Harbaugh's Contract Situation
Pete Thamel recently wrote an article on Coach Harbaugh's contract.
"Harbaugh is the only Power Five coach with less than two years remaining on his contract. Few even have less than three. With a winning percentage and a reputation that should have earned him an extension long ago, Harbaugh instead is inexplicably headed toward the end of his contract."
What say you, does he/should he receive an extension, and why has he not received one already?
Link to article: https://www.yahoo.com/sports/in-contract-limbo-does-jim-harbaugh-need-to-justify-his-salary-235436731.html
October 14th, 2020 at 9:35 AM ^
Recruiting hasn't really stalled, so I'm guessing there's something already settled on and the finer details are just being hashed out.
Also, Thamel's characterization that Harbaugh "crossed swords" with Schlissel seems grossly exaggerated to me.
October 14th, 2020 at 10:43 AM ^
This is just more Free Press B/S. Don't read the Freep!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
October 14th, 2020 at 11:31 AM ^
Crossing swords is a very weird way of putting it.
October 14th, 2020 at 11:52 AM ^
definitely creates a crossing pee streams image for me, which doesn't really fit the metaphor he's going for because it's rarely adversarial and is more so cooperative.
October 14th, 2020 at 1:17 PM ^
It does fit the metaphor because, unlike you, 99.9999999% of people wouldn't think crossing swords meant crossing pee streams.
October 14th, 2020 at 1:45 PM ^
we are the 0.0000001%
October 14th, 2020 at 3:21 PM ^
then i am part of the .000000001% i must be quite rare
October 14th, 2020 at 1:20 PM ^
SWORD FIGHT!!!
October 14th, 2020 at 6:33 PM ^
En Garde!
Also, we should refer to that rag as Freep Creeps!
October 14th, 2020 at 12:22 PM ^
I live in Alabama but am not a fan of there team. The smallest guy on there O/L is 312 lbs six foot three and it goes up from there, Why can't Harbaugh get guys like that?
October 16th, 2020 at 4:59 PM ^
Really ? I went on their 247 site and pulled the height/weights of the following OL:
Tanner Bowles - 6'5 293
Dorian Dalcourt - 6'3 300
Seth McLaughin - 6'4 280
Pierce Quick - 6'5 280
Jackson Roby - 6'5 285
Besides, size doesn't equate to quality. Many oversized OL usually don't have the quickness to pull on running plays. Not sure about the point of your post .
October 16th, 2020 at 4:59 PM ^
Really ? I went on their 247 site and pulled the height/weights of the following OL:
Tanner Bowles - 6'5 293
Dorian Dalcourt - 6'3 300
Seth McLaughin - 6'4 280
Pierce Quick - 6'5 280
Jackson Roby - 6'5 285
Besides, size doesn't equate to quality. Many oversized OL usually don't have the quickness to pull on running plays. Not sure about the point of your post .
October 14th, 2020 at 12:39 PM ^
I regretted click on the article the moment I did.....this like anything else written about Michigan or Harbaugh in the last several years is nothing more than clickbait.....And I'm not saying that some of its not true, but rather it's all sensationalized and written in a manner that is not flattering to us as a school, a program, or a fan base.
Just my two cents.....
October 14th, 2020 at 12:51 PM ^
I don’t think most fans would consider it clickbait to wonder why Harbaugh still doesn’t have a deal and whether there’s a good reason. Harbaufh has irritated the school’s president and hasn’t justified his immense salary. And fans are restless. All of the above tend to signal an issue in most cases.
Most coaches demand long term deals. And I don’t think anyone would be shocked if this season goes sideways. I think you’re calling it clickbait just because you don’t want to believe any of this is true. If the article were about a rival coach, I bet you’d be agreeing with it.
October 14th, 2020 at 6:45 PM ^
October 14th, 2020 at 9:35 AM ^
He 100% should receive an extension. He is the best coach for Michigan football right now.
He has not received one because he is on his way to the NFL to coach an NFL expansion team that will be in Oakland. Book it. /s
October 14th, 2020 at 1:02 PM ^
I was as ecstatic as anyone else when he was hired, and I'm one of the few who acknowledge he wiped out the biggest threat by putting MSU back into irrelevancy....and he did.... no small feat....
He should receive an extension, because I think he is on verge of getting the team back to greatness, unless I'm very wrong, I think his best hour is coming this year with Milton..........I'm talking Heisman candidate and beating OSU.
October 14th, 2020 at 1:24 PM ^
I admire the enthusiasm. By any chance, have you been having some of those Marijuana Gummy Bears with lunch again?
October 14th, 2020 at 9:36 AM ^
He hasn't beaten Ohio State as a coach. If he wins the game this year, he gets that extension.
October 14th, 2020 at 10:30 AM ^
Like it or not, Harbaugh isn't going anywhere without a scandal.
October 14th, 2020 at 11:15 AM ^
Nor should he.
If it weren't for the vengeful football gods, and some probably corrupt ref's, he would have at least one playoff appearance by now. Possibly two, were it not for Ruddddockk forgetting how to QB during the second half of that Iowa game at Kinnick. Fuck. Still get angry about that one.
I watched that game at a very, very redneck bar up north (used to watch lots of games that way when fishing/hunting). Had to listen to this belligerently drunk bumpkin yell and scream about every damn play, to the point where I just couldn't enjoy any of that game. Even the good parts.
Then there's the fumbled snap vs MSU, Speight breaking his neck... dude has had some seriously bad luck. He has faults for sure, but there is no one I would rather have coaching Michigan Football. He's a high character guy, cares about his players, and won't embarrass the University.
October 14th, 2020 at 11:35 AM ^
" Possibly two, were it not for Ruddddockk forgetting how to QB during the second half of that Iowa game at Kinnick. Fuck. Still get angry about that one."
Speight was the QB in 2016.
October 14th, 2020 at 12:26 PM ^
Hmmm... not sure why but in my brain I was certain it was Rudock. Weird.
October 14th, 2020 at 11:49 PM ^
Hilarious.... Timmmaay is the first guy to run straight to the mod sticky and demand action when someone is "spreading misinformation" yet here we are....
October 15th, 2020 at 9:44 AM ^
Are you fucking kidding me? I posted once there about misinformation, which is just a little bit different than getting my QB's mixed up four years ago (which I immediately acknowledged). But I'm not surprised that you're trying to equate that with blatant Covid misinformation. Seriously, your whole post here says a lot about what kind of person you are, and your level of intellectual honesty. Can't fix stupid.
October 14th, 2020 at 4:17 PM ^
If it weren't for the vengeful football gods, and some probably corrupt ref's, he would have at least one playoff appearance by now. Possibly two, were it not for Ruddddockk forgetting how to QB during the second half of that Iowa game at Kinnick. Fuck. Still get angry about that one.
Are you so in love with Harbaugh you've created an alternate reality? The Iowa game and OSU game were the same year...where are you getting "possibly two" playoff appearances?
October 14th, 2020 at 12:54 PM ^
He 100% gets the extension. He has earned it. In all business negotiations, one side almost inevitably has more power than the other. Harbaugh holds the University by the balls. His current contract has been amazing for Harbaugh, amazing for the University, and very good (not amazing unfortunately) for the fans.
Harbaugh is getting paid for the value he has brought the University (which is a huge financial windfall), but unfortunately he has not brought the same value to the football field as far as results. He hasn't been bad or mediocre by any stretch, but all of us (don't act like you were different that what the entire board thought when he was hired) expected he would bring greatness that looked like at least on win in 5 years vs OSU, one Playoff Birth in 5 years, and very good, if not great, QB play. Hopefully it will happen soon.
October 14th, 2020 at 2:29 PM ^
Give him the extension. UM is not beating OSU this year, and it’s not JH’s fault OSU used their $$$$ influence to build an unrealistic empire we need to catch. At some point everything will equal out.
October 14th, 2020 at 10:46 AM ^
This is why fans don't get to decide a coach's fate.
October 14th, 2020 at 11:05 AM ^
Good thing that’s not how you determine a contract extension. This is why fans like you aren’t in charge of these decisions
October 14th, 2020 at 12:44 PM ^
Do you know how many non-bowl/playoff games OSU has lost since Harbaugh became coach?
Five.
OSU has never been this good. Success against them is fleeting/flukey...Penn State won ONCE because they got some turnover luck (blocked FG->TD comes to mind). They lost ONCE at Iowa because it's cursed. They lost ONCE at Purdue because Purdue is their inexplicable achilles' heel.
I'm not saying Harbaugh doesn't need to be better. Absolutely he does. The last two years against OSU have been embarrassing, and at bare minimum he needs the next one to stay competetive the whole game. He needs to actually win some road games against similar-level competition - although they've come close multiple times.
But if the question is "should he be given a contract extension?" the answer is an emphatic NO SHIT SHERLOCK.
October 14th, 2020 at 9:40 AM ^
Pete has overstepped his analysis to try to be first in his hawt take.
Harbaugh deserves and will get an extension when COVID is under control unless Steve Deace is elected President in November.
October 14th, 2020 at 10:26 AM ^
What does COVID have to do with a contract extension for a football coach?
October 14th, 2020 at 10:30 AM ^
See posts that elaborate below, but when the Athletic Department of Michigan is running a huge deficit due to COVID constraints and personnel have lost their jobs, it isn't a great idea to announce a multi-million dollar contract extension.
October 14th, 2020 at 10:31 AM ^
MAYBE it doesn’t look good to give your coach a 8-10 million per year contract extension when you are furloughing AD employees due to COVID??!! (God forbid M was cutting sports like others.)
Not an expert but I think this would get very bad press.
TLDR - Harbaugh gets clicks...just throw &$#@ at the wall and you win as a “journalist”.
October 14th, 2020 at 1:45 PM ^
A guy on Sam Webb's show alluded to Pete Thamel as an "Urban Meyer guy." Not sure what that means but regardless Harbaugh has always been the bear that certain "journalists" like to poke with "rumblings" from "sources" close to the program, etc, etc. (see Finebloom, Paul). They can literally make up anything, and do, in a time when journalism is not only dead but has been cremated and its ashes scattered into space.
I agree with most others here that a Big Ten title and occasional trip to the playoffs would be great and certainly a boon for a loyal fan base. Equally important in my book is that he represents the University with class and character (check), demonstrates a commitment to his players and their parents that he will mentor them to be well-rounded people, athletes, and students (check), and ensures that the program adheres to the rules, however misguided some of them may be (check).
Barring some unlikely scandal, Harbaugh can coach Michigan for as long as he wants as far as this alumnus is concerned.
October 14th, 2020 at 3:42 PM ^
"A guy on Sam Webb's show alluded to Pete Thamel as an "Urban Meyer guy." Not sure what that means..."
I took it to mean that Thamel is an OSU slappy who will take every opportunity to take a swipe at Michigan and anybody connected to the football program, especially Harbaugh.
October 14th, 2020 at 11:54 AM ^
but what happens if Rocky de la Fuente wins?
October 14th, 2020 at 9:41 AM ^
If he doesn't get an extension then he'll probably retire.
He'll probably get an extension or a new contract.
October 14th, 2020 at 9:44 AM ^
you give up on the schtick? This is like actually almost real perspective and insight here, I'm proud of you.
October 14th, 2020 at 9:53 AM ^
Don't hold your breath.
Also, username does not check out.
October 14th, 2020 at 12:22 PM ^
Made the mistake of believing the schtick was gone a few weeks back after a series of coherent, normal posts. It was short lived
October 14th, 2020 at 2:26 PM ^
"If he doesn't get an extension then he'll probably retire."
No way he ever stops coaching. Harbaugh has said many times his intentions were to "play as long as I can, coach as long as I can, then die."
October 14th, 2020 at 9:41 AM ^
"Harbaugh appeared to cross swords with Michigan’s president, Mark Schlissel, during the pandemic."
Well, I didn't need that image first thing in the morning.
This is just a fluff piece - Harbaugh has enough support throughout the university community, and whatever happened between him and Schlissel is probably overblown. He wins enough and doesn't otherwise create a bad image for the university. The only knock on him is that he hasn't won the Big Ten or beaten OSU. But only MSU in their fluke season and PSU have won the Big Ten since Harbaugh came into the picture besides OSU, and OSU has during that time maybe lost a handful of games.
Maybe Harbaugh wants to keep his options open? Maybe he's using this as a tactic? I know he has some different payout models in his other contracts (some life insurance schemes).
In any event, I don't really see much to this.
October 14th, 2020 at 10:00 AM ^
Harbaugh marches to Harbaugh's own drummer. The most likely explanation is Harbaugh hasn't done an extension because it isn't important to him at this point.
Schlissel has enough on his plate right now that feuding with Harbaugh is a poor use of time and political capital.
October 14th, 2020 at 10:44 AM ^
Sword measuring contest.
October 14th, 2020 at 11:11 AM ^
Funny, as my first thought was "why would Harbaugh need an extension as he seems to have little trouble getting his wife pregnant"
October 14th, 2020 at 12:00 PM ^
Your first thought was about his penis?