Grantland: Dear Jim Harbaugh: Just Go to Michigan

Harbaugh’s not well liked where he is. Staying in the NFL, with the Niners or another team, just means he’ll face the same pressure every year, along with a constant wave of new challenges that come with fighting to stay dominant in the parity era — juggling cap numbers with a front office every spring, and micromanaging adults who don’t want their lives micromanaged.

Thanks OP for posting.  Good read.  This is one of the few pieces I've read that adeptly argues against the maxim that NFL Head Coaching is the end-all-be-all, especially when ones considers the personlaity type of our former All-American QB.

At this point, I am not sure even Harbaugh can live up to our expectations.  It's like everyone assumes he will come, we will have the #1 ranked recruiting class, every starter will be a #1 pick and Michigan will win the national championship (Obvs).  Michigan does have a few holes in its roster let's not forget.

But it it's not him, there is going to be a huge letdown.

That is a good read. 

Did anyone see what Kawakami said about Harbaugh? Someone asked him why he's so confident about Harbaugh to the raiders. His reply was basically that he wouldn't say confident and that it just makes sense.
Media knows nothing.

"Confident" is the wrong word. Just saying it makes sense... MT @WyomingRaider you seem pretty confident Coach Jim will be Raiders HC

— Tim Kawakami (@timkawakami) December 17, 2014

Hah

I didn't think it was possible for me to want Harbaugh to come to AA any more that I already did, but after reading this article . . . whoa, Nellie.  That sounds like a hell of a college coach to me.  Pair his player development and motivational talents with our recruting and look out.

It seems clear that Hackett is willing to do what it takes.  Now JH just needs to make up his mind (or maybe he already has, if the favorable internet chatter is true).  Are the stars actually aligning in our favor for a change?  Please??  If I whine louder will it help?  

“My opponent is going to have to die. But does he have to kill me too? He is killing me. But he has a right to. I have never seen a greater opponent than him. I do not care who kills who now.”

I feel like that article was written by Brian's mainstream counterpart.

"It’s like a pep talk ghostwritten by Ra’s al Ghul."

I wonder how many other college football fans are hoping Harbaugh comes to Michigan?

I've seen writers on teams from other conferences opine that they hope Michigan returns to being consistently good. Having big games played in the Big House for all marbles is good for the game in general.

 “My opponent is going to have to die. But does he have to kill me too? He is killing me. But he has a right to. I have never seen a greater opponent than him. I do not care who kills who now.”

My wife wants our house littered with little quotes on the walls in different rooms.  I am going to fight like hell to get this one up...perferably in the bathroom.

Another good profile of Harbaugh's college coaching methods can be found in the little-known book "Rags to Roses" about the rise of Stanford football.  Bottom line, the guy is every bit as intense and incredibly asshole-ish as he comes across in the Grantland article, but he clearly has an incredible ability to motivate and develop players and cares about his players on a deep personal level.  We hit the jackpot if he comes to Ann Arbor.

"I do not care who kills who now.”

If not, then he's agreed with a trade the 49ers will propose to another NFL team. So,  until 12/30 I remain quite optimistic. If this goes into the the New Year with no Harbuagh, then I will be hoping for a good plan B coach.

writer and the evidence he lays out for Harbaugh's return. Quite honestly, I don't think Harbaugh really wants to come back to college, and I think the very challenges that he faces with teams that clash with him over his dorky micromanagement of detail and motivation, are not really big concerns to him. He doesn't want to be loved, he just wants to win, on every down. I mean this is one obsessive guy. He needs to win on the highest level to feel -- whatever you feel when you reach the highest point on any mountaintop -- then look down and see how far you've come. And then you realize you still want to make that climb again.

He might fit better in the Ann Arbor setting and with college kids who will long remember his tutelage than pro players simply looking to get ahead and then get out with some career success behind them whether they reach a SB or not and no crippling injuries brought on in part by a gung-ho guy whose only real mantra is win the game by adopting some Asian warrior indoctrination requiring 24/7 alert status to enemy mirroring. College kids can dig that, pro players not so much, especially in the fourth season of an SB or bust tour. And now things are bust in SF and its decision time.

And I just don't get the sense he really wants to come back and fight at this level. If Bo were alive, no question he'd be right back. But now, who knows? The fire burns bright but you either accept the idea that winning is a matter of football perception, and that changing lifestyles and circumstances is worth uprooting family and professional career goals, or you just want to bury those who you weren't good enough.

I can see him making the leap back, and I can also see him deciding that, and then deciding it's not what he really wants to do -- at the last minute. We will never know the push-pull of this decision, unless he chooses to stay in the Bay Area where he's only produced near-champions. At Michigan, he would be the comeback King if he returns.

So, here's to him returning. We just need to feel good again.

. At San Francisco he makes the winning side run gassers after two-minute practice.

Only 11 more days to learn the fate of UM football!!!

Pep talks ghostwritten by Ra’s al Ghul? Yes Please

Feel a Har-boner rising

with God and he nails it.  

Hail!