OT: Harbaugh blows it

Submitted by Topher on

To counterbalance all the Jim Harbaugh trolling here, he just single-handedly lost it for Stanford. Down to Cal 34-28 with no time outs, Stanford threw a swing pass to Toby Gerhart he took about 50 yards inside the 20. With about two minutes to go, Stanford has plenty of time to pound it into the line, run the clock down, and give Gerhart another Heisman highlight.

First down: Stanford throws incomplete.

Second down: Stanford throws again, this time late and over the middle; it's picked off by a Cal linebacker (the receiver was well-covered him anyway).

An unforgivably bad coaching call. They'd come back from having it handed to them, moments from pulling a massive win to cement the rise of the program, and Harbaugh calls a dumb play for a QB who had not been throwing well all night.

Topher

November 21st, 2009 at 11:54 PM ^

"I thought his going for it on 4th and 8 on his own - what was it? 20? was even worse."

I actually didn't think that was too bad of a decision - the playcalling on that series sucked too, but once they were at 4th and 10, at the very least, giving it up near your own 20, Cal will likely end their drive by kicking a field goal. Whereas if you punt it, they will drive for first downs and try to run out the clock.

tomhagan

November 22nd, 2009 at 1:06 AM ^

That 4th down strategy actually worked...

LOL@ this thread.

You Koolaid drinkers are pathetic.

I never thought Id see the day where Michigan fans and alums would accept Pathetically Bad Football and its coach without exception.

Perhaps RR has cast some kind of spell on you all. Maybe you just think he is pretty or something on camera.

Either way: It is inexplicable.

Go Blue. Let's pray next year is at least marginally decent.

petered0518

November 22nd, 2009 at 1:19 AM ^

You know that it is common practice on MgoBlog to neg people who make repeat posts.

This is why I will neg every post you make about Rich Rod being a bad coach. You have posted about nothing else for the last month or so. We have heard your opinion. Some agree with you. Most think you are being stupid(or are stupid). Either way, we get your opinion, and you don't need to post it in every thread.

So please, shut up unless you have something new to add.

Buccaneer_9

November 22nd, 2009 at 8:39 AM ^

Resistance is futile.

You will be assimilated.

All hail DickRod! If you don't think what we think, we'll neg you!

Don't you know better than to go against the grain on this forum?! The blind crybabies will negbang you into oblivion...LMAO @ GROWN men getting butt-hurt over opinions that differ from the herd mentality.

Also LMAO @ "Calling out a toxic poster." Grow up and wash the sand out of your vaginas.

IanO

November 22nd, 2009 at 12:31 PM ^

So if RR turns things around, how do you plan on making peace with all this BS you're spewing, such that you can jump back on the bandwagon? I suggest the only honorable thing you could do is commit fan seppuku and find yourself another team to be a "fan" of.

Dan Man

November 21st, 2009 at 11:47 PM ^

I thought it questionable play calling, but not "unforgivably bad." As for his coaching, anyone would have to be impressed with what he's done at Stanford.

Topher

November 21st, 2009 at 11:57 PM ^

"I thought it questionable play calling, but not "unforgivably bad." As for his coaching, anyone would have to be impressed with what he's done at Stanford."

Everybody is impressed, but he went to a freshman who had played poorly all game when he had the best player in the Pac-10 behind him with plenty of time - who had just saved the game already with an amazing long pass reception. It was just a really bad decision from a risk-reward perspective.

PurpleStuff

November 21st, 2009 at 11:59 PM ^

What has he done at Stanford? This is a middle of the road program in the Pac10 (ahead of teams like OSU, WSU, UA and Cal historically, and better than UW now with their recent struggles). He has a losing record overall and is getting praised for a 7-4 record this year. USC told Toby Gerhart (the leading rusher in California HS history) that they wanted him to move to FB or LB if he signed with them. If Harbaugh doesn't have him, I think they are looking at a third straight losing season.

So aside from winning two games in a row against UO and the worst SC team in nearly a decade, what has he done?

raleighwood

November 22nd, 2009 at 12:24 AM ^

He's beaten more Top 10 teams this season than RR has in his career. He didn't finish in last place in the conference.

Not really intended as an RR bash but no one can deny that Harbaugh has had significantly more success in his three years at Stanford than RR has had in his two years at Michigan. We'll see if RR can even things up a bit in his third year.

clarkiefromcanada

November 22nd, 2009 at 12:56 AM ^

He has had more success this year than RR
You point this limitation out as if RR had no success at WVU prior to arrival.
Face it, Harbaugh is still in basically the same position as RR will likely be in next year (+/- 7-4) after 2 losing seasons with 3 years of his recruits in place.

Meh, same old same old analyses.

raleighwood

November 22nd, 2009 at 1:12 PM ^

Any success that RR had at WVU is completely irrelevent in this discussion. Is your current boss going to give you a good annual review because you did something well five years ago at a previous employer?

Maybe RR didn't beat many Top 10 teams because he didn't play many Top 10 teams. His biggest games each year were against Louisville, Rutgers or Pittsburgh. That certainly won't be the case in the Big Ten. He'll probably face two to three Top Ten teams each year (PSU, OSU and bowl game).

Jim Harbaugh has won at least three times as many games against Top 10 teams than RR. He's also done that in a third of the number of years as a D1 head coach (three years for JH, nine years for RR). You can interpret that any way you'd like.

PurpleStuff

November 22nd, 2009 at 1:20 PM ^

Harbaugh has only beaten two top-ten teams at Stanford (SC in 2007 and Oregon this year). He certainly hasn't won "three times as many games against Top 10 teams than RR."

Rodriguez's teams have finished in the top-ten three times in his nine years as a head coach. His teams beat the SEC and Big 12 champions in BCS bowl games. His resume is much better than Jim Harbaugh's.

raleighwood

November 22nd, 2009 at 1:40 PM ^

I was counting USC this year as a Top 10 win since they were in the Top 10 at the time. You're correct that they are not curently in the Top 10 (because of that loss). We don't know where they'll end up until the bowl games are finished.

RR didn't beat Oklahoma in a bowl game.....although you only said that his team did. We'll never know what would have happened if RR had been the coach at the time. The WVU team was riding a lot of emotion (and motivation) from his departure.

PurpleStuff

November 22nd, 2009 at 12:35 PM ^

EDIT: I keep getting conflicting win-total and percentage numbers (damn internet) so to keep it simple I will just link here:
http://football.stassen.com/cgi-bin/records/calc-wp.pl?start=1869&end=2…

If these guys are accurate, Stanford is 50th in all time winning percentage. Northwestern is 101st. The two programs aren't comparable. Stanford really struggled after Willingham left, but historically their record is on par with everybody in the Pac 10 outside of SC, UCLA, Washington and maybe Arizona State (who I think won a bunch of games playing in weaker conferences).

EDIT number two: Stanford has been to the Rose Bowl 12 times and won it 5 times. That is tied with UCLA for fifth in both appearances and wins (behind only USC, Michigan, Washington and Ohio State). Northwestern has been twice and won once. Only Arizona and Indiana have done less out of all the Big 10 and Pac 10 teams).

MGoTarHeel

November 21st, 2009 at 11:51 PM ^

I say he blew it on 3rd and 11 from his own 36 with (I think) around 4:30 to go. Luck had been playing pretty well to that point, and Gerhart was Mack-trucking his way through the line. From the shotgun and with the defense showing blitz, Harbough punched a dolphin. Right in the face.

bronxblue

November 21st, 2009 at 11:51 PM ^

But Harbaugh is starting a freshman QB and trying to win with a team that doesn't have all of his players at key positions! He inherited a mess and is making it competitive! Sure he had some bad luck and there were some bad calls, but he knows what he is doing and has a track record of winning wherever he goes. Man, you Stanford fans are so fair-weather - you probably sold your tickets to Cal fans because you are losers.

/sarcasm

But seriously, tough loss. Stanford looked to be running away with the game early on, but Cal stuck around and showed why they are consistently one of the best teams in the Pac 10. Stanford should be good next year, but it will be interesting how they respond to losing Gerhardt, who has been a stud for them all year.

Bando Calrissian

November 22nd, 2009 at 12:10 AM ^

He didn't blow it.

His QB threw a pick from the 10 yard line trying to score the winning touchdown. Yes, the 4th down call was dicey, but ultimately, they forced the field goal, had a shot to win the game, and ended up coming up short.

That's not coaching, that's your QB throwing a pick in a game-winning situation.

Tim Waymen

November 22nd, 2009 at 2:05 AM ^

How about not being a prick? We get it: you hate Rich Rodriguez. No need to rub it in our faces. And guess what? You've given me another reason for me to pray for Rich Rodriguez to succeed: just so I can see the pathetic look on the faces of you and all of the other whining assholes who have only made the past two seasons WORSE for me when you are proven wrong.

Seriously, if you were a man I would punch you in the mouth.

TheLastHarbaugh

November 22nd, 2009 at 2:16 AM ^

+ unlimited to you, sir.

At the game today I felt like a total ass getting into fights with a few loud anti-Rich Rod people, but at the same time it needed to be done. If you want Rich Rod to fail, that means you want Michigan to fail. You're not a Michigan fan, please stay at home and yell at your TV all you want. Do not, however, step into the hole that Yost dug, Fritz paid for, Canham carpeted and Bo guarded with every fiber of his soul, and speak ill of Michigan and its football coach. I promise you, that you will be met with the vengeful wrath of all of those who bleed Michigan and view the world in maize and blue specs. I will not stand for this, and judging by the reaction of several of my maize and blue brethren to such "fans", they will not stand for it either.

Tim Waymen

November 22nd, 2009 at 1:06 PM ^

Thanks. It's fine if people want to be critical of RR. There are plenty of things I think he should have done differently. I'm just not in the mood to listen to guys like tomhagan and a certain friend of mine complain and call for RR's head while ignoring all reason. It was a rough, heartbreaking end to a season that began with hope. Anti-RR people are just rubbing it in, as if they're saying "You thought this guy was good and look where you are now."

Fuck off. It's not fun when rival fans rub in a loss; I shouldn't have to deal with jeers from other Michigan fans too, and I shouldn't have to want Michigan to win just to spite other Michigan fans.

Topher

November 22nd, 2009 at 1:21 AM ^

"He didn't blow it.

His QB threw a pick from the 10 yard line trying to score the winning touchdown. Yes, the 4th down call was dicey, but ultimately, they forced the field goal, had a shot to win the game, and ended up coming up short.

That's not coaching, that's your QB throwing a pick in a game-winning situation. "

Did you see the game? The QB should never have been passing in that situation. THAT'S coaching. Luck was awful all night, and only the stud tailback's super effort had gotten them close enough to win the game. They had run right over Cal on the goal line for their previous touchdown. With the time and situation, the only sane choice would be to pound it - and if you are going to pass, run a play-action, bootleg or three-step route to get the ball away quickly before the D can adjust.

Harbaugh sent out a multiple-receiver package and had a guy going over the middle where an interception was a serious likelihood. A really dumb coaching move that, yes, blew the game.

I can't put much stock in TomHagan's support, as he's been trolling for the Fire-RR-Hire-Harbaugh bandwagon.

To answer another question, Harbaugh has done a lot for Stanford football. He's instilled a major attitude change - they were 1-11 in 2006, and they sucked ass SO bad.

Va Azul

November 22nd, 2009 at 1:43 AM ^

Also had a running back slip up underneath the linebacker's drop. He made a bad read and a poor throw. If he check's down to the running back he's close to the goal line. And Gerhart's play to "get them close enough to win" was a pass? Was Harbaugh an idiot for calling that play as well?

Topher

November 22nd, 2009 at 1:48 AM ^

"And Gerhart's play to "get them close enough to win" was a pass? Was Harbaugh an idiot for calling that play as well?"

Again, I'm not sure who on the thread actually saw the game - one would have to to understand the game context.

It was a swing pass, a good call but a low-risk play that worked much better than they could have planned for. Gerhart broke five tackles down the sideline to go from inside the Stanford 40 to the Cal 15. A Heisman-like play for Toby.

The point is that throwing the ball in that goal-line situation was a grave mistake, and that's the coach's fault.

Va Azul

November 22nd, 2009 at 1:58 AM ^

And I agree, It worked much better than they could have hoped for, but it was still a long throw (about 10-15 yards? I don't remember at this point) It wasn't exactly a flare. I just don't see it as a colossal failure in judgment. Luck did have a horrible completion percentage though. At that point, I think he was something like 10 for 28 or something ridiculous.

Fuzzy Dunlop

November 22nd, 2009 at 1:45 AM ^

This may be the stupidest post I've ever seen. Your basic point is that Harbaugh should have gone right back to Gerhart after, as you say, he took the ball 50 yards inside the 20. Ever think he might have been TIRED after carrying 5 Cal players 30 yards? Ever think he might have needed a play off?

Once the first down pass failed, are you seriously saying that it was indefensibly idiotic for Harbaugh to NOT call a runningplay on second and long? That's simply moronic.

Honestly, Harbaugh just took one of the biggest historic jokes of a program from 1-10 to challenging for the Pac 10 title (and blowing out top teams) in three years. To criticize him right now is so fucking stupid it makes my head hurt.

Topher

November 22nd, 2009 at 1:52 AM ^

"This may be the stupidest post I've ever seen. Your basic point is that Harbaugh should have gone right back to Gerhart after, as you say, he took the ball 50 yards inside the 20. Ever think he might have been TIRED after carrying 5 Cal players 30 yards? Ever think he might have needed a play off? "

Dude, get a grip. Every player gets tired but Toby took a blow and then went back in the game. He had only carried 20 times or so in the game. He's gone over 30 carries in other games, I have no doubt he could have put together more carries.

Yes, that is my point - you have the best football player on the field, and you have a freshman who has had a really bad night throwing the ball. And you pick the freshman with the game on the line? Bad call.

"To criticize him right now is so fucking stupid it makes my head hurt."

When you've got a chance to win, you better play to win - not screw around with the play-calling like you are playing with the house's money.

Fuzzy Dunlop

November 22nd, 2009 at 2:05 AM ^

Good to know that YOU have no doubt Gerhart was ready to carry the ball again right after dragging 5 Cal players 30 yards. Your inside knowledge and expertise is invaluable.

Seriously, if Harbaugh deciding to pass in that situation is an "unforgivable" decision, then Rich Rod made about 5 unforgivable decisions today. Not saying he did, just pointing out how ridiculous your second-guessing is.

Topher

November 22nd, 2009 at 11:28 AM ^

"Good to know that YOU have no doubt Gerhart was ready to carry the ball again right after dragging 5 Cal players 30 yards. Your inside knowledge and expertise is invaluable."

Actually, I do have some "inside knowledge", I covered Stanford football for two years when Gerhart was an underclassman, so I feel I know his fatigue patters fairly well.

Still, I think you are overplaying this point - so what if he's tired? You think football players don't get tired and still play? If he was tired, then the defense was more tired from chasing him around the field. That's the point of a power back, that the defense tires out from getting hit so much.

There's no reason to believe a Division I athlete is so wiped out from a play that he can't play another down two plays later.

Va Azul

November 22nd, 2009 at 2:53 AM ^

So its not res ipsa loquitur but there's a vast space between something being "dispositive" and being able to "use that quote to show that Harbaugh really believes he made a bad play call". Its just prima facie evidence for any argument Topher wants to make. As you can see from my posts I don't think it was egregious. A poor run or pass call on second down in that situation maybe "worth" 7 yards or 25 seconds of clock in terms of 'blame'. An interception is execution. But if you're going to claim that Topher can't "know" that Gerhart was tired, can you really claim that you know why Harbaugh said what he said?