Jim Harbaugh and Scotch
I was relaxing this evening with a glass of single malt scotch and thinking about the University of Michigan Football Program. In specific, if the rumors regarding Jim Harbaugh being interested in the Head Coaching job at Notre Dame were true, would I, as a Michigan fan, be interested in trying to lure Jim back to Ann Arbor rather than South Bend?Jim Harbaugh is known to be a great recruiter within a University with at least as stringent academic standards as the Univeristy of Michigan. This is a plus. Rich Rod has had some recruits that have not made it past the clearing house due to academic ineligibilities. Despite this, Rich Rod has been able to recruit Will Campbell last year and arguably the best dual threat quarterback in the nation. Will is young and although a beast in High School, is still lacking in his skill set for Division I college football. Time will tell how good he actually is.
As for Devin, assuming the commitment stands, he may be Rich Rod's "Pat White" that makes him look like a genius. Again, only time will tell.
Jim Harbaugh has ruffled feathers with the University with his comments regarding athletics and academics. The real question is if he really believes what he says, or just says it to rile Michigan Regents and Administrators. Rich Rod isn't doing anything to purposefully rile anyone within the University. Lord knows he needs every supporter he can get.
Jim Harbaugh hates Pete Carroll, and my God, so do I. Right now, Rich Rod hates everyone with the exception of Delaware State University.
Jim Harbaugh is a Michigan Man. However, quite honestly, I don't think that really stands for much. Michigan was a upper level team within the big 10, a conference that believes it is far better than it really is. The Big 10 has had trouble winning on the national level and needs a paradigm shift in playing, coaching and recruiting if it is to be successful on a national level. Perhaps Harbaugh could bring this, but Rich Rod certainly can (with the right players).
I confess that I am a Rich Rod supporter and I firmly believe that he should be given a fair chance to fail or succeed within a time frame that is realistic. So, having said that, would I jump at the chance to hire Jim Harbaugh if the opportunity presented itself?
No. I would not. Doing so would not be fair to Rich Rod. It would send a negative message to every coach currently coaching at Michigan or even contemplating coaching at Michigan. It would affect our current players, our recruits and put the program into uncertainty for at least another 2 years.
I would rather allow Rich Rod next year to show if he can produce a championship caliber team or not. I don't expect that next year will be a Big 10 championship team, but it needs to be moving in that direction. If it is not, I will be the first one to hop off the Rich Rod bandwagon and ask for his head. I will take my chances in having Jim Harbaugh or Brian Kelly being available. Who knows, Harbaugh may just give us all the middle finger like he did the rest of the University.
As for Devin, assuming the commitment stands, he may be Rich Rod's "Pat White" that makes him look like a genius. Again, only time will tell.
Jim Harbaugh has ruffled feathers with the University with his comments regarding athletics and academics. The real question is if he really believes what he says, or just says it to rile Michigan Regents and Administrators. Rich Rod isn't doing anything to purposefully rile anyone within the University. Lord knows he needs every supporter he can get.
Jim Harbaugh hates Pete Carroll, and my God, so do I. Right now, Rich Rod hates everyone with the exception of Delaware State University.
Jim Harbaugh is a Michigan Man. However, quite honestly, I don't think that really stands for much. Michigan was a upper level team within the big 10, a conference that believes it is far better than it really is. The Big 10 has had trouble winning on the national level and needs a paradigm shift in playing, coaching and recruiting if it is to be successful on a national level. Perhaps Harbaugh could bring this, but Rich Rod certainly can (with the right players).
I confess that I am a Rich Rod supporter and I firmly believe that he should be given a fair chance to fail or succeed within a time frame that is realistic. So, having said that, would I jump at the chance to hire Jim Harbaugh if the opportunity presented itself?
No. I would not. Doing so would not be fair to Rich Rod. It would send a negative message to every coach currently coaching at Michigan or even contemplating coaching at Michigan. It would affect our current players, our recruits and put the program into uncertainty for at least another 2 years.
I would rather allow Rich Rod next year to show if he can produce a championship caliber team or not. I don't expect that next year will be a Big 10 championship team, but it needs to be moving in that direction. If it is not, I will be the first one to hop off the Rich Rod bandwagon and ask for his head. I will take my chances in having Jim Harbaugh or Brian Kelly being available. Who knows, Harbaugh may just give us all the middle finger like he did the rest of the University.
November 17th, 2009 at 8:41 PM ^
Harbaugh will be an NFL coach someday. He does not have the temperament to be a college coach, or at least one you see at ND, Stanford, or (yes) Michigan.
Still can't believe a guy weaned on stories of how Woody went for two, "because he couldn't go for three," would pull the same stunt against a hated rival.
November 17th, 2009 at 9:47 PM ^
Seriously... what is his DEAL???
November 17th, 2009 at 9:03 PM ^
In addition, I hate to say this about a UM alum, but Harbaugh's past DUI and his inability to shut his mouth raise serious concerns in my mind about future problems with alcohol. I may be off base, but I worry that, the longer he's a coach, the worse the problems may get, especially during stressful times. It could be a lot worse than a disorderly drunk Gary Moeller, who also had family alcohol problems (his son Andy was a coach here and as I recall was dismissed after a DUI or a related offense).
I really do sincerely wish the best for JH, GM, and AM. Especially JH and GM made important contributions to UM that will long be remembered.
Yet, our main concern needs to be UM. So,I would take a very close look to see if JH has any family history of alcohol problems and talk to a lot of people who know him before I would ever consider him as a head coach.
More importantly, I agree that it's too early to even be talking about a change. We need to give RR a real chance to show what he can do.
November 17th, 2009 at 9:07 PM ^
would I jump at the chance to hire Jim Harbaugh if the opportunity presented itself? No. I would not. Doing so would not be fair to Rich Rod. It would send a negative message to every coach currently coaching at Michigan or even contemplating coaching at Michigan. It would affect our current players, our recruits and put the program into uncertainty for at least another 2 years.Agreed, Firing RR now would be a disaster. We don't even have a full 85 kids on scholarship, and everyone knows there will be additional attrition if RR leaves, there always is when there is a coaching change. So who knows how much talent an incoming coach will have, they may not have a full 85 either the first year, maybe not even the second. And he's going to have to win within 2 years or catch hell from the fanbase. What coach would walk into that trap? Anyway, I think RR needs to be given next season, *at least.* He needs to have 3-4 years with his guys, in his system, to show he can be competitive in the Big Ten . Anything else is shortsighted and unfair. Having said all of that, if RR falls on his face the next 2 seasons and UM goes 4 years w/losing records, then yeah, RR will simply have to go. Harbaugh, hopefully will still be available, and I think that despite his big mouth and attitude, he's proving himself to be a heck of a FB coach and would do very well here.
November 17th, 2009 at 9:08 PM ^
He kinda just re-recruited Campbell after he decommitted. He was already an early commit.
November 17th, 2009 at 9:10 PM ^
hmmmmmmmm, the name sounds vaguely familiar. I think he used to be a ex-Michigan football player but not a real Michigan man. No..............I think Michigan got the better man when they got RR.
November 17th, 2009 at 9:16 PM ^
...I don't trust the guy. I was a huge fan of him at UM and a big defender when he was getting ripped in the NFL (in particular when he was with Chicago). I just don't get his whole thing. Maybe he's right, maybe he is above it all with the academics etc. At this point I just don't like him much. I wouldn't want him here.
Just my opinion.
November 17th, 2009 at 9:23 PM ^
Contention One is Inherency:
1. Rich Rodriguez is not a good coach. If you still aren't convinced, my words probably won't help. Nevertheless, Rodriguez's second half collapses this year and last are proof of his ineptitude. That I know of, there are only a few ways to explain collapses-- bad conditioning, schemes so easily solved that a few halftime tweaks render them useless, a failure to adjust at halftime, and psychological/mental breakdowns. All of those are the coaches' faults. I'm sure you've heard, every week Rodriguez breaks a new record and shatters a steak (the two consecutive losses to MSU, the loss to a MAC team, the home loss to Purdue, the biggest deficit to Ohio State ever, the first losing season since 1967, the first bowlless season since 1974, the worst record in Michigan football history). I'm sorry. You can't explain that away.
2. Michigan will be no better next year with Rich Rodriguez as its head coach, and may actually be worse.If any one can give me a reason to believe next years defense will be any better with the loss of Brandon Graham, Steve Brown, and quite possibly Donavon Warren with Rich Rodriguez (who always seemed to let up lots of points to mediocre opponents) at the helm, I'd like to hear it. The offense will get better, but not good enough to solve for our dismal defense.
Thus the plan: The University of Michigan Athletic Department should fire Richard Rodriguez and hire Jim Harbaugh as its Head Football Coach.
Contention two is solvency:
3. Harbaugh is a FANTASTIC coach. Don't believe me? He took an 1-11 team and turned them into a Rose Bowl contender, not the way around like some coaches with alliterative initials. He is the only coach to beat Pete Carroll twice in recent memory, and he did it without a two-deep composed entirely of former five star recruits. He also beat Oregon, who two weeks ago seemed to be the best time West of the Appalachians (or the Rockies, depending on how good you think the Big 12 is). Harbaugh has succeeded epically in a conference that is ostensibly mediocre, but that went undefeated in bowl games last year, dismantling highly touted Big 12, Big Ten, and SEC teams.
4. Harbaugh is a Michigan man. Harbaugh played at Michigan in a legendary, distant era of Michigan football where 5-7 was NEVER an improvement, and when bowl games and wins over Illinois, Wisconsin, and Purdue were rights not miracles, where no one ever questioned Michigan's morals, when the prospect of losing to a MAC team was hilarious, consecutive losses to Michigan State was unthinkable, and bowl games, Big Ten Titles, and top five finishes were abundant. Harbaugh is the last great hope to restore this era and our impenetrable defense and ram the ball down your throat offense(though I'd take less Miles too).
5. If we don't get him, someone else will. How painful, cruel, and ironic will it be to watch Jim Harbaugh, arguably the greatest quarterback in Michigan history, dismantle the Wolverine defense from Notre Dame's sidelines? Harbaugh seems to be the favorite of many Domers and armor-clad Raiders fans. So we need to pull up our socks and get going.
6. If we do ultimately get Harbaugh, the sooner the better. Any longer, and Harbaugh needs to rebuild us as he built Stanford, finding replacements for mediocre, undersized players who only function in temperatures over 75 degrees. Harbaugh needs to coach Michigan before the Carr talent has all graduated.
So, on Saturday, I will sit down and watch the Michigan vs. Ohio State game. And for the first time in six years, the results will not pain me. I will sigh and force a smile as our defense turns Terrelle Pryor into a deadly accurate machine reading our defenses as effortlessly as Stephen Hawking reads Dr. Seuss, knowing that at a painful era of our lives is coming to a close.
November 17th, 2009 at 9:33 PM ^
I'll bet you like to eat cottage cheese straight from the tub
November 18th, 2009 at 1:35 AM ^
Haven't eaten cottage cheese since I was seven. Go Blue!
November 17th, 2009 at 9:53 PM ^
the ability in Drupal for me to add more negs to this post? I am too drunk to deal with this ignorance in detail, but are serious? Harbaugh is not what one would define as a Michigan Man. What he said against the program was inexcusable. I hope the Raiders pick him up so he can fall off the face of the earth like all other coaches that go there, save fro John Gruden.
Lets be serious, every other QB has killed the D, TP will more than likely do the same, he is no exception.
November 17th, 2009 at 10:17 PM ^
The term Michigan Man is always sort of elusive. However, if anybody is a Michigan Man, it is Jim Harbaugh. It's really absurd for anybody on this board to question that. I'm pretty sure that you don't sacrafice freedom of speech or expression when you sign up to be a Michigan Man.
His dad was a coach for the team. He chased balls at practice when he was a kid. He was QB for probably the 2nd best Michigan team of the past 25 years. Who has a better Michigan Man resume than that?
I'm quite sure that he has put in more time, sweat and blood for the Michigan football program than anybody posting on this board. While you may disagree with the things that he said, he earned the right to say them (and has first hand knowledge of the situation).
November 17th, 2009 at 10:25 PM ^
re the additional neg
the rest of your response is dumbass
Harbaugh was possibly Michigan's greatest QB, a stellar scholar athlete and has taken a team with far more restrictive recruiting requirements, turned them into a top 20 team (in 3 years) and put beatdowns on the key rivals in his conference that put beat downs on Big 10 teams.
You love Rich Rod? Great. Learn how to support him without having to knock down a truly great Michigan Man.
November 18th, 2009 at 1:42 AM ^
Harbaugh is a Michigan man. I don't think his comments were outrageous. For years Michigan football was the moral standard for collegiate football programs across the country. Let's leave the low academic standards for the likes of Ohio State, USC, Miami, and Alabama.
I know Mike Hart declared Harbaugh no longer a Michigan man. Mike Hart is a tremendous Michigan man, a workhorse, and a bright guy. However, that wouldn't be the first time Hart made an irrational statement. Since then, Harbaugh and Hart have resolved their disagreements.
Go Blue!
It is the duty of every patriot to protect his country from its government. - Thomas Paine
November 17th, 2009 at 10:05 PM ^
RR turned WEST VIRGINIA into an MNC contender...
November 18th, 2009 at 1:43 AM ^
True, but I have lost my confidence the he will do the same at Michigan.
November 17th, 2009 at 10:27 PM ^
he would lose his mind at the stupidity of your assumptions and give you a fail
November 17th, 2009 at 10:46 PM ^
Is Hawling a blinded Michigan fan who is for some reason under the assumption that he needs to get a new pair of sunglasses because the future is so bright?
Or is that just because the Army Of Rodriguez's Tireless Apologists (AORTA) just disagree with anyone who thinks things aren't so rosy and just might not work out?
November 17th, 2009 at 11:22 PM ^
Not everyone preaching patience on here is a defender of Rich as much as a defender of reason & common sense. Now if after next year you don't see a big leap then by all means it is time to move on. And Stephen Hawking is a great mind. Great minds have patience. If they didn't you couldn't see past your emotions. When you can't see past your emotions you can't accomplish great things or see the big picture. The future isn't important, only the now. When does that ever get anyone anywhere?
November 17th, 2009 at 11:24 PM ^
Listen. I understand where you are coming from and losing sucks. Normally, I would just ignore a post like this, but you seem to be semi-literate and trying to study Biophysics tonight has me really pissed off. So, I am going to tell you why your post is either wrong or just your opinion(which really doesn't matter to anyone involved with Rich Rodriguez's tenure and is not an God-proclaimed law of the fucking universe). Let me preface this by saying the only people who think RR will be fired this year are the Jay Mariottis of the world and the Freep. No one close to the program thinks this is a remote possibility and if you read this blog you would realize that. So instantly a lot of your points are moot. But lets ignore that for now and look at a few points:
First, I want to tell you that your "inherent" proclamations are not all inherent. For something to be inherent it has to first be true. Most of these are either pointless or flat-out wrong.
First the ones that are wrong:
Two consecutive losses to MSU is an unparalleled streak. Wrong. In fact, we lost 4 times in a row from 1959-1962 and lost 7 of the first 10 meetings for the Paul Bunyan Trophy.
We had the largest deficit ever to OSU last year.
Wrong, in 1968 we lost 50-14. A deficit larger than the largest deficit last year.
Last year was the worst record in Michigan Football history.
Sure, we had the most losses. But is the 1934(and 1936) record of 1-7 better than 3-9. No. Oh and BTW the 1933 team won the NC.
BOOM! I just explained 3 of the 7 away because they were wrong.
The Who Cares:
Michigan losing to Purdue at home. Is this really a meaningful streak to anyone in the universe?
The Correct but explainable:
Losing to a MAC team, breaking the bowl streak, having a losing record.
Yes, all of these suck. But look at the team we are playing with. Due to attrition I honestly believe we couldn't have done too much better. We had the longest bowl streak in the freakin' country. Every football super-power has gone through rough patches. The last one we had was in the mid 1960's (before the modern bowl era). Even if the Big 10 had allowed more than one team to go to a bowl from Yost's first game as coach its not like we would have broken a 100 year old streak.
The biggest problem with your first point is you are hyping up Harbaugh in the same way RR was hyped. He performed well at a school that wasn't Michigan. Sure, the consensus vote among pundits and coaches is that Harbaugh is a good coach. I am 100% certain if you took the same poll today for RR it would be overwhelmingly positive.
Point 2 is not inherent. Find me a respected voice in Football who truly thinks Michigan will be worse next year.
Points 3 and 4 are true, but don't matter. Rodriguez will not be fired this year.
Point 5 - I highly doubt he would go to Notre Dame. He is in the middle of talks to get a contract extension at Stanford. He interviewed for the job with the Jets last winter. If he goes anywhere it will be to the pros.
Point 6 - The spread only works in 75 degree weather, it doesn't work in the Big 10...what an overused meme. Have you ever been to WV, it gets cold there too. But I won't resort just to that. Lets look at this statistic from the B10.
Northwestern ran a version of the spread in the cold. Here is a fun fact. During the Randy Walker Era 1999-2005, Northwestern (in the cold running the spread against B10 defenses) out-gained Michigan 410-381 yards/game over a 7 season time period. We all remember those teams. Most of them were pretty damn good.
So please take this negbang that you have received as an Mgoblog hazing. You write well, but you are spewing some complete bullshit and passing it off as insurmountable fact. Get your facts straight next time.
FINAL ADDENDUM: I know this came off as exceedingly harsh, but I had really had it with people making emotional ploys without using any facts to back them up. Read Mgoblog, Mvictors or any other fact based site and listen to the radio when people like John U. Bacon or Brian Cook are on. They actually use facts to back things up and don't resort to typical emotional facts-be-damned punditry. If you can use facts to back things up we will accept your opinions. If you resort to basement level TV news style punditry, chances are your opinion will not hold up in print.
November 18th, 2009 at 1:34 AM ^
Thank you for not basing your argument off of ad hominem arguments. I also posted this on thewolverine.com's The Fort. You are the only person yet to respond with a well thought argument. I don't know how to the thing where you box the other posts in your post, but that dude who said I ate cottage cheese out of the tub was pretty cheap (I don't think I've eaten cottage cheese in the past eight years...). I also acknowledge that a lot of those aforementioned unfortunate events had happened before. They just hadn't happened for a very long time. The fact that they'd happened long ago does not justify them happening now. As to the claim that not a respected voice in football thinks Michigan will be better next year, I could research and find. I must return to my homework, but come next summer's college football previews,we will see many respected voices predicting Michigan to be worse next year.
Go Blue!
November 17th, 2009 at 9:24 PM ^
Who could forget his guarantee to beat OSU?
Of course he did back it up...
November 17th, 2009 at 9:27 PM ^
Two weeks ago no one gave Harbaugh much more than a curt cough and now he's god because he ramrodded PC with a twoie when he was up by 3 TDs? Jim'll follow John-no doubt. Let ND have him if they want him but my money's on the likes of Kelly or Sarkisian or the TCU coach. Your point about the paridigm shift is accurate and we're payin' our dues. RR is fine
November 17th, 2009 at 10:17 PM ^
via wiki. Which I am told is very reputable...
Year one - suck! Year two, ahhh satisfaction! Let's all hope!!!!
94 2001-11-24 Mountaineer Field Pittsburgh 23 West Virginia 17 PITT 58-33-3
95 2002-11-30 Heinz Field West Virginia 24 Pittsburgh 17 PITT 58-34-3
96 2003-11-15 Mountaineer Field West Virginia 52 Pittsburgh 31 PITT 58-35-3
97 2004-11-25 Heinz Field Pittsburgh 16 West Virginia 13 PITT 59-35-3
98 2005-11-24 Mountaineer Field West Virginia 45 Pittsburgh 13 PITT 59-36-3
99 2006-11-16 Heinz Field West Virginia 45 Pittsburgh 24 PITT 59-37-3
2007 was the loss to Pitt and the missed opportunity at a BCS National Champ...
I'll just take a win on Sat.
November 17th, 2009 at 10:21 PM ^
RR deserves a third year. I think every new coach does. Maybe even four. However, if RR does not work out, I have no qualms about giving Harbaugh a chance. I'm not so sure he believes his destiny lies in the NFL. He is extremely passionate about Stanford and one could take his comments towards Michigan as a challenge to the University to be better than everyone else like we seem to think we are. If he came to Michigan, I'm pretty sure it'd be his final stop.
November 17th, 2009 at 10:25 PM ^
He is that Personality, that transcendental figure that Michigan needs.
He (and I believe Brian kelly also) would be The One to stand up and say, "OHIO STATE? Fuck them! Michigan! Fuck yes! Suck my balls and lick my ass!"--and back it up.
So he's got a big mouth? So he stands up to people and doesn't back down? I bet he GETS rivalries and won't say "Meh. Just another game"
Give me the guy with the Ballz. Give me the guy that can put together Top 20 recruiting classes at Stanford--the guy who should be polishing up his resume to return home.
If I'm in the athletic department, first, I'm searching for a Mole and finding innovative ways to discard a dead body. THEN I'm on the blower with Jimmy H and asking him what it would take.
Then I tell him to pack his shit and git home.
November 17th, 2009 at 10:30 PM ^
He has done a good job at Stanford. But like RR, his first two seasons were terrible. Stanford is the best FBS school academically maybe the most beautiful too. I can see why recruits want to go there. And RR has never said it's just another game.
November 17th, 2009 at 10:40 PM ^
I really don't know where people's idea of 'just another game' came from. RR never said that. I do have a couple of different things to say about it though.
In one sense, 'just another game' is a healthy way to look at rivalry games. If you don't look at them that way, you become like MSU, who was a train wreck until they played us, because they spent the entire summer and first few weeks of the season prepping for us. You can't let rivalries get in the way of your other games. In that sense, yes, Rich Rod probably does believe a rivalry is just another game.
But, for that week, it's not 'just another game'. It's "The Game" or Michigan vs MSU, or what-have-you. It's a whole different level of passion. So, until you hit rivalry week, it's good to look at rivalries as 'just another game', otherwise you get tunnel vision. Honestly, if we had a coach that had tunnel vision for the rivalry games, I wouldn't want him.
November 17th, 2009 at 10:41 PM ^
But I really feel your comments on JH having that fire. As well as Kelly possibly would too. Thats why I think this JH conversation has gotten so hot. Sometimes I wonder if Rich is just doing the right things until he can back it up. The guy is seriously intense at gametime.
November 17th, 2009 at 11:43 PM ^
are freaking hilarious.
November 17th, 2009 at 10:46 PM ^
That is the real question. We know he's pissed off a little about a few things/individuals at the University. And you have to remember he had one foot in the door at Stanford during his whole life. His dad coached there and he was going to go there, but Bo got him. So Stanford is home away from home for him. Would almost be like a RR leaving WVU issue again. But personally I think he'd jump at the chance. To right the ship so to speak the way he sees the program, because that's what he was bitching about.
November 17th, 2009 at 11:58 PM ^
I was always told that if Michigamua accepted you then you ARE a Michigan Man recognized as such by other acknowledged Michigan Men (no I wasn't invited, perhaps my bid got lost in the mail?). Two Jim's I was acquainted with at times, Abbott and Harbaugh, were Michigamua and thus Michigan Men through and through.
Harbaugh, as with some of us mortals, apparently believes in the notion of student-athletes. Observe that thingie in front of the hyphen, it can serve as a noun and not merely as an overlooked modifier.
Harbaugh's greatest concern about leaving Stanford and returning to A^2 in my view is the whole persistent soulless Kineseology press on football student-athletes by the athletic department and this alone is a valid reason why Harbaugh may tend to favor even Notre Dame over Home. Most football players will end their careers on the college field; why not ensure they are equipped with practical futures more advantaging than a common gym teacher educated at Seton Hall?
Like the Don Henley song whings along, "they're not here, they're not coming." Harbaugh ain't coming to A^2 ladies and gentlemen; regardless, Harbaugh remains a true Michigan Man. A good one, to boot, despite the alcohol question.