CC: Sam and Ira Saying "Balance" Could Keep UM From Landing Harbaugh

Submitted by ama11 on

So Sam and Ira were discussing ad nauseam Schlissel's comments abount the "Evolution" and "balancing Academics and Athletics" and what that means for UM Football. Being as connected to UM as Sam is, is there reason to believe that the "balance" will keep UM from paying a football coach like Harbaugh "Saban-like" money to come here? Is Sam saying-without-actually-saying that Harbaugh won't happen?

Other things said by Sam and Ira (paraphrased):

  • Bringing a big-money coach doesn't show that you are balancing academics and athletics.
  • We can succeed with coaches that won't cost as much.
  • AD choice may take a year or two.
  • Nuss could be interim coach, or if Hoke wins-out he stays.
  • We could go after a Pat Fitzgerald-type coach for less pay and he will balance academics with football.
  • Maybe UM is no longer interested in being a top-notch football school that annually competes for the B1G.

I personally think that a school like UM can pay a coach a lot of money and still be regarded as a top-notch university. Why not show balance by being the best at both?

Thoughts?

RB's Mustache

November 3rd, 2014 at 1:17 PM ^

This post is absurd. Stop taking things out of context. Especially from people Sam and Ira who are UM company men (until they can safely say something otherwise) who have to fill up hours or air time.

Your twisted assertions are borderline trolling on this board. You are asking for vitriol. 

Go track some flight numbers.

AmishRule

November 3rd, 2014 at 2:22 PM ^

Agreed. I think this is a flyer.

Practically everyone has penciled in Harbaugh (one or the other) as the "required" new head coach next year.  If this does not happen -- any alternative (even a fairly good Mullen type hire) will be considered a failure by many.

Michigan may be using what it can (Sam) to start reducing expectations. This could be early damage control in case Jim and/or John really don't want to move to college football and doesn't matter how much Michigan wants them or will pay them.

This kind of coincides with -- Sam and Ira damn well knew Hoke and Brandon's future were over at Michigan after the ND game. But they had to be PC and walk a fine line on what they would say. This totally shifted after the MSU game -- if they didn't progress towards the masses, they would look only silly. My guess is they will ease off this mini shit storm once they find their listeners are not buying it.

markusr2007

November 3rd, 2014 at 1:17 PM ^

If anything, Jim Harbaugh's success at Stanford University (2009 @ 8-5, 2010 @ 12-1) would bode well for Michigan.

Harbaugh's predecessors at Stanford struggled big time:

Walt Harris: 6 wins in 2 years

Buddy Teevens: 10 wins in 3 years

Tyrone Willingham: 44 wins in 7 years, 4 seasons above 6 wins.

Bill Walsh: (2nd tenure, 17 wins in 3 years, 1 season above 6 wins)

Stanford was never an easy place to coach and win. And let's face it, Harbaugh used Stanford as a springboard for his NFL coaching dream, which worked. Except Harbaugh seems to have installed a winning formula (coaching/recruiting/culture) at Stanford that is continuing under David Shaw.

Setting completely aside the "Michigan Man" and "disciple of Bo" bullshit, the attractive thing about Harbaugh is simple: He wins football games.  If he came to UM he would probably NOT REVIVE THE PAST, but rather kickstart  Michigan's football future - one that looks forward, instead of looking back all the fucking time.  For example, Harbaugh will almost definitely bring back helmet awards and he's the kind of guy that would tell everyone who doesn't like them to kindly "fuck off, I'm doing it", as he should.  He's the coach.  And unlike Bo, Moeller, Carr, Rodriguez and Hoke, Jim Harbaugh would be the first coach since Bump Elliott to be able to say "I wore that helmet and that uniform and I played for this team in this stadium for 4 years." to the point of being almost beyond reproach.  

I still can't believe Harbaugh would uproot his young family from northern Cal, which is an awesome place to live and have a family, to move to the midwest again, and to try to resuscitate a Michigan's football program which has been a flatlined corpse for about a decade. I could be wrong.  I hope I am.  He's done it before (e.g. Stanford).

Either way, after yesterday's loss to the Rams Harbaugh seems genuinely frustrated at the NFL level because I think he's finally understanding how coaching highly paid, borderlin uncoachable,  prima dona mental case players actually isn't as much fun as it was playing alongside them.  College players are more fun to coach.  You just aren't paid as much.

What might keep Harbaugh in the NFL is his massive ego and the petty rivalries he has with contemporaries who have won Super Bowls.  He has no super bowl ring (yet).

Go Blue in MN

November 3rd, 2014 at 3:07 PM ^

What I don't understand is what great knowledge is Hackett going to obtain in the near future that justifies him hanging around to "bring up to speed" a new AD, who, unlike Hackett, has served as an athletic director for years.  Being an interim for a couple months (I don't see any reason why it would take longer than that) qualifies him to hold the new AD's hand for another year and a half??  It makes no sense. 

MGoCombs

November 3rd, 2014 at 1:20 PM ^

The only thing off balance in this scenario is money. Harbaugh had a great track record on the issue of balancing academics with athletics. He even made some comments that rubbed many of us the wrong way. Harbaugh actually seems like the epitome of the kind of coach Schlissel would look for.



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CoverZero

November 3rd, 2014 at 1:23 PM ^

How much revenue does Michigan football bring in every season?  $85-$100 million or so?  What is the intrinsic value of Michigan football to the rest of the athletic dept. marketing and university as a whole (much greater than $100 million) ? Harbaugh would essentially be the CEO of a $100 million dollar company, with a market valuation closer to a half-billion... and would need to be compensated as such.

Bill in Birmingham

November 3rd, 2014 at 2:00 PM ^

Completely agree. If the "balance" requires that we not pay a top level salary to get a top level coach, then let's go all in. We cut ticket prices in half to achieve "balance." Then if we are going to achieve "balance" we don't need such a large stadium to keep up with. Vandebilt is a nice school. Its stadium seats less than 50K. Let's lop fifty rows off the top of Michigan stadium. I don't believe after hearing the President talk last week that this is the thinking, but if so, it complete and total bullshit.

samsoccer7

November 3rd, 2014 at 1:29 PM ^

He'd be an idiot if he doesn't realize that sports can help the academic side bc of the constant reminder of Michigan in the media. Alabama, although not even close to us in academics, has had a huge uptick in applications and enrollment, I believe, since Saban started winning championships down there. Michigan can go Ivy League I guess but we've invested too much in facilities to dial it down anytime soon. The coach becomes the face of the athletic department and as a result plays a role, direct or indirect, in fundraising and donations to the university.

BlueHills

November 3rd, 2014 at 1:32 PM ^

The question of whether Harbaugh would come has nothing to do with balancing the things Schlissel was talking about.

He'll come if he feels like coming, and if so, they'll find the money.

UMgradMSUdad

November 3rd, 2014 at 1:35 PM ^

As others have already said, this seems nothing more than idle speculation. But, there is no guarantee that the next AD will fulfill the desire of the average Mgoblog posters any better than the previous AD. Purdue has gone the cheap route in athletics (but I've not seen any evidence of trying to raise athlectic academic standards). Quite honestly, if the plan is to lower salaries of the AD and coaches to appease the academicians, I would rather go the U of Chicago route.

givemeumorgive…

November 3rd, 2014 at 1:37 PM ^

Hoke was asked if he has met with Hackett yet and he said that he saw Hackett after the game briefly. Is it just me or wouldn't Hackett go out of his way to meet with Hoke a few times by now if he was even considering retaining Hoke? As far as Sam's comments go, JMO but we can't get too crazy with reading into them. Sam and Ira were the same ones that initially said nothing was going to happen until the end of the season. I also find it very amusing that people are thinking that "winning out" is possible. Yeah we won...but as Mr. Wolf said in Pulp Fiction..."Let's not start sucking eachothers d**** yet".

 

LSAClassOf2000

November 3rd, 2014 at 1:38 PM ^

Yeah, I get the impression that Sam and Ira were juggling with a scenario (several really) and not really speaking to their likelihood or even really advocating any of them per se. As others have said, there is no reason given what Schlissel has said about "excellence" in the classroom and on the field that indicates that we would start with the middling part of the list and work down from there.

I never got the impression that "balance", as Schlissel discussed it, was two buckets (athletics and academics, of course) with a finite amount of money split between them. I think we were actually getting the "go" to make sure both buckets were brimming with cash, opening the door for a run at someone like Harbaugh. 

Marley Nowell

November 3rd, 2014 at 1:38 PM ^

I don't buy any of this. We are not Rutgers where more than half the athletic budget comes from the general fund.  We will hire Harabaugh with our BTN money that would otherwise go unspent.

Julius 1977

November 3rd, 2014 at 1:47 PM ^

and it was disturbing. 

If they really pass over Harbaugh for 7 million a year and hire a lesser coach for 3.5 million for ideological reasons then having an athletic director that is a dick does not seem like such a problem.  I would be for firing everybody purely on the grounds of excercising bad judgment.

bighouse22

November 3rd, 2014 at 6:06 PM ^

Lately I have felt the same way.  I have been switching stations shaking my head at their positions.  I think they may be talking to much with former players and the studio is turning into an echo chamber.  

They seem as detached from reality as the players.  Either that or it is a carefully orchestrated attempt to convince people that getting rid of Hoke is to risky.  He should get another year because we are not getting Harbaugh. 

Now that there are some rumors that Harbaugh may be interested the narrative is changing to the University President is from Brown and is going to de-emphasize football.  He mentioned finances and isn't going to pay.  

I believe I have heard the "be careful what you wish for" sentiment on that show a few times now.

Even Mignery was talkng about the possibility that Hoke keeps his job if he can show improvement the rest of the way.  Like his body of work just doesn't matter.  The only thing that matters is the last few games!!!

Crazy times!

Gucci Mane

November 3rd, 2014 at 2:00 PM ^

It is absolutely unacceptable for Michigan to not do everything in its power to return to the national elite.

BlueGoM

November 3rd, 2014 at 2:03 PM ^

If there is an opportunity to bring Harbaugh here, you take it.   If they don't even try, AGAIN, to bring him here, then that's an indictment on the university.

 

UPMichigan

November 3rd, 2014 at 2:05 PM ^

If we're no longer interested in being a top-notch football program, then you can count me out from being a fan. Michigan can also say goodbye to the millions of dollars from other fans that won't spend the money in watching a team/program that doesn't care what the game results are.

bighouse22

November 3rd, 2014 at 5:58 PM ^

The program draws 100,000 fans every Saturday because it has always been committed to being top notch.  Fret not, I don't think that we are going to take a step back.  We just hired someone that was not qualified at this point in his career and it has not gone well.

I don't think for a second that they will hire someone on the cheap.  My belief is that they will go after a proven commodity.

Mpfnfu Ford

November 3rd, 2014 at 2:05 PM ^

Jim Harbaugh was successful at STANFORD, and they take their academic reputation as seriously as any program in the country. Someone is trying to suggest hiring Harbaugh is going to be like hiring Jackie Sherill now? Christ alive.

I swear, if Michigan ends up hiring Teryl Austin because he's "more afforadble" or whatever, I'm gonna scream.

ama11

November 3rd, 2014 at 2:15 PM ^

People are negging me for starting a conversation about what a highly-listened-to radio show said this morning... Thanks.

To everyone else, really interesting reaction and thoughts about the subject. I am in the mind of Schlissel and the Athletic Dept. are going to do their best to get the coach that will bring M back to prominence, or at least try to. I was just kind of shocked and appalled by what I was hearing on the Michigan Insider today.

Njia

November 3rd, 2014 at 2:39 PM ^

You didn't exactly provide for a lot of clarity in your OP. Judging by the comments in this thread, it doesn't appear as though many people actually read (or listened to) Sam and Ira's comments. Thus, we have endless gnashing of teeth and the sharpening of pitchforks based on wild speculation and rumor mongering.

Had what Ira and Sam said on the air been posted here, they would have been negbombed to hell for being trolls and rightly so.

klctlc

November 3rd, 2014 at 4:10 PM ^

Your post was great. I live in Chicago and don't usually listen to Sam.  No idea about his discussion.  The discussion needed to happen and THANK YOU for bringing it up. 

Proably overreacting but what you wrote scares the shit out of me.  You got 250 replies and counting.  People care and it is very relevant.

bighouse22

November 3rd, 2014 at 5:51 PM ^

Sam has been making comments similar to this for a while.  I think he is channeling his fear about the new University President because he was not very familiar with UM athletics and he came from a primarily academic institution.  I don't think he has any insider information.  

We all hear what we want to hear.  I want to hear Jim Harbaugh, so Schlissel's comments in my mind support that narrative.  

Sam who loves the program seems to be afraid that we don't know much about Schlissel's beliefs and heard the comments about balance and finance to mean cutting back.

We will just have to let it play out, but I believe Schlissel has been getting up to speed quickly.  Imagine coming to a place where the entire community is engaged because of the Football Team.  Would you even consider trying to diminish that experience for the alumni or fans. 

I personally don't think so and I certainly don't think the Regents are counciling along those lines.

PasadenaFan

November 3rd, 2014 at 2:18 PM ^

Whatever!  Done with those two.  Especially really tired of IRA trying to tell people what to think etc.  WTF does he know?  Nothing.

I believe Shissel now understands how important this all is To MICHIGAN and will go ALL IN for HarBO!  He canned DB.  Interim will can Hoke (nice guy, but not a big time guy).  And the new AD will go for HarBO or BUST.   Harbaugh is the first call.  Come on home Jim.  Cement your LEGACY.

Shissel and HarBO know what needs to be done.

The more I look at things the more I believe that DB had a phone call or meeting with Harbaugh and didn't like him and went with Hoke (as someone he could work with (control).  Screw DB....

 

 

 

mich728

November 3rd, 2014 at 2:30 PM ^

Not trying to read too much into it but this is disheartening. I'm starting to think I've been rooting for a program that doesn't even want to succeed. 

This next hire will determine whether I continue to support this program or not.

Maize and Blue…

November 3rd, 2014 at 2:20 PM ^

Sounds like Mr. Webb is interested in protecting his level of access to the program, for right now, he enjoys a good deal of inside information, but under J.H. that could change, he probably would not lose access, but it could possibly be curtailed, and that would be reason enough for him to be anti-J.H.