What to Expect from Harbaugh in Year One?
Hello MGoBlog,
This is my first time creating a forum post. Some of you have seen me comment here and there for the last three years. You'll know from my other posts that: a) I'm an Ohio State fan; and b) I'm not a troll--I visit here because I love college football and respect the writers and posters on this blog.
With the introductions out of the way let me start out by saying that I (like many other Buckeye fans) hope you guys get Harbaugh. The B1G needs Michigan to be its traditional self. Ohio State is only as good as the strength of its conference in many respects. And it benefits as much as Michigan if The Game is between two ranked powerhouses that will usually decide who goes to the B1G Championship Game.
I think Harbaugh can get you guys there more so than anyone else available. And, from reading this board, it appears that I am not alone. Assuming this happens, what are reasonable expectations for the Wolverines in year one? Transition usually takes time, but we have seen programs where the transition is seamless and the new coach has early success. Oddly, Brady Hoke was one of them in 2011. Would be interested to hear your thoughts. Thanks.
December 26th, 2014 at 4:30 PM ^
Ten wins, with one of them being over Sparty. A highly competitive game with Ohio State which may or may not be a victory.
December 26th, 2014 at 7:34 PM ^
My sense is a lot of people think like you do, and that concerns me.
December 26th, 2014 at 10:49 PM ^
Why does that concern you? Hoke and his staff created a really good roster that 2015 is the year it finally would have been complete. Our last two senior classes were small and the roster finally turns over.
If Harbaugh conect with the team the way hoke did I don't see why we can't win 10 plus games in year one.
December 26th, 2014 at 11:27 PM ^
both OSU and MSU have proven quarterbacks. we however do not have a proven quarterback.
December 27th, 2014 at 4:24 AM ^
has three. fml
December 27th, 2014 at 7:35 AM ^
Who's going to play QB? You?
December 26th, 2014 at 10:52 PM ^
Double
December 26th, 2014 at 4:31 PM ^
I think realistically 8-4 or 9-3 is a reasonable expectation. Harbaugh will need time to develop one of these quarterbacks.
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December 26th, 2014 at 4:42 PM ^
Harbaugh is going to attract top talent, but expect there to be some losses on the current roster. Some players will not be ready for the level of intesity that Coach Harbaugh will bring and expect of them.
Just like Bo lost a bunch of Bump's players, Coach Harbaugh will lose a bunch of Hoke's.
But those who stay will, in year 2, become Champions.
Year one will be 8-4 with a victory in a bowl game. Maybe 9-3 with a victory over our greatest rival.
December 26th, 2014 at 5:17 PM ^
I know Hoke and Harbaugh are pretty much polar opposites when it comes to coaching styles, but I don't think "a bunch" of Hoke's players are going to leave
Harbaugh has a history of success, Bo didn't. I think Harbaugh can get away with the hard ass routine from Day 1, and not have people jump ship
December 26th, 2014 at 7:22 PM ^
There will be far fewer defections than you think. Every one of those players knows that Harbaugh has their best intentions at heart. Those being winning football games and showcasing talent. You show me players that are defecting in the face of Jim Harbaugh, I'll show you players that find comfort in mediocrity.
December 26th, 2014 at 7:28 PM ^
"Level of intensity"
Ummm.... you must not have heard how Nussmeier was at practice. Intense doesn't do it justice. The F-Bomb had a usage percentage of 80%.
December 26th, 2014 at 8:21 PM ^
The idea that players leave en masse when there's a new hire is not true. It happened in 2007 for all kinds of reasons that never should have existed. I seriously doubt more than a couple guys will transfer this offseason, especially if their reason is Harbaugh. Why would they? And there's no way Hoke even implied that they should transfer. It wasn't a problem when he replaced Rodriguez and doubt it will be a problem in this instance.
December 27th, 2014 at 2:43 AM ^
it didn't really happen in 2007 either, fwiw. That's an overplayed meme
December 26th, 2014 at 4:31 PM ^
I'd actually like to, you know, get him here before we head down this road
December 26th, 2014 at 4:32 PM ^
I hope we do so well it makes you regret wanting Harbaugh to come here.
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December 26th, 2014 at 4:36 PM ^
Awesome!
December 26th, 2014 at 4:51 PM ^
This thread is so condescending. (I know he didn't mean to be, just shows how pathetic football has become.) It makes me think of a Spartan bball player who was being interviewed after they blew us out for the 10th time. He said "I really wish they were competitive" and then we hired Beilein.
December 26th, 2014 at 11:22 PM ^
The injuiries !
December 26th, 2014 at 4:32 PM ^
Wearing a headset and putting some fire into the way M plays.
December 26th, 2014 at 4:32 PM ^
Officially applied to the presumptions of which all superstitious UofM fans in their right mind should not be making or reading at this critical impasse.
Thank me later.
Oh, and reverse jinx that too.
December 26th, 2014 at 4:33 PM ^
Well I hope we get the guy 1st.
December 26th, 2014 at 4:34 PM ^
Again, it hasn't happened yet.
Stop.
December 26th, 2014 at 4:34 PM ^
But if it does, punching Mark Dantonio right in his fucking face.
December 26th, 2014 at 4:44 PM ^
On mobile, so consider this a written up vote.
December 26th, 2014 at 4:53 PM ^
and then turns around and punches him one more time.
December 26th, 2014 at 5:27 PM ^
I'd like to see him slap Urban in the back so hard it would make Jim Schwartz blush.
December 26th, 2014 at 4:52 PM ^
Seems like I recall telling you the same thing a mere 2-3 weeks ago.
December 26th, 2014 at 4:56 PM ^
And I seem to recall you trying to argue with him on damn near every post he made. Let's not point fingers, shall we?
December 26th, 2014 at 5:00 PM ^
My ass. Find the link.
Spoiler: it didn't happen
I put the cart in front of the horse the last two searches. I refused to do it a third time.
December 26th, 2014 at 5:13 PM ^
Looks like it is time to celebrate!
December 26th, 2014 at 4:34 PM ^
9-3 10-2 if we don't have massive injuries like this past year. I don't think our roster lacks talent. I just think they lacked coaching before. Jabrill Peppers would be a massive improvement over what we had back there this year. Also we finally being back 18 players for the first time in forever.
December 26th, 2014 at 5:27 PM ^
Or holding off?
December 26th, 2014 at 4:36 PM ^
If Harbaugh does come, I think next year sets up nicely for Michigan. Rivalry games at home, a well regarded roster (if we go by recruit rankings) including a veteran O-Line across the board.
The one major question mark is QB, but between Morris, Speight and Malzone you would think that one of them would have to better than what we saw last year.
Barring major injuries, I can't see myself thinking anything less than 9-3 and probably leaning towards 10-2.
December 26th, 2014 at 6:15 PM ^
I'm thinking 8-4 is the basement with an over under of 9-3.
Personally, I think Michigan will be 10-2 with losses versus 2 of this group (Utah, Sparty, Ohio).
December 26th, 2014 at 11:33 PM ^
You guys are really optomistic. Harbaugh and any great coach we may hire instead will be dealing with a team without an established QB, an Oline that may be decent ( finally ) , and players that were recruited for Hoke's system . I believe we have talent and not many will leave no matter who is coach ( not gonna jinx this one ), but the only thing that would get us to 9-3 or 10-2 would be having OSU and MSU at home and the rest of the B1G teams being beatable by coaching alone. Otherwise I would guess 7-5 but 9-3 year two or three. You know who is ( still no jinx here ) a great coach but I'll give him the four years RR never had to make good . Otherwise God help us we are Sparty in the woods.
December 26th, 2014 at 4:37 PM ^
PAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!
December 26th, 2014 at 7:10 PM ^
Jim will want you to feel our opponents' pain as well as our own, FWIW.
We are heading into battle.
December 26th, 2014 at 4:38 PM ^
I'd be pulling for 8-4. Hoke recruited well but it hasn't shown. Some guys improvement may be light switch fast, but there is clearly lots of work to be done.
December 26th, 2014 at 5:49 PM ^
And the 2014 class is in bad shape
December 26th, 2014 at 4:37 PM ^
Not nearly as much clapping on the sidelines
December 26th, 2014 at 5:10 PM ^
Maybe more clapping in the stands, though.
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December 26th, 2014 at 4:39 PM ^
let's just say there will be urban Meyer comparisons. Except there will be more people playing school.
December 26th, 2014 at 5:06 PM ^
He won't go undefeated. Don't go there girlfriend. Harbaugh will bring an Urban Meyer like change in program attitude though. Which in that case I could see comparisons. He does also have the chance to
Play for a bowl in year 1 though. It'll be a big stretch for him to have as good a
first 3 years as UFM though.
December 26th, 2014 at 7:30 PM ^
Michigan has had 3 straight consensus top 10 recruiting classes and have had virtually zero attrition. Hoke's monster 2012 class is now seniors. How does this translate to "might make a bowl"?
Edit: sorry I guess the 3rd one was not consensus top 10 but it was a small class with a top 5 star average.
December 27th, 2014 at 7:30 AM ^
Because Hoke should have made a bowl in a similar situation and didn't. There will be a lot more attrition I bet if Harbaugh takes over. Some won't be able to handle his intensity and leave. Especially
after getting used to Hoke and his softness. All theses recruiting stars have yet to pay you any dividends so why would they start now.
December 26th, 2014 at 4:40 PM ^
The only first year head coach that lost in the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry was... Rich Rod
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December 27th, 2014 at 1:05 AM ^
Unless the 'interim' tage counts him out.
December 27th, 2014 at 1:40 AM ^
John Cooper. Paul Brown (tie). Harry Kipke. Paul Bixler. Wes Fesler.
There are eight of twenty-one without first year wins since Kipke/Schmitd were on the sidelines, assuming Fickell counts.
December 26th, 2014 at 4:40 PM ^
I predict that JH will name Malzone startng QB at some point during the season, and that Shane will be #3 on the depth chart by season's end and transfer for his senior year.