Harbaugh Era So Far - How do you rate it?
What are your thoughts? Is it a success, failure, in-between, or incomplete? (I got this topic idea from Cody Stavenhagen on the Athletic and wanted to hear from you all. Here are my thoughts...
I feel that it has largely been a success considering where the program was when he took it over. He overachieved with a transfer quarterback in his first season by winning 10 games and turning Rudock into an NFL draft pick. In his second season, they lost three games by a total of five points - all of which came down to the final play. Granted, they could have made plays earlier so that they weren’t in that situation. Regardless, they were one shady call in Columbus away from playing in the Big Ten championship and moving on to the playoff. That was all accomplished with a three star quarterback who was not immensely talented. Last year, they had the least number of returning starters in D1 college football. Their top two quarterbacks got injured, and they still managed to win eight games.
Harbaugh has been a victim of unrealistic expectations, created partially by his overachieving and leading the team to the brink of the playoff in his second season and partially because of his outstanding accomplishments at every other coaching job he has taken. Look at what happened to Florida State, a preseason top three team, when they lost their quarterback last season. Look at Notre Dame and Michigan State in the 2016 season, they were 3-9 and 4-8 respectively. The worst season in the Harbaugh era of Michigan is 8-5. Let’s not forget to mention that while he has not fared well against his rivals, MSU had two fluky wins. They barely won in a monsoon with 5 Michigan turnovers that still went to the final play and won on one of the luckiest plays in college football history. I already mentioned that OSU won one game on a very questionable call. Also, anybody who watched last year‘s game knows that even decent quarterback play would have led to a Michigan victory. How many teams can compete with Ohio State like that with their third string quarterback? And now this year, you have a very talented roster and an excellent coaching staff ready to compete again at the highest level. Also, he is looking at his third top 10 recruiting class in four years.
Things are very bright in Ann Arbor (despite the misleading media and jealous fan bases pointing out third-place divisional finishes without any context). And the best of the era is yet to come. Michigan fans are fortunate to have such an excellent leader for the program. Plus, when you look at their two two chief rivals off the field, Michigan fans have to be grateful to have a leader, a program, and a university that stand for something more than winning at all costs.
Wow, just wow. Is that you Wojo? Please remove the Johnny Blue Skies visor from your winged helmet. Yes, the first two seasons were better than the previous 8, but let's get serious. It hasn't worked out the way anyone expected, and that's probably the most true for Harbaugh himself. I truly think he underestimated how competitive the Big Ten had become since he left Stanford, and has consistently been out coached by Dantonio and Meyer. Which makes me sick to my stomach.
Do I hate the Sparty and Bucknut trolls too? Yes, but they earned it and I have no issues when they just point out facts. Our fan base sounds like whiney b*tches when we laugh at their 3-9 season, even though they've won the big ten and been to playoffs. I don't want to hear about "one bad call away". Boo hoo. This ain't horseshoes and hand grenades. That's sports.
Jimmy needs to lock it up this year and beat MSU/OSU. We are so jaded that losing to ND or PSU or Wiscy is acceptable as long as we beat the big 2 rivals.
I'd say Harbaugh has done very well. The overall record is about right. The issue is that for whatever reason, the bad luck seems to be concentrated in the rivalry games while the good luck has seemed to come against non-rivals.
I'd give him a pass on the quaterback play given what he inherited, but his guys are now RS sophomore, RS freshmen and freshmen so the pool of his recruits is now large enough/experienced enough that one of them needs to show up.
I guess if you were to rate it thus far, you'd probably have to rate it fairly high with noted areas in need of improvement, and that's mainly because of something rather simple - when you consider where we were at the moment Harbaugh stepped off the plane at DTW and then look at now, even with the disappointment of 2017, we're in a much better spot. Plateaus that seemed inaccessible at the end of 2014 now seem accessible provided QB play, OL play and some other items begin to show improvement. Not the highest grade, but a reasonably high one certainly.
I know it might sound cliché but I think its too soon in his tenure at Michigan to say its a success or not. I still think he's on the list of best coaches in the NCAA and we're lucky to have him. I have no doubt that he will bring Michigan back to greatness in time. But man, I'd be lying if I said that I'm not extremely excited about Wariner as the OL coach and the idea of Shea Patterson taking the snaps. Not to mention the returning starters on D. I know its a tough schedule, but this D should have a great shot at winning on the road, especially if our offense starts rolling this year. The Notre Dame game can't come soon enough. Go Blue!!
Incomplete
All in all I'd say 'incomplete' and that is strictly due to the instability at the QB position. They've had position stability everywhere else (this isn't taking into account results) but QB has been a revolving door. Rudock - Speight - O'Korn/Peters - TBD. This isn't a case where the team is cycling through a new senior QB each year with plenty of seasoning. As such, anything other than 'incomplete' is unwarranted.
Items on the to-do list include consistently beating both MSU and OSU (as noted, the team is close - it is time to get over that hump), not losing recruits (it'll happen less as wins come more often against rivals), and not losing bowl games (the instability contributes here but a good chunk of it is preparedness).
So as much as I want to say "oh yeah, they get a 72 on a 100 scale", I'm willing to give the regime this year and next year before deciding the matter. In the end my expectations, realistic or not, are regular B1G titles and the occasional participation in the NC discussion as opposed to occasional discussion about B1G titles and no talk come the last half of Nov about NC and Michigan.
Yep, I'd say about a C+as well so far.
So far, I rate it a 42 out of 42! (Taking inspiration from a previous poster.)
2015 was way more awesome than we had a right to hope.
2016 was pretty good, highly exciting, and of our 3 losses, we lost by a total of 5 points. Ye gods! It was 5 points away from being stupefying!
2017 wasn't as we hoped, but (as a result of watching the Amazon series) I went back and watched a bunch of the critical moments, and a few losses weren't as bad as they seemed at the time -- a slip up here and there. Sometimes, the cards aren't with you.
Yet, look at where we are now. An amazing defense returns. Giant and surprising changes in coaching. Great recruits. What looks to be great talent on the offense for 2018. So we will see, and it is exciting!
Add to all of this that we have a coach with an amazing history and a great knack for media and keeping Michigan in the news.
I think it's GREAT! :)
Also, who's got it better than us?
Alabama, for example, has a great winning record, sure, but they have a sourpuss as a head coach. Who sits around thinking it would be cool to go have a beer with him? But Harbaugh? Oh, yeah! (Or a glass of milk and a steak.)
Very High -- B+ at least.
End of the day, the program is in much better position today than when he started. There is a strong vision for scheme and of the type of athlete / person being recruited. It just hasn't shown up in the win column due to some freak circumstances -- MSU freak play (2015) and weather (2017), OSU officiating, etc. He also inherited a mess at key position groups.
Overall I would rather be in our position than MSUs, although with that being said OSU has stayed ahead of us and a resurgent PSU is at least equal to us.