ish

January 2nd, 2011 at 4:25 PM ^

we knew this would happen.  the important question is whether he wants to coach in the nfl, not whether the nfl wants him to be there.

SalvatoreQuattro

January 2nd, 2011 at 4:31 PM ^

currently among the worst managed. The Yorks are a mess and Bowlen has lost it. I don't think either is a good position for Harbaugh in terms of organizational strength.

If it were me, I'd wait until a organization that is structurally sound approaches me. But Harbaugh cannot be blamed if he takes a NFL job because it is the pinnacle of the profession.

I believe Brandon has a list and is prepared. Any search will be short in duration in my not-so-humble opinion. If he doesn't..well, to the curb he goes.

njv5352

January 2nd, 2011 at 4:39 PM ^

This is no surprise. JH is at the top of just about every list there is in both the NCAA and the NFL. 49ers, Broncos, Raiders, Miami, Florida, Maryland, Pitt, Michigan........you need more?

He is getting recognition for his talents. He has done well, but if we think he is going to come here and turn us into a NC team overnight the we are crazy. This is going to take time......again. RR was a winner everywhere he had been too. The only difference will be the support from the University and the Alumni. The grass is always greener on the other side.

Sven_Da_M

January 2nd, 2011 at 4:45 PM ^

RichRod won in the Big East.  JH in the Pac 10.  

This year Big East champ is UConn.  We beat 'em and their coach hits the exits as soon as the laffer against Oklahoma was over.

I really think RichRod is better suited to the Big East or the ACC.  It's not his fault he was hired.  

As I said elsewhere today, DB's decision on RichRod is easy; his challenge in finding a better HC is much bigger and will define his AD tenure.

Tagg

January 3rd, 2011 at 12:52 AM ^

Is it really fair to compare the Big East of now to anyone? Shouldn't the comparison be made between the Pac 10 of now and the Big East that Rodriguez was part of?

The Pac 10 is really down this year. The third best team has a 5-4 record, lost to Notre Dame at home and is 8-6 overall. The fourth best team is 5-4 in the conference and 6-6 overall. Arizona St. finished 6-6 but two of it's wins were against FCS schools and therefore didn't qualify for a bowl.

Say what you want about their wins but the Big East did go 5-0 in bowl games in 2006-2007. So the period Rodriguez was at West Virginia the Big East may have been more competitive than the period Harbaugh has been involved in the Pac 10.

Regardless, we are going to find out a lot about the Pac 10 tomorrow and on the 10th and in the end Rodriguez didn't win here. I just wouldn't be so sure that the next will either, regardless of who it is.

njv5352

January 2nd, 2011 at 5:14 PM ^

At this point is there cause for concern? I have yet to hear Dave Brandon Officially offer Jim the job. If he is offered the job and then is offered other jobs then there is cause. If he takes one of the other jobs now it means he was either never offered the job or found it in his best interest to take another job. You can't force someone to take a job because you want them to.

As for comparing the Big East to the Pac-10, you would have to look at their perspective times. When RR was wining the Big East there were a few teams doing well there. Those teams are not as good now as they were back then. At the same time the Pac-10 was being run through by USC and nobody else really competed. Now more teams are competing in the Pac-10. It is all relative to the moment. If RR is ever going to be successful he is going to have to find a DC who can win. He can put together a high powered offense, but you will need both sides of the ball.

njv5352

January 2nd, 2011 at 7:11 PM ^

Makes perfect sense. You are insinuating that Harbaugh has been offered the job, without knowing for sure. You believe that the 49ers talking to him first could be bad for us. If he wants to coach at Michigan it really doesn't matter who talks to him, if he has doubts about coaching here then is he really our guy?

The post before yours was trying to compare the Big East and the Pac-10 without looking at time frames. Right now the Pac-10 appears to be a superior conference to the Big East, but 5 years ago the Big East was very well represented and other than USC the Pac-10 was terrible.

footbox

January 2nd, 2011 at 4:49 PM ^

why would he go to the niners who haven't been good in nearly a decade and do not have an established qb, doesn't seem like a great organization to go to at the present moment.

mGrowOld

January 2nd, 2011 at 5:00 PM ^

I can tell you why (although i hope he doesnt).  Jim is now living in the bay area which, in my opinion, is the BEST place in America to live.  After I graduated I lived in SF from 82-89 (49ers glory years btw) and can assure you that it is a fantastic place to live.

Plus the niners are like the Red Wings here - a semi-religion - and Jimmy would be hailed as the savior if he could return them to glory.  And my guess is they will offer significantly more guarenteed money than we will be able to offer as well.

So the scorecard is as follows:

SF: Climate, things to do, nightlife, scenic beauty, won't have to uproot family and move, more money and a chance to work at the highest level of his profession

Michigan: He went to school here

This is not a slam dunk folks.  Wish it was but it's not.

Maximinus Thrax

January 2nd, 2011 at 6:33 PM ^

When I was a kid (...and I am sorry to say, until this very day) when I would have fantasies of football glory, they were always of me leading the Wolverines to glory, and not of me winning the superbowl with the Lions.  It might ring hollow to outsiders schooled in the ESPN mantra that the B1G is irrelevant and the SEC reigns supreme, but Jim Harbaugh knows that Ann Arbor is a special place, and that the Wolverines are (arguably) the greatest franchise in college football history (take that Lou Holtz), and if he still has a drop of Wolverine blood remaining in him, he wants to turn this program around.  I am stil;l not sold on the idea or firing Coach Rod, but if we do, I am confident that Harbaugh would covet the chance to follow in Bo's footsteps.  Piss on the 49er or the Broncos.

mGrowOld

January 2nd, 2011 at 7:16 PM ^

Am I?  What did I miss......better fresh water fishing?  I've lived in both areas so as much as I'd like to agree with you I don't think I'm far off.  Cost of living sucks in the bay area but that's because everybody wants to live there.  And that problem can be solved with a bigger contract.

Name something else.   Seriously.

Maximinus Thrax

January 2nd, 2011 at 7:44 PM ^

Why would you go home and eat you mother's Christmas dinner when, living in the Bay Area, you could drive an hour and a half and eat at the French Laundry (sorry, that is the first restaurant that comes to mind out there)?  I mean, for Chrissake look at the way we all spend hours out of each day obsessing over Michigan football.  It is a way of life for us.  Do you think that means nothing for Harbaugh?  Can the 49ers and their so-called great history (which basically amounts to one good 15-year stretch) even compete with the historical glory that UM offers?  Remember, he is a UM alum, and that counts for something as well.  I will admit that the perpetual 68 degree temp. in SF is attractive, and they can definitely throw more money at him.  But he is a Michigan man, and I can think I can speak for all of us here that if the opportunity to play a role in bringing glory back to our alma mater presented itself, all the $$ in the world from any number of once proud but lately mediocre NFL teams would not be enough to steal us away.

mGrowOld

January 2nd, 2011 at 8:18 PM ^

Please understand that i am FROM Michigan, born and raised.  But having lived in both areas (Northern California and Michigan) I can say that there are many reasons why Jim might want to stay there.  The post I was responding to basically stated that there was NO reason why JH would want to stay in the bay are if Michigan was calling him.

That is total nonsense and if people who have never lived anywhere but Michigan don't understand that then I don't know what else I can say.

Tater

January 2nd, 2011 at 6:49 PM ^

I'm guessing that the going rate in the NFL for a "hot" HC with NFL QB experience is about $5 million a year.  Harbaugh could sign one contract and retire set for life.  Also, Harbaugh is a cocky SOB; that is a large part of what gives him the "Moses Effect," where players would follow him into the Red Sea if he told them it was going to part. 

And any cocky SOB worth his salt "knows" that he could win in the NFL, which is still the highest level of football being played anywhere.  I think Harbaugh will grab a chance to lead a once-elite franchise back to glory and get paid almost twice as much as Michigan would cough up while he is doing it. 

Clarification/disclaimer:

I use the phrase "cocky SOB" as the highest compliment I can give a QB or HC.  I see it as an essential attribute in either position, and a great attribute in most leadership roles.  If I have to follow someone, I want them to be supremely confident and very forward about it.  Harbaugh definitely qualifies. 

cp4three2

January 2nd, 2011 at 6:57 PM ^

He can retire right now and never worry about money again.  That's actually one of the reasons he comes to Michigan over the NFL.  Money doesn't matter, the 2.5 million or whatever he makes at Michigan is just the cherry on top of his portfolio.  

 

There's a lot of this talk that Jim dreams of coaching in the NFL, but has that ever been reported anywhere or is it speculation?  He has been quoted as saying he's a college guy.  He idolized Bo, not Ditka.  

Swazi

January 2nd, 2011 at 5:28 PM ^

My general feeling is the only way Harbaugh isn't coming here is if DB decides to retain Rod.  I think we are Jim's first choice, and honestly, I think it will be announced that he is our next HC by the end of the week.

Tagg

January 3rd, 2011 at 1:04 AM ^

Think about it. He could go 8-8 and win the division and make the playoffs in his first year. Hell, he might be able to go 7-9 and make the playoffs in that division. That would attract free agents because they would stand a great shot at making the playoffs and possible getting a bonus as would Harbaugh. Even if Harbaugh isn't in it for the money as some claim, the players sure are and extra money attracts better players and more wins. That's something he is definately in it for.

jb5O4

January 3rd, 2011 at 10:18 AM ^

At least he can recruit, especially if he brings his defensive staff. Michigan has a severe lack of talent right now. Recruiting should be a priority.