One important reason Harbaugh might leave Stanford

Those places you mention in the South by and large don't have pro teams.  Hence, college ball is the be-all and end-all.  Not so for major metropolitan areas like SF and Chicago.

But still.  Doubt Harbaugh wants to push his... wait for it.... Luck.

One thing about RR supporters is that although they are very persistent in the defense of RR getting at least another year, most of them, I believe, would back Harbaugh if a change is made.

I have made several posts against terminating RR in favor of Harbaugh, but I would support him if the change was made. I just think that it is a stupid move to make when UM football seems to be on the verge of greatness.

Don - I was going to reply to the above posters comments about "half the fans and rabid, etc, etc.", but I'm glad I didn't. You totally nailed it and in a way that is sometimes lacking here. I like your style and knowledge of the program, but most of all your level head. While I do not agree with what you say all the time, I have no complaints with the way you make your arguments. +1.

What has been done to Rich Rod since he got here - even before he arrived, really - is appalling. One could argue that he brought some of it on himself, but the abuse he has taken at the hands of people who claim to cheer for Michigan is abhorrent. You cannot be "all in" for Michigan if you wish the coach would just go away (or even get hit by a bus) already.

Having made that point, though, I think you are essentially correct. Maybe we all just need a change. IF it happens, my earnest wish is for Dave Brandon to revoke the media credentials of piss ants like Terry Foster, Michael Rosenberg, et al, and hold any future consideration of their return in abeyance unless and until they and their media bosses apologize for their actions and behavior toward Rich Rodriguez and the University of Michigan. There is no excuse for what they have either done or said, and any statements they make to the contrary can be shoved down their g-ddamned throats.

But I don't mean that in a bad way.

if for no other reason than for a fresh start. So much crap that has gone on during RR's tenure that I do not think he will succeed. He just does not have the support. JMO.

If RR stays. Or they take a more reasonable one more year view. Then REALLY melt down if next year goes south.

All polling outside of MGB indicates that fans in general overwhelmingly want RR gone.

Please come forward with your polling data.

Remember: You hear more of the opinions that are displayed loudly. I agree that the "Fire RR" crowd is louder and more stalwart in their opposition, but that doesn't mean those people outnumber the "give it another year" crowd.

I am willing to bet that at least 25% of UM's home crowd did not attend the university.

If all of the undergraduate students at Michigan attended a football game, it would fill ~1/4 of the 100,000 seat stadium.

Michigan's population is ~10 million.

There are 2 teams in Michigan from Division 1A AQS FBS schools: University of Michigan and Michigan State.  There are 3 other Division 1A FBS schools in Michigan: Eastern, Central, and Western Michigan.  There are 0 Division 1AA schools in Michigan.

If all of the undergraduate students at Stanford attended a football game, it would fill ~1/8 of the 50,000 seat stadium.

California's population is ~ 37 million.

There are 4 teams in California from Division 1A AQS FBS schools: Stanford, Cal (Berkeley), UCLA, and USC.  There are 3 other Division 1A FBS schools in California: CSU Fresno (21,000 undergraduates), San Diego State (32,000 undergraduates), and San Jose State (27,000 undergraduates).  There are 4 Division 1AA schools in California: Cal Poly (20,000 undergraduates), Sacramento State (28,000 undergraduates), San Diego (5000 undergraduates), and UC Davis (26,000 undergraduates).

I say this to point out that although California's population is larger than Michigan, and that presumably means a larger population of football fans, that population is divided among many more schools and teams, many of which are much larger than Stanford.  This is still an issue of population demographics, plain and simple.

population sources ... Div 1A schools ... Div 1AA schools ... undergraduate students

I think you raise an important point. So thank you for that.

My question -- and I'm being quite since here -- is about the degree to which the board values quality discourse. Obviously, there are many people here who do. But there are so many who neg to death posters whose opinions they don't happen to share -- most notably, posters who question or criticize RR. They'll say, "I wasn't negging the opinion. I was negging your lack of evidence, logic, whatever." 

Bullshit. Whenever I see criticism here, I see neg votes, no matter how mild or reasoned the criticism. It's kind of an unwelcoming arena for dissenters. Too many reactionary neg-votes. Too many people who equate dissent with disloyalty. 

Again, I love this place. But sometimes it really starts to feel a bit like an echo-chamber. I'm certain that any analysis of neg-voting would indicating a huge tilt against dissenters. How to keep this place from becoming high school? Your thoughts?

Meantime, here come the negs. Thanks.