SEARCHBITS XIV: BRIEFLY RUMORED
HARBAUGH HARBAUGH HARBAUGH. All silent, aside from random NFL scouts lambasting the search and asserting that Harbaugh is not leaving the NFL ever-ever. It's a leap to go from "Michigan seems to be taking an exceptionally long time" to "there is no reason this could be, therefore Michigan is clownfraud."
The very fact that Michigan hasn't hired, or come close to hiring anyone, is evidence enough that they are waiting for definitive word on Harbaugh. And then you have everyone who talks to anyone inside the Michigan program saying that very loudly. Michigan may not get the guy, but it won't be because he turned Michigan down two weeks ago.
The only movement yesterday was a brief explosion of optimism last night based on a post from the very edge of the internet that got deleted once it was passed around, but not before the echo chamber went into full effect. No idea how seriously to take that. It does sound like certain people on the inside are beginning to believe it's really happening.
ON WHITTINGHAM. With the exception of Sam Webb, listening to talk radio guys is never advisable. 97.1's Jeff Riger just re-confirmed that yesterday by asserting that Kyle Whittingham was literally in Ann Arbor, a claim debunked a few hours later when Whittingham showed up at his previously-scheduled team meeting.
Like the Brandt thing, this was obviously untrue on its face: Michigan was never going to fire off an offer to Cutcliffe at this stage of their search, and sitting head coaches do not fly to towns with open jobs. These meetings take place in airports until it's time for a press conference, and again there is no way Michigan fills this job until they get a definitive answer from Harbaugh.
ALSO IN RE: WHITTINGHAM. I've heard there may have been some actual family issues involved with Gary Andersen's departure to Corvallis: namely, Andersen is Mormon and it's possible they were having a tough time adjusting to Madison. That's a reason Michigan and Mendenhall or Whittingham are unlikely to hook up.
I mean: these are two very successful coaches who haven't had so much as a sniff at bigger jobs. Utah blew out Alabama to go undefeated in 2008 and then went 10-3 the next two years and nobody so much as flirted with the guy. It is really hard to get coaches out of the state of Utah.
BUT WHAT ABOUT THE HOT DOGS? Sean Payton strongly denied any rumors that he'd be somewhere other than New Orleans, correctly dubbing them "silly":
Asked at his press conference today about the possibility that he might step down following this season, Payton said, “Absolutely no way.”
Payton said he is aware that there’s been speculation that he wants to leave New Orleans, but Payton added, “It’s silly. It won’t happen.”
I don't care what insiders said X or Y about Payton's availability. The ghost of Bo could appear to me and tell me Payton was the guy and I would say "he has an eight million dollar contract until 2018, Bo—y'all be crazy." If the Saints decide to pull the ripcord on the best coach in their history thanks to one bad year and eat what I assume is a simply massive buyout, then we are getting to the realm of vague plausibility. Until that highly unlikely event transpires, "silly" is the kind way to put it.
These last two items are me getting exercised about people reporting things without considering how likely they are outside of "I herd it from mah dudez". I heard the weirdass Marvin Lewis thing and told you, but I also mentioned it was weirdass and I didn't expect anything to come of it.
NEVERMIND THE CHEESEOFF. Wisconsin takes under 24 hours to hire Paul Chryst, removing the admittedly remote possibility Michigan and Wisconsin would go after the same guy. Hilariously, a source says "I thought this would be the scenario from Day 1" on Day 1.
Alvarez is going through the "public posting" kabuki but it's done, according to everyone.
THIS IS NEWS FOR SOME REASON. Michigan sent out a release this morning stating that they've hired Korn Ferry as their search firm for 80-250k. Why Michigan would tell people this now (they've been working with the firm since Hoke got cashiered) and why people would repeat it out loud remains a mystery to me. Hackett said he'd be employing a search firm and everyone pretty much knew who that would be once he said said search firm would be familiar with Michigan.
It's a thing you can tweet, I guess.
Reactions have mostly fallen into one of two camps. One: "let me google that for you." Two: "lol these guys hired Brandon and Hoke." I agree with #1. Not so much #2. Brandon was a locked-in insider candidate after being a regent and helping hire Mary Sue Coleman (see Coleman's going-away present of a six-year guaranteed contract); Hoke was a locked-in insider candidate that Brandon was going to hire no matter who the search firm was after Harbaugh went with the 49ers.
All those guys do is give you a list of vetted names; Michigan's screwups are their own. That was supposed to be more reassuring than it ended up being.
WE MIGHT EVEN PASS ON JAY GRUDEN. ESPN Insider's rumor mill thing picks up the RealGM "nugget" on Jay Gruden's supposed interest in Michigan, then mentions that there's another guy out there:
Former UM quarterback and current San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh is another name that has come up often for the Wolverines job in recent weeks, and given Harbaugh's ties to the program and the likelihood that his days in SF are just about over, it's reasonable to believe that he could be the school's No. 1 coaching target, even ahead of Gruden.
This insight is available for just a few dollars a month.
FAN PECKING ORDER. 24/7 ran a series of polls asking their users about whether coaching candidates would be okay. The results:
- Harbaugh (95% yes)
- Stoops (89%)
- Miles (81%)
- Mora (77%)
- Mullen (69%)
- Herman (49%)
- Bielema (46%)
- Narduzzi (41%)
- Cutcliffe (41%)
- Whittingham (34%)
- Gundy (29%)
- Schiano (14%)
- Addazio (12%)
Gundy is a huge surprise down there. Addazio not so much.
Etc.: More on the role this advisory committee thing is playing. Sam says Les Miles's age isn't going to be a hindrance($) to his candidacy and that the search is apparently narrowed to four guys($), though which four is unclear. Miles and Harbaugh are amongst them; past that nobody knows.
December 12th, 2014 at 12:53 PM ^
Don't mean to sound like a jerk in the example, but 80-250K times 2 searches is a lot of money for helping with searches that ended in paying even more money in buyouts due to poor perfomance.
Not sure how Miles wasn't even offered in 2010 with "Michigan Man" being a requirement. It would seem he would have been the entire list.
December 12th, 2014 at 1:02 PM ^
The only way your last paragraph could be a legitimate criticim of the search firm is if both a) Miles was left off the list by the firm, and b) Miles wanted to take the job (because part of the job of the firm is to guage interest - they won't include anyone on the list who wouldn't take the job if offered).
We don't know either of those things, so you can't blame the search firm for that. It's entirely possible that Miles was on that list and Brandon passed on him.
December 12th, 2014 at 1:07 PM ^
Knowing the ass Brandon was he probably passed...
In other news, just saw it reported the Univeristy of Houston is using twitter as its search firm.
@UHpres: have an opinion about next Football Coach, now's time to tell us.
December 12th, 2014 at 1:16 PM ^
I'm sure there were a lot of hot women on the list but Brandon was friends with one of the uglier girls on the list! The hot girls would have turned Michigan around but the ugly girl left our program a mess! I'm sure there were even uglier girls who did not even make the '10 list.
December 12th, 2014 at 12:46 PM ^
on the way you phrase the requirement... Are you paying him to find you 20 girls or are you paying him to find you 20 hot girls? Just like with the Korn Ferry thing...if they were paid to find interested candidates, then they did their job.
December 12th, 2014 at 12:56 PM ^
Very true, I guess I'm crazy to think 80-250K would buy great service.
December 12th, 2014 at 12:59 PM ^
it all depends on how you phrase the requirement. Good service or bad service, if you tell them "find me 20 interested candidates" that's what they should do. As a government contractor, I can tell you that job performance is clearly spelled out in a statement of work. Edit: Your cynicism is noted.
December 12th, 2014 at 12:32 PM ^
Trying to get benched again, I guess.
December 12th, 2014 at 12:50 PM ^
[Jump to 8:09]
December 12th, 2014 at 12:07 PM ^
It looks to me like the Korn Ferry press release went out today to give newspapers something to write other than the search is taking a long time.
It's yet another indication that nothing is happening soon. They took a couple days to fire him, had the banquet with Hoke there, now they release this non-news.
I wonder what they'll come up with next week if we really have to wait until the NFL season ends.
December 12th, 2014 at 12:58 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
December 12th, 2014 at 12:07 PM ^
Along with most everyone, my #1 is Harbaugh. However, if we hired anyone else from this list, I'd be quite ok.
Miles
Patterson
Wittingham
Mora
Stoops
December 12th, 2014 at 12:59 PM ^
As an employee of Korn Ferry you really should not be publishing that publicly... ;)
But yes that's a fine list. I dont think Patterson is available from all indications and obviously Stoops other than internet rumors would be a massive long shot. I'm not as sold on Mora as others and he too turned down Texas last year from all indications and would be a NFL flight risk every offseason as well.
December 12th, 2014 at 3:31 PM ^
Mora would surely get a big buyout clause. He's a bigger flight risk than some, I suppose, but also more likely to stay for a very long time than a lot of others. It's hard to know which is more important, so I'd go with the better coach.
I don't think those Stoops rumors came out of thin air. One of the sources used to cover OU football and surely has contacts there. I think he would be careful not to start baseless rumors.
December 12th, 2014 at 12:07 PM ^
Really bummed I missed out on this wild rumor.
December 12th, 2014 at 12:16 PM ^
There WAS a good rumor last night. It went: "Somebody said something something something Harbaugh's coming something something something."
Tonight there might be a bad one though and I'll summarize that one for you too (just in case):
"Somebody said something something something Harbaugh's not coming something something something."
December 12th, 2014 at 12:31 PM ^
It wasn't anything new, but someone claimed they say a text message from Gary Moeller confirming it. I hope that's not too much info.
I'm actually surprised that Gary Moeller knows how to text message. Outside of RichRod, finding out that any ex-M HC sends text messages is a surprise to me.
December 12th, 2014 at 12:35 PM ^
I thought it was Andy Moeller, former Harbaugh teammate? Either way...smh.
December 12th, 2014 at 12:41 PM ^
Haha, that makes more sense. I probably just read it wrong, and it was gone shortly thereafter.
He probably texts, so the rumor must be true.
December 12th, 2014 at 12:37 PM ^
If it's any consolation he probably uses a flip phone.
December 12th, 2014 at 12:50 PM ^
...cell phones come with headsets, too?
December 12th, 2014 at 12:56 PM ^
found it using your info. thanks.
and holy hell, 'very edge of the internet' was an understatement.
December 12th, 2014 at 1:52 PM ^
Interesting to see that a "Harbaugh to Michigan" scenario has created some concern among rival fans at MSU and OSU (also some funny shit, at our collective expense).
December 12th, 2014 at 12:08 PM ^
Don't forget the same search firm was responsible for the upper management of the New York Jets. Granted, that's an organization who's dysfunction runs way deeper than Michigan's, but it's another data point that these guys aren't convincing their clients that quality comes first.
December 12th, 2014 at 12:10 PM ^
If we don't get Harbaugh, the worst outcome will be that it wil make the NFL insiders look like they were right all along.
December 12th, 2014 at 12:21 PM ^
December 12th, 2014 at 1:06 PM ^
And that we don't have Harbaugh...
December 12th, 2014 at 12:10 PM ^
December 12th, 2014 at 12:12 PM ^
Those things may be true about him, but I'd be spittin' mad if we hired him. Do not want.
December 12th, 2014 at 12:19 PM ^
Do you mean you have him higher because you personally see him as a better candidate than listed or because you believe Michigan has him higher?
December 12th, 2014 at 12:31 PM ^
He also allegedly encourages his players to purposefully injure opposing student athletes.
Nope.
December 12th, 2014 at 12:13 PM ^
December 13th, 2014 at 9:36 AM ^
December 12th, 2014 at 12:13 PM ^
The only movement yesterday was a brief explosion of optimism last night based on a post from the very edge of the internet that got deleted once it was passed around, but not before the echo chamber went into full effect. No idea how seriously to take that.That was a mess. The guy who posted that appears to have legitimate connections but he shared information that did not need to be in the public sphere. That's not the first time that guy has gone too far with names/details.
December 12th, 2014 at 12:22 PM ^
Anyone care to share a general summary of what the info was?
December 12th, 2014 at 12:27 PM ^
Basically, that Michigan is confident that Harbaugh will come.
December 12th, 2014 at 12:28 PM ^
It was a supposed text exchange between Andy Moeller and Jim, in which Jim said something like "we need to get the old band back together."
December 12th, 2014 at 12:36 PM ^
Is Andy going to be OL coach then? Hmmmm
December 12th, 2014 at 12:56 PM ^
I sure as hell hope not.
December 12th, 2014 at 3:17 PM ^
December 13th, 2014 at 5:10 AM ^
this was the gist... otherwise, why would he be texting Andy Moeller Michigan themed Blues Brothers quotes ("we're on a mission from Bo" also featured).
Though, given that Andy is an NFL offensive line coach with a lot of success behind him, he might actually have his sights set hire. Just saying, if Andy Moeller as OC is the price we pay so be it.
December 12th, 2014 at 12:38 PM ^
rule #1: no posting porn
December 12th, 2014 at 12:56 PM ^
I was able to pull up on my phone last night, but immediately dismissed it as it appeared to be posted on somekind of internet underworld forum. Was there some reason to believe the info had even a shred of credibility? I only ask because it seems the majority of people were more concerned someone had posted very private information, rather than just discrediting it for the fact that if someone with that info was going to spread it, they wouldn't do it in internet Siberia.
December 13th, 2014 at 5:18 AM ^
the poster is a legitimate insider, albeit one too reckless with identifying his sources to last on any major board. The board it was posted on occastionally has some very, very legit info.
December 12th, 2014 at 1:48 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
December 12th, 2014 at 12:50 PM ^
Or lead to a place where it might be paraphrased?
December 12th, 2014 at 1:19 PM ^
google 'mgoblog rockie harbaugh moeller'. open the cached version. profit
December 12th, 2014 at 12:13 PM ^
The four guys are probably Harbaugh, Miles, Mora and Stoops? Maybe Mullen. I find it interesting that MSU came out and said he's getting a new deal and it hasn't happened yet. Maybe it's a sign?
December 12th, 2014 at 12:16 PM ^
That's fine list to be picking from if all are interested and would accept a forthcoming offer.
December 12th, 2014 at 12:27 PM ^
Rumor on the insider boards is that Hackett reached out to Jeremy Foley with regards to Mullen, and Foley predictably ripped Mullen to shreds. Also the search firm isn't huge on him, so he's probably not a candidate right now.
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