A Rational Response - Rich Eisen show
Rich Eisen recently had a reasonable response to this whole "Harbaugh to NFL" stuff.
January 4th, 2023 at 11:24 AM ^
Are there people who honestly believe JH wouldn't prefer to be in the NFL? Like.. what is this belief based on other than hope?
January 4th, 2023 at 11:31 AM ^
49 - think of any action / decision by the NCAA in the eight years of Harbaugh’s tenure that have been “advantageous” to Michigan, in any respect. I cannot think of any.
January 4th, 2023 at 11:36 AM ^
If i were him I'd rather be in the NFL... dont bland him one bit for that. But then I wouldn't tell everyone I'd be back in 23 and I'd be honest about listening to offers. (Like he was rightly praised for last year)
January 4th, 2023 at 12:17 PM ^
I think there are, certainly here. This is a board for people who are huge Michigan fans, and a lot of them definitely think that way - rather coach at Michigan then anywhere, and think that Harbaugh should feel the same way. And probably thought he did feel that way, considering he came here when he could have stayed in the NFL then.
There's a lot of talk of "this is hurting recruiting" but I think the biggest driver of the "Harbaugh should kill this or he should be fired" talk is really just some feelings being hurt by folks here by the idea that he doesn't just automatically want to stay at Michigan forever. I mean, that's even part of the myth around Bo, right? The when A&M tried to throw a ton of money at him, his love of Michigan was so great that he said no without even thinking about it?
January 4th, 2023 at 11:30 AM ^
Guess I didn't know that Jim was contractually obligated to inform Michigan of any conversations with the NFL. Interesting as he had a conversation with Carolina. Guessing Warde has a pretty good idea what's actually going on or Jim broke his contract with Michigan and the guaranteed money owed. Just don't get why if Jim is staying he doesn't come out and say so outside of leveraging this situation with Michigan for something he feels he needs. NIL, More Money, and the list goes on.....
January 4th, 2023 at 11:47 AM ^
I assume this is all about negotiations. Not saying he wouldn't take a NFL job, because if he doesn't at least consider it, it lessens his leverage.
He's a competitive guy, and like most people at the top of their profession, he probably wants the organization to show him monetarily that he's a top coach. He might give half of the money back, but that's not relevant.
If it's about negotiating posture, the last thing he can do right now is say something definitive. We fans will just have to put down our entitlement for a while and let it play out.
January 4th, 2023 at 12:06 PM ^
I tend to agree that it's a negotiating posture. For the past 2 seasons we've been a top 4 team, yet Jim's salary isn't even in the top 10. There are even 3 coaches in the same division making more! That wouldn't sit well with me if I was him, and I'd be more than a little pissed at my employer about it.
This whole situation has sports agent written all over it. There's a reason Jim hired one this year, and it's not necessarily because he wants to coach in the NFL.
January 4th, 2023 at 1:01 PM ^
Exactly, I'm mid-management and really like my job, but if I found out people in the same position made more than me I'd be irked and say something about it. Probably affect how much I liked my job in general. In fact, not probably. It would.
January 4th, 2023 at 11:43 AM ^
Only 5 more days until the season ends and NFL jobs open up. I think he's gone this time.
Do you know how hard it is to go undefeated like Michigan did this season and slip up like they did last weekend, only to start all over again? I hate NFL but he would have a life at home as an NFL coach and make more money than he is now. Who could blame him for that?
January 4th, 2023 at 11:56 AM ^
People blaming Harbaugh here and saying good riddance are unappreciative and delusional. We’ve seen time and time again that the AD and Harbaugh don’t have a particularly warm relationship. If Warde were competent he would have asked Harbaugh to swear on the Bible he was staying, then signed him to a $10+ million contract with a $15 million buyout on November 28, 2021.
Harbaugh has this program at perhaps the highest pinnacle it has reached since the Korean War. We all know how quickly things can derail though. Anyone who wants to play coaching roulette right now is out of their mind.
January 4th, 2023 at 1:50 PM ^
I don't think anyone wants to play roulette - I don't. But I do wish he would make a decision and end all the speculation. It's self-defeating if he stays, and a stab in the back if he leaves. Because of the rumors, recruiting is dead again. You really think Harbor or Davis are going to sign up for this circus every year? I don't...
The fact that it's something he could easily end is what's killing everyone. He said he was done with the NFL, but he's clearly not. Doesn't matter if he dialed or just answered - he's doing what he said he wouldn't do.
January 4th, 2023 at 12:01 PM ^
Coach Harbaugh is obviously under paid. I wish that issue was resolved well before now. And he’s entitled to seek employment elsewhere if that is his wish. He’s done a lot for the University of Michigan and deserves our thanks and support going forward.
January 4th, 2023 at 12:03 PM ^
Everyone last year: He has undermined his program. We will see what comes of this awful flirtation with the NFL and coaching turnover.
Harbaugh: Goes 13-0 and dominates Ohio State again.
This year: He has undermined his program. We'll see what comes of...
January 4th, 2023 at 12:53 PM ^
Problem with this, to the extent undermining occurred, it probably won't show up for a while. For example, impacts of reduced recruiting, to the extent it happened, impacted the class just signed. And that Class won't have much of an impact on on-field performance for a couple of years.
Like when Larry Coker took over the U. First year they looked great, but impact was felt in subsequent years.
January 4th, 2023 at 12:16 PM ^
Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Harbaugh say last time that this would not be a reoccurring issue, and that he'd be the M coach for as long as M would have him? I.e. the only way he'd leave before retirement is if he's fired?
January 4th, 2023 at 12:29 PM ^
"I called (Michigan athletic director) Warde (Manuel) and I asked him if he wanted me to be the head coach. And he said, 'Yes, 100 percent,'" Harbaugh said. "And I said, OK then. That’s what I want to do.' And I told him, 'Warde, this will not be a reoccurring theme every year. This was a one-time thing.'"
January 4th, 2023 at 8:01 PM ^
This is the quote that is now in retrospect upsetting people. Unless he’s being extremely coy and essentially trolling, it should. It is Jim Harbaugh so I wouldn’t put it past him that if when he says ‘I don’t know the future’ he means more like what if I find out I have some sort of major health concern or something like that. I get that it makes perfect sense with the NFL talk, but we have seen these guys chirp about him leaving for a while now and it’s been wrong every time so far. Harbaugh, as we know, isn’t like any other coach really in all of football. The fact he took his pay cut and then donated all of his bonuses should show that. Has that or anything even remotely similar ever happened before?
January 4th, 2023 at 12:29 PM ^
Could Jim still be pissed he had to take a pay cut? If after 2 years of less than desirable results, he is asked to take a pay cut. After 2 years of the CFP, shouldn’t he be reevaluated for another raise?
For me, I can’t imagine another coach that suits Michigan football more than Jim. I would give him whatever he wants, even a lifetime contract at this point.
He loves the school, just thinking it might an F U to the administration.
January 4th, 2023 at 8:06 PM ^
I’m holding out hope he’s grooming Jay. Clearly they have coaching chops as a family. I don’t know if he’s ready yet at all but he has been a good coach for us in multiple spots now. Maybe down the road.
January 4th, 2023 at 1:35 PM ^
It would be nice for a comment from Harbaugh, but that is only for the fans security or lack thereof.
Nobody knows what he has told his staff. He may have told them that he's not going anywhere but he's using this to get everyone on the staff more money.
He may already be communicating with recruits that he's not going anywhere and will make a public statement on that in the near future.
Or, he is talking to all these NFL teams to see if they can work something out. Nobody knows what or what is not being said to the people that need to know. This board is not in the need to know category.