pyramid of greatness 2.0

Seth: With great coaching comes great insanity. What's…

1. Your favorite Harbaughism?
2. Your favorite Traughdition?
3. A great moment in Harbaughditute?

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Brian: [Brian is driving through Iowa and sends his regards]

David: Spread punt.

Seth: That's not…

David: SPREAD PUNT!

Seth: I meant we'll split into categories.

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Great Harbaughisms (Sayings)

Ace:

"Who's got it better than us? Nobody!"

If the Harbaugh family slogan doesn't become a Michigan Stadium call-and-response chant by the end of 2015, I'm disappointed in each and every one of you.

Alex Cook:

"Tom, we've talked about this before: at Thanksgiving, you sit at the kids table."

85% chance this has happened.

Adam Schnepp:

"I don't take vacations. I don't get sick. I don't observe major holidays. I'm a jackhammer."

If you're trying to distill the essence of the insanity of coaching (or Harbaugh) into four sentences I don't think you could do a better job than that. I think, however, that I found a caveat: Harbaugh said the first day of spring practice is like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and a birthday rolled into one. That would make the start of spring practice a major holiday to him, and he celebrates it; he just does so by going to work because of course he does.

Seth:

Thought of the day - What a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive! - Sir Walter Scott

— Coach Harbaugh (@CoachJim4UM) February 7, 2015

The minute I saw that go out I was…well I was already enamored with Harbaugh, but this proved Michigan won't try to dull the edges of Harbaugh's approach to rivalries. Which is analogous to things you do with knives. #hasadeal

Weeks after this tweet I still run into Buckeyes who clench their legs together and cover the bits every time they think about how Michigan's head coach correctly labeled Ohio State's head coach a slime.

Also I like that he's always talking about how great a player's family is. I've read between the lines of enough recruiting battles to realize parents are Michigan's best allies, and every time he brings up Mom & Dad it's calculated to reinforce the program's most attractive attributes.

Also also "I just was really revved up!" in answer to the Jim Schwartz handshake incident.

[After the jump: the traditions, the moments]

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Great Baughditions:

Ace: The gameday pen on a string. The ideal football coach accessory, it says "I have a deep understanding of X's and O's, I'm ready to handle playcalling, and I'm also a complete lunatic, so you'd better tether this pen to by body because WHO THE $%&@ THREW THAT FLAG"

Can't wait for football OFAATs, you guys.

Seth: I'm gonna go with the lesser-known blue collar gambit:

Everybody gets a blue work shirt with his name on it. You have to wear this. Here is a man who, while at Dickey's to try on $23 khakis, sees blue shortsleeve work shirts and orders 125 them with the names of all his players. Because motivation that's why.

Alex Cook: Winning. I like it when Michigan wins. Harbaugh probably does too. He's very good at winning, so there's definitely a good fit there, I think.

Adam Schnepp: This probably doesn't count yet but come on, it's a Bo hat!

Harbaugh rocking the Bo-style cap. (H/T @aeschnepp) pic.twitter.com/661VZObk6x

— Alejandro Zúñiga (@ByAZuniga) February 25, 2015

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Great Moments in Harbaughditude

Ace: For me, nothing tops Harbaugh winning laser tag at his own bachelor party by staking out some poor ten-year-old and gunning away at him without mercy. It's a hilarious story, and it also gives me hope that we'll see some truly entertaining beatdowns of crappy teams before long.

Seth: He guaranteed a win against Ohio State.

And then he did it.

You may sense a theme here: Harbaugh is a guy who raises the stakes. I was in 1st grade and that guarantee wiped all Garbage Pail Kids and Michael Jackson videos from the playground talk from the week of The Game till Christmas Break. All the confidence, competence, and cajones were on display even then. I bet you it drove Bo up the wall.

Alex Cook: Coming back to Michigan! I still can't really believe that it happened, especially after the icy claws of mediocrity and embarrassment had gripped the program all fall. Still, Harbaugh don't care. The timing was right - thank goodness - and I do actually believe that he truly wants to be here. Coming back isn't messianic, but it mirrors the return of the Prodigal Son - except home was what had been laid to waste and the son was still super rich or successful or whatever. Harbaugh back!

Adam Schnepp: Tonight, at the first spring practice presser. Harbaugh walked to the podium in his Michigan hat and fleece and it finally felt like he was the head coach of the Wolverines. Gone was the suit-wearing, smiling man who was ready with a quip and in his place was the taciturn, perma-glaring, khaki-wearing coach.