So…what is the pulse of the coaching situation today?
I expect some downvotes because I’m not bringing much new to the table but that’s ok. This thing seems to have swung back and forth wildly over the weekend. Last night I thought for sure he would be back, today I’ve heard some pessimism from people. Not sure where they are getting it exactly. So those of you who subscribe to the fancy sites, has anything changed from last night or are we still cautiously optimistic?
January 9th, 2022 at 1:21 PM ^
65 BPM
January 9th, 2022 at 1:41 PM ^
145 bpm.
Too much smoke, and Jim hasn't exactly come out and refuted much. Just as everything lined up for him to come back to Michigan years ago, everything lines up for him to leave.
If Las Vegas gives him all the power, and he doesn't have to deal with the likes of a Trent Baalke, he's probably gone. Not to mention Al Davis hired him way back when, and so he likely has a relationship with the son and current owner. Even Sarah Harbaugh used to live in Vegas, maybe she'll welcome going back
He already said a few years ago that he heard coaching at your alma mater isn't all that. And after last year, the pay cut, Ohio/Penn State/Notre Dame still recruiting like gangbusters, and the new NIL stuff, he's probably tired of college football by now.
January 9th, 2022 at 1:43 PM ^
Too much smoke, and Jim hasn't exactly come out and refuted much. Just as everything lined up for him
When has JH come out and said ANYTHING about his contract status in the past until it was official?
January 9th, 2022 at 1:46 PM ^
Since all these rumors impact recruiting, I distinctly remember him refuting NFL rumors early on in his Michigan career.
Then again, perhaps things have changed with the early signing period.
January 9th, 2022 at 2:12 PM ^
With one recruiting class just in, there isn't immediate pressure to clarify his status for the purpose of recruiting. And why would he undercut his own negotiating power? As for the idea that he's tired of CFB--do you remember him during the celebration after the B1G championship game? He might end up leaving, but at this point it's a bit silly to say that all signs indicate he's leaving.
January 9th, 2022 at 2:31 PM ^
That's a good point, however, the speculation is that this is a unique situation where he may be demanding changes to the program to be more competitive in the new world of recruiting.
January 9th, 2022 at 2:57 PM ^
I would agree with what you said. With the transfer portal, NIL's, has affected recruiting tremendously, and all this is happening in an extremely short amount of time. Weather legally or illegally, some schools were already prepared for these things, maybe schools like Michigan we're stuck in the old ways of thinking. Harbaugh sees the need to change, and change dramatically and fast if you want to keep up with the big boys and being elite team year-in and year-out. Otherwise, the option for Michigan will be to join the Ivy league if they would have them, because that's where Michigan's thinking will be.
January 9th, 2022 at 3:24 PM ^
I think he's definitely demanding an adjustment to the NIL program so that we stay competitive. Its hard for him to deliver championships with one hand tied behind his back. The other issue is his contract and I think he would let his agent handle those things. Agents start rumors all the time to gain leverage, even if the client has no intention on leaving. JH seems like the type that would let his agent handle the optics and create a need for negotiating purposes, so that he gets a lucrative contract out of it. I don't think JH is going anywhere. If he's hiring new staff and replacing staff, my guess is he's not going anywhere. Why put forth the effort when your replacement will want his own people in place?
January 9th, 2022 at 4:07 PM ^
JH doesn't have an agent. Or at least recently he hasn't.
January 9th, 2022 at 3:03 PM ^
Uhhh go back and look up those quotes. His go to line was always
”I only speak about the job I have”
January 9th, 2022 at 3:10 PM ^
Good catch. I remember that (now) as well.
edit: reply was for MaizeRayz.
January 9th, 2022 at 6:12 PM ^
exactly. Rough corollary to Yogi Berra, we're not gonna know until we know.
January 9th, 2022 at 1:22 PM ^
Throbbing
January 9th, 2022 at 1:22 PM ^
If he were really leaving we'd know by now.
January 9th, 2022 at 1:23 PM ^
I would agree with this statement if the NFL playoff and coaching picture were finalized. So maybe at the end of the day. But certainly still a lot of cards left to fall...
January 10th, 2022 at 1:16 PM ^
Cards left to play. Dominoes left to fall.
But cards left to fall?
January 9th, 2022 at 7:16 PM ^
The national media took a big swing towards him being gone today. You have reports of him reaching out to people about potential jobs on an nfl staff, an increasing number of writers saying it’s likely.
You also have the Michigan reports that he already has an offer on the table and they wanted to get it done before bloody Monday (tomorrow). At this point it’s leaning towards him being gone. And honestly if he’s still truly open to the move he should go. If the team has another good year next year he’s going to get more offers and we will just be doing this all again knowing he has real interest. If he wants back in the nfl at all it’s just a matter of time, whether it’s this year or next.
January 9th, 2022 at 1:22 PM ^
Don't quote me on this but...maybe?
January 9th, 2022 at 1:23 PM ^
What we know: JH is currently under contract to coach football at UM.
What fancy sites say: flip flop flip flop to gather as many clicks as possible before an announcement
Where fancy sites get their information: people that are not Warde or JH.
January 9th, 2022 at 6:36 PM ^
Yes, and JB says no one close to JH knows anything and the media reports are all guesses. DH says he thinks JH is on the M sideline next season.
(Initials are for Jermain)
January 9th, 2022 at 1:24 PM ^
You're been hearing things? Did Jim go to Mr. Spots last night? He can't leave town if he eats wings locally on South campus. Lock it in
January 9th, 2022 at 1:24 PM ^
Well...
Hmmm.
https://twitter.com/bluebyninety/status/1480235268166852616?s=20
Let's put it this way: I hope we hear something definitive, either way, DAMN SOON. Because it's January 9 already.
January 9th, 2022 at 1:29 PM ^
I don't know about the pulse of the coach, but this board is definitely experiencing a tachycardia arrhythmia. The pulse here has got to be about 120 beats per minute, while at rest...
January 9th, 2022 at 2:36 PM ^
True. It's been that high since the last week of November. We need this stimulation to keep our mind off of basketball season.
January 9th, 2022 at 1:29 PM ^
I expect some downvotes because I’m not bringing much new to the table but that’s ok.
Not bringing much new? That’s the understatement of the day!
January 9th, 2022 at 1:30 PM ^
FWIW someone asked yesterday in Desmond Howard's AMA in reddit about it and he believes it's just the annual Harbaugh to NFL speculation and nothing more.
January 9th, 2022 at 1:32 PM ^
There seems to be a little more "meat on the bones" this time, though -- wouldn't you agree?
January 9th, 2022 at 6:50 PM ^
The reason why there is “meat on the bones” this time is because the Raiders and Bears have always been talked about as the most likely to land Harbaugh.
Davis thinks he can call Harbaugh up and offer him the job and Harbaugh will come running because it’s the NFL. NFL reporters are arrogant about the NFL and believe the same thing. So the thinking on that end is if Davis wants him, he’ll have him.
The truth is Jim doesn’t want to leave Ann Arbor because he wants to continue raising his family in AA. But NFL reporters believe if an NFL team wants a college coach there is no way a coach will turn them down.
January 9th, 2022 at 1:36 PM ^
He also shared a not so smart opinion on the whole Dr. Anderson situation, that whole AMA must have been a nightmare for ESPN / Disney after the fact. No idea who greenlit the questions he was able to answer / if anyone
January 9th, 2022 at 2:58 PM ^
Furthermore, he agreed with Herbie when he said that players turning pro who sit out the various bowl games don't "love football". He could've stated this better.
Herbstreit: “What’s the difference as a player in saying these games are “meaningless” when, Des we played in quote unquote “meaningless” games. I mean I know you guys (Michigan) were here (Rose Bowl) a lot. But I just don’t understand if you don’t make it to the Playoff, how is it meaningless to play football and compete?”
“Isn’t that what we do as football players? We compete? So I don’t know if changing or expanding it is going to change anything, I really don’t.”
“I think this era of player just doesn’t love football.”
Howard: “That’s what I was about to say. We’re dealing with a different mentality when we’re dealing with these student-athletes nowadays, especially the football players. I mean, their whole mentality right now is about the championship, the Playoff. We gotta get into the CFP. And because of that, they don’t value the bowl games.”
“Now when we were coming up, Herbstreit and myself, to go to a bowl game was a huge reward for a fantastic season. That’s what it meant. It’s like, ‘Okay, your team played this well so you’re going to be rewarded by going to this bowl game, you’re going to get a ring, you’re going to get swag.’ Now, kids don’t really care about that. They have a sense of entitlement and it’s like if we’re not going to the one that matters, then it just doesn’t have as much value to them as it did us growing up.”
Remember Jake Butt.
January 9th, 2022 at 3:10 PM ^
That whole AMA was a shit show for him based on the absolutely atrocious shit he said about the Anderson situation and his awful non-answer (essentially ducking the questions) about his & Kirk’s comments on Rose Bowl GameDay
January 9th, 2022 at 1:34 PM ^
Balas reported one On3 that positive news is coming. This is coming third hand from reddit/instagram since I do not subscribe to The Wolverine/On3.
So Im not really sharing much news, but I keep reading more and more positive news from “insiders”
January 9th, 2022 at 1:36 PM ^
How recent was that? Looks like he did a noon update that had shocked/sad face reactions. That’s kind of why I wondered if something had changed.
January 9th, 2022 at 1:42 PM ^
The reactions were based on him responded to Angelique's 60/40 Raiders comment.
His feeling hasn't changed based on his sources.
January 9th, 2022 at 2:09 PM ^
When did Angelique say anything about 60-40 Raiders?
January 9th, 2022 at 1:34 PM ^
I have been and always will be a Harbaugh defender. I maintain my position, then I laid out quite strongly a few days ago, that Harbaugh will stay. I’ll be very disappointed if he leaves but will gladly admit I was wrong if he does.
That said, if he did leave hiring Luke fickle has so much good mischief to it. First, he’s a good football coach and would be a good hire. Second, most importantly is the amount of self-inflicted I gouging that would happen for the Ohio Fanbase. It would be delicious. And if he tops it off with a win against Ohio, well, that make that win almost as sweet as this year‘s win.
January 9th, 2022 at 1:41 PM ^
Luke Fickle isn't a college football coach and Luke Fickell is NOT coming to Michigan.
We need to let that go. It's not happening. Zero.
The amount of money it would take Luke Fickell to come to Michigan is probably equal to the amount of money it would take Harbaugh to go to the Raiders. And if we're going to spend $12M/year on a football coach, why the TF would we give it to Fickell and not Harbaugh?
January 9th, 2022 at 1:55 PM ^
I doubt Luke is coming to Michigan, either, but, um -- this:
"Luke Fickle isn't a college football coach"
Care to explain how a college football coach who took his team to an undefeated season and a CFP berth isn't a college football coach?
January 9th, 2022 at 1:58 PM ^
I assume he was pointing out the misspelling.
January 9th, 2022 at 3:26 PM ^
Yes, he was being a bit fickle about "Fickell."
January 9th, 2022 at 2:12 PM ^
Because his name is Fickell, not Fickle
January 9th, 2022 at 3:17 PM ^
Autocowrecks can really be annoying and make people look illiterate at times.
January 9th, 2022 at 2:07 PM ^
I told my phone how upset you were that it doesn’t know how to spell fickle.and that you’re mad at me for not correct the spelling while I drive down back country Road.
January 9th, 2022 at 2:32 PM ^
How did the phone take it?
January 9th, 2022 at 2:41 PM ^
Don't type and drive, XM. Even up in the hinterlands.
January 9th, 2022 at 2:43 PM ^
I agree Vlady, and I’m not typing. That’s why there’s typos. I’m only talking to the phone and letting it do the typing.
in CRG, to your question, my phone wants me to call in a cyber bullying complaint. I won’t do it, so now the phone is mad at me. Going to be a tough day.
January 9th, 2022 at 3:57 PM ^
You do realize that even if Luke Fickle potentially took an open Michigan job, he absolutely would leave for OSU when it opened up again.
January 9th, 2022 at 6:41 PM ^
If Harbaugh were to leave, I would love to see Mike Hart made the head coach.
January 9th, 2022 at 1:34 PM ^
As of midnight when I checked, all Michigan insiders feel good that the contract is done or getting done and it'll be announced in the next few days.
That said, Angelique said today that her sources say it's 60-40 Raiders.
January 9th, 2022 at 1:39 PM ^
Here is my take...based on things I've read, but that's it (REALLY LONG).
The more I think about it...the more it makes complete sense Harbaugh would be trying to maximize the leverage he has right now.
1. NIL...I'm not even going there because half the board doesn't know what it really is and the other half exaggerates how far we are behind. But, there are definitely things Michigan needs to address, no one is denying that. Is it going to be enough to satisfy him?
2. Money...we all know about the pay cut, we know about more money for coaches, we understand the money the NFL can throw at him. It's all math, I find it hard to believe that money is really going to be a factor. Money is the one thing Warde Manuel can control WITHOUT any real approval or support from the University.
3. Transfers. Think about this one. MSU is supposed to be TRASH this year and they get good because they can transform their team via the portal. But don't forget...
Michigan went after Henry To'oto'o...he'll be playing on Monday (and then Sundays). They went after Quavaris Crouch, he goes to Michigan's in-state rival and has a season high 13 tackles, and season high 7 solo tackles against the Wolverines. So he has to witness that as well. He also had Lance Dixon, a transfer from PSU in the fold...Lance doesn't do much all year, but if Harbaugh was watching the Guaranteed Rate Bowl like I was (where 6'9", 385 lb Daniel Faalele was running in a TD), Dixon led both teams with 11 tackles on the night.
The transfer portal is changing college football, and I'd argue it's changing it MORE than anything else (including, yes, NIL).
These are HUGE program disadvantages if I'm Harbaugh. Meanwhile, if I watch college football on Monday night, I'll see a couple of programs who have ALL OF these things. Check the portal right now and you'll see Bama has a 5* CB coming in (Eli Ricks) and the best RB option coming in (Jahmyr Gibbs). Neither is a grad transfer like Olu Oluwatimi, Michigan's only option to get top transfers.
We just lost to Georgia...Kendrick, the guy that had two picks? Transfer. The portal has HAUNTED Michigan this year.
So sure, the contract could've been done when everyone said it was done. That is totally believable. Because Manuel can control the money and the terms. But what about the things he can't completely control? Things you can't put in a contract (like admissions approvals)? You might not want to sign the contract you're comfortable with until those other items are taken care of...
Last, Harbaugh has leverage over Manuel. But what leverage does he have over the University admins except leaving and pissing off donors and board members?
Sorry for the long thread...but this is a lot more complex than I originally realized. And it's odd how the program was slapped in the face by its disadvantages over and over and OVER this year. Even with a GREAT season. If I'm Harbaugh, I know I'm not having more success than this year without some real change, and I'm a competitor, I'm not playing for a playoff birth. I tasted it and want to win it all...I want to "LET IT RIP!!!"
LEVEL THE DAMN PLAYING FIELD!