Our FB staff is comprised of...

Submitted by 1464 on

- A head coach with the 5th best winning percentage EVER in the NFL.  Oh yeah, after inheriting a moribund team in SF.  And also, he's a former NFL quarterback with a knack for coaching the position.

- Two position coaches who were coordinators at the NFL level.  

- One of the (if not THE) best young DC in the NCAA.  Also the recruiter of the year a few years ago.

- One of the greatest Michigan players of all-time as a running backs coach.  Who also happened to have marinated in the NFL for a year prior to his hire.

- An OC who spent time in the NFL and developed big, tough, bruising offensive lines.

-S&C coach with NFL experience on the resume.

- A special teams coach(!!!) that not only has had continued success, but also wrote the book on academics for athletes.  Like, really wrote the book.

- A DB coach who has both played and coached at the NFL level.

It also looks like we are returning our two best recruiters under Hoke.  Am I spinning this?  Maybe a bit.  But damn.  Read that list again.  That's just ridiculous.  And no, there is no new info here - just a concise reason for us to get our jazz hands warmed up on a Friday.  Sorry I'm not sorry.

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M-Lemon

January 9th, 2015 at 11:03 AM ^

I don't mind having all this repeated.  I still can't believe it myself.  Our program has been through some rough times, but things could not be looking much brighter right now!

Joined: 11/24/2012

MGoPoints: 1468

SaddestTailgateEver

January 9th, 2015 at 11:06 AM ^

This whole thing reminds me in a way of the App State game (Horror II, not I) in that after years of watching us put our opponent at like 3rd and a mile and then get gashed up the middle for 30 yards and a first down it took several iterations of that not happening to start to get my hopes up that that wouldn't be a thing going forward. Let's just forget the rest of the season for a moment though.

Similarly, after 7 years of meh coaching news, questionable coordinators/assistants (Gerg, Funk, Borges, etc.) and a year of most of our recruiting class going up in smoke, despite having watched the introductory presser (while wearing Khakis no less), and having watched the staff being assembled, it still doesn't quite feel real. Like I mentally accept it and I know that the track record is good as it can be and cognitively I know that this staff is set up to take this team places. But I've been hurt before and I just can't emotionally accept that things are different until I see them start to be. Conditioning is a terrible thing...

Joined: 08/20/2014

MGoPoints: 1221

Chitown Kev

January 9th, 2015 at 11:06 AM ^

I have revised my prediction for the upcoming year from an 8-4 reg. season to 9-3

Because what Harbaugh has is a very similar situation to the one he had when he arrived in San Francisco; a team with loads of talent that doesn't know how to win but is prepared to.

 

Joined: 10/01/2011

MGoPoints: 4970

CorkyCole

January 9th, 2015 at 12:50 PM ^

I'm pretty sure the majority of the fan base, especially those who paid attention to recruiting, had a difficult time not seeing a future filled with success after that BCS win. I think that was a fair assessment given the success he had in his first year at UM. That's what fan bases do; success results in more success, and failure results in more failure. We live by the day way above what reality tells us where nothing is guaranteed. That's one reason there's so much emotion put into each win and loss by fans.

Joined: 06/13/2011

MGoPoints: 4498

93Grad

January 9th, 2015 at 11:21 AM ^

I love Harbuagh and the potential makeup of this staff, but I will wait to get really excited when we start beating MSU and OSU and playing for championships.  Until then it is all talk.  Meanwhile our 2 rivals have already demonstrated more success than Michigan has in a decade or longer and there is no reason to think that will stop anytime soon.

 

People once thought Hoke pooped gold.  How ridiculous does that notion seem now?

Joined: 07/26/2011

MGoPoints: 13556

1464

January 9th, 2015 at 11:31 AM ^

Apples and oranges.  Our current coach has proven himself on multiple levels.  Hoke was a sub-par MAC coach.  We tried to spin it to mitigate some of the negatives, but in all honesty, his WP was an indicator that he just wasn't supposed to be here.  Caveats apply, great guy and all.

I may be overstating the impressiveness of this staff, but there is no way you can claim that Harbaugh has as low a floor as Hoke, or even Rodriguez.  He may not win 6 national championships in a row, but I have a hard time believing he won't get 10 wins per year.  I may be wrong, but I feel pretty sure I'm being objective.  What was the ESPN dialogue when we hired Hoke?  What was Brian's take?  Hoke caught lightning in a bottle his first year, and convinced us it may end up working out.  Regression came swiftly though.  

We won't have another Hoke or RR tenure this time.  I am sure of it.

Joined: 06/21/2010

MGoPoints: 37173

HateSparty

January 9th, 2015 at 11:54 AM ^

Not just you so understand that but, people are ignorant, ill informed or just plain contrarians if these discussions about the staff should be tempered because people thought Hoke would be great. You directly are stating that Home and Harbaugh are comparable. That isn't even close to truth if using the fair is not equal qualifier. Harbaugh is Plan A. Hike would be Plan C or D if it were to be revisited in December 2014. It is stupid.



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Joined: 12/17/2014

MGoPoints: 27143

flashOverride

January 9th, 2015 at 11:27 AM ^

I don't know who you talked to. My opinion at the time of that hire was, "I'm going to give this guy the benefit of the doubt because he clearly wants to be there, so there's that," and, "If nothing else he seems like a builder and a stabilizer, which is what's needed right now." I definitely did not see instant turnaround and even a year later, after I was seemingly proven wrong, it still felt a bit like a house of cards to me. 

Joined: 08/04/2013

MGoPoints: 9070

LSAClassOf2000

January 9th, 2015 at 11:13 AM ^

It seems to me that this staff now being constructed will be one to further the reinvigoration of Michigan football, just be looking at the names and being aware of at least some of the personalities involved. It seems like it will be a driving, competitive atmosphere all around, one that encourages players to improve each time they put on the gear (thinking about Harbaugh's notoriously obsessive charting of performance, a trait I share). I am very pleased overall so far, I will say that. 

Joined: 01/07/2011

MGoPoints: 130560

1464

January 9th, 2015 at 11:46 AM ^

I was referring to my original post and not the person in question, so the "whatever" was exactly the word I was looking for.

By the way - you are arguing on the internet with an idiot who thought Greg Mattison won two Super Bowls.  I hope any victory you claim is weighted appropriately.

Joined: 06/21/2010

MGoPoints: 37173

Rooster12

January 9th, 2015 at 11:18 AM ^

Love the staff and had supreme confidence in Harbaugh to attract top talent. Apologize for the dumb question but who is/will be the recruiting coordinator on this all star staff?

Joined: 12/26/2014

MGoPoints: 137

wesq

January 9th, 2015 at 11:19 AM ^

Our previous three coaches built staffs that they trusted and worked well with, there was very little turnover and loyalty was very high.  Jim has built a staff of what seems like much more ambitious coaches. And a suspect the turnover will be quicker with Harbaugh coaches. There's also a nice mix of coaching experiences there, young and old and guys that have worked extensively with Harbaugh and fresh blood.

Joined: 08/21/2009

MGoPoints: 3440

wesq

January 9th, 2015 at 12:14 PM ^

Really? Mattison, Fisch, Baxter Wheatley and maybe Manning have never worked with Harbaugh, Durkin has for a few years but not since 2009, Jackson is relatively new to Harbaugh.  Drevno is really the only long-time Harbaugh guy and even he left.  Go back and compare that to RR whose only new guys were Fred Jackson and Shafer when they whiffed on Casteel and Hoke I think of only guy he hadn't worked with was Montgomery for the position he and Mattison coached it's not similar at all. I am not saying he's just hiring new guys but Harbaugh seems to want guys that want more, Carr,Hoke and Rodriguez seem to appreciate continuity more.

Joined: 08/21/2009

MGoPoints: 3440

SECcashnassadvantage

January 9th, 2015 at 11:48 AM ^

8 years ago I never card about Sparty, and still realize they are regional. I am older and realize they have these runs, but usually we are good at the time. Soon all we will care about is Ohio. What a coaching staff that will just be impossible to beat 95% of the time.

Joined: 01/25/2014

MGoPoints: 2662

WFDEric

January 9th, 2015 at 11:23 AM ^

This staff could move directly to an NFL team and not change anyone out. Some would will say Durkin is not qualifited to DC at the NFL level just yet. GMatt has, Robinson has a long history now in the NFL. So flip GMatt and Durk titles and there you have it. Agree or disagree thats impressive. 

I love the addition of the ST coach. This will be huge. Sudden change events in a game from ST is as good as a TO and huge momentum swing.

On paper M should be a recruiting juggernaut. 

I'm taking the over on 8+ wins next year. 

Joined: 09/04/2013

MGoPoints: 551

Ty Butterfield

January 9th, 2015 at 12:33 PM ^

I am excited about this staff but I am still going to temper my expectations. Too many dong punches lately. Going with 7-5 for next season but Michigan gets a big win hopefully at home over Staee.

Joined: 09/07/2009

MGoPoints: -81685

UM Fan in Nashville

January 9th, 2015 at 1:26 PM ^

The thing that is amazing to me about this is the fact that this staff would be a decent NFL staff.  Obviously add some more guys, but this could be a decent core staff for an NFL team.  If I'm a recruit all I say when one of them calls is "SOLD!"   

Joined: 01/22/2011

MGoPoints: 1325