Thoughts about potential coaching change timeline
Just sitting here thinking about the state of the program and am wondering what might be a realistic timeline to relieve Jim of his duties. If he makes it to the Maryland game, I suspect the following might happen:
He coaches the Maryland game, but is relieved before the Ohio State game. I don't think the university wants to send him out there against that team for his final game. Having an interim coach might save him from some personal embarrassment. In this scenario, I have to imagine that the team would need to lose to Maryland because it would be awkward to not only fire him after a win when they could have done so after the Penn State loss, but also because it might seem like a cop out against Ohio State.
What do you think? Does this seem reasonable?
November 28th, 2020 at 7:31 PM ^
I still don't understand why anyone is taking this season seriously... Or this team seriously.
This whole team is a shell of what it could have been.
November 28th, 2020 at 7:38 PM ^
And you truly think it will be better next year??? No f'n way. Not under this current staff.
November 28th, 2020 at 7:37 PM ^
It won’t happen until after signing day. Must get the class signed, and then make the coaching moves.
November 28th, 2020 at 8:18 PM ^
You can't sign a class if the coach is a lame-duck. You have to either re-up him or cut him loose. There's no in-between.
November 29th, 2020 at 8:24 AM ^
Why can’t you? It’s exactly what will happen. Early signing period starts before Michigan’s last game of the season will be played. Harbaugh isn’t resigning or being fired before the season is over. While he is in the job I fully expect him to sign his recruits. Warde and Harbaugh won’t sit down until after the season, so sign your players. If he decides to bring Harbaugh back, it’s imperative to have the recruiting class. If a change is made and kids want out, you grant it.
November 29th, 2020 at 12:26 PM ^
This is both terrifying and quintessential Michigan - we’re going to innovate and find out just how terrible this staff really is in their last year.
November 28th, 2020 at 7:55 PM ^
I still don't understand why anyone is taking this season seriously... Or this team seriously.
This whole team is a shell of what it could have been.
November 28th, 2020 at 8:48 PM ^
I still don't understand why you're still drinking the Kool Aid while handing it out to everyone else. This team wasn't going anywhere after McCaffery was forced out and probably wasn't anyway with this inept coaching staff.
November 28th, 2020 at 8:12 PM ^
If you’re waiting to fire him after Maryland and before OSU so as to save Harbaugh from any kind of personal embarrassment, then all you’re doing is further dragging the program down in the gutter. That’s putting one man ahead of the team.
I hate harkening back to anything Bo said. The man is dead and it continues to make us look like we live in the past, but his sentiment rings true in this supposed situation. The team, the team, the team. Putting Harbaugh’s pride ahead of the best interest of the team (assuming any of this is true) is a cancerous mindset that doesn’t help any of the players on this roster in any way. And I’d like to think Harbaugh would be the first to tell you that.
November 28th, 2020 at 8:18 PM ^
Harbaugh will be here as long as he wants to be. The University is happy with the job he’s done. The only hope for a new coach would be if Jim decides to head off to the NFL. This is a down year for him but I expect him to bounce back to that 8 to 10 wins per season. Battling for 2nd to 4th in the east.
November 28th, 2020 at 8:20 PM ^
Talked to Don Brown after the loss today, he had this to say:
"I'm trying to get better because I havent been my best
Jim took a plain black marker started writing on my chest
He drew a line across the middle of my broken play and said come on now let's fix this mess
We can get better because we're not dead yet"
November 28th, 2020 at 8:28 PM ^
Guys.. just stop. He is not getting fired.
November 28th, 2020 at 8:35 PM ^
In all honesty Harbaugh sets the timeline. He will not get fired during a pandemic unless it's for something that happens off the field.
November 28th, 2020 at 8:46 PM ^
are you high?
November 28th, 2020 at 8:56 PM ^
Could be great for the Lions !
November 28th, 2020 at 9:00 PM ^
Holy crap Michigan football what the fuck happened ?
November 28th, 2020 at 9:03 PM ^
There are a lot of scenarios floated on this board but isn’t there really only two possibilities?
1. mutually agree to part ways soon after the um/osu game. No buyout, easiest and best transition etc. this will unequivocally not happen before the season ends outside of health issues. It doesn’t matter if they lose the next two games that’s already baked in the cake.
2. He basically gets a Covid exemption and that will 100% mean a 1-2 year extension. You cannot and will not have a lame duck coach. It’s not even an option. Keep in mind a 1-2 year extension doesn’t mean he’d actually be at UM that long it simply means that would be the perception and he’d have the opportunity to be here that long
I would not be shocked at all with a 1-2 year extension with a “clean house” caveat due to covid.
November 28th, 2020 at 9:33 PM ^
An extension that short would be bad for recruiting still. Obviously not as bad as a full-on lame duck season next year, but not much better. It basically sends the message to potential recruits that Harbaugh is on thin ice and may not be here by their sophomore/junior year.
The writing is on the wall. Hopefully Warde and the money cannon are ready
November 28th, 2020 at 10:00 PM ^
Oh no doubt at all I agree with you. The optics still won’t be great but I think you’d have to put an extension in place if he is retained for next year.
your thought process is probably right in though it would likely be more a 2-3 year extension to somewhat make it look better.
November 28th, 2020 at 11:48 PM ^
Any extension shorter than 3 years is a vote of no confidence and kills recruiting.
But do you really want three more years of Harbaugh?
The data is in. No upset wins. Terrible record against top 10 teams. Terrible road teams. Not even one BTCCG. Year 6 and roster management is terrible.
I could go on.
November 29th, 2020 at 8:37 AM ^
Of course not and I don’t think anyone wants three more years but if the administration does then covid gives you once in a lifetime cover.
you could easily say “I think he spirit of getting things done quickly with a unique covid season we agreed to terms to extend the contract another two years but will be sitting down to discuss long term what that means sooner than later”.
but no that is NOT at all what I want to see.
November 29th, 2020 at 8:39 AM ^
I think these are the two basic options. However, there is room in scenario one for some type of negotiated exit package. That is, it doesn't necessarily have to be tied with "no buyout."
November 28th, 2020 at 10:44 PM ^
How many wins does mel tucker have against top 10 teams though?
November 28th, 2020 at 10:51 PM ^
Step aside or be relieved of his duties after the OSU game, have a new coach in place by New Years Day.
November 29th, 2020 at 12:11 AM ^
Considering how close this season is to ending (I fully expect a shit show spike in COVID next week across a ton of teams), I think it’s somewhat reasonable to see a new coach installed within the next 3-4 weeks of Harbaugh is finally axed.
November 29th, 2020 at 12:19 AM ^
I for one think that the players will be hard for him knowing it's his last vs OSU and it'll be a good game.
November 29th, 2020 at 12:24 AM ^
A locker room of mask boners!
November 29th, 2020 at 2:12 AM ^
OSU will be cancelled because of Covid.
Michigan ends 2-6
Harbaugh is fired the day after the season.
November 29th, 2020 at 8:45 AM ^
Without eligibility requirements this year, it will be interesting to see how teams are selected for bowl games.
November 29th, 2020 at 3:19 PM ^
He needs to be fired now so that the next coaching search can begin in earnest. The next guy needs to be announced before the bowl games so that he can shore up the 2021 recruiting class and keep it from collapsing. The last thing that we need is a repeat of our disastrous 2015 and 2011 classes, the results of which showed up on the field a couple of years later. We can't afford another great big recruiting shadow and there is some good talent in the 2021 class that we need to keep on board. It can still be a Top 20 outfit. Maybe even Top 15.