You are Warde: What is your conversation with Harbaugh?

“Hey Jim, have ya seen that there MGoBlog?”

"Buh-bye."

Annnnnnnnd - that is enough mgoblog for the day.

Good luck to those of you sticking around - thoughts and prayers.

Warde:  "we good?"

Jim: "we good"

Warde: "sigb here, here, and here."

I'm sure Jim prepared Warde before the season started for how dire the roster situation was, and I'm equally sure Warde was perfectly fine with it.

There is a handshake deal on the extension in place.

The most anyone should expect would be for Brown to retire after the OSU game and then some retread like Jim Leavitt to be named the new defensive coordinator.

Stubborn is as stubborn does.

"Hey, Jim?"

"Yes, Wade?"

mumbles "It's Warde"

"What? Couldn't hear you."

"It's... never mind."

"You wanted something?"

stares

...

"Can you remind me how you like your coffee?"

Warde Manuel's Office

11:00 am, Monday, November 9, 2020

Warde (me):  Hey Jim, thanks for stopping by.  I think we're at the point where we need to sit down and have a serious discussion about how things are going.

Jim: Sure, Warde.  What's on your mind?

Me: Jim, do you have Netflix?  Because the wife and I spent the whole weekend FINALLY catching up on Better Call Saul.  It's so crazy how BCS is probably the best show on television right now, but it does not have nearly the same hype that its predecessor did.  In fact, I could almost argue that BCS is even better than Breaking Bad.  The rise and fall of Jimmy McGill into Saul Goodman is a  beautiful tragedy. 

Jim: Right

Me: But it's not even Bob Odenkirk's foray into drama that does it for me.  It's the surrounding cast.  Rhea Seehorn as Kim Wexler is truly compelling.  Michael McKean as Chuck.  Fuck Chuck!  Am I right on that one?

Jim: Oh yeah. That guy sucks.

Me:  And Michael Mando as Nacho!  Amazing! It's honestly impossible to pick out a weak point in this cast and when you pair that with the incredible writing of Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould, it feels like I'm watching one of the great shows in modern TV history.  I am so excited for the final season that I can't decide whether I should be happy to get to watch it or be sad that it's almost over.  

Jim:  Was there anything else you wanted to talk about?

Me:  Sorry I get carried away thinking about the best show on television.  I'm all set, brother.  Enjoy the rest of your day!  Make sure you talk to Sarah about getting BCS on your Netflix queue.  BEST SHOW ON TELEVISION!

Jim: See ya Warde.

“Hey Jim, once this Covid thing is over will you be able to fill the stadium?

Dear Jim,

I wrote ya but you still ain't calling 

I left my name email and Twitter at the bottom

Of that post on mgoblog while I was crying 

All these negs these fools know I'm not lyin

How can we implement academic standards for athletes like Kelly did at ND.  Because you folks are delusional if you think the best coach is going to magically come in and beat OSU.

I think the only discussion topics being discussed at Schembechler Hall currently surround whole milk, sleeping in tree forts, and bets about throwing footballs over them mountains. It doesn't appear that any serious discussions are taking place or are in the works about anything program, strategy or job related.

Warde: Jim we can’t extend ya right now because of the optics. How bout we shake on it. The only possible way I couldn’t bring ya back is if you were the worst team in the East *chuckles*. That’ll never happen! Welcome back!

Harbaugh: Challenge accepted

Hey Jim, I know this is not what you want to hear right now, but what are your thoughts on a virtual "Signing of the Stars" for the 2021 commits?

Warde: Who's got it better than us?

Jim: Nobody.

There is a reason why P5 head coaches are generally the highest paid employees at their respective universities.  Unless it's a for-cause situation, Warde ain't telling him shit...but just to indulge you for a moment, it would be a version of this:  "Here's what I'm hearing from some very deep-pocketed and influential donors..."

THAT'S how it works in that world.  They don't operate in the manager-subordinate world that most of us do.  

"Jim, we appreciate all you have done for Michigan, but I think we both know that things are not moving in a positive direction.  I know that you love Michigan very much, so I am sure that you are planning on retiring after this season, right?"

Just win, baby. 

I would bet my entire life that Ward Manuel  wouldn’t even consider having a conversation with Jim about that stuff right now. I’m 100% certain that conversation is not taking place. 

Does Cracker Barrel have a Sunday buffett?

Cobra is available to cover you until you find other employment.

Hey coach! Are you packed up yet? I know Don will be with you so make sure you save him a seat in the truck 

Jim, you are getting your ass kicked out there..we are going to the bullpen, take a seat.

Unless we have to be all PC, thats about it..still got plenty of time before lunchbreak.

The team is just tough to watch and looks lost on defense.  They've recruited well and not developing the talent has been a major downfall.  Harbaugh does not deserve a pass, not with his paycheck and how long he's been here.  All that said, I would not hate to see him back for a final year of his deal, but I also do not think, for recruiting purposes, it would be smart to have a coach's fate rest with the final year of his contract.  It's a tough spot because I can get behind some of the arguments about losing some kids due to opting out and it just being a completely shitty year in general.  I'd really like to see how Milton does next year and IF Harbaugh is finally able to develop a qb here.  Idk though, firing him after this year is completely justified.  The team looks sloppy and worse, they almost look complacent, which I think is a direct reflection of the coach.  Harbaugh does not seem to be getting fired up and he looks, I don't want to say tired, but annoyed?  If you can't have a guy coaching in the final year of his deal, then he has to be gone, because there is no way you can possibly justify extending him, you just can't.  Idk who potential coaching candidates would be, but give it to a guy who deserves and wants it regardless of there being any sort of Michigan connection.  

Harbaugh is clearly the best coach MIchigan has had in years. Something is up with him, but I don;t think its wise to just toss him out the window because we've had some frustrating losses (I find these losses excruciating esp because they fit a predictable pattern and they def seem to be getting worse, but they have to fight and turn it around rather than give up).

Just five years ago he was one of the best coaches in football anywhere, on any level. And now he can't get his team up to play a bitter rival. His wheels are spinning and by extension so are the team's. 

Coaching changes absolutely suck and I think another one will only set the program back more. Otherwise we're just going to keep cycling through coaches who last at best 5-6 years before everything turns over again. I think its more beneficial for Michigan to help him try to turn it around so they get three or four more good years out of him at which point he can retire. B Kelly turned it around at ND somehow, I believe Harbaugh can too. If Harbaugh is dealing with something personal or mental, the athletic department needs to help him, it shouldn't let him twist in the wind.

They also need to figure out what's wrong with the program if, after a few short years each coaching staff is melting down in nearly identical fashion to the one before. Plus - if Harbaugh couldn't get Michigan to succeed, who will?  And I'm not sure top coaching candidates would want to try. 

Its time for you to go back the NFL, were not renewing your contract, I'm sorry you were not able to achieve what you wanted but atleast you turned the ship somewhat afloat..

You can coach out the season then we will buyout whatever remains of your contract.

Seems like a useful way to kill time...

/s

Hey Jim, you own a calendar right? You do know it's 2020? You do watch other teams play football right? Have you seen that playoff games are much more likely to be won with a score in the 40s than one in the 20s? That this applies to conference championships too? And really almost any game between two significant teams? You know that other coaches value completing deep passes right and maybe our defense strategy should not encourage teams to do that quite so much?

Right now if I'm Warde Manuel, I'd have 2 questions:

1. Why did I leave UConn?

2. Ambassador v Blue Water?  Make sure which one you choose, bring the entire football coaching staff and operations (except Big Johnny) with you!

Fairly certain the convo would be held sitting down to hide Warde's erection.

"What's your deal?"

The issue is there's no real evidence the boosters are very upset about any of this. 

The rank and file fanbase has finally had enough, but the people with the money and the people at the university whose job it is to suck up to the money think this is all fine, because Harbaugh's a Michigan Man damnit. 

See ya!