But seriously though, who is Plan B?

Submitted by DeBored on

Miles says "no" strangely, Mullen says no contact, no smoke around Mora, etc.  Meanwhile, Kawakami is adamant that Harbaugh is an NFL guy.  So who is our Plan B?  Is anyone else hoping that we at least get rejections from Patterson and Stoops to indicate that we at least TRIED?  If Harbaugh ends up not being the coach, who do we end up with?

And if it's Schiano I QUIT LIFE.

MGoBoard

not TOM BRADY

December 16th, 2014 at 11:24 PM ^

I don't want Schiano. But the program needs stability. Hackett knows that. There is a backup plan in place. Taking a mulligan would set the program back another year. That is the worst case scenario. No chance it happens. Hopefully this is pointless and we get Harbaugh.

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maizenbluedevil

December 16th, 2014 at 11:18 PM ^

Interesting thought. If it came to that I would respect Hackett for not trying to bullshit and instead hiring an interim AS LONG AS ITS NOT DEBORD. Totally agree with you about him.

I have to admit I'm very intrigued at the possibility of Nuss having a go at things.

I know it spook at to bash him these days but let's not forget his track record everywhere other than his short stint here has been stellar. That aspect of it reminds me of one Rich Rodriguez, who most of us would take back in a hot minute if Harbaugh declines.



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Shakespeare

December 16th, 2014 at 11:31 PM ^

Because you DON'T have a firm plan B. It's not an immediate solve to the limits of reality. If there isn't a viable option why force one?

Furthermore the 85k they're paying the search firm is a drop in the hat compared to the buyout they'd have to pay Greg Schiano when they fire him three years into his five year deal.

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name redacted

December 17th, 2014 at 1:47 AM ^

Fwiw Shakespeare, I live in GR and have many close friends and neighbors in the mid to high level at Steelcase. Some know Hackett personally. They are uniform in their opinion of that guy.. Hackett is solid. He has a plan b, and probably c, and d. He is the anti-Dave Brandon. No flash, all substance.

Not sure who the coach will be, but you want an AD that is brilliant, pragmatic, thorough, and a solid person you currently have it.



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MGoVictory

December 16th, 2014 at 11:16 PM ^

Echoing Searchbits XVII, there has been chatter about a recruit (presumably Kinnel or Cole) being told Harbaugh is coming, as the recruit insisted on knowing who the coach was going to be, else he would flip.

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phork

December 16th, 2014 at 11:17 PM ^

I think Harbaugh is slow playing everyone.  All these "rumours" being floated about UM means that a trade from the 49ers is unlikely unless its to a team of his choice.  And even then I doubt he would go with losing draft picks.  Harbaugh is going to try and force the 49ers to fire him by which he can then sign freely to any NFL team, or use UM as leverage to get the trade he wants.  He is still under contract for 1 more year.  

Basically SanFran is pulling a Nebraska here.  Harbaugh will be at worst 43-20-1 in 4 years in SanFran, 2 NFC Championships & 1 Superbowl appearance.  You cannot possibly expect to sustain that success in this NFL.  Frankly if I am the owner I am firing the GM.

My bet is that once LSU jail sexes ND in the Music City Bowl, Les will just keep driving north.

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phork

December 16th, 2014 at 11:34 PM ^

He can just quit, and coach UM.  And thats what will happen if things don't work out the way he wants.  The 49ers won't fire him, so his options are 1> "Heh guys I'm back for another year!" to which 49er management screams "Noooooooooooo!" or 2> He gets traded to A> A team he doesn't want to be part of, quits and heads to A^2 or B> The team of his choice. or lastly 3> The 49ers don't want to put up with that circus so they just fire him and he heads off to the Raiders or Dolphins.  The worst case for him is to end up at UM for 4 years and frankly I don't see it happening.

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Mr. Yost

December 16th, 2014 at 11:25 PM ^

I said wait until this Friday to fire Hoke. Which would've saved us all the heartache and constant F5 on MGoBlog.

I'm sure most of you, like me, click on MGoBlog anytime you get bored just because there may be an update worth reading. There never is.

Would've saved so much heartache and Pepto.

I'm not AD, but I would've simply said post-OSU game that "the plan is for Coach Hoke to conduct his end of the year meetings with his assistant and individual player meetings. This is consistent end of the year protocol for all programs when their season has ended. It is in the best interest of the program for the players to understand their responsibilities and expectations going forward and the end of the year process is crucial in the development of student-athletes. Once completed, Coach Hoke and I will conduct our end of the year review as planned and we will move forward with what is best for the program."

That's not worded properly, but you get the idea. Basically stall, but explain it and set a timeline.

It doesn't mean you can't break that timeline and fire Hoke and hire your guy if that opporunity came about in the meantime.

But it likely wasn't going to happen, and it hasn't and that would've been a perfect way to delay everything and still keep order. Meet with Hoke Wednesday or Thursday of this week and make the announcement by 5pm on Friday.

You'd also have the distraction of the holidays, NFL playoff push and Bowl season...less attention, more time. Hire Harbaugh in 2 weeks when the season is over and let's roll.

At this point, I don't see another window for Harbaugh until after their game next Sunday, then I'll get my hopes up for an announcement the following Monday or Tuesday like I did this week. He's not going to get fired late in the week when they have to prepare for a game. It would be in the immediate aftermath and early in the week to allow for the 9ers to prepare for the next opponent.

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Gob1ue22

December 16th, 2014 at 11:41 PM ^

100% agree this should have been the plan, and I think this was the plan, but not making the bowl game threw a wrench in those plans.

Without the bowl game, in theory it still could have worked, but in reality there would have been CRAZY fans that don't recognize the smokescreen creating a PR nightmare for the University (Fire Hoke t-shirts, protests on campus, Fire Hoke kickstarters) that might have been more messy than the current situation. 

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Mr. Yost

December 16th, 2014 at 11:48 PM ^

If you tell everyone the decision is being made on 12/12 (I said this week in my post - however, 2 weeks is the end of last week), that stops them before they get started.

With a bowl game it just would've been a million people asking if Hoke keeps his job if he wins the bowl game and then 999,999 people yelling "NO!"

 

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name redacted

December 17th, 2014 at 1:36 AM ^

Is there a more blatant way to screw Hoke?!

Basically you're saying we know we're going to fire you but first we're going to let you dangle in the wind with everyone in the world looking at you bleeding out alongside the road.. Everyone just waiting for the inevitable axe...And THEN, just to turn the knife we put in you, we're going to hold on to you until 90% of the potential coaching jobs are filled.. guaranteeing you aren't landing on your feet this year.. And then fire you. Thanks for the memories Hoke. Die slow.

I get what you are saying if only one side is considered, but that's simply amateur hour and not how you treat someone at that level.



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samsoccer7

December 17th, 2014 at 12:08 AM ^

Disagree. Harbaugh respects Hoke and would not have discussed the opening with Michigan if there was no actual opening. We needed this time to work on harbaugh and break him down a bit and we did. Now we wait but if we still had to wait I think we'd actually be late to the party.

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Mr. Yost

December 17th, 2014 at 1:29 AM ^

That's why coaches have agents my friend.

Also, if we fired Hoke last week...that still gives you 2 weeks to "break down" Harbaugh like you claim.

How do you know we're breaking down Harbaugh any more than I say losing his last 2 games is what broke him down?

Neither of us know...but I could make a very good argument that he wans't open to the idea of another other than San Fran until they lost a couple games and fell out of the playoff picture and THAT is what "broke him down" not love notes from Hackett every morning.

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SFourthAve Blue

December 16th, 2014 at 11:27 PM ^

But if he decides he wants to stay in the NFL, then Les Miles should be our Plan B..

I believe Les Miles deserves the opportunity to be chosen for the job if JH turns us down.

He has suffered enough with everything he has gone through in the past few years with "his" Alma Mater.  Time for us to welcome him home!  And let bygones be bygones.

And now that asshat d-bag Branden is gone................well, it would make me very happy to see him entertaining the Michigan faithful at the Big House!  Going for it on every fourth down!

Jimmy is still my first choice, make no mistake.  But Les has paid some dues and never stopped caring about this University and it's football program. 

I don't care what he said yesterday-just keep the door open with him.  I'm betting he would still walk to Ann Arbor to coach our football team!

(Oh, and please-anybody but Schiano!)

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maizenbluedevil

December 16th, 2014 at 11:32 PM ^

Plan be is probably one of either:

Miles
Mora
Mullen

... Neither of which are sure things. After that it's

Dark horse candidate no one is expecting or talking about.
Schiano/addazio

My bet is one of those.

Not coming - (ie not in the dark horse club) - stoops, saban Meyer, Patterson, mendenhall, RichRod, payton, Bellichick, gruden, Herman, Stitt, narduzzi, Pelini, bielema, cutcliffe, chip Kelly, Brian Kelly, Brian cook.



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Mr. Yost

December 16th, 2014 at 11:34 PM ^

...if no Harbaugh, no Miles, no Mullen, no Stoops, no Mora.

What about Mark Stoops at Kentucky? What about Teryl Austin with the Lions?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Stoops

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teryl_Austin

I'd prefer BOTH of those guys over Schiano, Addazio, etc.

(sorry, I hate when people hijack threads away from the original question, so I felt it was necessary to get back to the point since I've had multiple posts unrelated to the topic)

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Mr. Yost

December 16th, 2014 at 11:50 PM ^

Stoops just lost his OC (new head coach at Troy). Apparently Steve Spurrier Jr. is a candidate to replace him at UK.

Stoops is from Youngstown, OH and Austin from Sharon, PA. Both were GAs in the B1G and both have defensive coordinator backgrounds.

If you could find a STRONG offensive coordinator to pair with either guy...I wouldn't be mad at that combo at all (if shit hit the fan on other candidates).

I'm talking highest paid OC in the country type strong. One of those guys that everyone knows like Chad Morris or Gus Malzahn were.

You wouldn't be paying either guy (Stoops or Austin) HUGE money, so take that leftover and go get a $1.5 mil offensive coordinator. 

Again, give me this combo over one of those retread Schiano type names.

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Shakespeare

December 16th, 2014 at 11:48 PM ^

I'd still prefer we go after someone young who has a lot of upside like Adam Gase the OC of the Denver Broncos. He's a top HC candidate in the NFL (will probably get a HC job somewhere next season). He's 36. Born and raised in Ypsi. Started coaching under Nick Saban in college so he knows how to recruit. By all accounts he's one of the brightest offensive minds in the NFL and yes I know he's a MSU guy but so what? Who cares? Get the best man for the job.

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Shakespeare

December 16th, 2014 at 11:57 PM ^

Don't know why his name hasn't been thrown around more to be honest. Maybe because he's a dead lock for an NFL gig and this would be considered a step down, but man, outside of the obvious Harbaugh (which IS HAPPENING) I can't think of a coach I'd be more excited to see on our sideline.

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Gob1ue22

December 16th, 2014 at 11:34 PM ^

There is an interesting email posted tonight on the Scout board basically claiming to be from someone close to the situation (FWIW).

Basically the email (supposedly from someone very close to the situation) confirms a ~$50M offer made to Jim and basically just waiting for him to make a final decision and sign it. People according to this person seem to think it's more likely to happen than not (its happening.gif)

However, if he doesn't come, this email says Miles is basically still a fallback option, but also confirms some 'skeletons' in the closet that make this thing not quite a guarantee that Michigan will make an offer, but says that if Michigan does offer he will definitely accept. 

Also says Hackett doesn't have a confirmed plan B, but has been using donors to 'test market' interest in other high profile candidates - mentioned sean payton &  john harbaugh here. 

Also says unlikely anything happens before the 28th, but people close to the situation seem to be more confident by the day. 

 

Take it all with a grain…

 

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maizenbluedevil

December 16th, 2014 at 11:46 PM ^

Love updates like this, thanks!

Wow, Payton and john harbaugh are his possible backups if we don't get jim?

That's encouraging and leads me k believe Hackett wouldn't settle for Schiano or addazio.

Maybe he'd even be willing to take a run at someone like mailman or mark helfrich if plan a doesn't pan out.

Over all very encouraging.



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