jim harbaugh
coaching fiasco 2014

SEARCHBITS XVIII: DUNT DUNT Comment Count

Brian

110816092104_jim-harbaugh-coach-san-fran[1]

I guess this one is only mildly entertaining

MORE INSANELY POSITIVE CHATTER FROM THE MICHIGAN SIDE OF THINGS. WTKA's Ira Weintraub:

More people in my inbox saying it's all but done, GFunk popping up on Rivals to say the same, etc. It seems like just about everyone in the Michigan community who knows someone or talks to someone or talks to someone who talks to someone is increasingly certain that it's happening.

Money's getting thrown around. Sam had an unconfirmed report of a 49 million dollar offer and an "eight year plan"; the telephone game reached a reporter in Arizona citing a nutty six year, $49 million dollar contract.

Michigan thinks this is happening much harder than I've ever seen any insider community think anything is happening.

CUE JAWS MUSIC THOUGH. Optimistic thoughts about a relatively small number of attractive NFL jobs coming open this offseason should be shelved. The Dolphins aren't heading for the playoffs, which could be it for Joe Philbin. The Bears may actually fire Mark Trestman after just two years. (FWIW, that report comes from a radio guy it seems and no one else has confirmed it—would not take it as gospel.) Sam asserts that the Raiders and possibly the Dolphins are considering coming in with full-control offers.

Those could change the situation rapidly, and that's why I remain hesitant to go all in on it's happening dot gif. Until NFL teams figure out what they're doing and Harbaugh knows what's on the table I'm wary.

This isn't about "flakiness," which every Michigan reporter will reference in the downer section of their post. (I am just as guilty of this as everyone else.) It's about a major change in available information to Harbaugh changing what he wants to do. If this does go sour I guarantee some guys who got burned will blame Harbaugh in order to deflect heat. It happened last time; it'll happen this time.

mystery-man[1]SO THEN: PLAN B. If things go sour with Harbaugh, what then? Nobody knows. Paysites have all but ceased mentioning anything about other candidates in this feeding-frenzy phase, and when they do the names they mention are far from sure things. One guy who is still looking at other guys is 24/7's Clint Brewster, who has a source saying that it'll come down to Harbaugh and Dan Mullen, albeit after Michigan takes swings at David Shaw and Jim Mora without success.

Brewster's sources are of the agent/coach variety and are thus more speculative than indirect chatter from inside the department… but there isn't any of that. That note feels more like a logical conclusion from available facts than anything truly insider.

I will say that I've heard a couple things indicating that the Plan B names we've heard so far are almost all bunk… and that Mullen is not a candidate either.

Plan B right now: no idea. Which is scary.

ACT LIKE A CLOWN, GET TREATED LIKE A CLOWN. Tim Kawakami samples from the Lochmann school of PR:

Kawakami's had some interesting, blunt stuff on the 49ers situation, but that's not a good look. He started getting some heat on twitter after his latest column explaining the reasons a Raiders move "actually might be the most reasonable" option for Harbaugh, and I get why. That column comes off like bloviation, and people don't care what journalist X thinks, they want to know what the people actually involved think. A follow up to get background is natural; for it to get shut down is indicative that the guy 1) doesn't have anything concrete and 2) is insecure about it.

There is a certain genre of journalist who gets ruffled by the dim bulbs on twitter, treats reasonable people like crap, and wonders why nobody likes him. I don't get it, man.

DO IT, DO IT. Paul Chryst to Wisconsin is going to be official at 7 Eastern, so the Panthers are about to be in the market for a head guy. How could that impact the Michigan search? By taking a bullet for us:

Don't mind if you do. Sorry about this, Spilly.

NO I WILL NOT LET THIS GO. Tom Herman's deal is a little over one million per year. Break glass in case of emergency—it ain't that thick.

ETC.: I feel better about saying that Michigan "couldn't get it up on the road" earlier this year now that today's Michigan Insider turned into a four-hour discussion of jimmy hats. Fox rounds up the rumors. Yeah man just go to Michigan.

Gary Patterson signs an extension, not that he was likely to move in any case. Jane's emotional rollercoaster is a lot like yours.

Comments

Ed Shuttlesworth

December 17th, 2014 at 2:38 PM ^

I know we're all hopeful, but is there any real indication Harbaugh's soured on pro football?  Four years ago, his choices were Michigan ... or a bunch of NFL teams.  He picked an NFL team.  He'll have exactly the same choice to make now.   What's really changed?

It's not as though he's even giving Michigan an alma mater discount; in fact, all the stories are that he needed to hear the Michigan offer and that it needed to be high enough for him to even bother listening.  If this is purely a business decision, or a business/1% heart decision, I fear we're going to lose when all his options are on the table -- which they aren't yet.  Hopefully, we're planning accordingly.

Joined: 11/09/2009

MGoPoints: 169

Snowbro

December 17th, 2014 at 2:39 PM ^

"Until NFL teams figure out what they're doing and Harbaugh knows what's on the table I'm wary."

I haven't looked, but I'm assuming NFL bylaws and typical head coaching contracts prohibit formal contact between organizations pursuing head coaches currently under contract. But in the world of high level employment contract negotiation, whether in the C-Suite or for sports organizations, the bulk of the business deal is conducted through back channeling.* With a week and a half left in the regular season, I'm confident that these discussions have been well underway. I'd go so far as to say Harbaugh knows exactly what's on the table, as far as role, length, and salary range are concerned. The final details are what will be brought to the negotiation table after the 49ers regular season.

But he's just the type of guy not to make up his mind now, since he's actually focused on his current team. That's why I'm wary like Brian, and I think we'll have to wait until a few days after the 49ers regular season is over.

*This is done to prevent breach of contract, and is very common practice.

Joined: 12/10/2014

MGoPoints: 879

whatajoke

December 17th, 2014 at 2:40 PM ^

So if the only sources that people on the "Michigan side of things" talk to are people in the Michigan community, doesn't it stand to reason that the only info they hear would have a positive spin on it?

Joined: 09/30/2014

MGoPoints: 4

Ed Shuttlesworth

December 17th, 2014 at 2:42 PM ^

I'm sure there have been some backchannels with NFL teams, but at this point we don't even know what jobs will come open.  Some teams will make last minute firing decisions; it happens almost every year.

Joined: 11/09/2009

MGoPoints: 169

True Blue Grit

December 17th, 2014 at 2:58 PM ^

is correct and that JH isn't just waiting until the end of the season to sort thru his NFL options.  That will just drag things out longer and may not end well for us.  He's going to be making a ton of money no matter what option he goes with.  So, our big hope is that he goes with where his greatest coaching strengths are:  working with and motivating college players.  There's an argument too that he has more control in college with personnel vs. the NFL.  That is in college he is only limited by his ability to recruit the best players and develop them - which he largely has control over.  In the NFL, players come in for the most part as developed as they're going to be as athletes.  Also, in the NFL, he'd be limited by salary caps, draft positions, and the NFL players agreement.  Look at what Saban has done.  Yes, he has won NC's.  But, a large part of his success was recruiting the best athletes and turning them into great players.  I think Harbaugh could do the same thing at Michigan where everything has been set up - elite facilities, a top-rated academic school, great support programs for athletes, awesome alumni base, etc.  He can't lose!

Joined: 01/21/2011

MGoPoints: 32360

Don

December 17th, 2014 at 3:09 PM ^

but it's another thing entirely for a local newspaper writer to be a complete bitchy douchebag on twitter to a nationally-syndicated writer and editor.

Especially since it was Chait who said that Rosenberg's editor should "lose his job" and called the investigation's methodology "journalistic malpractice."

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 148288

The Immortal S…

December 17th, 2014 at 3:42 PM ^

Brian, its time for another podcast.  Please run down all this chatter for us.  We are all being "patient," but at times its all I can do to not take an elevator to the top of the tallest building and jump off whilst cutting my own wrists with a plastic bag over my head.  This coaching search stress is the disease.  Hiring Jim Harbaugh is the antedote.  Until we get our medicine, your calming podcast words are our high dosage pain killers.

Joined: 02/09/2010

MGoPoints: 111

imfastrnu2

December 17th, 2014 at 3:55 PM ^

Did it myself. Now if I only had that much control over the real Harbaugh...

BTW, the title was supposed to say "In the words of  "a" famous John...not "another". Which, makes no sense the way it's written. And now that it's been replied to, I can no longer change it...so this is my explanation for stupidity. :)

Joined: 11/21/2012

MGoPoints: 3

Bodogblog

December 17th, 2014 at 3:41 PM ^

It seems Les Miles is universally expected to accept the job if offered.  If true - and everyone who's a Michigan insider is saying so, meaning if you believe them about the Harbaugh stuff you should believe them about the Les Miles stuff - he's a hell of an option as Plan B.  It should be considered so.

Joined: 06/08/2010

MGoPoints: 26674

AZ-Blue

December 17th, 2014 at 3:58 PM ^

... his alma mater.  With these facts, how could he NOT come back?  I personally believe he's coming, but if not, this would most certainy be ranked as the snub of snubs in college coaching history.  There's been some whacky departures and hirings but Harbaugh's move to HC UM is made to order in just about every aspect.  He's all but here.

Joined: 10/03/2014

MGoPoints: 457

west2

December 17th, 2014 at 5:55 PM ^

a Debbie downer, but it only makes sense that Harbaugh wait and considers the NFL offers that surely will be as lucrative as anything M can throw out there, plus the NFL has additional perks that college cant match. Also Harbaugh played 14 years in the NFL plus coached 4 more, thats 18 years immersed in the NFL culture trying to win the prize. To discount that these offers don't represent a viable option for Harbaugh is naive. 90-10, don't believe it. Not saying he's not coming just saying hold your horses, it ain't a done deal yet. Worrisome is the lack of buzz about plan B options. Miles makes the most sense so his statement is puzzling except the 'off the record-don't quote me' comment. I don't agree with Brian about Herman-he is off the table period. And its six of one, half dozen of the other, dangit!

Joined: 01/23/2011

MGoPoints: -998175

Chitown Kev

December 17th, 2014 at 7:47 PM ^

It's really happening...isn't it?

 

I think the record for attendance at a spring game was Saban's first Alabama spring game...can we break that record?

 

We might get close if THE HAR-BAUGH comes to AA...hell, I might even go to that game.

Joined: 10/01/2011

MGoPoints: 4970

hammertime

December 17th, 2014 at 8:59 PM ^

Here's one thing I haven't heard anyone mention...who the eff are the 49ers going to hire to replace JH? I mean I'm sure most people here DGAF but it just seems like their fan base should be pretty pissed about what's happening.

Joined: 01/07/2011

MGoPoints: 44

Optimism Attache

December 17th, 2014 at 9:58 PM ^

Brian's Twitter reporter also said that Hoke has reached out to JH, which was the topic of a whole other board thread this morning. I think all the signs that could possible point to Michigan are pointing now. 

Joined: 09/13/2011

MGoPoints: 23980