Harbaugh: DetNews article with former teammates discussing harbaugh

Submitted by michgoblue on
For those in Harbaugh content withdrawal, linked below is a Detroit News article from Angelique this morning in which some of Harbaugh's former teammates from Michigan discuss what makes him who he is and why they want to see him at Michigan. The upshot - nothing remotely new or groundbreaking - is a description of a guy who is maniacally competitive, gives his all on every sole play and expects others to do the same. What strikes me about the descriptions from his former teammates is how much they remind me of the way that current players describe playing wth Tom Brady or Peyton Manning and how former teammates describe playing for guys like Michael Jordon. The common theme is that guys who won seem to have this trait in common, and as some of Harbaugh's former teammates have said, this is what is most needed in Ann Arbor.
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Tater

December 6th, 2014 at 11:11 AM ^

If Harbaugh is that competitive, I would imageine he is tired of coaching millionaires who think they are already great and have nothing to improve upon.  I think he knows that he can have a lot more impact on helping players grow to be their best at the college level than he does in the NFL.  

I am beginning to be convinced that Hackett's "people" have talked to Harbaugh's "people" already and that they already have at least a "rough draft" of an agreement.  I also think "we're taking our time" is a smokescreen.  The only other explanation is that Hackett's main target is coaching this weekend, in which I would expect things to heat up on Monday.

Joined: 08/13/2008

MGoPoints: 30584

gustave ferbert

December 6th, 2014 at 12:03 PM ^

to me, in the NFL it's all about the players.  example I had no idea the the Lions coach was Peyton Manning's coach in the super bowl when he was with Indianapolis.  

 

But I know who Bear Bryant is.  But I couldn't tell you who Bear's tailback was in 1966. . .

 

Jim Harbaugh would be a great coach in the NFL.  But he could be a legend in college football.  And definitely one to us. 

Joined: 06/21/2011

MGoPoints: 46362

LSAClassOf2000

December 6th, 2014 at 11:12 AM ^

"You want a coach who encourages people to say, 'Hey, I can do better,' " Wilcher said. "He's someone who has proven it over and over. He understands how to win. He knows what it takes to get there. He's a guy who has tried to accept the goal of another and make sure the kid can come through on those goals."

It seems like this is something that was missing this year, and possibly for longer than that. It definitely would be nice to have someone who can get players to say, "That was good, but it can be better" and then keep practicing and, yes, get better. That's at the core of development. We have a good collection of players on a very underachieving squad and this extra gear is very much needed.

Joined: 01/07/2011

MGoPoints: 130623

charblue.

December 6th, 2014 at 1:32 PM ^

hearing from his players what a great guy he is and what a great coach he is. Not that this isn't true, that we didn't know this or that his character should somehow be slighted because he didn't motivate better win-loss results.

But if his players felt that way, how come their effort failed to lead to better achievement for their coach? I guess this got lost in translation.

I mean there were games this season when Michigan seemed to be going through the motions of competing without any real urgency or intensity. The ND game comes specifically to mind.  And I found the competitive character of this team to be perhaps its most glaring weakness.

I will guarantee you that this would not happen under Jim Harbaugh. If you watch this guy doing clinics, and they are available online, you will discover the very nature and intensity of single-mindedness this guy possesses and is described in this article. He once broke an overhead projector during a qb clinic while coach of USD talking about winning as a qb on evey play. "You must win." he repeats over and over, at least a dozen times, until the mantra isn't so much a lesson point, but just some private thought he is acknowledging as a private reminder to himself.

This program needs a winning character adjustment, not that winning is everythig, but under Harbaugh it is how you play the game on every play.

Joined: 05/25/2010

MGoPoints: 11391

readyourguard

December 6th, 2014 at 11:14 AM ^

Good to hear from Jumbo Elliott. I don't know if I've ever met anyone quite like him. Quiet, unassuming, and mild off the field...an absolute terror on it. It was like a switch went off in his head when he put his helmet on. He and I got into a little scrape one practice. He ended up with MY helmet in HIS hand, and Bo yelled at ME for causing trouble. HAHA. The life of a demo squad walk-on.

Joined: 08/21/2008

MGoPoints: 40986

mweiss

December 6th, 2014 at 11:23 AM ^

Heres a tidbit from ChatSports. Read the article also on the full Mora rumor and also as they explain the accuracy of their source. With the rest of this madness take with a brick of salt.

"Our source tells us that Michigan has given Jim Harbaugh a deadline of next Friday December 12th to give a 100% yes that he will accept the Michigan coaching job (privately) or they will move forward and hire Mora."

http://www.chatsports.com/michigan-wolverines/a/Insider-Rumor-Jim-Mora-…

Joined: 02/05/2009

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michigandune

December 6th, 2014 at 11:40 AM ^

Actually I think Jim Mora would be an excellent choice if Jim Harbaugh just can't make it happen.  Though I would be surprised if he would come, since he turned down Texas and some other team (I forgot) and he's in LA sunny and warm.  

Harbaugh would have to know this job might never come up again for him.  

Joined: 03/10/2011

MGoPoints: 1543

JTrain

December 6th, 2014 at 11:51 AM ^

Was this harbaugh guy popular at michigan or something? There's been a lot of talk about him here lately on mgoblog.
Just curious.

/s

Joined: 12/08/2012

MGoPoints: 8459

JTrain

December 6th, 2014 at 12:07 PM ^

Someone please fill me in on Jim Mora jr. I I read his wiki bio. Does not excite ???
Please...feed me a line of shit and make me feel better about this?????

Rather have this James harboogh guy everyone keeps mentioning.

/s regarding coach harbaugh

Joined: 12/08/2012

MGoPoints: 8459

mgobleu

December 6th, 2014 at 12:10 PM ^

need to do some serious soul searching and prepare ourselves for a possible let down. I personally feel like it's a very real possibility, if not probability, based on the fact that he hasn't just shot it down yet. If he truly wasn't interested, there's no reason he couldn't just end the speculation immediately. However, this being Michigan, and I, being fully aware that we can't have nice things, feel that we need to exercise our emotions in the event that JH turns it down. Our very lives may be at stake.

Joined: 07/02/2008

MGoPoints: 38428

MichAkronFan

December 6th, 2014 at 12:14 PM ^

Completely agree. The only reason I feel JH is a strong possibility is he is cockey enough to just come out and end the speculation and he hasn't. That speaks volumes. He is just waiting to see the entire package and get the most he can. I would if I were him!

Joined: 11/23/2014

MGoPoints: 79

RGard

December 6th, 2014 at 1:08 PM ^

and asked that we keep that quiet.  If he is set on staying in the NFL, he needs all the leverage he can get in negotiating a contract extension in SF or more control at the next NFL destination.  Keeping us as an option publically helps his ability to get what he wants.  If true that he wants to stay in the NFL, I don't doubt he's told the AD that and the AD is willing to keep quiet while we decide amongst the other candidates.

That said, I'm cancelling Christmas for everybody if JH is not our next coach.

Joined: 10/20/2014

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PeterKlima

December 6th, 2014 at 12:48 PM ^

Not new thread worthy, but Sportsbook just had to stop Harbaugh next job betting as so much money came in on Michigan. Can't embed, but here it is: Jim Harbaugh 2015 Coaching odds suspended after a stream of bets on Michigan moved them from 8-1 to 2-1 yesterday afternoon


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Joined: 08/24/2008

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gustave ferbert

December 6th, 2014 at 1:11 PM ^

I haven't seen this kind of unity in several years.  No one anywhere is denying that Harbaugh is the best coach for Michigan.  And now you have people like Jumbo Elliott not only saying he supports it but would attend games??!!  

Along with Lloyd's comment the other day.  I like how this is trending.

Joined: 06/21/2011

MGoPoints: 46362