Jim Harbaugh Appreciation Thread
Jim Harbaugh understands rivalries and is the definition of a Michigan Man
Last night's loss, as fresh on our minds as it is, was not and should not be the reason for us as fans to suddenly want Jim Harbaugh gone and back in the NFL. He has a vision for this team and I know that it will get here sooner rather than later. The weaknesses of this team will be strength under Harbaugh and we are seeing this team transform. Prior to his arrival, we were horrible on Defense, Special Teams, and Offense: Two of those Three weaknesses are fixed and the Offense will take a huge positive soon.
Jim's record to date as our head coach is 24-7. In most of the losses, including last night's game, we were competitive and had a chance to win. Last season we didn't lose a game by more than 5 points. Yeah, losing to a rival sucks ass because we have been dominant against OSU/MSU for over a decade now but the sky ain't falling. A loss like last night's game builds steel in your spine.
I attribute all the anger and frustration to a few things: 1. A sense of despair and loss not seen since these two took the field:
Nick Sheridan and Steven Threet
2. Urban Meyer / Mark Dantonio dominance in the B10 and against Michigan.
Everything is coming to a boil and I feel that the anger won't subside until we beat OSU, which may or may not happen this year.
The Michigan Death Star will not be built in a day, but it WILL be built by Jim Harbaugh. I'm appreciative of that and know that it will happen sooner than later. The last thing we need is a complete regime change which will probably see the likes of our top 10 defensive coaches leaving our program and years of further rebuilding. I DO NOT WANT A NEW REGIME CHANGE.
Thanks Jim Harbaugh for all the hardwork you are doing with the program. This is football and losses will happen, but the team is on the right path. Onward and forward!
October 8th, 2017 at 9:02 PM ^
October 8th, 2017 at 9:20 PM ^
Three wins over your two chief rivals in 10 years will do that to your fanbase. I grew up in an era when Michigan was expected to beat Michigan State and Ohio State plus win the Big 10. Just "wait until next year" rings hollow after each disappointment.
Michigan is 3-16 since 2008 versus the two. Simply unacceptible.
October 8th, 2017 at 9:24 PM ^
I totally agree, but what's the alternative? Push Harbaugh out and start from scratch again? For the fourth time in ten years?
October 8th, 2017 at 9:26 PM ^
Well, he never beat either MSU or OSU from 2008-14, so clearly he's the problem.
October 8th, 2017 at 11:31 PM ^
October 9th, 2017 at 12:45 AM ^
But Dantonio has accomplished much more as a college coach than Harbaugh has at this point. I hate Dantonio with every fiber of my being (which is a big reason this loss is so hard to stomach) but the guy is MSU's best coach since the Johnson administration. He has won multiple Big Ten Championships, won the Rose Bowl, gone to the playoff, and is 3-8 against his biggest rival.
I am still hopeful Harbaugh can accomplish all of that and more, but at this point you're going to have a very tough time convincing an objective fan that Harbaugh is a better college coach than Dantonio.
October 9th, 2017 at 12:50 AM ^
It also took Dantonio 4 years to get his first 11-win season when the B1G was pretty crappy. The guy is outstanding, but let's not pretend he came in here and lit the world on fire immediately. In fact, year 3 was a losing season for him.
October 9th, 2017 at 1:22 AM ^
Your facts > People's Feelings
October 9th, 2017 at 1:38 AM ^
I was responding to the claim that it's ridiculous to think that Dantonio has accomplished more than Harbaugh at this point. It's not. In fact, it's very true.
Given there is literally zero chance Harbaugh won't be around for at least another 3 years, he will get a chance to prove himself. But the point is only someone with Maize-colored glasses would think Harbaugh has accomplished more than Dantonio at the college level.
October 9th, 2017 at 3:18 AM ^
It is this sort of silly narrative that is so unfortunate when enjoying the blog.
So, basically, Dantonio has accomplished more as a "college coach". Okay, whatever. We'll see how long that lasts going forward.
The thing is, it's not parsed out as what you did in college or pro or hell, Saban's coaching could be questioned. Harbaugh's brand is that he won at a college level at Stanford (and don't give me some bullshit about how he didnt' turn that thing around) and at a pro level in San Francisco (you know, takes teams to playoffs/Superbowl).
Dantonio won as a "college coach" and Harbaugh went to an f'n Superbowl. Which do you really think involves better coaching? Apparently, turning a garbage program at M under Hoke into something approximating competive over two years is not nearly enough for you.
Whatever. The guy has the program in the right direction. We're not going to agree.
October 9th, 2017 at 3:47 AM ^
three years at Michigan outweight Dantonio's 11 years at MSU, then you're right, we aren't going to agree. Go make that claim on any non-partisan blog and you will be shot down immediately. I have hope that Harbaugh will be better in the long run, but he has a ways to go.
What exactly is your point in bringing up Saban? The fact of the matter is that the college and pro games are different. Saban was a mediocre NFL coach, but he is probably the greatest NCAA coach of all time. Chip Kelly was an elite NCAA coach, whereas he got run out of Philly and is sitting at 0-5 with the Niners. Bill Callahan took the Raiders to the Super Bowl and then got run out of town at Nebraska.
The thing that's most annoying about this blog in times like these is the sort of religious fanaticism people like you have towards Harbaugh, to the point that anytime anyone says something remotely critical of him you seem to take it as a personal offense and question my fanhood.
No, going 9-3 and losing to OSU is not enough. That's why Brian & co. were ready to run Lloyd out of town after 2006. I have faith that Harbaugh can eventually win big games and make it to the BTCG and/or playoff. But the display we saw yesterday was flat out embarrassing, and it exposes serious flaws (OL, RB & QB play) that existed last year and have not been fixed.
October 9th, 2017 at 3:59 AM ^
October 9th, 2017 at 4:27 AM ^
I said that Dantonio has accomplished more at the college level than Harbaugh. That is a fact. Yes, he has coached for fewer seasons, so it's not an apples to apples comparison. But before this game people were mocking MSU and predicting blowout wins for Michigan. They were pointing out how bad MSU's secondary was and how terrible the team looked against ND and Iowa. We made 3-9 jokes all year leading up to this game. Then Dantonio walks into Michigan stadium as a 10 point underdog and proceeds to outcoach Harbaugh. My ultimate point is that the idea that Harbaugh is a better coach than Dantonio is a subjective, Maize-colored glasses opinion based on hope for something that has not yet materialized. Up until this game, most people around here thought it was already a fact and that we'd run away with the win and put MSU in their place. I hope just as much as anyone that Harbaugh ends up a better coach than Dantonio. But he has not proven it yet.
October 9th, 2017 at 6:53 AM ^
October 9th, 2017 at 2:41 PM ^
That's a more reasonable take. Firing the guy would clearly make things worse. Fast.
That said, "no reason that we should have one of the worst offenses in college football" is going a little far. On the season, we're mediocre, not awful. Even if Newsome were playing this year, our OL and WR would be extremely young. Our only senior starters on the entire offense are Cole and Kugler. There's plenty of reason.
We should be disappointed. Last time they came here, we played above our level and should have won. This time, we played below our potential. Heaping it all on Harbuagh or saying he should be fired though is where it gets flat out ridiculous.
October 9th, 2017 at 9:50 AM ^
October 9th, 2017 at 10:12 AM ^
is the kind of post that I really can't believe is serious. Yes, Michigan was thoroughly out-coached in that game.
October 9th, 2017 at 12:35 PM ^
Dantonio has 5 seasons where they won 11 games, but he's also had four seasons of 6 or more losses. He's a pretty great coach, and if I could go back in time and convince him to wait out Lloyd Carr and then come here I would, but he isn't a God.
October 9th, 2017 at 3:48 AM ^
October 9th, 2017 at 4:36 AM ^
The point is that people around here had been acting like after last year, Harbaugh had already exerted his dominance over Dantonio, and that MSU would just shrivel up and die and never be a threat again. News flash: after Saturday's game, it's clear that Harbaugh has not yet proven he's a better coach than Dantonio, period. If you can't see that, you are delusional. Sure, Harbaugh's tenure at Michigan has only been 2.5 years. But I am sick and fucking tired of people shit-talking MSU and Dantonio all year for the last 10 years only to watch them walk into our Stadium as underdogs and beat us.
This isn't an MLive hot take, this is just a fact. I hate how slappies like you on this blog can't accept any thread on Harbaugh that isn't a complete circlejerk.
October 9th, 2017 at 11:04 AM ^
October 9th, 2017 at 11:00 AM ^
Our day WILL come if he chooses to stay. People just have to learn not to have a fucking meltdown every time we don’t win a game.
October 8th, 2017 at 9:56 PM ^
Harbaugh's seat isn't hot, but the honey moon is over. It is time for him to start delivering some victories against MSU and OSU. In Harbaugh we trust, but he is open to criticism now. He is no longer infallible.
October 8th, 2017 at 10:58 PM ^
I think this perfectly sums up what the reaction over last night's game is about. People on this site need to understand that not everyone reacts to a game like they do and other people acting differently is not wrong.
October 8th, 2017 at 11:45 PM ^
His invincibilty star just wore off.
October 8th, 2017 at 10:34 PM ^
October 9th, 2017 at 9:11 AM ^
This is the thing--apart from Saban and Meyer, and arguably one or two others (Dabo, 1-2 more), there is no better coach out there than Harbaugh. That is an absolute fact. Guys--we did what we could, we hired an excellent coach. THERE IS NOTHING BETTER OUT THERE.
And if that means we are always at 10 wins and no championships, (hypothetically) then that's our ceiling, because there is no one else available better.
October 9th, 2017 at 2:05 PM ^
Exactly right. Most fanbases in the SEC alone would would back up a semi filled with cash to get a Jim Harbaugh. Total insurrection down there in anyplace but Tuscaloosa and maybe Georgia.
October 8th, 2017 at 10:00 PM ^
October 8th, 2017 at 10:55 PM ^
It's always funny how people cherry pick their years to push a narrative.
Since this year or since that year. My eyes roll so hard.
October 9th, 2017 at 12:23 AM ^
I am glad that you are appreciative of Michigan's rich history. The recent history is not rich and should not be ignored. Coach Harbaugh wasn't responsible for 2008-2014 but is paid $9 million dollars to put an end to the losing. Michigan has a lackluster record against rivals and top-tier teams. Do I believe Harbaugh can change this? Absolutely! Until the victories against MSU and OSU start, the fan base will be increasingly frustrated and no one should be shocked as to why.
October 9th, 2017 at 12:39 AM ^
that if Michigan doesn't win the Big Ten this year, it will be tied for the longest drought in history? Is it cherrypicking to point out that Michigan's only wins against OSU and MSU since Lloyd left are against 1) a 6-7 Luke Fickell squad 2) a 7-6 MSU in 2012 3) a 3-9 MSU in 2016? I know you are young but believe it or not there was actually a time when Michigan used to win meaningful games against its rivals.
Bo, Mo, and Lloyd all won their first games against OSU. No one is saying Harbaugh is a bad coach because he hasn't beaten OSU yet, and you'll see virtually everyone's angst evaporate if Harbaugh beats OSU this year, but there is plenty of reason to be frustrated with where the team is today.
October 9th, 2017 at 12:19 PM ^
Shit changes, man. We make fun of Notre Dame fans but they used to actually expect national titles every year, too, and not without reason. Roll with the changes or get buried, there is no alternative to what we have now.
October 8th, 2017 at 10:42 PM ^
October 9th, 2017 at 2:18 AM ^
this comment in the appreciation thread. My appreciable appreciation for Harbaugh is underappreciated but I appreciate the ability to express my appreciation.
All jokes aside, I'm just amazed at all the Harbaugh bashing from people I haven't seen posting before but who have plenty of MGoPoints. Then again, losses like this tend to bring out the worst hawt-takes. Folks gotta vent, though, so...
October 8th, 2017 at 10:45 PM ^
October 8th, 2017 at 9:05 PM ^
October 8th, 2017 at 9:50 PM ^
October 8th, 2017 at 10:46 PM ^
October 9th, 2017 at 6:35 AM ^
Do you think we could have maybe scored more points without the turnovers? At a bare minimum, we were going to get a field goal if not for the fumble at the end of the first half. All the turnovers also flipped field position, repeatedly.
October 9th, 2017 at 9:55 AM ^
I have to say I was a little surprised that they weren't better prepared coming off a bye week. That's usually Harbaugh's bread and butter and spells doom for the opposing team. Overall the game was a goddamn frustrating horrible nightmare where everything that could've gone wrong on offense did go wrong.
But, everybody needs to chill out. Let's get our shit together, as a team and as a fanbase.
October 9th, 2017 at 12:51 PM ^
You talk like this is Madden and there is some algorithm which will determine the "touchdown play". Coaching can sometimes overcome youth, it can overcome youth, it can overcome talent differentials, but it can't really overcome all three any better than it did on Saturday.
October 9th, 2017 at 7:14 AM ^
October 8th, 2017 at 9:07 PM ^
But not sure this is really the time for an appreciation thread. If he can man up and get rid of Pep, Drevno and Jay, I will definitely appreciate him more!
GO BLUE!
October 8th, 2017 at 10:00 PM ^
October 8th, 2017 at 10:10 PM ^
October 8th, 2017 at 11:05 PM ^
October 8th, 2017 at 10:12 PM ^
October 9th, 2017 at 10:07 AM ^
should be sufficient. I think we should damn well be able to appreciate that when it happens.
October 9th, 2017 at 12:38 PM ^
lol. Nicely done.