Harbaugh a candidate in South Bend - per ESPN
File this one under 'it would really suck'. A few years back I despised Harbaugh for his comments against UofM. I completely sided with Hart but since I have really appreciated how good of a coach Jim Harbaugh is. And if things get worse here and RR does indeed go I wouldn't mind seeing ole Jim at the healm (god if it were ever between him and Miles it shouldn't be close, though, that is not at all realistic).
Anyway, in the ESPN front page article that reported Weis (one 'S') was fired they listed Harbaugh as a possible candidate for the position. Okay, this is ESPN whom we all know is, um, reliable, right. But still, Jim Harbaugh is probably the last person that I would want to see coaching in South Bend.
thoughts?
November 30th, 2009 at 4:08 PM ^
At least Corwin Brown wouldn't have to look for another job.
November 30th, 2009 at 4:11 PM ^
I bet Tom Hammond wouldn't mind being the meat in that manwich.
November 30th, 2009 at 4:11 PM ^
Did Kirk Herbstreit report that?
November 30th, 2009 at 4:11 PM ^
That would be a punch in the gut by Jim, and end his relationship with MEEEEEEEEEECHIGAN. I don't think it will happen.
November 30th, 2009 at 4:28 PM ^
Jim already terminated his relationship, three years ago.
December 1st, 2009 at 4:31 AM ^
no he hasn't..
By the time he gets a chance to come back,half of the people he offended in the athletic department by speaking the truth will be retired. Besides, what makes you think the new AD will even care about something as petty as that?
Besides.. if the big money people want the guy to coach here, I doubt a few offended clerks in the athletic dept will be able to do anything about it..
November 30th, 2009 at 4:12 PM ^
let me guess a university "source"?
November 30th, 2009 at 4:33 PM ^
I was just curious who you would like to see coach? and who do you think it will be?
November 30th, 2009 at 5:17 PM ^
It will probably be someone no one is talking about.
Who do I want? I am not sure if there is anyone I "want" but of those who have been named Stoops would provide the easiest transition, in coaching, recruiting and current systems (not that it is exactly the same) but he would be my choice if it mattered
November 30th, 2009 at 6:35 PM ^
Rumblings from E Lansing and Detroit indicate HR Puff n Stuff having a preemptive lead after being passed up in the Dantonio hire.
November 30th, 2009 at 8:45 PM ^
Good thing you have a sense of humor. If you are a Michigan or Notre Dame fan that doesn't have a sense of humor, then you are probably on a very high ledge somewhere right now.
November 30th, 2009 at 11:12 PM ^
I don't know if you will ever know how correct you are with that statement. Mgoblog has its meltdowns at times but it has never been as bad as some of the ND boards out there. It is so pathetic and embarrassing to see their reactions to such stupid events.
It just so happens to have happened today when Stoops made his remarks about being at OU next year and for as long as possible or whatever. And that was just after the news on Weis being released, so OMG the sky is falling we already missed out on our first coaching source and blah blah blah, just inconsolable vomit being spewed on message boards. Then 45mins later the AD comes out and says he hasn't contacted anyone on the position, no one has been contacted and everything and its like everyone was just given a big hug. All I can do is sit back and think WTF?
November 30th, 2009 at 11:16 PM ^
...I can only imagine. Btw, what are the best ND blogs? Which ones do you like?
November 30th, 2009 at 4:13 PM ^
A Notre Dame coaching search is to NCAA football fans what ABC's 'The Bachelor' is for middle aged divorcees. I can't stand the drama and the speculation but dammit I just want to know who gets the rose!
That being said I don't think there's a name out there I haven't heard plugged for the job. Can we have an official MGoPoll?
I'm going to steal a friend's idea and take the deep, deep dark horse Gus Malzahn.
November 30th, 2009 at 4:43 PM ^
Since NBC is already contractually obligated to ND anyway, why not make a reality tv show about hiring the coach? It only has to be one real day of filming, then spread it out over a couple weeks. The ND AD on one side, an array of coaches on the other. America gets to vote, and the winner gets the contract. That's just horrible enough that it might work.
(followed by Celebrity Who Wants to be the Coach? for the Maryland job or something).
November 30th, 2009 at 8:35 PM ^
It's already taken...but "The Biggest Loser-Notre Dame Edition" would be a nice fit.
November 30th, 2009 at 4:13 PM ^
going to ND would be perfectly consistent.
November 30th, 2009 at 4:14 PM ^
It would just be the greatest thing ever. I think I would actually root for Notre Dame if they hired Lou.
November 30th, 2009 at 4:19 PM ^
I just imagine that the next day Lou would be on ABC doing predictions (read with lisp and spitting) - "Notre Dame will win the National Championship this year!"
November 30th, 2009 at 4:15 PM ^
I can't see ND hiring Harbaugh.
He's got a brash side to him that does not fit with the traditional ND character (Charlie was brash and I see them moving away from that). They may view him as a flight risk, should things not work out with RR. A lot of ND guys really dislike everything about Michigan, and having Harbaugh as HC, would not sit well with a lot of them.
It could happen (Harbaugh has a great record against USC going for him) but I just don't see it happening.
November 30th, 2009 at 4:17 PM ^
job as the King of Belch is for the AD job at Michigan.
November 30th, 2009 at 4:20 PM ^
Harbaugh must have hate for Notre Lame and would never coach there.
Go Blue
November 30th, 2009 at 5:56 PM ^
In King of Belch we trust!
November 30th, 2009 at 4:20 PM ^
Sorry meant to be reply to Corwin brown not losing his job
I dont know the way the defense has been last year when he was the main one and this year when he was co, I wouldnt keep him.
November 30th, 2009 at 4:19 PM ^
That is the over/under on the number of different coaches that media outlets will report to be candidates for the job.
November 30th, 2009 at 4:20 PM ^
In the wild ass speculation / dark horse category, how about Gary Pinkel of Mizzou. Clearly not the first choice, but a decent track record, midwest ties (Mizzou and Toledo), and the sort of guy ND may need to default to if the untouchables (stoops and meyer) and Kelly say no.
November 30th, 2009 at 4:24 PM ^
Harbaugh is one of my favorite UM players of all time and I remain a big fan. I would hate seeing him at ND.
Why come Skip Holtz never gets mentioned? Seems like Irish fans would have an erection all off season is their savior's son was hired.
November 30th, 2009 at 4:27 PM ^
Recently uploaded by WolverineHistorian. It'd be a crime if this man coaches at ND:
November 30th, 2009 at 5:08 PM ^
That wouldn't be a touchdown today at 5:58
November 30th, 2009 at 4:30 PM ^
A few years back I despised Harbaugh for his comments against UofM. I completely sided with Hart but since I have really appreciated how good of a coach Jim Harbaugh is.
So basically, if a guy wins enough, it's no biggie if he trashes the academic integrity of his alma mater?
November 30th, 2009 at 4:34 PM ^
he also grew up in a2 like myself and there were those community ties. he was one of my favorite players and then came his comments. the fact that he was one of my favorite players made it so painful. but um yeah, he wins which is nice.
November 30th, 2009 at 4:30 PM ^
Is ND that much better of a job than Stanford? Before you say I'm crazy, let me give you my reasoning.
-- Both are excellent schools (Stanford is clearly a better school, for those that care about that sort of thing) and Stanford has a much better location (other than the constant threat of earthquakes).
-- ND clearly has more FB tradition, but Harbaugh has out recruited ND at Stanford the past two years (last year and this year according to rivals; I know that this year isn't over yet, but still). Plus, Stanford seems to like him. It's not like he loves ND or anything. Plus, he can already beat USC where he is, he doesn't have to go to Indiana to do that.
IMO any established coach at a top school would have to think long and hard about starting over at a new school they have no ties to. There's not that much to gain if you think about it and a lot more to risk. Yes, he could win national championships at ND, but he might win them at Stanford too. I think that the most likely coach is a guy that is out of a job, in a situation where ND is a clear improvement, or a guy at a top program that doesn't get along with his AD. Otherwise, it is too much of a risk to change jobs just to get marginally better recruits and more TV time. Unless you have some life-long love of ND.
The one caveat I'll put out there is that I don't know about the pay situation, but it's another factor that probably favors ND.
November 30th, 2009 at 4:34 PM ^
At least it would settle the argument of whether he burned his bridges with M or not.
November 30th, 2009 at 4:47 PM ^
I wouldn't put much stock in any report as to who the candidates for the ND job are at this point. Last night, Herbie was on the air and made the good point (I know, everyone gets lucky once in a while) that all of the candidate lists going around right now are just list of who fans would want to come or of who media people think would "make sense."
That aside, why are we all obsessing over a coach that (1) is not our coach; (2) has recently trashed our school; and (3) has no better of a resume than the guy that is actually our coach. I could understand this to some extent if we were in the middle of our own coaching search, but we are not and that is a good thing.
November 30th, 2009 at 5:19 PM ^
I suppose I should have read your post before putting up mine. My thoughts exactly though.
November 30th, 2009 at 7:58 PM ^
I thought I heard Herbie say that Les Miles had the job sewed up.
November 30th, 2009 at 4:59 PM ^
Speaking of candidates, does anybody know if George O'Leary finished his Masters yet?
November 30th, 2009 at 5:02 PM ^
are also listed as possible candidates on ESPN, links will be coming shortly
November 30th, 2009 at 5:11 PM ^
Notre Dame researchers are currently at Highland Cemetery in South Bend attempting to extract DNA from Knute Rockne's grave in order to clone him so he can take over the football program.
November 30th, 2009 at 5:18 PM ^
Do it for the Gipper
November 30th, 2009 at 5:11 PM ^
I almost guarantee that every "good" coach in the nation will be a "candidate" for the ND job. I wouldn't listen to any of the inside info regarding this coaching search. I mean, look at our coaching search as an example.
I personally want ND to get a great coach, one that is a BCS bowl lock almost every year. Why? because that makes wins over ND a big deal, unlike they have been in recent years.
Good luck to ND, even as much as I despise them.
November 30th, 2009 at 5:15 PM ^
I don't think its gonna happen, but holy crap that would be a kick in the face.
November 30th, 2009 at 5:19 PM ^
I love coaching searches. Every single coach with a BCS appearance in the last 4 years along with every Harbaugh/Gill/Holtz "flavor of the month" will be linked to ND at some point in this search.
November 30th, 2009 at 5:22 PM ^
... watching ND recruit a HC is like seeing a train wreck in slow motion.
There are high expectations, followed by the inevitable "settling" that comes with taking a second- or third-stringer.
While we wait for the bowl games, at least there is some entertainment...
Charlie, we hardly knew ye...
November 30th, 2009 at 5:44 PM ^
Less speculation and some action in the direction of a defensive head coach.
November 30th, 2009 at 6:27 PM ^
raise you're left hand.
November 30th, 2009 at 6:01 PM ^
if he wants to get spanked next year at home by the maize and blue.
November 30th, 2009 at 8:33 PM ^
A great QB, a great Michigan Man, and he's done a phenomenal job at a program that really shouldn't be ever getting top 10 recruiting classes or top 20 rankings.
I hope the best for him.
Going to Notre Dame would definitely be a sharp knife into the side, though.