Grantland: Would Jim Harbaugh Really Leave the 49ers for Michigan?

Submitted by Marley Nowell on

http://grantland.com/the-triangle/would-jim-harbaugh-really-leave-the-4…

Nothing really new but I hadn't heard the Cleveland trade was a in place before Harbaugh nixed it. Hopefully his unhappiness in SF, fondness for AA, and control freak tendencies coalesce into a happy ending for Michigan Football.

 

Side note: the author of this article looks at most 14 years old 

4godkingandwol…

September 26th, 2014 at 12:12 PM ^

Are we allowed to poke fun at the age of people who write articles about Michigan?  

 

Side note: Google Matt Borcas, and the first autofill suggestion is Matt Borcas Age.  

Second edit:  Apparently he is/was an OSU school of Journalism student.  So, I immediately do not like him without having read one word he has written because I am sure he is just trolling us.  

 

 

GoBlueInNYC

September 26th, 2014 at 11:50 AM ^

I really don't see it happening. The NFL and the NCAA are different enough positions, it's a rare breed that not only can but wants to jump back and forth - Harbaugh seems to have his sights set on NFL success. I don't see him leaving the NFL if head coaching offers are out there (which they will be). And his control freak tendencies may make taking over a college program enticing, it's totally negated by Brandon's over-reaching.

Also, is the NCAA really a "reduced workload?" Honest question. I would think that college coaching has more facets and responsibilities compared to NFL.

GoBlueInNYC

September 26th, 2014 at 12:02 PM ^

Right, so Harbaugh's control freak tendencies negate the idea of a "reduced workload."

Also, Brandon's departure is far from guaranteed, especially a quick departure. If it's a prerequisite for getting Harbaugh in, I don't see it happening on a timeline that prevents Harbaugh from signing another NFL contract (if not an extension with the 49ers, with some other NFL team).

And doesn't the idea of him jumping back to the NFL whenever he wants kind of scream "he doesn't want to be here," which is the whole point of the discussion?

I said this when Rodriguez was fired and I still believe it: Harbaugh wants to coach in the NFL, and he's never coming to Michigan (or any other college). And since coaching the 49ers, he's displayed immediate success that will get him plenty of opportunities at the pro level such that he won't retreat to college, a la Saban.

maize-blue

September 26th, 2014 at 12:13 PM ^

Yup. Harbaugh was at Stanford for 4 seasons. As soon as it appeared that he was turning the program around and they had one really good season, he was gone. I mentioned the Saban reference as well. It's not like Harbaugh isn't winning at the NFL level. He probably has one of the best coaching records over the past three years. It just doesn't scream to me a situation where a guy would go back to coaching college. A lot of people are citing differences with the 49ers management as a reason he will leave there. That may be true, but I bet you'll see half the teams in the league calling his number if he leaves San Fran.

MileHighWolverine

September 26th, 2014 at 12:35 PM ^

If he comes here and does for us what he did for Stanford, I would have no problem with him going back to NFL like Pete Carroll. Hopefully he will leave behind a talented group of coaches we can use to replace him.

 

Totally a pipe dream but I would take that deal in a heart beat over the shit show we have now. Double bonus cause it would mean Brandon would no longer be AD.

DC Johnny

September 26th, 2014 at 12:10 PM ^

Harbaugh likely won't leave the pros. And even if he did, and he were successful at UM, it would just be a matter of time before he returned to the NFL - then what? New coaching staff, new offensive & defensive schemes, a mukti-year setback like we're experiencing now.

maize-blue

September 26th, 2014 at 11:55 AM ^

He's a pretty decent NFL coach. I just don't see him going back down to college. Maybe, if he had flunked out like Saban, maybe. Unless they give him a shit ton of money, keys to the city, free reign, and a license to do whatever he wants, I just can't see it.