We have all gone insane.
As we all know, yesterday's game was a clusterfuck of epic proportions on par with the worst losses we've ever seen as a program.
None of us are optimistic for the rest of the season or even next year. Some of us even think that Harbaugh should be fired.
I'm here to tell you that absolutely is not going to happen.
By all accounts he runs a clean program and has only lost 15 games thus far in his tenure. The stadium is still full and the AD is drowning in cash, so unless we have a losing record, followed by another one next year, I sincerely doubt Harbaugh will be fired.
Rich was fired because he was never competent in games against quality opponents. Hoke was fired because you could get into the stadium for the price of two cokes in 2014.
So if you really believe Harbaugh should be shown the door, give up your season tickets. Stop going to games. Stop buying merch. Because nothing is more important than money, and the AD is still making plenty.
Go Blue.
September 22nd, 2019 at 7:07 PM ^
Winning used to be what excited this fanbase.
Now it's the anticipation of a potential coaching search. They'll do anything to get their jones. And the national media might even want it more.
September 22nd, 2019 at 7:16 PM ^
Beating Ohio State also excited this fanbase...
And for what it’s worth, I’m not advocating for firing Harbaugh right now. But he has drastically underperformed expectations and this year’s team is completely his. And thus far, it looks atrocious. He can still turn it around, but if he can’t, we should explore options.
September 22nd, 2019 at 7:41 PM ^
Whose expectations has he underperformed? I assume that you are speaking for yourself?
I figured that it would take 5-7 years to build the program up.
I don't expect Michigan to beat Ohio State until they comparable players at all 9 units.
September 22nd, 2019 at 7:47 PM ^
Hey dumbass. It’s going to be hard to compare to OSU by losing to them every year especially when you can’t recruit consistently year over year with major holes in the roster due to inexplicable transfers.
Michigan is incapable of winning as an underdog and loses as favorites in NY6 bowl games b/c Harbaugh is an exact replica of his overrated coach Bo without the conference titles and OSU Ws
September 22nd, 2019 at 8:13 PM ^
Dumbasses like you said the Peach Bowl was meaningless. I guarantee it.
September 22nd, 2019 at 9:13 PM ^
Are you capable of setting aside your "Fan Boy" to be objective? Can you see what the state of Michigan Football is through glasses of "the now"?
Harbaugh was a very good coach year one. Even did a good job with what he had year two. But ever since the South Carolina Bowl Game Harbaugh has lost his edge.
* 4-11 against top 15 ranked teams at time of play.
* 14-11 away from the Big House.
* 5-11 away from home agains winning teams.
* Atrocious Bowl Game performances the last 3 years.
* The most historic ass kicking by OSU.
* Zero ability to make adjustments in game.
* Zero QB development. Has had to depend on Transfer QB's to safe his ass.
* Massive holes at crucial positions...such as RB. We look like a MAC level team when it comes to RB Talent. I would love to see the morons that were calling that Turner was going to be All B10.
Objectively...take away anyone's agenda...Michigan Football is in a very bad spot. Can Harbaugh turn the ship around? Sure. Is there very good evidence that he can? No.
September 22nd, 2019 at 11:07 PM ^
Harbaugh did an amazing job in coaching Jake Rudock... not so much since then. I'm not sure what's happened, but they used to call Jim the "Quarterback Whisperer".
September 23rd, 2019 at 12:10 AM ^
September 22nd, 2019 at 10:02 PM ^
I didn't consider the Peach Bowl meaningless at all. It was a legit question.
September 22nd, 2019 at 10:51 PM ^
Uh no. Always thought that bowl games were important. Brian was the guy pretending that it wasn’t until we lost in humiliating fashion.
September 22nd, 2019 at 9:15 PM ^
Wait a minute, are you saying Bo was overrated? As in Bo Schembechler?
Are you sure about that?
September 22nd, 2019 at 9:36 PM ^
Yes. Even compared to his contemporaries, he was overrated.
Abysmal bowl record. No national titles. WTF losses every year back when Michigan literally out talented everyone they played exception OSU and USC.
He did pull the largest upset in the Games history and won conference titles while smacking around MSU. He was a very good coach. But he is not bigger than Michigan football or the legend that everyone makes him out to be. In fact, this Michigan Man mythos/old school power football mindset is the reason the football team is in this predicament imo.
Only older fans care about Bo. Younger fans could care less and just want to win with or without Bo’s legacy overshadowing the program.
September 22nd, 2019 at 9:43 PM ^
Regarding the bowl record, USC in the 1970s and to some extent in the 1980s was the Alabama of its era talentwise and was essentially playing at home in the Rose Bowl. In years that ohter Big Ten teams went out west in Bo's era they rarely did much better than Michigan.
September 22nd, 2019 at 9:49 PM ^
It’s ironic to me that everyone embraced the old power 3 ft and clouds of dust mentality Bo infused into the program considering Fielding Yost, the guy who actually built Michigan Football, was a pioneer and innovator along with Oosterbaan and Crisler following him. Michigan was always innovative and should be at the front of the pack of modern football like we used to be under them. Full stop.
September 22nd, 2019 at 9:57 PM ^
Bo is a legend....and like most legends they are mythologized. They become a more glorified version of reality. The "legend" of Bo is no different.
September 22nd, 2019 at 11:49 PM ^
You inadvertantly nailed it, Cube.
All-time legend Bo Schembechler isn't good enough for you, and anyone who holds expectations lower than yours (however unrealistic) is a "dumbass".
Here's where you and I differ:
IMO, Bo Schembechler was a fantastic coach, despite infrequent, heartbreaking losses and lack of national championship.
IMO, JH is a drastic improvement over the preceding 2 coaches.
IMO, I would be satisfied with the JH era to date if 2 plays had gone differently; the punt, and the FD call. Ideal? No - but lots of wins, and lots of fun Saturdays.
Guess I'm a dumbass too.
September 23rd, 2019 at 1:38 PM ^
Nice completely irrelevant and nonsequiter post. The ad hominem is also appreciated.
September 22nd, 2019 at 7:51 PM ^
Right. Purdue and Iowa can boat-race OSU but it’s too much to ask for Michigan to have an one point win against them.
Let me ask you this: did your ‘expectations’ include, after 4 years and 3 weeks of Harbaugh that he would have a lower winning percentage against OSU/MSU/ND/Bowl Game than Hoke did when he was here? How about having the offense look like a clusterf***? Or the fact the defense has had their ass completely kicked against the last 3 teams with a pulse?
September 22nd, 2019 at 8:04 PM ^
I mean OSU is going to come out flat footed and over-confident against teams like Purdue and Iowa from time to time. Michigan is ALWAYS going to get OSU’s full attention and their A game.
Purdue and Iowa didn’t beat OSU because they were better. They beat OSU because OSU didn’t care and didn’t respect their opponent. Michigan will never meet an OSU team under that pretext.
September 22nd, 2019 at 8:20 PM ^
And yet at least thrice in my life time Michigan handled a much better OSU squad. 1969 ring any bells? How about the shutout in 1993, or the perfect season spoiler of 1996? Ohio State is beatable by Michigan, or it used to be thus. Now, however, apparently apathy has replaced the anticipation of beating OSU.
September 22nd, 2019 at 8:58 PM ^
Make it 4 times. You forgot Biakabutuka fest in 1995. Michigan was a heavy underdog in that game.
September 22nd, 2019 at 9:29 PM ^
oh, how I wish we could have a year were we just be OSU when no one expected us too like back then!!!
September 22nd, 2019 at 9:11 PM ^
This mindset is the very last tiny sliver of hope for this season.
September 22nd, 2019 at 9:16 PM ^
But he has drastically underperformed expectations...
September 23rd, 2019 at 12:45 AM ^
Lol, S&P people crack me up.
All signs point to this. S&P stat guy, well if you look at these stats from..blah.
September 23rd, 2019 at 10:41 AM ^
You people with all your "models" and "numbers"... i mean what the hell has math ever done for me??
September 22nd, 2019 at 7:25 PM ^
Yes, people want Harbaugh gone because they love coaching searches so much. I'm sure they will even root against him just to have a couple weeks of F-5'ing the day away. F outta here, dawg.
Truth is, it's impressive how Harbaugh - 100% approval rating through two years - has this many people against him early in Year 5. It took some serious work on his part to make that happen.
September 22nd, 2019 at 7:41 PM ^
And to think, a playoff berth looked in line on Thanksgiving last year.
September 22nd, 2019 at 8:21 PM ^
Kind of environment we are in these days. The schlacking urban gave umich certainly didn’t help
September 22nd, 2019 at 11:21 PM ^
2 of Harbaugh’s 3 ten win seasons and his ONLY bowl win came with Hoke’s players. His 3rd year was 8 wins, then rebounded with 10 wins last year and now will regress back to a likely 7-8 win season. People act like Harbaugh has delivered 10 wins seasons line clockwork but likely finishes this year 3 of 5 on ten wins and no trips to Indy.
Harbaugh has had the #1 and #6 QB’s from the 2016 class (Patterson and Peters). OSU took Haskins who was #8. QB’s regress or transfer under Harbaugh while Haskins re wrote the record books and was a top draft pick. Without fixing that problem, and it is a problem, the misery index will continue to rise
Without a dramatic turnaround this year the recruiting is going to suffer, further adding to the decline.
September 22nd, 2019 at 7:33 PM ^
Modern college football has totally undermined the joy of most wins. There are only 3-4 games a year that matter towards reaching the big goals. Beating Army in 2 OT doesn’t move the joy needle because that game can only hurt us, and it shows that we’re unlikely to be in a position to win the games that matter.
And Michigan has been losing the vast majority of games that matter for the last couple decades.
September 22nd, 2019 at 8:29 PM ^
Well said. Plus the playoffs now make every bowl game practically meaningless. God, I miss the BCS.
September 22nd, 2019 at 8:30 PM ^
If this team finishes with 4 or 5 losses, fire him.
September 23rd, 2019 at 6:38 PM ^
No, the fan base is just addicted to the victim mentality. Nothing will ever be good enough for our fans. Beat OSU, win a CCG, lose in a playoff game like MSU in 2015? People would lose their shit about it. Lose to OSU the next year? We'd be ready to fire the next coach.
Here's a secret, you never finally and completely win the football. There is never some moment where it is all over and Michigan has won. Our fans seem to mistakenly believe there's some pot of gold they win at the end of the rainbow, but in reality sports is just a random data generator and there is always more data being generated.
September 22nd, 2019 at 7:09 PM ^
Maybe. But since all of these threads are useless, can some tell me what social media site goes by SM? There was a post in one of the other threads saying players are liking or whatever negative posts on SM. Thank you ahead of time.
September 22nd, 2019 at 7:09 PM ^
Not sure if you're trolling or a boomer but SM = social media.
September 22nd, 2019 at 8:28 PM ^
Sorry. Thought the /s was redundant. These threads are straight shit.
September 22nd, 2019 at 7:09 PM ^
This is exactly what will happen. Michigan will get somewhat of a reprieve for beating Rutgers, then we’ll all drink Koolaid again from Sam’s teet and stumble our way to a sloppy victory against Iowa. At that point, Maryland will be a W and we will all delude ourselves into thinking Harbaugh fixed the ship.
In reality, we’ll just see the team crumble at State College, then against MSU, ND and OSU.
Lets see how long the money train continues after that. Michigan cannot afford to hold on to Harbaugh one year too long like it did with Hoke. It kills recruiting, something we just recovered from (or did we?)
September 22nd, 2019 at 7:30 PM ^
Michigan's money situation seems to mirror that of the country's: almost all the capital at the very tip-top. The overseas trips are all funded by ONE wealthy donor. In full. It would suck if everyone could see what a mess this is by year's end and he stays because he is in good with a small handful of extremely rich old men.
September 22nd, 2019 at 7:44 PM ^
Well let’s hope Mr Ross hires Harbaugh away to the tire fire that is Miami. He’s good at rebuilding stuff. I’m sure he’ll like the challenge there.
No need for a firing. Can have a clean transition without affecting recruiting. Just like how OSU did it.
September 22nd, 2019 at 9:09 PM ^
Be careful what you wish for. It can get a lot worse than a wrong hire.
September 22nd, 2019 at 9:41 PM ^
So instead of being one to two tiers above Tennessee, we’ll be sitting right next to them? Eh, I’ll take my chances.
September 22nd, 2019 at 9:50 PM ^
We know. Good Lord do we ever know.
September 23rd, 2019 at 6:53 PM ^
And the difference between our biggest donors and Auburn's is that ours live in NYC and California and spend Saturdays buying art or being flown to France. They aren't stewing there watching us win an "embarrassing" 9 games and fuming because their business partner went to Bama.
September 22nd, 2019 at 11:18 PM ^
Iowa is going to kick our ass just like Wisconsin did
September 22nd, 2019 at 7:09 PM ^
Not quite sure the subject has anything to do with the post but speak for yourself.
I think a hookah-smoking caterpillar has given you a call.
September 22nd, 2019 at 7:10 PM ^
I can't afford to go to games anymore tbh.
Our team doesn't look prepared...are mistakes being corrected with coaching or do we just stare at film and move on? I would love to know how we prepare for games.
I also think it's dangerous to our kids to be so unprepared in these games. Guys were out of position numerous times for instance...why wasn't this corrected?
Harbaugh looks incompetent the last 5 or 6 games...how long do we keep the faith?
September 22nd, 2019 at 7:21 PM ^
I don't disagree. Something is clearly wrong with the team and for the life of me I don't know what it is.
Everything begins and ends with the HC, so it all falls on him eventually.
I just think the AD has priorities somewhat different than us rabid fans.
A loss to what seems to be a good Wisconsin team is no big deal to the average fan. We lost tons of games when Bo was coach and he has a statue.
September 22nd, 2019 at 7:30 PM ^
Yeah but changing expectations creates a different bar for success or failure. Whether Harbaugh brought it upon himself or not, the expectation when he came here was championship football. I think you are incorrect if you think fans are still going to keep coming out to watch an average football team who loses every big game and never contends.
What is wrong with the team is that their coach is checked out. The differences in Harbaugh between when he came here and now are not hard to see. They are patently obvious. He is not the same guy. He is not the same coach. For three years, people have been saying that “he toned things down after the OSU game because he didn’t want to hurt the team and didn’t want people to see him freaking out on the sidelines.” That has been bullshit from day 1. It really isn’t a mystery anymore, or it shouldn’t be. He is just not that into it.
But he makes 9 million dollars a year and has not had any real pressure on him in terms of job security. It has not mattered. He has had no real incentive to put more into this. I hope yesterday changes that. He should not be essentially given a lifetime contract for this bullshit.
September 22nd, 2019 at 7:53 PM ^
We are one year removed from a 10 game winning streak. When was the last time that happened? 1997?
Yes, there are some serious issues, which seem to have gotten worse this year, but people are talking like Harbaugh is some kind of scrub.
As for the money, I would like to see half of the salaries tied to performance. Beat OSU? Here's $1 million. Win the Big 10? Have another million. Go 8-4? Now you're back down to 4.5 for the season. Good luck getting any good coach to agree to that contract though.