We all need to think of the situation this way: JH was fired after the dismal 2020 season and the new coach hired to replace him was JH.

Submitted by jbrandimore on May 11th, 2021 at 2:10 PM

There is no way Harbaugh could put together this type of coaching staff without some ability to assure these coaches that this isn't a one year thing.

If you supported JH all along, great for you.

For the many ready for a coaching change, just mentally pretend that JH was fired and replaced with JH.

That's what I'm doing. It helps me accept that this is likely the situation.

Having said that, great hire today to go along with the other great hires. 

JH's rebuild is going along nicely.

mGrowOld

May 11th, 2021 at 2:18 PM ^

This is actually not a bad way to mentally prepare oneself for the upcoming season.   That we finally shit-canned the guy who couldnt beat OSU, went 3-3 against some terrible MSU teams, only one one bowl game in six seasons and never won a B1G Championship despite have virtually unlimited resources at his disposal to do so.

On the other hand I have to ask why the hell would we hire a B1G coach with an 0-6 record against OSU, no championships, no winning record against MSU, only one bowl game in six seasons and coming off a 2-4 record????

Now I'm mad at Warde instead of Harbaugh. 

DemetriusBrown

May 12th, 2021 at 12:56 AM ^

That was well before I beat tOSU in the shoe, followed that with a Rose Bowl Win against USC and Rodney Peete. Not a bad way to end the season with zero picks. Tried to make it epic like the game winner in the Outback Bowl against Alabama the previous year. 

mGrowOld

May 11th, 2021 at 2:33 PM ^

It's called "humor" Timmmaay.   A joke.  Something to make people smile in a completely silly thread.  And I was VERY positive in the Clinkscale thread - you were the only one that found something negative in my comment.

Lighten up.  You're definitely Mr. Grumpypants today.   

Beilein 4 Life

May 11th, 2021 at 2:30 PM ^

Hypothetically speaking, who could we have hired in the off-season with a better resume than Harbaugh that you would have been really happy with Warde for hiring? I hear a bunch of people saying that there were options out there, but I’ve never actually heard anyone that would have been an immediate upgrade over Harbaugh that had a shot at actually coming here

Beilein 4 Life

May 11th, 2021 at 2:41 PM ^

Since you called it a Harbaugh cult, I’m assuming you’re just not rational and I won’t take anything you say seriously. Also, I’m not sure the guy who just signed an extension instead of accepting any of the numerous job openings was actually an option for us. I know that makes me part of some sort of Harbaugh cult in your eyes, but I don’t actually care about your opinion 

DoubleB

May 11th, 2021 at 4:46 PM ^

I think the entire starting unit on both sides is coming back (something like 20 out of 22 starters or what not). They should be good. Brock Purdy isn't that good. He single-handedly cost them their first Big 12 title since 1912. So my guess is they roughly duplicate this year.

KentuckianaWolverine

May 11th, 2021 at 6:19 PM ^

The best indicator will be the game against Iowa.  Campbell is 0-4 vs Iowa, despite having recruiting classes in similar ranges (over Campbell's tenure)......and his predecessor winning 3 out of the previous 5 games vs Iowa.  Iowa State is also the 34th most profitable program in the nation (as of 2020).

Also, fun fact:  Matt Campbell gets paid 3 times as much as Brian Kelly (Notre Dame's head coach).

This will be Campbell's 6th season at Iowa State, so this program is completely his, at this point.  Let's see how that Iowa game goes.

Lakeyale13

May 11th, 2021 at 2:39 PM ^

Based off of what Harbaugh has done here the last 6 seasons, there are numerous coaches we could have hired that have done better.   Harbaugh has been here 6 years.  After six years you are what you are.  Doesn't matter what you did at your prior stops. 

In the same way your superior could care less what your accomplishments were 6 years ago and prior.  They want to know what you have done currently and what you will do to fix the problems that are evident with performance.

1VaBlue1

May 11th, 2021 at 2:41 PM ^

It's not a question of finding someone "with a better resume than" the person that you've decided isn't getting it done.  It's only a matter of finding someone you're comfortable with.  Back in 2015, Harbaugh was a candidate EVERYONE was comfortable with, and also had the best resume available - by a mile.  But now that equation is gone.

So, if you (you=Warde) decide it's over, the only thing to do is start over by finding someone you're comfortable with.  You cannot compare resumes from 2015 with resumes from today.  You can, however, compare today's resume with today's resume.  And, in doing so, finding someone to replace JH wouldn't be that difficult.

It's a crapshoot - hiring anyone, in any business, is going to be a crapshoot.  But if you've decided what you have isn't working, then you move on and try again.

KentuckianaWolverine

May 11th, 2021 at 6:56 PM ^

How was Carr's final seasons compared to the "up and up" guy named Rich Rodriguez?  How about the "up and up" Brady Hoke?

If you had a chance to go back in time.....would you keep Carr or go after the "up and up" guys?

*Before you answer....I HIGHLY encourage you to go look at what Rodriguez was doing, at West Virginia (winning multiple conference championships, finishing in the top 10 three consecutive years, and almost played for the national championship, before coming to Michigan).  Rodriguez was a HELL OF A LOT more accomplished and revered than what Campbell is currently*

Vasav

May 11th, 2021 at 2:22 PM ^

Defense is being revamped. I'll give them time. But my expectation is to see improvement as the season progresses. If it's not coming together by the end of the season, then I think he needs to go.

OC has been here for 3 seasons, we have a talented line, a stable of RBs, and receivers led by Ronnie Bell and a young crop who've shown they can MAKE PLAYS. They better score. QB situation is Harbaugh's making - they ran the two upperclassmen off campus over the last 2 off seasons. If Cade isn't the guy and JJ isn't ready, that's on Harbaugh/Gattis. He doesn't get another year if the O has growing pains in year 3 against Western.

Finally, in 2017 we were competitive in The Game with our 3rd string QB. O better score. D better be better. We better be competitive in The Game heading into the 4th quarter.

That's how I'm evaluating this season. 

Brian Griese

May 11th, 2021 at 2:58 PM ^

I feel the same way.  We all know the defense won't be good and I can live with them showing improvement throughout the season.  In light of that, there is no excuse for Harbaugh not to throw caution to the wind and try to score as many points as possible as fast as they can.  Not considering wins and losses, these are my measuring sticks for the year: Will we pepper our two our three best offensive skill players with as many touches as possible instead of trying to get 4 running backs, 3 tight ends and 5 WR touches against teams worth a shit? Will we able to consistently (relative to our peers) be able to throw the ball down the field? Will we use real tempo? Can we manage the clock correctly? Can we do all this and keep turnovers in check and the QB healthy?  

Barring some horrific loss to someone not named OSU I can live with the coaching staff provided the answer to the majority of my questions is "yes".  However, I have my doubts.  

Sam1863

May 11th, 2021 at 4:24 PM ^

... there is no excuse for Harbaugh not to throw caution to the wind and try to score as many points as possible as fast as they can.

Or, at crunch time, will Harbaugh revert to trying to smash the ball up the middle, like he's still got Jamie Morris running behind Elliott and Hammerstein, circa 1985?