February 23rd, 2023 at 4:33 PM ^
Even if it's not an accurate reflection of what Harbaugh thinks, it's the smart thing to say. You very rarely succeed by bashing your boss.
February 23rd, 2023 at 7:47 PM ^
I once cussed out my CEO so bad in a conference room that the entire company heard it. Stood up, leaned across the table, put my finger in his chest and told him exactly what I thought about him, and if he had a problem with it, we could step off company property and handle it without words.
granted, it was an exit interview and it was his last act as a CEO as the company was just purchased and I was retained and promoted while he was summarily fired but … felt good to call out what a crooked POS he was to his face while we were both technically employed by the previous company (at least until the end of the day).
the whole story is much longer but I don’t really want to type all that.
February 23rd, 2023 at 8:26 PM ^
Not sure many folks wanted to read the longer version so……win:win
February 23rd, 2023 at 8:29 PM ^
I was once asked by my CEO "how does it feel to know your career is over" after I gave an IC presentation which went counter to his parochial/proprietary vision. I had been advised by my staff to not take my position but I knew what the major accounts wanted from us. Didn't bash him publicly or privately, just respectfully disagreed.
On one hand, he WAS right: I was out of his company/industry within 6 months. On the other hand, he got canned for being "out of touch" by the BOD 24 months after I "resigned". I changed industries and shorted him, as GP - along with my LPs. A very high beta position.
From what I can tell? I'm going to die with more toys than he had. So, I win (cause: "he who dies with the most toys - wins" 😁).
(Edit/add: true story 👍)
February 23rd, 2023 at 9:39 PM ^
Once, when the CEO of my company was giving a presentation, I left my chair, walked to the podium, and got right up in his grill. "You know what?" I said. "You really are a fucking moron." Then, I spit in his face. When he tried to yap, I bitch slapped him. There were a hundred people in the audience and they all cheered. The next day, the board fired him. They made me CEO.
True story...
February 23rd, 2023 at 10:18 PM ^
In an all-hands meeting, Bill Brasky once went up to the CEO, lovingly removed the CEO's shoe, but then beat him soundly with it while singing the "I gave my love a cherry" song from Animal House. During the stunned silence that followed, the CEO, looking amazed, profusely thanked Bill Brasky and explained that the event was astonishingly transformative, akin to a drastically superior version of himself emerging from a chrysalis.
February 23rd, 2023 at 10:19 PM ^
All CEO’s report to Michael Barrett.
Your story definitely doesn’t check out.
February 23rd, 2023 at 11:30 PM ^
You did not spit in his face.
February 23rd, 2023 at 4:36 PM ^
Coach seems to be one of those rare individuals who is honest about pretty much everything. I see or sense no reason to doubt him regarding his take on the relationship with Warde.
February 23rd, 2023 at 4:44 PM ^
Exactly this. Coach Harbaugh is just wired to say what he thinks. So better than even money he honestly believes they have a great relationship.
February 23rd, 2023 at 4:53 PM ^
i agree that he's honest - but i think honest does not mean his is not misleading as well. He says he has a great relationship.... that could also mean..
We don't talk much. i do much job. he's not in the way. All's good. Great relationship.
Sometimes the best relationships are the ones that are hardly there.
February 23rd, 2023 at 4:56 PM ^
i do much job.
Ha! sound like me.
February 23rd, 2023 at 4:58 PM ^
The best relationships with bosses are generally those type. Stay out of my way and let me the do the job you pay me too.
February 23rd, 2023 at 5:05 PM ^
He'll be honest about some things, but I'm not sure he's one to talk poorly about his superiors. It seems there are others (Todd Anson?) who serve as mouthpieces.
Anson has been calm lately, though, so it does seem like whatever issues there were have been cleared up.
February 23rd, 2023 at 6:55 PM ^
If you think Harbaugh is the kind of guy who always says what he thinks publicly, you haven’t been paying attention. The relationship may be fine, but if it wasn’t, he wouldn’t say so.
February 23rd, 2023 at 8:16 PM ^
But. I am told that I am a very attentive fellow. 😉 And. I think that he has an extensive track record of being (sometimes painfully) honest.
February 23rd, 2023 at 7:11 PM ^
I see or sense no reason to doubt him regarding his take on the relationship with Warde.
Because even people with no filters, still know how to play part of the game at the executive level.
e.g., the CTO where I work is a fucking moron. Everyone on the senior leadership team knows he's a fucking moron. In meetings though, I say "great idea" to every one of his ridiculous contributions... like Billy Madison level of "nothing you said makes any sense and we're all dumber for having heard it; my God have mercy on your soul" ridiculousness.
.
.
.
And then do absolutely fucking nothing about it after the meeting ends.
February 23rd, 2023 at 4:47 PM ^
Warde might be truly be a great guy but he's also lost one of the greatest basketball coaches in Michigan history. Additionally, he lost one of the greatest baseball coaches in Michigan history. Additionally, he had the hockey scandal. Furthermore, I don't think there has been much construction on athletic facilities during his tenure outside of Schembechler Hall and the scoreboard thing. Then you have NIL. He seems like just a guy.
February 23rd, 2023 at 4:53 PM ^
Sshhhhhcoreboard!
February 23rd, 2023 at 4:54 PM ^
Beilein was done with college basketball. Did you really want Warde to empty the bank to keep someone who didn't want to coach in college anymore?
Bakich knew he would never achieve the type of success he personally wants in the Big Ten. Again, did you really want Warde to provide a blank check to someone who didn't think they could advance further than they already have in their current position?
Nothing like being upset Warde didn't break the budget to make sure he had unmotivated people working for him.
February 23rd, 2023 at 5:06 PM ^
They do have a $17 million surplus. Paying Bakich SEC level money is a more worthy cause than anything else. Maybe it's on Warde and maybe it's not but it doesn't seem like there are many other programs that continue to get their coaches poached like that. Then you have Harbaugh interviewing twice. Just my opinion that you could put nearly anyone in the AD seat and it would be just as good or better.
February 23rd, 2023 at 5:06 PM ^
When the board gets an idea that gets recycled its hard to change the narrative. Some rumblings of Bakich getting a very much "Welp good luck with that" on his way out. If Clemson can pay it the UM athletic funds can break off a little of that surplus for the best baseball coach we can get.
If Cincy football and Gonzaga basketball can do it, and you were already in a championship game, I sure hope they threw the kitchen sink at Bakich. Ive gone round and round on the "whoa is us" shit concerning Michigan baseball but like I said above once a narrative is set on this blog its damn hard to change it.
Hopefully with Ono in charge if we lose out on a coach its only because we have exhausted all options and it just comes down to preference.
February 23rd, 2023 at 6:38 PM ^
The baseball logic confuses me. I watched first hand as Oregon State built a monster program. If they could do it, so could Bakich.
February 23rd, 2023 at 7:09 PM ^
This.
If U of M doubled Bakich's salary, he wouldn't have stayed?!
February 24th, 2023 at 12:40 AM ^
Go watch high school baseball at any public in portland. Then go watch high school baseball at any public anywhere in michigan.
Then consider that recruiting is regional and consider the baseball within 500 miles of corvallis and 500 miles of Ann arbor..
You have your answer.
February 23rd, 2023 at 4:57 PM ^
I agree with most of what you said, and am far from a Warde fan. However, it's possible the lack of construction is related to COVID issues (supply chain and limited workers) and it's hard to blame the AD for a baseball coach leaving for a southeastern school and a basketball coach leaving for the NBA. The hockey issue is pretty impossible to defend though imo
February 23rd, 2023 at 5:08 PM ^
Warde "losing" Beilein and Bakich is a tired, lazy take. They both left for very specific reasons, none of which had anything to do with Warde.
It is difficult to defend the hockey situation.
How much more construction can really be done? Almost every athletic facility has been upgraded in the past 10-15 years.
The narrative re: NIL also appears to be unfounded and not based in reality. And Michigan has made it clear they aren't going to engage in "pay for play"...and nor should they. Michigan should have higher standards, even if it negatively affects recruiting.
February 23rd, 2023 at 5:15 PM ^
Whether Michigan should do pay for play is another argument. Most of the criticism for NIL doesn't have to do with that. It took the university forever to acknowledge or help with collectives.
February 23rd, 2023 at 5:21 PM ^
Beilein I agree. Poole and Ziggy, and "blind when it counted NCAA" were the end of him (not bagging on the players just the results). Crazy how Beilein lasted exactly as long as his first one and done.
February 23rd, 2023 at 6:58 PM ^
FFS...the Beilein thing is well reported and he himself called it a mistake and said he should have RETIRED.
He was done coaching college basketball.
But narratives gon narrative.
February 23rd, 2023 at 11:29 PM ^
you’re slippin’, man. you forgot to blame him for hutch retiring and the 2016 loss at ohio state. also spartan bob and eddie smith. and ed martin. oh, and bill martin’s boat trip.
it’s okay, though, it’s the off season. take your time, you’ll be ready by fall.
February 23rd, 2023 at 6:20 PM ^
Oh boy you're not going to get that much traffic on this post!!! Boy if it said thee exact opposite, there'd be over 1000, comments!
February 23rd, 2023 at 6:33 PM ^
As in... they haven't spoken since the summer. Perfect.
February 23rd, 2023 at 6:38 PM ^
What else is he going to say? I hate the guy? He’s impeded my ability to lead my program the way I need it to run if we want to win the ultimate prize?
You go absolutely nowhere but backwards by publicly bashing your boss. Keep up appearances and settle your issues behind the scenes.
February 23rd, 2023 at 7:09 PM ^
Coach Harbaugh says he has "great" relationship with Warde
Public facing coach-speak/rhetoric.
I mean what do you expect... JH to tweet Warde sucks or something?
February 23rd, 2023 at 7:11 PM ^
If the media doesn't create hate at or manufactured within Michigan football, no clicks, no newspapers means no money.
Go Blue.
February 23rd, 2023 at 7:14 PM ^
Harbaugh has Santa Ono on his side so the relationship with Warde has to be in good terms. Maybe not great, but good. Warde can't blow off a 25-3 record over the last 2 yrs with 2 consec wins over OSU and 2 Big-10 titles. How long has been it been before that happened?
It's probably more about Warde having a great relationship with Jim.
February 23rd, 2023 at 7:41 PM ^
What’s he supposed to say?
“Warde? I fuckin hate that guy”
February 23rd, 2023 at 7:54 PM ^
Yeah I have a "great" relationship with my ex wife too. That's why she ran off with our pool boy to Guadalajara
I don't actually have an ex wife, but it felt like something someone would say.
February 23rd, 2023 at 9:51 PM ^
Tschetter having a rough game
*Oops wrong thread
February 23rd, 2023 at 10:56 PM ^
Harbaugh's happy right now, why say something that could undo that in any way?
February 23rd, 2023 at 11:38 PM ^
I'm happy. Why would Jim mess that up for me?
February 23rd, 2023 at 11:54 PM ^
All you have to do is read these comments you'll see the supporters of the Michigan administrative leaders and best. It's hard and impossible to please everyone. I'm sure some people lose sleep because a few people who openly, don't like their methods.