OT: Carnival of the Absurd in Post-Game 49er's Locker Room
Having enjoyed a fellow member's post regarding Jed York's post-game apology tweet, I figured fellow members might also enjoy a peek into the 49er's post-game locker room.
According to Tim Kawakami, the 49er's post-game locker room scene was "bizarre." As evidence for this proposition, Mr. Kawakami cites the following evidence:
(1) "Team president Paraag Marathe was in the room for Harbaugh's postgame presser," which is something Mr. Kawakami has "never seen before," and
(2) "Jed York and Trent Baalke were in the trainer's room next to the locker room, pacing around," which is something Mr. Kawakami has "also never seen before."
Mr. Kawakami speculates on the meaning of the foregoing evidence, though only at tweet depth. For superfans like ourselves, it's worth a glance:
http://www.foxsports.com/nfl/story/49ers-ceo-jed-york-tweets-apology-fa…
Of course, disclaimers regarding it's-a-bad-loss, naturally-49er's-brass-is-going-to-be-upset apply. On the other hand, generalized and persistent rumors regarding 49er locker room dissatisfaction and 49er administration dissatisfaction remain. Together, I take the foregoing to mean that the kettle is starting to boil in SF.
My only hope is that Michigan's AD and Office of the President can get their respective acts together in time to make a play for Harbaugh.
Because it appears they will get a chance.
(Long-time lurker, first time poster. Go Blue!)
November 28th, 2014 at 8:54 PM ^
November 28th, 2014 at 8:57 PM ^
I think most fans want Harbaugh because his name is thrown around so much, but personally I'd rather Michigan make a clean break from "tradition" as it relates to former players/"Michigan Men". I get that Harbaugh is desirable, but I see a world in which he becomes enough of a headache that fans too sour on him, and I'm just not sure what type of style he would try to run here. I'd be fine if he came, I guess, but I think I'm in the minority amongst the "superfans" and absolutely in the minority when it comes to the regular fans. Most I've heard don't want Miles, but would settle for him if they can't get Harbaugh.
November 28th, 2014 at 9:29 PM ^
I have no idea why people negged you.
November 28th, 2014 at 10:33 PM ^
In a perfect world, I want a younger coach like Herman from OSU, Scott Frost from Oregon, or Josh Heupel from OU if Michigan went offensive coordiantor, or Dave Aranda from Wiscy or Kirby Smart at Alabama if you want to go defensive coordinator. Now, I get a bunch of those guys are reaches or downright impossibilities, but I absolutely believe Herman or Aranda would jump in a heartbeat to Michigan, and both of them know the region and have decent track records.
Beyond young coordinators, I guess getting a guy like Mullen (provided he beats Ole Miss and finishes out the season well) would be a great shot in the arm, even though I think most people view this year as a bit of an outlier. He probably wouldn't go 11-2 or whatever in his first year, but he absolutely feels like a longer-term team-builder than Hoke. Other guys of that ilk might be Mark Stoops at Kentucky (who can absolutely recruit the area and, frankly, would take the upgrade to Michigan despite what he's putting together in Lexington) or, again in a dream world, Patterson from TCU.
The problem I see is that this is a bad year to be looking for a coach because a couple of nice possibilities (Charlie Strong and Chris Peterson) were snapped up last year, and so this year everyone is trying to turn imperfect options into top choices, kinda like when Michigan settled on Hoke and then OSU get Meyer the year after. And I've never been a huge fan of Harbaugh because, I don't know, he comes across as an ass who did some great things at Stanford but also had a bit of luck in a short timeframe and, no pun intended, got one of the best 4-5 QBs in the NFL Andrew Luck early on and a couple of NFL-level playmakers in Gerhart, Taylor, and Sherman that were a combination of good player development and, maybe, a bit of good luck on flyers. And he's done good things with the 49ers, but that was also a team that for 5-6 years was the epitome of underperforming its talent level before he showed up, so while he's obviously taken them farther than before it wasn't like he took over a flaming car wreck and turned them into studs.
Beyond the personality, though, I just am so tired of Michigan chasing ghosts of the past. Everyone wants the next Bo, as if that is even possible in college football today the way it was back in the 70s and 80s. Harbaugh is probably the best coach out there with strong Michigan ties, and it just feels like they'll settle for neutral instead of taking a real chance and trying to make this program innovative again. Harbaugh (or shudder Miles) will come in and try to be the most rootin'-tootin' Michigan-brand of football out there, and with good talent they'll be successful to an extent. But what we've seen in college football is that elite talent only goes so far, and that good schematics and play design will let you take that next step. I'm not sure Harbaugh has shown enough in that department to make me believe he'll truly innovate. I'd love to be proven wrong, but I've said for months around here that I'm not sold on him as the savior in A2.
As for the negging, it's old-hat around here for rarely-involved people to drive by and dislike anyone who doesn't agree with the crowd, and unless they post a comment or criticism it isn't worth my effort.
November 28th, 2014 at 11:47 PM ^
Meyer is the innovator, not Herman.
November 29th, 2014 at 5:19 AM ^
November 29th, 2014 at 12:35 PM ^
I guess we have a difference of opinions. Michigan not taking risks is the reason they have been an after-thought nationally for over a decade.
I'm sure Michigan will make a run at Harbaugh, but man is this place going to lose its shit if he doesn't come on board.
November 29th, 2014 at 2:24 AM ^
I'd take Harbaugh in a minute if he were available *DESPITE* his ties to Michigan. He's succeeded at every level. Can you argue with his resume or record?? He's done it without the nepotism that some other coach had the benefit of. All the great coaches have some luck. They all sort of are in the right place at the right time. Does Belichek win as many games as he had without Tom Brady? Or Walsh without Montana?
Harbaugh breathes and poops excellence. If he's a bit gruff and blunt, who cares? As long as he wins a lot and wins cleanly, he can eat Tofurky and sing Josh Groban songs all he wants for all I care. 
November 29th, 2014 at 12:46 PM ^
Again, I have a difference of opinion about Harbaugh as a long-term solution at UM compared to the bulk of people here. Belichek and Walsh also had success for many, many more years than Harbaugh with a variety of changes on their teams; Harbaugh coached basically 4 years in college, has been a HC in the pros for 4 more years (and will be out at the end of the year), and then he'll be moving on to (I guess) Michigan or another pro gig. He has looked reasonably good at all those stops, but San Fran started to "struggle" when his San Fran teams started to get injured, guys left, etc. i.e. when things started to change and Harbaugh, frankly, annoyed enough people to start turning on him.
I think the issue is that I want Michigan to break from tradition a bit and other people want them to grab this shing star of an alum. It's a difference of opinion.
November 29th, 2014 at 3:01 AM ^
I think you're trying to break the hive mind here, but it's wrong to deny Harbaugh is the best option available.
Otherwise, I too would much rather see Herman or Mullen than Miles or Schiano.
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November 29th, 2014 at 1:00 PM ^
I didn't say Stanford was underachieving - I think that we have a small-ish sample size with him there, and he got a of couple of generic 3* kids becoming "better" than their rankings. Those absolutely should be counted for him, and winning at Stanford is amazing, but I am just not falling in love with him based on that.
Having a guy drafted in the NFL is great, but I'm not putting a huge stock in it.
I don't have an issue with the hive mind; I have never liked Harbaugh as a HC. I didn't like him the last time Michigan was looking, and I don't love his attitude. And as I've said, I'd rather Michigan go off the beaten path and try to get a young guy who can grow, not a 50-year-old guy who has bounced around programs and, while a winner, might not be a good long-term solution.
November 28th, 2014 at 9:08 PM ^
It is talked about as a genuine possibility across the fanbase and beyond. As noted earlier in this thread, even the Columbus Dispatch argued today that Michigan should try to hire Harbaugh.
November 29th, 2014 at 12:40 AM ^
November 28th, 2014 at 8:42 PM ^
November 28th, 2014 at 9:14 PM ^
November 28th, 2014 at 9:42 PM ^
November 29th, 2014 at 4:54 AM ^
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November 28th, 2014 at 10:02 PM ^
November 28th, 2014 at 10:57 PM ^
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November 28th, 2014 at 10:09 PM ^
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November 28th, 2014 at 10:52 PM ^
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November 29th, 2014 at 12:27 AM ^
Had me at HELLO./s
November 29th, 2014 at 12:34 AM ^
What about this scenario: 49ers KNOW that Harbaugh is leaving to come to Michigan, so they are planning on canning him regardless of what happens on the field to save face.
In any event, I predict this:
*This gif has to find it's way into every Harbaugh thread along with Crazy Ron Paul, and the Harbaugh Head flying to Michigan...
November 29th, 2014 at 11:48 AM ^
Hi DeBored.
Where is that video from (guy with dinosaur costume and kids going crazy)...that is off the chain!
November 29th, 2014 at 9:49 AM ^
but it's kind of ironic that we are hoping for a failed NFL coach to turn our program around (I know Saban, Pete...)
November 29th, 2014 at 10:22 AM ^
November 29th, 2014 at 10:28 AM ^
November 29th, 2014 at 12:06 PM ^
AKA 3 more NFL championship games than the Lions have played in during the last 40+ years. Yeah, some kind of failure there.
Harbaugh is only a failure at kissing ass. He won't get on his knees and kiss the ass of the 34 year old silver-spoon trust-fund baby CEO who is running that Niners. That's what he's failing at.