Just the facts...and a little perspective

Submitted by MGolem on

Jim Harbaugh played in the AFC Championship, and came one dropped hail mary from playing in the Super Bowl; he was also a pro-bowler the same year.

Jim Harbaugh gave birth to Stanford football as we know it today.

Jim Harbaugh resurrected a moribund 49ers team and came one muffed punt from coaching in back-to-back Super Bowls.

In Jim Harbaugh’s time as the coach at Michigan he has not gone a full season without losing at least one quarterback at some point during the year.

Michigan is one of only two teams in the current top 25 starting a backup quarterback due to injury (Georgia is the other); no other team is starting their third stringer. Michigan is the only team in the top 25 who has played, and won, a game with three different starting quarterbacks.

Now...for a little perspective: In 2013 Jimbo Fisher’s Florida State team was crowned National Champions; they also went 13-1 the next year. His current team, who was in the top 2 to start the season, is 4-6, with a backup quarterback. Two years ago Mark Richt was run out of town at Georgia. This year his Miami team is 10-0 and ranked number 3. Does anyone think Jimbo Fisher forgot how to coach? Does anyone now think Mark Richt is one of the three best coaches in the country?

Anyone who suggests Harbaugh doesn’t know what he is doing, is somehow overrated, or better yet is the “fourth best coach in his own division” is ridiculous.

 

 

MGoBoard
Football

Tuebor

November 18th, 2017 at 10:08 PM ^

I think Harbaugh is the right coach for Michigan. That said MSU, PSU, and now OSU will have won the division during his tenure at UM and we'll finish 3rd, 3rd, and 4th. Until he starts beating Dantonio he is for sure 3rd behind Meyer and Dantonio and based on accomplishments you could argue Franklin is nipping at his heels.

Joined: 03/14/2011

MGoPoints: 17467

The Fan in Fargo

November 18th, 2017 at 10:39 PM ^

Not to make excuses but the refs doing everything they could in two of those games has to be considered. Jim's teams have only been smacked twice in my book. 2015 agasinst the scarlet schmucks and this year against the lions who played like it was their superbowl. Then the following week couldn't even close out a game that they dominated the whole time against the schmucks because they were out of gas from the prior week.

Joined: 09/04/2016

MGoPoints: 1877

Tuebor

November 18th, 2017 at 10:43 PM ^

Is an uncharacteristically good deep ball from speight away from being potentially 0-2 against wisconsin. Your record is what it is. There are no moral victories. Harbaugh has elevated our play from the hoke era, but we are still losing to the top teams in the conference. Harbaugh is 4-6 against wisconsin, psu, msu, and osu. That is good, but not great. Michigan should be great.

Joined: 03/14/2011

MGoPoints: 17467

PapabearBlue

November 19th, 2017 at 8:39 AM ^

You mean like the fact that Harbaugh is 4-6 against wisconsin, psu, msu, and osu. Literally nobody gives a shit who ran what yards in what quarters against who. Stats are for fans and mean literally nothing outside of points on the board when the clock hits zero.

Joined: 07/19/2011

MGoPoints: 2561

charblue.

November 18th, 2017 at 11:27 PM ^

If there are no moral victories, then why bother to continue to watch this team play after it loses? You are only disappointed because the losses have been so heartbreakingly bad this year coming off what might have been last year when a few plays would have made the difference in losing three games by a total of five points.

It's not that the losses are any more painful, it's that the team isn't as good. And it's not as good because it just isn't and it really has nothing more to do than playing experience of the roster and their confidence in beating better teams because of that.

Michigan could have won today. If it makes a tackle on a punt return, if replay overturns the DPJ catch in the endzone, if Peters doesn't get killed on a stunt, if, if, if, if. Wisconsin made plays on third down that were huge in changing momentum and keeping Michigan on defense longer than necessary, grinding down its resistance and will. And that's how you win in a manball game. And Michigan isn't good enough to do that yet, whether Harbaugh is the coach or not.

When Michigan has equal parts of good offense, defense and special teams, then it will become a championship team. Until then, it won't. And it doesn't matter how the team is composed or coached when that balance isn't there. Because you are only as good as the sum of your parts and ability to win inspite of them or becaue of how they mesh and produce on the field.

Joined: 05/25/2010

MGoPoints: 11365

Fezzik

November 18th, 2017 at 11:09 PM ^

"arguably should be".... come on man. The final score is the final score. You don't think every other school thinks the refs screw them over? Are we are the only team that suffers injuries? A win is a win and a loss is a loss. That is very black and white.

Joined: 09/11/2015

MGoPoints: 5567

bo_lives

November 19th, 2017 at 12:28 AM ^

Is this what it's come to? Michigan can't win on the field so we just go ahead and give them victories for coming close? I honestly don't understand why people feel the need to do this.

Harbaugh will get his chance to get some actual victories against OSU and MSU in the future. But as of now he is 1-2 vs. MSU and 0-2 vs. OSU. I don't fucking care about punts and spots and the rest of the bullshit excuses that every team makes up after they lose.

Joined: 04/10/2011

MGoPoints: 7867

PapabearBlue

November 19th, 2017 at 8:44 AM ^

We live in a society where "facts" are slowly shifting from actual facts to whatever you want to define them as, as long as they make you feel good about your choices in life.

 

It's that kind of bullshit complacency that Michigan used to mock losers for, it's why Michigan is "arrogant". And now that complacency has invaded the Michigan attitude. "wins and losses are just a stat."

 

But don't speak out about it here. Only trolls do that.

Joined: 07/19/2011

MGoPoints: 2561

Go Blue Eyes

November 18th, 2017 at 9:54 PM ^

I like how people say they are done with this team now.  I think that's called being on or off the bandwagon.  Really have no use for fans like that. 

I am still looking forward to next week's game and stranger things have happened...

Joined: 12/04/2010

MGoPoints: 12671

Go Blue Eyes

November 18th, 2017 at 10:27 PM ^

My point about bandwagon fans were those that were saying they were done with this team after today's game.  I am still going to the Ohio State game and will be cheering on the team.  Unfortuntately there will be a lot more red - but a lot less than the Rich Rod years hopefully - as many fans will decide not to go and take a profit on their tickets.

Joined: 12/04/2010

MGoPoints: 12671

Occam's Razor

November 18th, 2017 at 11:06 PM ^

This is why I find the old people bitching about millennials complaining about Michigan football hilarious. 

It's like dude, how are we gonna bitch? We're used to Michigan sucking during our lifetime. 

The older fans whine more since they're used to seeing a national powerhouse on TV every week. 

Joined: 10/23/2017

MGoPoints: 7178

RobM_24

November 18th, 2017 at 9:54 PM ^

He gets 5 full recruiting classes before I start the clock. That's what I'm trying to stick with. It's tough to stay composed on gamedays though.

Joined: 01/27/2014

MGoPoints: 62278

RobM_24

November 18th, 2017 at 10:48 PM ^

Unfortunately, he was missing the most important position -- QB -- which I hope Harbaugh can find. Almost every year, the difference between a National Championship Team and the rest of the good teams, is that they're Alabama, they're coached by Urban Meyer, or they have a Watson, Newton, Jameis level QB.

Joined: 01/27/2014

MGoPoints: 62278

MGolem

November 19th, 2017 at 12:19 AM ^

Wins the championship if Jones doesn't play. They won by throwing the ball downfield again and again. It was a cruel twist of fate (for us) that he ended up playing. I don't think they could have moved the ball the way they did without the deep ball, and threat of the deep ball. 

Joined: 10/14/2010

MGoPoints: 13573

Squash34

November 19th, 2017 at 1:24 AM ^

Oh, for sure. I also think that got a little fortunate that bama had 2 safeties go down. I don't quite remember if it was 2 free safeties or both starters. But I remember 2 going down in the first half and osu really getting things going after with a bunch of chunck plays. Although, maybe it did not matter. Ain't playing school really played out if his mind in those 3 games to end the season.

Joined: 09/13/2016

MGoPoints: 3062

Khaleke The Freak

November 18th, 2017 at 10:26 PM ^

His 1st QB is still a RS freshman. A lot of holes are still being filled and depth being built. Take a deep breath. News flash...for as good as other teams have looked they aren't all going to win a championship this year.

Joined: 05/20/2017

MGoPoints: 6801