SEARCHBITS XX: DAWSON'S CREEK TIME
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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 1:52 PM ^
I have to imagine that bodes well and really tells the story. Employment contracts/agreements from regular everyday Joes all the way to the big leagues, aren't very often written up and ready to sign unless it is known both parties are going to certainly sign it. I can attest that in my last change of position, I was told specifically by HR that they weren't going to write it up until I gave them a verbal agreement. Unless Hackett is really that cocky and/or has the testicular fortitude unmatched by any other man this side of the Mississippi, I'd imagine Harbaugh or his proxy may have tipped their hand that this contract is indeed getting signed.
December 18th, 2014 at 2:11 PM ^
This was kind of my impression on how these worked in general. A lot of back channel negotiating, and when the school has reached an agreement in principle, then the contract is written up and signed. However, in this situation, Harbaugh is the only one holding any cards. Everyone wants him, and he has more power than any coach I have seen, really ever, in any coaching search. So the 'normal rules' might not apply here. However I do think it means that there has been enough interest that UM has spent a lot of time and energy getting specifics together and writing it down. I still think Harbaugh may not take it though.
December 18th, 2014 at 1:55 PM ^
I mean, his former player would follow him into the 7th ring of hell. That sounds great and all, but what if there are like 500 rings? Then having the player follow only to ring 7 shows a very shallow committment level. On the other hand, if there are only 4 rings, that would mean the player would be committed to creating 3 whole new rings of hell AND THEN FOLLOWING HARBAUGH INTO THEM! That's not a football coach, that's a basis for starting a whole new religion.
December 18th, 2014 at 2:31 PM ^
there are 9 rings of Hell.
So that USD guy is a punk-ass quitter.
December 18th, 2014 at 2:31 PM ^
There are nine circles of hell (the reference is to Dante's Inferno). Each circle represents some fundamental evil or infirmity -- e.g., lust, anger, heresy. Number 7 is "violence," so I think we are good.
December 18th, 2014 at 1:56 PM ^
I don't understand how people can be frustrated with how this is playing out, aside from OMG NEED MOAR SEARCHBITZ AND I NEEED TO KNOW B4 CHRISTMAS. Michigan made its offer, it is a good, fair, generous offer, it doesn't matter if we offered him before (I happen to think the NFL guys are blowing hot air, but really who cares), all that matters is he seriously considers it and compares that to the NFL offers. It sucks to wait around to figure out what he'll be doing, but Hackett handled this perfectly. Unless Harbaugh whips out a Dolphins cap without telling Michigan no first, I won't have any problem with what he chooses to do. And we'll find a backup plan fine if he chooses to stay in the league. You're damn right I'm drinking the KoolAid.
December 18th, 2014 at 1:58 PM ^
December 18th, 2014 at 2:31 PM ^
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December 18th, 2014 at 2:07 PM ^
Wouldn't a "you can sign this now" contract, as Brian elluded to, have to be something that UM and Harbaugh's agent hammered out over some meetings or phone calls with Jim's approval? Why would this be done unless it was going to be agreed upon and signed by all parties involved? It's happening?
December 18th, 2014 at 2:24 PM ^
Exactly.
UM asked very early on, "How much money would it take to get you here?" and the Harbaugh response was "All of it."
December 18th, 2014 at 2:11 PM ^
Brian references a lot of stuff from the end of the internet, but why do they reference him as Funky?
December 18th, 2014 at 2:25 PM ^
It's based on his username at other sites, perhaps pre-dating mgoblog.
December 18th, 2014 at 2:16 PM ^
December 18th, 2014 at 2:23 PM ^
Give us this day our daily searchbits
December 18th, 2014 at 2:30 PM ^
I will not be surprised in the least to hear, sometime in the next several days, from an NFL beat reporter that either: a) Michigan pulled the offer, or b) Harbaugh turned down the offer from Michigan.
Just like every other story coming out of the NFL reporters, it will be a stack of b.s. so big and so high it will be seen from space. There will no sourcing other than someone standing too close to the airplane glue factory.
December 18th, 2014 at 9:35 PM ^
Agree on the spin. It would all be BS, especially the outcome in A.
December 18th, 2014 at 2:31 PM ^
December 18th, 2014 at 2:31 PM ^
Why is Shefter so butthurt?
December 18th, 2014 at 2:33 PM ^
or a contract signing ceremony? Hackett will get his time in private to press the advantage of being the only party that can talk directly to Harbaugh until the NFL season is over. I'm hoping for a very nice and early Chrismas present. If Michigan is his destination, I don't think Harbaugh has to hide that until after he coaches his last game. Everyone knows he's gone. Everyone knows that will be his last game as the 49ers coach.
December 18th, 2014 at 2:39 PM ^
Kirk Herbstreit strains thumb ligaments in an attempt to keep himself from hitting the send button on his twitter account announing Jim Harbaugh has accepted the head coaching postion at Michigan.
His status for the bowl game is Day-To-Day.
#GOBLUE
December 18th, 2014 at 2:48 PM ^
Nah, Lloyd Carr already came out in favor of Harbaugh so no reason to leak anything to Herbie this time around..!
heh
December 18th, 2014 at 2:41 PM ^
Let's get the band back together already. My productivity has been shit the last 2.5 weeks.
December 18th, 2014 at 2:43 PM ^
I look at the contract numbers being leaked as a bad sign. Reading Brian's take helps me off the ledge a little. But just a little.
Until I see Harbaugh standing at a podium in block M hat, I am going to keep my enthusiasum tempered.
The only reason to have these go public is because the deal isn't done. The way the search has been going, all signs were pointing to a done deal. Everything was perfectly quiet. I winced a bit when I saw the report last night.
Floating these out there gives the agent something to talk about, off the record of course, with NFL teams to gauge interest. There was really no reason to hear about an offer other than when he was introduced.
I don't like coaching searches.
December 18th, 2014 at 2:45 PM ^
All along, it's been some variation of "NFL coaches do NOT leave to coach college." When they could no longer plausibly deny, abrupt shift in gears. Not surprising.
Now. Should I pretend to try and do some work... yes, after I read Ace's column below. Oh, and one or two threads. Maybe four or five if they look especially intriguing.
December 18th, 2014 at 2:51 PM ^
If JH wants a super bowl so bad? I mean the Lions have a better chance in my lifetime to get there. I don't buy it. He can be a legend at Michigan with future coaches put in place for years or be another NFL coach going for the brass ring. His tree would yield another dynasty that could get him a statue next to Bo. All indications trending Blue when fences were mended, players lining up to support the offer. This is not a coaching job here, it goes further, it's family that can be found in the NFL. Agreements are put in stone on this road back to AA.
December 18th, 2014 at 2:57 PM ^
Every single point made by that Fox Sports columnist is pathetically easy to refute.
"SUPPORT REMAINS UNCLEAR" - Um. Look at the offer, dude. Maybe talk to someone who actually has Michigan ties? This point would make more sense for LITERALLY ANY OTHER HIRE Michigan could make...except Harbaugh.
"Everything about his personality say NFL" - Except, you know, that his personality is exactly the reason why San Francisco (management AND players) don't want him anymore. Ignore the 300-pound elephant in the room, you guys. Apparently he reasoned because he put winning above the well-being of his players that that means he's better in the NFL. Nevermind the fact that that quote was only made for the purposes of not talking about his personal future to the press before the season was over yet.
"There's no risk in staying the the NFL" - This makes no sense to me. Of course there's a risk. When you make millions of dollars to coach in college OR the NFL, there is inherent risk. Ask Rich Rod or Brady Hoke. Shoot, ask Nick Saban and Pete Carroll. Also, relating back to his first point...what, exactly, makes him think that Michigan won't treat him as royalty? If he's remotely successful in years 1 and 2, he will be lauded around here.
These articles by NFL guys are, like, laughably awful.
December 18th, 2014 at 2:57 PM ^
Every single point made by that Fox Sports columnist is pathetically easy to refute.
"SUPPORT REMAINS UNCLEAR" - Um. Look at the offer, dude. Maybe talk to someone who actually has Michigan ties? This point would make more sense for LITERALLY ANY OTHER HIRE Michigan could make...except Harbaugh.
"Everything about his personality say NFL" - Except, you know, that his personality is exactly the reason why San Francisco (management AND players) don't want him anymore. Ignore the 300-pound elephant in the room, you guys. Apparently he reasoned because he put winning above the well-being of his players that that means he's better in the NFL. Nevermind the fact that that quote was only made for the purposes of not talking about his personal future to the press before the season was over yet.
"There's no risk in staying the the NFL" - This makes no sense to me. Of course there's a risk. When you make millions of dollars to coach in college OR the NFL, there is inherent risk. Ask Rich Rod or Brady Hoke. Shoot, ask Nick Saban and Pete Carroll. Also, relating back to his first point...what, exactly, makes him think that Michigan won't treat him as royalty? If he's remotely successful in years 1 and 2, he will be lauded around here.
These articles by NFL guys are, like, laughably awful.
December 18th, 2014 at 3:26 PM ^
deleted
December 18th, 2014 at 3:23 PM ^
one very small elephant.
December 18th, 2014 at 3:07 PM ^
December 18th, 2014 at 3:20 PM ^
December 18th, 2014 at 3:17 PM ^
Shefter's knowledge (or lack thereof) about Michigan's spending on athletics is ridiculous. Not to be THAT GUY but seriously, dude...stick to the NFL. Get a clue
December 18th, 2014 at 3:27 PM ^
On the Michigan vs. California cost issue, housing is also a big factor in our favor. Housing costs in the Bay Area can be double or triple what they are in Southeast Michigan.
December 18th, 2014 at 8:51 PM ^
December 18th, 2014 at 10:33 PM ^
December 18th, 2014 at 9:30 PM ^
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December 18th, 2014 at 4:09 PM ^
It was Mr. Rager with the investment banking terminology
Nice job on passing your Series 7 and 79
Lol
December 18th, 2014 at 4:19 PM ^
December 18th, 2014 at 6:53 PM ^
December 18th, 2014 at 5:09 PM ^
But what does it all mean, Basil?
December 18th, 2014 at 5:24 PM ^
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December 18th, 2014 at 7:19 PM ^
I'm just chuckling to myself picturing Harbaugh stepping to the podium at today's press conference and saying "Screw you guys, I'm going home" while pointing eastward. Then just walking off. Love it, Brian.
December 18th, 2014 at 11:27 PM ^
College. More college.
December 18th, 2014 at 11:28 PM ^
December 19th, 2014 at 2:20 AM ^
Do I want to try one more team in the NFL. Or will I enjoy my job more thoroughly coaching college kids. I have a hunch Harbaugh will try another NFL team and negotiate a trade and good contract with the raiders or dolphins. If this happens I doubt we offer these kind of bucks to any other coach and believe me many of these plan B coaches will want a contract similar to that offered to Harbaugh. I think we unfortunately slip down to our plan C and D coaches. So, it will be boom or bust for Michigan and I holding out Hope Jim will want to coach at Michigan for 5 or 6 seasons!
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