bronxblue

January 20th, 2024 at 12:36 PM ^

Michigan is never going to get a bunch of 5* kids who committed to Alabama to swap to them.

They also just hired BoB as their OC, the one guy who somehow coached 8 years with Saban and Brady/Bellicheck and didn't win a single title.  Maybe it all works out for them but they are still breaking in a new QB and have to replace a top-5 WR.

This is the deal with Harbaugh - he wins but he's a bit of an asshole when it comes to his own career (which is his right) and so he'll jerk around this fanbase until the NFL tells him to go away again for, I believe, the 4th year in a row.  He won a title and so he's earned the right to pick where he winds up but everyone needs to stop acting like this isn't 100% in his hands.

Joined: 11/22/2008

MGoPoints: 171931

jmblue

January 20th, 2024 at 12:41 PM ^

How actively did Harbaugh pursue the NFL last year?  IIRC, the Broncos came to Ann Arbor to talk to him and that was about it.

This seems more serious than last year.  Given all that's transpired over the last six months with the NCAA/Big Ten, I can't blame him if he's considering leaving.  I suspect his "unreasonable" demand to have immunity in case of NCAA punishment is going to become a standard thing in coaches' contracts going forward, given that the NCAA now reserves the right to punish head coaches for things they may not have known about.  I think U-M would do well to accommodate him on that.

Joined: 11/07/2008

MGoPoints: 102947

bronxblue

January 20th, 2024 at 1:24 PM ^

After 2021 he flew to Minneapolis and expected to get the job.  Last year he talked to the Panthers and the Broncos, and while we can argue about how close some of those were the usual connected people talked about there being real interest on Harbaugh's end and a strong sense he'd leave if offered.  This honestly feels like a continuation of that same cycle yet again, only with some names changed.  

He's been considering leaving for years now.  It's not unreasonable to expect immunity from the NCAA but I also don't buy that this year's dalliance with the NFL is functionally different than the last few.  Harbaugh just won a title and wants to win a SB - that's fine and he's entitled to that but I promise you that regardless of what contract he signs with UM (if he returns) we'll see the same talk and interest from his end to NFL teams next season and beyond.  He's a good coach but he's lied for years now about wanting to stay at UM without reservation.

Joined: 11/22/2008

MGoPoints: 171931

Don

January 20th, 2024 at 1:21 PM ^

Fanbases are fickle and highly emotional things, and Harbaugh's legacy isn't indestructible. Being the first Michigan head coach in a century to voluntarily leave the program so he could coach somewhere else isn't risk-free from a legacy standpoint.

Say, for instance, that he takes the Atlanta job and takes Minter with him as well.

If Michigan's defense is less effective than last year and we go 9-3 and miss the playoffs—given our schedule and departures on both sides of the ball that's not inconceivable—there will be Michigan fans who will place at least some of the blame on Harbaugh, rationally or not.

Maybe he wouldn't give two shits what a small portion of the fanbase thinks once he's gone, but if it's true that he craves unconditional love more than money, I wonder.

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 148480

bronxblue

January 20th, 2024 at 1:27 PM ^

Maybe but Harbaugh strikes me as a guy who has a very unique outlook and doesn't care all that much about being loved by everyone.  He's human and wants people to like him, but he's not a pleaser or cow-tows to others the way other coaches sometimes do.  I'm sure some fans will be mad at him for leaving but he also won them a title and then went off to the NFL to win another; that's an easy story to tell and the majority of fans won't be that angry in the long term.  

Joined: 11/22/2008

MGoPoints: 171931

EikMelynai

January 20th, 2024 at 2:17 PM ^

But if he leaves, he’s doing it after a national championship, and the fan base has known since forever that he wants to try and win a Super Bowl. His legacy here is secure.

p.s. But if he stays he could go down in Michigan history as one of the greatest coaches in the history of the school, he will get a statue, and a building will be named after him, so he should stay. 

Joined: 10/25/2023

MGoPoints: 3833

M-Dog

January 20th, 2024 at 1:29 PM ^

Michigan is never going to get a bunch of 5* kids who committed to Alabama to swap to them.

Why not, if that is what we want and need at the time?  If kids are going to leave the SEC, why would OSU have an automatic edge over us?

OSU has essentially the same weather and location.  It is in the same conference.  It plays the same opponents.

Why them and not us, if it suits our needs? 

They do not have more money than Michigan.  Michigan sitting on its hands is a discretionary choice.  We can choose to do it, we can choose not to do it.

I get not chasing after high school kids with boatloads of cash.  But the Portal is a different critter.  These are established players with track records.  You know much more about what you are getting and how it fits in with your team.

There are some of these guys that will be worth Michigan pursuing, and pursuing hard.  And that means you will have to pay.  That is the world now, whether we like it or not.  It is naive to think that we can get these guys with just rah rah spirit.

It is an investment that we will need to make . . . make carefully, but still make it.  An investment that WILL pay off.

Joined: 07/06/2008

MGoPoints: 257573

King Tot

January 20th, 2024 at 2:41 PM ^

The portal is essentially closed outside of Bama and is mostly picked over. We will likely have to wait for spring.

We brought in Barnham and Priebe. We tried to bring in Dante Moore, Domani Jackson, Jahmal Banks, Deion Burks, Donaven McCulley, Rod Heard, Joey Slackman and maybe others I don't recall. We were also connected with Mumu Bin-Wahad at one point.

Joined: 11/29/2016

MGoPoints: 19368

slimj091

January 20th, 2024 at 3:28 PM ^

Feel free to provide any evidence that Harbaugh or the staff has ever publicly announced reaching out to any portal prospect before they've committed. That's the rumor la la land realm of cut rate clickbate journo's. Three BIG championships in a row, and a national championship I think he just might know what he's doing.

Joined: 01/04/2014

MGoPoints: 9542

jmblue

January 20th, 2024 at 12:37 PM ^

At a minimum this suggests that they're not entirely sold on Harbaugh.  This is potentially an opportunity for U-M to try to break the impasse.

Joined: 11/07/2008

MGoPoints: 102947

HateSparty

January 20th, 2024 at 2:20 PM ^

At this point I’d pull the offer. If Jim wants to be back he has a contract. It will take some amazing coaching to be playoff bound next year. The schedule is tough. Then what’s going to be left of the staff two years from now. Jim will likely be even kmore as desired at 61 and 62. If the NCAA hammers him the university saves the money. It might be brilliant.

If no NFL team takes him this year, he isn’t going to be taken. 

 

Joined: 12/17/2014

MGoPoints: 27193

lhglrkwg

January 20th, 2024 at 1:36 PM ^

At this point I'd be a bit surprised if there's much more negotiating to be done on Michigan's side. I would bet Jim has heard what he wants to hear from Michigan and is gonna see if he can find the job he wants in the NFL. If he doesn't find it, he'll come back and sign the deal Michigan has had the table for probably weeks or months

Joined: 07/03/2008

MGoPoints: 88026

Blinkin

January 20th, 2024 at 2:02 PM ^

Yes, I largely agree. I don't think there's much more Michigan can offer that would make a difference. Setting aside clauses, Michigan can't offer a chance to win a super bowl. On the other hand, Michigan can offer a degree of control over the program that surpasses what many (if not most) NFL owners will tolerate. 

If Michigan REALLY wants to keep Harbaugh at all costs, they should buy the Lions from the Fords and offer Harbaugh the opportunity to be the first ever simultaneous head coach of a CFB team and an NFL team. That way he could spend the rest of his life trying to win 2 championships at the same time. 

Joined: 08/17/2022

MGoPoints: 28701

DHughes5218

January 20th, 2024 at 2:33 PM ^

I think they are completely sold on Harbaugh, but he’s not sure he wants to leave Michigan. I think if immunity was added to the contract, he would sign it today. Since the Chargers are his backup plan, they are continuing with their backup plan and hoping it motivates Jim to make a decision more quickly (before UM caves on the immunity demands). I might be wrong, but I’m hoping I’m right because we should give him anything he wants. If the NCAA tries to impose severe penalties, having the immunity clause incentivizes the administration to fight back and we can cross that bridge if needed.

Joined: 10/04/2014

MGoPoints: 7301

rice4114

January 20th, 2024 at 1:07 PM ^

Just from the naked eye I would say "they are interviewing Jim" seems a lot less promising then "They are giving up to 6 people second interviews."

I feel like if they wanted Jim so badly like NFL circles would tell you neither the Chargers or Falcons would be fucking around. If you want to see what you do with a coach you love look at Alabama. 

Joined: 08/26/2010

MGoPoints: 47575

superstringer

January 20th, 2024 at 1:11 PM ^

Geezez.  What insider info or superior knowledge do betters and the betting houses have that you don’t? None.  They have no way of knowing the “likely” outcome of coaching searches and contract negotiations than you do. 

Betting lines are about one thing and one thing only: What the PUBLIC thinks is likely to happen.  The actual odds of something happening—as if that is even a knowable figure, and it isnt, because its not a repeatable situation—is not what a betting line represents. 

Joined: 02/04/2009

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