Jordan Strack reports Jim Harbaugh is trying to find an NFL job.
January 4th, 2021 at 12:39 PM ^
Does he know if Matt Campbell is trying to find a real estate agent in the AA?!
January 4th, 2021 at 12:55 PM ^
I sure hope so. Matt Campbell seems to be able to inspire his squad, what a concept.
Hey Jim, good luck finding an NFL gig, I really hope you get one.
January 4th, 2021 at 1:11 PM ^
At this point, it feels like this program needs Matt Campbell in the same way that human beings need oxygen to survive.
January 4th, 2021 at 2:42 PM ^
I really don’t understand this viewpoint. Get rid of Harbaugh? I understand that. Campbell is the best current option? I get that, too. But what I don’t get is treating him as if he’s a savior who will undoubtedly bring Michigan back. He’s 0-5 against Iowa at ISU. He lost to Louisiana this year. He’s had a couple of nice years at a place that doesn’t normally have nice years.
But if the guy who turned 1-11 Stanford into a conference powerhouse and took an NFL team to 3-straight conference title games couldn’t turn things around here, I’m not sure why you would assume Campbell would.
January 4th, 2021 at 2:49 PM ^
It's been said 100x before but the guy who turned 1-11 Stanford into a conference powerhouse.... he's not that guy any longer.
January 4th, 2021 at 2:54 PM ^
Correct he’s not even close, just a below average coach collecting a huge paycheck at a school that likes to tell people what a great academic school it is, but not smart enough to figure out how to turn around the football program.
January 4th, 2021 at 2:54 PM ^
And that is exactly why it is time for a change.
January 4th, 2021 at 4:08 PM ^
But you’re merely addressing the red herring. The point is, if someone like Harbaugh who was a noted, successful rebuilder couldn’t do it at Michigan, why are people so confident Campbell can do it?
Stop basing everything around Jim. Just tell me why this guy could do something a much more celebrated and successful coach couldn’t.
January 4th, 2021 at 4:27 PM ^
Clemson thought nobody could ever turn around their program in 2010, and look at them now. Jim has clearly lost his mojo for whatever reason give somebody else a chance.
January 4th, 2021 at 10:35 PM ^
I see what you’re saying, and I’m not saying ‘if Jim couldn’t do it nobody can’. I’m saying I just need someone to explain the Campbell fervor to me cause he seems like a decent coach but no more than that. His record against Iowa is a concern, and his success hasn’t translated into recruiting wins as he’s recruiting at a level lower than the likes of Virginia, Georgia Tech and Colorado.
January 5th, 2021 at 12:37 PM ^
I’d give him a chance he won at Iowa State just check their track record and resources compared to Michigan? You’ll be shocked and the biggest change he would bring is a huge culture change that is needed. Nothing is 100 percent guaranteed but if you’ve watched Michigan at all the last 3-4 years and listen you’ll know that things need to change from offense to defense to recruiting to getting an identity which Michigan desperately needs changes. Put Jim at Iowa State he would not have had a winning season I’d bet on that!
January 5th, 2021 at 6:31 PM ^
Why though?
Is it the Michigan administrations’ version of what was done at the University of Chicago? Could the academy be taking down the athletic department?
As an alum, to be honest, my feelings are mixed about this.
January 4th, 2021 at 2:50 PM ^
Ham, I totally get what you are saying. The caveat is that the guy that turned Stanford around (neck-sharpie hat throwing guy) was replaced by a docile mask-boner guy. As a player, Jim is still one my all-time favorites, but as a coach, the guy you cited is just not the same guy we have now. Could Matt Campbell be 'the guy' at Michigan? Who knows. That's for Warde to worry about, and for us to second guess for the next 'x' years (if that indeed happens).
January 4th, 2021 at 2:53 PM ^
The guy who turned 1-11 Stanford into a powerhouse and went to three straight NFL title games was absolutely on track to turn things around here. Personally I believe he would have done it. But then he stopped being that guy.
Something major changed in Harbaugh. Whether it’s health, stress, burnout, lack of passion or mental health. But he’s simply not that guy anymore.
January 4th, 2021 at 3:19 PM ^
Agree 1000% with this.
Can JH re-invent himself in more of a CEO role with a replenished staff? I think it's a possibility, and if JH gets extended this is the hope I will be clinging to for the next 12 months. We'll see.
January 4th, 2021 at 7:00 PM ^
Something major changed in Harbaugh.
Yeah, he saw the refs patting OSU players on the butt and flag his team relentlessly and then give them a favorable spot with the game on the line. When you know the league will stack things against you because your rival is the cash cow, it’s hard to fully commit.
January 4th, 2021 at 3:14 PM ^
Tom Herman?
January 4th, 2021 at 5:30 PM ^
Everybody is a savior until they aren't.
January 4th, 2021 at 6:55 PM ^
Haven't the last 3 coaches to come thru here been hailed as Saviors?
January 4th, 2021 at 2:23 PM ^
When Campbell is trying to celebrate a 9-3 season what will our fanbase be doing? That's an honest question. I feel like we don't let there be any steps to success. What Iowa St just celebrated was our favorite knock on Harbaugh
9-3
no conference championship
no play off
Will we collectively kill his momentum on social media when his current ceiling becomes our floor? When he is celebrating will we be tearing down his teams efforts and kill their mojo? We are projecting him to exceed his absolute peak here at UM. Is that fair? Will we praise him at 9-3 no playoff/ no CC? Think about that for a second.
January 4th, 2021 at 2:33 PM ^
I honestly don't know what you are talking about. Isn't the feeling that he would do more with more talent? If we can't expect more than 9 - 3 or 10 - 2, and beat your rival on occasion and win the B1G on occasion from any coach then what's the point? You wouldn't want that from the next coach, or Harbaugh if he stays? What should our expectations be?
January 4th, 2021 at 3:10 PM ^
...and beat your rival on occasion...
This is the biggest issue. Only the elite teams go 11-1 for a prolonged stretch of time. Most of the good teams go 10-2 or 9-3 most years with the occasional 11-1 thrown in.
BUT.....the good teams expect to beat their rival periodically. Had Harbaugh gone 2-3 against OSU or even 1-4, feelings would be much different. 0-fer against OSU is the problem. And the games are not getting closer, they are getting worse.
January 4th, 2021 at 5:52 PM ^
You know exactly what I am talking about. My guess is you answered my question if he is a 9-3 coaching on a regular basis how you would react. Rich Rod got an upgrade in talent, Hoke got an upgrade in talent, Harbaugh was getting the most talent he has ever coached at the college level.
My expectation will be to see a good team on the field that doesn't look like a mess. If its 9-3 with the usual "burn it all down" reactions Ill do my best to enjoy it.
January 4th, 2021 at 3:00 PM ^
He's the best current candidate out there for the job here. Whether he will do better or not remains to be seen but given the recruiting power that Michigan will allow him should give him weapons he couldn't dream of having at Toledo or ISU. Maybe he would fail but what other option is there? Stick with Harbaugh? For everyone who posts on here that criticizes Campbell I surely don't see better options being offered up..
January 4th, 2021 at 3:08 PM ^
Easy. This fanbase will eviscerate him. That's what we do. We have National Title/Elite dreams and a good, not elite, team.
'This guy went 0-5 to Iowa, and is now 1-2 vs. MSU! What happened!'
People who have d*ck idea what the real deal is at Schembechler Hall or at the U WRT to football (none of us really do) will apply their same overly simplistic model to how we should be winning, then set their expectations based on that, then assume anyone who doesn't fit their model or their expectations is an idiot or worse.
I heard tons of this under Carr after '99. Tons of it. We have a hard core of fans who are idiots. Toxic, idiots who take council of not only their fears but the opinions of talk radio and the fans of our rivals; then act accordingly.
So, I'd prefer Harbaugh come back and keep building. But if Campbell comes here, I'll hope to God everyone is right and he can get this team motivated, develop talent, recruit at the level we need, and get assistants who can pull it off. I'll be cheering for him to do it.
But odds are he won't. And we'll have the same as Harbaugh, or worse. And then the idiots will come out again.
January 4th, 2021 at 5:43 PM ^
Yep that is exactly what I mean. You think I don't want Iowa States Coach and enthusiasm? Oh I do, I just want Iowa States fans enthusiasm with it. Killing any joy going into bowl games etc etc. This 9-3 season they are celebrating would be so beneath us. So again we are hoping a guy whos resume doesn't sniff Harbaughs can compete with the death star down south. I say lets get our shit together and celebrate whatever he brings to the table like ISU fans did. But instead we will get the "Campbell cant win on back to back Tuesdays on turf coming off a homecoming in October" As always we do our rivals heavy lifting for them.
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January 4th, 2021 at 12:40 PM ^
Flight tracker anyone?
January 4th, 2021 at 1:27 PM ^
Flight tracker is so pre-Covid. We need people eavesdropping on Zoom calls.
January 4th, 2021 at 1:44 PM ^
Putin, get to it!
January 4th, 2021 at 1:55 PM ^
Actually China does that.
January 5th, 2021 at 1:32 AM ^
I’m at the hospital at 0130 awaiting a delivery, and that made me spew my coffee out. Thanks :)
January 4th, 2021 at 12:41 PM ^
This is getting ridiculous. Holding the football program hostage like this. Can we just move on.
January 4th, 2021 at 12:56 PM ^
Strange no Harbaugh apologists in sight to claim he always puts the program first.
January 4th, 2021 at 1:03 PM ^
Well, if he's allowing Warde to try to sign Campbell or some other coach that makes sense, and NFL is his Plan B, than he would be putting the program first.
January 4th, 2021 at 1:10 PM ^
If Harbaugh leaves, we'll only know based on how quickly Michigan makes the announcement. If they make it within a day or even a week, they had a guy. If not, they were unprepared.
January 4th, 2021 at 1:23 PM ^
If we don’t hear by Wednesday that he has signed, I will start to believe something else is going on. Till then, I can only assume he signed his contract and will be our head coach.
January 4th, 2021 at 2:39 PM ^
This is the correct take with your last sentence being the most likely outcome. I can't wait either way so we can stop seeing all of the "takes" from people that are just crying because they weren't privy to how the process was being conducted or didn't like it. Its like people expect the AD to announce every move and provide an update every half hour to make people feel better. That isn't how it works. Warde may very well be blowing this process, but we have no idea. Hell Brian, hasn't said one word about this UM's last game and he is running the damn blog everyone is bitching on.
January 4th, 2021 at 1:17 PM ^
"if he's allowing Warde to try to sign Campbell or some other coach that makes sense"
Harbaugh is currently the coach here. Why would he, as you say, let someone sign for the job he currently has? Further question, why would he do that without a set, guaranteed plan for his future job (either extension at M or new NFL HC gig)? I guess the only way that would make sense is if he is planning on retiring from coaching for now, but based on his words/actions that is not what he is thinking of doing.
January 4th, 2021 at 1:21 PM ^
Why would he, as you say, let someone sign for the job he currently has? Further question, why would he do that without a set, guaranteed plan for his future job (either extension at M or new NFL HC gig)?
Shopping around for a better option goes both ways. Despite JH being under contract, if he's shopping around that contract status is tenuous, which necessitates Warde shopping for a replacement, at least informally.
January 4th, 2021 at 1:29 PM ^
Shopping around I understand, but what the other poster said is nonsensical. Their comment insinuates, at least to my impression, that Harbaugh is the one sitting on his hands so that Warde would have top pick of replacement candidates. From all known information that is not what is happening here. Harbaugh is the one searching for an exit strategy with Warde sitting on his hands waiting for Harbaugh's decision. That's not a criticism of Warde necessarily, especially if he has been operating a closeted coaching search, but it is a criticism of Harbaugh for continuing to reiterate his commitment to the program while actively trying to get out of dodge.
January 4th, 2021 at 1:46 PM ^
From all known information that is not what is happening here. Harbaugh is the one searching for an exit strategy with Warde sitting on his hands waiting for Harbaugh's decision. That's not a criticism of Warde necessarily, especially if he has been operating a closeted coaching search, but it is a criticism of Harbaugh for continuing to reiterate his commitment to the program while actively trying to get out of dodge.
Being employed someplace while actively seeking employment somewhere else is a tricky thing to navigate. No one wants to lose your existing job because job you're hoping for may not make an offer. You have to assume and answer questions as though you are still employed at your old place until you aren't. You can't exactly say "It's OK there, but I'd prefer something else if given the opportunity". That would severely limit your ability to find assistants and recruit. But, you're also not currently invested into your current place of employment until you are able to finish your exploration into your future potential employment opportunity. Essentially you're in no mans land for a bit until your future opportunity either offers a job or moves on with another candidate. This is just the nature of the beast.
January 4th, 2021 at 2:35 PM ^
It’s the equivalent of when Larry Brown was “thinking about his dream Knicks job” when he was coaching the Pistons(Made it to the NBA Finals 2 years in a row). Bill Davidson made his line in the sand and basically told Brown either you’re here or you’re not! The fact that Davidson cut loose a coach that was that successful, let’s you know sometimes you have to let the employee know who runs the show. If Jim is looking around that should let Warde know he’s not long for this job. The financial implications play a role for sure especially since we’re in the middle of a pandemic. But the Pistons ate $18 million to send him away. At some point Michigan has to let Harbaugh know that they are desired too, and operate as if they might have an opening soon
January 4th, 2021 at 10:27 PM ^
I’m not sure that is a good example. The Pistons have been garbage ever since then. If anything, the takeaway from your example should be “Please don’t do what the Pistons did to totally tank.”
January 4th, 2021 at 11:18 PM ^
They literally went to 3 conference finals immediately after the firing. Bad personnel moves is what ultimately doomed them, not firing Larry Brown.
January 4th, 2021 at 2:53 PM ^
It makes MORE sense that Harbaugh would actively act like he wants to move on, but if he can't find a better job, he's gonna stay?
I mean, I know we're all disappointed his coaching skills only got us to fighting for 2nd tier in the east and he turned enthusiasm into snooziasm but this would be a gigantic "Tony Solomon Fuck Michigan" move.
He'd be hated from now on by everyone, instead of just being underwhelming.
January 4th, 2021 at 2:35 PM ^
Maybe he doesn't WANT to leave, but he knows if they can get the "right" coach, a renewed sense of possibility his alma mater will be successful again.
Do you really think, since $$ isn't an issue for Harbaugh, he feels the desire to move his family to a new town in these uncertain times. Efforts to combat the 'rona may put this country on Draconian lockdown and nobody may actually play competitive sports next fall.
Just seems a weak bargaining position to risk being hated by everyone involved with your Alma Mater.
January 4th, 2021 at 1:14 PM ^
If Warde told Harbaugh to try to find an NFL job because he'd rather not have to fire him and pay him a $10 M buyout, then that would most certainly be putting the program first.
January 4th, 2021 at 3:35 PM ^
I also can't see Warde making that statement to his coach, without having the BOR backing him up. They all have to understand that if that is indeed the play, the alternate isn't that he stays, it's also Warde has to let him go and pay the buyout. Regardless, if this is all what is in motion, then Warde has likely back-channeled for interest from replacement option(s)...I'd hope.
January 4th, 2021 at 2:30 PM ^
Its mutual. The program hasn’t demonstrated its firmly behind him at this point, either.