If Harbaugh is already a "done deal," I don't think DB would be sticking to his guns so hard about waiting until after the entire season is complete to make his performance evaluation.

I work at a big company, and if the CEO said something like that, but then after the fact it came to light / became clear that his mind had already been made up but he deceived folks about it, there would be a shit storm.

As a former corporate executive, I don't think DB would put his credibility on the line by insisting that he hasn't made a final decision when he has.

Personally, I want to believe that Harbaugh is indeed a done deal, and I don't think that Brandon will fire RR unless he has that side of things locked up, but publicly insisting that it is not done isn't a tenable position if it really is done...

Why would Michigan coaches under RR still be recruiting at this point then?  Why not just home brushing up their resumes?

If JH wants to be the next coach, he better be all in.  And all in means wanting to start working on this program right now, because it is going to need all the energy he has.  Do we really want a coach that is willing to say, I will work and give the program my attention when it is convenient for me?

It is impossible for Rodriguez to have been fired and Harbaugh to have already been hired, and that for at least two reasons:

First, hiring is a public process that cannot be short-circuited by private deals.  I suppose that there may be some conversations among parties, but even that is unlikely, given the number of people who would have some knowledge of such talks.  The leak factor would be huge.

Second, Brandon would be putting the university, along with the football program, at risk, both legally (see point 1), and with regard to perception and reputation.  If you think the garbage storm that arose during the last search was a huge mess, you can't imagine what back room shenanigans would engender.

Your one clearly true point is that there is no proof for the claim of "already hired."  Frankly, I think the speculations are simply part of the pent-up need to immediately know what's happening on the part of much of our fan base.  

After all, it sucks to have neither knowledge of, or control over, something we're so invested in.

We need your constant vigilance in the mgoblogosphere.

Did you get a deer?

Agent Van Alden has got to be the coolest and creepiest cop ever to grace the small screen.  So many times I too have wanted to drown one of my co-workers, but never had the audacity and/or mental instability to do so.

Agree. He could still "decide" after the bowl game, but it would avoid uncertainty which is key.

DB has mismanaged this situation completely. It's a shame.

Get yourself a cup of coffee, get away from your keyboard for a minute, and then come back and read this thread.  See how it goes; from an informative, substantive post by a real recruiting expert to... you.  Spouting opinions about coaching changes.  The same kinds of coaching-change-opinions that are in about 100 other threads, each with 100 similar opinions.  And now, 101.

We have a chance to do something special with RR next year. I don't know if I can handle another rebuilding period.

he tweaked a commonly used phrase "if you held a gun to my head".

I think you're being dramatic and silly, but hearing the Dee Hart news can do that to someone I suppose.

Thank you, now please return to playing footsy with Skip Bayless.

X2 post

I thought I remembered reading this thread originally titled as "Dee Committed" and thought it was a clever little play on words.

Maybe not.