Yahoo article on the CC
Huge bid for Jim Harbaugh should boost confidence at Michigan - even if it fails
Money quote for me was regarding the obvious about Hoke:
"tenure worked out even worse than Rodriguez's did, as Hoke's staff couldn't make good players better on the field. "
December 18th, 2014 at 10:33 AM ^
Still sticking to the "rebuffed' story. These guys can't get enough of themselves - they're not happy unless they themselves are the story.
December 18th, 2014 at 10:39 AM ^
I agree with the title.
The AD seems to be handling the Harbaugh courting as well as possible. It give me confidence that they are serious about fixing the many current issues. I hope Harbaugh will choose to be a part of that solution, but even without knowing what Plan B is, I have much more optimism now than I did several weeks/months ago.
December 18th, 2014 at 10:50 AM ^
So the NFL narrative has been:
1) "He is not interested in Michigan. He wants to stay in the NFL."
2) "Many people close to Harbaugh say that he wants to stay in the NFL."
3) "Michigan has offered Cutcliffe and have talked to Les Miles as well. Both said 'no.'"
4) "Ok. Michigan offered Harbaugh...but he turned them down first!"
5) "Harbaugh is using this offer as leverage to stay in the NFL. They leaked it on purpose."
Soon, it will be:
6) "Harbaugh never had any NFL offers. Nobody wanted him. Ever."
7) "Are college coaches getting paid too much?"
December 18th, 2014 at 10:58 AM ^
The twitter account Brian said looks legit may have shed some light on that.
I think this has been reported but there were initial discussions between UM-JH that were kinda blown off. Then UM raised the ante #GunsOut
— Those Who Stay (@ThoseWhoStay7) December 18, 2014
The initial discussions (sounds like just to gauge interest) happened in "Late November." Before Hoke was fired. Likely after UMD game
— Those Who Stay (@ThoseWhoStay7) December 18, 2014
Sounds to me like first contact was made when 49ers were still in it and Hoke wasn't fired, so Harbaugh told Michigan he didn't want to talk about it, yet. So, the NFLers take that news as "Harbaugh had no interest!"
December 18th, 2014 at 10:36 AM ^
Kind of True!
Harbaugh to Michigan!
December 18th, 2014 at 10:36 AM ^
Kind of True!
Harbaugh to Michigan!
December 18th, 2014 at 10:42 AM ^
but this report basically nails it. The only bad part is having to watch Rappaport file a stupid report claiming that Harbaugh rebuffed Michigan. That is coming from third hand sourcing and is supposed to represent a fact that nobody else has reported, which in turn is designed to show this guy is tuned in. You can't rebuff an offer that was never made before yesterday.
Reporting on twitter is a joke, anyway. It makes anyone seem like they know something because they can string a sentence together. I would trust Michigan nation before taking the word of any web site outside our universe.
December 18th, 2014 at 11:21 AM ^
Rappoport is not a reporter; thus, his "reports" are not actual news reports per se. It's frustrating that the accepted news organizations are treating them as such. He's an NFL spin doctor, looking to manipulate bits of information to better the brand.
The NFL is clearly meddling here. It makes me uncomfortable because, whereas in 2007 it was just Kirk Herbstreit doing the meddling during the negotiations with Miles, here it's the NFL. It's the same kind of tactics. And the NFL has a much larger arsenal of resources at its disposal: its own network, actual networks with which the league has contracts, NFL pundits on ESPN and Yahoo!, etc.
December 18th, 2014 at 10:45 AM ^
REGARDING Harbaugh, Dec. 30 is key day for Michigan. If Harbaugh isn't nailed down 24-48 hours after 49ers season ends, UM's shot fades fast
Harbaugh offer getting out is already a red flag for Michigan. That's usually an NFL agent setting the table to leverage other negotiations.
December 18th, 2014 at 10:46 AM ^
apologies for my lack of formatting
December 18th, 2014 at 11:00 AM ^
Easier for old folks to read
December 18th, 2014 at 10:50 AM ^
Thanks for posting.
I say leverage away, NFL! Bring it, and if you win, good for you. Michigan throws out its best offer and says top it. And if someone does and Harbaugh wants the money more than going back home to Ann Arbor and saving his alma mater, go for it. But this'll be the last chance he gets to come back I suspect and hope.
Set the table. You don't like the food, get the fuck out of the house.
December 18th, 2014 at 11:05 AM ^
The timing is fine by me. We just pulled out our Carlos Spicyweiner and put all 49 mil of it on the table. It's on the NFL teams now to second guess themselves on whether they really want to pay 8 mil+ a year and give him comparable power to what he'd have at Michigan, in terms of front office input if not control.
I honestly think he could make up his mind before the NFL offers come in. If he hears the league chatter of who's interested and doesn't like it, why not get out early and end the charade? Do you really want to go work for another owner who you may not see eye-to-eye with and be traded around the league like a player?
Come home Jim!
December 18th, 2014 at 11:27 AM ^
That second tweet clearly shows he has no idea what he is talking about. Harbaugh will have plenty of offers in the NFL that he can leverage against one another. The only leverage the Michigan offer will give him is against the 49ers trading him to an undesirable team. He can force a trade to whichever team he wants with the threat of taking the Michigan job if they don't get him the team he wants
December 18th, 2014 at 2:23 PM ^
While he may have plenty of offers in the NFL that he can use as leverage. That doesn't mean they're were going to be $8M offers that he could leverage. There is a very large and clear difference there.
I would dismiss the second tweet for different reasons, but I certainly wouldn't do so for the reason you're giving.
December 18th, 2014 at 10:45 AM ^
reading reports of this sort, either for or against JH to Michigan. One gets me mad, the other gets me way too excited...someone just let me know when Hackett schedules a press conference.
December 18th, 2014 at 10:55 AM ^
I'm right there with you, but if you can actually really be done reading them, please teach me how.
It's making me nuts too. I won't allow myself to get excited because the possibilities are so awesome, and if it doesn't happen the let down will be so depressing. But until it doesn't happen, I have hope. So I keep looking...ugh.
December 18th, 2014 at 12:02 PM ^
First, there isn't anything out there that I can't learn from MGoBlog regarding the coaching search. Everything I need to know, I can get right here.
Second, in the case that those articles ARE posted here, I have to remind myself to A) not trust every OP, read the comments before clicking on something "new" and B) most things I've read once I will not change in a new article.
Brian's daily updates will suffice for now and I don't need anything more until I hear IT'S HAPPENING!!!
December 18th, 2014 at 10:58 AM ^
...it could happen before then, but check back then because that's probably the latest for at least an announcement. Press conference later that week.
I'm hoping for a late Sunday/early Monday announcement of next week and a press conference on Wednesday or Friday of next week.
I don't see anything happening now, it's just too close to a game. You can't leave your team this close to game day, I think it's got to be a sunday night to tuesday night type thing.
December 18th, 2014 at 10:49 AM ^
This isn't a shot at the OP, but could we just create a general thread where people can post assorted articles written about Harbaugh and Michigan's offer? Would save some board traffic for all of these similarly-themed articles.
December 18th, 2014 at 10:50 AM ^
But then how would anyone feel like their very super important thoughts are being heard?
December 18th, 2014 at 10:53 AM ^
If the offer was in fact leaked by JH's agent, I think that might be bad news for Michigan. It tells me that he expects a higher offer from any NFL team, and would take it if he gets it. I'm pretty sure $8 million is the ceiling for Michigan.
Also, Hoke's tenure was nowhere near as bad as RR's. BCS bowl, kids graduating, and a pretty well stocked team (QB not included) for the next coach.
December 18th, 2014 at 10:57 AM ^
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December 18th, 2014 at 11:02 AM ^
Offense was trending up, but the defense got worse every single year under RR.
December 18th, 2014 at 2:28 PM ^
As a young boy, I dreamed of being a football; but tonight I say, we must move forward, not backward; upward, not forward; and always twirling, twirling, twirling towards mediocrity!
December 18th, 2014 at 11:08 AM ^
Hoke had much more support and was trending DOWNWARD!
December 18th, 2014 at 11:38 AM ^
OSU? MSU? Any team with a decent defense?
Hard not to go up from 3-9.
December 18th, 2014 at 2:29 PM ^
Also, Hoke's tenure was nowhere near as bad as RR's. BCS bowl, kids graduating, and a pretty well stocked team (QB not included) for the next coach.
Lets see, a BCS bowl that we kinda fell into, (and had a lucky ref call go our way to win.) using RRs offensive system and recurits.
I don't recall RR having issues with students graduating, I'm assuming you're referring to the APR while he was here? Or was there an issue there that I'm either forgetting or never knew about?
Hoke did recruit star talent much better than RR did, I can give you that much.
December 18th, 2014 at 3:44 PM ^
counting the ones that didn't get in because they couldn't spell Michigan. Or their own names for that matter.
And RR wouldn't have made that bowl game, because NO DEFENSE.
December 18th, 2014 at 4:07 PM ^
So it's just things you imagine in your head rather than reality. Gotcha.
Thanks for clearing that up!
December 18th, 2014 at 11:00 AM ^
Damn Jim the team needs you.
December 18th, 2014 at 11:03 AM ^
Just an off the wall question, but what if JH doesn't come, how will this impact the plan B money offer? Will say a Mullen want the same, or do they (plan B types) know the pecking order and the pay that goes with being plan b?
December 18th, 2014 at 11:06 AM ^
The article the OP referenced linked to this VIDEO, which makes me feel a lot better about the silly money Michigan is offering Harbaugh. Maybe not so silly after all:
December 18th, 2014 at 11:14 AM ^
and watching that video, how the #$% could he not come home?
December 18th, 2014 at 11:11 AM ^
Good article. I'd only dispute the following quote:
"For a fan base that's just been humbled by their can't-miss hire turning into a disappointment, that kind of letdown would only make the identity crisis worse."
Was Hoke a "can't-miss hire"?
December 18th, 2014 at 11:18 AM ^
December 18th, 2014 at 2:01 PM ^
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