Mich1993

January 4th, 2024 at 1:04 PM ^

Fair point.  

I don't see Harbaugh leaving though.  Never seen him happier.  His kids are still young and linked to the university.  I suppose some NFL owner could come and offer total control with a talented, young roster, but it would have to be so perfect I can't see it happening.

He has no reason to rush to sign the contract extension and probably likes to be courted a bit.  

I think it's much more likely he coaches 10 or so more years and retires than he leaves after this year. 

Joined: 12/08/2010

MGoPoints: 3459

Amazinblu

January 4th, 2024 at 2:13 PM ^

"Never seen him happier."    I agree with this 100%.

What really drives Jim?   I can't say - but, it does seem there are two themes that are important - with the essential point being - "development".   It seems to me that Harbaugh values his role - and developing young men into responsible adults / men - which is really "off the field".   And, on the field - having those same young men realize their potential playing football.

Jim loves teaching - or seems to.  He welcomes the challenge of growth - and preparing those young men for their 40 year plan.  

In the NFL how influential would he be over the roster?    If he was head coach and GM - the story might be different.  At Michigan - he looks at who is offered - whether a high school prospect or transfer.   

Then - there's a the culture.  Jim loves these young men - and it shows.  AND, these young men appreciate / love Jim and the coaches on the staff.   Does that happen on Sundays?

No one knows what's going to happen.   But, I think  - who's got it better than us?

Go Blue!

Joined: 01/22/2010

MGoPoints: 41285

Mr. Elbel

January 4th, 2024 at 4:38 PM ^

I think this is specifically why we haven't gotten the same recruiting as we would expect from the past two seasons, mixed in with the NIL moneybags culture that's made upfront money a must for the very top tier recruits. Jim has flirted with the NFL in each of the past two offseasons, destroying any momentum we would have otherwise had on the recruiting trail and making what should have been optimistic offseasons stressful ones. If he actually stays and signs a huge contract with a big buyout, particularly one with stipulations about the NFL written in, after an NC, I think we start actually seeing the 5*s role in a bit more.

Joined: 03/02/2014

MGoPoints: 21395

getsome

January 4th, 2024 at 1:20 PM ^

yes, its not possible without major changes to michigans approach.

doesnt mean they wont build strong rosters, theyll just never do it at this rate by signing scores of top national prospects.

i wouldnt attend michigan as a top prospect if lsu or georgia guaranteed 500k or whatever.  guaranteed vs potential earnings, thats an uphill battle.  interesting times

Joined: 09/07/2013

MGoPoints: 7386

RobSk

January 4th, 2024 at 2:12 PM ^

IMO, that is not going to happen. Let me define "explode" for you:

We move into the top 5 in high school recruiting (vs transfer portal) for 25/26.

I don't see it. The success we've had thus far has not had any impact on our high school recruiting at a high level..Backup for that statement:
            High School recruiting rank, 247

2024 - 19th
2023 - 20th
2022 -  9th
2021 - 13th
2020 - 12th
2019 -  10th
2018 -   22nd
2017 - 5th

It's pretty clear to me that beating OSU/winning the big 10/getting to the playoff has had no substantially positive NET effect on recruiting. Obviously this is a complex situation, with the world changing due to the transfer portal and NIL.  I think it's accurate to say that being a very successful program has not (and I believe will not) overcome the impact of NIL/portal/other things on Michigan's general inability to sign top 100 recruits.

I think it's arguable that things overall are now worse in high school recruiting for Michigan.

So far we've made up for it with the portal, with previous success with top 100 guys and of course, great success in developing NON top 100 guys.

But expecting the high school recruiting situation to substantively change based on possibly winning the National Championship is, IMO, not realistic. IMO, this is not doom and gloom. I'm not saying Michigan will fail as a program. I'm talking specifically about high school recruiting success as measured by aggregate ranking.

      Rob

Joined: 03/01/2010

MGoPoints: 2999

LDNfan

January 4th, 2024 at 5:39 PM ^

Hard to quantify but Harbaugh's annual flirtation w the NFL is probably a bigger reason for the lack of recruiting momentum these last 2 years than NIL. It's made it easy to negatively recruit UM because the success is so tightly linked to Jim. 

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