CC: MGoFish Compiles Harbaugh December Rumors--Pro JH to UM

Submitted by Caesar on

Here's the link: http://mgofish.com/early-december-update-latest-jim-harbaugh-to-michiga…

 

I've generally viewed Harbaugh as a 'pie-in-the-sky' candidate. Knowing nothing besides what I read, I thought that Jim's competitiveness would keep him in the NFL. But the argument that comes through in the link is:

  • JH would be getting crazy money (8 M!). That's more than anyone at any level of football. 
  • JH hurts when Michigan hurts.
  • JH is young enough to return to the NFL after righting the ship.
  • JH wants Brady to be treated with dignity. Brady is getting that treatment.

I don't think any of this proves anything. But the smoke is building, and it's thicker than I first believed. 

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ThadMattasagoblin

December 7th, 2014 at 1:29 AM ^

I don't the argument that JH is too big of a competitor to come back to college without a ring. Wouldn't it be a bigger thing ego wise to restore a struggling Michigan brand and then return to the NFL and win a super bowl.

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Baughlieve

December 7th, 2014 at 2:11 AM ^

He could also make history by becoming the first coach to leave the NFL(in his prime) and go back to college. The fact is none of these media experts(or anyone for that matter) know what Harbaugh has in mind. Maybe a Super Bowl ring is his ultimate goal or it could be coaching at Michigan. This is a great opportunity to restore a big time program(while still making top money) that happens to be his alma mater. How many NFL coaches have had that chance before? 

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Don

December 7th, 2014 at 10:08 AM ^

Holtz had one season in the NFL in 1976 with the Jets, and he went 3-11. Prior to that he'd had stints at William & Mary (13-20 over three seasons) and NC State (33-12-3 over three seasons). Given that less than remarkable college career, it was a complete surprise that he landed the Jets job, and his reputation, such as it was, took a significant hit after his debacle in New York. To say that his "trajectory" was even in the same parsec as Harbaugh's is silly.

 

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Tater

December 7th, 2014 at 9:10 AM ^

A college coach has more power than an NFL coach does.  Recruiting may suck, but it makes the coach his own GM.  Imagine what a competitor like JH could do on the recruiting trail wearing Maize and Blue.  

JH would be The King if he returned to Ann Arbor.  The NFL can't offer him that.

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Caesar

December 7th, 2014 at 4:02 AM ^

Coach Stakeholders: The college game is definitely more innovative, so you might argue that makes it tougher. Along those lines, fewer resources, and less time with players make it more of a challenge to execute, &c. 

Fans: I think this is where college wins out, generally. There tends to be deeper connections to a University team than a professional ones. 

Players: Hard to argue this.  

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sj

December 7th, 2014 at 8:21 AM ^

What's missing is that being an NFL coach is a better job for people who like football. The players are better and more experienced and they're doing it full-time. The strategies can be much more complicated and there's a greater chance the players can perform them.

College coaches, OTOH, spend most of their time kissing up to teenagers, telling them sweet little lies about freshman playing time and how the Buckeyes won't keep this up. To me at least, this sounds like torture. 

For people who are really salesmen that's great. College has a bunch of salesmen-coaches. If you're football person, the difference is obvious. 

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chadman127

December 7th, 2014 at 8:51 AM ^

I think this is somewhat true, but in reality none of us really knows what the differences are.  Football in the NFL might be more X'snO's oriented, but does that really make it more desireable?  That depends on the person.  Think of it form the working world perspective, it just depends on what you like to do.  Some people prefer geeky in the weeds engineering (I'm an engineer, but don't prefer it) and others prefer the high level 30,000 feet view on business or operations.  

All that being said, I think JH likes teaching and turning boys into men the way Bo did.  If you watch the JH youtube video on work ethics, I think that becomes pretty evident.  

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snarling wolverine

December 7th, 2014 at 11:03 AM ^

On the flipside, college coaches deal with impressionable young men going to school who haven't reached their dream while pro coaches deal with millionnaires who might tune them out (or worse, go over their heads to the GM and ask for them to be fired).

 

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DJMich23

December 7th, 2014 at 1:39 AM ^

Seems well structured and precise. From reading that, it doesn't seem like the whole Greg Schiano nightmare is real. It does however appear that the national media and the local media are split as to where Jim Harbaugh will coach next season. My money is on the locals, as the the national media can't seem to fathom why Jim would come back to Michigan. Their argument of "no successful NFL coach would return to college" is simply uniformed as they are underestimating the close relationship Mr. Harbaugh has with the Michigan community/network.

He may not come, but it won't be for the reasons they're saying he won't.

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Njia

December 7th, 2014 at 8:53 AM ^

I agree with you. The national talking heads are speaking in generalities but the devil is in the details, meaning a person's individual circumstances will always outweigh the "obvious" thing. I don't know if the local reporters are any more right than the national reporters, but if "no NFL coach..." is the best they've got, they don't know what they're talking about.

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My Name is LEGIONS

December 7th, 2014 at 10:42 AM ^

My god u have no perspective. U know how hard it is to negotiate from a pt of weakness, with agents, and with as many eyes and then u have the terrible timeframe ? U can say that Brandon made the wrong hire but him wasn't coming here the first time. By think hes gonna leave Stanford for Michigan? Les niether. With today's media there is now no way to make it appear competent



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aiglick

December 7th, 2014 at 4:59 AM ^

Yes if he delivers similar results to what Meyer is doing including some hardware. I want him to come don't get me wrong but if that $8 million figure is right he would be the highest paid football coach in the world. You don't do that if we're still playing second fiddle to OSU and MSU. You do that if you want to be and are the best.

If this deal works out I hope Harbaugh is the competitor he is reputed to be, and I think he is, because he will need to get us championships to make this worthwhile.

I do think Michigan is going all out on this based on the article and for that I am happy. I hope Harbaugh does give some sort of guarantee to Hackett, though this does not have to be made public, within the next week and a half. Soon other options are coming available and we really can't afford to be waiting deep into January in case the 49ers finish the season positively.

I'll try not to be greedy, only practical, though I do admit to hoping if he comes back he is back for good for all our sakes. That said if he comes back and earns that huge salary yes he will have been worth every penny and a part of me would be happy for him and for us as we would be relevant because of him and he would get to get a ring. You do not need to ditch athletics to be great at academics when you're in Michigan's position so I'm glad it looks like they are doing their best to get one of the top coaches in the game. I hope Harbaugh comes back and we win a couple of championships at which point he can try to win a Superbowl if that is indeed what he ultiamately desires.

This is very exciting but there is huge danger and opportunity. We really need to get this hire right so that we can finally be competitive with OSU and MSU because once that happens I do think we'll be natinoally relevant again which is ultimately what I desire.

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big john lives on 67

December 7th, 2014 at 2:30 AM ^

To me, all data points to a master plan being executed by Hackett to get JH to Michigan. It seems as if all is falling into line at this point. Further, the whole "search" aspect appears to be a smoke screen and diversion to buy time. It all points in that direction now. That being said, it is still possible for this train to be moving toward a completely different destination, or fall off of the tracks as it has before. There is just not enough information to know for sure at this point.

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JamesBondHerpesMeds

December 7th, 2014 at 3:16 AM ^

FWIW...

i have a close friend in the 49ers front office, and whenever I ask he is adamant about JH staying firm with the team. He's been unwavering on this.

Until today. He offered up an "I'm not sure what's going to happen now" when pressed; he didn't offer much more, which I see as a sign that, at the least, Harbaugh won't be returning to SF next year.

That doesn't favor a journey to Ann Arbor in any way, but it's better than a laugh in the face.



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ThadMattasagoblin

December 7th, 2014 at 4:15 AM ^

Also Harbaugh seems like a guy who would prefer to deal with college kids and our AD getting out of the way than the drama of millionaire players, GMs, and owners. If a college kid complains about not playing "He can tell them to shut up and be thankful that they're on scholarship at all."

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LSAClassOf2000

December 7th, 2014 at 7:38 AM ^

In the mass of CC threads, he's actually been profiled twice, I believe. There's a post in the diary section which summarizes those threads very nicely actually, if you're interested - LINK

Of course, there may not be much enthusiasm for revisiting Pinkel after yesterday, and the people I've talked to about this place him about where I would, as a "the first ten said no" hire.

 

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