SEARCHBITS XXIX: IT IS HAPPENING
80% might be low
IT IS HAPPENING. Okay. I don't have a picture of a signed contract, or word from Harbaugh himself that it's happening.
But it's happening. I have not put a number on Harbaugh to Michigan yet, preferring words since it's impossible to put a number on something like this. I'll do this now: 99%.
I have gotten so much independent stuff from so many different sources; 247 and Scout and Bacon are all on board, with Rivals only lagging seemingly because they buy the 2011 story that Harbaugh backed out "at the last minute," something that just can't be true given the timelines. I would be utterly shocked if Jim Harbaugh was not announced as Michigan's coach by December 30th.
It's all over but the pointless rush to be the first to report that water is wet.
HAPPENING BITS.I've heard word that there's a large event on Tuesday night that the catering staff has been asked to keep secret—something that they've never been asked about before.
A son of a current coach is telling co-workers that it's happening and his dad is being retained.
1201 South State Street is getting mail addressed like this from NFL compounds:
I checked the tracking number; it's legit.
If I had to guess I'd bet that's a young-go-getter overnighting his resume and interest. Blind hope? Maybe. Probably not.
More numbers: Webb increments to 80, pending today's 85. Lorenz says it's "when, not if" and puts it at 85%. Pequeno doesn't have a number but does say Michigan boots are on the ground in San Francisco.
THE DURKIN PROPHECY. Harbaugh to Michigan is now unofficially official enough that a coaching staff seems to be in the process of being assembled in earnest. Further confirmation of DJ Durkin's presence on the new staff comes from the message board:
So, I am from Youngstown, OH. This morning, I went to my gym for a little early morning workout, and another member of my gym is the father of Chris Durkin … they are close cousins with D.J. Durkin. … he said he would starting rooting for Michigan football next season (after giving me shit for wearing Michigan shirts in the past). I asked why, and he said he has a cousin who would be coaching there next season, and when I asked if it was D.J. Durkin, he said it was.
Conversation stopped there, but basically we can infer from this that Harbaugh is coming, and D.J. Durkin knows it and will be joining him.
That's a user with only 214 points but he is a guy who signed up over a year ago, FWIW. If it wasn't obvious already since Durkin didn't take the A&M job that could have been his a week ago, it should be now.
ANOTHER NFL PERSON SAYS MICHIGAN IS A TINY FAVORITE. SI's Don Banks runs down the NFL coaching carousel, touching on Harbaugh during the Oakland section:
Most league sources I talked to believe it’s down to either Oakland or Michigan for Harbaugh, and while his preference is to stay in the NFL, the lure of Ann Arbor and being able to resurrect the struggling program at his alma mater might be too tempting an opportunity to say no to. If there’s a possession arrow at the moment, indications are it has begun to slightly point in the direction of the Wolverines. …
Or as one source told me: “He can go there and be God, and never get fired. That’s a home he can live in and stay at. It’ll be like [Nick] Saban in Alabama. He’ll do whatever he wants there. I’d call that the logical place for him.’’
The Raiders will try, but they're still the Raiders—perpetually moribund and possibly on the move.
Banks later dismisses Harbaugh as an option in Chicago, saying if he's leaving the West Coast it's for Michigan. That seems like a flimsy assumption to me, but local reporters continually say that Harbaugh's too pricey for the penny-pinching Bears owners. There's been little indication that Chicago will step in.
WHY IS THIS XXIX? Searchbits XXVIII was this for anyone who just had to check to see if anything was happening on Christmas.
New MGoPost: SEARCHBITS XXVIII: DON'T READ THIS, IT'S CHRISTMAS http://t.co/bqRjIOs0ZA
— mgoblog (@mgoblog) December 25, 2014
I regret nothing, even the old meme. That's what you get for obsessively checking this webs…
…actually this may have been a bad idea.
I'M NOT SURE YOU CAN SPEAK FOR EVERBODY. John Harbaugh denies the Schefter report that Jim's family is encouraging him to take the Michigan job:
"The report that says that his family is encouraging him to go to Michigan by Adam Schefter is absolutely incorrect," John Harbaugh said. "There's been no family that I know of that has given him any advice at all. That's a personal decision, that's his to make. And that's just absolutely false."
I think that's not entirely true; even if it is, Schefter's report seemed to be addressing the wife-won't-leave meme, not John and Jack. And as I mentioned before I'm confident that Jack has been a major part of the Harbaugh acquisition process. It's Jim's decision of course, it's just that your mom and I have always dreamed… etc etc etc.
ETC.: Matt Pargoff has an extensive list of potential assistants. Licensed twitter troll TIm Kawakami's Harbaugh-49ers postmortem is on point.
December 26th, 2014 at 8:09 PM ^
I'm afraid if I celebrate before Harbaugh officially annouces it, the football GODS will tell on me and Jim will change his mind.
Yes, a true pessimist believes he has this kind of power. I must proceed carefully.
December 26th, 2014 at 8:27 PM ^
December 26th, 2014 at 8:27 PM ^
I'm not celebrating until the press conference.
December 26th, 2014 at 8:57 PM ^
Let it happen!!!
December 26th, 2014 at 8:16 PM ^
You have done a truly wonderful job during this whole search and now I can go to my buddies BBQ with a cocky attitude and a huge grin on my face.
I might even do a dance and have people look at me and say WTF is up with that guy, I'll just keep smiling and drinking!!!
ALL HAIL HARBAUGH!!!
December 26th, 2014 at 8:33 PM ^
December 26th, 2014 at 8:17 PM ^
I'm getting a raging clue!!!
December 27th, 2014 at 1:06 AM ^
December 26th, 2014 at 8:17 PM ^
The great rebirth of Michigan football! It's a long time coming! Go Blue!
December 26th, 2014 at 8:23 PM ^
this has just made my crappy day of customer service slightly better!
December 26th, 2014 at 8:30 PM ^
December 26th, 2014 at 9:26 PM ^
Just like saving that bottle of champagne for a specail occasion. Your timing is good.
December 26th, 2014 at 8:32 PM ^
December 26th, 2014 at 8:37 PM ^
I know Mattison has a son "Bryan Mattison" who played in the pros until last year. Please tell me it's his son who is saying he'll be retained and not Jackson... Those are the only two assistants who have kids old enough to have "co-workers". Anyone know who Brian is referring to?
December 26th, 2014 at 8:48 PM ^
Seems most likely Mattison, based on previous speculation/rumors that he would remain on the staff.
December 26th, 2014 at 9:29 PM ^
Ever!
December 26th, 2014 at 8:43 PM ^
I just went from 6 to midnight!!!
December 26th, 2014 at 8:54 PM ^
https://twitter.com/bjv4418/status/548650132707606529
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December 26th, 2014 at 9:16 PM ^
Possibly a guy (who may be from the midwest - Indianapolis) taking a leap and trying to get into the mix for a S&C job should Harbaugh come. Persistence pays off
December 26th, 2014 at 8:56 PM ^
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December 26th, 2014 at 9:36 PM ^
December 26th, 2014 at 10:29 PM ^
I think you're right on him being proactive
Pros: May get a food in the door and earn a job
Cons: Letter may be thrown away
He is correct to go for it
December 26th, 2014 at 8:58 PM ^
December 26th, 2014 at 9:18 PM ^
Long time lurker first time poster. Thanks for all that you do Brian!! M fan living in Cincinnati, Ohio. In the belly of the beast. Finally some hope that damn near brings tears to my eyes. Celebrating by drinking nothing but Michigan beers until it's official!
December 26th, 2014 at 9:28 PM ^
I'm sure this is somewhere on the board or in this thread, but can't search on the app.
Hail Caesar!....err Harbaugh
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December 27th, 2014 at 8:00 AM ^
Marshall has said he'll try to take a visit. Rosen said he's sticking with UCLA.
December 27th, 2014 at 8:50 AM ^
once the uncertainty is settled?
December 26th, 2014 at 9:48 PM ^
It makes every blowout we endured worth it
December 26th, 2014 at 10:05 PM ^
The last 2 coaching changes I convinced myself were good. I don't know what proper etiquette for coaching changes is but I'm extremel excited about this coaching change.
December 26th, 2014 at 10:09 PM ^
Best Searchbits post ever! I believe in Brian... IT'S H4PPENING!!!!!!!!!
December 26th, 2014 at 10:54 PM ^
December 26th, 2014 at 10:57 PM ^
December 26th, 2014 at 11:12 PM ^
December 26th, 2014 at 11:18 PM ^
...but I'm busy screenprinting maize & blue "We're back, bitches" t-shirts in my basement.
December 26th, 2014 at 11:50 PM ^
December 27th, 2014 at 12:13 AM ^
December 27th, 2014 at 12:18 AM ^
than in Vegas... and it's all the good kind of crazy..
December 27th, 2014 at 8:38 AM ^
because all the bets went the way of Harbaugh to Michigan, yet NFL people were saying that it would never happen!
NFL and vegas go hand in hand, I wonder why there was such a disconnect?
December 27th, 2014 at 12:29 AM ^
December 27th, 2014 at 1:02 AM ^
December 27th, 2014 at 10:11 AM ^
December 27th, 2014 at 1:26 AM ^
Taste the happy, Michael
December 27th, 2014 at 1:55 AM ^
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December 27th, 2014 at 2:08 AM ^
What happened to searchbits 28?
December 27th, 2014 at 2:03 PM ^
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