December 8th, 2020 at 4:41 PM ^
Did you miss the part where they meet regularly? Weekly, and sometimes daily?
That tweet doesn't really change anything.
December 8th, 2020 at 4:44 PM ^
They may meet every 15 minutes, but if there's no public announcement of anything prior to Dec. 16 then all bets are off for some important would-be members of the recruiting class.
December 8th, 2020 at 4:57 PM ^
Exactly. That tweet confirms they're NOT going to announce an extension before Dec 16 which is risky if they end up bringing him back anyway because it leaves plenty of doubt amongst recruits and gives a lot of negative recruiting fuel.
December 8th, 2020 at 5:31 PM ^
So for people who want Harbaugh gone, this doesn’t matter, and waiting seems to suggest he may gone.
Also, not sure what the rules are on communicating with recruits right now, but theoretically there isn’t anything they would announce on the 19th or 20th they couldn’t tell recruits now.
Either way, they know they are walking into a shaky coaching staff situation beyond just Harbaugh, and have to determine if the risk is worth it or not.
Net: people want change - there are consequences.
December 8th, 2020 at 6:02 PM ^
Most important player (JJ) already announced he's signing regardless. Possibly the most important member of the defensive class (Colson) said the same thing.
December 8th, 2020 at 6:24 PM ^
Yeah, let's suppose that the substance of John U's tweets is correct. I would be very, very suprised (even without them) if Harbs and Warde aren't having fairly cordial conversations, including about a way out for Jim, with tentative feelers out in various directions. Especially if Harbaugh is going, the last thing you'd want would be anything that looked remotely like a firing when you're trying to keep the look of the thing amicable, and for UM to do it--in these trying times--with its financial shirt on.
If, OTOH (or if in addition) Harbaugh is making overtures to the one or two coordinators he could really imagine enjoying working with. . . that takes time, too.
The fuck Warde we're all screwed posts. . . c'mon, folks, let's not simply assume that these people are evil. Seems just a little bit counterintuitive? No, Harbaugh hasn't succeeded, but don't we want to at least assume that these people would like to rectify the situation, are probing ways to do that?
December 8th, 2020 at 4:43 PM ^
So tired of this AD thinking they're the smartest guys in the room.
December 8th, 2020 at 5:16 PM ^
Yes. What's the saying? The first step towards wisdom is knowing you know nothing?
This athletic department is opaque, appears out of touch, arrogant, and clueless. In their smug assuredness they seem to consistently pick the worst of all worlds.
I remember my old man talking about Canham; about how he was openly trying to sell Michigan. You get the impression these people are just assuming people will come to them; and are anxiously waiting for them to dispense wisdom.
I'm going to go try to stop grinding my teeth.
December 8th, 2020 at 5:58 PM ^
This confirms everything that I've been hearing with the admin. It starts at the top.
December 8th, 2020 at 7:21 PM ^
Ok, I'm going to play ignorant for a moment -- what has Warde Manuel or the athletic department done (or not done) to warrant all the criticism? I'm not defending them by any means, but all I have to go off of is that Manuel hired Mel Pearson for hockey (who everyone wanted) and hired Juwan Howard (it's early, but so far looking like an "A" hire).
Am I missing something? And I'm being genuine when I ask.
I think we're taking words from the AD to the media at face value when we should be taking them with a massive grain of salt. You think Manuel is going to provide every little thought, conversation, or detail to the media? I'm just saying we should probably hold complete judgment until this whole thing plays out.
December 8th, 2020 at 7:45 PM ^
You can check my diary post for more, but the gist of some of my sources is that there are some admin problems that have been a roadblock for Harbaugh. Basically the same story for the past 2 decades. This to me is a great example of his ignorance.
December 8th, 2020 at 8:26 PM ^
I read your diary and responses in the comments, but I didn’t read that as any issues with Manuel? Sounded like more of the issues are influences outside the AD. Especially if it’s been going on for 2 decades, how’s that on Warde?
What roadblocks does Harbaugh, or any football coach, face? He was very successful the first couple years and didn’t seem to be any roadblocks then?
December 8th, 2020 at 9:20 PM ^
I guess that I’ll keep waiting with you
December 8th, 2020 at 10:00 PM ^
And this comment as well:
"
If I'm the AD, I am putting together a 5-year plan with Harbaugh and be honest and have contingencies in place. Jim, what is it that you exactly need? How do we build this program out that if you were to retire in 5 years we have the infrastructure in place to keep the momentum going? If it's a checkbook thing let me know exactly what you need and I'm going to put a plan in place to make sure you get it. Maybe not all at once, but you have my promise that I am going to back you 100%. Let's look 5 years down the road, what can we get ahead of? Let's build a pro staff and scout every single team and identify the talent we need to fill our roster gaps. There's not going to be a program in America that will be better at finding that talent for you. NIL, let's go it a step further. We're going to put a staff in place that is going to work with each player to put in place a plan to monetize their rights now and in the future. Any former players that move on can come back and we'll help them out. If we say it's a 40-year decision for these guys we recruit, let's do more than say that, lets prove it to them.
If there are roadblocks let me remove them for you. Are there rules in place that I need to use the Michigan Brand to lobby? If you're passionate about the player transfer rule, I'll go to freaking Congress with whomever I need to rally to get this through. It's time for Michigan to start acting like we say we are. We are the winningest program in history, but we sure as hell don't act like it. But sure let's get another voiceover video touting how many wins we have."
December 8th, 2020 at 9:58 PM ^
I think this comment from my diary comment I posted, you will find more illuminating:
"Let me also put it this way. When Saban complains to the media about a rule it gets changed for his benefit. And if it doesn't his AD is out there behind the scenes making sure he keeps his coach happy. Where is that at Michigan? Where is the support from AD and the University to back their guy and go to war with him? And if I just hired my dream candidate and I'm at a school like Michigan, every single year I am going to ask my coach what he needs. How are we getting outrecruited? How do we combat some of these inequities? How do we push the envelope as close to the line as possible without stepping over?"
December 8th, 2020 at 11:00 PM ^
Ok, I think I better understand. But can’t Harbaugh also go to the AD and make suggestions, recommendations, say “we could use this, this, and this” or “this would really help take us to the next level”. Or is he doing that and being told “no”?
You’re right, if Manuel isn’t doing those things or asking those questions, that’s on him. Do we know he’s not? And it seemed like we had all of those things for the first 2-3 years of Harbaugh. Satellite camps, trips abroad, large support staff. What changed in the last year or 2?
How is basketball able to thrive in the same circumstances? Is it just because it requires far fewer resources and admin/support?
December 8th, 2020 at 8:29 PM ^
I don’t think Warde has a ton of good options at the moment.
December 8th, 2020 at 8:30 PM ^
Well, when there were no sellouts and Michigan wasn't a "thing", selling the experience was the only way to grow demand.
December 8th, 2020 at 5:26 PM ^
I had a HS coach that used to call the play that the other team knew we were going to run because he said that it was a stupid call and the other team would never expect such a stupid decision and therefore plan for something else and be fooled. Yes, every word of that is as true as it is sad and it reminds me of Manuel.
December 8th, 2020 at 8:46 PM ^
So tired of everyone on this board thinking they're smarter than every AD and coach we've had for the last 20 years.
December 8th, 2020 at 4:44 PM ^
Stupid. Unless they have everything agreed to behind the scenes and are telling recruits that as such.
December 8th, 2020 at 6:44 PM ^
If everything was agreed to you make it public. What would be 1 reason you wouldn’t? Zero reason not too. I would be more likely to believe JJ is a better recruiter and is keeping the guys together regardless of who the coaching staff will be. Both him and Colson already said they were staying regardless.
December 8th, 2020 at 8:38 PM ^
Would him making it public make you feel better? I don’t understand why any AD has to fill in fans on contracts.
December 8th, 2020 at 4:45 PM ^
I was skeptical when JUB said there would be news this week, maybe it will still happen but this feels like something that will drag on as long as possible
December 8th, 2020 at 4:49 PM ^
any news isn't no news.... so there was news, it just didn't tell us anything.
December 8th, 2020 at 4:50 PM ^
This "announcement" from Manuel is likely the "news" JUB was referring to.
December 8th, 2020 at 4:48 PM ^
That’s fucking stupid. Anybody with any brains would get this thing done before signing day. Just another reason why this program is in a cluster fuck. Fire Manuel.
December 8th, 2020 at 5:11 PM ^
This is Warde firing him without saying it. It's a vote of no confidence that buys Harbaugh time to get things worked out with the Jets. It also lets a new coach finish up with his current team since he can't announce he's had talks with Michigan while upcoming games are still on the schedule. A new coaching hire puts us behind the 8 in recruiting anyway since we literally can't announce a new coach until the season is over. Not talking with Harbaugh until Dec. 16th = New coach is coming; Harbaugh is not being extended.
December 8th, 2020 at 6:03 PM ^
It also forces the Jets to negotiate the buyout and lets us off the hook for Harbaugh's final year. Warde's being smart! Literally saving the University 6+ million.
December 8th, 2020 at 7:03 PM ^
Exactly. Everyone bashing Manuel on this are crazy IF!! Harbaugh is out. He’s handling it perfectly. No new coach news is coming soon. But, if he’s back, planned on being back, and you didn’t do it before signing day. That’s simply dumb.
December 8th, 2020 at 6:15 PM ^
I sure hope you’re right. Not cause I think there’s a guaranteed OSU beater out there per say, just that I’ve lost all confidence that Harbaugh can even handle the rest of the conference, let alone beat OSU, and a new coach at least gives us new hope. A new coach could very well do just as bad or worse than Harbaugh, but at least we would be trying to improve instead of accepting mediocrity.
December 8th, 2020 at 6:24 PM ^
I sure hope you’re right. This is also the only logical play if Manuel is trying to let Harbaugh out gracefully. If he extends him, this is the most idiotic thing he could possibly do as it only causes more unnecessary uncertainty for recruits. I guess we’ll find out soon. I still fear you are wrong, but I like what you’re drinking.
December 8th, 2020 at 7:28 PM ^
A Summit Keller Pils that my friend traded me for a glass of wine.
December 8th, 2020 at 7:41 PM ^
Time to figure out new swim lanes.
December 8th, 2020 at 8:14 PM ^
Where's Hackett when you need... oh, the irony. Smh
December 8th, 2020 at 4:50 PM ^
I swear to god this is just intentional incompetence at this point...
December 8th, 2020 at 4:53 PM ^
At least he is a Michigan man committed to hiring Michigan men!!! I don’t care that Howard looks like a great hire, when the incest in this AD is unreal.
Hopefully this situation plays out in Michigan’s favor. Hopefully Warde has an ace up his sleeve.
December 8th, 2020 at 4:52 PM ^
Warde is as disconnected from reality as Dave Brandon
December 8th, 2020 at 4:58 PM ^
But what doesn’t happen all the time is a coach having an historically bad year rumored to be on the outs and entering the final year of a grossly bloated contract with national signing day right around the corner. So this is not your run of the mill negative recruiting.
December 8th, 2020 at 4:59 PM ^
I think Sam is quoting Warde Manuel there correct? Regardless, a stupid comment for sure.
December 8th, 2020 at 5:01 PM ^
Thx, I collected that just a minute ago
December 8th, 2020 at 5:18 PM ^
If that's the case it just shows the arrogance behind the decision. 'Negative recruiting? Naw, that won't affect us. We're Michigan! Look at my Block M ring!'
December 8th, 2020 at 5:06 PM ^
"People are always taking shots at us anyway, so we figured we might as well give them some heavy artillery." If we lose all of our commits and THEN we re-sign Harbaugh, Warde should be fired on the spot.
December 8th, 2020 at 6:23 PM ^
Yeah but the student athletes have a high graduation rate, so surely he will get a raise.
December 8th, 2020 at 5:15 PM ^
This is an unbelievably stupid approach from Ward Manuel (assuming this is a quote from Manuel). What more information or data needs to be gathered from the perspective of the athletic department around Jim's body of work to make a decision on whether to continue with Jim Harbaugh as head coach, or decide to part ways?
There is a simple answer: none. Nothing else between today and the 19th is going to change from a results perspective that will tilt the balance of that conversation.
So why, for one, would you not have that conversation as quickly as possible to establish the direction of the program..secondly, why would you publicly state to a recruiting class twisting in the wind that you are not going to discuss the contract of a head coach they are committed to until the early signing period is passed?
This basically just confirms for other staffs on recruiting visits to say "Michigan has no idea what their doing with their football program right now". To which Manuel responds "yeah.. we know".
December 8th, 2020 at 6:12 PM ^
Eh, only reasonable justification I can think of is if JH's extension is tied to changes with the assistant coaches, and the changes with the assistant coaches can't be confirmed/announced until the season is over for the new assistant coach's current school or team.
Edit: conversely, if they're going to be firing JH, it's possible Ward wants a successor lined up before they announce the firing, and they can't do that until the successor's current season is over.
December 8th, 2020 at 5:24 PM ^
So Warde and Harbaugh say this isn’t the time to talk contracts, but then publicly highlight how OSU is one of the best teams in country and should bend the rules to allow them to be in Big 10 championship. Unbelievable.
December 9th, 2020 at 1:33 PM ^
There will always be Jive Turkeys
December 8th, 2020 at 4:52 PM ^
As a Michigan fan, I’m embarrassed for these players, recruits, and I guess other fans. My how this mighty program has fallen and fallen hard. It’s a shame really. And o hate that I was right about Warde all along, that he’s just as shitty of an AD as Brandon...
December 8th, 2020 at 4:52 PM ^
Gosh, such incompetence by the administration. HOWEVA, we deserve this because our fans are mean sometimes! :(