Michigan4ever

December 31st, 2014 at 7:57 PM ^

Read this article by TIM KAWAKAMI...

 

It actually is good, for a guy that seemed like a complete tool though the whole process....

 

http://blogs.mercurynews.com/kawakami/2014/12/30/jim-harbaugh-ann-arbor-jed-york-radio/

 

According to Kawakami:

"Raiders owner Mark Davis confirmed to me early yesterday that he talked to Harbaugh but that Harbaugh was headed elsewhere, then Davis asked me to call him back last night once Harbaugh was officially at Michigan.

So I did and here’s what Davis said:.

“It’s his decision to make, and if that’s the best thing for him and his family to go to Michigan, I wish him all the best,” Davis said.

“It’s just tough to see him leave the NFL because he’s one of the great coaches. It hurts the NFL. But we’ll see. You never know what can happen in life.”
Davis made an offer that topped Michigan’s money terms, according to Fox’s Mike Garafolo, but my sense is that Harbaugh didn’t even consider it. Maybe he just didn’t like the Raiders’ situation right now, maybe he was dead set on Michigan the whole way."

 

Joined: 12/17/2014

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Tater

December 31st, 2014 at 8:22 PM ^

NFL writers can't understand that Michigan is a destination job for anyone who has ever worn the Maize and Blue.  When a kid gets to sit in Bo's chair before he is even ten years old, that's a lot of history and, do I dare say, "tradition."  Hack writers who would write scathing exposes on their moms if it advanced them on the food chain have no concept of loyalty.

Joined: 08/13/2008

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xtramelanin

December 31st, 2014 at 8:48 PM ^

there comes a point in anyone's life where time is more precious than money, and you make decisions that might not be the best financially, but are best for your family and hopefully you.   the lure and love of michigan for someone who has had it baked into them since they were 10 and played football here too, overpowers the difference at some point b/w a contract for $40 MM vs. a contract for $44 MM or even $50MM. 

candidly, my own homing beacon came back to the state of michigan from california too.  i am grateful to be home even when the barn pump has frozen and the wind chill puts us well below zero outside tonight as we did barn chores.  in much more lackluster fashion my life looks a lot like JH's, including playing hockey at our favorite school and walking away from $ in california to come home.   best decision i ever made and i had zero, repeat, zero hesitation about making it. 

Joined: 12/09/2014

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Wool Vereen

December 31st, 2014 at 8:21 PM ^

Anybody would leave when the NCAA comes with sanctions

and besides, Pete had no ties to USC, just success.  JH had a great career as a player and he and his father have very loyal ties to Bo.  He is sewn into the fabric of the football program

I dont thnink you can compare the 2 situations.  It is much more likely he stays, but I wouldnt be surprised nor mad if he ends up leaving at some point, as long as he has success here

Joined: 03/18/2012

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Candyman

December 31st, 2014 at 9:15 PM ^

Not only did he not desert SF, he was flat out fired. It wasn't even a mutual separation. It was 100% team decision, 0% Harbaugh decision.

But to your point that the length of the contract isn't necessarily important, he signed a five year contract at Stanford and left after four seasons. In 2005, he signed a four year extension with San Diego and left two years later. It happens.

I could see him leaving Michigan for the NFL. If he has a great run here, accomplishes everything he wanted to accomplish, and the perfect situation presents itself in the NFL...I could see it happening. But that last part is the key. I don't think he plans to leave, and I don't think he's going to be listening to offers every winter. But let's say Chuck Pagano retires in six years and the Colts offer Harbaugh full control of football operations. Harbaugh might be tempted to work with his old college QB again, especially since he'd probably be the best QB in the NFL by that point. He's not going to go to a dumpster fire like the what the Raiders/Bears/Jets/etc are this year, but if one of those rare situations when a good team needs a coach, he might listen. Especially if he's done what he wants to do at Michigan and knows he's leaving them in good hands, with somebody like Wheatley ready to take over. And if that's the case, I think it'll be something the fans can understand and respect. It'll be more of a Woodson-esque departure("thanks for everything, good luck at your next job") than a Henson-esque departure("now we're screwed! WTF, dude") from a fan reaction perspective.

Joined: 07/30/2012

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Mr. Yost

December 31st, 2014 at 8:35 PM ^

Take a comment from a presser and make a full article about it and keep your viewers/readers happy.

Nothing wrong with it. But it's literally an article about his comment from the presser.

That ESPN Michigan Football group, before it was cancelled...did the same thing.

Again, no issues, it's more M content, but it's nothing revolutionary.

Joined: 07/25/2011

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Junior18

December 31st, 2014 at 8:17 PM ^

But I really wouldn't blame him if he does a good job here, returns the program to (at least near) past glory, then decides to finish what he started in the NFL. I'd be grateful and wish him the best.

Joined: 12/01/2014

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Michigan4ever

December 31st, 2014 at 8:18 PM ^

We all want Harbaugh to be a 20 year coach, but please! Just let the guy be here a couple years at least and get our program back to National Prominance! Then, if he get's bored after stomping OSU and MSU into oblivion, let one of his coachs in the wings take over! I'm sure if he is winning to that point he will develop a strong coaching tree that will be able to take care of the future!

Joined: 12/17/2014

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alum96

December 31st, 2014 at 8:42 PM ^

He is here for 6 years as the floor.  After that it will depend on his accomplishments (i.e. did he get a NC - did he beat Saban etc) and he will re-evaluate.  His coaching tree will be broad by that time worse case - best case he just sees the adoration he has here and is content to stay for 10 more.

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sierragold

December 31st, 2014 at 8:45 PM ^

Do know that this is not the first time Jim Harbaugh attempted to coach at Michigan. He interviewed for QB Coach in 2002 with Lloyd Carr, at that time Carr went with someone else.

When Jim says he wants to be here and move in, I would take it serious. He has young children and a wife that he just moved across the country to Coach at Michigan. They will be in school and the little ones starting in school soon. I would take it for its meaning that he would like build his house and move in to stay.

He kind of pointed this out when he referenced his family had alot to do with his decision. He doesn't want to move them every few years, if he can find a place to stay. Just saying.

Go Blue!

Joined: 10/03/2009

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ChicagoGangViolins

December 31st, 2014 at 8:52 PM ^

 

If Jim departs after five or six years of winning college championships to recharge his batteries and conquer the Superbowl.  His staff and brother would keep us winning until Jim had his fill of the NFL at which point Jim could come back fresh with new schemes and connections to further strengthen the dynasty at Michigan. But hey it's New Years Eve and I'm already pickled with champagne; cheers to the MGoBlogs and a very very Harbaugh to us all.

 

 

Joined: 09/07/2014

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Perkis-Size Me

December 31st, 2014 at 9:08 PM ^

Let the Sparty and Buckeye piece of trash slobs worry about themselves. We got our guy, the best damn coach available. Easily a top-10 coach in all of football.

We're down right now, and both our rivals have built great programs. Granted. But Harbaugh will get this machine running built and running on all cylinders soon enough. We're in great hands, and we're not their damn punching bag anymore.



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buddhafrog

December 31st, 2014 at 9:11 PM ^

Not sure what the downvotes are about.

I took this as the most important part of the entire press conferene.  Yeah, he's not going to say he'll leave soon of course, but what he said and the way he said it makes a lot of sense.  With his young family, and saying previously that his favorite place that felt like home was in Ann Arbor - well, I believe he meant what he said yesterday.

If things don't fall apart, then Harbaugh will get raises and continue to be paid top money.  He will be revered.  He will want that championship.  He'll stay for it, and once he gets it, he'll stay because he wants more and wants to remain in his town, with his family, in his house - the houase that Yost built, the house that Bo memorialized, (the house that Brandon sold), and the house that Harbaugh restored.  He is going to love that journey and will be here for the long haul.

Joined: 09/28/2009

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bj33smith

December 31st, 2014 at 11:56 PM ^

Once it gets towards the end of his 7 years and his family is adapted and firmly planted in AA, kids in high school etc. I think there will be a great shot he could sign on for another 4-5 years. I know wayyyyy ahead of myself.

Joined: 10/26/2012

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sierragold

January 1st, 2015 at 9:42 AM ^

Jim Harbaugh is at Michigan for his destination job.

Here is Why I believe it & until I see different.

When Jim retired from QB NFL he came back to Michigan and interviewed for QB coach, was not hired at that time in 2002. He went out and acheived excellence in coaching. SDU, Stanford & NFL and again returns to U of M to Coach. This has always been his destination job.

He is a competitive guy and has always dreamed of coaching at the U of M. Most of his life was influenced in AA from the time he was a young boy, his dad, Bo & Michigan.

Think About It!

Joined: 10/03/2009

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justingoblue

January 1st, 2015 at 1:38 AM ^

Don't get me wrong, I'd bet that Michigan (like everyone, including Harvard and anyone else) caters to the big money insiders with admissions, but one rumor around Mattison leaving after 1996 was that Notre Dame would guarantee his daughter would be accepted/paid for and M wouldn't.

I do know that M faculty don't get kids free, so I kind of doubt Michigan pays tuition bills for coaches. OTOH we haven't seen Harbaugh's contract yet.

Joined: 11/16/2010

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Steve in PA

January 1st, 2015 at 10:27 AM ^

Seriously, I've never accepted a job and told my new employer, "I'm only going to be here a few years until I'm bored, looking for a new challenge, or sick of dealing with your shit"  Nobody says it's temporary.

Having said that, I think JH's assistant hires are critical because if he does bolt after a few years he's shown that someone on his staff will be ready, willing, and able to keep moving forward with the foundation put down in JH's time here.

And if he does stay that would be even better as he sends asistants off to other teams to kick more ass building his legacy as a great coach.

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