that he had a blue shirt with horizontal stripes.
January 2nd, 2023 at 2:42 PM ^
But does he play counterstrike?
January 2nd, 2023 at 2:45 PM ^
Strong point.
January 2nd, 2023 at 2:44 PM ^
Sopwith What does this mean? I guess I’m not getting what you are saying. He’s being quiet about NFL teams because he doesn’t think he’s interested? Or am I missing what you are saying?
January 2nd, 2023 at 3:43 PM ^
My interpretation is that unlike last year, JH is not seeking an NFL job. Does that preclude the possibility of an offer he can't refuse? No. But that's a big contrast to last year when
(a) he was proactively reaching out to the NFL to say "I'm interested" and
(b) the offer he couldn't refuse would have been literally any offer from any team
Or maybe the source got tired of seeing info get posted on MGoBlog that wasn't even in the national media at that point. Don't think the person is a reader, though, and I never got a "shut yer big yap Sopwith." (except from a few folks on this board who didn't want to hear about (a) and (b))
January 2nd, 2023 at 2:50 PM ^
You were dead-on accurate then, and Harbaugh noticeably declined to answer any speculation.
Harbaugh pre-emptively addressed such speculation already this year.
He is not incapable of changing his mind, but I’m inclined to believe what he said. And so far the noise is only coming from the outside, which is the same side that said he wasn’t coming to Michigan in the first place.
January 2nd, 2023 at 3:14 PM ^
I agree with what you said. BUT, it’s easy to make generic ‘I’m at Michigan in 2023’ comments when there aren’t any rumors or speculation. Even if he was in fact keeping his options open for a return to NFL, he’s not going to be honest about that and potentially have guys hit the portal and ruin another recruiting class if he doesn’t get an NFL job and is back at M in 2023. Until he comes out and specifically addresses these rumors, nothing he has said really holds much weight.
January 2nd, 2023 at 4:39 PM ^
He said it exactly when the rumors and speculation started. Right after B1G championship and the team earning second bid to the CFP
January 2nd, 2023 at 4:23 PM ^
Thanks for the information, Sopwith. I said this last year, but I think Harbaugh realizes the only way the NFL will work is is he’s given the final say in personnel and draft picks but I just don’t see any NFL team that’s going to offer that. I don’t have any insider info, it’s just a guy feel.
Also: Denver looks like a disaster job. Brutal division, no first round pick this year and an albatross of a QB contract. I realize there are only 32 NFL jobs, but yikes.
January 2nd, 2023 at 4:53 PM ^
FWIW, if he wants to coach in the NFL, the franchise state and the personnel decision making won’t be obstacles. They weren’t last year, when there was apparent interest in the Raiders and he wanted to take the Vikings job for a new GM.
If he wants to go he’ll go.
Scott Bell is now taking this seriously. I’m honestly more concerned by the absence of chatter from Webb and Bacon. If they know this is a nothingburger they’ll say so, and they haven’t yet.
January 2nd, 2023 at 6:59 PM ^
i was skeptical until you italicized *very*. i saw that and i was in!
January 3rd, 2023 at 12:36 AM ^
Haha yes learned that from A Few Good Men.
Demi Moore: "I object!"
Judge: "Overruled"
Demi Moore: "I strenuously object!"
Oh, well, strenuously... why didn't you say so?
January 2nd, 2023 at 2:17 PM ^
I’m pretty sure that Harbaugh is yet to ever voluntarily end a job mid-contract. In fact, I recall this as his stated point of principle when we hired him (he was finally off-contract with the 49ers) and it was then repeated during his NFL dalliances a year ago (when he was finally between contracts with Michigan).
I bet principles like that, with evidence of their repeated holding in the past, tend to hold again in the future.
January 2nd, 2023 at 2:18 PM ^
I thought Seth addressed this very topic this morning.
January 2nd, 2023 at 2:43 PM ^
And what did he say and where?
I'd be happy to do my own research
January 2nd, 2023 at 2:19 PM ^
Ah yes, the old "anonymous source" again. Fun times.
January 2nd, 2023 at 2:20 PM ^
I like the gang at the Athletic but this reporting is garbage. It’s completely hypothetical right now (no interviews even!) and Harbaugh famously keeps this kind of stuff close to the vest. They also didn’t even mention that, unlike last year, Harbaugh has said pretty clearly he will be back next season. It’s so dumb.
Edit: I understand the argument that this could be Harbaugh himself trying to put the info out there. I'd be surprised if that is the case, because I don't think he tends to operate anonymously via reporters like that and for other reasons. That said, if they aren't absolutely sure this is straight from the horse's mouth I think it is very poor practice.
January 2nd, 2023 at 2:35 PM ^
Except he didn't say that.
He said "we'll be back".
January 2nd, 2023 at 2:41 PM ^
Harbaugh said he would be "back enthusiastically coaching the Wolverines in 2023."
January 2nd, 2023 at 2:56 PM ^
Again, he didn't say "I'll be back". Its too bad the journalist got his quote wrong.
How about you watch the video and then tell me when he said "I'll be back".
He's got a thing with cryptically wording things. He muttered 'we'll' not 'I'll'. Dude is smart.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mil0T-RveMg
January 2nd, 2023 at 3:20 PM ^
Thanks for posting the clip. I had not watched it and I agree it seems to say "we'll" rather than "I'll," though it is somewhat garbled.
That said, it doesn't change my understanding of his meaning. When I tell someone that "we're catching the 7am flight to Detroit tomorrow" I am not giving a subtle hint that really just my wife and kids are getting on that plane and I'm taking the 8 o'clock to Denver.
January 2nd, 2023 at 3:35 PM ^
Wouldn’t Harbaugh be part of the “we”? I’m not following your logic.
January 2nd, 2023 at 3:37 PM ^
My logic is Harbaugh is smart. He didn't clearly say "I WILL BE BACK" and it was probably a calculated response he had brewing because he knew the question would be asked.
January 2nd, 2023 at 4:49 PM ^
Everything with Harbaugh is always "we" unless he's taking credit for the Philly Special call, for example, to deflect criticism from his staff and players
January 2nd, 2023 at 3:01 PM ^
Username is absolutely 100% dead on accurate.
January 2nd, 2023 at 3:15 PM ^
Thank you.
January 2nd, 2023 at 2:39 PM ^
Bruce Feldman is legit and has a reputation to up hold. He is not going to report something as a "rumor".
The smoke of Harbaugh to the NFL is real.
January 2nd, 2023 at 2:41 PM ^
Exactly. Bruce isn't Mike Florio looking for clicks.. Dude is legit.
January 2nd, 2023 at 2:53 PM ^
He works for a subscription site; he's not above click bait.
January 2nd, 2023 at 2:45 PM ^
I think it’s interesting that, unlike last year, Harbaugh has pretty clearly said he’ll be back next season. Could he have been lying? Sure, but I think there’s more reason to doubt this report now than accept it at face value.
January 2nd, 2023 at 2:58 PM ^
He never said that. He was speaking in context of the coaching staff. Saying "we'll'' be back. Never once did he say "I'll" be back.
January 2nd, 2023 at 3:09 PM ^
If someone can actually post a clip of Harbaugh clearly saying "ILL BE BACK NEXT YEAR" I'll actually respect the downvotes.
Fact is, a lot of you (including the media) are misconstruing his actual quote about being back. Never once did he say "I'll be back". But if he did, just prove me wrong. And don't post a quote from an article. I want the video. We must be watching and hearing different things.
January 2nd, 2023 at 3:19 PM ^
Do you understand the term "splitting hair"? That's what you are doing.
January 2nd, 2023 at 3:31 PM ^
Hey man. I'm just saying he didn't specifically state "I'll be back'' like everyone else is saying.
He knew the question was coming, and he could have very easily and verbally said "I WILL BE BACK" but he instead muttered ''We'll" because the dude is like a politician. lol.
Yes, this is probably splitting hairs with how he decided to phrase the answer to the question, but it wasn't a clear and obvious 'I WILL BE BACK'. The whole context of his answer was around the coaching staff. Not just him.
January 2nd, 2023 at 3:58 PM ^
You do understand that you said
The whole context of his answer was around the coaching staff. Not just him.
So perhaps he's saying that, unlike last year, he doesn't expect his staff to lose both lead coordinators. You know, in response to the question being asked. There's a level of linguist gymanstics I'm not aware of that would mean "we" and "not just him" actually means "not him" and "everyone in 'we' but 'me'".
January 2nd, 2023 at 3:28 PM ^
“No man knows the future, but I think that people that think we’ve done a good job and are pleased with the job that we’ve done here at Michigan are gonna be very happy to learn that I’ll be back enthusiastically coaching the Wolverines in 2023,” Harbaugh said.
https://www.maizenbrew.com/football/2022/12/4/23493452/michigan-football-jim-harbaugh-nfl-rumors
And here's the interview where he said it. And in fact he appeared to say "you'll", but he also paused for a second so it got kind of mumbled together. But if you honestly think some inclusive term "we" didn't include the guy speaking it then you're just trying to get mad.
January 2nd, 2023 at 3:34 PM ^
Do I have to post this again? He didn't say I'll. It's a shame maizenbrew got the quote wrong.
He actually muttered ''we'll'' twice. LOL.
January 2nd, 2023 at 3:37 PM ^
but when you say "we" you're referring to a group that you're a part of.....
he didn't say "they'll" be back....which refers to a group that you aren't a part of...
We're going full on.... "That depends on what the meaning of the word is, is." here
January 2nd, 2023 at 3:55 PM ^
It's funny that I provided the actual link to the actual interview, not some cut-up sports TV spot, and you still didn't watch it and instead repeated this illogical interpretation of "we" as being exclusive of the speaker.
Yes, he said it twice that him and the staff will be back. I know you think you're being clever here but you aren't; you're just being contrarian for the sake of it.
January 2nd, 2023 at 4:46 PM ^
It's funny that you actually provided the incorrect quote in bold, and then followed it up by posting the actual video of him NOT saying "I'll" (which I have posted a few times already) but continuing to double down on your argument. LOL.
.
January 2nd, 2023 at 3:41 PM ^
Do you understand that "we" includes the person speaking. It's absolutely meaningless whether or not he said "I'll" or "we'll". What a ridiculous take.
January 2nd, 2023 at 4:17 PM ^
Harbaugh is also a grown man and not a teenager that plays with words.
January 2nd, 2023 at 5:16 PM ^
LOL. You can't honestly be serious with this. Yes, Harbaugh is a grown man. But we all have seen and Harbaugh act like a teenager.
January 2nd, 2023 at 3:19 PM ^
Even if he did say that, why wouldn’t he? Do you think if he was keeping his options open for an NFL return he’d be honest about it and lose recruits and players to the portal? Of course not. This is not to say he is looking but until he shuts down the rumors, the option is in play.
January 2nd, 2023 at 2:20 PM ^
JFC. Places like that Atlantic who charge you $1.99 to find out that a close “source” of Harbaugh knows Jack shit. If Harbaugh wants to leave the I’ll thank him and wish him well. If not then call these jagoffs out for fukin up his recruiting. Either way this shits just downright bad for business.
January 2nd, 2023 at 3:26 PM ^
Yeah, I generally like the writing at the Athletic but when they try to get on the gossip wagon they usually look really bad.
If we all want to save ourselves some time go back and re-read the daily Harbaugh threads from last year on this board and see just how often "sources" didn't know anything but were reported breathlessly because NFL beat writers (and, sadly, a lot of college writers) are just lazy water-carriers for teams and league and will do whatever it takes to get some engagement.
If Harbaugh leaves then so be it but this feels like a lot of people trying to sound smarter than they are based on the knowledge that nobody will take them to task if they're wrong.
January 2nd, 2023 at 2:20 PM ^
last year Jim was quite clear, even telling recruits, he was going to talk to NFL teams and test the waters... which he did.
When the Vikings didn't work out, he told Warde he was done with the NFL stuff and was the HC at Michigan as long as Michigan wanted him.
Jim is a man of his word... he's not going anywhere.
Feldman needs to shut his filthy pie hole!
January 2nd, 2023 at 2:24 PM ^
If he’s truly done with the NFL stuff and wants to be at Michigan until the end, Warde needs to rework his contract to make him one of the highest paid coaches in CFB (deservedly so) and add a substantial buyout to make it prohibitively expensive for NFL teams to poach him. Otherwise this will never go away from a negative recruiting perspective year in and year out.
January 2nd, 2023 at 2:45 PM ^
That would involve Warde having any idea what he's doing.