The season is over. No one has been fired or resigned. What does this mean?

Submitted by Buy Bushwood on December 21st, 2020 at 8:18 AM

If someone is to be fired or encouraged to resign, it would seem that time is a'wasting, as other schools (ND, Purdue, Illinois, NW, just in the neighborhood) make their moves and pick low-hanging fruit from the coordinator tree. 

Mich1993

December 21st, 2020 at 8:27 AM ^

Seems pretty clear from some of the sleuthing posts on the board that decisions have been made and Harbaugh is working on replacing the coaches that are leaving.  Presumably announcements will be made once the bulk of the decisions have been made and/or the current coaches find other positions.

 

Joined: 12/08/2010

MGoPoints: 3511

James Burrill Angell

December 21st, 2020 at 10:59 AM ^

You hit on something important that the Board should come to understand. Around the University its called the Michigan Way or "a Michigan Goodbye". Its sort of a polite way of removing high ranking staff around the University unless they've done something wrong that requires immediate termination. When the conditions permit they make it clear to the staffer that they're going to be let go in a certain amount of time but give the staffer some time to find another position so they can "leave gracefully". If they haven't done so by the specified date then they are let go. This predates Harbaugh and extends to most parts of the University. There are several Deans, high ranking academic staff, people at the hospital etc who get the Michigan Way goodbye. There were also several people in the Athletic Department who were given this option when the transition from Brandon occurred. I guarantee there are a few Michigan Goodbyes that have been issued. Two people I know with the team (one a staffer and one a player) said a particular coach essentially already gave his goodbyes to the kids when they left to go home after they told them about the Iowa game being cancelled.

Joined: 08/12/2009

MGoPoints: 15982

Twitch

December 21st, 2020 at 12:52 PM ^

THIS!!!^^

How many staff members have contracts that expire in January?  Coincidentally, IIRC, some if not all are rumored to be headed elsewhere.  Combine that with the announcement from an insider saying they hope for a resolution by January and it's not hard to come up with possibilities here as to what is going on.  

Also, as someone pointed out last night.  Michigan athletic department is quite corporate and when things of this nature happen in the corporate world all changes are announced together.  This makes sense for two reasons.  

  1. It helps ease the inevitable questions about staff hires when a contract extension is announced.
  2. It helps calm down the vitriol from people wanting Harbaugh gone if you can soften the blow with some rock star hires.

Joined: 01/01/2019

MGoPoints: 3832

Tuebor

December 21st, 2020 at 8:32 AM ^

NFL regular season ends January 3rd.  I don't think you'll see a definitive answer on Harbaugh until after that date.  In the mean time enjoy the speculation.

Joined: 03/14/2011

MGoPoints: 17467

HateSparty

December 21st, 2020 at 8:33 AM ^

I would be the last guy in line at the Warde Apologist meeting but even I believe if there is going to be movement on the coordinator end, his office has already started the inquiries.  I am not the least bit concerned about Purdue or Illinois stealing our gem.  I could see a good D Coordinator wanting to work with Fitzgerald but not necessarily the guys I'd be ecstatic over.  ND is a wild card.  They have been using Kelly connects or growing their own so long an outsider seems unlikely.  Elston would be my money and I don't see Michigan changing his choice even if they came at him.

 

Joined: 12/17/2014

MGoPoints: 27219

Blue Vet

December 21st, 2020 at 8:36 AM ^

Fortunately, I had a dream just last night that explains exactly what this means.

All this Michigan mishegas was somehow woven through the move Clueless, plus a friend of mine was in the dream, and he's cousins with a guy who once lived next to someone who played for Michigan, so obviously he's got the inside scoop. (The dream also had some stuff personal to me that, ... well, we don't need to go into that right now.)

Anyway, all that mixed together made the answer clear. HERE is what's going to happen —

Oops, sorry, my goldfish is calling. I'll finish this later . . .

Joined: 05/08/2012

MGoPoints: 72022

readyourguard

December 21st, 2020 at 8:38 AM ^

The details of the contract has to be ironed out first, and that includes the pool of money for assistants. Jim can't hire new assistants without knowing how much he has to spend.

 

Joined: 08/21/2008

MGoPoints: 40986

MGoStrength

December 21st, 2020 at 8:45 AM ^

They are waiting for JH to make a decision and probably hoping he takes an NFL gig, most of which are not open yet.

Joined: 07/29/2010

MGoPoints: 20002

Gree4

December 21st, 2020 at 8:47 AM ^

Maybe the Coaching Staff, AD, and University want to give people the courtesy of finding new work instead of the media blasting "FIRED". I think this is a trend we have seen in the past, right?

This however does not mean that they are not in the process of hiring new coordinators/position coaches. 

My opinion? Thanks for asking - Harbaugh stays, Don Brown Retires and most of his staff will not be retained. 

 

Joined: 09/04/2020

MGoPoints: 13942

Catchafire

December 21st, 2020 at 8:49 AM ^

Why are we so hell bent on firing people.  Even if coach gets fired or whatever, this is the shittiest season to get the axe.  The cfp is a joke and the big10 is an even bigger joke.

Joined: 09/30/2009

MGoPoints: 27980

milhouse

December 21st, 2020 at 9:14 AM ^

It means the same thing it meant when Harb's didn't sign an extension before the season. That Jim and Warde aren't in love anymore and they're just waiting for the best time to tell the kids that it isn't our fault and they'll always love us. But... they're getting a divorce. 

Joined: 05/29/2010

MGoPoints: 3055