The negativity about Coach Harbaugh is irrational.
Here me out.... Through his first 4 years Harbaugh is 38-14. Saban was barely better than that at Lsu and Bama after his first 4 years. Harbaugh has a better record than B Kelly, Dabo and Dantonio did at the sane time. Being pissed is normal and ok, but it doesn’t mean we should want a new coach. Players have to be faster, stronger and more aggressive... all there is to it. Wake up people... it’s coming... this thing is going to be rolling. Cheer up, a new year is upon us.
PS - Be careful what you wish for.
December 30th, 2018 at 10:17 PM ^
What's on second?
December 30th, 2018 at 8:43 PM ^
Saban was barely better than that after his first 4 years at LSU and Bama? After 4 years at LSU he had 2 conference championships, a national championship and 3 bowl wins. After 4 years at Bama he had 2 conference championships, a national championships and 3 bowl wins. Try again and thanks for playing.
December 30th, 2018 at 8:44 PM ^
I don't think most want a change in the Head Coach. I think we are perplexed at team preparation/performance in big games and bowl games. I know Coach Harbaugh is creative and very innovative, but he seems to have gone into a shell with the offensive style of play. Very bland playcalling and not using our best weapons to their strengths.
It is not that he cannot or is unable to do these things, it seems as if he is unwilling or fearful of failing if they don't work. This is the hard part for us fans as this is out of the norm for Coach Harbaughs past performances.
I truly hope he can turn these things around, as we all want Michigan to be successful.
Chuch
December 30th, 2018 at 8:45 PM ^
His first four seasons are worse than Carr, Mo, and Bo in any way you slice it, from titles to winning percentage. He was supposed to bring us back to that level. He hasn’t. It’s not irrational, especially after the hype he’s created. We aren’t competitive against good teams. He needs to make a Beilein-style adjustment after being self reflective and it’s hard to see him doing it. At this point he is what he is.
December 31st, 2018 at 1:17 AM ^
I mostly agree with your post except for:
"He needs to make a Beilein-style adjustment after being self reflective and it’s hard to see him doing it. At this point he is what he is."
That's just silly. He may well not change. But he easily could. He HAS been flexible in the past. It is possibly, though not probable, that he will change this year.
December 30th, 2018 at 8:45 PM ^
This board is awful with the hawt takes the last couple weeks. The week before the bowl game when we found out people were sitting out and quitting on the team, the game didn’t mean anything and it was a glorified exhibition game. The day after the game, Harbaugh should be fired because of the bowl game and we should go after all those amazing national championship coaches who are everywhere you look as long as you throw 15 million a year at them. This board has been unreadable the last 2 weeks
December 30th, 2018 at 9:04 PM ^
Hilarious and predictable. This fanbase is insufferable after losses in football.
December 30th, 2018 at 9:49 PM ^
This is a fan board for passionate fans. If you are expecting otherwise after the last two games, I would rethink your expectations on these forums. It is not a requirement to join in.
December 31st, 2018 at 1:26 PM ^
That’s my point though. The last two games shouldn’t matter because this board of super passionate and always leave headed fans deemed the bowl game meaningless. Until it isn’t and we lose and now our coach should be fired. I’m a super passionate fan but I’m not a reactionary pussy after we lose. It’s crazy, but I can be disappointed and still actually have a reasoned opinion
December 30th, 2018 at 8:46 PM ^
Imagine if Hoke was unable to run a no huddle offense.
December 30th, 2018 at 8:49 PM ^
We need a new OC. If the offense still sucks after that change is made then we're going to have to have an uncomfortable conversation.
December 30th, 2018 at 8:50 PM ^
He’s a good coach. We expected elite results and he’s getting elite pay. What we’re getting is wins vs all the teams we’re supposed to beat and no wins vs elite teams.
December 30th, 2018 at 11:40 PM ^
Harbaugh does not have elite talent and depth to compete with elite teams. At least he is beating the teams in which he has more talent than and split games with teams with equal talent like PSU and in some sense WI. I hated the RR and Hoke years where we would often lose to team less talented. It was no fun when I drove 1000 miles to watch Toledo beat us at home or Wisconsin come into the big house and beat us like a drum. I think Harbaugh will continue to add quality talent and depth for the team to compete with the elite teams, even thought it may take a few more years. One thing that may help us out, is if the playoffs get expanded to 8 teams.
December 30th, 2018 at 8:51 PM ^
I don't think being critical or posting negative comments about coaching performance after the last 2 games is irrational.
Saying he should be fired and that is all, is irrational.
I've read more comments like 'if he doesn't do X and continues to do Y, then we need another coach if we expect to compete in todays NCAA football.' Not an irrational comment.
And yes, yes I am the rational/irrational police.
December 30th, 2018 at 8:52 PM ^
I have one gripe with JH - he is like a cyborg with little to no sense of personality or humor and sometimes can be way too uptight. I have worked in college athletics a number of years and I've seen coaches with similar flaws and it affects their teams in a big time negative way especially when the going gets tough. Look at all the high level coaches...Dabo wears a cowboy hat giving interviews...Urban has a sense of humor, jokes around and is very in-tune with his kids....Saban may be a maniac but at least he chokes up when he talks about some of his players. During the bowl, the announcers even mentioned how JH looked like he wanted to get in the game while Mullen was relaxed and clowning around. During the pre-game press conference, it was obvious Mullen was trying to have some fun talking about his style being sneakers and JH's style with khakis and our coach couldn't even see that it was a joke from one guy to another. Players typically always reflect the mentality of their coaches especially in pressure situations....I wonder if it's his and our achilles heel.
December 30th, 2018 at 9:29 PM ^
Maybe with the press or to the outside world or on game day but you consistently hear from parents and recruits that Harbaugh is one of the most down to earth and easy coach to get to to know.
December 30th, 2018 at 10:04 PM ^
The media and its fake news. I just read a wack article today that Jim Harbaugh lies to players. Fake news, gotta love it.
December 30th, 2018 at 9:37 PM ^
Ding, ding, ding!
He's wound way too tight, and it has gotten progressively worse in the past two years.
Jim Harbaugh used to be the most brash and confident son of a gun in football. I don't know if it's health or family related, but he has the look of a guy who hates his life. And every big loss just feeds the beast.
December 30th, 2018 at 10:47 PM ^
You might have started to convince me until you got to the Urban part. Winning, yes, personable, a big no.
December 30th, 2018 at 11:31 PM ^
Urban has a better public persona than JH....our coach refuses to do in-game interviews when every other coach in America embraces it ....just saying...could be nothing but I find it interesting we struggle when the shit hits the fan.
Beilein has openly admitted to loosening up a bit and having more fun and the program has gone way north.
EDIT: Urban was an announcer - I have my doubts JH would be hired by BTN/ESPN etc...that's my point
January 4th, 2019 at 3:35 PM ^
I think you are mistaking his public persona for his real personality.
JH does not trust or even like the media. So his press conferences are mostly him not directly answering questions and getting annoyed.
I don't blame him one bit. Were I in his shoes, I would be the same way.
You don't get a big job like his without being able to connect with people. I am sure his players, coaches and staff love him.
December 30th, 2018 at 8:53 PM ^
Be careful what you wish for? Is it so much to wish for one god damn win over OSU and for us to look competent against top 10 teams?
December 30th, 2018 at 8:54 PM ^
I hope you are right. I think you are wrong.
December 30th, 2018 at 8:54 PM ^
After 4 years at LSU, Saban had won two SEC conference titles and a National Championship, and was 3-1 in postseason bowls.
After 4 years at Alabama, Saban had gotten the Tide into two SEC championship games, winning one of them and won a National Championship, going 3-1 in bowl games.
In his third year at ND, Brian Kelly got the Irish into the NC game.
In his first 4 full years as HC, Swinney got the Tigers into 3 ACC championship games, winning one, and went 2-2 in bowls.
Dantonio won a BIG title in his fourth year, albeit without having to play OSU.
Michigan has been pretty good under Harbaugh, and firing him now would be very short-sighted. However, the record in terms of actually winning any kind of championship—division, conference, or national—not to mention beating our biggest rivals, is wanting at this point.
The fact that a major college team coached by a guy whose NFL nickname was "Captain Comeback" is apparently unable to run anything approximating a hurry-up offense in year 4 is completely inexplicable.
December 30th, 2018 at 9:42 PM ^
Nick Saban had been a coach in college football for 22 years before he became head coach at LSU.
Jim Harbaugh has coached college football for 11 years. EDIT: that means he was a college coach for 7 years before he took over Michigan.
In there any perspective in that?
Jim Harbaugh needs to make a serious improvement in the coaching position Pep Hamilton now has. Given that happening, and with all the returning players on offense, I expect a night and day difference in how it feels to watch the Michigan Wolverines play football. No more settling for FGs and instead of getting TDs that cause inspiration for the team.
Enough with the defense having to carry the team, and leaving them burned out at the end of the season.
December 30th, 2018 at 8:54 PM ^
Do people actually think this guy is Shea Patterson? Good lord.
December 30th, 2018 at 9:00 PM ^
Im not sure whats sadder: This guy posing as Shea or people being naïve enough to believe its Shea
December 30th, 2018 at 10:19 PM ^
You know what’s even sadder? You not realizing that we’re joking when we act like it’s Shea.
December 30th, 2018 at 9:01 PM ^
They are idiots ...
December 30th, 2018 at 9:13 PM ^
Shea’s great grandfather grew up in a small town and was elected homecoming King. He was the 1st in his family to go to college and went on to become an esteemed Geologist.
Combined with a close evaluation of his commentary it’s very easy to deduce the identity of Mineral King.
December 31st, 2018 at 12:31 PM ^
I seriously hope Shea Patterson isn't wasting his time arguing with idiots on this website.
December 31st, 2018 at 8:42 PM ^
There are quite a few team members and a few coaches on this blog. They do not reply much but would not surprise me if Shea posts his comments here as aka MK.
December 30th, 2018 at 10:06 PM ^
All we have to do is determine if Shea knows the proper hear/here. Once we find that out we will have our answer once and for all.
December 30th, 2018 at 8:57 PM ^
Keep Harbaugh. But there has to be a change on the coaching staff. No more of the coach that is unable to get the team beyond settling for field goals instead of getting TDs.
December 30th, 2018 at 8:59 PM ^
I don't care what his record is. He has Elite talent at skill positions and he needs to use it. If he's 39-14 right now he would be 41-12 had he properly used the talent at his disposal
All.....he...needs...to...do....is...modernize....his....offense.
And tell Don Brown to play a more conservative defense
December 30th, 2018 at 9:52 PM ^
Do you coach football somewhere?
December 30th, 2018 at 10:11 PM ^
Probably not, but he may have stayed in a Holiday Inn Express.
December 30th, 2018 at 10:14 PM ^
I laughed so hard at that. I needed it after some bad news I got today from a friend in the Philippines.
December 31st, 2018 at 1:02 AM ^
Elite talent at the WR position? You mean the hood ornaments? It'd be nice for Pep to use them as part of the engine.
December 30th, 2018 at 9:00 PM ^
Harbaugh is trash and you aren’t Shea Patterson
December 30th, 2018 at 10:11 PM ^
Harbaugh is trash? Seriously? Would a Ohio St fan even say something so stupid? What are you??
December 30th, 2018 at 9:03 PM ^
This is a cut and paste from last year, and the year before. Save it for next year too.
December 30th, 2018 at 9:05 PM ^
I agree to an extent. Some of the criticism is absurd and honestly just goes with recency bias and will go away.
However, if this board was told 4 years ago (when Harbaugh was hired) that through 4 years he would amass a 38-14 record; 2-2 vs MSU and 0-4 vs OSU. In addition he would be 1-3 in bowls with the only win being over Florida in the Citrus Bowl in year one. Zero trips to the CFP or the B1G CG. If we were told he recruited the #1 overall recruit, had 2 years of Peppers, and had a 5 Star QB one year, we would have unanimously doubted that this is where we would be through 4 years. It’s not just the overall record, it’s the fact that now after 3 1/2 recruiting classes and one on the way and we are honestly in a worse spot than we were after 2015. This is not what we expected, and honestly with the talent we have had, we have underachieved greatly.
Aside from 2015 OSU, and 2017 Penn St, the rest of the 12 losses should be cut in half. Based on the talent we have, we should be anywhere from 44-8 to 41-11. With at a bare minimum 1 win over OSU and at least one B1G championship and at least one NY6 win.
We have none of that, and that is a problem.
December 30th, 2018 at 9:09 PM ^
Absolutely agree. He has underachieved and needs to raise the bar a few notches.
December 30th, 2018 at 10:15 PM ^
so he'll incorporate more spread/mobile QB concepts. This was a year to concentrate on not getting the QB killed.
December 30th, 2018 at 9:11 PM ^
this is a rational argument
go blue
December 30th, 2018 at 9:11 PM ^
this is a rational argument
go blue
December 30th, 2018 at 9:05 PM ^
Nick Saban coached in college football for 26 years before he won a National Championship. Man, what the fuck was his problem?
December 30th, 2018 at 9:10 PM ^
Working his way up from job to job until he got to LSU. Amazing awful take though