Jay Harbaugh as RB coach: why?

Submitted by Wolverine Devotee on January 2nd, 2019 at 8:19 PM

Can anyone else think of someone who never played college football much less the position they were coaching who jumped right into a college assistant coaching job?

Better yet, has anyone ever heard of a guy who never played the position of RB replacing a former NFL RB and All-American at the position with a proven track record?

I’ll hang up and listen go blue

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Ibow

January 3rd, 2019 at 7:07 AM ^

Good grief. Neg the crap out of me .... I just get tired of the continuous Harbaugh bashing. I’m bummed out to but move on everyone. The Spring Game and Sept are both a long ways off. I’m sure the entire coaching staff will think long and hard about this past season. 

Imagine if it were YOU at that post FL game press conference. 

Go Blue. Always.

Joined: 04/13/2018

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Alumnus93

January 3rd, 2019 at 9:52 AM ^

The upside to the last few games might be that the fluff train ends....am so sick of people and articles pumping up players from the practices to fill the void... And figure that the players read the fluff...and as Bo said it makes them soft and get a big head and then will crash down.  

Joined: 09/10/2009

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pescadero

January 3rd, 2019 at 8:39 AM ^

His never playing is irrelevant.

 

He shouldn't have been hired, and shouldn't be part of the staff because of nepotism - whether he is a great coach or a horrible one doesn't matter.

Joined: 03/28/2013

MGoPoints: 12081

Magnus

January 3rd, 2019 at 8:44 AM ^

Saying "No because nepotism" is a weak argument. There's nothing inherently wrong with hiring somebody within your own family. The "wrong" thing is hiring somebody who can't do the job. Obviously, Jay Harbaugh can.

Based on your argument, nobody's son/daughter/family member should ever be hired at any company (insurance, car sales, mechanic, etc.) because nepotism.

Joined: 07/17/2008

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pescadero

January 3rd, 2019 at 8:54 AM ^

Most companies I've worked at in my life:

 

1) Allow relatives to be hired at the same company

2) DO NOT allow relatives to be hired or managed by relatives.

 

Jay Harbaugh gets hired by the Chemistry department and managed by the Dean of LSA? Cool.

Jay Harbaugh gets hired by the AD and managed by Dave Ablauf? Cool.

Jay Harbaugh gets hired BY HIS DAD and managed BY HIS DAD? No Bueno.

 

It wouldn't fly when I worked at Intel, it wouldn't fly when I worked at Pfizer... the only place it was allowed? The 25 person, completely dysfunctional, family owned business I used to work at.

 

Now - university policy doesn't prohibit it, but SPG 201.23 requires some fun paperwork in an attempt to prevent favoritism due to nepotism...

I wonder if Jay has the required "management plan" to  "address reporting relationships, supervision and evaluation that will assure that there will be no decision making based upon relationships in promotion, wages, hours or other conditions of employment"

 

Joined: 03/28/2013

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crom80

January 3rd, 2019 at 12:01 PM ^

you could ask for an estimate regarding the fee and a waiver. if you really want to know you could ask for it.

"There is no initial fee required to submit a FOIA request, but the FOIA does provide for the charging of certain types of fees in some instances.

For a typical requester the agency can charge for the time it takes to search for records and for duplication of those records. There is usually no charge for the first two hours of search time or for the first 100 pages of duplication.

You may always include in your request letter a specific statement limiting the amount that you are willing to pay in fees. If an agency estimates that the total fees for processing your request will exceed $25, it will notify you in writing of the estimate and offer you an opportunity to narrow your request in order to reduce the fees. If you agree to pay fees for a records search, you may be required to pay such fees even if the search does not locate any releasable records."

https://www.foia.gov/faq.html

Joined: 04/13/2016

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pescadero

January 3rd, 2019 at 12:51 PM ^

I... ummm... know people - that have recently been involved with auditing the FOIA group. Nothing has changed.

 

They largely go out of their way to do as LITTLE as possible required under the law, and go out of their way to avoid giving out information. They definitely don't adhere to the intent of FOIA law.

Joined: 03/28/2013

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bluesalt

January 3rd, 2019 at 8:46 AM ^

He didn't "jump right in" to a college assistant coaching job.  He was a student assistant at a D-1 program (Oregon State) and then had an analyst job in the NFL with a Super Bowl champion (Ravens) for three years.

Yes, he got the above opportunities in part (perhaps large part) because his last name is Harbaugh, but he didn’t go straight from his dorm room to being an assistant coach.

Joined: 11/02/2011

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lastofthedogmen

January 3rd, 2019 at 9:10 AM ^

*edit - didn't see Blue Salt's post above this one before posting. Sorry for the redundancy...

He didn't jump right into a college assistant coaching job at UM. He worked in an entry-level job at the Ravens for 3 years, after graduating from Oregon (or Oregon State) where he worked as undergrad assistant for Mike Riley for 4 years. My guess is that he wouldn't have been hired at UM if John hadn't given him good marks for his work in Baltimore, and wouldn't have advanced up the chain at UM if he hadn't handled his responsibilities well in his initial job. As I read the Harbaughs, he'd get a job based on his name, but keep it based on his work.

 

Joined: 11/18/2014

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crom80

January 3rd, 2019 at 9:35 AM ^

i bet this is exactly what fans of Western Kentucky said when Jim was an assistant for Jack.


'He is on staff because his last name is Harbaugh and happens to play QB in the NFL. He doesn't have coaching experience. All he can do is recruit by saying he plays in the NFL. He has the time to help out because he doesn't play in the playoffs'

Joined: 04/13/2016

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Section 35

January 3rd, 2019 at 10:30 AM ^

Mike Leach comes to mind.

Not sure why people think that coaches have to play the sport to be a good coach. I played college ball for a Hall of Fame player in his day that was absolute garbage as a college head coach. 

Joined: 04/02/2015

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Jmer

January 3rd, 2019 at 10:34 AM ^

This is a really bad take WD. Like really, really bad.

The tight end position was much better in blocking, route running, and catching when Jay was coaching TE. We had a ton of talent at the TE position this year and for the most part, the TE greatly underachieved.

Karan got better each year under Jay both as a runner and as a pass blocker. Tru Wilson went from an after thought to battling for the starting spot next year. Our running back recruiting skyrocketed up this past class. 

The special teams numbers got better when he took over the unit.

Jay has spent his life immersed in the game of football. So he didn't play in college but he spent his time as a student assistant, learning and studying the game. That's like me saying that you didn't attend the University of Michigan so how can you be a real fan? Well, you've spent your life immersed in Michigan fan hood. You not attending makes you no less of a fan. Jay not playing college ball makes him no less qualified to be a coach. 

Joined: 12/26/2014

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Mpfnfu Ford

January 3rd, 2019 at 11:51 AM ^

I guess I just don't have much energy to be upset about who the RB coach is, because for years Michigan's RB coach was Some Guy. Jay has never seemed like he was incompetent or anything, and who cares if you played. 

But on the other side, would Nick Saban have a relative on staff taking up one of his precious coaching spots? No.

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BlueMk1690

January 3rd, 2019 at 12:55 PM ^

Perhaps not but the current RB coach at Alabama played QB at the DII level and has never been a RB coach before at any level. 

It shows a remarkable lack of familiarity with how college football works to think that RB coaches are experts for RB play who instill that wisdom into the kids and make them good RBs. This particular position coaching role ( along with the TE and ST roles) is often enough simply an at-large role for a top recruiter or otherwise valuable guy. 

Whether Jay Harbaugh is the best we can do for that..who knows but its not the reason we lose to Ohio State or anyone else. If Jim Harbaugh wanted to hire a guy in particular hed find a role for him. Jay isnt keeping those guys out of a job.

Joined: 02/04/2011

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I'mTheStig

January 3rd, 2019 at 1:25 PM ^

Can anyone else think of someone who never played college football

 

Hmmmmm...

  • Paul Johnson
  • Sonny Dykes
  • Mike Leach
  • David Cutcliffe
  • Hugh Freeze -- in addition to not playing college football, he doesn't have a moral compass either but I digress
  • George O'Leary

Some pro guys:

  • Jim Mora
  • Joe Gibbs
  • Todd Haley
  • Adam Gase
  • Vince Lombardi
  • Paul Brown
  • Bill Walsh
  • Bill Belichick

I'm guessing there's more.  But why let facts get in the way of your point?!?!

Joined: 11/02/2018

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babarblue99

January 3rd, 2019 at 1:51 PM ^

Great question. For that matter, what position did Lincoln Riley play in college and NFL? How about Nick Saban or Urban Meyer? How TF did those guys get their jobs? That’s bullshit. 

Joined: 11/10/2011

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TIMMMAAY

January 3rd, 2019 at 5:34 PM ^

As you should (regret it). 

I'm an equal opportunity bat swinger. I see dumb stuff, I hit it. The gf seems to be having a somewhat moderating influence on you. You haven't been quite as unbearable lately. But ShawnLMaizen has set a new bar. 

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