PTI guys say ESS-EEE-CEE is afraid of Harbaugh

Submitted by Cali's Goin' Blue on

First time posting, so sorry for any formatting issues, or if Kornheiser is banned from this site. (I did a search, and the last post I could find about him in particular was from Feb 2010). 

I personally think that Kornheiser and Wilbon are somewhat intelligent guys who are forced to know a little about a lot(Wilbon thinks that Michigan football is the only sports team that has practice/games over spring break) and say a lot of things that they don't truly believe sometimes to drive conversation. However, I thought this was interesting for one main reason:

ESPN controls a lot of the narrative that goes out about players, coaches, schools, programs, etc... The fact that Kornheiser and Wilbon both say that the SEC is trying to get a rule changed by the NCAA because they are SCARED, on one of the most popular shows on the SEC loving ESPN nonetheless, has to be huge for public opinion on the spring practices at IMG and HARBAUGH, of course. 

 

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=14755770

For those who don't want to watch the two minute video, here is a quote that sums it up:

Kornheiser: "Everybody in college football is afraid of Jim Harbaugh because Jim Harbaugh is loud about this."

Wilbon's Response: "I agree." 

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rockydude

February 11th, 2016 at 4:02 AM ^

I just like hearing an SEC guy try to act concerned about academics, player welfare, and clean recruiting. It's kind of cute the way he tries so hard to pull it off with no hope. It's like watching my dog try to waltz or something.

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LSAClassOf2000

February 11th, 2016 at 6:22 AM ^

When you've tried to maintain essentially a cartel on a significant portion of the talent pool for Division I football for as long as the SEC has tried, especially in an environment where you know damn well that there are no actual rules preventing someone from trying to compete for said talent and you must resort to "aggressive recruiting tactics" (thank you, Greg Sankey), of course you're going to be fearful of outsiders to a certain extent.

However, when the outsider is Jim Harbaugh and the self-generated marketing juggernaut for Michigan that he is, you are probably paranoid that you will lose guys to Michigan or anyone else who could even reasonably emulate what Michigan is doing (if that ever happens in the future). To see the SEC upset enough that it needs to essentially admit to being less than above board (thank you again, Greg Sankey) in order to attempt a defense of its objection to Harbaugh's spring practice at IMG Academy is quite frankly a laughable, telling moment for them as a conference.

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Wood_Chuckson

February 11th, 2016 at 7:09 AM ^

It's the truth and I love it!! He is unapologetically innovative when it comes to promoting UM and what it has to offer!! And it gives me a warm feeling inside to see it pissing so many people off. The ones who it doesn't piss off are the only ones who matter and that is the recruits and the coaches he hires! CFB hasn't seen anything like this since....well....ever. GO BLUE!!

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AmayzNblue

February 11th, 2016 at 7:37 AM ^

The funny part of the quotes in your original post is that Harbaugh is not at all "loud" about anything. He's focused and driven to get results. The media makes him seem "loud" by following him everywhere because he is such an interesting character.



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readyourguard

February 11th, 2016 at 7:50 AM ^

Let's not get too carried away with other people's words - especially talking heads from ESPN.  The SEC isn't scareded of us.  (Well, maybe Florida is suffering PTSD, but Alabma and LSU aren't).  They are annoyed.  Annoyed that someone had the audacity to test the bounds of conventionalism (is that a word?) and stomp all over their sacred receruiting ground.  Annoyed that Harbaugh is showcasing his team IN THEIR BACKYARD at IMG Academy for spring ball. 

Naw.  They aren't scared.  Not yet.  Let's win the conference and earn a spot in the playoffs.  Then we can start testing their fear level.

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BlueKoj

February 11th, 2016 at 9:10 AM ^

Whether they're actually scared or annoyed is immaterial. In the court of public opinion, they're scared and their claims are laughable. Harbaugh will go on a Spring trip as often as the rules allow. When the rules stop satellite camps and Spring trips, he'll move to his next idea.

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ElBictors

February 11th, 2016 at 8:10 AM ^

Kornholer is an asshat an Wilbon only slightly less so. The entire network's programming outside of game broadcasts (OTL & 30/30) sucks. But ....its damn near sac religious (unless you're Desmond on GameDay talking to Finebaum) to besmirch the SEC so Harbaugh may be doing something right. And maybe some of these Disney puppets in Bristol are finally sick of being told what to say

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N. Campus Tech

February 11th, 2016 at 8:02 AM ^

They are all afraid of Harbaugh. He is in their heads. I assumed that since Harbaugh always goes after the biggest bully on the block (USC, Seahawks) that he would be focusing on the B1G bullies D'Antonio and Urban. No, he's decided to go after the biggest bully in CFB, the whole SEC.

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Mmmm Hmmm

February 11th, 2016 at 8:07 AM ^

Yeah, at times Kornheiser and Wilbon are vanishingly few steps above Bayless and Smith...but this is how narratives start. First a contrarian challenges the conventional wisdom (SEC #1 you guys) because it gets attention. Then a contrarian decides to say it repeatedly because it starts a conversation (even if that mostly means other more "serious" types rejecting the challenge to the narrative) and gets them attention. If Harbaugh has success over time, the Harbaugh-in-the-SEC's-Head narrative looks more and more plausible, and stops being a contrarian viewpoint.

Moral of the story: Kornheiser may be an idiot, but here he is a useful idiot for Michigan.



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bacon

February 11th, 2016 at 8:18 AM ^

Of course the SEC is afraid of Harbaugh, he does things they can't combat and he's a coach who had success in the NFL and college. Not one of their head coaches coached in a Super Bowl and 3 NFC title games. Not to mention, Harbaugh has been in the NFL as a player too, first round selection. He's not just selling bs, he's selling experience and winning. The SEC hasn't had someone of his caliber to compete against outside of their conference in a while, and they're worried. Add to that the fact that every Michigan game is on tv nationwide every week and the conference is getting a lot of attention from OSU and MSUs success recently and they're scared. And they should be. Harbaugh is the real deal, not phony. Also, he's selling kids on winning, hard work and academics. The sec has a hard time competing on the academics and they haven't had to deal with recruits going somewhere else because they want to work harder at football and school. The spring break argument is about this as much as keeping kids out of Florida. Harbaugh sells kids on going to football practice and being with their teammates over spring break to work hard to become champions instead of going to the beach and partying. And he's getting top recruits with that message. That's scary for the SEC.

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MGoJeezy

February 11th, 2016 at 8:35 AM ^

So ridiculous,

Amid multiple NCAA violations coming down on ole miss and Tennessee being sued because of a rape they tried to cover up and a player who tried to stop it. How F***** sanctimonious can you get? And the SEC wants to talk about "serious matters" you've got to be kidding. Fucking roast them Harbaugh.

Onward. Go Harbaugh, Go Blue!



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Perkis-Size Me

February 11th, 2016 at 9:01 AM ^

Wouldn't call it afraid. I think a guy like Nick Saban has zero reason to fear Harbaugh.

I'd say he just irritates them to the point where they have to be vocal about it. I'm sure he's found a way to get under their skin.



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superstringer

February 11th, 2016 at 10:14 AM ^

I think they are pissed because they didnt think of it first, because it is an enroachment on their turf, AND because now they will be forced to respond in kind. JMFH is forcing them to think of doing satellite camps and NSD festivals. Now they have to think of spring break trips too. Its more on their plate and not all of them have the energy to do it.

Its like the 1970s when the American car companies were happy for decades in not changing their cars year to year. Then the Japanese showed up and the Americans suddenly had to innovate, market, etc in ways they never did. JMFH is forcing them to compete and, when you are a fat cat, you hate having to change your ways.



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WolvinLA2

February 11th, 2016 at 10:29 AM ^

Saban doesn't represent the whole conference. Sure, I bet Saban isn't afraid of Harbaugh. But I bet Jim McElwain is. Mahlzahn seems to be. And many others. Urban has been taking SEC recruits for years now, and Harbaugh has already taken a healthy handful in the 2 years he's been here. And he made the SEC East division winner look like a JV team. So yes, I think the SEC, in the aggregate, is afraid of Harbaugh.

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Wolverine fan …

February 11th, 2016 at 9:16 AM ^

Kornheiser would be the guy. He's dead on when he calls the SEC coaches mad that they didn't think of this first.

Can't wait for JH and his staff to put on a clinic at IMG and get even more talented kids (and their friends) talking about the Wolverines. After the wins come rolling in, so do more top recruits and a playoff berth.

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MGoCustom

February 11th, 2016 at 9:40 AM ^

F Wilbon's comments...

The audacity of Harbaugh to send these kids down to Florida for their spring break.  I mean, most of them probably wouldn't do much for break anyway... now you're telling them they have to go play football in the warm weather, go to the beach, and have fun with their friends? 

Honestly, what do you think the players would think about a free trip down to FL? 

Who cares about having kids miss school and study time during the season.. right?

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WolvinLA2

February 11th, 2016 at 10:32 AM ^

Exactly. And if they have a sick grandmother at home, they can go visit her anytime. That's an extreme example. They can take a long weekend whenever they want. Any teacher would be OK with a student missing a class or two to visit a sick relative and I'm sure the coaches would be OK with that player missing a few practices as well. Players go home for this reason all the time, and not during spring break. That's awful reasoning on Wilbon's part.

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BJNavarre

February 11th, 2016 at 10:55 AM ^

..but think of the children!!!

Jeesh. Such a transparently self serving position that only a few idiots are buying it. Plenty of other sports practice or compete over both winter and spring breaks. Why there should be an exception for only football doesn't make sense.

Where is this "think of the children" argument when every northern college baseball team is stuck in the south for 3 or 4 weeks in February and March?

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lilpenny1316

February 11th, 2016 at 11:41 AM ^

Too bad the rest of the B1G has returned to being spiteful, jealous assholes who hate us to the point of staying silent while the SEC tries to block something that fellow B1G schools could benefit from.

I'm good with OSU fielding a team of Ohio All-Stars and MSU taking the bitter chip route to get some of the best of Michigan and Illinois.  If we somehow land Dylan Moses or Cesar Ruiz thanks in small part to this Spring Break trip, maybe they will think it a good idea to once again follow the Leaders and Best.

 

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UofM Die Hard …

February 11th, 2016 at 11:47 AM ^

and the nation knows it.  They are just trying to slow down the train.  We havent won anything yet, other than beating Florida's ass, so I get it they can keep talking...but people know whats about to happen, and happen very quickly I think.

 

Hail!

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charblue.

February 11th, 2016 at 1:12 PM ^

the menu of shows commenting on that story along with the SOS program, with Mike and Mike claiming it was a clown show overemphasizing the importance of teenagers preparing to enter college, and suggesting maybe the NCAA ought to step in and do something, a take that was also offered by Kornheiser and Wilbon during a Super Bowl week program back in Harbaugh's old stomping grounds.

Then Hannah Storm actually interviews the coach about his recruiting methods and why he does what he's doing. And it all seems to make sense without pushing any envelope because, Harbaugh.

This while it was reported earlier in the week that the No. 1 2017 college football prospect was interested in getting a Michigan offer after re-opening his commitment to LSU after the school actually offered him while in 8th grade. And this is nothing new because basketball schools and coaches are likewise tracking kids in middle school to see whether they might develop as college athletes.

Look Harbaugh keeps finding ways to create news about his program and keep it fresh and exciting and more importantly in the news forcing others to react or respond. Michigan didn't sign the best class in the country, but if it keeps making news, there is no chance that top athletes cannot help but noticre was taking place in Ann Arbor. It's just the start of Harbaugh's grand scheme to rebuild this program and restore its historical legacy as the winningest in college football.

 

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drzoidburg

February 11th, 2016 at 9:09 PM ^

which was the worst rated MNC game in like, ever

plus there's no point in even having the game without at least a 4 team playoff (more realistically 8 some years imo). Such a "championship" is hollow

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