What makes people think Harbaugh would take the job?

Submitted by MGlobules on

 

I see a lot of RichRod's detractors saying that we should fire him and hire Harbaugh, but are there strong reasons to believe that he would come here? 

Not sure how many people have been to Palo Alto, but a friend of mine taught there for a while and I can tell you. . . it is one beautiful, warm place. They probably have the money to match us, and the pressure on Harbaugh is relatively light there. (Coming from a small private school he only has to be good, not win regular championships.) I'm not saying that he wouldn't be interested, but I don't see it as a gimme. 

It may well be, for that matter, that Brandon has some real knowledge about Harbaugh's interest. . . I'm not opposed to his coming, btw, should RichRod be dismissed, though I don't think a Michigan pedigree should be the deciding factor. Maybe having one of Bo's boys makes some alumni feel warm and fuzzy, but it doesn't necessarily win football games.   

Don

November 21st, 2010 at 11:28 AM ^

This article in the Mercury News was an opinion piece, not something with true inside information behind it. It was pretty interesting nonetheless.

I've been pretty hard on Harbaugh for his critical comments about the program, and am still skeptical about whether he would want to leave Stanford, since he's gone on record numerous times about how Stanford was essentially a dream job for him. However, since a head coach is ultimately responsible for all three facets of football—offense, defense, and special teams—I think Harbaugh is doing a much better job at that than RR is.

Glen Masons Hot Wife

November 23rd, 2010 at 7:15 PM ^

Stanford won't come anywhere near Michigan in terms of pay.

Couple that with the fact that the cost of living is outrageous. I live in the silicon valley and have to deal with it myself.

He can buy a dump/modest ranch in the hills with a couple million in Palo Alto, Woodside, Atherton, etc. And he'll be hugging his neighbors.

In Ann Arbor, Saline, etc. He can build his own castle without a neighbor in site, with that money.

Bryan

November 20th, 2010 at 10:20 PM ^

They are the ones that make the argument that M should be able to recruit blue chip defensive recruits becasue of Michigan is Michigan.

*Note: In no way do I ever want Harbaugh as a coach at the University of Michigan. Plus, it's hard to make it back here when you have burned every bridge from here to Palo Alto.

Fuzzy Dunlop

November 21st, 2010 at 8:09 AM ^

Great comment.  In no way, in no circumstances, would you want a guy who turned STANFORD into one of the best teams in the nation as your coach?  That's idiotic.  About as idiotic as claiming that this year's team has the greatest offense in Big 10 history, which you also said last night.

Fuzzy Dunlop

November 21st, 2010 at 12:35 PM ^

No, that goes beyond legitimate opinion and is indefensible.  By what metrics could you reasonably and legitimately suggest that this is the greatest offense in the history of the Big 10 conference?

[Edit - yes, it's much easier to neg this comment than to try to provide facts supporting the absurd proposition that we currently have the greatest offense in Big 10 history.  Why don't the lazy people negging me actually try to refute what I've said instead?]

dahblue

November 21st, 2010 at 12:40 PM ^

Why don't the lazy people negging me actually try to refute what I've said instead?

Because facts don't matter in the MGoBubble.  RR is Jesus, Patton, Hulk Hogan and the mechanical owl from Clash of the Titans...all rolled into one.  Making any statement, factual or otherwise, about Him is never tolerated.

This is the MGoBubble, where RR is just one excuse away from history...

Bryan

November 21st, 2010 at 3:13 PM ^

 

Big 10 previous records are here:

http://mgoblog.com/diaries/rr-setting-michigan-big-ten-total-offense-re…

Michigan is averaging 514.5 yards a game, this is 2 more yards than the previous record. Please note the category is called 'total offense,' not scoring, which is not even listed as a separate category. 

http://espn.go.com/college-football/statistics/team/_/stat/total

Therefore, this is the 'best' offensive in terms of yardage production in the history of the conference. 

 

Fuzzy Dunlop

November 21st, 2010 at 3:56 PM ^

1.  One would think that scoring plays a factor in determining the "greatest" offense of all time, since that's the offensive factor that actually helps win games.

2.  One would think that in discussing the greatest "Big 10 offense" ever, actual performance in the Big 10 would be the focus, rather than yards ran up against the Bowling Green's and UMass's of the world.

3.  One also might consider that one reason Michigan had so many yards against the Indianas, Illinoises, and UMass's of the world is that Michigan HAD to keep the pedal down because those games were in doubt until the very end.  Penn State's 1994 team, by contrast, wasn't running up yards against guppies because those games were well in hand by the end of the first half.

No reasonable observer could claim, with a straight face, that this is the "greatest" Big 10 offense of all time.  If you had said that this team averages a ton of yards, and is a really good offense, no one would have argued.  But it's not what you said.

Fuzzy Dunlop

November 21st, 2010 at 9:20 PM ^

"Pick I different term," "I'm sorry if anyone was offended", "that was not what I intended to convey," etc. etc.  These are all weasel words.  Why don't you just admit you were wrong when you said that we have the best offense in Big 10 history, and let that be it, rather than try to half-assedly defend your statement while at the same time claiming to have never said what you actually said?

Bryan

November 21st, 2010 at 3:02 PM ^

If Brandon hired him. And with respect to my comment last night that was deleted...I was speaking about yards, and this team was averaging the highest yards per game in the history of the conference. Yes, the scoring is not as high due to turnovers and the poor play of the young defense. So pick a different adjective instead of greatest, and over the past two games the team may have droppe out of that spot, so yea, if that is the case, my sincerest apologies. 

But if the team is still is averaging the most yards in conference history, well then my statement isn't so idiotic, it would be based upon fact, and we are free to debate the importance of that fact. Don't resort to name calling, we're on the Internet after all. 

Bryan

November 21st, 2010 at 7:15 PM ^

The players, the AD, his teammates and his school. He could be a wonderful football coach, but it is his character issues that I take issue with.
<br>
<br>And why would you think that Harbaugh is that great if a coach? He's had one really good year, this year. As it stands today, Rodriguez had a better track record at WV than Harbaugh does at Stanford.
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<br>Just because he is a Michigan Man, wait, he list the ability to claim that when he spine against the program.
<br>
<br>And since you'll take issue with everything I say, he is free to criticize, but not publicly in the way he did, especially when he was and has not been affiliated with the program for a long time.
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<br>And he seems to have great control over his team. See the Stanford player punch from yesterday.

Fuzzy Dunlop

November 21st, 2010 at 9:27 PM ^



And why would you think that Harbaugh is that great if a coach? He's had one really good year, this year. As it stands today, Rodriguez had a better track record at WV than Harbaugh does at Stanford.

If Stanford goes undefeated the rest of the year, this season will surpass Rodriguez's best year at West Virginia, in a tougher conference.  And Harbaugh accomplished this despite the recruiting challenges involved in coaching a team that has been a historic joke, and with higher academic standards than any other Division I-A school.

To be clear, I don't want Rodriguez to be fired.  But to say that Harbaugh hasn't proven to be a great coach is idiotic, and destroys your credibility.

ontarioblue

November 22nd, 2010 at 8:30 AM ^

Right now there is a ton of emotion out there.  As a fan base we are frustrated.  Frustrated with results, frustrated that we are Michigan, but don't play like we are.  I think that whatever decision Brandon makes will be in the best interest of the program.  I don't see him as a Bo loyalist who will blindly change to install a Bo guy.  In the end if he choses to change the coach, as a fan, alumni, and supporter of the University, I will respect his decision, and cheer for the team, no matter who the coach is.  Hang in there.  Things will get better.

James Burrill Angell

November 20th, 2010 at 10:01 PM ^

You raise a very good point. No one but James knows whether he'd leave Palo Alto unless he let word get out. I would hope Brandon would do the due dilligence to not make the mistake that his predecessor did and have his new coach lined up before an announcement is made on the current coach.

BlueFish

November 21st, 2010 at 9:25 AM ^

Like Bryan said, the two situations aren't remotely close.

RR left his WVU job.  He didn't badmouth the team, players, program, or school in doing so, nor has he done so after the fact.  The separation was certainly not without complication, but most of the bile has come from WVU (mainly, the press and fans).

Jim, on the other hand, said what he said out the blue.  His only connection with U-M at that time was that he was an alumni.  And one who was fairly well-loved, I might add.  He got the job at Stanford and, for some reason (perhaps the one that James Burrill Angell offers below), felt the need to throw mud at U-M.  At the time, it appeared that he was trying to prop up Stanford and imply that they don't sacrifice their admission standards or steer their players into "easy" majors.  I believe the latter was later shown to be questionable (by Brian).  Or, he could've simply been trying to attract attention to his program.  Either way, the only reasons for Jim to turn on his alma mater were purely self-serving.  And I believe he burned some bridges in the process.

If you're looking for a more fitting analogy, try to imagine The Ol' Ballcoach throwing UF under the bus.  The only difference would be that Jim hadn't already coached at U-M.  But Spurrier played at UF and was universally adored when he retired.  He's now recruiting and playing against UF on a consistent basis.  So if HE were to badmouth UF, then you'd have a decent analogy.  But even though he's a colorful personality -- and has verbally sparred with other ESS EEE SEE schools in the past -- he's too classy and has too much appreciation for his legend at UF to badmouth his alma mater, even for self-serving reasons.

The program

November 21st, 2010 at 2:28 PM ^

Yes Jim did say some negative things about Michigan to boost his program but to be fair there are no general studies majors on Stanfords football team (it seems to be the major of most of our players) and I have never heard of a Stanford playing fighting to get an 18 on his ACT so he could get into school (both schools are similar in there admission standards).  Does Michigan do anything different than most schools no but if Stanford is going above what most programs do then is it really that big of a deal that he is promoting his program.

BlueFish

November 21st, 2010 at 4:00 PM ^

I have no problem with Jim promoting his program.  I have a problem with him going after other schools by name to do so.  I have an even bigger problem with him going after his alma mater, simply because it's the only one he knows anything about.  If he'd simply said that Stanford does it better than (most) other schools, I'd pay it no mind.

But like I said in my post, Jim's hypocrisy on this matter was exposed shortly after he began his letting of oral diarrhea.  Just because Stanford has no general studies degree doesn't mean they're not shepherding athletes into less-challenging majors.  Read:

http://mgoblog.com/content/destroy-harbaugh

Of course, Jim isn't the only one to stick his foot in his mouth and speak unintelligently on this issue.  You can always count on Danny Hope:

http://mgoblog.com/category/post-type/academic-bitchin

And I forgot about this little cheap shot that Jim delivered about scheduling:

http://mgoblog.com/content/unverified-voracity-bids-anti-jim-davis-adieu

So my point is, Jim needs to STFU about Michigan.  He coaches at Stanford.  And again, he wouldn't be on the top of my list for the next HC.

James Burrill Angell

November 20th, 2010 at 10:22 PM ^

I'm going to put this out there though I hesitate to do so...

Part of my work in alumni related activities has me meet with various former football players. One common thing I've heard from the ones who played with Harbaugh is that those comments were made after he had calls made on his behalf to various people connected with the A.D. when the inner circle started hearing Lloyd was considering retiring. Apparently the word got back to James that he wasn't experienced enough to be considered. Basically his resume at the time was his two lower division national titles at USD. Anyway, he didn't like the fact that he wouldn't even be seriously considered and held a grudge which he eventually got over. If he still had the grudge, wouldn't you think he would have made more comments after the initial ones?  Like I said, I've heard this version of the story repeatedly which lends it some credibility in my mind. You all take it for what its worth.

Mi Sooner

November 21st, 2010 at 11:43 AM ^

I still think that he should have been at least extended a first interview as a possible candidate.  This would have given Sailor Bill (and yes, I blame sailor bill for our current mess) a possible back up candidate in case that something bad happens during the process to get your primary choice.  At the end of that year, Harbaugh had one more year of a record to stand on at that time, ehich was fairly good all things considered.  By not at least interviewing him, Sailor Bill backed himself into a corner and made the search process look like a train wreck in progress, which has hurt the development of the current team and by extention RR.

Whether or not Harbaugh should have been hired is a different question; I just think that out of curtesy, he should have been extended an interview or whatever passes for a first round coaching interview these days.  Lord knows, SAilor Bill STILL doesn't know the answer to that question.

Evil Monkey

November 20th, 2010 at 10:04 PM ^

agree to the point where he may not come here. However, I think he wants more then stanford. Coaches want to be great not good. And i don't know if he can get to great at stanford. They do look awfully impressive though week in and week out.

Mitch Cumstein

November 20th, 2010 at 10:05 PM ^

Is b/c he loves Michigan.  Thats all anyone has to go on.  In a vacuum, he'd be an idiot to leave Stanford for Michigan right now.  It hurts to say, but its true.  He has built a monster, and the team is exactly what he wants.  If he came here, he'd have to start another rebuilding process.  Not to say it would be as hard as the one at Stanford.

raleighwood

November 21st, 2010 at 12:45 AM ^

I disagree about being an idiot to leave Stanford for Michigan.  Andrew Luck will leave for the NFL this season.   There's no reason that Michigan shouldn't have as much talent as Stanford next year.  Going forward, there's every reason to believe that Michigan will have more talent than Stanford, especially with the right coach recruiting the right talent.

What's there really to rebuild at Michigan?  He'd have a decent offensive line in place.  Devin Gardner is a highly rated QB who can drop back or make things happen on the run.  He's got the size that any coach would look for in a QB.  Stephen Hopkins is a potentially physical RB.  Dee Hart will add some ying to his yang.

The defense will be suspect (and small on the line) regardless of who coaches next year, but hopefully that will be correctable in the not-to-distant future.

Jim Harbaugh is the best football coach available on the market.  It also happens that he has close ties to Michigan.  It's between Michigan and the NFL at this point.  Personally, I'm hoping that DB reviews the data available to him and makes the decision to bring JH to Ann Arbor next year.  Why let another season get away?