mackbru

September 7th, 2014 at 3:21 PM ^

Why does anyone have reason to believe John Harbaugh would be interested in coaching at Michigan, and vice versa? Just because he grew up in AA and had relatives who played/coached at Michigan? Seems a stretch, especially since he's much admired in the NFL, where he'll have plenty of job offers should he leave the Ravens. We M fans tend to believe that everyone who's ever had some link to M would walk through the gates of hell to coach here. And that just ain't so.

Joined: 09/01/2009

MGoPoints: 34170

Reader71

September 7th, 2014 at 1:27 PM ^

I think Harbaugh is a capital-G Great coach, but does evidence of him losing the locker room of a team that he turned into a winner not give us pause? He has a very grating personality. I don't know if he would be a long-term fit. And that scares me. I just want us to be good again, and maintain it.

Joined: 08/30/2009

MGoPoints: 22968

alum96

September 7th, 2014 at 1:36 PM ^

I think Harbaugh is like Izzo or Saban in that you could not keep a guy like that as your coach for 8-10 years with the same players.  That's the beauty of college sports though - you can be grating.  The first year or two most players are just fearful of that type of personality or in awe.  By year 3-4 they are loving it.  By year 5-6 they might be "lay off dude".  By year 7-8 they stop listening.  But by then they are gone.  Pros - not so much.  For hockey fans this is the purported issue with mike Babcock as well.

Also what is "grating" to a 29 year old man in the pros is different to a 19 year old amateur.  I read in the article 49ers players were not happy they had to go to Baltimore to get more work done side by side with the Ravens.  My first thought was wtf what is the issue with that?  But I am thinking like a fan who wants more practices, more time against another team, and my team to be better.  I am not thinking like a grizzled NFL veteran would be like...cmon man we can do this back home...no other teams pull this crap...my buddies at the Raiders would nebver do this!  Etc

Joined: 04/28/2012

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Reader71

September 7th, 2014 at 1:49 PM ^

Very good points. I guess my worry w/r/t Harbaugh is that he'd come and set the world on fire for 3-4 years then bolt for another job, be it in the pros or out west or whatever. My greatest desire is for Michigan fans to be able to go into every game not thinking about the coach. They know he's there, and he's good, and he's not going anywhere for a while. It has sucked being a M fan since Lloyd lost to Appalachian State. Ever since then, I've been concerned with who the next coach will be, with only a 1-year reprieve in 2011. And that's the most alien thing.

Joined: 08/30/2009

MGoPoints: 22968

alum96

September 7th, 2014 at 1:58 PM ^

He might leave after 3-4 years and want to go back to the NFL if  indeed he ever came here.  Maybe.  But Stanford has rolled since Harbaugh left.

This was my criticism of Hoke.  His reign at Ball State took 6 years.  There was no real success until year 5, and year 6 was great.  But what did he leave for his next coach?  The program imploded the year after he left.  So he did not set the table.  I am not saying Ball State should be 10-2 the year after he left but it literally imploded.... they went 2-10.  Hoke built a team, not a program.  And it took him 6 years just to build that 1 team.  So it seems Hoke got hot with the right bunch of seniors and "left the cupboard bare".  

When Harbaugh left he left a system and players in place that the next coach could take right over.   Harbaugh in 4 years built a program from the ground up (1-11 before he got there)

So I guess the question would be - if he could repeat that at Michigan, and we hire his chief lieutenant in 5 years after Harbaugh leaves would you be ok with 4 years of Harbaugh.  I would.  There are so few "near sure things" out there - and Harbaugh is one.  If its not for 20 years so be it.

Joined: 04/28/2012

MGoPoints: 82664

Reader71

September 7th, 2014 at 2:11 PM ^

I honestly don't know. At this point, I want a guy for 10 good years. Because I've been entirely jaded by coaching changes, I would dread Harbaugh's departure, even if he hand picked a successor. I am more tired of uncertainty than anything else. I know that's weird and irrational, but I want to know my program is in good hands. When Lloyd went 7-5, I didn't panic because I KNEW the program was in good hands. Lo and behold, the next season was a great one. Good coaches can have bad seasons, like Dantonio in 2012. I'm not afraid of bad seasons. I'm afraid of not being certain that it was just an aberration. For the record, I still think Hoke is the guy. I expect us to finish 9-3, just like I did before the season. I thought we'd lose to ND, and we did. The way we lost was ugly, but to be honest, they lost for the same reason I expected them to: we can't block. But even though I have confidence in Hoke, I think you have to at least seriously consider Harbaugh if he wants to come. This has been my consideration.

Joined: 08/30/2009

MGoPoints: 22968

SalvatoreQuattro

September 7th, 2014 at 2:24 PM ^

is cause enough to fire Hoke. This is year four with largely his players. How can they continue to struggle to block? Just as importantly how can the DL still not generate a consistent pass rush?

 

Brady Hoke is not the guy. Last night removed all doubts of that.

 

Fire Hoke.(at of the end of the season)

Joined: 11/30/2010

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Reader71

September 7th, 2014 at 2:59 PM ^

I do not begrudge you your opinion. I don't share it. I'm also level-headed enough to know that I am supremely biased in Hoke's favor. I know him, and I love him. What I will say is that if last night removed any doubt, why wait til the end of the season? What if we run the table? What if we win all the games we should and go 9-3? Anyone who wants to wait til the end of the season is hoping it improves. And if you have hope that it improves, then all doubt has not been removed. I also think Notre Dame has a damn good team. They have an experienced line and a QB who will probably be at the Heisman ceremony in December. In college football, that's often the only thing that matters, one star QB.

Joined: 08/30/2009

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dagupe

September 7th, 2014 at 1:28 PM ^

Michigan needs to give Harbaugh Nick Saban type of money.  Not sure exactly if I remember it right but 5-7 years.  Average of $7 million per year.  Put in some performance bonuses - wins, Rose Bowl, playoffs, etc.

We keep hearing how much revenue Michigan has, and the giant profit they make off atheletics, maybe they should use some to produce a better product.

Joined: 12/07/2012

MGoPoints: 436

bluebyyou

September 7th, 2014 at 1:39 PM ^

When you look at how the Big House may start looking with thousands of empty seats, that extra million gets paid for quickly if you can restore Michigan's winning ways.

Getting students back is also huge for future alumni donations.

Joined: 09/07/2009

MGoPoints: 18732

ish

September 7th, 2014 at 1:57 PM ^

put profits into developing a better product?!?!  that's not the dave brandon way!  plow it all into marketing inedible pizza or an unwatchable team.

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 17413

RockinLoud

September 7th, 2014 at 1:30 PM ^

I'm not normally a praying man, but if you're up there, please save us Harbaugh!!

 

The AD needs to build a freakin' railroad track up to his house and pull a train with boxcars full of cash up there NOW!!  I don't care how much freakin' money it costs, it's not like the AD is low on cash, we need to hire the best guys. None of this Michigan Man crap, hire the best freakin' coach available!!

Joined: 10/12/2008

MGoPoints: 24814

UMForLife

September 7th, 2014 at 1:31 PM ^

I want to be on the bandwagon and not be rationale and listen to those who give good reasons why he wouldn't come. Please come and be the savior. Make him the AD also at the same time. Let us give him a private plan to visit his family at hi whim.

Joined: 11/04/2013

MGoPoints: 63393

fergodsake

September 7th, 2014 at 2:12 PM ^

This all seems more speculative than anything. Rappaport alleges he has multiple sources within the locker room, yet the only example he gives is that a few players were 'irked' that they had to travel to practice against the Ravens in the preseason. My understanding is that this is not at all uncommon among NFL teams.

Yes, it it well known that Harbaugh and the niner's GM don't like each other. I could be wrong, but I doubt this anything more than just a reporter trying to generate a story where one does not exist.

Joined: 03/21/2013

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