Jim Harbaugh to be named Head Football Coach at U. of Michigan per multiple reports

[bailey]

No NFL options? There are several teams--Oakland, Chicago, and the Jets to name three--that would love to have Harbaugh's services. Oakland was rumored to have sent representatives to the Niners game yesterday. But none of the NFL teams were allowed [[by league rules) to contact Harbaugh until he was either 1) released from his contract, which would never be the case if he were staying in the NFL or 2) the 49ers season ended. If Harbaugh didn't want to go to Michigan, he would have had options [[and money) in the NFL.

We'll never know because it didn't come out that way, but the facts here are Baalke wanted him gone, the locker room was in open revolt, and they had tried to trade him last year. His NFL options were [[again if we're going to believe NFL reporters and their pro nfl bias) limited. I guess the question I have is did Harbaugh WANT to go to Michigan [[or back to college in general) or was it an offer [[in light of all else) that couldn't be refused? I think he'd be nuts to say no to UM's dumptruck of cash, for all the reasons you noted, he gets to have total control over college kids that aren't getting hundreds of millions..and the good ones with the biggest egos are only there for 2-3 years... but if UM wasn't backing up that dumptruck....?

I'm interested to see how long the honeymoon in AA lasts in light of such an astronomical amount of money for a guy that hasn't won an NC. How many years of "he just needs to get 'his guys' into the program"... "Hoke left the cupboard was bare"... "it's a transition"... excuses for losing to rivals and in big games does he get when every article written from here on out will note; "Harbaugh, currently the highest paid coach in NCAA football..."?

[ghettopalmetto]

I'm interested to see how long the honeymoon in AA lasts in light of such an astronomical amount of money for a guy that hasn't won an NC. How many years of "he just needs to get 'his guys' into the program"... "Hoke left the cupboard was bare"... "it's a transition"... excuses for losing to rivals and in big games does he get when every article written from here on out will note; "Harbaugh, currently the highest paid coach in NCAA football..."?

I suppose I'm just not the pessimist you are, and I suspect Jim Hackett isn't one either.

It's awful hard to win when you're trying to Not Lose, you know.

The 2007 coaching search was completely bungled [[read John U. Bacon for more on this), and Dave Brandon merely wanted a coach he could control [[a patsy like Hoke). Jim Hackett has played everything perfectly thus far, and I think it's safe to assume that Harbaugh sees an opportunity to establish a meaningful legacy in the footprint of a coach he greatly admires and reveres.

[bailey]

I suppose I'm just not the pessimist you are, and I suspect Jim Hackett isn't one either.

It's awful hard to win when you're trying to Not Lose, you know.

The 2007 coaching search was completely bungled [[read John U. Bacon for more on this), and Dave Brandon merely wanted a coach he could control [[a patsy like Hoke). Jim Hackett has played everything perfectly thus far, and I think it's safe to assume that Harbaugh sees an opportunity to establish a meaningful legacy in the footprint of a coach he greatly admires and reveres.

I really don't think I'm being pessimistic, I'm being realistic. Unless Harbaugh and UM totally sells out everything they claim to hold dear and goes full SEC North like Urban [[Why should we have to go to class if we came here to play FOOTBALL, we ain't come to play SCHOOL classes are POINTLESS) Myer's OSU....we're all just playing for second place.

[ghettopalmetto]

I really don't think I'm being pessimistic, I'm being realistic.

No "Type A" firebrand ever uttered those words. That's just an excuse. Reality [[perceived or otherwise) doesn't have a damned thing to do with anything. You think a guy like Jim Harbaugh is successful because he listens to naysayers?

But yeah, you're right. Maybe U of M should just roll over and play dead. Because Urban Meyer Nick Saban SEC something. I mean, why even try?

[bailey]

No "Type A" firebrand ever uttered those words. That's just an excuse.

But yeah, you're right. Maybe U of M should just roll over and play dead. Because Urban Meyer Nick Saban SEC something. I mean, why even try?

I don't think they should roll over, but the holier than thou/"this is MEEEChigan we don't do that" stuff doesn't win national championships. If doing it "right" did, Saban wouldn't have 4 NCs under his belt. Dropping 48 million on the coach is only half the solution if one expects Saban like success.

Now, if we're going for Bo like success... as in winning a bunch of conference championships in a mediocre conference and losing the rosebowl most of the time, but being well regarded and running a clean program....sure. Hell, Hoke could have done that given the time.

What I'd like to see is programs like Michigan drop the silly charade, a charade that is even sillier now that you've just set the pay bar, that the money sports are anything but professional development leagues so the conference playing field is leveled.

. You think a guy like Jim Harbaugh is successful because he listens to naysayers?

I think he's had success because he's passionate about his job and winning. I think you can't have consistent success in the college game unless you ignore most of the rules...which is something UM claims it doesn't do.

[ghettopalmetto]

What I'd like to see is programs like Michigan drop the silly charade, a charade that is even sillier now that you've just set the pay bar, that the money sports are anything but professional development leagues so the conference playing field is leveled.

I think he's had success because he's passionate about his job and winning. I think you can't have consistent success in the college game unless you ignore most of the rules...which is something UM claims it doesn't do.

With a shit attitude like that, I wouldn't hire you to shovel my driveway.

Harbaugh did things "the right way" at Stanford and won. Now, if Saban is breaking all sorts of rules at Alabama [[and Meyer at Ohio State), why don't you tell us what those broken rules are? Because, quite honestly, it takes a lot of balls to make excuses as to why Michigan should not be hiring the most obviously qualified candidate for the job.

[bailey]

With a shit attitude like that, I wouldn't hire you to shovel my driveway.

If you hired me to shovel your driveway but then gave me a hand trowel and a half an hour to do it, I'd be happy to take your money, fail at the job, and then collect the rest of the pay when you fired me for not getting the snow removed fast enough.

Harbaugh did things "the right way" at Stanford and won.

..he was there for 4 years and promptly left for the NFL. yes, he had success. But does an about .500 record overall and winning one bowl game now equate to highest paid coach in college football? I'm not sure NFL coaching success is as transferable because of the vast difference in the structure... unless you're going to the SEC...then it's the same, but with younger players that you have absolute control over.

Now, if Saban is breaking all sorts of rules at Alabama [[and Meyer at Ohio State), why don't you tell us what those broken rules are?

oh come the fuck on. Start with the rampant over signings, then work your way through the dirty recruiting and round it out with with the lack of any actual academic standards.

Because, quite honestly, it takes a lot of balls to make excuses as to why Michigan should not be hiring the most obviously qualified candidate for the job.

I don't think anywhere I said that and if I said something that inferred that it wasn't my intention. I'm saying slappies such as yourself seem to be saying that all of michigan's problems are now solved and cabinets for all the NC trophies should now be built because they threw 48 million at a coach. I'm saying that is a good start.... giving that coach ALL the tools to recruit and retain top tier talent is the second step.