December 8th, 2020 at 4:52 PM ^
Goodbye Xavier Worthy, Donovan Edwards, and anyone else that might consider coming. This will push us even farther behind than we already are. Look for another crap season next year.
December 8th, 2020 at 4:53 PM ^
Honestly, who cares? Would you rather have a few good recruits and Harbaugh? Or no Harbaugh and taking a short-term hit?
I'd take the latter all day, every day.
December 8th, 2020 at 5:35 PM ^
I'm worried that we keep Harbaugh and still lose the recruits
December 8th, 2020 at 5:42 PM ^
Most likely, we're going to end with a sad class and Harbaugh...
December 8th, 2020 at 4:53 PM ^
Maybe I'm in the minority here- I love this.
If Warde/Michigan really wanted to dance together, this would have been done today. Warde would have said something to the effect of, "We are working on it. It's a done deal, just need to finalize."
This actually means one/both parties do not want to be here. If this leads to Harbaugh being gone, fucking fantastic.
I'm honestly totally cool with this recruiting class being wrecked if it ensured that Harbaugh left this program for good.
December 8th, 2020 at 4:55 PM ^
I wouldn’t say this. This recruiting class was gonna be good. JJ, Xavier, Andrel, colson, Donovan Edwards? Yea I wouldn’t want this class to be wrecked at all.
December 8th, 2020 at 4:56 PM ^
If it means that the head coach is gone, yeah, I'm OK with it.
Harbaugh has had plenty of great classes, the fuck has he done with them?
I'm absolutely-fucking-OK with a less than class next season if it means this dude goes bye.
December 8th, 2020 at 5:07 PM ^
It will be good as soon as Warde announces Sarkisian or Graham Harrell as the next J. IRA AND NICKI HARRIS FAMILY HEAD FOOTBALL COACH
December 8th, 2020 at 5:08 PM ^
Joking? Those are the guys you want?
December 8th, 2020 at 8:40 PM ^
It was gunna be good?
and then what? not be developed, underperform, have a nice spring trip somewhere, suffer through a position/coordinator switch,
ultimately transfer to a more successful or less frustrating program.
We know exactly what we're getting with Harbaugh and Michigan can do better.
December 8th, 2020 at 4:59 PM ^
This is bush league for the kids. Treat them with respect instead of jerking them around. UM doesn’t deserve top classes because they are too busy controlling the message and the brand. Pure shit.
December 8th, 2020 at 5:00 PM ^
Oh, not arguing there. I mean I'm OK with the result if it means Michigan screws around for a few days and it ends up resulting in Harbaugh leaving.
But, I suspect in the end, they'll be a'OK. Most of them will end up with a program that actually can make them better.
So actually, as I talk this over, this is probably best for them lol. They'll go to a real program.
December 8th, 2020 at 5:21 PM ^
Are you really seriously confident that getting rid of Harbaugh,, with this AD and this department, is going to lead to an improvement in the coaching situation?
I could see them dithering for months while we lose commits and current kids hit the transfer portal because, you know, we're Michigan and all that.
These chuckleheads could crater the program.
Being happy that Harbaugh is gone with these folks in charge because 'it's bound to get better' when we had 19 wins in the last two years prior to this one is basically magical thinking.
December 8th, 2020 at 5:22 PM ^
What's the alternative here?
I hate the whole "who are you gonna get" mentality that seems to pop up a lot here.
Harbaugh's not the guy. He's gotta go. Period.
December 8th, 2020 at 5:37 PM ^
Because if you get a schmuck, which is a real possibility with these guys, it could get alot worse.
December 8th, 2020 at 5:48 PM ^
Then try agin. There are no guarantee's in life, but there is certainty. Certainty here is that Harbaugh isn't working out.
December 8th, 2020 at 5:54 PM ^
Worse than triple OT against Rutgers? I don't think so. Harbaugh is setting records for incompetence.
December 8th, 2020 at 8:01 PM ^
Losing to Rutgers like Hoke did his last year lol
December 8th, 2020 at 5:54 PM ^
That argument made some sense for awhile. I mean, before 2020 it did seem like 8 wins was the floor. Until the bottom fell out this year.
I no longer think that way.
Harbaugh has been unable to coach his team into an upset in 6 freaking years. He also perpetually underperforms in road matchups. That's before mentioning how badly he was beat in 2018 and 2019 by OSU - two years that Michigan was actually pretty good!
I'm sure somebody out there can do better than that.
People say the turning point was 2016 vs. OSU, but I think it was 2018 vs. OSU. Death by a million crossing routes. On a day Michigan was actually slightly favored to beat OSU. That was the true death knell of the Harbaugh era. 2019 showed glimpses of greatness - I mean, we are the last team to have beaten Notre Dame, after all - but in the end the season was worse and ended up with yet another blowout loss to OSU.
December 8th, 2020 at 8:12 PM ^
Yes. Worse than triple OT against Rutgers.
We have a horrid year in a time of disruption and COVID. No, that doesn’t affect every team the same as we are all in different states for the most part and taking different precautions. we’ve also lost something like 20 guys from the 2 deep and had injuries. It’s not an excuse. It’s a reason.
I did a post in anither thread where I analyzed winning percentage, winning percentage vs. ranked opponents, and losses to teams ranked lower, since ‘00.
Prior to this year basically Harbaugh was a tick off of Carr from 00-07. He won 9 games last year with some horrible blowouts but some awesome wins.
His record vs OSU sucks but so does everyone else’s; with OSU basically going from very good to stratospheric when Meyer got there, blocking us from B1G titles in the East.
I don’t deny that we have worrisome issues. but the recency bias of this fan base is over the top. And you are asking that we put a coaching search after a bad season, with down revenues, into the hands of an AD who is opaque and dithering, dismissive of the downsides of his decisions. All in the name of “I hate this year blow it up someone else must be able to do better”
Its magical thinking. I can see him letting Harbaugh go, having no one around while he conducts a “careful search” waiting for people to come to him, and ending up with a compromise candidate who has lost the talent we have to the portal. I could see that easily happening. We don’t have Canham or Hackett in charge right now.
December 8th, 2020 at 7:25 PM ^
Bingo. I am with Uncle Leo. This is great news!!! Now, this is only great news if Harbaugh goes away, but can’t see how that doesn’t happen with this situation. Warde is just buying Harbaugh time and playing the card of “we will see where this goes”. In regards to negative recruiting, what do you want him to say? Recruit will leave with no Harbaugh or no extension. Only extension gave them clarity. Again, if this shows they are parting ways, Warde handling this well if he also is trying to help Harbaugh out.
If this is a strategy to keep Harbaugh?! Oh boy, Warde can’t stay come contract time of 3/1/21.
December 8th, 2020 at 7:06 PM ^
Id rather take the risk and get a new coach. Maybe a new coach could rejuvenate the team and get them playing hard again. Maybe we will be worse without Harbaugh but at least we won’t have to hear about his stupid khakis, chicken being a nervous bird, and all the other dumb shit he says.
December 8th, 2020 at 5:04 PM ^
What scheduled game? The season is over now.
December 8th, 2020 at 5:06 PM ^
The ten B1G teams with exactly two wins still have to play each other in the post-season crossover.
December 8th, 2020 at 5:08 PM ^
We need that last data point against NEB or PURDUE before we can make a decision, obviously.
December 8th, 2020 at 5:27 PM ^
Need to see who hits harder.
December 8th, 2020 at 7:08 PM ^
Nebraska and Purdue hit harder. No need for one of those games this year. Um usually very sad when the season is over. Not because of the annual loss to OSU that doesn’t help ofc but because I miss Michigan football. After this year I am going to need until 2021 kickoff to get excited again.
December 8th, 2020 at 5:07 PM ^
Seems pretty clear this is tacitly building in time for Harbaugh to get an NFL offer that is likely more money and also face saving for him. Meanwhile, signing day and delays on getting another coach no board.
As usual, feelingsball bullshit.
December 8th, 2020 at 5:41 PM ^
Exactly this. Hurting the program so Harbaugh can save face. What was the ole phrase that one old dude used to say, something about the team the team the team?
December 8th, 2020 at 7:36 PM ^
No new coach is going to be announced before 12-16 regardless. Recruiting is going to be what it is. Several have said they are staying. They will decide if they will truly stay once new coach is announced and they talk.
December 8th, 2020 at 5:07 PM ^
Nothing like intentionally sabotaging this recruiting class single handedly, as if Harbaugh needed any help.
December 8th, 2020 at 5:08 PM ^
I believe it means there will be a change of the Head Coach at Michigan.
December 8th, 2020 at 5:16 PM ^
This is exactly what this means! Warde's no idiot. Harbaugh is gone!
December 8th, 2020 at 5:23 PM ^
I really, really, really, hope you're right, but judging by past AD performances, I'm not holding my breath. It would be both 2020 and Michigan to wait until then so people cool off a bit, then announce an extension, even though they will get major backlash either way.
December 8th, 2020 at 5:09 PM ^
This only makes sense if he’s getting fired, or pushed out the door. If he ends up signing the extension, it’ll make no sense.
December 8th, 2020 at 5:10 PM ^
Yep. If Harbaugh was the guy and the extension was all but guaranteed, I have no idea why Warde would not say that.
It's a pretty easy answer here. One or both of them do not want Harbaugh to return.
December 8th, 2020 at 5:10 PM ^
Just classic M arrogance on display. “Negative recruiting happens all the time.”
(couldn’t add my naked gun nothing to see here image. Warde level failure on my part).
December 8th, 2020 at 5:15 PM ^
I think he just wants to see how we do against Nebraska or whoever TF we play and evaluate off of that. Just so we have a full sample.
December 8th, 2020 at 5:21 PM ^
Not sure what to make of this. If he’s giving Harbaugh a chance to save face and get a new gig lined up, great I guess, but that’s going to screw the guy coming in if this class takes a giant hit. I get that Harbaugh has earned a graceful exit, but I don’t think it should come at the expense of the program. I think the uncertainty of not knowing whether Harbaugh will be around is worse than not knowing who will be the replacement from a recruiting perspective.
December 8th, 2020 at 6:24 PM ^
Idk, recruiting classes almost always take a significant hit during a coaching change anyways. And any new coach more than likely wouldn’t be able to publicly accept the Michigan job until after the season officially ends anyways...so it’s not like Warde could just bring out a new coach tomorrow and make everything official for the sake of recruiting anyways.
December 8th, 2020 at 8:05 PM ^
Doesn't necessarily have to be about a graceful exit for Harbaugh. It could be Warde has a replacement in mind, but needs time to work out details/get more comfortable that he'll be able to reach terms with the new guy.
December 8th, 2020 at 5:22 PM ^
Tell me if I'm reading the tea leaves wrong. Manuel really likes Harbaugh and respects him for the man he is and all he has done for the university as both player and coach. He's not firing Harbaugh.
But he's buying Harbaugh time to get an NFL deal. Letting him know it is best to leave now. And by setting the end of season deadline he is also buying time to negotiate with candidates at other programs still playing out their seasons, without the constant spotlight of a prying media. And frankly the OSU game being canceled is the best thing for all involved. Harbaugh can focus on NFL interviews, Manuel has the cover of outrage from OSU potentially missing out on the championship game to conduct interviews more secretly.
If I'm reading this right, Harbaugh has one more game left - the crossover against someone, maybe Purdue. Then Harbaugh gets introduced as the new coach of the Lions or Jets or some NFL team. He gets a respectful sendoff and a strong statement of gratitude for all he has done. Then a few days later a new coach shows up at Michigan. And hopefully works better this time around.
December 8th, 2020 at 6:26 PM ^
Obviously anything is possible cause we don’t know for sure what’s going on behind the scenes, but I think your “tea leaf” interpretation has a decent chance being accurate.
December 8th, 2020 at 5:23 PM ^
Yikes. Think of all the CBs and DTs we’ve recruited that are now going to bolt
December 8th, 2020 at 5:33 PM ^
What’s the likelihood Michigan can even play that game? The season seems over if the reports about players impacted by COVID is true, unless more than half of the 45 or so were infected or in quarantine starting 10 days ago. Just announce the decision already and stop overthinking it! I’m personally fine with either keeping him or firing him because it’s the craziest year in a century, but delaying is nuts.
December 8th, 2020 at 5:35 PM ^
This definitely makes me less confident that Harbaugh will be back next season. I'm still pretty sure he will be. One possibility is that this signals an assistant coach bloodbath, with several of them not getting extended.
December 8th, 2020 at 7:42 PM ^
If you got Harbaugh and nobody else with all the firings of the staff, you still announce the deal. It’s all about Harbaugh. Other assistant coaches have nothing to do with this.
December 8th, 2020 at 5:35 PM ^
Read between the lines. If Harbaugh was going to be extended, it would be a done deal right now. The fact that it isn't a done deal means that he is moving on, and a coaching search is happening behind closed doors.
OTOH, If the face value implication of his words are true, Warde is handling this in the worst case scenario possible. Waiting until *after* signing day to discuss the extension is Dave Brandon-esque incompetence. I know it's popular to shit on Warde around here, but I have to imagine he's smarter than this.
We also have no idea what they're actually telling recruits behind closed doors.
I'll reserve judgment until it's all played out. The only thing this tells me is that it's far more likely Harbaugh is gone than not.
December 8th, 2020 at 5:36 PM ^
yeah, this is weird. I was pretty certain (and still am for the most part) that he is going to sign a 2-3 year extension. Who knows now. If that was the case, there is zero sense in not at the very least saying they are just working out the final touches on a deal that will be signed after the season. There is no risk in saying that as it could still go either way. Saying that they are going to begin talking about it after the season does nothing but nuke the current recruiting class.
Also, there is no way Warde is doing this to help Harbaugh get an NFL job lined up. There is going to be no less than 4-5 jobs open in the NFL soon. He will get one of them regardless if he wants one.