Does Warde Survive This?

Submitted by FlaWolverine22 on January 24th, 2024 at 7:10 PM

The calls for him to be fired will be deafening now. His legacy is running Harbaugh out of town and hiring Juwan.

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Castroviejo

January 24th, 2024 at 8:07 PM ^

My son’s girlfriend works with the Harbaugh’s in a non football situation. There are NDAs involved, so I can’t share too much, but the whole issue is that Jim Harbaugh wants to win a Super Bowl. Period.  Most of the contract nargle with U of M was about if he were to come back because he couldn’t find a NFL situation that was suitable for him;  he was not coming back if a good NFL situation came up, regardless of what Michigan offered him.  Not a Warde fan, but this really isn’t on him.  Can confirm Jaybaugh is going; don’t know about Minter.

Joined: 12/08/2014

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Castroviejo

January 25th, 2024 at 7:04 AM ^

You’re absolutely right, not aging well in light of the other threads. What’s weird is that the comments I mentioned came directly from Jaybaugh.  My son’s girlfriend’s car was out of commission, so he picked her up and he had a very brief discussion with Jaybaugh.  I suspect there’s a bit of disconnect between the actual truth and what’s put out there for public consumption.  This discussion took place a week ago. I was reluctant to put it on Mgoblog-looks like my initial instinct was correct, albeit for reasons different than I thought.

Joined: 12/08/2014

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iMBlue2

January 24th, 2024 at 7:29 PM ^

Funny he got everything he wanted like 3 hours before he took the chargers job Warde knew he was going so he put that shit out in the media he wasn’t giving him that money or those clauses before today.  It’s politics so people like you don’t look at his missteps which are vast and resounding.  I’m happy for Sherrone but let’s not pretend that this doesn’t weaken the program.  No one knows how he will do.

Joined: 11/24/2017

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Wendyk5

January 24th, 2024 at 7:18 PM ^

Harbaugh has interviewed with NFL teams the last two seasons. Come on. When he was asked about it after "returning" to Michigan, he never sounded like he was here for the duration. Ever. I don't care what his words said, his tone told me otherwise. He wants to try to climb bigger mountains. Stop using Warde as a scapegoat in a situation that is clearly on Harbaugh. 

Joined: 11/20/2008

MGoPoints: 67736

umfan83

January 24th, 2024 at 7:31 PM ^

And all that NFL discussion started after Warde cut his pay after a weird COVID season. It’s clear that their relationship is poor as it took Santa Ono coming in over the top to get JH’s last extension signed. And while I could be reading too much into it their body language at the championship rally was awkward at best. 
 

But it’s true that it’s likely Harbaugh was always going to leave at some point. People have been bracing for it since the day he was hired. Maybe there was nothing he could do. Maybe winning the title gave him the perfect opportunity to leave. But I also don’t think his relationship with Warde helped at all. Very possible the moves Warde made in 2020 put him in a frame of mind that he needed to start considering his next career move, a process that ended today. 
 

No one really knows what went on, but I’m  not going to defend Warde based on the things I believe to be true. 

Joined: 03/10/2012

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Wendyk5

January 24th, 2024 at 8:23 PM ^

I think it took balls to do what Warde did at the time. I think we all have really short memories around here. Harbaugh was performing under expectation before the 2020 season. His quarterbacks weren't fantastic. He was stubborn, which used to drive people around here crazy. He won the games he was supposed to and couldn't beat our rivals or win bowl games. And then 2020 happened. Warde did exactly what people now wish he'd do with Juwan. He acted. I'm sure it pissed off Harbaugh and while I'm not saying there's a direct correlation between his much improved performance and the pay cut, we did see a turn around. Harbaugh embraced change and brought in people with different philosophies. If he hadn't gotten the pay cut, would that have happened? I'm not sure. 

Joined: 11/20/2008

MGoPoints: 67736

GLORY

January 24th, 2024 at 9:12 PM ^

Ha, pay cut?  He slashed Jim's salary in half.  That's not a pay cut, it's an insult. 

Maybe that lit fire in him, but certainly didn't sit well with him.  And I don't know how you consider this as Warde "acting," when there's nothing profound about cutting Jim's salary in half.

Joined: 06/12/2021

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ChuckieWoodson

January 24th, 2024 at 7:38 PM ^

Why is it so binary? How about if your boss suspended you without notice? Didn't defend you? Would you be loyal? Just because you job searched before doesn't mean you will again. 

It's very annoying to me to see posters who have been here a long time and know the situation, like you.. like... almost defend Warde. Bakich. Beilein. Harbaugh. Keeping Juwan. Jesus, what other proof are you looking for that he's a horrible AD and likely had at least some effect on this situation?

Joined: 01/13/2012

MGoPoints: 26175

BKBlue94

January 24th, 2024 at 7:57 PM ^

Why do people always want to be mad about something? Bakich left because the big ten isn't big time baseball. Beilein and Harbaugh wanted to pursue dreams in the pros. Hopefully Juwan gets fired this year, we don't know. But honestly, you don't win as many championships Michigan has won in all sports recently with a horrible AD

Joined: 12/22/2021

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DennisFranklinDaMan

January 24th, 2024 at 9:12 PM ^

I mean, us getting to three straight NCAA playoffs and winning the National Championship in football and getting to the Frozen Four in hockey would seem to be evidence that he's not overseeing a dysfunctional athletic department.

I get it, you can cite other stuff. But goddam, this is an excellent time for Michigan sports — yes, even taking the basketball team into account — and you guys act like it's disastrous.

I'm not a Warde-defender. I don't much care one way or another. But all you guys do is blame every single thing that happens to our teams that disappoints you on him. Our coaches leave to go to the pros? It's Warde's fault. The basketball team struggles? It's Warde's fault.

We get the best assistant coaches in America on the football team? Warde had nothing to do with it. We win a National Championship? Warde had nothing to do with it.

Good God, man. Considering how little access we have as to what literally goes on behind the scenes, just admit that you ... don't ... know.

Joined: 01/23/2021

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TIMMMAAY

January 24th, 2024 at 8:14 PM ^

 After his contract was cut to shit. That matters, a lot. Not even so much for the money, but the message it sends. He has been very open, honest, and vocal about what he wanted. He's a relatively sophisticated guy, he isn't going to say outright "fix this specific thing" in public. So he spoke obliquely, but the meaning always seemed clear to me. Show me the damn respect I deserve. 

I don't think that ever actually happened. Not saying I know anything for a fact, this is all just my perception of the situation. 

Joined: 09/08/2008

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trueblueintexas

January 24th, 2024 at 10:47 PM ^

The problem with “show me the respect I deserve” personalities is they always feel they deserve more respect than they are getting. There is never enough because the goal posts always move on what it should be. That personality style seldom translates to a good long term employee which is somewhat represented in Jim Harbaugh’s career path.

Joined: 11/10/2008

MGoPoints: 36653

FrankMurphy

January 24th, 2024 at 9:38 PM ^

I mean, I really don't think it's "on" anybody. Warde hasn't been the perfect AD, but Harbaugh's burning ambition to win a Super Bowl isn't Warde's fault. And Harbaugh is certainly entitled to pursue his ambitions, so he can't be blamed for doing exactly that (especially given everything he added to the trophy case the past three years).

Sometimes, there's just no one to blame. We hired one of the best coaches in the history of the game, and he took us to the top of the mountain. We always knew he wanted to climb the highest mountaintop there is, and now he's off on his quest to do that. There's nothing left to say except to thank him and wish him good luck.

Joined: 08/19/2008

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jblaze

January 24th, 2024 at 7:20 PM ^

What didn’t he do? Harbaugh was offered the highest contract ever for a coach and was given an arbitration panel. 
 

Harbaugh wants a Super Bowl, especially since his brother has one and maybe two. 
 

I'm not saying anything about the job Warde has done, but he didn’t run Jimmy out of town and you have zero “proof”. 

Joined: 08/29/2008

MGoPoints: 19316

Robbie Moore

January 24th, 2024 at 7:40 PM ^

I'm not a Warde fan but Harbaugh has won us a National Championship 🏆 and he want a Super Bowl. Harbaugh's departure at this point is completely understandable. And Warde could have supported Jim from here to the moon and back and Harbaugh would be leaving anyway. His job here has been accomplished. Thanks for everything, coach. May you be as successful in Los Angeles as you have been in Ann Arbor.

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