It Hasn't Even Been 2 Weeks Since the Ultimate Glory, Savor It
Love you all and understand the natural tendency of folks to look forward and worry or wonder about the future. I also get that the annual "Harbaugh to NFL" groundhog offseason is exhausting and unsettling. That said, and to quote our great departing National Champion QB - "Take Three Deep Breaths"
We just won the freaking National Title, something many of us weren't sure would ever happen again in our lifetimes. Savor it. 15-0, Perfect season, the dream seasons we have seen the Bamas and Georgias and Clemsons savoring over the past 15 years. Hell, even OSU had a loss in their playoff title year.
Yes, not knowing the future leader and direction of this program sucks, but if anyone would have asked any of us, 4 years ago in the depths of the Covid year, after getting blasted or falling brutally short against OSU in Harbaugh's prior years, if we'd take the past 3 seasons - culminating in a National Title - and then lose Jim after, I think we all would have signed up.
I love Jim, thank him for rebuilding the Michigan brand and taking us higher than at any point in my lifetime and want him to stay. I also believe, unlike Lloyd, he has left a very strong coaching tree and foundation that can carry this program forward. Will we achieve the glory of this year again? Perhaps not.
Will there ever be a season again like this one - in all of CFB? - almost certainly not. This is a 30 for 30, documentary worthy, all time historical, legendary season - From the Harbaugh suspensions and Stalions gate, to born on 3rd being exposed as a crying fraud, to the B1G try to screw us, to beating the big, bad SEC in the playoff, to assistant coaches leading our team to victory in the face of NCAA hipocricy, etc, etc.
Friends, do not underestimate the absolute historic nature of what happened this year. This was not Bama winning another ho-hum title with Saban and his stacked rosters or Kirby or OSU prevailing with their NFL loaded teams. This was fucking Michigan - finally us - finishing the dream season. Not to mention the past 3 years, winning the last and perhaps most hyped and significant renditions of The Game in modern history - 3 straight top 5 matchups, all won by us over that soft team down south. The Game will never again mean so much with the new playoff setup. What a way to go out.
We can hand wring and lament about a future, that even without Jim, looks much better going forward than anything after the Appy State loss and our fall into the abyss. Just next year alone we have probably a top 3 defense in the country returning. We can still pound the rock. And most importantly, we have our glory and mojo back.
Savor it gents and don't let the uncertaintly of the off season ruin anything that Team 144 accomplished.
January 17th, 2024 at 12:40 AM ^
"Hasn't even been 2 weeks"?
It's been 8 days. So you're not wrong...just seems like a weird timeframe to mention.
January 17th, 2024 at 12:49 AM ^
How about has barely been 195 hours 😀
January 17th, 2024 at 10:01 AM ^
What is strange, my good sir, about using a fortnight as a frame of reference?
January 17th, 2024 at 12:48 AM ^
I don't think that Warde cares much if Harbaugh leaves. He hates Harbaugh and now can install his guy.
January 17th, 2024 at 1:14 AM ^
I'd believe that if this issue was just this year, but we've had 3 years of this. Harbaugh straight up lied when he said this wouldn't be an every year thing. Let's just face it, he wants to leave as soon as he finds a good NFL job but while he finds it he'll hold Michigan hostage as a backup plan.
January 17th, 2024 at 8:10 AM ^
Have to agree - this is on Harbaugh. Whatever the psychological root of it is it sure seems like he lacks that one thing we associate with "great" coaches - the desire to sustain a top program/team in one place for a long time.
If he ends up still with Michigan after this cycle then, perhaps, the annual drill will be done because NFL teams will quit the song and dance with him.
January 17th, 2024 at 12:00 PM ^
The one thing I associate with great coaches is winning. You know, rivalry games, conference titles, national titles. Dude has been here 9 years ffs.
January 17th, 2024 at 4:36 PM ^
I did miss word that: should be "one additional thing". Not knocking Harbaugh, would very much like UM to have his next decade.
January 17th, 2024 at 10:03 AM ^
This is as jaded a view as possible...
There is no doubt whatsoever that Warde and Jim do not like each other. There is no doubt whatsoever that Warde has not publicly backed his coach when he could have (except for the stadium medical upgrades after Speight's broken neck and a universal Signgate note). Warde has specifically rubuked his coach after the 2016 Game, and after he defended his program on Twitter several times. Warde forced a suspension on Harbaugh for cheeseburgers even though the NCAA wasn't ready to do anything.
Warde supports Mel Pearson, but continually lets Harbaugh get eaten by wolves.
There's a mutual dislike going on here, so lets not put everything on Harbaugh when he wants some assurances that one man cannot destroy him.
January 17th, 2024 at 10:21 AM ^
Not at all implying that their relationship is rosy, however, Warde is not the one interviewing all over the country and the 'one man cannot destroy him' in this case has a good bit of old fashioned, cold war, mutual assurance.
The person with the say in this is Harbaugh. An Ono decision on Manuel can only come based on inside stuff we can't possibly know: Has a good faith effort been made to lock up the coach with a well thought out contract and a willingness to finalize those terms ASAP? Is there a comprehensive plan to hire the next coach from among the top tier of current head coaches in the NCAA within 72 hours of a Harbaugh exit?
If the answer to either of those is no - it is time for a new AD.
January 17th, 2024 at 11:16 AM ^
Those three years are the three years after Warde restructured his deal, which by all accounts he took pretty personally. I'm not saying Harbaugh is blameless here, he clearly is making a lot of big demands, but his relationship (or lack thereof) with Warde is definitely an issue.
January 17th, 2024 at 3:22 AM ^
Jim Harbaugh is 40-3, last 3 years, why in world would anyone want to replace him?
It's career suicide if true but I have my doubts too.
January 17th, 2024 at 6:58 AM ^
Never leave a birdie putt short. If you're going to delve into conspiracies, don't half-ass it.
Warde is Jim Stapleton's puppet. (By the way, I'm open to anything if the evidence is presented.)
- - -
Excellent post, OP.
January 17th, 2024 at 9:33 AM ^
I know there are people on the board who believe this. But we know from Tweets from Jordan Acker that Warde isn't unilaterally handling this.
January 17th, 2024 at 8:31 AM ^
I'm sure this is based on well-established facts and not ridiculous internet conjecture. Not to mention, if he hated Jim so much he could have fired him in 2020 and nobody would have had a problem with it.
January 17th, 2024 at 9:56 AM ^
Warde doesn't have the horsepower to outright fire Jim Harbaugh - not now, not in 2020. There are too many other supporters (Regents/donors), and Warde is no leader in a clubhouse of peers.
January 17th, 2024 at 12:50 AM ^
I'm pretty happy with all that. But...
January 17th, 2024 at 12:55 AM ^
Honestly, I'm more worried about how much of the staff Harbaugh takes with him.
If he goes, so be it, he earned the right to do what he wants. But there's a big difference between him leaving with a succession plan in place, and him leaving and gutting the staff. I'd like to think he cares enough about the University to leave it in better shape than he found it.
January 17th, 2024 at 8:17 AM ^
This. It’s my worry as well. Can’t worry whether Harbaugh is or isn’t gone. I think most can see the writing is on the wall however, and unless he isn’t offered, is a strong chance he goes to the NFL. The question then is who he brings? I’d like to think he would bring former NFL coaches and college coaches unproven in the nfl. But, I would think he brings a Moore or minter as a coach. Hoping he stays away from Ben Herbert for sure
January 17th, 2024 at 12:59 AM ^
Damn right, share the same sentiment.
January 17th, 2024 at 1:09 AM ^
Personally this situation has stolen most of the joy for me. Can't help but feel like he's burning down what he built on his way out. Maybe you guys are confident with Moore as coach and that's the difference, I'm not at all. I think it'll be a bad hire and a lot of you guys will switch up real fast when we go 7-5 next season. I wish he would've announced he was leaving before DeBoer and Fisch were off the table.
January 17th, 2024 at 2:07 AM ^
I like Moore because the players seem to like Moore. The only thing we know he had control of is the offensive line, and his lines have been terrific. You have to assume Harbaugh had a heavy influence on the offensive style and playcalling. Whether that helped or hurt Moore's offensive production we'll never know for sure, but I do know that Moore made a Harbaugh-influenced offense look better than Gattis, Pep, and whoever else did.
The biggest aspect is continuity. I believe Moore could hold together the recruiting classes and limit transfers -- like our version of Marcus Freeman. If we have to hire an outside coach, we could be looking at a full on Carr-to-RichRod type empty cupboard debacle with transfers and decommittments, plus a likely change in playing style that sets things back since there aren't many coaches out there running Harbaugh style offenses.
January 17th, 2024 at 9:31 AM ^
Agreed RobM. I think they HAVE to go with Moore for those reasons that the players are already familiar with him, and to avoid an exodus with current players and recruits. IMO he's still a better option than gambling on a coach that was not a part of the culture at Michigan. Moore may or may not be successful in 3-4 years at Michigan as HC but nobody else is worth taking a chance on or things can go bad faster than we could imagine.
January 17th, 2024 at 1:53 PM ^
The first coach to ever lose his first 3 games at ND? The guy that is 19-7 as a HC (plus a last minute bowl game loss when kelly left) in 2 seasons? That's what we are aspiring to? Yeesh. Top 20 ap finishes while missing the playoffs! Here we come!
Between Freeman and Shaw, I don't know which is worse as some outcome to hope for. Both are a hard pass.
January 17th, 2024 at 2:12 AM ^
You didn’t have much joy then
January 17th, 2024 at 3:44 AM ^
I feel sorry for you. This has been the best 3 year run of Michigan football in any of our lifetimes, culminating in a perfect season and a national championship for one of the most likable teams ever, and you’re wringing your hands over the possibility that our legendary coach might go pursue another dream of his? That’s a shame man. I hope you find some perspective.
January 17th, 2024 at 9:20 AM ^
Glad you enjoyed your two hours of Joy, friend.
January 17th, 2024 at 10:50 AM ^
I wish he would've announced he was leaving before DeBoer and Fisch were off the table.
This is just plain.. stupid?
Jim isn’t going to announce he’s leaving before he has a new job. WTF man!?!? I mean… REALLY!?!?!?
January 17th, 2024 at 1:28 AM ^
I’m not sure why folks are concerned with JH taking assistants with him to the NFL. These aren’t guys who coached with him for years. The important assistants have been there a short time. They don’t have any loyalty to JH. And he’s gone through a ton of assistants in his time here.
These assistants are going to do what’s best for them and it may very well be staying at Michigan. Other than his son, I predict that very few of the assistants will follow JH to the NFL team that hires him.
January 17th, 2024 at 2:17 AM ^
I think Minter is the big one. He might be in the NFL one way or another, but Harbaugh taking a HC job almost guarantees him an offer (too bad Fangio already has a gig). My guess is that he'd try to get Greg Roman as an OC and Minter as DC.
With Minter gone, I'd assume Rick Minter would also be gone. Hart may already be on the way out (rightfully so, he's earned a promotion somewhere). Partridge is obviously already gone.
So we'd be left Moore, Campbell, Clink, Elston, Bellamy, and Newsome.
January 17th, 2024 at 3:46 AM ^
Importantly, we will also probably keep Ben Herbert. I’m certainly no expert, but it seems likely that he would stay at Michigan rather than follow Harbaugh to the NFL. That is important to the future of the team.
January 17th, 2024 at 3:59 AM ^
Keeping Herbert is probably the key to keeping this success train rolling. We have replaced several key assistant coaches in the past and always have found great replacements. Not sure there is another Herbert out there. Our teams have been physical and nasty and Herbert has a lot to do with that. Keep that man happy always.
January 17th, 2024 at 5:25 PM ^
The S&C coach is the secret to keeping the train rolling? There are 130 of these guys out there, he is great, but let's not overstate his importance. HC, Coordinator, position coaches (who can recruit well) are all super important.
Let's put it this way, just ok coaches aren't going to be offset by a phenom S&C coach.
January 17th, 2024 at 6:25 AM ^
Documentary-worthy, yes, but by someone other than ESPN or Fox. An Independent film-maker, please....
January 17th, 2024 at 6:49 AM ^
...or...
January 17th, 2024 at 7:10 AM ^
It's great to be a Michigan Wolverine !!
January 17th, 2024 at 7:34 AM ^
tl;dr: Don't worry, be happy.
January 17th, 2024 at 7:36 AM ^
Some of these folks are junkies looking for their next high, I guess.
I haven't come down yet.
January 17th, 2024 at 7:47 AM ^
Like Sam said on WTKA, so many on here are like kids at noon on Christmas asking "When is Christmas coming again?" when Christmas isn't even over yet.
I totally get it - BPONE peaked only 3-4 years ago. Harbaugh is doing his yearly NFL thing. Some borderline draft/return guys went to the draft. Some guys transferred out. We didn't sign a bunch of 5 stars immediately after winning the National Championship.
This program went 26 years between National Championships. 75 years if you want to play the "outright" game. Once JJ declared, it is highly unlikely the 2024 team has the roster to repeat as National Champions, and beating OSU and making the playoff is probably the ceiling. If this year is your new expectation, it is going to be a down year - but that is something to moan about in August, not now.
Please, FFS, try to enjoy last year's team accomplishing literally every team goal possible just for a little while before worrying that we don't have a proven CB2 or a "tall, leapy WR" for next year.
January 17th, 2024 at 8:26 AM ^
Funny analogy. Though i admit it would put a slight damper on Christmas if at noon your parents said this might be the last one, as they were thinking about leaving to do Christmas next year with a new family in LA
January 17th, 2024 at 9:36 AM ^
I have the opposite feeling. Now that we have accomplished every possible goal, I am going to enjoy next season and all subsequent football seasons. No matter what happens, we have 2023.
Even if we lose Harbaugh, the program will still be one of the nation’s best. Most years, we will be in the 12 team playoff. We should beat OSU about half the time and MSU 8 times out of 10.
A B1G championship means absolutely nothing to me now. It’s an 18 team conglomerate now. And this comes from an old school 1976 alum who was raised on a Big Ten championship meaning everything.
Plus, I will never forgive the conference for what they did to us this year Also, I suspect we are just a few years away from the end of conferences for college football.
I’m looking forward to years of relatively stress free, enjoyable football seasons I will still strongly want us to win every game, but will spend very little time and energy worrying about results. This is the best!! GO BLUE!!
January 17th, 2024 at 1:29 PM ^
This, exactly (and what the OP said). I'm going to enjoy the greatness of the team's 2023 season unless/until they are eliminated from the playoff next year. Until then, they are the defending national champions. Then, I'm going to briefly be frustrated about that... then I'm going to go back to enjoying the 2023 championship.
As you said, anyone who's setting their bar at NC is going to be disappointed. Set it at continue beating OSU most years, get to the playoff, and win another NC or two in your lifetime (depending on how old you are) and you'll probably end up happy.
January 17th, 2024 at 7:58 AM ^
"Will there ever be a season again like this one - in all of CFB? - almost certainly not. This is a 30 for 30, documentary worthy, all time historical, legendary season"
If you were going to turn this into a "30 For 30" type documentary, then I think you need to cover the last three seasons of this time with a smattering of the COVID year at the beginning, maybe even farther back because of the "he can't beat his rivals" drum of the seasons before that. Start at a point where enough people were convinced that this wasn't the way, then build it to this being absolutely the way. Of course, all the controversies - small and not so small - would be in there as well.
I will agree with others though. I distrust ESPN enough that I really wouldn't want them having editorial say in something like this, even though fighting Disney's money would be an uphill battle.
January 17th, 2024 at 8:03 AM ^
The problem with the 10-part docuseries alternative though is those are just total fluff pieces and not really that deep. Typically these are on Netflix but even the ESPN+ ones like Man in the Arena was lame. Yeah, I enjoyed the Tom Brady self-love retrospective but it wasn't interesting.
The one exception is The Last Dance, which still could have gone darker. The only reason that one had any edge is because Jordan is nuts. Well, maybe we would get that with Harbaugh if he agreed to the interviews.
January 17th, 2024 at 8:03 AM ^
Hope everyone realizes that Harbaugh
1. Took back the state.
2. Knocked MSU into irrelevancy, and they were ina prime position.
3. Won the Big Ten 3 straight.
4. Has vastly weakened OSU
And....say what you want about Stalions, but this may have fully galvanized the team maybe just that extra, when we needed it.
January 17th, 2024 at 8:27 AM ^
I needed this today, thank you
January 17th, 2024 at 8:45 AM ^
YES! All the angst on this site about Harbaugh leaving and who the new coach may be and are we losing Minter too and why isn’t recruiting better and who will play QB and the NCAA is out to get us is spoiling the greatest moment in Michigan football history in at least a quarter century. Let’s not let these things spoil the moment; they will get worked out.
January 17th, 2024 at 9:08 AM ^
It's what no one ever talks about when it comes to winning championships. The satisfaction doesn't last as long as you'd think.
What is your greatest victory? The next one. I guess that's what soulless corporate types call a "growth mindset"