early reflections on the loss of Coach Harbaugh

Submitted by WolvesoverGophers on January 24th, 2024 at 9:38 PM

It is finished.  Nine years.   Three Big Ten Championships.  Three CFP appearances.  One National Championship.

The longest tenured coaching position of his career. A promise made, and fulfilled, to return his alma mater to the "Leaders and Best".

A commitment to student athletes, both in terms of advocacy for the freedom of movement and to monetize their efforts.  A commitment to academic responsibility, achieving and APR score of 1000.  lastly, a commitment to culture; love for the players and a mission to "play for one another".

The ability to take not one but two suspensions (comments withheld) and use them to develop and encourage coaching talent, and support their growth and development through expanded accountability.  To the point where his hand picked successor actually ran the table against the three toughest teams in the BIG Ten East.

Jim leaves the program in enviable position.  A promotion from within likely, with the effect of limiting talent flight and ensuring recruit retention.

I have been a part of a few large corporations; ones who provided themselves on talent management.  This is a Masterclass in leadership and preparing an organization for a transition.

We are in such good shape.  Nothing is certain but the pieces are all in place.  If the culture can remain, the future looks bright.

Jim is pursuing his next dream.  He already realized his first.  I cannot be angry, only grateful.

Hold your heads high and salute a coach who defied all odds.

Gi blue!

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BleedThatBlue

January 24th, 2024 at 9:54 PM ^

Why go through anger? Denial sure. But the dude got us a National Championship! An era that ended so beautifully and he deserves to chase his ultimate dream. The bandaid has been pulled a sense of calmness has been brought on with (hopefully) a successful new era. Back to the schedule of being the national champs baby! Go Blue! 

Joined: 03/17/2015

MGoPoints: 7906

FinestHour

January 24th, 2024 at 9:43 PM ^

I've always been a Michigan fan, but became an absolute superfan during Harbaugh's era as coach.  I'm thrilled he got to win a National Title, turned the tides against OSU, and won 3 straight conference titles.  Saddened and angered that the B1G Commissioner, the NCAA, and some rival coaches likely played a role in making it a less favorable option to stay at Michigan long-term.  But also very happy at what Harbaugh leaves behind in terms of possible coaches, players, and the team culture.  

Some incredible memories made, especially with Teams 142, 143, and 144!  

Joined: 11/27/2021

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The FannMan

January 24th, 2024 at 9:47 PM ^

He also created a culture that is worth more than NIL and mentored his successor - who is 37 and can be here for another 20 years.  This can go very, very well for us.  
 

Go Blue!

Joined: 11/25/2008

MGoPoints: 14816

The Mayor

January 24th, 2024 at 9:51 PM ^

I can tell you that my son showed me before church tonight the tweet from Schefter. Didn’t hit me until my way home tonight. I’m 52. Harbaugh was the reason at 12 years old I became a Michigan fan. My whole life since has been Michigan. My whole family went to Michigan. When Jim came home to coach it was surreal. My favorite player of all time was now our coach. He brought us back from the dark days of RRod and Hoke. I just told my wife I am a little heartbroken. I know it prob is weak to some but, man. These last few years were the best Michigan football years of my life. My adult son and even my Texas son in law has watched nearly every game with me  these last few years together. Just hope Sherrone keeps it going. But Im thankful for what Jim gave us.

Joined: 10/05/2015

MGoPoints: 5326

sdogg1m

January 24th, 2024 at 9:53 PM ^

I love Jim Harbaugh. I think when his coaching career is complete that his biggest "what ifs" is not what if he had won a Super Bowl but what if he had stayed at Michigan. Honestly, I don't think he will win that Super Bowl that eludes him but he could have been a legend in the college ranks.

Even if he were to win a Super Bowl with the Chargers, the fans in LA would never appreciate Jim as much as the Michigan faithful.

Joined: 09/13/2008

MGoPoints: 5790

LSAClassOf2000

January 24th, 2024 at 9:59 PM ^

A few years ago, the yearly NFL / Harbaugh talk was rather annoying to me, but now that a promise made was indeed a promise kept, I am at peace with it. It is a job well done, not a job unfinished. He has no more to prove at this level.

Further, if we were going to win a National Championship, now was the time to do it, and we did that. With a larger conference and a bigger postseason field next year, I think it might become harder to do, and of course, we probably could, but we already have, and we did it on Jim's watch. 

As a few people have said, don't cry because it is over, but instead smile because it happened. 

Joined: 01/07/2011

MGoPoints: 130627

MeanJoe07

January 24th, 2024 at 10:03 PM ^

Yeah let's be real. Nobody wants to watch shitty Pac 12 teams play in the big ten. Nobody wants to watch Rutgers play UCLA at 9pm in a half empty rose bowl and have the 3 hour commercial interrupted by occasional football. Nobody wants to watch the team OSU bought win with kids who give fuck all about the university. Nobody wants to watch The Game when it might be played 2 more times in the same season. College Football is over. Sure most of us will watch but it will never be what it was. OSU paying millions to buy their championship and Jim getting fucked in the A for a cheeseburger. College football blows now. We went out on top for the last season of it.  I'm gonna find something better to care about. Might watch the Michigan games or a few highlights, but doubt I'll get the same feeling i had in the past. It's all over. Who cares anymore.

Joined: 09/15/2013

MGoPoints: 73076

SFBlue

January 25th, 2024 at 5:00 AM ^

There is another side of the coin. Future USC v Ohio State at the Shoe. Future UCLA Michigan at the Rose Bowl. Michigan Washington rematch this fall at Husky Stadium. Penn State against Oregon will be dope. In the SEC, Bama plays at Oklahoma. Georgia at Texas.  Already next year in the B1G and SEC there are matchups fans wait ten, twenty years to see. 

Joined: 11/02/2009

MGoPoints: 15699

MeanJoe07

January 24th, 2024 at 10:00 PM ^

Love Jim, but it's over. Appreciate him, but hope he loses every game for that shitty franchise and ends up regretting this. Michigan Onward to whatever shitty version of college football is coming.

Joined: 09/15/2013

MGoPoints: 73076

SalvatoreQuattro

January 24th, 2024 at 10:16 PM ^

I’m indifferent.

I love the success and the establishment of the culture we have seen the past three years. But I didn’t love the off field weirdness and the flirtations with the NFL. His lack of a firm  surveillance of the program led to BurgerGate,Stalions, etc. He brought constant drama to the program. I got tired of it.

I think he will ultimately fail in LA because he will not mesh with the wacko Spanos family. They will get tired of his peculiarities and stubbornness just as previous employers did. Plus there is the mountain range of elite QBs he will have to contend with in the AFC.

Prediction: In four years time I think we see him back in the college game at a school somewhere on the West Coast. I think he retires as college head coach never again achieving the level of success that he did at the University of Michigan between 2021-23.  
 

 

Joined: 11/30/2010

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DennisFranklinDaMan

January 24th, 2024 at 10:26 PM ^

I'm pretty much 100% with you. Obviously the last three years were amazing on the field, but the off-the-field drama and controversy drained some of the pleasure for me. I'm finding myself actually sort of relieved this fucking annual tradition of an excellent season immediately kneecapped by flirtation with the NFL will end, now.

Not to mention you can't convince me our recruiting wasn't somewhat hampered by his obvious interest in returning to the NFL at some point. You never heard that about Day, or Saban, or Smart. But every fucking year we had to deal with it. Is there any question that it affected our ability to recruit at least a little bit?

Don't get me wrong. I loved Harbaugh as a player, and I was -- and remain -- incredibly chuffed by what he accomplished as a coach. I'll always be a fan.

But drama follows the guy everywhere he goes, and it started to wear on me. I'd like to hope we can win, going forward, with less of that. Fingers crossed.

Joined: 01/23/2021

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SD Larry

January 24th, 2024 at 10:46 PM ^

Will always appreciate Coach Harbaugh and wish him well.  Had to good fortune to meet him when he was Coach at USD.  For me personally, this is surreal.  Very sad to see him leave my favorite team in sports, ironically to go to my former favorite professional football team since their AFL days until they left and gut punched San Diego.  Will always love what he did for Michigan football.  There is a delusional part of me that hopes he comes back to Michigan some day, and another delusional part of me that still hopes the Chargers will come back to San Diego some day, At least I know this is delusional.  Thankful Michigan Football being National Champions football is real.  Go Blue !

Joined: 10/05/2014

MGoPoints: 40982

rhamada

January 25th, 2024 at 7:52 AM ^

I agree with everything said above except that Moore should be handed the job.  People must understand that Harbaugh was politically pushed out the door because Michigan wouldn't, in return for all the great things mentioned above that he did for Michigan, give him some protections and guarantees from NCAA harassment and firing.  Harbaugh stays if Warde and the powers at Michigan give him his reasonable requests.  Yes, he has a desire to chase a Super Bowl, but he wouldn't have left Michigan if they treat him with respect and met his conditions.  All of us would want the same thing.  He's different and deserves the protection and guarantees he requested.  

Joined: 08/04/2012

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