Harbaugh vs. Meyer: a comparison

Submitted by michelin on

Given that many posters are getting trash talk from Ohio and MSU people, I thought it would be useful to give you some ammunition.  So, I compiled a comparison of Meyer vs. Harbaugh (you will quickly see why Dantonio does not belong here).

Meyer ranks #10 in college win pct; Harbaugh ranks #5 all time in the NFL.

 

Meyer won college coach of the year twice in 30 years of coaching

Harbaugh won both college and NFL coach of the year in 11 years.

 

Meyers’ teams finished #1 nationally twice in 30 years. 

Harbaugh won AFC* and NFC titles and went to 3 NFC title games and a Super Bowl in 6 years.

 

The team that won Meyer's titles (Fla) had previously finished #1 in the nation under another coach (Steve Spurrier, who also compiled a higher win pct there than Meyer)

Harbaugh’s Stanford team had never in history finished #1 in AP or UPI/coaches’ polls, but Harbaugh took their (recently 16-40 team) to their highest rank in 75 years (#4)

Meyer spent 15 years coaching college kids as an assistant.  Harbaugh spent 14 years as an NFL QB, going to the Pro Bowl and winning the AFC player of the year.

*as QB coach

Tater

December 29th, 2014 at 9:55 PM ^

JH needs to win a couple of National Championships to catch up with Meyer.  Don't make the mistake of thinking he doesn't know it.  I think it's only a matter of time until Harbaugh catches or surpasses Meyer.  I am betting he gets his first one a lot earlier in his career than Meyer did in his.

Commie_High96

December 29th, 2014 at 10:42 PM ^

This. We should see a few versions of The Game before we decide who is better. Oh, and Meyer didn't take over a Spurier coached Florida, he took over for Ron Zook. You are directly misstating the situation because Ron Zook got a chance to mess things up there for four years.

Commie_High96

December 29th, 2014 at 10:42 PM ^

This. We should see a few versions of The Game before we decide who is better. Oh, and Meyer didn't take over a Spurier coached Florida, he took over for Ron Zook. You are directly misstating the situation because Ron Zook got a chance to mess things up there for four years.

falco_alba15

December 29th, 2014 at 9:56 PM ^

Oi. Can we not compare coaches until The Game next year? Meyer has a team in the Playoff that annihilated a decent Wisconsin team with a third string quarterback. Let's just go with the "two great, accomplished coaches with an incredible history in the greatest of rivalries in all of sport" narrative until we get a W-L record.




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Get Jim Harbaugh

December 29th, 2014 at 9:56 PM ^

Let's stop comparing our people to those at OSU and also stop calling them Ohio. I just want Jim and his team to work hard, win more games, beat our rivals at least 50% of time, and with minimal shit talking. Hurting them the most is beating them on the field.

michelin

December 29th, 2014 at 10:26 PM ^

Ohio will want recruits to narrowly focus on recent outcomes in the rivalry, involving previous coaches and ignoring the fact that the UM under Harbaugh will be far far different.

Our ammunition lies in pointing out those differences.  As you say, Harbaugh won't be shy about doing so.  Neither should we---unless we just want to keep turning the cheek.  RR and Hoke tended to avoid confrontation--and where did that get us?

alum96

December 29th, 2014 at 10:11 PM ^

Both are prime time, alpha male, top of food chain coaches.  Anyone bringing our their dick to measure 1 vs the other is silly.  Both are studs and OSU is not going anywhere as long as Urban is there.  Both have pros and cons.

MrJLeet

December 29th, 2014 at 10:12 PM ^

We just have to worry about us. Getting the right staff and system in place to win the big ten year in and year out. Winning will lead to recruiting and we will have our culture back in place at Michigan.

Beat 'Em

December 29th, 2014 at 10:23 PM ^

Certainly some differences, but also some similarities between the two. They are both fiery competitors. I think what separates Harbaugh is his success as a player and of course his NFL time. Meyer is a great coach, but he doesn't have those two things.

WMUKirk

December 29th, 2014 at 10:34 PM ^

The Meyer coaching for 30 years is quite possibly the dumbest thing I have ever seen. I'm pretty sure Spurrier left in 2001, and Meyer won in 2006. Spurrier last #1 team was in 96, so unless they were coaches I doubt they had 10 years of eligibility. Spurrier finished with .817, Meyer with .813. Meyer also won Coach of The Decade. I get that you're happy but this easily the worst post I have ever seen.

hazardc

December 29th, 2014 at 10:35 PM ^

We now have Harbaugh

 

OSU will show the world what it's made of in a few days. For better or worse...

 

 

Penn State, while not being "great" has rebounded damn well from what it went through, IMO.

 

Jerry Kill has made Minnesota quite a bit less of a joke.

 

Both of our new "cupcake" big ten teams went to bowl games

 

 

I am just relieved that maybe, just maybe, within a season or two, I won't have to hear as much about the SEC. I won't have to hear people whine about it being "overrated" while the entire SEC west is in the top 25.



 

Things are looking up for the conference, and they are looking the "most up" for us, as of this hire.   I just hope this doesn't start out like LeBron's homecoming. This is The Harbaugh, we shall not fail. 

 

Imagine a michigan team ranked inside the top 10 to start the season. Can Harbaugh develop all this recruited and maturing talent into what it should have been based on class recruitment rankings?   

 

Part of me wishes DG was able to have a shot under Harbaugh and not get ruined by Hokemania, but beset wishes to DG... Let's get this party started.  

 

UFM

December 29th, 2014 at 11:32 PM ^

Fantastic hire.  Harbaugh is an elite coach.  He wins everywhere he goes.  He will have a ten year war with Meyer.

I think Harbaugh is not going to be considered at Meyer's level by any objective party until he at least wins one ring.  Meyer has two and has been close at other times including an undefeated year with Utah.  He also has a chance (albeit not a great one) of winning one this year.  The two college resumes are not even comparable...yet.  

But not trying to rain on any parades.  Harbaugh is a home run and I think the right guy for this job.  The Rivalry is back on.  All good things

michelin

December 29th, 2014 at 11:50 PM ^

He accomplishments are at a higher level and in a shorter time.

Your focus on a "ring" is a convenient deception, since it not only ignores everything else in the OP but also the fact that a "ring" is not the sole accomplishment of a coach.  It is the acomplishment of an entire team, including assistants and 80+ players.  Meyer's focus on these "rings" reveals his self-aggrandizing nature--he takes credit for the accomplishments of many others. 

A coach of the year award is a more specific indicant of coaching quality.  While Meyer has won 2 in college, Harbaugh has also won two--one in college and one at a higher (NFL) level.

I think that Meyer knows he couldn't cut it in the NFL, and that's why he's spent 30 years in college.

justingoblue

December 30th, 2014 at 12:24 AM ^

I have no idea what Meyer focuses on, but are you actually saying a coach of the year award is superior to a national championship or Super Bowl ring? I'd argue celebrating a championship is a lot more team oriented than celebrating a coaching award.

As far as your last statement, everyone here has had a counter argument to "I think Harbaugh knew he couldn't cut it in the NFL, and that's why he came back to college." Both guys have top notch resumes that are very different, but discounting Meyer seems disingenious and homerish given his accomplishments.

michelin

December 30th, 2014 at 1:15 AM ^

but the point is that it reflects the skill of many other individuals, not just the HC.  The HC deserves some of the credit but not all.  When he wins an award for his coaching, it is more specific.  For example, it may consider that he started with a very poor team (as JH did with Stanford) but built it into their best team in 75 years (#4).  To me, that is just as impressive as coming into a program stacked with 4-5* players and ending up #1.  To do turn a failing professional team into a title contender three straight years is even more impressive to me.

 

.

justingoblue

December 30th, 2014 at 1:22 AM ^

Sure, it's impressive (and if MDen stocked Harbaugh pajamas I'd be sleeping in them tonight, I'm as excited as anyone) but winning championships is the goal and that's something Meyer has done and Harbaugh hasn't yet. I think and believe he will, but right now that's not the case.

There's precisely room enough in the Big Ten for one Bo, one Woody and a bunch of also rans, recent additions aside. Meyer is a great coach and there's nothing wrong with giving him his props for an outstanding resume.

michelin

December 30th, 2014 at 1:37 AM ^

A national title is a shared accomplishemt.

Clearly, Harbaugh proved that he could cut it in the NFL.  He did great. 

Meyer, by contrast, has a history of claiming health problems and backing out of health problems (he retired twice, each not long after losing to Saban).  That is one reason why I suggested he could not cut it, as Habaugh so clearly did.

Indonacious

December 29th, 2014 at 11:56 PM ^

Agree with much of this but don't understand how harbaugh gets penalized because he went to the nfl (and did tremendously well) and doesn't have a NCAA championship because he left Stanford at their peak.

justingoblue

December 30th, 2014 at 12:04 AM ^

I don't think comparing the two apples to apples really works. Meyer started his college coaching career when Harbaugh was still in college guaranteeing wins against OSU (with Meyer on the sideline) and has seventeen years more coaching experience than Harbaugh has. OTOH Harbaugh is a rare elite player turned coach and that helps in a lot of ways.

Meyer is an establshed and elite coach with rings to prove it, but Harbaugh has done ridiculously well for himself in only thirteen years of coaching.

In any case, I think both sides of the rivalry can see that It's On.

Perkis-Size Me

December 29th, 2014 at 11:39 PM ^

Not going to compare the two. Very different resumes, but one thing in common is they both win wherever they go. Meyer's got the hardware, something Harbaugh lacks, but Harbaugh has proven himself as a winner at the highest level of football. Something Meyer lacks. Again, very different resumes. Both are capable of beating the other.

We're in for some damn good games over the coming years.




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uminks

December 30th, 2014 at 12:07 AM ^

Urbz off in Ann Arbor. It will not be the magnitude of the upset Bo provided us in '69 but I bet ya Harbaugh beats both MSU and OSU at home and may win the B1G east during his first season.