The Athletic on Michigan Football; Muschamp Firing
If you subscribed to The Athletic and haven’t checked it out recently, it has two articles of note today. One is specifically on Michigan football and focuses on the direction, or lack thereof, of Michigan football and notes, “The body language . . . was abysmal — every bit as bad as, if not worse than, the stuff displayed at the end of the Brady Hoke era.” The other discusses the Muschamp firing, but in doing so discusses Harbaugh and gives him a back-handed compliment for not seeking to renegotiate his contract after his first couple of years at Michigan. The thrust, however, is that the lack of that renegotiated contract makes it easier for Michigan to part ways at the end of the 2020 season.
November 16th, 2020 at 5:22 PM ^
Harbaugh will resign at the end of the year. Best scenario.
November 16th, 2020 at 5:25 PM ^
But is it the likely scenario? Seems strange the school and AD would leave the decision up to the coach.
November 16th, 2020 at 5:28 PM ^
Graceful parting of the ways.
November 16th, 2020 at 5:34 PM ^
Thanks for clarifying.
November 16th, 2020 at 6:01 PM ^
One thing Harbaugh isn't, and that's a quitter. He will do everything in his power to turn it around, if given the opportunity, but he will not resign. Especially with money on the table. He will finish his contract.
November 16th, 2020 at 6:04 PM ^
He could "resign" with a negotiated exit package that captures most/all of the money left in the contract.
November 16th, 2020 at 6:13 PM ^
He would also (Should also) know what is best for the University if he's done any self reflection. And the writing is on the wall for that one.
November 16th, 2020 at 6:40 PM ^
For a non-quitter, he certainly doesn't look engaged on the sidelines or the press conferences. Not just abstractly, but in comparison to Harbaugh himself.
November 16th, 2020 at 8:37 PM ^
Let’s face it folks, this is a pride issue. He will not resign and the University doesn’t appear to want to release him. Each side waits for JH to get an offer from an NFL club...guess what, no such offer is coming...meanwhile we will miss the window to recruit a new leader for the program. Does anyone believe JH can change the current trajectory of this program? A week ago JH said, “we’re close to turning the corner,” and this week he said he doesn’t know what is wrong, they they need to go back and focus on the basics. This program has become the joke of CFB.
November 16th, 2020 at 10:35 PM ^
Can people who are sure there's no NFL interest in Harbaugh explain how Kliff Kingsbury, with no pro coaching experience, parlayed getting shit-canned from the 5th best school in Texas with a 35–40 record into $4m a year as an NFL head coach? Like that alone should tell you that nobody in the league gives a shit about college Ws and Ls.
In a directly quite analogous situation in the 80s, Ray Perkins escaped booster disappointment with his tenure at Alabama by returning to the NFL abruptly. The parallels between he and Harbaugh are actually rather striking, honestly... iirc they're the only active NFL coaches to ever quit for college jobs.
November 17th, 2020 at 7:30 AM ^
Well Kingsbury is innovative. He has a reputation as an offensive guru. What does Harbaugh have? His offenses aren't innovative, his defenses aren't suffocating. He isn't developing QB's. What's the appeal?
November 17th, 2020 at 8:14 AM ^
I will give some credit where it's due - the offense we saw against first half OSU and Alabama last year, and against Minnesota (caveats, clearly, but the concept was there), was spectacular! There were parts of other games with that promise, also (ie: ND)... Those were a great combinations of Harbaugh's preference for TE's and FB's mixed with Gattis' speed in space reads and quick hitters, all combined with Warriners base power and zone blocking schemes. Those are the offenses we thought we'd be seeing by now, but they've never had staying power. I can't explain why he continues to blow up his own success through reversion to 1988, but he does so consistently.
November 17th, 2020 at 8:43 AM ^
Two words. Incredibly stubborn.
November 17th, 2020 at 11:18 AM ^
Harbaugh does have 3 NFC Title appearances in his four years in the NFL. Let’s not sit here and act like Harbaugh is just an absolutely atrocious coach with no upside. The guy can coach. For whatever reason, it’s simply not showing up this year.
November 17th, 2020 at 11:33 AM ^
This.
For whatever reason it's not working this year. Could be two missing starting tackles, two missing DE's, shaky (though high effort) DT's, a problematic Quarterback situation (I'm praying Cade rectifies that this weekend), abysmal cornerback play? Non-boring safeties (although Dax Hill has been okay), debatable scheme on defense and random coaches departing pre-season.
That's a long list an Harbaugh holds accountability, obviously. I doubt he goes anywhere though and the admin and he run his contract through next year with varied coaching changes. It's not optimal, perhaps, but it's not like the guy never achieved anything.
I struggle with this because I don't really see Matt Campbell or Fickell as a superior option.
November 17th, 2020 at 11:27 AM ^
He has actual concrete NFL wins and losses. This offseason, some NFL team is going to give millions and millions of dollars to Steve Spagnuolo, a man with a 10-38 record as a head coach, because he was the defensive coordinator for a team with Patrick Mahomes at QB and you want me to believe there is no market for a coach who went 44-19-1 and went to a Super Bowl because he didn't beat Ohio State and had one losing season?
NFL people do not care about the ephemera of college football, they don't care about our rivalry with OSU or about the emotional difference between a 9-3 season and an 11-1 season to a blue blood program. They see a guy who turned Colin Kaepernick into a world beating QB and went to three successive title games and then went back to college because he's a weirdo... then he flamed out because college is weird and byzantine and involves recruiting which everyone in the NFL agrees is moronic. That's a much better get for, say, the Jaguars than seeing if Leslie Frazier won't suck this time around or w/e
November 17th, 2020 at 8:06 AM ^
You do not recall correctly. I mean, at first blush I recall that both Nick Saban and Bobby Petrino left active NFL jobs for college.
November 17th, 2020 at 11:36 AM ^
I'm kind of not counting them or guys like Lou Holtz because I think there's a tangible difference between being a college-to-the-pros guy who flames out and quits before you're fired to go back to what you know vs being a guy who half the league would hire and choosing to go to college for esoteric reasons. If Nick Saban were making the playoffs with the Fins, he wouldn't have gone back to college coaching.
November 17th, 2020 at 8:06 AM ^
It might be shocking but some people have talent and abilities greater than the opportunities available to them. My guess is his hiring has something to do with the transition to high powered offense being just as or maybe more important than defense. He’s bringing that and doesn’t need to recruit defenses anymore. The Cardinals can afford to hire (hopefully) a great defensive coordinator, about 6 more assistant coaches, more practice time, robust talent and opponent scouting, etc.
With limited resources he put together some amazing offenses for over a decade with several NCAA records and was involved with two Heisman winners. The only QB he ever coached that wasn’t drafted is an 8 year NFL vet. The rest; one went in the third round, and the other four in the first round with two of those going number one overall (giving him some credit for identifying Mayfield and having the inches to start a walk-on freshman).
The Cards will probably make the playoffs in his first year in the NFL with a rookie QB.
I sincerely hope Michigan’s next coach has a track record as good as this rather than two or three amazing years thanks to one generational diamond in the rough or even worse because he’s previously connected to the program.
/rant
November 17th, 2020 at 8:53 AM ^
1) I think the trajectory of his time at Michigan has played into what his sharpest critics thought about him: he wears on the people around him and cannot sustain anything for more than 3-4 seasons. It is kinda striking that the first job he's ever stayed in this long has seen the entire organization of what he's doing unravel.
2) What he built his teams around a decade ago in the NFL is just the total opposite direction of where the NFL is moving right now. His teams in San Fran used 3 WR sets less than any other team in the NFL *At the time* and the NFL has only gotten more college-y since then.
All that said, if he really wants an NFL job, I think he can get one. He's still got a super bowl appearance, and there's always the Jets.
November 17th, 2020 at 10:49 AM ^
Exactly. The NFL loves retreads and JH will still have some juice in the NFL. Its a different game where you don't have to recruit against powerhouse programs.
November 17th, 2020 at 7:56 AM ^
That is a ludicrous suggestion. The idea of letting a coach go into a season with no contract is basically setting your program on fire. They'll be lucky if the recruiting class makes the top 50.
November 16th, 2020 at 6:19 PM ^
Everyone's contract is set to terminate at the end of 2021, including Warde's. Who the heck is making these decisions ? The President who hates football or the crazy Regent that wants to hire Urban Meyer ? Yikes
November 16th, 2020 at 7:42 PM ^
So, is this like your opinion or are you hearing things? No criticizing, but this is a big statement from someone that has or had insider knowledge. If true, I assume Warde is aware. Does he have a list? Is he doing anything behind the scenes to get someone ASAP to salvage the recruiting class for early signing day?
November 16th, 2020 at 5:30 PM ^
Guessing or best truth at this time? I know you often have insider info.
November 16th, 2020 at 5:52 PM ^
He may want to get out before 12/12.
Just sayin'
November 16th, 2020 at 5:54 PM ^
Makes sense. I remember when Lloyd Carr retired Bill Martin said that he'd been told at the start of the season of Carr's intention, so he spent the season compiling a list of something like 20 coaching candidates.
All that time and he still screwed that up royally. Let's hope Warde is better prepared.
November 16th, 2020 at 6:17 PM ^
Of course he "said" that. He was on a boat for most of that season. And beings that he was, he could be quoted as also saying, "Fuck trees, I climb buoys mother fucker" (Lonely Island for those who don't know).
November 16th, 2020 at 10:14 PM ^
The best duo Halloween costume my college roommate and I ever had. Even had an inflatable dolphin for ‘doin flips and sh*t’.
November 16th, 2020 at 8:39 PM ^
Warde had less time than that and hired Howard for Men's BB. Seems to be a bit better at getting the good coach (thus far).
I think Harbaugh needs to get insane on the sideline again. The players responded to that in the first 2-3 years before the conference told him to tone it down. If you're acting like a gut fish on the sidelines, your players aren't gonna get pumped to play for you.
November 16th, 2020 at 11:38 PM ^
People always say this - “Harbaugh was crazy on the sideline and was told to tone it down”. Was he really? I remember the one 15 yd flag, but I don’t remember him making some kind of scene regularly on the field. This seems like a nonsensical gripe after 4 years of worsening to this season. Did he really get so badly chided behind closed doors that he tanked his career and UM football?
November 16th, 2020 at 11:48 PM ^
You might want to go back and watch some 2015 & 16 games. They kept a camera on him to make sure they didn't miss any of his sideline antics. There were quite a few. He especially liked whipping off his hat and jacket and throwing them.
Supposedly his father insisted he calm down several notches after 2016.
Both I and others have posted similar educated observations about Harbaugh's current demeanor and what it suggests. In the end, the reason matters mostly to him, for us the results on the field tell the story.
November 17th, 2020 at 9:39 AM ^
yep, it was always hilarious that directly after a play, the camera would immediately go to him. He had more camera time that the players some games.
November 16th, 2020 at 6:48 PM ^
Thanks ace
Nobody should listen to people with alt. Accounts
November 16th, 2020 at 6:49 PM ^
What if he loses to Rutgers or, worse yet, looks overmatched against Rutgers? Fraudbaugh needs to go now...these players deserve competent coaching. I saw nobody on that team ready to fight for the crapwhisperer last week. These games will be just painful to watch you could see the player body language through the TV.
November 16th, 2020 at 7:48 PM ^
I'm confused. If he left now they would just make Don Brown the interim head coach. What good would that do?
November 16th, 2020 at 8:47 PM ^
This is what they could do...begin a national search.
November 16th, 2020 at 7:59 PM ^
These new nicknames for Harbaugh are some weak sauce. Dane Cook come up with these? Larry the Cable Guy?
November 16th, 2020 at 7:17 PM ^
I’d be perfectly fine with this. He can’t seriously be that delusional to think he can still turn this around. I can’t see how anyone can enjoy this. If he still has some decency he will step down at the end of the year. And then the coaching search can begin...
November 16th, 2020 at 7:52 PM ^
Way to come here with a popular take pretty much everywhere on the internet disguised as "inside information".
November 16th, 2020 at 9:23 PM ^
Seriously man. Just let it go. It gets tiring watching you stalk Umbig11, then run to the moderator board when he punches back.
November 16th, 2020 at 10:31 PM ^
BK finest it?
November 16th, 2020 at 5:26 PM ^
Sounds like it came down to mask usage. At this point I think it's fair to ask what other criterion is there?
November 16th, 2020 at 5:45 PM ^
Maybe it's time to get over the fact that Brian used a metaphor you didn't like. Life's always changing: Maybe next time Brian writes a game column he'll use a metaphor you do like.
November 16th, 2020 at 5:54 PM ^
Seems unlikely, but I'm still enjoying this failed one! Seize the day like Tommy Wilhelm.
November 16th, 2020 at 6:38 PM ^
Do you enjoy acting like a contrarian douche? He even admitted it’s a silly thing to get worked up about, yet here you are, banging that drum like my 6 year old when i tell him he’s not getting a new toy.
November 16th, 2020 at 6:49 PM ^
I do love pointing out flawed logic even if it angers others. Especially the self-righteous. Remember Ulizio?
Getting upvotes on here, like say Saturday evening, is like shooting fish in a barrel. Boring. Getting downvotes on MGoBlog for something people can't refute? That's like listening to the summer rain. Restorative.
November 16th, 2020 at 7:15 PM ^
Wow. It's unhealthy to care this much about blog points. Also Ulizio? Like Nolan Ulizio? No I don't think anyone remembers. Is this like some internet argument from 5 years ago you're still bitter about? Yikes.