Source says Ross will try to hire Harbaugh if Dolphins miss the playoffs

Submitted by Raskolnikov on

Sam Webb said something similar yesterday.

Edit; Now Balas is saying it. This can't be dismissed as typical NFL naysaying. If we dismiss Rapoport as a hack when he says Harbaugh turned us down, we should also question the legitimacy of his "Ross wants Harbaugh at Michigan" tidbit. It's not good news but for Christ's sake people, be objective. 

Edit 2: Rapoport doubling down. https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/544164834838052865

http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/armando-salguero/ar…

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michgoblue

December 14th, 2014 at 11:03 AM ^

The interesting thing about this search is that literally nothing has leaked out.  All we have is media assumption and speculation.  Sure, we all think that the list is Les, Stoops, Mora, Mullen and, of course, Harbaugh.  Has Hackett ever said that?  For all we know, the list could be Rex Ryan, Tom Coughlin, Sean Peyton and Urban Meyer.  We have no idea.

So, yeah, I see your point that if Harbaugh had said no, you would expect that we might know, but in this search, I am not so sure. 

Also, so your point about us conducting more interviews if Harbaugh already said no, do we know that they are not?  I get the feeling that Hackett is way more competent than Florida's Foley!  I like to think that the interviews are happening regardless, so that even if Harbaugh said yes, we have a back-up plan in  the event of a change of heart.

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LKLIII

December 14th, 2014 at 1:45 PM ^

If I were Hackett, simply from a PR standpoint, if I knew Harbaugh was not coming, I'd get that out into the public ASAP.  

The entire UofM fanbase right now is primed for Harbaugh.  If we can't get him, the smart play is to let that info out, let the fanbase get deflated for a week to get it out of their system, and then start leaking the name of the next coach and hopefully pump up the fan base with some excitement again.  There are at least 2-3 other coaching names that most of the fan base could get pretty excited about once they got over the initial disappointment of Harbaugh not coming.  If we can't land Harbaugh, Hackett wants the fanbase to view this hire as a big upgrade from Hoke, not a downgrade from a hypothetical Harbaugh.  If it's not Harbaugh and they keep that a secret until the actual coaching hire happens, the story will not be "Hooray we got XYZ solid coach to coach for Michigan," it will be "Aw crap, it isn't Harbaugh."

So if he wants the next coaching hire to get some buzz on his own accord and be seen as successful (at least from the outset), he should burst the Harbaugh balloon first.

The only reason I wouldn't do that is if 1) Harbaugh informed me of the decision with the specific requirement that I not disclose it (so he could still use UofM for leverage purposes); or 2) if for some reason I thought it would deeply offend our #2 pick for the coaching position and harm the chance of lending him.

 

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Webber's Pimp

December 14th, 2014 at 11:20 AM ^

If you are right then Jim Hackett and company are incompetent fools. Every other school that has had to hire a new coach has moved rapidly and decisively. This reminds me of the Bill Martin reign all over again although to Martin's credit he made two great hires in Beilein and Rodriguez. Others (including Sam Webb) will disagree but I think given enough time Rich Rod would have succeeded in Ann Arbor...

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sierragold

December 14th, 2014 at 10:23 AM ^

Ross donated 200,000,000.00 to Michigan half of that earmarked for Athletics. I don't see him making a play for Harbaugh unless he turns Michigan down first.

I have heard rumblings that Michigan is going after John Harbaugh, but the sources are about as reliable as all of the NFL Guys and everyone else talking about the Michigan coaching search.

So maybe he gets Jim in Miami and we get John in AA.

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CLord

December 14th, 2014 at 5:22 PM ^

Agree.  This would make little sense.  Ross obviously wants M athletics to excel given his donations, so there is little chance he would turn around and undermine any chance at getting the one guy who is the perfect hire.  There are a number of good NFL coaches out there he can choose from for the Dolphins.

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Haywood Jablomy

December 14th, 2014 at 9:05 AM ^

So he lied? I mean the report a while back quoted him. It wasn't a rumor thing if I recall correctly. I don't think so. Agree with other posters... Only if he turned me down. Not that this has become personal or anything.

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double blue

December 14th, 2014 at 9:04 AM ^

This is easy.  We get Brady to throw today's game to the dolphins and Philbin wil be safe and Harbaugh will be in Ann Arbor.

So who's calling Tom?

 

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Brandon_L

December 14th, 2014 at 9:04 AM ^

I think Ross would rather see Harbaugh with his Dolphins if he decides that he will not coach Michigan. I still believe Ross would tell him to go to UofM first and foremost.

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PGB

December 14th, 2014 at 10:04 AM ^

This makes no sense to me. Why would Ross prefer having Jim at UM? Honest question. I don't understand the logic of pushing someone who could potentially greatly improve the team that you own toward another team. 

That's like turning down Steve Jobs for a CEO opening at your company (Miami) just because you have a relationship with a friend at another company (Michigan). When money is involved, I would guess that Ross will attend to his own interests. Just a guess though.

Curious why others think otherwise. 

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PGB

December 14th, 2014 at 1:23 PM ^

Agree. He is very heavily invested in Michigan. So far he has given about $313 million. 

To Domingerson's comment, Ross is spending $350 million out of his own pocket just to upgrade the Miami stadium. I would think with that kind of investment that he would want a great coach to help put fans in the seats. 

I want JH here just as much as everyone else. Just wanted to have some discussion about the whole, "Ross wants him at UM" talk that's going around. Thanks for the input, guys. 

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Brodie

December 14th, 2014 at 1:42 PM ^

Ross doesn't do things in order to merely recoup his money. He didn't just make a lump payment for Miami, he pays millions upon millions upon millions each week in salaries and then there are facility upgrades, etc. You dont buy an NFL team if you care more about college football than winning Super Bowls. Jerry Jones didn't tell Jimmy Johnson to go coach at Arkansas

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Jason80

December 14th, 2014 at 6:11 PM ^

The asset that an nfl franchise is will only appreciate meanwhile being the school's biggest benefactor with only earn human appreciation, any building on campus namrd for him anf permanent guest of honor status at all UofM events. Not the sameruturn on investment there.

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