CC: "Destroy Harbaugh," from MGoBlog's back pages

Submitted by Huckleby4Heisman on

I'm hesitant to wade into the volatile message-board minefield that is the should-he-stay-or-should-he-go? coaching debate, but one thing in today's debate over the merit or lack thereof of Michael Rosenberg's current column has me perplexed: the MGoBlog community has an elephant's memory in regards to everything the Freep has ever published critical of Michigan football, but how sharp are the collective synapses when the publication in question is this blog?

To wit, here's this blast-from-the-past from the MGoBlog archives, the succinctly titled missive  "Destroy Harbaugh." Reread Brian's meticulously researched 2007 post (revised in 2008) and then explain with a straight face how the current Stanford coach is supposed to be the savior of the Michigan football tradition:

http://mgoblog.blogspot.com/2007/08/destroy-harbaugh.html

Weren't Harbaugh's 2007 comments and the flap that followed every bit as harmful—if not more so—to the program as anything in Rosenberg's clip file, impugning the integrity of not only the coaches and athletic department but the university's academic standing itself?

Moreover, if I recall correctly, Harbaugh's statements precipitated (if not directly inspired) 2008's ur-Jihad, the four-part Ann Arbor News investigative series on the Michigan athletic department, which, while not scoring any direct hits with the NCAA's Department of Selective Inquisition, at the very least seeded the clouds for the antagonistic climate that has contaminated the media coverage and riven the fanbase ever since. (To pursue the analogy to its ridiculous conclusion, if the Freep's Stretchgate kerfuffle was "9/11," then the AANews series was the 1993 WTC bombing.)

But maybe it's my own memory that's deficient: Besides his Bo-era Michigan undergrad pedigree, a DUI arrest (which hearkens back to the Gary Moeller years, I guess), some Cardinal upset victories over USC, and one 11-1 season, what exactly makes Harbaugh a leader and best?

MGoBoard

aaamichfan

December 10th, 2010 at 2:16 PM ^

I'm glad this post didn't contain the phrase, "twist in the wind". I'm getting really tired of reading that. 

Can people at least come up with something more creative?

Joined: 10/23/2009

MGoPoints: 14362

Section 1

December 10th, 2010 at 2:21 PM ^

What MGoBlog pointed out was that Harbaugh's comments were wrong.  They were mostly without basis, and they may have been motivated more than anything by Jim Harbaugh's desire to recruit against Michigan, although the two schools seemed to not compete for very many student-athletes by virtue of geography if nothing else.

But, no; Harbaugh did not launch an NCAA investigation against Michigan.

Now, if you think that Jim Harbaugh has been getting a lot of uncritical worshipful reporting lately, I submit that Exhibit A in that brief, would be the October slurpy-love-letter profile of John and Jim Harbaugh in america's leading sports magazine, Sports Illustrated.  Authored by... wait for it... 

Michael Rosenberg.

Joined: 06/29/2009

MGoPoints: 16535

jmblue

December 10th, 2010 at 5:53 PM ^

The comments weren't about recruiting.  Harbaugh felt that Carr had twice slighted him: first, by passing him over in favor of Loeffler for the QB coach job back in 2002, and then after the 2006 season when word reached Harbaugh (then coaching USD) that his résumé wasn't good enough to earn him a shot at replacing Carr.  Harbaugh then unexpectedly landed the Stanford job not long after that, and took the opportunity to vent. 

Joined: 11/07/2008

MGoPoints: 102861

CWoodson

December 10th, 2010 at 2:17 PM ^

The highlight of this post was comparing 9/11 to a report about too much stretching.  Might have been worth taking a step back before making that painfully stupid comment, you assclown.

Joined: 09/15/2009

MGoPoints: 1481

Beavis

December 10th, 2010 at 2:19 PM ^

I have avoided these threads like the plague, but here is an answer for you:

  1. Harbaugh is widely considered to be the best college coaching candidate out there for what he has done with the Stanford program (losers to winners in an environment where academic standards have to be followed).  MSM such as ESPN even consistently list him as one of the best NFL coaching candidates.  These people do not come along very often. 
  2. Back in 2007/2008, his program was mainly backed by "we beat USC when we were a bigger underdog than App State was in the horror". 
  3. In 2009 and 2010, he won a lot of games at Stanford. 

So, hopefully you can see, over the course of time how his attractiveness as a coach has increased.  He's gone from "wow impressive win against USC" to "probably best coaching candidate out there" because of how his team's record has improved in 2009/2010 from 2007/2008.

Now, to close - I am 100% behind RR and hope he stays.  If he does get fired, I'll probably have to spend a few months talking myself into Harbaugh, with some angst for Dave Brandon (that would likely cool over time).  That being said, for the Harbaugh supporters out there - it's clear why (see 1-3 above) they have flipped from thoughts they might have had back in 2007/2008. 

I hope this made sense.

Joined: 07/28/2009

MGoPoints: 5993

08mms

December 10th, 2010 at 2:19 PM ^

Besides his Bo-era Michigan undergrad pedigree

That is your answer.  Even if it wasn't great for the program and not the most respectful of statements, a former starting letterman probably has the credibility to criticize stuff like that (especially when he has a history of brash ill-thought statements that helped define him as a Michigan Man, e.g. guarenteeing the win against OSU).  I don't want to wade into the CC debate here, I would prefer our new Michigan Man as head coach to transform us into a death star, but you a fucking idiot if you imply a successful former star and fellow alumn isn't a "Michigan Man"

Joined: 07/02/2009

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magnus_caerulus (not verified)

December 10th, 2010 at 6:12 PM ^

over played and over used.  People need to realize that is almost a selective moniker, not a right with a UofM letterman or degree.  Where we saying that about LC when he was coaching?  I must of missed that if we were. 

Seriously, if DB went after Chris Petersen, wouldn't this board or fan base be totally bumped? To me he might be the best candidate. 

Doesn't he have exactly what we are all looking for in a head coach?

Joined: 12/12/2017

MGoPoints: 0

cp4three2

December 10th, 2010 at 2:21 PM ^

Changes peoples' minds pretty quickly, especially when the comment about the admissions, compared to Stanford, were legitimate.   It was added by Rich Rod trying to get guys like Dorsey through admissions.  An apology and a win against OSU and no one cares anymore.

Joined: 08/03/2009

MGoPoints: 4828

profitgoblue

December 10th, 2010 at 2:29 PM ^

Speak for yourself.  Personally, I would rather have a coach win 7-8 games a year that lives and dies with the team than someone who bad-mouths the program when it suits him and then apologizes for the comments when that suits him as well.  Any effective apology should have come a few days after the statement was made, not in an attempt to be accepted as the head coach.

Joined: 09/01/2009

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f...spartan bob

December 10th, 2010 at 3:00 PM ^

Do you think Tressel is ok with mediocre? Have you ever played a competitive sport? OSU kicks the crap out of us because of that. Im so sick of all of you that accept being mediocre. You are probably the same people who sit on your butt at the game instead of stand up and cheer. RR is a joke and so are you who want him back. He is not a "MIchigan Man" and even admitted it in his joke speech at the banquet. Anyone who begs to be something that they are not has to go! Hate all you want, but January 2nd I guarantee he is fired and you will be all over Harbaugh or Miles; nu..! 

Joined: 12/03/2010

MGoPoints: -201

UMdad

December 10th, 2010 at 3:11 PM ^

LLoyd Carr was always considered a great father figure and teacher to his players.  He had a dictionary outside of his office and expected his players to look up and learn the definition of a word before entering.  He never ran up the score, and was classy to everyone but the media.  He coupled that with winning 9-10 games every year.  What did all of that get him?  Non stop questioning of his conservative playcalling and bitching about firing him. 

Joined: 05/14/2009

MGoPoints: 2309

SirJack

December 10th, 2010 at 6:53 PM ^

Let's say for argument's sake that Carr "wasn't classy" to Rodriguez. Did you ever for one second think that if Carr had something against Rodriguez, there might be a good reason for it? Carr, obviously, would be in a position to know more about how RR operates than some random guy who reads sports blogs. And yet Carr is routinely derided for not parading around advocating on RR's behalf. What a joke.

Joined: 08/30/2009

MGoPoints: 645

magnus_caerulus (not verified)

December 10th, 2010 at 6:21 PM ^

exactly, the last few years has really let the cat out of the bag concerning us as fans, and we have shown are true colors.  We splinter far too often, and have an entiltlement attitude.  I though it was more of a HIll and Wastenaw attitude when I was on campus, but I see it runs a bit deeper than I hoped.  LC was a very good coach, he wasn't perfect and certainly didn't always do things sqeaky clean; but he won and we played in quality post-season games.  Some we had no chance in, some we should of played better by rights and match-up. 

Now look at us, the program and our reputation in CFB? 

Joined: 12/12/2017

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