11 Examples of Jim Harbaugh's Insane Competitiveness
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/11-examples-jim-harbaughs-insane-16485737…
http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/11625088/san-francisco-49ers-head-coa…
He taunted Peyton Manning during a recruiting visit in 2012.
He used to the run the hills with players at University of San Diego, continuing on through his own vomit.
While coaching in San Diego, he practiced push-ups every day, just to prove to players he could do 100 in a row.
At a team meeting early in the season, Harbaugh delivered a typed, eight-page, passionate, borderline crazed speech to the team.
He fired several coaches and stripped another coach of offensive responsibility after Stanford's first winning season in eight years.
As a player, he got into a giant feud with his coach Mike Ditka after ignoring Ditka's orders and calling an audible for a pass play that turned into a pick-six.
Harbaugh hunted down a 10-year-old in laser tag at his own bachelor party.
Practice comes first, even on the days of special events, like the opening ceremony of the 49ers' new stadium.
He has a rivalry with Seahawks coach Pete Carroll, dating back to 2007 when Harbaugh joined Stanford and Carroll coached USC.
During the 2011 NFL lockout, Harbaugh "willed himself" to keep up in athletic challenges with 49ers' GM Trent Baalke.
He is already scouting and preparing for his 1-year-old son to play football.
December 31st, 2014 at 7:02 PM ^
I demand more examples.
December 31st, 2014 at 7:05 PM ^
Tom Brady, Michael Jordan, Bill Belichick, Kobe...name an elite athlete or coach and you'll name a ferocious competitor.
The focus on Harbaugh's alleged "insane competitiveness" ignores the fact that Meyer, Saban, Dantonio, and every other elite coach is equally insanely competitive. You have to be in order to be great at coaching.
December 31st, 2014 at 7:09 PM ^
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December 31st, 2014 at 9:02 PM ^
Watch this video where Brady Hoke, just two months after becoming Head Coach is interviewed by Rich Rod... You can totally tell RR is wanting to cry, but just goes on with the show... That's probably how Hoke feels now...
December 31st, 2014 at 7:12 PM ^
Harbaugh doesn't seem like a very gifted athlete but an insane competitor. You can't compare him to gifted athletes like Jordan. Harbaugh managed to be 3rd in the Heisman voting and make a pro bowl and had a long NFL career. Meyer, Saban, Dantonio, etc. never did anything as athletes and couldn't hack it in the NFL. Not many people are as competitive as athletes and coaches as Harbaugh.
December 31st, 2014 at 7:23 PM ^
What made MJ great wasn't just his athleticism, but his ferocious will to be better. There are plenty of terrific athletes, but most are not great or even good. What separate the chaff from the wheat is the will to be better than the next guy and everyone after him. Jordan was great because he had the will and talent. They are both necessary.
All those guys are competitive as hell. It's essential to be as good as they are. Saban in particular is maniacally competitive.
December 31st, 2014 at 7:29 PM ^
I thought Jim was pretty talented, actually. He undoubtedly worked to get the most out of his talent, but he had good feet and could throw on the move very well.
December 31st, 2014 at 7:31 PM ^
Harbaugh could throw and run with equal aplomb. Portraying him as some sort of unathletic overachiever isn't accurate.
December 31st, 2014 at 7:15 PM ^
There's a reason why he's in that elite level and to be honest, I don't know how many times Belichick, Saban, Meyer are going to run through their own vomit. Nothing wrong with looking at his unique brand of intensity on display.
December 31st, 2014 at 7:25 PM ^
for spending hours and hours and hours in the film room. One need not run through vomit to exhibit extreme levels of competitiveness. Competitiveness manifests itself in different forms.
December 31st, 2014 at 7:35 PM ^
I think the point being made is that Harbaugh's competitiveness manifests itself in some very entertaining ways, and that differs from, say, MJ/Larry Bird types or Saban/Meyer types.
December 31st, 2014 at 7:38 PM ^
And most elite level coaches take film study seriously. Woody Hayes was famous for watching hours and hours of film.
I think the article wanted to bring out how, as the OP title says, "Insane" Harbaugh can be. IMO the Yahoo article is an entertaining read.
December 31st, 2014 at 7:18 PM ^
December 31st, 2014 at 7:22 PM ^
Meyer and Dantonio will never do anything in the NFL. They can never say they competed at the highest level. Saban was mediocre at best in the NFL and never did anything as an athlete. Harbaugh is better than all of them.
December 31st, 2014 at 7:07 PM ^
11 examples for 11 of Michigan national championships.
December 31st, 2014 at 7:07 PM ^
December 31st, 2014 at 7:13 PM ^
December 31st, 2014 at 7:21 PM ^
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December 31st, 2014 at 7:21 PM ^
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December 31st, 2014 at 7:22 PM ^
He finished 1st AND 3rd in the same masterbation contest..j/k
December 31st, 2014 at 7:25 PM ^
December 31st, 2014 at 7:43 PM ^
December 31st, 2014 at 7:25 PM ^
December 31st, 2014 at 8:15 PM ^
"Be on the lookout for... Now listen this: dangerously and accomplices dressed as nuns driving a sedan covered with... You'll love this... Duckies and bunnies."
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December 31st, 2014 at 7:37 PM ^
According to Wickersham, the speech involved never letting up on a play, enduring pain, and killing an opponent. One particularly abstract segment went: "My opponent is going to have to die. But does he have to kill me too? He is killing me. But he has a right to. I have never seen a greater opponent than him."
Haha. I love it. We need to find the entire text of this.
I really do think it is this brand of competitiveness that can propel this roster to do some very special things going forward.
December 31st, 2014 at 7:42 PM ^
Is exactly what Michigan has been needing for a very long time.
Hell, I don't have a problem with any of it unless he stops!
Love the personality!
Go Blue
December 31st, 2014 at 7:44 PM ^
December 31st, 2014 at 8:10 PM ^
..a competitive beer drinker
December 31st, 2014 at 8:52 PM ^
Can we give the man a little breathing room? You're already proclaiming him better than the greatest college football coach in 30 years in Saban? Than other guys with multiple championships? Man, tame the damn expectations so Jim can actually get some things done without our fanbase suffocating him out of here in 3 years.
December 31st, 2014 at 10:56 PM ^
You know, it would be intimidating playing for a guy like Harbaugh. He demands the best and then some. I hope Brady's recruits are ready to work harder than they ever have. Those who stay wil be chamions. The road will be amazingly difficult though.
January 1st, 2015 at 1:54 AM ^