Unpopular board topic: Your HC preference if Harbaugh returned to NFL
I can tell this will probably be downvoted because this board does not like unpopular or controversial topics. But just like the transgender topic yesterday I have faith this board can handle the discussion. I think most all of us would prefer that Jim stays. The rumors have swung wildly back and forth and I’m sure Jim is probably the only one who knows for sure, and maybe he is still deciding himself. But it’s certainly a very real possibility that he could leave. And I certainly hope that Manuel has a plan in place if that were to happen. If you choose not to deal in the hypothetical, that it totally fine. But for those who don’t mind, who would be your preference to get the first call? These are the names I have heard floated around through various outlets.
1. Luke Fickell/ 2. Dave Aranda: Probably the 2 most successful coaches that people think we should call. I see zero chance that Fickell would accept the job here, but I will include him because if I don’t, people will bring him up. Not sure on Aranda.
3. Josh Gattis: Broyles award winner, would be good for keeping things intact with what should be an exciting offense.
4 Mike Hart: Michigan legend and considered a bright young football mind. But he’s not even a coordinator and would he really jump over Gattis?
5. Bucs run game coordinator Harold Goodwin. Former UM lineman and respected enough to be the Bucs interim coach when Arians had Covid.
6. Bama OC Bill O’Brien. Hard pass for me but I’ve seen his name floated.
-So go ahead and rip this thread if you hate it, but I’m curious to know how people feel if we do find ourself looking for a new leader, which of course we hope we will not be.
January 12th, 2022 at 3:59 PM ^
I hear Urban Meyer's hands are free. Well, not his hands, but he's available to coach.
January 12th, 2022 at 3:59 PM ^
Greg Harbaugh
January 12th, 2022 at 4:30 PM ^
The up and coming Jr; not his burned out old man.
January 12th, 2022 at 4:00 PM ^
Checking in for the neg count on the o.p. Breaking out the popcorn.
January 12th, 2022 at 4:02 PM ^
I'll defer until speculation become reality. This topic is on my backburner. Just stay tuned for now.
January 12th, 2022 at 4:03 PM ^
Sherrone Moore from within.
Jimbo Fisher, obviously.
Campbell, realistically. Seasons where the team doesn't live up to expectations happen a lot at UofM, he's got that experience now.
January 12th, 2022 at 4:04 PM ^
Luke Fickell and Dave Aranda I'd go after. I don't think I'd give reigns to someone with no HC experience, so I do not want Gattis or Hart as head coach. O'brien is destined for another NFL job but I don't think I'd take him.
I'd put Matt Campbell over gattis/hart. I'd also look into Joe Brady.
January 12th, 2022 at 4:11 PM ^
For consistency sake, Joe Brady doesn't have HC experience, so you wouldn't want to give him the reigns.
I'd consider Joe Brady, too, though, but after the main candidates. He looked great at LSU, but after seeing Burrow, Jefferson, Chase, and Helaire-Edwards in the NFL, I might have been able to steer that offense to some wins.
January 12th, 2022 at 7:02 PM ^
I'd give the reins to whomever would have Michigan reign the Big Ten.
January 12th, 2022 at 4:23 PM ^
Lloyd Carr didn't have any HC experience when he was first hired as HC. Either did Joe Paterno. Or Bo Schembechler. Or... etc etc
Your limit of only a previous HC needlessly limits the search range. I do agree, though, that only experienced coordinators with good pedigrees should be considered. Certainly not every Tom, Dick, and Harry from G5 schools...
January 12th, 2022 at 4:43 PM ^
I'd at least want someone with more experience at a coordinator position. Mike hart would be a feel good story, but has only been a RB coach. Gattis has a year as a co coordinator and the few years here, which really isn't much. The same would be said about Joe Brady too.
January 12th, 2022 at 4:48 PM ^
Schembechler had been head coach at Miami (NTM) before Michigan hired him. Paterno and Carr had both been long-time assistants when they were hired as head coach at Penn State and Michigan, though (and for roughly the same amount of time). I'd personally use the more recent example of Kirby Smart, who was hired at Georgia when he was DC at Alabama.
I'm not adverse to hiring an assistant, although I think there's a higher flame-out rate. Still, you have to find a coach somewhere and there are no guarantees.
(Also, is Paterno an example you really want to use?)
January 12th, 2022 at 5:46 PM ^
Bo Schembechler was the Miami NTM head coach for 6 years.
January 12th, 2022 at 5:46 PM ^
Bo Schembechler was the Miami NTM head coach for 6 years.
January 13th, 2022 at 9:09 AM ^
"...when he was first hired as HC. ..."
It's nice that everyone is reminding me about Bo's time at Miami (NTM). But this comment is about the first time they were hired as a head coach.
And yeah, Paterno is an good example of a first time HC working out. The fact that he was abominable for not stopping Sandusky doesn't take away the fact that he was a damn good coach for a long time. Same can be said about Schembechler and his not stopping Anderson. Outrage can be separated from coaching, even as you remember the outrage.
January 12th, 2022 at 4:06 PM ^
I actually don't care if a coach has been a coordinator. Often they get to enamored with one side of the ball and struggle to manage the other. So I have no problems with Hart if you think he's going to be a great HC in the near future. Maybe it's too early for him, especially with a young staff, but if you get some experienced guys around him to be analysts or in other roles then maybe it's a hit. I have heard the alums and the department love him so maybe he's the guy. But I wouldn't let the fact that someone hasn't been a coordinator be the reason they aren't hired. It's like management experience. I know a lot of crappy managers who have experience but are just terrible. Whereas someone young without experience can be groomed by Warde and be a better fit.
January 12th, 2022 at 6:01 PM ^
Agree with this. The skills required to be a HC (recruit, hire and delegate) are somewhat different than those required to be a coordinator (be a scheme genius and get guys to execute).
That doesn't mean a good coordinator can't also have the skills needed to be a good HC, and it's nice if he has all the skills (reducing hiring / turnover risk), but a guy can be a good head coach without being a good or previous coordinator.
I definitely wouldn't want to take the the chance on a guy like that at Michigan. Those guys need to prove their HC chops at a lower level first, like PJ Fleck who went from WR coach to WMU HC. Or Jim Harbaugh (QB to HC).
January 12th, 2022 at 4:06 PM ^
Red Beaulieu, obviously
January 12th, 2022 at 4:06 PM ^
Kelly left ND for $100 million. Throw $200 million at Saban and let him bring his bag men with him.
January 12th, 2022 at 4:15 PM ^
It is no longer about money but a legacy at his age. When he retires or dies as the Head Coach of Alabama, he will do so as a god in the eyes of Bama fans. IMHO, just use the money for our own bagmen, Saban was average at best without SEC booster help.
January 12th, 2022 at 6:07 PM ^
Saban was average at best without SEC booster help
People making ridiculous comments without any evidence for their point, yet a mountain of evidence that refutes it. The kind of quality information I’ve come to expect from people with a keyboard.
January 15th, 2022 at 9:52 AM ^
1990 - Toledo - 9 -2
1995 - MSU - 6-5-1
1996 - MSU - 6-6
1997 - MSU - 7-5
1998 - MSU - 6-6
1999 - MSU - 9-2
Bowl Game Record - 0-3
2005 - MIA - 9-7
2006 - MIA - 6-10
Apparently, you have a different idea of what average means.
January 12th, 2022 at 4:52 PM ^
Nick Saban is 70. I don't think there's a chance in hell Saban leaves Alabama for another job.
January 12th, 2022 at 4:08 PM ^
I'd legitimately be fine if we bumped Gattis. 3 reasons
1. Would provide stability in all sorts of areas. Most coaches would probably be retained. Schemes wouldn't have to change. Players would be utilized in similar ways so we wouldn't have to make major recruiting shifts (and lose out on a 2-3 year cycle).
2. Up and coming coach who's been here 3 years now, just won the award for best OC in the nation and probably has another year, maybe two, of success before he jumps ship to a HC gig elsewhere.
3. There's some recent evidence that elevating coaches is a good idea rather than trying to go out and find a big name (like Rich Rod). OU bumped Riley, who didn't even have a Wiki page with a photo at the time. OSU bumped Day. Stanford bumped David Shaw, who was great and fizzled.
January 12th, 2022 at 4:09 PM ^
No F-ing Fickell…Jesus.
January 12th, 2022 at 4:23 PM ^
I’m not enamored with Football Billy Madison either.
January 12th, 2022 at 4:14 PM ^
Mods: can we limit OPs to one board topic per week?
January 12th, 2022 at 4:26 PM ^
My board topics are usually very informative and I tend to get a lot of upvotes. So if you don’t like this one I’m sorry I offended you, but I don’t really care if you think you have the right to put me in time out as punishment.
January 12th, 2022 at 4:35 PM ^
You make a lot of board posts, and they really aren't that informative. For instance this post has no information, just rehashes a topic and asks a question. Just like you posted "whats the pulse of the coaching situation today?" Thats not informative thats just fishing. Its fine to post discussion topics, but do you really need to do it twice a day? It's just as annoying when SkyPanther aka Broken Brilliance makes 3 threads a day to show of photoshop skills.
Also I think its funny your OP says how well the board handled the trans topic when you were the poster with the childish joke "I identify as a minority woman".
January 12th, 2022 at 4:45 PM ^
Ah you are quite the cherry picker to suit your argument. For every one comment that I’ve posted that doesn’t meet your approval, I’m sure I could provide 10 that were appreciated. But I don’t need to please you, I just find it amusing you think you feel important enough to try and dictate how often people can post.
January 12th, 2022 at 4:48 PM ^
Agreed that TK's board topics are typically trash. Can we send TK to Ezekiel Creatures' house so they can talk about inane hypotheticals and counterfactuals?
January 12th, 2022 at 4:58 PM ^
You’re upset that I called you out for crying about how thin our DB depth was after the very first transfer. I get that feelings are very easy to be bruised.
January 12th, 2022 at 5:14 PM ^
I also agree that TK's post's are typically trash. Here are his recent OPs:
-Couple small football updates. (Provided two updates but only one was really an update: Hongiford)
-3 separate post's about the scholarship count (96, 94, 90)
-So…what is the pulse of the coaching situation today?
-Next years 2 deep is taking form (sharing your opinion of the depth chart is not informative.)
-Grading the recruiting class (similar to the last one in that why would we care what other posters think about this class?)
-Monday Recruiting update (You literally start the post saying "So first of all, I have nothing of definitive substance"
-Are we expecting any recruiting announcements soon? (Earily similar to your "do we know anything about Harbaugh thread)
January 12th, 2022 at 5:45 PM ^
Haha, really interesting strategy there Tot. You scrolled through all my posts and picked out topics you didn’t think I provided any breaking news for and were just discussion points, skipping over the times where I brought new info. And the ones you refer to were +22, +6, +15, +8, +13, +30, +21. So if you think my topics are trash, that’s irrelevant to me since most appear to enjoy them and get a lot of great discussion. It’s a message board. You strike me as one of those odd people that has a problem with every new thread.
Do better.
January 12th, 2022 at 6:05 PM ^
That is every OP I could find that you posted through three pages of your profile other than simply announcing news. (Ethan Burke on flip watch to Texas, 4 Sam Webb picks, Kevonte Henry delays signing until February, Take a look at these balls) and missed another pretty worthless thread (unsigned players from Michigan).
That is a 2-1 shit to news worthy posting history. The fact that you equate upvotes with quality explains why you cry everytime someone calls you out.
Do better.
January 12th, 2022 at 6:16 PM ^
I’ll tell you what Tot. Send a list of my board topics to Seth and see if he thinks they are trash. If they are, I’ll never post here again. Do you know that a message board is different from a news source? If all you want is news, just go follow Michigan Twitter.
January 12th, 2022 at 7:12 PM ^
I will do none of that. I think your posts are bad. When another poster suggested the same thing you claimed they were cherry picking so I figured I'd flesh out their arguement. (Having vivid memories of around signing day) I fully expect you will continue making terrible OPs, similar to posters like Ezekiel Creatures and snazzy dazzy.
I come here not just for news but for valuable opinions of the writers and posters like Magnus, et cetera. I do not come here to read who Joe Blow thinks should be on the two deep a year from now based on watching the same games as me. If all you want is to feel validated by strangers go to a Michigan Facebook group. They only have upvotes there.
January 12th, 2022 at 6:24 PM ^
King Tot nailed it. "The fact that you equate upvotes with quality explains why you cry everytime someone calls you out." It's even more pathetic when you think about it for a half-a-second. It's not like MGoBlog points are real. They're imaginary. They're meaningless. They are figments of our imagination. To my prove my unoriginal point, I'm going to neg myself on this post, and I'm going to enjoy it. Then, I'm going to bring up my MGoBlog points at dinner and watch any chance I had with my wife tonight disappear like a Harbaugh-to-the-NFL-rumor in August.
TK, you actually had a decent snowflake in the OP, but your desperation to start new threads and feed the rumor-monster blinded your judgment. You're right -- Harold Goodwin should be getting more attention. He was a GA on the '97 championship team, and he was beloved by both the coaches and players. "Goody" should have a great future, and Michigan will be his roots. If you want to have a discussion that is meaningful, but likely won't result in you getting a +36, post about Goody. Link an article. Try this one:
https://www.tampabay.com/sports/bucs/2021/12/29/for-now-short-handed-bu…
January 12th, 2022 at 4:14 PM ^
Jon Gruden—I hear Michigan is his dream job.
January 12th, 2022 at 4:14 PM ^
Urban Meyer
January 12th, 2022 at 4:36 PM ^
I’m already on record in several places that if Meyer is the coach of UM, I’m an Iowa fan until he’s gone.
January 12th, 2022 at 5:18 PM ^
Iowa? I understand jumping ship but USC should be awfully exciting to watch over the next 5 years. This way you wouldn’t have to cheer against M.
January 12th, 2022 at 5:57 PM ^
I will always cheer against Meyer.
January 12th, 2022 at 4:17 PM ^
I don't like any of the options.
January 12th, 2022 at 4:17 PM ^
Get out, and don't let the door hit ya where the good lord split ya!
January 12th, 2022 at 4:18 PM ^
Harbaugh should be our coach and if he is not it is because the administration has refused to prioritize competing; if such is the case I will no longer be a Michigan fan.
I refuse to support our school if TPTB decide one Big 10 championship every 15 years is good enough. Might as well be compared to MSU or Northwestern at that point.
January 12th, 2022 at 4:21 PM ^
Well I’m not surprised but still slightly disappointed by the avalanche of sarcastic comments and downvotes. I can fully understand if I had posted “Hey guys who do you think should be coach if Harbaugh leaves” and provided no other substance. But I gave a list of 6 candidates who have been rumored and was really hoping we could have an honest discussion on the pros and cons of where we would hope to go. I don’t buy one bit that this in any way would affect recruiting, I think it’s more along the unwritten rule of Mgoblog not to post topics on things we don’t like to talk about. I’ve seen numerous threads on other boards exploring these same possibilities and no one throws a fit. This is the best group of Michigan fans on the web so I was hoping for a good discussion, but apparently my first instinct was correct that it would not be fruitful. So I will remember that in the future.
January 12th, 2022 at 4:26 PM ^
This board often does not grasp nuance. It was a fair question.