Review of Harbaugh Salary Relative to Big10 & Motivation for The Game

Submitted by Harbaugeddon on November 23rd, 2021 at 6:17 PM

All of the MSU and PSU contract discussions over the past week had me looking back at the Harbaugh deal from last year to see how it equates.

1. Mel Tucker - $9.5M (for reference Nick Saban $9.75)
2. James Franklin - $8.5M (up from $7M)
3. Ryan Day - $6.75M
4. Pat Fitzgerald - $5.75
5. Scott Frost/Kirk Ferentz - $5M
...
11. Jim Harbaugh - $4.03

Link is a couple weeks old (Pre-Tucker & Franklin Deals): https://saturdaytradition.com/big-ten-football/usa-today-coaches-salary-database-how-much-every-b1g-head-coach-is-scheduled-to-make-in-2021/ 

Besides the obvious rivalry incentive Harbaugh would have for wanting to beat Ohio State this weekend, he personally has a good chunk of bonus money on the line:
+$  500,000 for winning the Big Ten East

+$1,000,000 bonus for winning the Big Ten Championship
+$   500,000 bonus for reaching CFP semifinals

He's essentially got $2M riding on the outcome of this week's game... as if he needed any extra motivation. For those wondering, he's likely already earned a $200,000 bonus for reaching an new years six bowl, but has the potential for another $1,000,000 should all the stars align and we win the CFP.

https://www.mlive.com/wolverines/2021/01/jim-harbaughs-new-contract-5-years-21m-huge-incentives-to-win-at-michigan.html

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BrutusBuckeye

November 23rd, 2021 at 6:31 PM ^

If 0-5 vs. The Ohio State Buckeyes isn't motivation enough, then he clearly isn't the right guy for the job.

Joined: 03/13/2021

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LostPatrol14

November 23rd, 2021 at 7:00 PM ^

Not necessarily. OSU has built a Death Star and it's hard for any B1G team to compete against that. Sure, OSU may lose a game here or there, but how many B1G championships have they won since Jim Tressel? 11(Tressel won 6, Meyer won 3, and Ryan Day has won 2). Also, OSU has won 4 championships in a row. So, I don't think it's about wether or not Harbaugh is "the man for the job", but more for the fact that you are asking conference coaches to knock off OSU and prevent another championship, which is very difficult to do.

Joined: 01/09/2016

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BrutusBuckeye

November 24th, 2021 at 4:50 AM ^

You chose to ignore the context of my post, so I'll elaborate further rather than comment on your personal attack.  Harbaugh was raised a Michigan fan and starred there in college.  Hating the Buckeyes is in his blood.  It's instinctive at this point.

- He wants to win for his school.
- He wants to win for his reputation.
- He wants to win for his senior class, who have never defeated the Buckeyes.

If his record against the Buckeyes falls to 0-6, there will be rumbles about his future.  You want to talk about game bonuses?  Harbaugh already has all the motivation he'll ever need.

Joined: 03/13/2021

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M-Dog

November 23rd, 2021 at 6:32 PM ^

If he beats Ohio State he gets $500K for winning the Big Ten East, is on a glide path to winning the Big Ten (another $1M) and getting at least a 3 seed in the CFP which gives him a shot at another $500K.

That puts him close to Ryan Day ($6.75M) who has consistently won the Big Ten East, the Big Ten, and made the CFP.

Pretty fair in my book.

    

Joined: 07/06/2008

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bluebrains98

November 23rd, 2021 at 6:51 PM ^

Let's play a game...fill in the blanks:

If Mel Tucker gets paid as much as Nick Saban, then ___________ should get paid as much as __________.

I'll start: If Mel Tucker gets paid as much as Nick Saban, then Dwayne Haskins should get paid as much as Tom Brady.

Joined: 01/14/2009

MGoPoints: 7071

WesternWolverine96

November 23rd, 2021 at 6:58 PM ^

I am glad we kept him.... I always thought he at least deserved one more year after the covid year... and if we would have won at least 8 games this year then he deserved another season next year.  Also glad he took the pay cut.

That video of him as the ball boy chasing down our QB in the endzone during the Bo years says it all to me.  The best thing for Michigan is to win with Harbaugh. 

Now he needs to beat Ohio this year or next.

It is possible for him to turn this around still.  In 5 years he could have a winning record against the current coaches at our rivals.  We made big strides this year no matter what happens Saturday.

 

Joined: 09/08/2019

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Hail Harbo

November 23rd, 2021 at 9:20 PM ^

Please.  He had a damn near blank check for doing just that back in 2015.  He squandered a tremendous amount of goodwill by never beating OSU, 3-3 against MSU, a mediocre road record, and a horrible record against ranked teams.  Oh yeah, and there's that matter of never, not once, playing in the B1G Championship game.  During Harbaugh's tenure at Michigan both MSU and PSU have managed to find themselves in Indianapolis.  

Joined: 06/18/2015

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The Homie J

November 23rd, 2021 at 8:26 PM ^

RCMB is starting to wonder why Tucker wouldn't sign a Saban-esque deal after 3 weeks while Frames Janklin just re-upped for 10 years at Penn State in way less time.

I'd love Tucker to stay and receive the beating Harbaugh will bring his way next year, but it would also be fucking hysterical if they got Nick Saban'd again

Joined: 01/11/2018

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UM_Ftown

November 23rd, 2021 at 7:39 PM ^

If he won the game on Saturday, they'd likely talk to him about bumping his pay back up, but lets not forgot why it got lowered in the first place. 

Beat OSU and go to the big ten championship game (first) and win, gets you into the playoff (first). 

Losing gets you none of the above, and likely a bowl game hopefully against a Pac 12 opponent where he has a losing record. 

Joined: 10/20/2018

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Panther72

November 23rd, 2021 at 7:48 PM ^

I'm for JH. Though I realize he has been disappointing to some, he has grown into the job with the right hires and recruiting. But I wouldn't blame him for leaving the program after he wins the Big. He is good for Michigan and the contract he was offered was a dressing down. I wonder if he was sincere in his gratitude or just showing class.

I'd cash out if I were in his shoes even though he loves the University. 

Joined: 11/20/2018

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mbrummer

November 23rd, 2021 at 8:21 PM ^

Isn't  it weird Tucker hasn't signed?  All the numbers floated and reported and full court media blitz were from the MSU side.

As if MSU purposedly did it to apply pressure to Tucker even though he's entertaining other options?

Joined: 07/29/2008

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TennesseeMaize

November 23rd, 2021 at 9:10 PM ^

Honestly, if I was in Tucker’s spot, I’d probably be thinking long term. Choosing any school but OSU in the big ten east feels like a death sentence for coaches. Harbaugh has been a great overall coach, but the slog of the big ten east has M fans constantly disappointed. 
 

Tucker would be wise to consider a school with solid recruiting ability with less competition (ACC team, Big Ten west team, or Big12/Pac12. 
 

SEC and Big Ten East are just unforgiving

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kurpit

November 23rd, 2021 at 10:45 PM ^

Death sentence in what way? Sure it's absolutely tough as hell just to win the division but I don't think that's required in East Lansing. There's no reason to think Mel can't keep MSU doing what they've been doing and turn in quality teams almost every year while hoping they get the right breaks one special year. It's what their last coach did and to much success.

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mgoblue78

November 23rd, 2021 at 8:24 PM ^

How are Harbaugh's bonuses supposed to motivate the team? I mean, I guess there is some marginal incentive- "Let's win so Coach gets a big bonus". But seriously, if beating your #1 rival, and a division title with a place in the conference championship, and a shot at the fictional NC Playoff isn't incentive enough, is making your coach richer still really an incentive? Is he really going to coach less hard, less smart, less effectively absent the bonuses? 

 

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