Joel Klatt to Colin Cowherd just now: “I think Harbaugh is staying at Michigan”
Cowherd’s Fox Sports radio show.
This was in response to Cowherd saying if Harbaugh bolts, Michigan could fall out out of the top tier with Georgia, Alabama and Ohio State.
Klatt pushed back, “You have to include Michigan. They’re going to be loaded next year” … “I personally think Jim Harbaugh is back at Michigan next season. Michigan will remain in that top tier mix.”
January 10th, 2023 at 1:32 PM ^
🤞 Back up the truck!
January 10th, 2023 at 2:09 PM ^
While Harbaugh dithers, a coach I'd love to have replace him will sign elsewhere (Uga OC Monken), and if Harbaugh finally does leave we'll have few options but promoting from within.
I'm not cool with this...
January 10th, 2023 at 2:24 PM ^
Assuming our defense is top 15-20 next year, Monken would be walking into an ideal situation at UM.
Add his creativity to all the talent returning on the offensive side next year, and he would again be, like at UGA, a kid in a candy store. I think he’d get more out of our offense than Harbaugh tbh, at least for the year.
running an entire program and building a culture, of course, is a different story, and an unknown for a guy who hasn’t done it before.
January 10th, 2023 at 2:42 PM ^
You want a 57 year old NFL re-tread as Michigan's head coach?
Is he a good offensive mind? Of course! I'm pretty sure lots of coaches though would look like great offensive minds with the amount of talent that UGA has on that team.
Are recruits going to be flocking to play for Todd Monken?
January 10th, 2023 at 4:28 PM ^
Curious why 57 years old is a problem. Most are upset about Harbaugh looking at NFL offers at this age and leaving us in limbo. So are we thinking we avoid that if a young coach takes over Michigan and wins like we expect?
At 57, if someone lands a job like Michigan and crushes it, pretty sure you’re more likely to have that guy around longer than a guy 45 years old (or younger). My $0.02.
January 10th, 2023 at 8:28 PM ^
Interesting point that I haven't considered. The only way someone young stays is if Michigan is their dream school, or they played there. Yes JH played, but I get him wanting a superbowl since he was so close. I'm hoping Hart stays but could see Moore leaving when Louisville opens again.
January 10th, 2023 at 5:01 PM ^
Dude's 57?! Forget him!
Oh wait - how old is Harbaugh?
As for croots flocking - Uga looked ok with their former walk-on QB.
Jus sayin...
January 10th, 2023 at 6:20 PM ^
When you’re in your late 50s and have very little head coaching experience on your résumé, that’s a red flag. He was a career journeyman before coming to Georgia. Absolutely no one would have considered him P5 head coaching material three years ago.
January 10th, 2023 at 6:35 PM ^
What were people considering Harbaugh 2 years ago?
January 10th, 2023 at 7:06 PM ^
As a soon to be 50 year old who was ambushed by my wife at the Dr today to schedule a colonoscopy. I’d say 57 is the new 49. But Georgias offense last night was fun as hell to watch. We practice catching chickens in a fenced in yard, they practice gutting teams by all means available.
January 10th, 2023 at 5:52 PM ^
Monken was head coach at Southern Miss for three seasons. Went 1-11 his first year (they were 0-12 under Ellis Johnson the prior year, but had won 12 games the year before that with Larry Fedora as HC) then 3-9, and then jumped to 9-5 his final season with a top-15 offense. Interesting that he then left to be Tampa Bay's OC, but was not even going to have play-calling duties as the HC Dirk Koetter was handling that. He was friends with Koetter, but still an odd move for a HC who had just righted the ship at SM.
January 10th, 2023 at 2:48 PM ^
We're a school that's currently under a sham investigation for buying recruits a burger.
There's no way a coach from the SEC, with no laws/rules/regulation, is going to consider coming here and suddenly having to be on the straight and narrow.
January 10th, 2023 at 4:16 PM ^
Seems unlikely that we would hire an assistant from another school. I share the concerns of those who worry about hiring a first time head coach, but would think that IF we did, it would be someone from Michigan.
January 10th, 2023 at 4:58 PM ^
If you watched Uga destroy tcu last night, moving through them effortlessly, with multiple creative formations & QB runs - and in the 1st Q, not after a half of pounding into loaded fronts - you'd still want any of Michigan's assistants to take over if Harbaugh leaves?!
I'm just way too BPONE after that Fiesta, followed by tcu's true talent level being exposed by Uga.
I'm ecstatic Michigan has finally found a way to beat osu & be B10 Champs again, but I no longer believe Harbaugh can go any higher, and while I love Sherrone & Minter, their unpreparedness was exposed last night.
January 10th, 2023 at 5:42 PM ^
Take left over Ritalin that you forgot in your cabinet from childhood!
January 11th, 2023 at 9:33 AM ^
Another way to look at it is that we handed UGA the book on TCU's defense. That first QB run for a TD was similar but to the opposite field as McCarthy's. All the deep passes against the flow of play that they got from us.
We also had no RB1 and RB2 couldn't catch so TCU doesn't have to watch for screens, and no TE1 so the multiple TE sets are off the board. Keep Schoon on the field and get healthy Corum and Edwards for us and we score more than UGA did on TCU, all while exposing McCarthy less before the championship game.
January 10th, 2023 at 5:02 PM ^
Remember Nussmeier and Gattis? Yeah Georgia hit it out of the park with Kirby Smart, but hiring Coordinators riding on coattails as HCs is a gamble. Smart had a long tenure at Bama and basically stole Saban's playbook (on recruiting anyway.)
It is significantly harder to coach Michigan than it is to coach OSU or in the SEC. ...and FWIW I actually think it is harder to coach as MSU than it is Michigan. Yeah they had their steroid years and are more lax on the rules, but they get Michigan, ND and OSUs leftovers.
January 10th, 2023 at 5:19 PM ^
Kirby's a defensive coach, and it's Uga's offense I'm looking at.
Their D is not overly complex, they have great players put in the right places.
But their O is beautiful, much more like Michigan's but better coached & better gameplans.
Monken comes from a family of coaches, I'm not too concerned about him.
My concern if Harbaugh dicks around til there are no other options if he leaves.
January 10th, 2023 at 1:34 PM ^
Klatt is usually right, lets hope he is on this one!
January 10th, 2023 at 1:44 PM ^
Klatt has been consistent in his belief Jim is returning to Michigan and has said so since this year NFL flirtation began so nothing really new here. And he offers no source or reason for his belief, which means it has as much "teeth" as any of the alleged insiders who think he's going to go.
I hope he's right but every day that passes without Harbaugh signing a new contract to stay increasest the chances, in my mind at least, that one of the teams looking for a new HC will make him an offer he cannot refuse. I do not believe waiting is the best response unless Warde's strategy is to let the NFL set his market value and then try and match it.
January 10th, 2023 at 1:50 PM ^
If Warde is waiting for the NFL to set the market, it’s very likely that Michigan is going to be left out in the cold.
The highest paid college coach currently makes 12 million a year. There are six NFL coaches making at least that much if not considerably more. NFL owners have deep, deep pockets. If they really want Harbaugh, they will be able to pay him something that Michigan can’t (won’t?) match. Especially if there is any truth to what the Waltons were planning to offer Harbaugh if he came to Denver.
January 10th, 2023 at 1:56 PM ^
Your post made me think of something I haven't thought of yet. Do you think Warde has made his offer to Jim including a huge pay increase but also a huge buy out that Jim knows ultimately makes this his last stop of his career? If so maybe Jim is making that last test of the water to be sure before signing a deal that he knows locks him out of the NFL for good....
January 10th, 2023 at 2:04 PM ^
I had not thought of that before either and your speculation makes sense if an offer has been made and one would have to think any mega-offer would also include a mega-buyout as part of it.
Personally I'm in the speculative camp that this is far less about money and far more about principle and Jim's perception that the NCAA is selectively targeting Michigan for enforcement of arcane rules while turning a blind eye to their favored child the SEC. The timing of the announcement (and I'm sure he knew of it well before it went public) and his latest flirtation with the NFL line up very neatly in my book.
January 10th, 2023 at 2:22 PM ^
If this is truly what is going on, I hope Michigan just tells the NCAA to fuck itself.
January 10th, 2023 at 4:15 PM ^
So we tell them to f-off, and that does what?
They still punish it, and our recorse is "leave the NCAA"
People act like we're going to tell them off and they'll just say "Oh, I guess I won't punish you then"
January 10th, 2023 at 2:59 PM ^
I've never been of the impression it was about money for Jim... To many things like sharing the bonuses to the people who lost out during covid etc say its not. However I'm of the camp that Warde made it about money AND about locking Jim down so this circus doesn't go on every year. I think he possibly did that with an offer already which has not been leaked that Jim looked at and said wow that is really good however if I have an NFL itch I better be damned sure I don't need to scratch it before signing that. Its even possible Jim and agent tried to talk down the lock in part of a contract and were told this is the deal for that money. I have waivered so many times on this. Part of me thinks it was all a ploy to get in the park of what they wanted but that doesn't seem to be who he is in any way. I think Jim is figuring out if that itch is there and if he can live without scratching it and that is a 50/50 proposition no one can nail down at this point. Don't blame him either way he has done what he came to Michigan to do but I'd sure love to keep him!
January 10th, 2023 at 2:06 PM ^
I’m of the mindset that an NFL owner treats a buyout like an inconvenience. It’s something that isn’t fun to deal with, but it’s easily dealt with.
Buyouts are in the millions. NFL owners have billions and billions of dollars. As Walter White would say, “Billions. With a B.” Buy-outs are chump change to them.
If they really want Harbaugh, they’re going to pay his buyout, whatever it is. The only thing that will get NFL owners to stop calling him and back off for good is if
1) Harbaugh stops returning their calls enough years in a row to where they just decide it’s not worth the effort anymore.
2) Or he leaves.
Otherwise, this is going to be a thing every year.
January 10th, 2023 at 2:44 PM ^
If his buyout starts at something in the range of $60M and reduced each year there after in a 10 year deal, it will definitely deter owners for the first 4-5 years of the contract. They’re not throwing around money like that, even if they’re billionaires.
January 10th, 2023 at 3:08 PM ^
NFL owners and execs are god damn idiots.
They let 6 games during the pandemic turn Harbaugh into damaged goods until 14 games later he suddenly wasnt. That is some fandom flip flopping there. After all he did to go from unwanted to a hot commodity in the last 5% of the games he has coached said enough about these NFL types. They are all just Matt Millens with better luck. Well maybe that was harsh but close enough.
January 10th, 2023 at 4:06 PM ^
"NFL owners and execs are god damn idiots."
You could also have written
"Fans are god damn idiots."
January 10th, 2023 at 6:11 PM ^
Why choose?
January 10th, 2023 at 2:07 PM ^
This is what I have read from "insiders". The offer is there to make Jim the highest paid in the Big 10. There's a big buyout to leave, and that's the sticking point. There has to be more too it, because they are also saying this is an ego thing between Warde and Jim.
January 10th, 2023 at 2:19 PM ^
If this is “an ego thing between Jim and Warde” Warde should be told to give in and move on or be fired.
January 10th, 2023 at 2:26 PM ^
I think the writing is on the wall for Warde...he's losing faith with SOME on the board.
January 10th, 2023 at 3:02 PM ^
Just what I was hoping wouldn't happen. You aren't telling Jim or forcing Jim to do anything he doesn't want to do. That is who he is... He took the pay cut cause he understood he had under performed. He go it. If this becomes an ego thing look the F out not going to end well for either side.
January 10th, 2023 at 3:40 PM ^
Who? What “insiders”? I’ve heard mgoblog speculation with absolutely nothing to back up anything.
January 10th, 2023 at 2:12 PM ^
ding ding ding
January 10th, 2023 at 5:30 PM ^
I think you may be onto something here. So, Warde makes him “this is your last coaching stop” offer, with the full support of the Michigan money cannon. Big, big buyout which really says we’re married for life. JH knows that if he accepts, this is his last stop. This is where he will end his career. He asks for time to ponder and dip his toe in the NFL one last time. And Warde says by all means. Think this over….but not too long. This explains the apparent dalliance with the NFL contrary to last year’s promise that that was over. He is actually doing this with Warde’s consent and support. It also explains JH’s ambiguous comments. I suspect the offer was presented after the OSU game. The NCCA allegations are,a,stupid distraction which nobody takes seriously. JH knows that he is morally and ethically right and will not allow the NCAA to make this determination. Warde agrees.
January 10th, 2023 at 2:01 PM ^
And he offers no source or reason for his belief,
He has had a dozen convos with Harbaugh last two years.
For example, he gave insight into those conversations just from a few days ago. . https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/schlereth-and-evans-hour-3-01-04-23/id496230437?i=1000592464238 Starts around 8 min mark
Klatt said Harbaugh isn't compensated in line with other top coaches.
He gave the same reason a few days before what this article from Perlissero and Rapoport is reporting. https://www.nfl.com/news/broncos-plan-to-interview-jim-harbaugh-this-week-could-new-big-money-extension-k?campaign=Twitter_atn
"While Harbaugh is listening to NFL teams, those close to him consistently speak of his love for Michigan and how much that job still means to him. There's still time for the school to reciprocate that love contractually, and with the Broncos interview looming, the clock might be ticking to make it happen"
It seems like compensation is a not insignificant factor in this.
January 10th, 2023 at 1:35 PM ^
I think nobody knows and anyone who says “I think…” is just guessing.
January 10th, 2023 at 1:38 PM ^
So you, too, are guessing about whether anyone who says "I think" is just guessing????
January 10th, 2023 at 1:40 PM ^
Ah, true, but in that case you too are just guessing about anyone who thinks anyone who says "I think" is just guessing.
January 10th, 2023 at 2:01 PM ^
I think his fingers were crossed too
January 10th, 2023 at 1:39 PM ^
I think you're onto something, but that's me just guessing!
January 10th, 2023 at 1:39 PM ^
Is there any sort of timeline here? Like, when will a decision be made and this (annual) nightmare end?
Signed,
Exhausted
January 10th, 2023 at 1:56 PM ^
The only real timeline you can go by here is knowing this will be over, at the latest, by the time that the last NFL HC vacancy is filled. But that could be as late as waiting until right before/after the Super Bowl.
But now that vacancies are officially coming open, the chatter is going to get worse before it gets better. This won’t end until either the final job is filled, or Harbaugh comes out and definitively says he’s not leaving, no exceptions, and has signed a contract indicating as such.
January 10th, 2023 at 1:40 PM ^
I really doubt Klatt is saying this with Inside information. Sounds like vibe-based intuition
January 10th, 2023 at 2:36 PM ^
This is exactly what it is.
January 10th, 2023 at 2:54 PM ^
"Vibe Based Intuition" would make a great R&B Funk band name