SEARCHBITS XX: DAWSON'S CREEK TIME
I DON'T WANNA WAIT FOR OUR LIVES TO BE OVER
I WANT TO KNOW RIGHT NOW WHAT WILL IT BE
wow never thought I'd be quoting Paula Cole on this blog
okay that's a lie
at least I can admit it, unlike NFL reporters
PRETTY MUCH. Clint Brewster talked to two guys($), one of whom said it's a "total ploy," no chance, lol GTFO. The other said it was a done deal. This coaching search in a nutshell.
ON THE LEAK. I've seen a lot of commenters and some respected media folk speculate about whether the numbers and existence of a hard offer becoming known to the public is good or bad for Michigan. I don't know; I do know that assertions that the agent is flogging it publicly in order to set Harbaugh's market price are not the whole story even if they are accurate.
The approximate number was out there in the Michigan paysite sphere for a week or two, and the first example of it breaking into the wild was a local news guy in Arizona who again got it from the Michigan side of things.
At that point Michigan makes a bonafide offer to Harbaugh. By bonafide I mean it is a you-can-sign-this-now contract Michigan had drawn up Sunday and Monday—I am certain of that information. NFL reporters start banging on his agent to find out what's going on, asking if the Joe Pequeno tweet had the right numbers. Agent says yes, things go to plaid. The "leak" was out there for any NFL reporter to see well before this happened, but if they don't hear it from an agent it can't be true.
Michigan didn't put it out there on purpose, but it was out there already. It is too hard to keep that under wraps when you need to gather the donors to make the big-ass offer happen and ping the regents to make sure your big-ass offer is okay by them. People talk.
Then once it's out there, it's a lot harder to flat-out lie to a guy you have to have a working relationship with when he has a specific number instead of a vague idea. I'm not bothered by the numbers getting out. Once they were on paper it was bound to happen.
ALSO. Emailer notes that this is a very mergers and acquisitions move from Hackett, a "bear hug" offer that is difficult to escape from. As a bonus it uses the window in which only Michigan can act with authority. NFL teams can whisper into his agent's ear about giving him the world; Michigan has put its meat on the table, so to speak. Look at all of it.
ON MICHIGAN'S SUPPOSED CHEAPNESS. Adam Schefter continued to throw cold water on things today during an appearance on ESPN radio, to the point of implying he did not believe the offer is even real. He does not aid his credibility when he says things like this:
"Michigan has balked at private planes for recruiting, balks at iPads for the players, increasing the size of it's support staff. Now they offer all this money to Jim Harbaugh."
The assertion that Michigan is cheap like that is either outdated or just wrong. They're building everything for everybody, and the opulent basketball PDC renovation gives you a good look into what revenue athletes (and the non-revenue ones, actually) are furnished with:
The new practice court area also features four overhead cameras that allow coaches to record practice. In addition, coaches are equipped with a hand-held remote to track various in-practice moments on film, and monitors inside the facility allow for instant teaching moments during practice.
After practice, players are offered a chance to unwind inside the player's lounge, a recreation area featuring lounge chairs, video game systems and an 84-inch television screen that also has the ability to be split into four separate 42-inch monitors.
The lounge is adjacent to the Michigan locker room, a circular high-technology facility featuring individual iPads for each player. Players have the ability to watch game film and go over other team material from their individual iPads, and coaches have the opportunity to cue up film from a large flat screen monitor inside the locker room itself.
This article just keeps going in this vein. Bathroom-conscious Jim Harbaugh will surely be pleased to note this:
Michigan men's coach John Beilein has the largest office in the wing, complete with a personal restroom and shower facility.
It's kind of gross what all the money goes to but Michigan's spending it just as furiously as everyone else.
I'm not quite sure what Schefter means by "support staff," but many of those positions, even the non-coaching ones, are limited in number by NCAA mandate and Michigan fills all the slots. They have four football analysts, an executive assistant to the head coach, an administrative assistant to the head coach for recruiting, four equipment guys, two video guys above and beyond the analysts, a dedicated counselor, etc etc etc. Recruiting budgets are weird—OSU was amongst the smallest spenders in that category in 2012 and 2013—but even so Michigan is on par with the rest of the league save Nebraska, which has no local recruiting base, and Illinois, which is just desperate.
Consider items about Michigan being cheap to be pulled from the buttock area. It is just about the only charge you can't level at Dave Brandon's AD. Brady Hoke averaged four million a year as Michigan's head coach. QED.
ON TIMELINES. I've heard a lot of different possibilities, with most asserting that this will happen only after the 49ers season is done. There is a wild rumor that a bunch of people have been told to clear their schedules this weekend that I can't confirm at all, and Steve Lorenz relates that Michigan's current commits have been told to expect something before Christmas($).
ON JUCO ADMISSIONS. Colin Cowherd apparently said something about how the offer includes the ability to admit JUCOs. This statement has no validity. Even if Michigan said they'd bend a little bit on that, that wouldn't be in writing or anything Cowherd is privy to. And the chances they did offer that to a guy who made Stanford into a power are minimal. For one, that promise is not one the athletic director can give.
I know I know, Austin Panter. Panter was an exception to the JUCO rule: he was a kid who qualified out of high school and still went to JUCO because he was at a school so small they played 8 man football. Michigan also had Russell Shaw back in the late 90s. It is not impossible; it is unlikely and will remain so.
Private jets, meanwhile… whatever. Michigan's got those coming out their ears.
ON TOPPING MICHIGAN'S OFFER. It can be done, of course. It'll be harder to do for the Raiders than other people, because California. Via Rivals user SevenToEightySix:
$8,000,000 in Michigan is going to end up being about $4.546mil after federal and state taxes.
$10,000,000 in California is going to be $4.89mil after federal and state taxes.
I don't think this is going to come down to money. If it does the Raiders will have to go to 12, at least.
I THINK WE JUST MADE IT PRETTY CLEAR. Reasons to stay in the NFL!
THE LEVEL OF SUPPORT AT MICHIGAN REMAINS UNCLEAR
That is not your best argument today.
STAY TUNED FOR GENERIC DENIAL. Standard weekly Harbaugh presser scheduled for 4:40 Eastern. Hopefully it'll be one sentence…
…but more likely it's I AM RELENTLESSLY FOCUSED ON OUR GAME THIS WEEKEND again.
ETC: Eric Adelson on the offer. I've got your unseemly right here in my pants. I had to miss my WTKA spot this week with family things but I was on the Solid Verbal. About the 20 minute mark. Tim Kawakami could take some twitter pointers from Charles Robinson. I'll revisit this in more detail if we in fact get Harbaugh, but here's Nick Baumgardner talking to an old USD player of his.
December 18th, 2014 at 1:16 PM ^
Michigan has put its meat on the table, so to speak. Look at all of it.
Oh sure, when Michigan does it it's a bold strategy. When I do it I'm banned from ever returning to that particular Olive Garden.
December 18th, 2014 at 1:18 PM ^
Sometimes you just get sick of just breadsticks, you know?
December 18th, 2014 at 2:15 PM ^
but more often than not, a breadstick is just a breadstick.
December 18th, 2014 at 4:00 PM ^
But a fish stick is rarely a fish stick.
December 18th, 2014 at 1:19 PM ^
you don't necessarily want to eat it.
December 18th, 2014 at 2:16 PM ^
According to NFL insiders, Michigan didn't want the numbers out. Why? Because it would signal what they are willing to pay to get the best guy available?
This was great news in my opinion. This is smart, savvy way to control the decision and how its rejection would be interpreted. Michigan wins either way. They are all in. And everyone knows this is a special offer without precedence or repeat to another. All the other bullshit being spread is just a crock. In fact, Sam Webb reported Monday on his show the total amount of the deal without mentioning its length.
What's more there's this, the guy in charge of roster management at Harbaugh's agent's office and who handles all their player contracts is a Michigan grad. Just thought I would mention that coincidence, because I am sure it's just that. So, the guy who has helped recruit Chip Kelly and Aaron Rodgers to the same agency that controls Harbaugh's contracting just happens to have attended the same school as Jim.
December 18th, 2014 at 1:16 PM ^
I am so nervous about his presser today for some reason.
December 18th, 2014 at 2:09 PM ^
he's currently a 49er, he's very happy there and plans to be there until he heads to Michigan in less than two weeks.
December 18th, 2014 at 1:17 PM ^
December 18th, 2014 at 1:18 PM ^
Are we going to have to deal with the different shades of Jim's khakis like we have to deal with the different shades of maize?
December 18th, 2014 at 1:22 PM ^
I don't like how they have changed it. That first one is more a highlighter tan.
December 18th, 2014 at 1:28 PM ^
December 18th, 2014 at 2:23 PM ^
apparent sideline apparel is a big deal. Lloyd wore khakis most of the time. Practically every college team's coaches wear khakis because they go with any color polo shirt, sweater, sweathirt, jacket or coat.
But, hell cocky khaki Captain Comeback can open his own clothing line once he signs on Michigan's bottom line.
December 18th, 2014 at 1:18 PM ^
Can the next one be "21 SearchBits Street" despite it not fitting with the numbering system?
December 18th, 2014 at 1:19 PM ^
Next Season on Serial...Sarah Koenig explores the search for the next J. Ira and Nikki Harris Family Head Football Coach at the University of Michigan.
December 18th, 2014 at 1:19 PM ^
December 18th, 2014 at 1:28 PM ^
where is this edge of the internet?
December 18th, 2014 at 1:39 PM ^
enjoy -
http://www.boards2go.com/boards/board.cgi?&user=tmccanna12&user2=Michig…;
i've been checking that website like 20 times a day since the andy moeller text stuff surfaced. from what i can tell, some of the posters w/ inside info are rekker, rockie, spirit, and paul. yesterday, that paul guy was inisinuating that the 2 parties had signed a memorandum of understanding or something, and rockie was posting emails he got from some high powered real estate attorney that works w/ athletes. i don't know how real any of this stuff is, but it's fun reading it.
December 18th, 2014 at 2:26 PM ^
It hurts to read it.
December 18th, 2014 at 2:26 PM ^
It's where the Reavers live, best steer clear.
December 18th, 2014 at 2:31 PM ^
Here ya go. Take a right at the smoldering ashes of Silk Road, try not to step in all the objectionable child/animal/OMFGwhatwas that porn.
December 18th, 2014 at 1:33 PM ^
They are meeting face to face on the 23rd where Hackett will get a firm answer. At that point if Jim wants to wait till the 29th to announce is fine. If he says no, we clearly have Plan B ready at the drop of a hat. My guess would be Les (even though people say no), just because Hackett could count on a yes without parsing out terms ahead of time.
December 18th, 2014 at 2:11 PM ^
Please be TRUE.... That in all ways is the best possible scenerio, we have our man by Christmas or just have to wait for a formal annoucement.
December 18th, 2014 at 3:18 PM ^
but I find it hard to believe it will be because it will take slightly longer to get their actual 2nd choice. These agreements get made quickly as we've seen from other schools.
December 18th, 2014 at 1:19 PM ^
surprised we have not heard from North Korea on the Harbaugh situation. My guess is that they have far more information than we do at this point.
December 18th, 2014 at 1:22 PM ^
probably busy hacking NFL.com
December 18th, 2014 at 1:20 PM ^
December 18th, 2014 at 1:24 PM ^
their steadfast refusal to characterize it as a serious possibility makes me nervous. I kind of get the feeling that we are way more into him than he is into us.
December 18th, 2014 at 1:32 PM ^
NFL reporters would take a bullet for the Shield. They are unbelievably biased and protective of the league for whatever reason. I mean, TMZ had to report the Ray Rice beating before anyone else would.
December 18th, 2014 at 2:33 PM ^
December 18th, 2014 at 1:39 PM ^
When a guy beats Bill Brasky, Mike Ditka, and Hurricane Ditka in successive Fight Club battles, he deserves all the hoopla.
December 18th, 2014 at 1:20 PM ^
December 18th, 2014 at 1:23 PM ^
and came to the same conclusion. He backs up all over himself in there and its what drove me to avoid all those articles until Itshappening.gif is over.
December 18th, 2014 at 1:20 PM ^
Xs and Os? Very wierdly, I am suddenly saturated.
Thank god!
December 18th, 2014 at 1:20 PM ^
Good God, NFL talking heads are insufferable.
December 18th, 2014 at 1:22 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
December 18th, 2014 at 1:24 PM ^
December 18th, 2014 at 1:21 PM ^
I just found Schefter's source.
December 18th, 2014 at 1:21 PM ^
I don't know why, but I just get the feeling that this is trending the wrong way.
December 18th, 2014 at 1:22 PM ^
It might have to do with the fact you're the most pessimistic poster on this site.
December 18th, 2014 at 1:30 PM ^
I think he is on to something. I don't like this either. I feel like this is going into "fiasco" territory again. Seriously, why can we not hire a coach? I mean this is the 3rd time this has happenned. We are getting into #lolmichigancoachingsearch territory now.
December 18th, 2014 at 1:35 PM ^
Due to the leak. Fortunately, Brian's explanation of how the numbers got out there got me off the ledge.
December 18th, 2014 at 1:35 PM ^
Yes, let's just "hire a coach" when one of the best coaches in the entire game is a serious possibility if we just wait a week and a half.
December 18th, 2014 at 1:44 PM ^
that, it is just that there is continuing wierdness with this search, like the kind of weird that we hoped went out the door with Brandon. Cutcliffe is offered, declines, wait he was never offered. Miles would accept the job, wait he is not offered, wait he is off the table after a camera-less press conference where he takes his name out of the running even though it was never in the running(accept that he would probably still take it if offered). Harbaugh is offered, it is HUGE, wait, Michigan won't comment, is it a leak, who leaked?
I have just seen this movie before, ya know?
December 18th, 2014 at 1:49 PM ^
The Miles situation seems to be largely 1-sided. I think his agent talked up Michigan feeling him out, but ol Les just needs to accept that there are forces working against him at UM that will proabbly always preclude him being a HC here going forward, unless he just outlives everybody or there is a massive upheavel. So I never much cared about that situation because it seemed driven mostly by him.
The "leak" makes total sense - agents and bosters talk. It is what happens. Thinking it was going to be kept quiet for weeks was always impossible.
Michigan might not get Harbaugh, but I will give credit to this coaching search in that it is looks like an actual, professional organization doing it, not the clown show we've seen for years around here.
December 18th, 2014 at 1:49 PM ^
you need to stop beleiving any report you see. That being said, I don't like the fact that numbers were leaked, but Brian's explination that it was a regent or donor who might have leaked it seems better than it coming from the AD or Harbaugh's agent.
December 18th, 2014 at 1:49 PM ^
You're taking a bunch of information of varying sources with varying levels of reliability from complete crap to fairly solid and sticking it all together, then blaming Michigan for the narrative. If Michigan had released statements that said all those things, I'd agree, it's idiotic. But at this point, all you've proven is that the internet is the source of occasionally conflicting and inconsistent information. Who knew? :(
Rob
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