CC: Not to get any hopes up but...

Submitted by Blue Carcajou on
Apparently, Jack Harbaugh stated on Channel 4 (a Detroit news station) that if offered the Michigan head coaching job, Jim would "absolutely take it." It seems to have made the rounds on Twitter and is in discussion at the 24/7 board. I'd embed the tweets but I don't know how; thought it was a little too good not to share. One can only hope... Oh, and Go Blue and beat Indiana.
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SC Wolverine

November 1st, 2014 at 7:56 AM ^

Not that it ultimately matters, but the timing could get interesting. Assuming the 49ers don't make the playoffs he could be here before New Years. But if they make the playoffs - a distinct possibility - it could get pushed back closer to signing day. I wonder if they could announce it earlier for the sake of the early enrollees?

Joined: 08/18/2010

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alum96

November 1st, 2014 at 8:02 AM ^

Great.  So now I have to count on the Lions to not turn into the Lions of old in the 2nd half of the year for their own sake, but to keep Jimmy out of the playoffs.  Damnit.

San Fran's division is brutal and of the 2 wildcard spots its basically going to come down to

  1. Loser of GB/Detroit battle for the north
  2. Loser of Philly/Dallas battle in the east
  3. Bottom 2 of Arizona/San Fran/Seattle

So that is 4 teams battling for 2 spots.  Go GB/Philly/Dallas/Zona/Seahawks!

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BlueRy

November 1st, 2014 at 8:14 AM ^

I feel you 100%. But I'm heartened by the fact that the Lions are winning with defense, timely offensive playmaking and, dare I say, mental toughness. These aren't the same Lions that need Stafford to throw for 400 yards to win despite themselves. The O will correct itself when Megatron, Bush and our 3 TEs return.

A Harbaugh and competitive Lions squad for the holidays? Yes, please.

Joined: 10/16/2011

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GoBlueInNYC

November 1st, 2014 at 10:31 AM ^

It's so awesome that the Lions are playing as well as they are now and still have the return of Megatron, Bush, and basically their entire TE corp to look forward to (that Tate signing this off season was so fucking money). And that the D has really stepped up in the wake of Tulloch's injury.

The Caldwell hiring was pretty uninspiring, I think, to a lot of people at the time, but he is looking like what this team needed to really put it all together.

Joined: 03/23/2010

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PIJER

November 1st, 2014 at 10:49 AM ^

Everyone had written Coach Caldwell off because Whisenhunt was the "darling" of the open coaches. But Caldwell is known for his preperation and accountability. Is he the biggest personality? Not by a long shot! But he does have this team game planning at a level that is consistent with some of the upper echelon teams! 

Joined: 07/12/2009

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d10

November 1st, 2014 at 10:35 AM ^

Harbaugh, upon becoming the head coach at Stanford: "I vow that I will attack this endeavor with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind."

Hoke, upon becoming the head coach at Michigan: "This is Michigan, fergodsakes."

Just contrasting their approaches at face value, it seems that Harbaugh understands that the success and failure of a football team starts and ends with the head coach, that he knows he is the decisive element.

Hoke seemed to think he was going to succeed on the merits of Michigan's past successes alone, which turned out not to be the case.

This is not deep analysis, obviously, but first impressions matter.

Bring on Harbaugh!

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1of12MattDamons

November 1st, 2014 at 7:35 AM ^

 

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beedub93

November 1st, 2014 at 7:46 AM ^

familiarity with Harbaugh could be a double-edged sword. He's firey and competitive as hell, but also a bit flaky. He'd inject energy and confidence into the program and getting under the skin of Dantonio and Meyer would make me giggle. He'd be hated from day 1 in EL and Columbus, among other places and I'd really like that because instead of other teams devoting their undivided attention to themselves, they'd have a real menace in A2 to deal with. Dude has unlimited confidence in himself. Bo was hated in many, many circles. With Mullen, you'd get a guy that is highly capable and likely more grounded than Harbaugh, and although I don't know much about his personality and so forth, he's a guy that would also pump life into the program and put the rest of the B1G on notice that Michigan isn't fucking around. I'd be stoked with either guy.

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Danwillhor

November 1st, 2014 at 8:24 AM ^

regardless of UM ties. Mullen is a very good coach, IMO! Very good. Yet, has he won big quickly at every level of football and with a team not able to oversign, take jucos for various reasons at will, accept academically borderline kids and (at least, if at all) not be so blatant about buying players? Mullen hasn't and Jim has. Even if Jim went to osu I'd take him 15 times out of 10 over Mullen. Please don't read this as brash but my polite opinion between the two. If Jim is willing to come "if", you do whatever that "if" is. If I were the one offering, be it AD or search firm, be it directly or by agent, my pitch would be more money than he made in SF and ABSOLUTE autonomy. I'd tell him the football program was his, come see me when you want to or need money. Other than that, it's yours. Give him the kind of power monopoly Bo had.

Joined: 12/02/2008

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APBlue

November 1st, 2014 at 8:34 AM ^

Not sure where you're going with that "(at least, if at all) not be so blatant about buying players?" comment, but didn't Cam Newton want to go to Miss. St. because of his ties to Mullen from when they were at Florida together?  Didn't Newton go to Auburn because Miss. St. wouldn't pay or match what Auburn had?  

Obviously not paying and not matching another offer are two different things.  Obviously, I don't know the whole story there.  Just not sure we know enough about Miss. St. recruiting habits to throw that bomb out there.  

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Danwillhor

November 1st, 2014 at 8:49 AM ^

Not at all referencing Newton or even Mullen himself. I'm referring to the "bagmen" HEAVILY present in the SEC outside of a couple programs (Miss St universally known as not one if the lighter ones). Yet, I noted it likely happens to a degree everywhere. The SEC is just blatant about it. It didn't take the bagmen article to let me know about the underground fan/alum groups that buy kids. Heck, It's outright spoken about in the book "Meat Market" by both the author, Ed Orgeron & staff.

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mm92.

November 1st, 2014 at 7:50 AM ^

Does anyone else find it interesting that Jim has been incredibly mum on the whole situation? He seems like a guy that, if not interested, would have shot down any rumor right away.

Maybe I'm wrong, but almost like the guy doesn't say anything because he doesn't want to mess this opportunity up...

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Danwillhor

November 1st, 2014 at 9:48 AM ^

but it is very very interesting to me. I knew for sure he wasn't going to come here last time after his last game. At the press conference, sitting next to Luck everyone in the building knew he was done with Stanford. Herbie had already pulled another Miles2Michigan with Harbaugh in every way but saying it was a done deal. Rumors were everywhere and this was the time for reporters to ask and it took about 30 seconds. When asked about his future (specifically Michigan or NFL) he became visibly angry and gave far more than a "no comment". I knew then but a few days after sometime caught up to him and asked on camera. He said he had "I have no plans at this time, I had no plans yesterday and I don't anticipate having anything to say tomorrow". Basically, I heard "Jim speak" and it was a big negative to any UM prospects. Yet, to be so mum when he has been asked in a presser this year (once that I know of and he literally ignored it) is unlike him. I'd expect at least a similar incredulous reply like after that last bowl game. Nothing. However, from here on out I guarantee he is asked on a weekly/weekend basis by the media. Let's hope it doesn't hurt any chance there is.

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Danwillhor

November 1st, 2014 at 11:36 AM ^

I funny think it's that far off. I think more assumed or thought he could return to Cleveland than Jim to UM but, as you said, Jim is outspoken. The silence seems like some sort of hope. Then again, that outspoken personality may shoot us down tomorrow? Haha. The longer he doesn't say a thing the better, IMO.

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DrewGOBLUE

November 1st, 2014 at 1:04 PM ^

This could be feasible, at least. With the kind of intense, animated personality Jim Harbaugh has, you'd think it'd be easy to tell whether or not his responses to questions regarding the Michigan job are genuine.

OTOH, you can't discount the possibility that Harbaugh may hope to use a probable offer from UM as leverage for negotiating a contract with another NFL team. In that case, it wouldn't make sense for him to imply which direction he's leaning, especially when you figure we'd likely be willing to give him a salary that's in the ball park of the top paid NFL coaches.


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The Denarding

November 1st, 2014 at 7:50 AM ^

Brad Bates will be the AD and they will make a HARD push for Harbaugh. Bates wants the job, his family loves Ann Arbor and most importantly he will get the entire department culturally on the same page. I feel this had been such a large part of the problem. It will be a bloody pogrom but a ndcessary cleanse for what has honestly become a toxic environment.

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